China Unmoved by Activists’ Pressure Ahead of Olympics
ICC Note:
China urges people to not ‘politicize’ the Olympics with calls for social change in China and asserts that it will not back down from activists’ pressure.
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1/30/2008 China (ChristianPost)
Seemingly disturbed at activists around the globe trying to exert pressure on its policies on various issues ranging from freedom of religion to independence for Tibet and Taiwan, Chinas harsh response was published in a state leading newspaper the Peoples Daily.
“As the Beijing Olympics have become a popular talking point around the world, some who look at the Chinese people with tinted spectacles have created a sort of baffling excitement, says a commentary in the Communist party mouthpiece.
It further added that China faces “accusations from all over the world, including misunderstandings, sarcasm and very harsh criticism.”
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They believe they can exert enough pressure on the Chinese Government to force China into a situation where it cannot but do their bidding. These people have made the wrong calculation.
U.S. human rights activists have urged people not to travel to Beijing to attend the 2008 Olympics unless China grants the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), access to North Koreans hiding in its territory.
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China usually sends back refuges to North Korea where they face imprisonment, torture, and sometimes execution for leaving the country a state crime. The Chinese government is suspected of making the decision to prevent the issue from overshadowing the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The officially atheist government has said it will guarantee religious freedom during the Summer Olympics in Beijing this year. But many reports have surfaced in recent months about China’s increasing crackdowns, such as those on Christian activities taking place outside of government-sanctioned churches.
