(Clearwisdom.net) The Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) held the International Forum: Human Rights in China and 2008 Olympics on February 21-22, 2008 in Taipei. During two round-table discussions on the second day, international human rights experts and eminent persons from around the world who are concerned about human rights issues were eager to expose the reprehensible human rights record of communist China. In order to achieve the goal of "the same world, the same human rights," political figures, lawyers, academics, and rights activists at the Forum agreed to launch a plan to carry the Human Rights Torch into China in response to the Chinese people's demand, "Human rights, yes--Olympics, no!" and called for an immediate end to the human rights abuses by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
A round-table meeting discusses how to promote human rights in China through the 2008 Olympic Games
All participants at the forum are hanging yellow ribbons onto the iron curtain of China, signaling that the Human Rights Torch Relay will enter China
Chen Kai (center), Human Rights Torch Relay ambassador from Western U.S.A. and a former player on China's national basketball team, Miss Canada 2003 (left), and Ching-Te Lai, conference organizing chairman and president of CIPFG Asia, hold Human Rights Torches at a press conference of the International Forum: Human Rights in China and 2008 Olympics on February 22, 2008
Canadian human rights lawyer Mr. Clive Ansley
Vice president of CIPFG Japan, Asia Mr. Ando Kan
Member of Canadian Parliament Hon. Mario Silva
Famed U.S. movie director Steven Spielberg announced his withdrawal as artistic advisor to the Beijing Olympic Games on February 12 in protest of the CCP's unwillingness to help stop the genocide in Darfur, Sudan. Canadian human rights lawyer Clive Ansley expressed his appreciation to Steven Spielberg and Mia Farrow for their concern about the genocide in Darfur and condemned the CCP's indirect support of that crime. Unfortunately, he added, he did not hear them mention a word of condemnation of the CCP's persecution of Falun Gong. In his view, an outright boycott of the Beijing Olympic Games would do better in calling international attention to China's human rights abuses. Moreover, under pressure from the Chinese Embassy, Canada Television was told not to broadcast Transcend the Red Wall, a movie about Falun Gong. Mr. Ansley suggested that it was a movie that everyone should watch.
Chairman of Australian non-governmental organization Peter Westmore
Indonesian human rights lawyer Mr. Gato Goey
Forum moderator and former Canadian Secretary of State (Asia - Pacific) and Member of Parliament David Kilgour
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Canadian human rights lawyer David Matas
Only by Dissolving the CCP Will the Human Rights in China be Improved
Man-Yan Ng, executive director of the International Society for Human Rights, said that he hoped that the Olympic Games would not become an Olympic shame. He added that it would be a disaster for the international community if communist China turned into a superpower in the world.
Executive director of International Society for Human Rights, Man-Yan Ng
Chairman of CIPFG Oceania Dr. Seweryn Ozdowski OAM
Man-Yan Ng appealed to international media and people all over the world not to remain silent about human rights abuses out of economic interests. He cited the example of German chancellor Angela Merkel. While she criticized China for its human rights record on many occasions, she should have openly condemned Beijing's persecution of Falun Gong, said Man-Yan Ng. Since communist China would have to order goods from Germany, the western nation's economic interests would not be in jeopardy anyway, Ng articulated. He further explained that the trade relationship would only get better if the CCP ceased to exist.
Dr. Seweryn Ozdowski OAM, a former member of Australia's National Committee on Human Rights, and chairman of CIPFG Oceania, cited the example of the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games and compared the CCP's abuse of human rights to the Nazis' persecution of Jews. Seweryn said that it was important to stop the CCP from persecuting Falun Gong before the Beijing Olympic Games begin. He expressed hope that governments around the world would pay enough attention to this human rights issue and that the Human Rights Torch Relay would lead to a boycott of the Beijing Olympic Games.
