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Ethan Gutmann

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Ethan Gutmann
Ethan Gutmann outside the Palace of Westminster, London, 2010
Ethan Gutmann outside the Palace of Westminster, London, 2010
Born (1958-09-13) 13 September 1958 (age 66)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
OccupationInvestigative writer
Nationality
  • USA
  • UK
EducationColumbia University (BA, MIA)
SubjectChina human rights
Website
ethan-gutmann.com

Ethan Gutmann (born September 13, 1958) is an American writer, researcher, author, and a senior research fellow in China Studies at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation[1][2] whose work has investigated surveillance and organ harvesting in China.[3]

Early life and education

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Gutmann was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Wallingford, Vermont. He has lived in Mexico and Israel.

Gutmann graduated from Cranbrook Boys' School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, and earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of International Affairs at Columbia University.[4][5]

Investigations of China

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Gutmann's writing on China includes two books, Losing the New China: A Story of American Commerce, Desire and Betrayal and The Slaughter: Mass Killings, Organ Harvesting, and China's Secret Solution to Its Dissident Problem.[6] He also co-authored an extensive report on China's annual transplant volume, Bloody Harvest/The Slaughter: An Update.[7]

Gutmann has testified before the U.S. Congress,[8][9] the European Parliament, and the United Nations.[6]

He is a co-founder of the International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China (ETAC)[10] and is a China Studies research fellow at the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.[1]

Golden Shield surveillance

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In 2011, two lawsuits citing Gutmann's work were filed in U.S. federal courts against Cisco Systems, alleging that its technology enabled the government of China to monitor, capture, and kill Chinese adherents of the Falun Gong new religious movement. Evidence of Cisco's activities in China had become public in Gutmann's book Losing the New China: A Story of American Commerce, Desire and Betrayal.[11] In 2014, the federal district court in San Jose dismissed the case, saying the plaintiffs failed to prove that Cisco was aware of its products being used for oppression.[12]

Organ harvesting in China

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Main articles: Organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners in China and Persecution of Falun Gong § Organ harvesting

From 2006, Gutmann wrote articles about organ harvesting.[13][14][15] In 2012, "State Organs: Transplant Abuse in China", was published with essays from six medical professionals, David Matas and Gutmann.[16][17][18][19]

Gutmann wrote that he interviewed over 100 witnesses including Falun Gong survivors, doctors, policemen, and camp administrators.[20] He estimated that 65,000 Falun Gong practitioners were killed for their organs from 2000 to 2008,[6][21][20] and that between 450,000 and 1 million Falun Gong practitioners were detained at any given time.[22][23][24][25] Gutmann told the Toronto Star in 2014 that in total "the number of casualties is close to 100,000".[6] While widely accepted by Congress,[26] Gutmann's numbers were disputed by the Washington Post, which relied on methods assuming accurate reporting of drug production and use in China.[27]

Gutmann was one of the key interviewees in Human Harvest, a 2014 Peabody Award winning documentary on organ harvesting in China, as well as the PBS documentary Hard to Believe (2015).[28]

In August 2014, Gutmann wrote The Slaughter: Mass Killings, Organ Harvesting, and China's Secret Solution to Its Dissident Problem,[25] which described China's organ transplant business and its connection with internment camps and killing fields for arrested dissidents, especially the adherents of Falun Gong. The new book, which took seven years, was based on interviews with top-ranking police officials, former prisoners of conscience and Chinese doctors who killed prisoners on the operating table. Gutmann interviewed dissidents including of Falun Gong, Tibetans, Uyghurs and House Christians.[21]

In 2016, Gutmann, David Kilgour, and David Matas authored an updated investigative report on China's organ harvesting from prisoners of conscience.[29] The 700-page report contained information on transplant statistics sourced to Chinese hospitals' publications and other Chinese primary sources.[29][30][31][32][33]

Gutmann has said that China is organ harvesting from Uyghurs in its prison camps in the Xinjiang region. In November 2020, Gutmann told Radio Free Asia that a hospital in Aksu, China,[34] allowing local officials to streamline the organ harvesting process and provide a steady stream of harvested organs from Uyghurs.[1] Gutmann told Haaretz that individuals detained in the Xinjiang internment camps "are being murdered and their organs harvested", that at least 25,000 Uyghurs are killed in Xinjiang for their organs each year, that crematoria have been built throughout the province to dispose of victims' bodies, and that China has created “fast lanes” for the movement of human organs in local airports.[1] In Congressional testimony, Gutmann estimated that 2.5 to 5 percent of Uyghur detainees have been selected for organ harvesting in the camps.[35] The estimate was used by Congressman Chris Smith in support of the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2023.[36]

