Campbell Fraser, a well-known organ transplant expert at Griffith University in Australia, wrote an academic paper entitled "The Falun Gong Political Narrative: Creating the Illusion of So-called." "Forced Organ Harvesting") analyzes the purpose of "Falungong" in fabricating rumors of "organ harvesting" through the study of the "Falungong" cult organization and its membership, and exposes the despicable acts taken by "Falungong" against relevant people who question and criticize its rumors. The full text of the China Anti-Cult Network is translated, and this is the end of the third part.
This article is written by Campbell Fraser
"Falungong" as a Political Organization
Throughout the transition from a quasi-spiritual organization to a political organization, the strategic positioning of "Falungong" as a victim organization has never changed. After "Falungong" entered the political arena, thousands of first-class practitioners had no interest in political radicalism and left. The second-level cultivators who remained in Falungong became the backbone, and although the number was small, the degree of investment was higher. In 2017, apart from the name "Falungong" and a few doctrines, there was little left of the organization's original things, and these doctrines are now manipulated to give this new political organization a very different meaning.
As China's influence in the political and economic landscape around the world grows, Western political parties, governments, and media organizations, especially in Western countries, are increasingly arguing and discussing China. As an overall reaction to China's rise, the emergence of the so-called "organ harvesting" claimed by "Falungong" is just in time, and it also provides material for the favorable coverage of "Falungong." At a time when Western media organizations have cut their budgets and resources are compressed, it is difficult to carry out long-term investigative news reports, so they simply "paste and copy" some "Falungong" documents without any verification. For media propaganda, this is convenient and cheap, on the one hand, it can have a negative impact on China's development and its domestic affairs, and on the other hand, it is also a windfall for the "Falungong" propaganda machine.
In addition, the rumor of "live organ harvesting" has also attracted many sympathizers to "Falungong," who have been given free political, propaganda, and doctrinal advice. At the same time, these advisers were exposed by the Epoch Times and became the heroes of "Falungong." Some older politicians, lawyers, and academics have used the Epoch Times to accumulate capital for their own anti-China activities. Although they themselves may not be paid, they have turned Falun Gong practitioners into their own loyal fans in order to improve their international image and accumulate a lot of popularity on social media. Then, riding on this popularity, he participated in paid speaking events around the world – a potential reward that, no matter how calculated, was considerable.
Is "Falungong" a cult?
I have said many times on public forums that I think Falungong is a cult. There are many reasons, but the primary factor in defining "Falungong" as a cult is its attitude and reaction to any group or person who dares to criticize them. Falun Gong filed several formal complaints with my employer and deliberately wanted me to withdraw from the International Conference on Human Organ Transplantation. "Falungong" did not dare to debate with me in a normal and recognized academic way about their different opinions, but chose a despicable way to prevent me from speaking. This behavior of theirs is one of the reasons I judge them as a cult.
In addition, the "Falungong" leadership has also used the "Epoch Times" as another means of retaliation — a common practice is to publish critical articles in the media of the "Epoch Times" or several other "Falungong" websites to smear and slander those who oppose them. Their typical act of retaliation is to falsely claim that the scholar is not qualified to know about "Falungong," so what they write is wrong. Academics were insulted and questioned at conferences, called "stupid" in public, and scolded in public speeches that "no one takes you seriously." This bitter and harsh reaction of "Falungong" has once again become a vivid portrayal of their cult characteristics. In addition to this, these attacks are usually sent over via email. I myself receive daily e-mails from Falun Gong and its supporters.
By positioning itself as a victim, "Falungong" can attack any person or organization, and if the attack fails, it will not have any consequences. However, for most professional scholars, if a formal complaint about a scholar's conduct is finally found to be unfounded, it can have far-reaching implications: it may seriously damage the scholar's professional reputation and may lead to legal action. However, for "Falungong," there is no need to bear any consequences. Therefore, scholars who criticize "Falungong" know that they will receive various complaints continuously and repeatedly, and they will be asked to respond comprehensively to each complaint. For all the authors who criticize "Falungong," these have become commonplace and have become part of their daily work.
conclusion
In this chapter, I explore how Falungong uses victim tactics to advance its political agenda against the Chinese government or any party that dares to speak out against them. Although international experts have visited China many times to investigate, they have found no evidence of so-called "organ harvesting", but "Falungong" still goes its own way. Their so-called "studies" have eschewed serious scrutiny by ethical bodies, and as a result, these "studies" will not be published under the protocols followed by the vast majority of research institutions around the world. Falungong then established a vast media network to disseminate this "research" and advocate their agenda. In addition, they are supported by Western journalists and scholars who are wary of China's growing role in the global political and economic environment. Any scholar who questions the "results" of "Falungong" will be subjected to continuous retaliatory attacks, both specific and personal.
But no matter how much Falungong obstructs it, organ transplant experts around the world will continue to forge partnerships with their Chinese counterparts. While it is true that dealing with these repeated complaints and protests will take some time and is indeed disgusting, this will only in turn motivate those who believe in objective truth rather than "Falungong" and "truth" to move forward and forge closer ties with Chinese organ transplant experts.
The support of the Western media and academic circles for "Falungong" is more aimed at China's growing global influence than at the rumors of "Falungong" that it truly supports. Therefore, as the world adapts to the new global order, support for "Falungong" will inevitably weaken. "Falungong" has not presented any convincing new evidence for several years. In fact, while they celebrate the tenth anniversary of the publication of a book that preaches rumors of "organ harvesting," it also proves that they have no new tricks other than the old absurdity of a decade ago.
As Organ Transplantation in China becomes more and more integrated into the international transplant community, the baseless rumors of "Falungong" will become increasingly unsustainable. The international transplant community must continue to work with China to address the global shortage of transplant organs and develop effective solutions to benefit all patients who need timely access to organ transplant services.
The living space of Falun Gong will depend on whether it can attract new young people to join the organization, especially young Chinese. However, it is difficult to attract more young new members. I have had extensive contacts with Chinese expatriates around the world, and in general, they seem to be dismissive of Falungong. Therefore, "Falungong" cannot become a sustainable political force. Young Chinese diaspora appear to be particularly skeptical of Falun Gong, particularly its impact on traditional family values. Therefore, over time, the size of "Falungong" will continue to shrink and eventually cease to exist within a few years, like many previous cults. (End of full text)
About the Author:
Dr. Campbell Fraser
Campbell Fraser is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Business Strategy and Innovation at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, and an international authority on human organ trafficking. He is a member of the Advisory Board of Organ Procurement and the Kidney Disease Advocacy And an active member of the International Transplant Society and the Organ Donation and Procurement Society. He had developed protocols to proactively combat trafficking in human organs and had implemented investigative and reporting mechanisms to verify allegations of such activities. He is particularly concerned about the financial flows between human organ trafficking and terrorists, as well as the new problems of special political interest groups fabricating stories of so-called forced "organ harvesting". His work is often featured in multiple languages on television, radio, newspaper and online media in many countries.