Human Rights Violations in Mainland China and The Olympic Games
I am hoping that some members of the Catholic community can help me with some real issues of conscience. Through my connection with various Falun Gong practioners I have become increasingly aware of horrific human rights attrocities occurring at this very moment in China. There have been many articles and reports confirming at least 300 thousand prisoners of Conscience in China are at present held captive in several large concentration camps. Within these camps they are tortured, murdered, sexually abused and ultimately used as part of an organ bank for China's massive organ transplant program. With the up and coming Olympic games it seems again that through selfishness and greed many politicians and corporations ignore this formation and continue business as usual with the govornment responsible for these and many other terrible human right violations.
As a musician and quite simply as a human being I ask myself the question. What can I do? When I discuss this information with many of my friends and associates people often seem to get uncomfortable or would rather talk about far less confronting issues.
I was so moved by this situation in China that I have recently begun a series of musical performances here in Australia called "Concerts For Conscience". Albiet this has already begun, I have found so many Global Conscience issues that I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the current state of our global community.
I would appreciate any input from members of the Catholic Community, i.e am I doing the right thing in trying to educate people about this and I would certainly appreciate any further information anyone can offer to help me........regards
Paul Robert Burton
Hi Starlight and thankyou
Hi Starlight and thankyou for your comments and a special thankyou for taking the time to read the report. Like yourself I am beginning to think that boycotting Olympic sponsors may be one definate approach that individuals can take to these human rights violations.
For further information I have recently discovered that the China National Petroluem Company (CNPC) is also directly responsible for funding the mass Genocide in Darfur (Sudan)
resulting in the death of over 450,000 people and displacing over 2.5 million. This company (owned by the Chinese Government) is also a principle sponsor of the 2008 Bejing Olympics. I find it incredible that a government can legitimize genocide as a means to fund it's economy and the forthcoming Olympics. As a note about the Chinese Exhibit you mentioned there has been alot of concern, as in China the permission for these bodies is impossible to trace. There was mention within the Falun Dafa community of one practioner seeing her Father but I am not sure of this. I am however clear that within China the right to use bodies in this way (i.e the process called plastination)is far easier to impliment as permissions from families etc are not required, they can use any prisoners of
conscience they choose to execute. There is a large growing global awareness of the Chinese governments human rights violations and I believe as the Olympics draws closer there will be more and more individuals like us, standing on the principles taught by all True religions. It is time (I believe) for positive constructive peaceful action to show governments and corporations driven by greed and self interest what it truly means to be a conscious human being. Thanks again for your input and if you get time Google and check out some of Mia Farrow's son Ronan Farrows reports on the Olympics and also Human Rights watch www.hrw.org.......Love and regards Paul Robert Burton
Why do people feel
Why do people feel threatened by Falun Gong practitioners? Is there anything that could be perceived as confrontational in their actions? Is there anything that can be done to educate people about the specific practices of the Falun Gong? Is there anything the practitioners can do to help alleviate these fears? What sort of military force is being used to keep all these people imprisoned? Is Amnesty International involved? Is Catholic Relief Services involved? Why or why not? I would find out what the human rights organizations know about the violations, and learn from them what needs to be done. May God bless your good actions that they may lead to fruitful results. Please keep us posted!
Hi Forever Seeking, I will
Hi Forever Seeking,
I will attempt to answer some of your questions with what understanding I do have of the situation in China.
1. The Governing power in China is the Chinese Communist Party and I believe the main reason they feel threatened by Falun Gong practioners is that they now considerably outweigh the number of people in the Communist Party. Like in any leadership situation
this is a major concern. It is also worth noting that the Chinese Government is not an elected Government, i.e as I understand it was not voted in by the people.
The Falun Gong practise is based on three fundamental precepts Truth,Compassion & Forbearance (Zhen Shan Ren). Their focus is on moral integrity. Although not strictly
speaking a religion, the practise is in complete concord with the Teachings of Jesus
and Buddha etc as i understand them. That is to always be truthful, to exhibit great compassion for all creation and to tolerate or Forbear in times of difficulty.
The military force used to keep them imprisoned is the Chinese Military. There is a specific sector of this army called i believe the 610 Office, similar in many ways to the
Gestapo in Nazi Germany. Orders concerning the persecution of Falun Gong come from this Office but are fully supported by the Chinese Government.
Amnesty international is aware of the the persecution but like many global organisations
somewhat powerless to intervene at this point. Unfortunately owing to the huge economic
interests of many Countries, Governments and Corporations (i.e the up and coming Olympics etc etc) many of these organisations would rather turn a blind eye to the evidence presented.
Because of severe restrictions in China, many organisations like The Red Cross etc have not been allowed access to the concentration camps referred to by the Chinese Government
as Labour/re-education facilities. There have been numerous reports from the few practioners that have escaped to support all this information and as I mentioned before
(see other responses, ie http//organharvestinvestigation.net)
there is heaps of information compiled by many individuals to support all of this information.