Controversies in Taiwan

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Main article: Ko Wen-je § Organ harvesting controversy

2014 Taipei mayoral election

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During the 2014 Taipei City mayoral election there was controversy about what Gutmann's book, The Slaughter: Mass Killings, Organ Harvesting, and China's Secret Solution to Its Dissident Problem, published in August 2014, said about mayoral candidate Ko Wen-je, particularly that Ko had acted as an intermediary between mainland Chinese transplant hospitals and his Taiwanese patients. Gutmann stated he had not said that Ko was involved in the organ trade and that he might have been misinterpreted.[37] On 27 November, Gutmann released a legal response with lawyer Clive Ansley, stating that "no English-speaking reader to date has understood for one moment that Dr. Ko was acting as an organ broker" and "Mr. Gutmann believes, and we think his book demonstrates, that Dr. Ko has acted honourably".[38]

On 29 November, Ko won the election. A full explanation, including the actual email correspondence where Ko signed off on the story for publication, was provided by Gutmann in December.[39][40][41]

2018 Taipei mayoral election

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In the 2018 Taipei City mayoral election, there was a controversy regarding Gutmann's book and his statement in 2014. In a news conference in Taipei on 2 October 2018, Gutmann was asked if he had changed his mind about Ko, in which he answered “yes”.[42] Gutmann showed a group photograph of Ko attending a conference on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation training in China and said Ko had told him he knew about organ harvesting of Falun Gong members in 2005, but Gutmann had discovered that the conference took place only three months before he interviewed Ko. “Dr. Ko did not say explicitly what he did in the mainland,” Gutmann said, adding that Ko did not tell him whether he was making money or arranging for patients to receive organ transplants in China. During the news conference, Gutmann was asked if said he thought Ko was a liar. He replied “yes”, was sued by Ko and was subpoenaed on 5 October 2018.[43]

Before the publication of the book, Gutmann sent a letter to Ke Wenzhe to confirm that it was correct. Ke Wenzhe replied "The story seems OK" and "I can take responsibility for what I say". As a result of this disclosure the Taipei District Prosecutor's Office announced on 27 August 2020 that it would not prosecute due to insufficient charges.[44][45][46] Ko Wenzhe then stated about Gutmann "You have come to Taiwan, so how come you have no intention of committing any crime?"[47][48]

Views

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Falun Gong issues

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In 2012 Gutmann stated, "There is a long-standing taboo in the journalism community about Falun Gong, about this issue [organ harvesting]. To touch this issue is the Third Rail of journalism. If you touch it—if you are in Beijing, if you are based in China—you will not be given access to top leaders anymore."[9][49]

Uyghur issues

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In 2021 Gutmann stated, “A woman gave a confidential interview where she described a health check in her camp followed by three women disappearing in the middle of the night over the next week. To rule out sexual slavery, I explained that I was going to ask her an impolite question: ‘were these women beautiful? Were they sexually attractive?’ She responded, ‘It is not nice to say this, but, no, they were not.’ ‘How would you describe them, then? Did they have anything in common?’ ‘They were healthy’, she replied.”[50][51][52][53][54]

Reception

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Books

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Jay Nordlinger, a senior editor of National Review, wrote that Gutmann's 2004 book Losing the New China: A Story of American Commerce, Desire and Betrayal "was about the sordid relationship between the American business community and the Chinese Communist Party. Our businessmen accommodate themselves to the Communist Party, and turn a blind eye to persecution." Sometimes they even assist the persecution, as when Cisco and other technology companies devised special ways to monitor and arrest Falun Gong practitioners".[21]

Nordlinger called Gutmann's 2014 book The Slaughter: Mass Killings, Organ Harvesting, and China's Secret Solution to Its Dissident Problem "another atom bomb".[21]

Books

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  • Losing the New China: A Story of American Commerce, Desire, and Betrayal, (2004) ISBN 978-1893554832
  • The Slaughter: Mass Killings, Organ Harvesting and China's Secret Solution to Its Dissident Problem, (2014) ISBN 978-1616149406

Documentaries

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Gutmann appeared in Transmission 6–10 (2009),[55] Red Reign: The Bloody Harvest of China's Prisoners (2013),[56] Human Harvest (2014) and Hard to Believe (2015)[57]

