Human Rights torch relay stop in Missoula spotlights alleged abuses in China, local support

The Human Rights Torch relay made a stop in Missoula on an international campaign calling attention to alleged human-rights abuses in China.

Organizers Catherine Combs and Laurie Gorham opened the event, which they said is part of a relay “making stops on 6 continents in over a 50 cities and 37 countries” to press for better treatment of people inside China. Combs introduced a lineup of local and visiting speakers who described persecution of religious groups and urged continued public pressure ahead of and during the Beijing Olympics.

The event’s principal speaker on Falun Gong, Heather Ming, identified herself as a practitioner and said she spoke “representing 100,000,000 Falun Gong practitioners, the majority of which are in China.” Ming described years of reported repression and told the audience that “they have been harvesting organs from living Falun Gong practitioners, selling the organs for profit, and then cremating their bodies to destroy the evidence.” She said the claim was reported in March 2006 and that “independent investigations have been conducted by a team of Canadian human rights lawyers, and reports have been published concluding that the organ harvesting is indeed taking place.”

Mayor John Engen addressed the gathering briefly, saying he empathized with people suffering under human-rights abuses worldwide and expressing hope the relay could continue despite windy conditions: “I think we're doing a good thing. Nice to see you all today. And I hope the wind calms, the torch remains lighted, and the relay can be used.”

Elizabeth Tomlinson spoke about persecution of Christians in China and placed those claims in a broader argument about state control of religion. She described the Chinese Patriotic Association as a state-controlled institution and said that “at this moment, every bishop in communist China is either in prison, under house arrest, or under surveillance.” She urged attendees, “As Christians, we must refuse to be silent.” Tomlinson also directed listeners to the Voice of the Martyrs and the Cardinal Kung Foundation for further information.

Randy Cox, a Missoula trial lawyer and member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, connected the relay to a professional award his organization presented to Chinese human-rights lawyer Gao Gejang. Cox quoted the national president of his group, saying, “we are all hopeful that Gao's courage in standing up to the communist regime will bring about positive change for the Chinese people in the area of human rights.” Cox described Gao as under house arrest and unable to practice law as of February 2005.

Organizers also read letters of support from federal elected officials. A letter from U.S. Sen. John Tester, read at the event, said in part: “The record in China is especially grim. The Chinese government's recent crackdown on protesters in Tibet is unacceptable, and that is why events like this are so important.” Jackie Anderson, identified as present from the congressman’s office, read a message signed “Sincerely, Danny Reberg,” expressing similar support.

The program included local elements: a children’s poetry contest (winners announced and some poems read aloud), musical performances by University of Montana students Ginny Hunt and Tracy Kutzlev, and displays and booths noted by organizers. Organizers asked attendees to visit informational booths and to take paper lotus flowers provided at the event.

Speakers framed their remarks as appeals to the public and to international institutions; the transcript records no formal motions or governmental actions taken at the Missoula stop. Multiple presenters characterized the allegations about organ harvesting and other abuses as documented by external investigators or human-rights groups; those characterizations were presented to attendees as the speakers’ claims or summaries of reports rather than as adjudicated legal findings.