Organ Harvesting
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Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE Research Response Number: CHN31387 Country: China Date: 14 February 2007 Keywords: China – Heilongjiang – Harbin – Falun Gong – Organ harvesting This response was prepared by the Country Research Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Questions 1. Does No 1 Harbin hospital exist and have there been any reports or allegations of organ harvesting at that hospital? 2. Any reports or allegations of organ harvesting in A’chen District, Ha’erbin, Heilongjiang China 3.Any significant protests against organ harvesting in this part of China that they applicant may have attended or would know about? 4. Details of particular hospitals or areas where it has been alleged that organ harvesting is taking place 5. If the applicant has conducted ‘research’ what sort of things might he know about? 6. Any prominent people or reports related to this topic that the applicant may be aware of. 7. Anything else of relevance. RESPONSE 1. Does No 1 Harbin hospital exist and have there been any reports or allegations of organ harvesting at that hospital? Sources indicate that ‘No 1 Harbin Hospital’ does exist. References also mention a No 1 Harbin Hospital that is affiliated with Harbin Medical University. No reports regarding organ harvesting at No 1 Harbin Hospital where found in the sources consulted. Falun Gong sources have however provided reports alleging organ harvesting activities within No.1 Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical School. Research indicates that the ‘No 1 Harbin Hospital’ does exist. The Embassy of the United States in Beijing lists the hospital including full contact details: Harbin #1 Hospital Tel: 0451.468.3684, 461.4606, 461.4636 English Speaking Contacts: Dr. Sun Wei Fu 468-3733 x5102, Dr. Chen Mi Bin (Ultrasound Room) Add: #151 Diduan Street, Daoli District 150010 (‘U.S Citizen Services: Health and Medical’ (undated), The Embassy of the United States, Beijing website, http://beijing.usembassy.gov/hospitals_in_shenyang.html – Accessed 13 February 2007 – Attachment 1). A Chinese website also provides details of Harbin No.1 Hospital and also lists Harbin No.1 Hospital Affiliated to the Harbin Medical University which has different address and contact details: HARBIN NO.1 HOSPITAL Address: 151 Diduan Street, Daoli Phone: 0451-4614936. … NO.1 HOSPITAL AFFILIATED TO HARBIN MEDICAL UNIVERSITY Address: 23 Youzheng Street, Nangang Phone: 0451-3644265 (‘Travel: Heilongjiang’ (undated) China.org website – http://www.china.org.cn/english/travel/42509.htm – Accessed 13 February 2007 – Attachment 2) The Joint Council on International Children’s Services also provide details of Harbin No 1 Hospital and Harbin Medical University No 1 Hospital: Heilong Jiang Harbin- Harbin Medical University #1 Hospital #5 Youzheng Street, Nangnang District 150086 0451-3641918, 3607924, 3641563 Harbin #1 Hospital English-speaking contacts: Dr. Sun Wei Fu 468- 3733 X5012, Dr. Chen Mi Bin (Ultrasound Room) 151 Diduan Street, Daoli District 150010 0451-4683864, 4614606, 461463 (‘Chinese Medical Sources’ (undated) The Joint Council on International Children’s Services – http://www.jcics.org/090506%20chinese%20medical%20resources.pdf – Accessed 13 February – Attachment 3). No information was found in the sources consulted regarding organ harvesting at Harbin No 1 Hospital. However Falun Gong sources have reported instances of alleged organ harvesting within the No 1 Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical University. One of the most prominent cases was that of Falun Gong Practitioner Wang Yuzhi. Ms Wang testified in an Argentinean court that she had been taken to Harbin No. 1 Medical College Hospital for blood and health exams allegedly for the purposes of organ harvesting. This is detailed in the Epoch Times interview with Ms Wang: …a lawsuit was filed in Argentina against Luo Gan, one of the key officials in the persecution of Falun Gong in China. Ms. Wang Yuzhi, a Falun Gong practitioner, attended the court trial to testify against Luo Gan. In the court, Ms. Wang stated that she almost went blind as a result of the torture she received at Wanjia Labor Camp in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province. The police from the local “610 Office” took her to four different hospitals in Harbin to perform blood tests and to checkup on the condition of her internal organs. Her testimony caused quite a stir in the court. The Epoch Times had an interview with Ms. Wang Yuzhi, one of the witnesses in the lawsuit against Luo Gan in Argentina. Reporter: You are one of the witnesses in the lawsuit against Luo Gan in Argentina. Are you giving any new details in your testimony in this lawsuit? Ms. Wang: …In addition to the cruel