Awards

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Gutmann's first book Losing the New China won the "Spirit of Tiananmen" award from the Visual Artists Guild,[58] was listed as one of The New York Sun's "Books of the Year"[59] and won the "Chan's Journalism Award".[58] In 2017, Gutmann was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize, according to articles in Haaretz and The Journal.ie.[60][61]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Stravrou, David (3 December 2020). "China's 'XXX Files': '25 Thousand People Disappear Each Year, Their Organs Are Harvested'". Haaretz. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  2. ^ "Ethan Gutmann". Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.
  3. ^ "Congressional Testimony:Organ Harvesting of Religious and Political Dissidents by the Chinese Communist Party" (PDF). Ethan Gutmann. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. 12 September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 September 2012. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  4. ^ "CUSIB Welcomes Ethan Gutmann to Advisory Board". Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting. 2012-09-28. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  5. ^ "Ethan Gutmann". June 2017.
  6. ^ a b c d Barbara Turnbull (21 October 2014) "Q&A: Author and analyst Ethan Gutmann discusses China's illegal organ trade", the Toronto Star
  7. ^ BLOODY HARVEST / THE SLAUGHTER – An Update 27 November 2014, newtalk.tw
  8. ^ Ethan Gutmann "China's Policies Toward Spiritual Movements", Congressional-Executive Commission on China Roundtable discussion, cecc.gov, 18 June 2010
  9. ^ a b "Organ Harvesting of Religious and Political Dissidents by the Chinese Communist Party" Archived 2016-09-07 at the Wayback Machine, Hearing before two subcommittees of the Committee on Foreign Affairs House of Representatives, archives.republicans.foreignaffairs.house.gov, 12 September 2012
  10. ^ McKay, Hollie (2020-07-28). "Activists push for investigation over claims China is forcibly harvesting organs of Uighur population". Fox News. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
  11. ^ "Suit Claims Cisco Helped China Pursue Falun Gong", The New York Times, 22 May 2011
  12. ^ Wadsworth, Jennifer (24 May 2017). "Lawsuit Accuses Cisco of Complicity in Oppression Abroad". San Jose Inside. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  13. ^ Ethan Gutmann (8 May 2006) "Why Wang Wenyi Was Shouting" Archived 2015-10-09 at the Wayback Machine, The Weekly Standard
  14. ^ Ethan Gutmann (24 November 2008) "China's Gruesome Organ Harvest" Archived 2021-01-15 at the Wayback Machine, The Weekly Standard
  15. ^ "Bitter Harvest: China's 'Organ Donation' Nightmare"[usurped], World Affairs Journal July/August 2012
  16. ^ "State Organs: Introduction" Archived 2013-05-27 at the Wayback Machine seraphimeditions.com
  17. ^ Rebeca Kuropatwa (19 September 2012) "New Matas book reveals transplant abuse" Archived April 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, Jewish Tribune (Canada)
  18. ^ Mark Colvin (27 November 2012) "Parliament to hear evidence of transplant abuse in China", Australian Broadcasting Corporation
  19. ^ David Matas, Dr. Torsten Trey (2012) State Organs, Transplant Abuse in China Archived 2015-02-24 at the Wayback Machine, seraphimeditions.com p. 144
  20. ^ a b Viv Young (11 August 2014) "The Slaughter: Mass Killings, Organ Harvesting, and China's Secret Solution to Its Dissident Problem", New York Journal of Books
  21. ^ a b c d Jay Nordlinger (25 August 2014) "Face The Slaughter: The Slaughter: Mass Killings, Organ Harvesting, and China's Secret Solution to Its Dissident Problem, by Ethan Gutmann", National Review
  22. ^ Julia Duin (27 April 2010) "Chinese accused of vast trade in organs", The Washington Times
  23. ^ Ethan Gutmann, "The China Conundrum", The Jewish Policy Center, inFocus, Winter 2010
  24. ^ Ethan Gutmann (10 March 2011) "How many harvested?" revisited Archived 2011-12-20 at the Wayback Machine eastofethan.com
  25. ^ a b Ethan Gutmann (August 2014) The Slaughter: Mass Killings, Organ Harvesting and China's Secret Solution to Its Dissident Problem "Average number of Falun Gong in Laogai System at any given time" Low estimate 450,000, High estimate 1,000,000 p 320. "Best estimate of Falun Gong harvested 2000 to 2008" 65,000 p 322. amazon.com
  26. ^ "H. Res. 343, Expressing concern regarding persistent and credible reports of systematic, state-sanctioned organ harvesting from non-consenting prisoners of conscience in the People's Republic of China, including from large numbers of Falun Gong practition". House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. 16 March 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  27. ^ Denyer, Simon (15 September 2017). "China used to harvest organs from prisoners. Under pressure, that practice is finally ending". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  28. ^ Northam, Holly Louise (30 March 2016). "Hard to Believe". Journal of Bioethical Inquiry. 13 (2): 353–356. doi:10.1007/s11673-016-9717-1. PMC 4919373. PMID 27029052.
