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China accused of ‘systematic killing’ for human organs

The Parliament, 29 January 2013

One of parliament’s most senior MEPs says China should be hauled before the International Criminal Court (ICC) for “genocide”.

Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, Edward McMillan-Scott said Beijing is guilty of “contemporary genocide” for its alleged transplantation of live organs.

The ALDE member, who is a vice-president of parliament, was referring to the alleged Chinese practice of criminals who are killed “on demand” for their organs, including kidneys, eyes and lungs.

Claiming that China “could have a case to answer” before the ICC in The Hague, the MEP said, “This is quite appalling.”

He said, “The concept is too appalling to comprehend. But the problem we face is that there is a credibility gap between what actually happens and obtaining proof.”

The deputy, who is vice-president responsible for human rights and democracy in parliament, organised a seminar on “religious persecution by China” which outlined alleged human rights abuses against religious minorities in the country.

The debate focused on the “tens of thousands of victims” of organ harvesting in China.

The MEP said those responsible were officials of the Communist party in China as well as surgeons, prison authorities and military officials.

American investigative journalist Ethan Gutmann told the debate on Tuesday “I provide a median or a best estimate of 65,000 [Falun Gong practitioners harvested]. Remember that using the Kilgour/Matas method generates a result just over 62,000 organs. I wouldn’t read too much into that—apples and oranges–but it’s fair to say that we are collectively looking at fatalities above 50,000.”

Explaining the proccess, he said, “When a patient needs an organ, a suitable detainee, probably on death row, will be matched, killed and his or her organ taken and used for a transplant operation.

“One Chinese website boasted how it could provide matching organs in one to four weeks.”

He said a kidney could be sold for up to €46,000 in the west where there was a “ready market” for organs.

Gutmann, a former Beijing-based businessman, said that organ harvesting was carried out on a “large scale” in China, but added that the ruling communist regime there had tried to “bury” controversy over the issue.

“Basically, it is a crime against humanity but the ruling regime has tried to bury it,” he said.

He said, “I provide a median or a best estimate of 65,000 [Falun Gong practitioners harvested]. Remember that using the Kilgour/Matas method generates a result just over 62,000 organs. I wouldn’t read too much into that—apples and oranges–but it’s fair to say that we are collectively looking at fatalities above 50,000.”

His concerns were shared by another speaker, Estonian MEP Tunne Kelam who hoped the new Chinese political leadership voted into power in the autumn would abolish the practice.

He said, “The new leadership offers an opportunity. I also believe that we in Europe have more political leverage to China than some would have you believe.”

He added, “I just hope that events like this and the stand we are taking in Europe will make a difference.”

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