Falun Gong issues raised

By Natasha Jones
Langley Times
Oct 25 2006

After a presentation from a follower of Falun Gong, Township council is being urged to ask the federal government to investigate allegations that China is harvesting the organs of practitioners.

In July, David Kilgour and David Matas released a report on their probe into allegations that the Chinese government harvested organs without consent.

Kilgour, a former Liberal MP, and Matas, director of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development, wrote:

“When the state kills defenseless human beings already in detention for the crimes, it becomes all too easy to take the next step, harvesting their organs without their consent. This is a step China undoubtedly took.”

Before a presentation to council, Shirley Chen explained that Falun Gong is an ancient Chinese spiritual practice that is based on truth, compassion and tolerance. Practitioners are those who follow the belief system which does not have a religious structure.

Chen urged council to do what it can to discourage people from travelling to China to buy harvested organs.

On Oct. 30, council will vote on a motion from Councillor Kim Richter that acknowledges the “significant evidence” of organ harvesting from Falon Gong practitioners in China.

The motion seeks a federal inquiry into the allegations, and an assurance that Canadians do not take part.

The motion also wants the government to support international action to condemn and end the practice.