By Shar Adams

Epoch Times Australia Staff

Jun 16, 2006

Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mr. Edward McMillan-Scott, visited China last month and has declared that, if what he was told there is true, "the civilized world should shun China."

In an official statement to The Epoch Times, Mr. McMillan-Scott said he visited Beijing to investigate allegations that Falun Gong practitioners were being used as live donors to service China's massive organ trade.

"I had heard that practitioners were harshly treated and persecution by other prisoners is encouraged, but it was reports of transplants from living prisoners - a ghastly reward for their healthy lifestyle - which drew me to China," he said.

Mr. McMillan-Scott said that, included in the variety of meetings with diplomats, NGO's, journalists and other observers in Beijing, was a long session with human rights lawyer, Gao Zhisheng, and a series of secret interviews with Falun Gong practitioners. He said the practitioners, all former prisoners, told him of "brutal beatings," "torture" and "cadavers... with holes where the organs had been removed."

Mr. Gao, who has incurred attempts on his life, the closure of his legal practice and continual harassment from police, for speaking out about the atrocities occurring to Falun Gong practitioners, also told him of atrocities incurred by his clients and was critical of the West for ignoring their plight.

"Gao, a Christian, told me I was the only politician in seven years to meet Falun Gong ex-prisoners, and criticized Western diplomats for walking by on the other side of the street," Mr. McMillan-Scott stated.

Mr. McMillan-Scott Saw Falun Gong Go from Popular Exercise to Persecuted Practice

Founder of the EU's democracy and human rights initiative, Mr. McMillan-Scott said his recent trip was his second to China and recalled seeing people practicing Falun Gong on his previous visit ten years earlier.

"When I first visited Beijing in 1996, every open space was filled with people practicing. Then in 1999 the regime decided Falun Gong could become an organized force and began a ruthless crackdown."

"When I first visited Beijing in 1996, every open space was filled with people practicing its slow exercises and meditation. By 1999 it had some 100 million adherents.

"Then in 1999 the regime decided Falun Gong could become an organized force and began a ruthless crackdown, organized by its notorious '610 Office' office, named after its foundation date."

Mr. McMillan-Scott said he is now concerned about the welfare of the practitioners he met.

"Along with my interpreter, the men were rapidly arrested, detained and questioned for the 'crime' of meeting me," he said. " One practitioner is still missing and it is feared that he is being tortured."

Mr. McMillan-Scott has demanded an urgent meeting with the Chinese ambassador to the EU saying "According to the many diplomats, journalists and other observers I met, it is not just Falun Gong, but other Buddhists - especially Tibetans - Christians and Muslims who are being persecuted.

"If people in Beijing think this is the way to prepare for the Olympics they have made the wrong call."

Mr. McMillan-Scott is not the only parliamentarian seeking answers to the allegations of "genocide" occurring in China.

U.S. Government, U.N. Investigating Persecution of Falun Gong

United States Representative Chris Smith has announced that the State Department and the U.N. are both investigating claims that "China is targeting the thousands of innocent Falun Gong prisoners it holds for organ harvesting and perhaps not even waiting until they are dead."

Mr. Smith, who is chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights, and International Operations, said, "Any relationship we have with China must begin with a fundamental respect for basic human rights. The people of China deserve no less."

Canada's former Secretary of State, David Kilgour, and human rights lawyer, David Matas, have also declared their intention to investigate the persecution of Falun Gong . They will visit China this month, as part of their investigation.

Mr. Kilgour said the "completely independent investigation" would culminate in a report which he hoped would shed light on reported atrocities.

http://theepochtimes.com/news/6-6-16/42819.html

Posting date: 6/19/2006
Original article date: 6/19/2006
Category: News & Media Reports

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