China's record does not reflect the Olympic spirit
Barbara Lee
Rep. Barbara Lee speaks out against China (4/07)
The Olympic torch will pass through San Francisco Wednesday during the
only North American stop on the worldwide Olympic torch relay to
Beijing, where the 2008 Olympic Games will be played. Against this
backdrop, millions of activists worldwide are calling on China to end
the violence and repression in Tibet and urging China to use its
influence to put pressure on Sudan to end the genocide in Darfur.
Thousands are expected to turn out in San Francisco to cheer the torch
on its way or protest the policies of the host nation.
China's resistance to sanctioning Sudan for the ongoing genocide in
Darfur, and the continuing violence toward and repression of Tibetan
monks have prompted a world outcry against China. The reason is clear.
The spirit of the Olympics is about bringing together nations and
people from all over the world in peace. China's sup****t for the
genocidal regime in Khartoum, and its own actions in Tibet, run
contrary to that Olympic spirit. But as host, China puts itself in the
international spotlight and invites questions about its own commitment
to human rights.
In the case of Darfur, international human rights organizations re****t
that Sudan's ability to sustain the genocide over such a long period
of time is in large part due to the heavy sup****t that Sudan receives
from China. The genocide in Sudan is entering its sixth brutal year.
The Khartoum government, and its proxy Janjaweed militias, are
estimated to have killed more than 400,000 Darfuri civilians, raped
countless women and young girls, and driven some 2.5 million civilians
from their homes. These horrific acts must end. Unfortunately, China
continues to strengthen its ties with the government in spite of the
genocide.
Concerns over human rights abuses in Tibet are also mounting.
China has engaged in the cultural, religious, economic and linguistic
repression of the Tibetan people for almost 60 years. During the past
month, China's crackdown on nonviolent protests and demonstrations by
Tibetans has led, by some estimates, to the death of more than 140
people and the arrest and detainment of some 1,000 peaceful
protesters. China has also censored and restricted the ability of
international journalists to monitor and re****t on the crackdown, and
has violated its own stated commitment to the International Olympic
Committee to allow freedom of access to the press as the Olympic Games
approach. Despite international condemnation of these actions, China
has not indicated it will act in a manner consistent with
international human rights standards - this posture is clearly
contrary to the spirit of the Olympic Games.
We should not condone China's actions. That is why I sent a letter to
President Bush urging him not to attend the Opening Ceremony and why I
am co-sponsoring the Defend the Olympic Spirit Act, which restricts
funding to prevent any U.S. official from attending the Olympic
Opening Ceremony in China, with clear exceptions for the security of
any U.S. athlete and sup****t staff. While I sup****t our athletes and
honor their achievements, the act of removing an official U.S.
presence from the Opening Ceremony will send a clear message that we
do not tolerate human rights abuses.
There is much that we can do both as a nation and as individuals to
take a stand against further human rights abuses. The United States
has already given billions of dollars in humanitarian aid to Western
Sudan and the Darfur refugee camps in Eastern Chad. And last December,
the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act, which I originally
introduced in the House, was signed into law. The act allows cities,
states, universities, pension plans and mutual funds to divest their
holdings from companies doing business with the Sudan regime, many of
which are Chinese state-run companies. Divestment sends a message to
both China and Sudan that we do not sup****t genocide - not on our
watch and not on our dime.
It's past time for China to acknowledge and denounce the atrocities in
Darfur and end the violence and repression against the Tibetan people.
The spirit of the Olympics demands nothing less.
Barbara Lee represents the Ninth Congressional District, which
includes Oakland and Berkeley, in the U.S. House of Representatives.
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