Dharamsala, March 6: An International Forum on =93Human Rights in China
and 2008 Olympics=94 recently concluded in Taiwan called for
international boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Over 100 political figures and human rights activists from 12
countries, including Tibet took part in the forum to deliberate on how
to motivate global powers to boycott the Beijing Olympics.
The opening ceremony of the "International Forum: Human Rights in
China and 2008 Olympics" at Taipei's Grand Hyatt Hotel began on
February 21 with Taiwan president Chen Shuibian issuing a
congratulatory letter.
The conference commenced with keynote speeches from David Kilgour,
former Canadian Secretary of State for Asia-Pacific, and Australian
senator Andrew Bartlett.
Live speakers at the forum included Mr. ****eh Jhy-wey, Minister of the
Government Information Office (GIO) and Mr. Tung Chen-yuan, vice
chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC). In addition, Edward
McMillan-Scott, vice-president of the European Parliament, and Mr.
Dana Rohrabacher, a U.S. Congressman, delivered videotaped
presentations to call upon the world to pay attention to China's human
rights record.
Mr. Dhondup Dorjee, Vice President of Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) was
invited among other panelists to speak on the "Human Rights situation
in China under Communist Ruling".
Panelists, including Mr Dhondup Dorjee of TYC (extreme left), at the
international forum on Human rights in China. (Photo: TYC)
In his presentation on "Human Rights Situation inside Tibet under
Chinese Colonial rule" Mr Dhondup briefly highlighted the historical
background of TYC and Tibetan People's Struggle for Independence and
the worsening human rights conditions inside Tibet.
"The Tibet issue is not just an issue of Human Rights, It is an issue
of a historically Independent Nation which was forcefully occupied and
is still under colonial rule, the fundamental reason why the Tibetans
and Chinese failed to live together is nothing but Tibetans and
Chinese are from different Civilizations," Mr Dhondup told the
conference.
His presentation detailed the atrocities committed by Chinese
Communist Party on Tibetans since its brutal and forceful occupation
of Tibet in 1949. Mr Dhondup also highlighted the disparaging impact
and consequences of Great Leap Forward Movement, Cultural Revolution,
Marshal Law in 1989, Strike Hard Campaigns and Patriotic Re-Education
Campaigns have had on Tibetan people. In his presentation, he noted
rapid Demographic transformation policy further accelerated by the
newly built railway networks inside Tibet and the religious
regulations issued by the China's State Administration of Religious
Affairs on Management Measures for the Reincarnation of 'Living
Buddhas' in Tibetan Buddhism as being cause of serious concerns for
Tibetans.
=93The main objective of the forum was to join the international forces
and strengthen the call that the Chinese Communist Regime is not
qualified to hold the 2008 Olympics,=94 Mr Dhondup said. =93The forum
witnessed prominent politicians, lawyers, Academicians, NGO's,
Activists and etc from America, Asia, Australia, and Europe who
actively took part in exploring and *****sing the impact of China's
abysmal human rights record as the host of the 2008 Olympics,=94 he
added.
Accordingly the conference issued a joint statement on the last day
calling for an International Boycott of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games.
The Forum, which concluded on February 23, was organized by the
Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China
(CIPFG), in conjunction with its Co-Organizers the Taiwan Cultural
Foundation, Human Rights without Frontiers and The International
Society for Human Rights.
The TYC leader also had series of meetings with various influential
groups and individuals, including Youth Leaders of Taiwan,
Independence Activists of Taiwan, Scholars, Politicians,
representatives of Tibet Sup****t Groups in Taiwan. He also had several
discussions with Mr Chime Dorjee, President of the Regional TYC,
Taiwan, on possibilities to organize more effective political
activities in near future by the regional chapter and Centrex.
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