(Clearwisdom.net) The 2008 Beijing Olympics event is coming to the center of attention in circles around the world. The Chinese Communist regime promised the world it would improve its human rights record when it bid to host the 2008 Olympics. Now, seven years later, what do people see a hundred days or so before the Olympics start? That promise turned out to be merely another CCP lie, and what lies beneath it is exactly the opposite of that which was promised. Instead of improving human rights, the CCP now intensifies the violent persecution of its own people, all with the excuse of "preparing" for the Olympics.
This demonstrates one aspect of the evil nature of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) - to usurp and maintain state power by lies and violence, using lies to gloss over its violent tyranny.
Since 2001 when the CCP regime was granted the Olympics, the Olympics Games have been regarded by CCP authorities as a "whole people movement" with "politics in command." Consequently, the land of a large number of people in the countryside was taken away against their wills; homes of a great number of residents in cities were seized by violence; many Falun Gong practitioners were kidnapped, detained, tortured and even killed; dissidents, human rights defenders and appealers were arrested and beaten up; and even lawyers who defended these people were rounded up and silenced.
The Olympic Games have been used as an excuse for lessening human rights and intensifying persecution. As the Olympics approach, the persecution is becoming worse and more rampant. Today the Tibetans are being brutally suppressed, and Falun Gong practitioners suffer a new round of inhumane persecution under the latest secret directives of the CCP.
According to inside sources, on February 19, 2008, the CCP passed down secret orders from the "Central Political and Judiciary Committee." The order was titled "Suggestion on Maintaining Social Stability and Ensure Safety During the Olympics." It was sent to 40 province-level Political and Judiciary Committees and "offices that deal with Falun Gong." The secret order clearly requires that between March to September 2008, Party authorities across the country must "concentrate time and manpower to organize specialized activities to investigate and resolve conflicts," "enhance management of the activities of foreign reporters coming for the Olympics," "enhance the management of internet and cell phone text messaging." In particular it stressed to "meticulously guard and severely strike against Falun Gong."
The Minghui/Clearwisdom website has received reports of huge numbers of arrests, torture and death in the days since the order was passed down.
The CCP has launched new rounds of persecution in the name of Olympics
As early as 2005, the CCP Deputy Minister of Public Security Liu Jing ordered the elimination of Falun Gong prior to the Beijing Olympics. The order was sent to all public security departments in China. In March 2007, former Minister of Public Security Zhou Yongkang again ordered a new round of "Strike Hard" campaign against Falun Gong nationwide, and immediately afterwards, many areas in mainland China carried out mass arrests of Falun Gong practitioners and serious cases of intensified persecution happened one after another. Some practitioners were unlawfully detained or sentenced to jail terms, some disappeared, some were tortured to death; a large number of practitioners who were already detained in labor camps or prisons suffered further persecution due to the order.
During the genocidal persecution of over eight years, even under the regime's tight information blockade, 3,145 Falun Gong practitioners were verified to have died as a result of persecution. Cases of death from persecution occurred in all 31 provinces, municipalities directly under the central government and autonomous regions. The victims were from all walks of life, including children and old people. They died as a result of various forms of mental torment and physical torture at the hands of the CCP, simply because they practiced Falun Gong and clarified the facts. Many practitioners were kidnapped and "disappeared" by the police. In truth, they were locked up in secret concentration camps; many had their organs taken and their bodies cremated. Such atrocities are yet to be fully exposed due to regime's extremely tight blockade.
Last year, Mr. Edward McMillan-Scott, Vice President of European Parliament wrote a letter to Dr. Hans-Gert Poettering, President of European Parliament, in which he mentioned, "On September 23, I met with Manfred Nowak, UN's Special Rapporteur on Torture. He concluded in his report on torture in China: Among the detainees, 2/3 are Falun Gong practitioners. Lawyer Gao Zhisheng has also met with Mr. Nowak, and he believes about 250,000 Falun Gong practitioners are currently in detention."
By March 11, 2008, at least 1878 practitoners had been arrested just since the end of 2007. This happened all across China, with 156 arrests in Beijing alone. And this is only arrests reported to Minghui/Clearwisdom. The actual arrest count is likely many times higher.
Since Beijing won its Olympic bid in 2001, the Chinese Communist regime has not only failed to honour its promise to improve its human rights record, but went even further to accelerate its human rights abuses in the name of Olympics.
Human Rights Torch Relay raises awareness of the situation around the world
On August 9, 2007, the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG), an NGO organization formed with more than 300 politicians, doctors and lawyers, lit the Human Rights Torch on Syntagma Square in the center of Athens. The torch is traveling around the globe in the months leading up to the Olympics, raising awareness of the intensified human rights atrocities in China everywhere it goes. It aims to expose the human rights abuses, especially atrocities committed against Falun Gong practitioners, and to call on the international community to help stop the persecution.
