Chinese Regimes Organ Harvesting — Symposium in Japan

Attorney David Matas was the guest speaker of a symposium held by the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong or CIPFG, Tuesday, July 7th. This is his second trip to Japan to present the findings of an investigation he carried out to expose systematic forced organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners.

[David Matas, Organ Harvesting Investigator]:
Since our report came out, China has insisted that, first of all, only registered hospitals engaged in transplants, but more importantly, they shifted the market from external to internal so that, they themselves have been prosecuting transplant tourism. And transplant tourism into China has dropped off significantly since our report came out.

In the report, entitled Bloody Harvest, Mr. Matas says organs like livers harvested from Falun Gong practitioners are being used in transplants as much in 2008 as in 2004. The head of CIPFG in Japan hopes the Japanese government will do more to expose whats going on in China.

[Kan Ando, CIPFG Japan]:
I think Japan needs to raise its voice for freedom and human rights if it wants to occupy a high status and be a member of the United Nations Security Council. Countries like America and Europe have shown their resolve criticizing the persecution against Falun Gong.

But its often easier said than done.

[Tsuyoshi Awaya, Okayama University Professor]:
I think Japanese do not really show any interest for people of other countries, and are just concerned over their small group. There was also a speech about treating persecuted people as friends. I myself wasnt really concerned about it before, so now I really regret it. I hope more people will pay attention to this issue.

Mr. Matas hopes Japanese doctors will refuse to train Chinese doctors who may be involved in forced organ harvesting. He also wants a travel advisory written, warning people where many organs come from that are used for transplantation.

[David Matas, Organ Harvesting Investigator]:
I think there needs to be more work on prohibiting contact between Chinese transplant professionals whove been sourcing organ from prisoners and foreign transplant professionals.

NTD, Tokyo, Japan.

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