Overseas spokesman for the National Network for Rights and against Violence Mr. Pan Qing
International coordinator of the International Tibet Support Network Mr. Chonpel Tsering
Pan Qing said, "Human rights, yes--Olympic Games, no! The Chinese people came to understand that their destinies are inseparable from human rights. The communist dictators in China will extend their persecution of Falun Gong to other petitioners, who are now stepping forward to speak up for Falun Gong." Mr. Pan brought with him a list of 620 signatures collected from China and said it was the most telling testimony of people's wish: Human Rights, yes--Olympic Games, no!
It's Time for Change, and Every Individual's Contribution Counts
Ms. Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Miss Canada 2003 and a composer, has long been following international human rights issues. At the meeting, she used her own experience to illustrate the importance of not ignoring each individual's contribution. She believes that petitioning would work. She said, "Famous movie director Steven Spielberg has brought some pressure onto the CCP by quitting the Olympic Games, and we can consider taking similar actions, asking for improvement of human rights in China. People in China are being tortured to death. People from other countries should speak up. But what happens is, many countries put their economic interests above human rights." She said that it was possible that one individual's contribution would end a slaughter, and people should come together and work to stop the CCP from persecuting faith groups in China, including Falun Gong.
Senior media professional and former China director of French International Radio Mr. Michel Wu
Miss Canada 2003, Ms. Nazanin Afshin-Jam
"I've been through all the political movements waged by the CCP, and each time victims were invariably silenced. But the political movement against Falun Gong has backfired for the CCP," said Michel Wu, senior media professional and former China director of French International Radio. Mr. Wu said that he had never seen such a forceful backlash against a CCP political campaign. He said he had now seen the Chinese are saving themselves and overseas voices of solidarity are brewing, too.
Mr. Wu proposed launching a global publicity movement against the CCP and its absurdities on human rights issue. He said that truth should be stated repeatedly until everyone knows about it and steps forward for it. He said, "Let us gather the courage that people once had in burying the Nazis and bury the CCP as well."
"The CCP is a fascist party, and I don't think it is eligible to host the Olympic Games," said Mr. Gatot Goey, an Indonesian human rights lawyer. He continued, "The Olympics is more than a game of sports. It is about humane tradition and spirit, too. We should not allow the Berlin Olympic Games to repeat itself, and we should stop the vicious propaganda from further persecuting the innocent. Falun Gong practitioners have become victims of live organ harvesting by the CCP, so we should mobilize to boycott the Beijing Games."
All participants agreed that every effort must be made to coordinate human rights events around the world before the Beijing Olympic Games start and that legal action could be considered to exert pressure on the CCP. They decided to file legal documents applicable regarding crimes against humanity by CCP officials, and to prepare to take those officials before an international court and punish them accordingly.
The two-day long International Forum: Human Rights in China and 2008 Olympics concluded on February 22, 2008. Ching-Te Lai, conference organizer, urged the International Olympic Committee to request the Chinese Olympic Committee to effectively observe the fundamental principles of the Olympic Charter, revoke its rule prohibiting Falun Gong practitioners from getting involved in the Games, and guarantee equal participating rights for all in the 2008 Games.
In order for the Chinese people to see a world with the same human rights, the Forum announced the launching of a plan to promote the Human Rights Torch Relay into China by the end of March, 2008 in response to the Chinese people's call for human rights and against the Olympic Games. The initiative is also aimed at supporting the Chinese people's pursuit of freedom and fundamental human rights, and pressuring the Chinese government into ending its human rights abuses.
Representatives of different groups condemned Beijing in a statement for exporting human rights abuses, corrupting human morality, and threatening world security. In the end, they appealed to governments and human rights organizations to take specific and effective measures to prevent the CCP from violating human rights.
The Forum came to an end with participants applying yellow ribbons symbolizing freedom to the map of China hanging in the front of the meeting hall. When overseas voices are brewing, when the Human Rights Torch is burning within China, as the lyrics of a song suggests, "One day, people will hear the sound of hope!"