The Human Rights Torch was first lit in Athens on August 9, 2007
The Human Rights Torch has traveled to over 80 cities in 26 countries, including Greece, Germany, Czech, Romania, Austria, Switzeland, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Israel, etc. The Torch arrived in South America at the beginning of March and will travel to the US at the end of March. It will arrive in Canada in early May and will arrive in Taiwan and Hong Kong in late May.
Chen Kai (middle), former member of China's national Basketball team and human rights ambassador from Western US, 2003 Miss Canada (left) and Lai Qingde (right), member of Taiwan Legislation Committee and Asian branch leader of CIPFG, held up the Human Rights Torch at a press conference on February 22 at the International Forum on Human Rights in China and 2008 Olympics.
1. Human Right Torch Relay in London: a European Parliament official hosted a press conference and rally
When the Human Rights Torch Relay arrived in London, Mr. Edward McMillan-Scott, Vice-President of the European Parliament, held a press conference in the Foreign Press Association building, October 25, 2007. Mr. McMillan-Scott, together with other important government officials, attended the Human Right Torch Relay ceremony on London's Trafalgar Square at 4:00 p.m. Several government officials and representatives from human right organizations spoke, drawing significant media attention.
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In London. Mr. Edward McMillan-Scott, Vice-President of the European Parliament, held a press conference and also lit the Human Right Torch. Rally attracts media attention.
2. In Czech Republic, the country's leaders learn about the human rights situation in China
The Human Rights Torch Relay arrived in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic on September 6, 2007. The Torch Relay received widespread support from Czech Republic political circles, non-governmental organizations as well as from persons in the sports and entertainment circles. China's human rights issues, especially the persecution of innocent Falun Gong practitioners, drew extensive attention from the general public.
Vice Premier Mr. Martin Bursik and other government officials provided support. Mr. Bursik also serves as Minister of Environmental Protection. Others who provided support were Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Karel Schwarzenberg and Minister of Defense Vlasta Parkanova, either by attending the rally or issuing a public letter. Former president Mr. Vaclav Havel who has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize several times had written a letter to support the event. Former Minister of Internal Affairs Mr. Jan Ruml, who is also the chairman of the Czech Olympic Watch Committee, attended the activities held at Prague's Old Square (the Staromestke Namesti). The city government had sponsored a rally. The honorable Mr. Pavel Bem, Mayor of Prague, was one of the organizers.
Vice Premier and Minister of Environmental Protection Mr. Marin Bursik (3rd right), Congresswoman Ms. Katerina Jacques (2nd right) and Congressman Marek Benda (1st right) ran together with the torch into Prague's Old Square (Staromestke Namesti) and passed it to seven-year-old Chen Fadu, whose father was tortured to death in China for practicing Falun Gong.
3. Human Rights Torch Relay draws widespread attention in Israel
On February 18, 2008, the Human Rights Torch arrived in Israel. The Torch Relay ceremony was held in downtown Tel Aviv. Because the massacre of the Jewish people during the World War II is similar to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners today, Israeli people showed strong reactions to and support for the Human Right Torch Relay. Local media reported the activities. Several religious leaders signed a petition demanding the CCP to immediately stop their atrocities against humanity.
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| The Human Rights Torch is lit in Israel |
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| People sign petition demanding an immediate end to CCP atrocities |
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| Rain doesn't deter people from attending rally. |
4. Human Rights Torch Relay Gathers Widespread Support in Australia
After its arrival in Sydney, the Human Rights Torch Relay traveled to Manly, Grafton, and Toowoomba, Queensland. The relay received wide support from local government officials and the public, who learned more about the persecution of Falun Gong in China.
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| Media flock to Human Rights Torch Relay events |
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| Lighting the Human Rights Torch |
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| Bishop John Parkes taking part in the Human Rights Torch Relay |
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| Queensland State MP Ronan Lee in the Human Rights Torch Relay |
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| Senator Andrew Bartlett urges the CCP to stop persecuting Falun Gong |
5. Human Rights Torch Relay welcomed by government leaders in Indonesia
The Human Right Torch Relay arrived in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on January 4, 2008. Following a relay through several cities, the Human Right Torch arrived in Batam. A ceremony was held in the city's Government Hall. The Governorof Riau's wife, a representative from the mayor's office, the chief of police, leaders of the International Human Right Association in Batam, and Riau government representatives attended the ceremony. Representatives from ten other organizations and groups attended.
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Riau Governor's wife and local political leaders welcome the arrival of the Human Rights Torch in Batam
the Governor of Riau's wife and local political leaders attend the Human Right Torch relay ceremony in Batam
The wife of the Governor of Riau recited a poem she had written at the ceremony. The poem conveyed the following meaning:
"(The CCP) kills Falun Gong practitioners alive and sells their organs. (The CCP) deprives people of their basic human rights, makes them live in pain and under terror, and makes them endure these silently."
Conclusion
History will remember the Human Rights Torch Relay as a stage for people to stand up and oppose brutal repression in Communist China. With its genocide of Falun Gong and countless other human rights crimes, the Human Rights Torch Relay gives people a chance to do what is right, and to deny what is evil.
