By a practitioner in Australia

(Clearwisdom.net) Following the previous formation of the Australia CIPFG (Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong) delegation, the Victoria CIPFG Team was formed on November 24, 2006, and held a press conference in Melbourne to declare application for entry into China to conduct unrestricted investigation on the CCP live organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners. A representative of the team told the correspondent that they planed to go to Hebei, Jilin, and Hubei Provinces to investigate the issue. The team wrote to Liang Shugen, Chinese General Consul in Melbourne and requested an appointment to talk about the trip arrangements.

Mr. Peter Westmore, leader of the Victoria CIPFG Team and president of the National Civic Council, said, "Many Australians are extremely alarmed by the allegations that large numbers of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience have been killed in China to harvest their organs for the transplant trade. It is utterly unacceptable that these evil practices should take place in a country which will shortly host the Olympic Games. Therefore, we are prepared to enter China to conduct interference-free investigations."

Ms. Janet Rice, member of Victoria CIPFG team, Mayor of Maribyrnong City, Victoria, said, "Considering the seriousness of the claims of the Kilgour-Matas report, it is irresponsible not to take any action. That is why I am willing to be part of this investigation delegation to investigate in China."

Mr. Zhonghua Xiao, spokesperson for Australia CIPFG delegation, said, "The purpose of going to China to conduct first-hand investigation is to demand that the CCP stop the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners and to make sure that the suggestions in the Kilgour-Matas report are applied. If we are not allowed to conduct the investigation, then this adds more weight to the authenticity of the Kilgour-Matas report."

In the letter to Liang Shugen, Chinese General Consul in Melbourne, the team requested a meeting with human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng and Falun Gong practitioner Cao Dong, and asked the CCP to provide their imprisonment location. Lawyer Gao is a member of the CIPFG. Mr. Cao was arrested after meeting with Mr. McMillan-Scott, The Vice-President of the European Parliament at the beginning of this year.

Before the press conference, the Victoria CIPFG Team received written or oral support from members of the Parliament of Victoria.

MP Tony Robinson said in his letter, "I am happy to offer my support for further investigations into the extremely disturbing allegations of forced organ harvesting in China. While the Australian Government has recognized the tremendous increase in organ transplant procedure in China, and the unjust detention of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners, it has not made sufficient inquiries of its own into the recent claims of forced organ harvesting. Further investigation of the claims is justified and I congratulate the work of those engaged in this pursuit."

MP Jenny Mikakos said, "I am writing to indicate my support for the Australian delegation intending to visit China to investigate reports of organ harvesting and persecution of Falun Gong members. I remain extremely concerned about the serious allegations that have been made in the Kilgour-Matas report and would urge the Chinese authorities to co-operate and to allow international inspectors to independently investigate these allegations."

Other teams in Australia will declare their investigation plan in the near future.

Mr. Xiao, spokesperson for Australia CIPFG delegation, said, "The Australia CIPFG delegation is composed of 53 members and headed by an official of the Australia Federal Government. The team includes members of Parliament, members of provincial parliament, community leaders, religious leaders, lawyers, medical specialists, human rights organizations and media."

In July of this year, Mr. David Matas, international human rights lawyer, and Mr. David Kilgour, former Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) for Canada formed an independent investigation team and released their report to media on July 6, 2006, "Report into Allegations of Organ Harvesting of Falun Gong Practitioners in China." In August, Mr. Kilgour and Mr. McMillan-Scott gave speeches in many places in Australia. The Australian government and opposition parties reached agreement to request that the CCP allow independent international investigation.

Posting date: 11/30/2006
Original article date: 11/30/2006
Category: Falun Dafa Worldwide
Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2006/11/26/143318.html

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