Pékin2008

Press Release

The China Collective calls on the Chinese authorities the act in favour of human rights, one year before the Olympic Games

Paris, 7 August 2007 -- One year before the opening of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the China Collective Olympic Games 2008 expresses its profound concern at the absence of progress in the human rights situation in the People's Republic of China. Not only are the Chinese authorities not respecting their own commitments made during their candidacy for the Olympic Games, but they are increasing acts of repression against Chinese civil society, particularly against journalists and human rights defenders.

The People's Republic of China declared in 2001 that granting the Olympic Games to Beijing would foster the development of human rights. One year before the Olympic Games and this promise is belied by reality.

Two members of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a member association of the Collective, when in Beijing to protest against the lack of freedom of expression in China, were subjected to lengthy interviews and searches of their hotel rooms on the nights of 6 and 7 August. The Collective condemns these acts of harassment.

In a letter addressed to the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Paris dated 2 August 2007, the Collective questioned the Chinese authorities on the ongoing violation of fundamental rights: the practice of the death penalty and re-education through labour; imprisonment, torture and harassment of human rights defenders, including journalists and lawyers; censorship of the media and the internet; forced evictions; repression of the Uighur and Tibetan minorities and of other religious and spiritual movements.

The nine human rights organisations constituting the Collective called on the Chinese government to implement immediately the Collective’s eight realistic requirements.

The Collective upholds the values of Olympism, based on "the respect of fundamental universal ethical principles" with a view to "promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity". These values are, however, far from being realised in the People's Republic of China.