http://uygurletter.blogspot.com/2004/09/uighur-and-tibetans-beijing-olympics=
..html
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 09, 2004
Uighur and Tibetans: Beijing Olympics
The im****tance to the Chinese Communist Party of a successful 2008
Beijing Olympics should not be underestimated. The CCP will leave
nothing to chance and for the Uygur of Xinjiang that could mean bad
news.
The Games of the 28th Olympiad are finished, the athletes have gone
home and the stadia stand deserted. Those great symbols of democracy
the Pathenon and the Acropolis no longer look down upon the youth of
the world in a celebration of all that is good in humanity.
The Athens Olympics were a resounding success. Staged in a country
which gave birth to the "Olympic Spirit" the games were peaceful and a
wonderfully example of the fundamental principal of the movement:
"Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a
balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending s****t
with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life
based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good
example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."
Olympic Charter, Fundamental principles, paragraph 2
The "Baton" has now figuratively been passed to Beijing, China to
stage the games of the 29th Olympiad in 2008.
Giving China the Olympics was always going to be a gamble on behalf of
the International Olympic Committee (IOC). Not a gamble in the sense
that the games themselves would not be executed to perfection but a
gamble that given China=92s atrocious human rights record, the IOC
could, in the end, justify its decision.
The IOC conveniently ignored China=92s historical human rights record by
saying that the decision to award Beijing the Games would have a
positive effect on her human rights situation by bringing China more
closely to the bosom of the international community.
As Jacques Rogge, President of the IOC said: "we are convinced that
the Olympic Games will improve the human rights record in China".
This view was echoed not surprisingly by Wang Wei, Secretary General
of the Beijing Organising Committee when he said "We are confident
that the Games coming to China not only promotes our economy, but also
enhances human rights."
The im****tance of the Beijing Olympics to China and more succinctly to
the ruling Communist party can not be underestimated. In terms of
prestige, economic return and national pride it will probably be seen
by future historians as being the most im****tant event in Chinese
history since Mao Zedong came to power in 1949.
No other event since, save perhaps China=92s first space mission, had or
has the potential to satisfy China=92s incredible and paradoxical thirst
for world approbation. The Middle Kingdom, one rung below heaven, has
the chance through these Olympics to regain its position as center of
the Universe.
More im****tantly, however, the Olympics affords the faltering and
ailing Chinese Communist Party the op****tunity to justify its ongoing
legitimacy in the eyes of the Chinese people and in doing so extend
its "use by date=92 for another generation at least.
Given the forgoing China=92s and Beijing=92s staging of the Olympics will
not fail or, more to the point and most worryingly, it will not be
allowed to fail.
Already we have seen a level of preparedness in Beijing not witnessed
before in Olympic history. Even Sydney, which had a smooth transition
to "Olympic City", was nowhere near as prepared four years out as
Beijing is.
Such is the level of preparedness that Rogge was quoted as saying in a
speech to the Beijing Organising Committee during a visit to Beijing
in August 2003
"There is one question -- I wonder what the Beijing organizing
committee will do
during 2007 (as) all of the works will be done (before then).''
This rush to complete the venues is but evidence of the im****tance the
staging of the games is to China and the C.C.P. As such nothing,
absolutely nothing, will be allowed to "rain on China=92s Parade".
Potential Human Rights Violations
Therein lies the potential human rights tragedy that could unfurl in
China as the CCP does everything in its power to ensure that the
Olympics will not only succeed but succeed startlingly.
Will the baton passed to China by the IOC via Athens be used as a tool
to bludgeon into submission the only possible peoples that could rain
on China=92s parade, namely the Uygur of Xinjiang and to a lesser degree
the Tibetans? For they are the only possible clouds on China=92s Olympic
horizon.
International terrorism a la "al qaeda" will not touch Beijing; she is
respected too highly by anti American interests for them to embarrass
her. In fact violence of any sort is unlikely to affect the Beijing
games for even if the Uygurs and Tibetans had such a proclivity they
would be unlikely to resort to such measures during an Olympic games
for in doing so would damage their positions irrevocably.
But that having been said for the likes of the Uygur and the Tibetans
the Olympic games in Beijing provides perhaps the last op****tunity to
bring their pleas to the world's attention for after a successful
games, if they have failed to achieve any positive gains, their causes
if not totally destroyed will be set back generations.
The Chinese government is acutely aware of this and the thought of
demonstrations by the Uygurs or Tibetans, public exposes of the human
rights violations perpetrated against them even the unfurling of an
anti Beijing banner is absolute anathema to them.
These things, however will not happen, not because the Uygur or the
Tibetans do not wish to try and reach the world with their pleas but
quite simply because it will not be allowed to happen.
China, and more particulary the CCP, will use every method available
to them, which does not draw more attention to their deplorable
treatment of these peoples, to ensure the Uygur's and Tibetan=92s
silence, compliance and total submission.
Apparatus of Intimidation
How will China ensure that such "embarrassments" are not visited upon
her games? Simply she will exert immense pressure on the Uygurs and
Tibetans, particularly the former who are perhaps more recalcitrant of
the two groups within China.
By pressure I mean seemingly random and "deniable" processes likely to
go unobserved other than by those totally attuned to the Uygur=92s and
Tibetan=92s plights. The message and its methods of delivery whilst
being obtuse to the outside world will be blatantly clear to the
target audience and that message will be "step out of line and the
results will be dire"
The process has begun already and in the case of the Uygur has been
underway since Beijing won the rights to host the Games. For the Uygur
the stage has already been set with more than a little help from
"9/11".
