May 2, 2006
Some people concerned about inhumane practices the Chinese government is alleged to be committing sought support in Lindsay on April 26.
The SOS car tour to Condemn Organ Harvest Camp in China stopped at City Hall to seek the municipality's support in calling for an investigation into allegations that prisoners - particularly practitioners of Falun Gong - are being killed by the Chinese government for their organs, which are then sold for transplants.
"It's such a heinous kind of crime. It has to be addressed," said Michael Pawlett, one of SOS group.
The group also accuses the Chinese government of sending Falun Gong practitioners to concentration camps after people came forward last month claiming to be witnesses of the camps.
Falun Gong involves meditation, exercises and teachings bases on the principles of truthfulness, compassion and tolerance. It is illegal in China.
Hundreds of Falun Gong practitioners rallied on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on April 3 to call on the Canadian government to seek an international investigation into the allegations against China. Seven MPs representing all four parties spoke at the rally.
The SOS group dropped off a letter at City Hall addressed to Mayor Barbara Kelly.
The letter requests council co-sign a letter addressed to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Minister of Foreign Affair Peter MacKay asking them to call for an investigation into the allegations It also asks council to pass a resolution to condemn the "Genocide and Nazi-like atrocities" China is accused of.
All of the SOS members who came to town are from the Toronto area. The car tour had been to more than 20 communities in southern Ontario and is scheduled to travel to northern Ontario this week.
Protester Michael Pawlett was among a handful of people who showed up as part of the SOS car tour to seek the city's support in calling for an end to organ harvesting.
Category: Falun Dafa in the Media