A plea to end a vile practice
Falun Gong says China is forcefully harvesting organs from its members
By PAUL EVEREST, The Chronicle Herald

Aug.3, 2006

Members of the spiritual group Falun Gong brought their plea for Canadians 
to take action against a "horrific issue" to the steps of Halifax city hall 
Tuesday afternoon. 

The stop was part of a car tour from Toronto through the Maritimes to bring 
attention to the alleged forced harvesting of human organs from Falun Gong 
followers by the Chinese government. 

"If the whole world knows what they're doing, they can't do it anymore," 
said Deping Chian, a 63-year-old Halifax man who has practised Falun Gong 
since 1997. He still has family in China who are also followers and have 
been persecuted for their affiliation to Falun Gong. 

"They could be targeted again," he said. 

Falun Gong emerged in China in 1992 and focuses on meditation exercises and 
spiritual teachings. Members believe more than 100 million people practise 
Falun Gong around the world. 

The Chinese government outlawed Falun Gong in July 1999. According to the 
group's website, 2,898 followers have died in police or government custody 
in China, and many followers believe those in jail are subjected to torture. 

In March, a Chinese journalist reported that people in China were receiving 
transplanted organs from Falun Gong prisoners. 

The six-member team at city hall asked Nova Scotians to appeal to their 
municipal, provincial and federal leaders to condemn the Chinese government. 

Liberal MP Geoff Regan said the group paid a visit to his Halifax office 
Tuesday morning and he wants to make sure the government takes a deeper look 
at these allegations when Parliament resumes in September. 

"I will look for an opportunity to raise this in Ottawa," the Halifax West 
MP said. 

It would be hard for anyone to stomach such atrocious accusations, Mr. Regan 
added, but pointed to China¡¯s "appalling" human rights history as a good 
indication they may be true. 

"Who would want to believe that this could happen?" he said. "Unfortunately, 
with the human rights record of the Chinese government, you're like a little 
more assurance than that." 


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