Amnesty International: Olympic Games have added to number of human rights violations in China

Local Amnesty director wants real stands from politicians and not the usual "politics and sport don't mix" liturgy

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By Petteri Ala-Kivimäki
     
      The idea of boycotting the Olympic Games is once again raising its head, primarily because of China’s human rights situation and the violence in Tibet in particular. The Olympic boycott has nevertheless lost its appeal, and in any event, it never did have any real powers of leverage.
      With regard to the Olympics in Beijing, the question has been primarily about boycotting the opening ceremony.
     
Frank Johansson, director of Amnesty International Finland, opposes the idea of boycotting the Olympic Games, even though he admits that the games have in fact perversely weakened China’s human rights situation, though they were supposed to do the opposite.
      “Jacques Rogge, the chairman of the International Olympic Committee, has admitted that when awarded the Games China promised to increase openness in its society. But what has happened?” Johansson asks, and answers his own question:
      “In fact, new human rights violations take place in China because of the Olympics. Re-education through forced labour, house arrest, or eviction to one’s home area were all forms of punishment that China was already giving up. But now, in anticipation of the games, their use has once again been increased. To put it bluntly, Beijing is being cleaned up for the Olympic visitors”, Johansson explains.
      “Furthermore, dozens if not hundreds of individuals have been arrested in China for criticising the Olympic Games."
     
For all that, Johansson, Amnesty International, and many other organisations consider a traditional Olympic boycott a bad solution, for it will hurt the athletes more than anyone else.
      Instead, Johansson calls for stronger opinions from decision-makers with regard to China’s human rights situation.
      Before the games the Chinese leadership are more likely to be prepared to listen.
      “From the government I would like to hear clear comments on what has been done and what will be done to improve China’s human rights situation. There have not been any such comments, and time is running out.”
     
In Johansson’s view, the politicians hide in cowardly fashion behind Amnesty’s negative attitude towards boycotting the games.
      “The Minister responsible for Sports, the Foreign Minister, the Prime Minister, and the President all explain complacently that Amnesty does not ask them to boycott the games.”
     
Talks of boycotting the opening ceremony Johansson considers plain silly.
      “Politicians tell us that one must not mix sports with politics. But if the two are not connected, then how come the politicians are still attending the games? Why is going there so dredfully important to them, if the games are not a political event?”
     
     
Helsingin Sanomat / Edited from an article first published in print on 27.5.2008


Links:
  Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
  Amnesty International

PETTERI ALA-KIVIMÄKI / Helsingin Sanomat
petteri.ala-kivimaki@hs.fi