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Thursday, January 04, 2007

Letter: Falun Gong letter disputed

Billings News: January 4, 2007 - I strongly disagree with Charles Liu’s views about Falun Gong undermining China’s rights record [Outpost, Dec. 28]. Let’s shine the light on Beijing for a moment.

The news of live organ harvesting targeting the Falun Gong only surfaced recently, but investigation reports highlight that it has been going on since 2000. Before that, the persecution of Falun Gong (in China) by the Chinese regime was already well documented at the United Nations with collected evidence amounting to genocide.

The world response toward stopping what the investigating team of Kilgour-Matas call ‘a new form of evil on the planet’ has been encouraging with a recent hearing held by the U.S. congressional subcommittee and support from Amnesty International New Zealand. So far, the Finnish, Taiwanese and Australian governments, as well as the European Parliament, have backed up the allegations.

For such an abhorrent practice to be allowed to take place in the 21st century is unacceptable. By all means, China should be held accountable for such crimes against humanity. In the run-up to the 2008 Olympics it would be in China’s best interest to live up to the promises they made to improve their rights record before the Games.

With the shooting of the Tibetans at the border, intensified crackdown on human rights lawyers along with tightening internet and press censorship, not to mention widespread corruption, one can only attest to the contrary. It is clear that this long list of violations, including organ harvesting, has put Beijing apologists on the spot leaving them with a bunch of nothing to say.

Marie Beaulieu
Victoria, B.C.

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