Since winning the Olympics and especially post "9/11" the Beijing
government has spent immeasurable resources in painting a picture to
the world of the threat of "Uygur terrorism". From the United Nations
through to the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation Beijing has sort to
propagate the belief that the Uygur are a threat to both Chinese and
regional security thus ensuring they are marginalised and, just as
im****tantly, feel that they are.
As well, given the Olympics scenario, it has set the stage for Beijing
to be able to claim, as they already do, that human rights violations
perpetrated against the Uygur are justifiable responses given the
dangerous situation in Xinjiang and the threat the Uygur pose.
If China imprisons or executes "Uygur terrorists" allegedly
threatening the Games will the Olympic family or for that matter the
world complain?
What then are some of the things we must look for to ensure that the
Beijing Olympics do not become a human rights tragedy for the Uygur in
particular?
Military Movements: Already we have witnessed the use of shows of
military force, a tool, as Taiwan will know, is often used by Beijing
to intimidate those who upset her.
Not without coincidence China conducted two military exercises in
Xinjiang in the Olympic month of August 2004. One was a joint "anti-
terrorism" exercise with Pakistan with a stated anti "East Turkistan"
terrorism theme to ram home to the Uygurs that they are friendless in
the region. (East Turkistan is the historical Uygur name for Xinjiang
and used by the Chinese to describe any dissent to Han rule. The
Chinese official view is that East Turkistan as a country has never
existed however they seem more than ready to invoke it when it suits
their needs. )
The second, conducted in mid August, (whilst the Games of peace and
brotherhood were underway in Athens with many a Han Chinese athlete
mounting the winners podium) was named with clear intent in its
message to the Uygurs, as operation "Controlling East Turkistan"
Militarily China will undoubtedly increase its military numbers and
visibility in Xinjiang in the lead up to the Games with the express
objective of intimidating the Uygur and passing on a strong message.
Increased Police Activity: Police and State Security Forces as well
will no doubt be increased, as too will be their activity of
harassment of the Uygur people. From the roughing up and moving on of
Uygur street vendors to random detentions and dubious charges, the
Uygurs will be intimidated far from the eyes of an unsuspecting
world.
Executions and lengthy gaol sentences: These will not be overlooked or
forgotten as a tool of intimidation despite their serious nature and
potential for publicity.
In the last several weeks four Uygurs have been executed for
"Terrorism" and "Violent" separatism and another 16 have received
lengthy gaol sentences including life sentences. This is despite no
incidents of any violence since 1997 and many statements by Chinese
officials that Xinjiang is safe and peaceful.
These executions and imprisonments despite their magnitude and timing
brought no attention from the world community other than the Human
Rights organisations such as Amnesty. As long as China can couch these
actions in terms of terrorism a world so utterly disgusted with the
idea of that concept will not notice or care.
Bureaucratic Harassment: Bureaucracy will be used as a tool of
intimidation. Forced evictions for example and runarounds for the most
simplest interaction with Chinese civil authorities will all keep the
pressure on and help get the "Olympic Message" across to the Uygurs.
Further Restrictions on Basic Freedoms: As we move closer to the
Olympics we may witness gross restrictions on Uygur rights of
association, religion and travel outside of Xinjiang. Already
suffering many restrictions and basic rights Beijing can turn the
screw far more tightly without the world being aware.
Communications: Access to the Internet for example may unaccountably
"breakdown". China=92s reputed 30,000 internet censors could focus on
Xinjiang bringing quick "justice" for any slipped word or perceived
infraction of State Laws.
"Incidents" At the risk of sounding melodramatic it is not out of the
question that Beijing could even engineer an "incident" or "incidents"
closer to 2008. For example say a year out some major "threat" could
be "identified" requiring of them, in the interests of the security of
international visitors and press of course, to "lockdown" Xinjiang
preventing all egress or ingress. The lead-time will give a suitable
period for the international dust to settle if there is any.
Far fetched? Not when you really consider just how im****tant these
Games are to the Chinese Communist Party combined with their natural
fear of what hundreds of foreign journalist sniffing around Xinjiang
could find out and re****t to the world.
Beijing Uygurs; The sizeable Uygur population in Beijing may suffer a
similar fate to known dissidents each National Peoples Conference time
or Tiananaman anniversary when they are leaned on by security forces
or they may be " encouraged" to return "home" for a period before and
during the games.
Conclusion
The world must not underestimate just how im****tant the Beijing
Olympics are to China and particularly the Chinese Communist Party.
China, or the C.C.P, can not afford the severe "loss of face" that
would accompany any result other than a complete and utterly
successful games and an equally successful Chinese Olympic team.
If we have any historical precedent here we can look no farther than
the Berlin Games of 1936. Not only was the Olympics vitally im****tant
to German nationalism but also to the Nazi party=92s position and
prestige. This is not to say of course that China will embark on a
World War but said simply to emphasize the dynamics of the situation.
The Chinese Communist party needs these Olympics. It will, if
successful, guarantee that its authority as supreme ruler of China can
continue on past what would have been its natural "use by date". If we
know anything about the CCP we know that it places its position and
survival above the needs or the good of the people it is supposed to
serve.
The IOC and ultimately the world have taken a huge gamble on the
Beijing Olympics. Not a gamble that it will be anything but the "best
games ever" for assuredly it will. The gamble is in playing with the
lives of 9 million Uygurs and 6 million Tibetans in the hope that a
leopard will change its spots.
For the sake of the Uygur, the Tibetans, the Falun Gong, you name the
numerous "at risk" groups, I hope they are right and I am wrong.
We have gambled with people=92s lives; the price of that gamble must be
our promise to them of our vigilance of their cir***stances and our
promise of protection.
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