Australia: Forums on China's Laws and Human Rights Issues Focus on CCP Atrocities

On September 4th, 2007, two forums on the subject of "China's Law and Human Rights" were held at Australian National University and the Australian Capital Territory. The main speakers of the forums were Mr. David Kilgour, former Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) for Canada, and Mr. David Matas, a renowned human rights lawyer. They made speeches on China's human rights and introduced their report on the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners.

The audience listened attentively

Mr. Kilgour talked with a student

Mr. Kilgour talked with Dr. Deb Foskey, a member of the Legislative Assembly

David Matas pointed out that he and Mr. Kilgour conducted investigations into allegations of the CCP's organ harvesting of incarcerated Falun Gong practitioners. They measured the evidence on the basis of 33 proofs and disproofs. All evidence pointed to the same conclusion: live organ harvesting exists in China and continues today. Since the release of their report in July last year, the CCP has not issued any concrete rebuttal, even though it has powerful state mechanisms and extensive resources.

Mr. Kilgour also briefly talked about the CCP's atrocities of live organ harvesting. He mentioned that, based on reliable information from an Australian doctor, the market for Australians going to China for organ transplants had collapsed after the exposure of the CCP's live organ harvesting. It indicated that China's previous organ harvesting was problematic.

The two forums were attended by government officials, university faculty, and students, as well as members of the public who have been paying attention to China's laws and human rights. The forum at Australian National University was hosted by Professor Kim Rubenstein, Director of the Center for International and Public Law, and held in a conference hall of the College of Law library. The hall was filled with forum participants. Some attendees stood behind the last row of seats and at the doors. The forum in the Australian Capital Territory was hosted by Dr. Deb Foskey, a member of the Legislative Assembly

Several news media in Canberra, including TV9, 2CA, 2CC, and Qbn FM radio broadcasting stations, covered the event in their reports.