October 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 traveling to
China to buy harvested organs.
On Oct. 30, council will vote on a motion from Councilor Kim Richter that
acknowledges the "significant evidence" of organ harvesting from Falun
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.
Welcome Note...
Yearly Archive
Printer Version