tortures I have suffered in Wanjia Forced Labor Camp in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, this time I gave new details about how the police from the “610 Office” took me to four different hospitals for blood tests and physical exams while I was nearly blind. They secretly checked the condition of my organs in the hospitals. After all four hospitals confirmed that all of my organs were damaged and “useless,” the “610 Office” suddenly lost its interest in me… Reporter: Could you please tell us the process where they secretly had your body and organ conditions checked during your imprisonment in Wanjia Forced Labor Camp? It was between October 2001 and March 2002 (I cannot remember the exact day….the police from the “610 Office” took me to four different famous hospitals in Harbin for physical exam, including Harbin Public Security Hospital, Heilongjiang No. 2 Hospital, Harbin No. 1 Medical College Hospital and Harbin No. 2 Medical College Hospital. Each time they drew my blood for a blood test. When I resisted giving a blood sample, I was subjected to beatings. Then the police ordered the doctors to give me an anesthesia injection. On October 25 and 26, 2001, Harbin Public Security Hospital gave me the first general health exam. I also saw several other Falun Gong practitioners receiving health exams in the adjacent rooms. They were all young male practitioners. We were shocked to see each other here. All of us distributed truth-clarification materials in Harbin. We didn’t know each other’s name, but we recognized each other’s faces. We were confused, not knowing what would happen to us next. The police quickly separated us. After I was released, I searched for them for years, but there has been no sign of them. One day in March 2002… I was transferred from Harbin No. 2 Medical College Hospital to Harbin No. 1 Medical College Hospital. They checked my eyes, throat, trachea, five sense organs and brain. Brainwave sensors were taped to my wrists and the back of my head. … I waited for the health exam results at Harbin No.1 College Hospital. The doctor finally announced, “There are problems with her cell tissue. Her pulse shows up at random. Her heart beats at random.” In short, my body was “useless.” In order to treat my illness, the hospital demanded about 50,000 yuan from my family. However, the “610 Office” suddenly lost interest in me when the doctor said I would be a useless “walking dead person” even if I recovered. Following May 1, each day one policeman would disappear from my room. One night the remaining policemen told me, “In your condition, it does not matter where we leave you. If you survive, go back and look for your family. If you are dead, you will be cremated.” Later they just abandoned me in the hospital. I was in disbelief that all the policemen left the hospital on May 8. Reporter: Has the organ trade taken place in the labor camps in China’s provinces, cities and municipalities that imprison Falun Gong practitioners? Are the victims of organ harvests mostly those practitioners who refuse to give the police their names or those who were imprisoned in forced labor camps? Ms. Wang: I have been thinking about this question since I recalled the secret checkup on the condition of my organs. The Chinese communist regime not only harvests organs from those Falun Gong practitioners who refuse to give their names or who were kidnapped, but also practitioners like me. I have a husband and siblings. They all know I was imprisoned and knew the location of Wanjia Forced Labor Camp. They even knew that I have family members outside of China. But when I was dying, the communist regime was preparing to remove my organs for sale! Bases my case, I believe the organ trade from living human beings must be well known in China. At least such a beastly action must be an open secret within China’s “610 Office!” (Liu Yuan 2006 ‘Wanjia Forced Labor Camp Examined Falun Gong Practitioner’s Organ Conditions Four Times’ Epoch Times website, 12April – http://en.epochtimes.com/news/6-4- 12/40362.html – Accessed 13 February 2007 – Attachment 4). A Falun Gong source reported on a heart transplant conducted by Harbin Medical University in 2000 which they claim may be related to live organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners: Retirement Life, a magazine published by the Heilongjiang Party Committee Elderly Official Division, carried a series of articles beginning in July 2006 entitled, “A Story of a Heart Transplant Patient.” CCTV also covered this story in 2006, in a program called Senior Life. The story, as well as information on the Internet, has many suspicious points. I think it may be related to live organ harvesting from Falun Dafa practitioners. If so, this could be one of the earliest cases of harvesting hearts from those who practise Falun Dafa.