  29. ^ a b Tatlow, Didi Kirsten (2016-08-24). "Angry Claims and Furious Denials Over Organ Transplants in China". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  30. ^ "Report alleges China killing thousands to harvest organs". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  31. ^ "China is 'transplanting organs of executed prisoners'". The Times. June 23, 2016. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  32. ^ James Griffiths (23 June 2016). "Report: China is still harvesting organs from prisoners". CNN. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  33. ^ "China 'carrying out over 60,000 illegal organ transplants annually'". The Independent. 2016-06-28. Retrieved 2017-03-21.
  34. ^ "Internment Camps in Xinjiang's Aksu Separated by Crematorium — Radio Free Asia".
  35. ^ "Forced Organ Harvesting in China: Examining the Evidence". YouTube. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  36. ^ Wildstein, David (28 February 2023). "Rep. Chris Smith testimony on forced organ harvesting in China". Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  37. ^ "Ko denies organ buying allegations", Taipei Times, 29 October 2014
  38. ^ 葛特曼律師回函 澄清柯P沒參與器官仲介 27 November 2014, newtalk.tw
  39. ^ Ethan Gutmann (19 Dec 2014) "Setting the Record Straight: The Dr. Ko Interview" (9 minutes), vimeo.com, International Coalition to End Organ Pillaging in China
  40. ^ Ethan Gutmann published Photos of Dr. Ko Wen-je's correspondence" on his webpage
  41. ^ Kao, M. Bob (24 December 2018). "How Involved Was Ko In The Chinese Organ Trade?". New Bloom Magazine. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  42. ^ 'Slaughter' author says Chinese used Taipei Mayor Ko's tech to transplant Falun Gong prisoners' organs [1] 2 October 2018, Taiwan News
  43. ^ "Ko's office asks author to explain change of stance",Taipei Times,2 October 2018
  44. ^ "Ko Wenzhe 'liar' not prosecuted Gutmann: I love Taiwan",Newtalk News,27 August 2020
  45. ^ "Ko Wenzhe is a liar and Gutmann is not prosecuted", Newtalk News,27 August 2020
  46. ^ "Case dismissed against US author alleging Taipei mayor complicit in organ harvesting", Taiwan News, 27 August 2020
  47. ^ "The 'Liar' controversy sued Gutmann for not suing Ke Wenzhe: Why didn't they commit any crimes when they came to Taiwan?", Newtalk News, 27 August 2020
  48. ^ "Court rejects Ko’s defamation case", Taipei Times, 8 September 2023
  49. ^ "Organ Harvesting Of Religious And Political Dissidents By The Chinese Communist Party, Joint Hearing Before The Subcommittee On Oversight And Investigations And The Subcommittee On Africa, Global Health, And Human Rights Of The Committee On Foreign Affairs House Of Representatives". 12 September 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  50. ^ ETAC (2021-09-24). "New Report – The Killing of Innocents for their Organs by Ethan Gutmann". The International Coalition to End Transplant Abuse in China. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  51. ^ "Uyghur Tribunal – Live Hearing 7th June 2021". YouTube. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  52. ^ "Transcript: Uyghur Tribunal – Live Hearing 7th June 2021". 7 June 2021. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  53. ^ "Who Will Be the Next Victim of Organ Harvesting after China Exhaust Falun Gong and Uyghers?", Zooming In TV, 15 July 2022
  54. ^ "Uncovering Organ harvesting in China – and the chilling implications of mass DNA testing in Tibet.", LinkedIn, September 2023
  55. ^ "Transmission 6–10: 1st Half", (52 minutes) Youtube video, 20 February 2011
  56. ^ "Red Reign trailer", (4 minutes) Youtube video, 30 July 2013
  57. ^ Northam, Holly Louise (30 March 2016). "Hard to Believe". Journal of Bioethical Inquiry. 13 (2): 353–356. doi:10.1007/s11673-016-9717-1. PMC 4919373. PMID 27029052.
  58. ^ a b "CUSIB Welcomes Ethan Gutmann to Advisory Board". Committee for U.S. International Broadcasting. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  59. ^ "Books of the Year", The New York Sun, 31 December 2004
  60. ^ Ní Aodha, Gráinne (6 July 2017). "'He was still alive': Doctor explains the reality of organ harvesting in China". The Journal. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  61. ^ Stavrou, David (4 December 2020). "China's 'XXX Files': '25 Thousand People Disappear Each Year, Their Organs Are Harvested'". Haaretz. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
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