Support Letter from Amnesty International in Czech Republic

On November 17th 2006, the Czech People Rallied and Marched to Prague Castle in Protest against Organ Harvesting Atrocities in China.

Falun Gong practitioners joined the march to protest against organ harvesting in China, particularly the 2006 revelations that thousands of living Falun Gong practitioners had their organs harvested and their bodies cremated on the orders of the Chinese Communist Party. A press conference was held to accompany the march. The following is a letter of support from Amnesty International for the visit of Mr. David Kilgour who co-wrote a report highlighting the harvesting of organs from living Falun Gong practitioners.

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

We call on you on the occasion of the visit by David Kilgour, former State secretary for Asia-Pacific, in the Czech Republic where he will introduce his report with information about organ harvesting from Falun Gong adherents in the Peoples Republic of China.

Amnesty International takes those allegations that in the PRC harvesting of body organs from Falun Gong believers is taking place very seriously and is making steps to further investigate this information. But the fact, that China is closed to international human rights organisations, makes it extremely hard for us.

For some time now, Amnesty has been bringing attention to the persecution of followers of the Falun Gong movement in China and has devoted several reports to that issue. In its report, presented to the UN during the election of members for the Human Rights Council, Amnesty stated: “The suppression of Falun Gong spiritual movement intensified after February 2005. Many Falun Gong practitioners are allegedly detained and in serious danger of torture and mal-treatment.” Amnesty is also greatly alarmed by the media campaign of slander by the Chinese regime, which is apt to incite hatred against Falun Gong adherents.

In the face of seriousness of the human rights violations in PRC, we recommend public discussion and discussion among lawmakers on this issue.

We believe that publicising information about human rights abuses in China will promote their proper investigation and redress.

With great respect,
Amnesty Czech Representative.

Eva Dobrovolná.
Spokesperson,
Amnesty International Czech Republic.