Foreign Minister Downer should seek an independent investigation of claims that Chinese political prisoners are killed to provide organ transplants in the international market, Greens Leader Bob Brown said on Tuesday July 11.
"A Canadian report claiming Falun Gong and other prisoners' organs are sold to provide foreigners with heart, lung, kidney and other transplants, coupled with evidence that Australians go to China to receive organs is alarming," Senator Brown said via statement.
The senator was referring to the report by former Canadian Secretary of State (Asia Pacific) David Kilgour and international human rights lawyer David Matas. The 46-page document, accompanied by 14 appendices, is the culmination of their two-month investigation into allegations that Falun Gong prisoners of conscience in China are being murdered for their vital organs—including hearts, kidneys, livers and corneas—which are then sold for profit.
Senator Brown said that if Beijing insists the reports are false and has passed legislation banning, since the start of this month, transplants without donors' permission then they should welcome the chance to have the allegations fully investigated.
"The Chinese authorities would welcome the air being cleared. The Australian government should seek permission to, either directly or through the United Nations, have forensic experts go to China's jails and medical institutions to check the claims," Senator Brown said.
"The claims about organ harvesting in China are shocking. The Australian Government must rule out the inclusion of any human blood or tissue from the China Australia FTA," Senator Brown said.
Among the recommendations from the Canadian report where that Governments should request the UN to investigate the claims of organ harvesting.
It is also recommended that foreign governments should not issue visas to doctors from China seeking to travel abroad for the purpose of training in organ or bodily issue transplantation. Any doctor in China known to be involved in trafficking in the organs of prisoners should be barred entry by all foreign countries permanently.
Another recommendation was for governments to discourage their nationals from obtaining organ transplants in China, if necessary, deny passports or revoke passports of those who are traveling to China for organ transplants.
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