May,
2002
Dear
Fellow Activist,
The
entire community of human rights activists is being presented with an urgent
action -- with a twist. In addition to its being urgent, we have come into a
situation which is huge in its dimensions, amazing in its implications, and an
unprecedented opportunity for the human rights community.
It began
with the leak of secret documents from the Chinese government. Within, we
learned that Chinese authorities have ordered a human rights crackdown, "to
better welcome the smooth holding of the 2008 Olympic Games in our
country." The
order pushes many buttons that are frankly alarm bells for activists. In the
name of the Olympics, a series of punishments are specified, including arrests
without warrants. Singled out for the harshest punishment are practitioners of
the Falun Gong spiritual movement.
Now,
while abusing its people on the one hand, China is abusing the meaning of the
Olympics on the other hand -- and creating linkage between its brand of tyranny
and the Olympic name. To
think about this is to get hot under the collar. The more you read about this,
the more offensive it gets. As the director of the China Support Network, I
wrote the article, "Olympic Misbehavior From China," about this
matter, which can be read at kusumi.com.
Our
essential point is that China should lose the Olympics over this
matter. To this end, the China Support Network has launched its urgent action --
our campaign to "take the Olympics back" from China. We
seek your help and supportive actions.
The
activist community has a unique situation. The revulsion is a no-brainer. This
should rock the sports world, as well as the human rights community, adding up
to a wider audience. Chinese
human rights and democracy come back onto the table. Loss of the Olympics for
Beijing would be an enormous (Olympic-sized?) blow, under the gaze of the
international community. Here, we can gain actual pressure for human rights in
China, where repercussions are likely. For activists on China, this is unique.
Please
help one and all to mobilize against the hosting of the Olympics in Beijing,
China, in 2008. China can have a very strong message from the world community,
that we do not approve of these actions, and that we have higher standards than
this.
Among
activists, we hope you will pick up and repeat our information. If your
organization would like to be a co-sponsor of our action, e-mail CSN with an
endorsement. We seek targeted pressure for the International Olympic Committee
to remove the 2008 Olympics from Beijing, China. We also seek public expressions
of support. We hope to see your published statement, proclamation, endorsement,
editorial, letter to the editor, or what-have-you. Encourage everyone to sound
off!
For the
further information of activists, appended below is the open letter as directed
to the general public.
Dear
American,
For
myself and for the China Support Network, let me introduce you to our amazing,
urgent, and outrageous situation, which we suddenly face.
We are
suddenly campaigning for China to lose its host status for the 2008 Olympic
games. These were scheduled to go to Beijing, and there is a new "smoking
gun" outrage which is so large, it requires, calls for, and demands
removing the Olympic name off of this Chinese abuse.
A
Chinese crackdown on human rights is always revolting -- but now, the Communists
went too far and crossed a line, in naming the Olympics as the pretext and
reason for a crackdown -- in top secret Chinese government orders, with the
Olympics' name on them. The orders came to light this month. Now, there is a
crackdown campaign to abuse Chinese human rights, in the name of the Olympics.
The
Chinese Communists should not be using the Olympic name as an excuse for their
vile practices of gross, flagrant violation of people. It is an absolute misuse
and debasement of the meaning of the Olympics.
Chinese
people, such as practitioners of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, should not
suffer more because of the Olympics. There should be no extra death, torture, or
incarceration because of the Olympics!
The more
you read about this, the more offensive it gets. I have written the article,
"Olympic Misbehavior From China," about this matter, and it is
inserted at the end of this letter.
Can we
remove the Olympics from China, and do the right thing? This is an achievable
objective, and we are appealing for your help.
Hosting
the Olympics is a privilege, not a right. Also, it is important to protect the
"brand name" of the Olympics. Any marketing manager would say,
"get our brand name off of that torture and tyranny." We believe, the
International Olympic Committee can be brought to see matters the same way.
The
alternative brings us to a new question about human rights statistics