China was granted the right to host the Olympic Games after it pledged to
adhere to the Olympic charter and improve its human rights record. Instead, its
human rights abuses have worsened. Reports by Amnesty International, Human
Rights Watch, the U.S. State Department and respected global media sources
corroborate the Chinese government’s determination to “clean up” all forms of
dissent before the 2008 Olympics.
The global community expects the Olympic host to uphold the ideals of peace and
friendship. China’s failure to keep its human rights promises in the countdown
to the Olympics undermines these ideals and shows a complete disregard for the
suffering of countless victims at the hands of its tyrannical regime.
On June 8th 2007, CIPFG sent an open letter to China’s leaders, demanding that
the harvesting of organs from living Falun Gong practitioners stop, and CIPFG be
allowed entry into China to investigate the matter. No response was received,
therefore on 9th August 2007, exactly 1 year before the Olympics were scheduled
to be held in Beijing, the Human Rights Torch was lit in Athens, Greece. It will
host events in a total of 37 countries across six continents to present its
message: The Olympics and crimes against humanity cannot coexist in China. The
torch has received great international support and participation from media and
dignitaries from diverse fields, including over 90 government officials, over 30
Olympians and former world champion sportspersons, over 20 non-government
organisations and religious leaders.
According to Chen Yizi, former Advisor to Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang, the
Chinese Communist Party is responsible for 80 million deaths in the past 50
years. This number increases every day.
The death penalty continues, as does Persecution of peaceful religious believers
and minority groups. There is no freedom of speech, severe Internet censorship
and no rule of law
In 1936, the Nazi regime sought, and achieved, a propaganda victory at the
Berlin Olympics. We cannot allow that to happen again in Beijing.
We here and now reiterate our demands:
Stop the persecution of Falun Gong, other peaceful, innocent citizens and those
that support them, before the 2008 Olympic Games.
Allow an independent fact-finding team into China to investigate the illegal
organ harvesting matter.
Sincerely,
Global Human Rights Torch Relay volunteers