Illegal human organ harvesting is a booming industry in China.The annual turnover of China’s illegal human organ transplantation industry is over $ 1 billion.
In the past few years, China has emerged as a tourist centre for organ transplantation at international level. Thousands of people go there for organ transplantation. But they do not know where these organs come from. It is surprising that the waiting period for organ transplantation in China is very low – only a few weeks. In other countries, it takes years to find a matching organ. So how is this possible?
It seems incredible, but for organ transplantation in China, the organs come not only from the prisoners who received death penalty, but also from a large number of imprisoned Falun Gong practitioners. The annual turnover of China’s illegal human organ transplantation industry is over $ 1 billion.It has been revealed by independent investigations that the Chinese government, in collusion with government hospitals, is involved in the crime of illegal human organ trafficking. Thousands of Falun Gong practitioners have been killed in this inhuman act.
A doctors group awarded for exposing organ harvesting crimes in China
This is significant for India that prestigious Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice for 2019 was given to Dr.Torsten Trey, Founder of DAFOH (Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting). This awardis a validation of commendable work done by DAFOH in exposing China’s illegal forced organ harvesting from innocent people who are followers of Falun Gong—a peaceful exercise and meditation practice.
On the day of award ceremony, a young student moved by the organ trafficking issue in China asked what she could do to help. Dr. Trey said to a thunderous applause, “Take a simple souvenir postcard like those that you can buy in your city and send it to the President of China, with the text: “Falun Gong is good. Stop forced organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners.”
Fundamental human rights are enshrined in Constitution of India. Unfortunately, this kind of freedom is not available in our neighbouring country China.In China, Tibetan Buddhists, Uighur Muslims, House Christians and practitioners of Falun Gong meditation system are facing severe persecution for many years.
Persecution of Falun Gong in China
Falun Gong (also called Falun Dafa) is an ancient spiritual practice based on Buddha and Tao schools. This is a complete system of mind and body which consists of five gentle and effective exercises, but stress is given on cultivation of moral character. Falun Gong was started in 1992 by Mr. Li Hongzhi in China. Today it is being practiced in more than 114 countries around the world.
Due to its health benefits and spiritual teachings, Falun Gong became so popular in China that by 1999, 7 to 10 Crore people started practicing it. The membership of the Chinese Communist Party was 6 Crore at that time. The then Chinese premier Jiang Zemin considered Falun Gong a threat to his sovereignty and despite its peaceful nature, banned it on July 20, 1999.
For the last 20 years, Falun Gong practitioners are facing torture, murder, brainwash, imprisonment, rape, forced labour, propaganda, condemnation, looting, and economic deprivation in China. The scope of torture is huge and the number of cases registered by human rights organizations is in tens of thousands.
Why is it relevant to India?
Ideology and policies of the Chinese Communist Party contradict everything that represents an ancient culture and modern democracy like India. China has a lot to learn from India. India should condemn human rights abuses in China. Awarding of Mother Teresa Memorial Award for Social Justice for 2019 to an organization which is raising awareness about human rights crimes in China is a step in right direction. India and world needs to play more decisive role in ending illegal human organ harvesting in China. This thinking can give India the stance of a world leader.
Rekha R.P-Coordinator
