The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is attempting to use the 2008 Olympic Games that will be held in Beijing as a chance to save its totalitarian dictatorship. But it is also China's once-in-a-hundred years historical opportunity to finally bring about democracy. Twenty years ago, a ten million person petition-signing movement to amend the constitution broken in S. Korea, which directly led to Korea's shift from military dictatorship to democracy. When examining the factors that lead to the successful shift to democracy in Korea, we cannot overlook the unique role -- what Samaranch has called "The recent 100 years of Olympic Game's most successful games" -- the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

It is worth noting that as the Korean democracy movement reached its height the local officials planned to suppress it with some 100,000 policemen; in addition they prepared to announce a new state of martial law and dispatch the armed forces. Then the International Olympic Committee gave the Korean government an ultimatum: "If the unrest continues to grow and you are unable to bring order we will have to retract Korea's right to host the Olympics." What drew even more attention was when both House and Senate of the U.S. Congress promptly passed a resolution to support Korean Democracy. The International Olympic Committee's stern warning and the U.S. Democracy Resolution were like the sounding of a death knell for the dictatorship, it forced then head of the Korean government, Chun Doo Hwan, to compromise.

Following the Olympics and nearly twenty years of development, Korea has, in general, put democracy into practice. The people no longer live their lives in fear; instead they grasp their future in the palms of their hands. Even today the Korean people recall that memorable summer of 1988, when the Seoul Olympics were like a chains the Korean dictatorship placed on itself; a symbol of the victory for the great Korean people to achieve their democracy, the Seoul Olympics has its great significance in South Korea's history.

Today, China, ruled by the world's most savage totalitarian Chinese Communist regime, will become the host country of the Olympic Games. Facing the same historical opportunity, can China do as Korea did and seize the moment to accelerate progress toward democracy? This is the responsibility that history has entrusted to China's democracy activists. Thinking back to the beginning of 1986, minority party leader Kim Young-Sam point-blank refused Chun Doo Hwan's proposal to implement a political truce so as to guarantee the success of the Asian Games and prepare for the 1988 Olympic Games. We Chinese democracy activists should similarly take hold of this historical opportunity and refuse to cooperate, refuse to pretend everything is hunky-dory, and transform our appeal for democracy into powerful action.

As the most represented and most influential person in the contemporary Chinese democracy movement both inside and outside of China, with avant- garde democratic thinking and rich real-life experience, Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition chairman Wei Jingsheng fully deserves and is duty bound to raise the flag of the commander-in-chief; to guide and organize all progressive forces inside and outside of China to carry out an unprecedented decisive battle for life and death. This is a mighty project to allow the Chinese people to be free henceforth from the totalitarian regime. We the democratic forces of China must seize this moment to push for political reform and initiate the process of democratization.

Below is the "Boycott the Olympics" outline and timetable for action:

1. From October 2007, Coalition Chairman Wei Jingsheng will use his influence in American political circles to persuade U.S. Congressman and Senators to prepare "China Democracy Resolution". Around the time of the Beijing Olympics while some democracy movements will probably occur, prepare and put forward a "China Democracy Resolution," as well as work with Chinese Democracy activist's plan to "Boycott the Olympics." At the same time, Coalition branches in different regions and countries coordinate and divide the work.
2. From October 2007, set up a website for a petition, launch a signature petition movement both inside and outside China.
3. Near end of the year of 2007, convene conferences for ethnic minority groups, with Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongolians overseas organizations to research each ethnicity's struggle for a greater degree of autonomy, self-determination, safeguard of human rights and other issues; coordinate actions to take before the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
4. Near end of year 2007, the Coalition and Falun Gong coordinators together organize Falun Gong activities after June 10, 2008.
5. On January 1, 2008, the Coalition issues a New Years proclamation: The Beijing Olympics are a milestone as the Chinese people move toward democracy.
6. In the spring of 2008, Wei Jingsheng selects a time to go to Taiwan to arouse Taiwan's democratic forces to join the activities and launch a petition signing movement. And also persuade Taiwan's Legislative Yuan to pass a resolution to pay attention at the Olympics and human rights in China.
7. On May 1 (International Labor Day), the Coalition and Chinese Labor Union, in China in the province where conditions are right, take the initiative to announce the establishment of independent labor unions, with other provinces responding in succession.
8. On May 25, 2008, use the opportunity of the Hong Kong Legislative Council elections to involve Hong Kong on the basis of its basic law for Hong Kong's 2012 special direct elections resolution. And also pass a resolution to follow the Olympics and human rights in Mainland China.
9. On June 4, 2008, hold a press conference to demand punishment of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre murderers by the June 4 victims and related groups.
10. Around June 4, 2008, coordinate with dissidents in all regions of China, and through different methods of resistance, utilize the unprecedented beneficial political conditions to challenge the Chinese Communism, raising the appeal for democracy to a new height.
11. From June 10, 2008, non-Chinese Falun Gong practitioners and other democracy advocators enter Beijing one after another and make their way to Olympic stadiums and peacefully practice exercises and demonstrate, safeguarding citizens' rights.
12. From early 2008, provide spiritual and material support for rights defenders around China, especially in terms of media attention, so that the single spark of the human rights movement, ignites the whole country.
13. During the August 2008 Olympic Games period, Wei Jingsheng to lead and organize a new, unified, democratic political party.

"Boycott the Olympics" plan, is a timetable for the Beijing Olympics before it begins. Because Beijing promised the International Olympic Committee it would respect international human rights standards, this series of activities, will be a serious challenge for the CCP's totalitarian regime. We need to take the initiative in launching an attack, to carefully deploy our efforts, fight wisely and with bravery, for the Seoul Olympics twenty years ago to be reenacted in Beijing.

co-signed by:

The Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition
Chinese Freedom and Democracy Party
Federation for a Democratic China France
Federation for a Democratic China Denmark
Federation for a Democratic China Netherlands
Federation for a Democratic China New Zealand
Federation for a Democratic China Germany
Federation for a Democratic China Australia
Federation for a Democratic China England
Federation for a Democratic China Hong Kong
Federation for a Democratic China, Japan Chapter
Federation and Alliance for a Democratic China -- CFDP
Chinese Democracy Party, Netherlands Chapter
Hong Kong Alliance to Promote Democracy in China
Hong Kong Human Rights Forum
Chinese Democracy Party, Hong Kong Chapter
Hong Kong Chinese Citizen Association
Caring Hong Kong's Future Group
European Alliance for Human Rights Olympic Promotion

September 2007

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The Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition is dedicated to the promotion of human rights and democratization in China. We appreciate your assistance and help in any means. We pledge solidarity to all who struggle for human rights and democratic governance on this planet.

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