Olympics and genocide cannot co-exist In China

May 23, 2007 - PRLog -- Statement from The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China

In order to win the right to host the 2008 Olympics, the Chinese regime promised to improve human rights in China.  However, recent reports from UNHRC and Amnesty International have clearly proven that the human rights situation in China is deteriorating; particular hard hit is the community of Falun Gong practitioners.

The Olympic Charter states in part: "the goal of the Olympics is to place sports everywhere at the service of a harmonious development of man, with a view to encouraging the establishment of a peaceful society concerned with preservation of human dignity. To this effect, the Olympic Movement engages, alone or in cooperation with other organizations and within the limits of its means, in actions to promote peace" (Olympic Charter, Article 3)

Safeguarding human dignity and humanity is a universal and foundation of the Olympics. Since the Communist regime began its full-scale crackdown on Falun Gong, from 20 July 1999 to 21 May 2007, 3034 deaths due to the persecution have been confirmed by overseas reports, despite strict information blockades. UN Special Rapporteur Nowak reported in March 2007 that Falun Gong practitioners accounted for 66% of victims of alleged torture while in government custody.

Witnesses have come forward one after another since 9 March 2006, confirming that the communist regime has built special camps to incarcerate Falun Gong practitioners; a large number of practitioners have had organs removed while still alive, and their bodies cremated.

Reports published by Canada's human rights lawyer David Matas and former Canadian Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific David Kilgour on 6 July 2006 and 31 January 2007  supported these allegations (http://organharvestinvestigation.net).

Some observers estimated that Falun Gong adherents constituted at least half of the 250,000 officially recorded inmates in China's reeducation-through-labor camps today. There are also others who are incarcerated in different types of detention facilities.

The Falun Gong genocide is undoubtedly the worst human rights disaster in current day China. If this genocide does not stop, claims by the government that is making improvements are only window dressing gestures aimed at manipulating international communities. If this genocide does not stop, China is not fit to host the 2008 Olympics. The Olympics and crimes against humanity cannot coexist!

The four Chapters of CIPFG (The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China), with over 300 members in Australia, Asia, Europe and north America, from politics, legal and medical professions, human rights and other non-government organizations, have written separately in 2006 to relevant bodies of the People’s Republic Of China government or its overseas agencies. Not a single response has been received.

We hereby urge the PRC authorities once again, to:
1. Stop the persecution of Falun Gong immediately and release all practitioners incarcerated for their faith.

2. Stop the persecution of friends and supporters and defense lawyers of Falun Gong practitioners (e.g. Gao Zhisheng, Li Hong).

3. Allow unfettered inspections by independent investigators from the international community to confirm (1) and (2) above, and be exonerated from the continuing live organ harvesting allegations.

If a satisfactory response to our requests are not received on or before 8 August 2007, we will support a public effort from around the globe to boycott the 2008 Olympics.

Signatories:
Senator Andrew Bartlett
Edmund Rice Centre
National Civic Council
Dr. Noel Preston AM, Former Director Uniting Care Centre for Social Justice
Dr. Sev Ozdowski, Former Human Rights Commissioner

For confirmation:
Contact Peter Westmore, President, National Civic Council (02) 8338 0900, or email: pwestmore@connexus.net.au

Website: www.newsweekly.com.au