Unfortunately when large human rights organisations like for example the united nations
become powerless to help with situations like Iraq, the last four years of Genocide in Darfur etc etc etc etc etc, not withstanding the now eight year persecution of Falun Gong. I have asked for suggestions from good hearted individuals like yourself as I feel the advice from other moral based, spiritual, religious communities and individuals will help me understand how I can more effectively help contribute in a constructive manner to make this world a better place. Thankyou again for your input, every response to my ethical debate helps re-afirm to me that there are many good hearted people from all different places on this planet, this alone helps so much.
regards Paul Robert Burton
This is a true horror story.
This is a true horror story. It is also true that the immensely powerful Chinese government is afraid of these prisoners of conscience. Even tortured and mutilated they remain in their prisons more powerful than the millions who quietly go along. I have spoken to many Falun Gong members asking what I could do to help. Their answer is always the same:tell someone. You have done that today.
Certainly the group that could speak powerfully against these atrocities is Amnesty International, but we're supposed to condemn them because they claim freedom of conscience for women victimized by rape as a weapon of war. Ironic.
Mr. Burton, you are
Mr. Burton, you are indeed doing the right thing! Anytime one person brings attention to an issue, he has an effect similar to a stone making ripples in a pond. He may not believe he is making much of an impact. However, in time his efforts bear much fruit.
I would urge all readers of this website to write letters to the nearest Chinese embassy in order to complain about the treatment of members of the Falun Gong. I would also urge you to contact your own government representatives and ask them to find ways to pressure China to treat its dissidents humanely. In addition, write letters to the various corporations (American, Australian, British, etc.) who have set up shop in China. Threaten to boycott their products if they do not use their influence to obtain better conditions for China's persectuted prisoners.
Finally, pray to our Father in heaven, that China's leaders will have a "road to Damascus" conversion of the heart!
Thankyou Vandar for your
Thankyou Vandar for your input, very heartening I must say. It is a great comfort to
know that there are individuals in the world who share my feelings on such issues.Your support and those of others like you gives me the strength to persevere with my work.
It is a wonderful feeling to believe that despite what religious background, race, country etc etc we come from, matters of Conscience and heart are infact all ONE.
If any of your associates require information on the actual realities of the situation
in China, which I must say are truly horrific. There is an excellent report by David Matas (International Human Rights Lawyer) & David Kilgour (Canadian Crown Prosecutor)
at http://organharvestinvestigation.net
Thankyou again for your support and like yourself I pray that our whole global community
will have a "road to damascus" conversion of heart.
Love and regards Paul www.artisticinnovations.com.au
What should we do about
What should we do about black sites and rendition?
I am not exactly part of the
I am not exactly part of the Catholic community in that I am not Catholic, but I would like to reply to your concerns.
I think it is very difficult to know exactly how these incidents in China are met by the Chinese government. It would be one situation if the Chinese government really endorses the abuses you list, and another if it is perceived to endorse them because it does not prevent the type of depravity that some people exhibit when they are given a certain degree of authority.
The latter is the situation in the US, for example, with regard to secret prisons, torture, etc., all supposedly necessary to prevent terrorist attacks on the home turf. Since "we, the people" are the government and these things are being done by government employees without our full knowledge, the right approach is to raise awareness as you are doing.
In China, where the people are under the thumb of their ruling party and do not have the freedom to express their displeasure in safe and effective ways, it may be more appropriate to view doing business with them as an act of mercy toward the citizens who are oppressed.
Hi Marie and thanks for your
Hi Marie and thanks for your input.
In response to your comments, I don't believe it is difficult to know how this situation is met by the Chinese government,the practise of Falun Gong is illegal in China. The Labour/re-education facilities have also been set up by this same Government and are run predominantly I believe by the Chinese Military. The Persecution of Falun Gong was instigated by the Chinese Government and as i mentioned before there are at least 300,000
prisoners of conscience currently held captive in these facilities by the Chinese Government. If you require information to support any of these figures there is an excellent report put together by international Human Rights Lawyer David Matas and Canadian Crown Prosecutor David Kilgour at http://organharvestinvestigation.net
There is also plenty of information on the reporters without borders website www.rsf.org
and many many other places.
In response to your last comment. I'm not sure how I can view doing business with a Government that committs this kind of mass scale Genocide as an act of mercy towards its opressed citizens. I of course don't want to cause any suffering to innocent Chinese workers trying to survive in this world, but I feel it's time for some kind of positive, constructive action. Look at what is happening in Darfur, and while we all watch an even larger mass scale genocide is happening in China, and we are holding the Olympic games with this same regime. How can the Olympic Charter and genocide exist together ?
Hope this helps..............regards Paul Robert Burton.
I just finished reading the
I just finished reading the report referenced above, which included info about the people who called the hospitals in China (speaking Mandarin or other languages) and posing as relatives or potential patients asking for Falun Gong transplants from the "transplant department".
Apparently Falun Gong (because of their clean way of life) are sought-after donors. I could not believe what I read; it was incredible and horrible. Perhaps we should offer to withdraw from Trade, from the Olympics, etc.
When I think of how everyone "flocked" to the Chinese Exhibits all oer the U.S. of the "wonderful, real human bodies-in-action" only to discover they actually WERE "real"---did anyone "wonder" where they had come from, besides China? Perhaps they were persecuted Falun Gong.
Thanks, Mr. Burton, for bringing this up. You may be certain I will make your concerns, and mine, known.