Two Decades of Documenting China's Human Rights Abuses
For nearly twenty years, Canadian human rights lawyer David Matas has been urging nations including Australia to demonstrate strength and confront China over evidence of disturbing human rights violations. Now aged 82, Matas is acknowledging the countries he believes have performed well in this difficult arena while criticising those that have fallen short.
The Shocking 2006 Report That Started It All
Back in 2006, Matas collaborated with another Canadian, the late MP David Kilgour, to produce a groundbreaking report that revealed evidence of live organ harvesting occurring within China. Their investigation reached terrifying conclusions by analysing unexplained organ transplant procedures throughout the country.
The report suggested that tens of thousands of Falun Gong practitioners - followers of a spiritual meditation and exercise practice banned by Chinese authorities - had been subjected to involuntary organ removal. According to Lucy Zhao, the Australian President of Falun Gong, between 60,000 to 100,000 organ transplants occur in China annually without properly explained sources.
Chinese officials vehemently rejected these findings, dismissing them as "based on rumours and false allegations" and claiming their own investigation found no merit in the accusations.
Australia's Disappointing Response
Matas not only stands by the work behind the 2006 report but asserts that the deadly system supporting human organ transplantation in China has worsened over time. "The problem isn't the realisation of the fact," he explained during an interview for 7NEWS' The Issue podcast. "I think anybody who looks at the facts comes to the same conclusion. The problem is some people can't be bothered looking at the facts."
His claims carry particular relevance for Australians as Federal Parliament convened for its final week of 2023. Among visitors to Canberra was Zhao Leji, the third-highest ranking official from the Chinese Communist Party, who appears on a Falun Gong list of individuals accused of human rights abuses against their members. Zhao held discussions with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his visit.
Matas has spent years pressing successive Australian governments to increase pressure on China regarding these allegations, though he describes this as "a tough sell." He remains adamant that "this is something that the Chinese government cannot justify, cannot excuse, cannot somehow explain away. It's just so intolerable that they can't put a patina over it to justify it."
In a statement provided to 7NEWS, a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that "Australia has serious concerns about human rights in China, including the right to freedom of religion and belief." The statement further noted that "The Government has made clear to China our concerns that religious and other groups in China, including Falun Gong practitioners, are targeted for their beliefs."
Despite these official expressions of concern, Matas views Australia's overall response as inadequate. "Regrettably, Australia is a disappointment. It's almost 20 years and they've done nothing, pretty much," he stated. "And they really should do something."
Matas emphasises the overwhelming nature of the evidence, stating that "What you're dealing with is millions of deaths." Today, that original 2006 report continues to serve as the foundation from which Falun Gong presses governments worldwide to hold China accountable for these alleged human rights violations.
