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UK Member of Parliament Eric Illsley: the Practice of Organ Harvesting from Falun Gong Practitioners Is to Be Wholly Condemned

Sept. 6, 2006 |   By UK Falun Gong Practitioner

(Clearwisdom.net) Recently, Mr. Eric Illsley, MP for Barnsley Central District, UK, wrote a letter to a Falun Gong practitioner, condemning the practice of organ harvesting from prisoners, including practitioners of Falun Gong in China. Below is the text of the letter.

Thank you again for your letter of 11th July regarding the allegations of organ harvesting from prisoners including practitioners of Falun Gong in the People’s Republic of China. I hope your recent visit to Yorkshire was successful and I am sorry I was not able to meet you.

I am very aware of this issue. My own constituents have raised the matter with me, it has been raised in Parliament and I have read a number articles dealing with the subject.

I am entirely in agreement that the practice of organ harvesting from prisoners is to be wholly condemned. It would be an incredible abuse of human rights if it proves to be true and unfortunately such is the growing evidence that at this stage I think we have to assume that these allegations can be substantiated.

As you are no doubt aware, the issue was raised by FCO ministers with Vice-Foreign Minister, Zhang Yesui in April and I understand that the Government will continue to express concern about human rights and specifically organ harvesting in China. I can quote from a recent letter from Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs Minister, Rt Hon Ian McCartney to the Foreign Affairs Committee which states: "The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically denied the allegations in a statement of 10 April. We continue to raise our concerns about human rights abuses of Falun Gong adherents in other contexts."

I hope this gives some reassurance that the Government will continue to pursue the matter with the Chinese authorities.

Yours sincerely,

Eric Illsley MP

Barnsley Central