By Zheng Xiaowei
(Clearwisdom.net) Mr. Theo van Boven, former United Nations Special
Rapporteur on Torture and an international human rights issue expert from
Holland, said during a visit to Taiwan that China has signed the UN Convention
against Torture, so it should stop the torture. Mr. van Boven pointed out that
since China denies the allegation of harvesting organs, the Chinese Government
should allow professionals to conduct investigations into this issue in China. Mr. Theo van Boven, from Holland, the former United Nations Special
Rapporteur on Torture and an international human rights issue expert Mr. van Boven said during an interview in Taiwan that he received many
materials about the persecution of Falun Gong when he was the UN Rapporteur. He
has signed an open letter in Europe requiring the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)
to open the gates for professionals to conduct investigations into organ
harvesting in China. Mr. van Boven said that although the CCP has been denying the existence of
organ harvesting, there are many conflicts between their official statements and
information from individuals. Mr. van Boven said that it is difficult to know
the details about the organ harvesting, since investigations are not allowed by
the CCP. He emphasized that professionals should be allowed to conduct
independent investigations. He pointed out that China has signed the UN Conventions Against Torture, a
document that requires the signing governments to conduct unbiased
investigations as soon as allegations of torture are brought up. The Olympic Games is a Chance for International Society to Help with the
Human Rights Issues in China Mr. van Boven said that the 2008 Olympic Games is a chance to observe the
human rights issues in China. He pointed out that it is proper to connect the
Olympic Games with the human rights issues, and that international society
should use this chance to improve the human rights situation in China. Seventy-three year-old Mr. van Boven has been concerned about human rights in
China for a long time. When he was the UN Rapporteur, he mandated that
investigations be conducted in China. Due to the Chinese government's refusals
to cooperate, such investigations were never carried out. The current UN
Rapporteur has gone to China, but due to all kinds of difficulties, he has only
collected very little evidence. Mr. van Boven said that the current rapporteur has made many good suggestions
to improve human rights in China, but what is more important is to carry out
these suggestions. International society should pay attention to the
implementing of these suggestions in China.
Posting date: 5/22/2007
Original article date: 5/21/2007
Category: Worldwide Support
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2007/5/18/155108.html