[+/-] : Obama says he wouldn't attend the Olympics opening

Obama says he wouldn't attend the Olympics opening

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama took issue Monday with President Bush's decision to attend the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games, saying he would go to Beijing only if he saw progress between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama.

"In the absence of some sense of progress, in the absence of some sense from the Dalai Lama that there was progress, I would not have gone," the presidential candidate told reporters at a news conference.

Obama previously has called on the Republican president to boycott the ceremonies.

Bush said last week that he will attend opening ceremonies for the games in Beijing next month. Some world leaders plan to boycott the event because of China's human rights record and its handling of unrest in Tibet.

Chinese officials met last week with two envoys sent to Beijing by the Dalai Lama from his exile base in India.

A statement issued Saturday from the Tibetan side said another meeting would be held in October, but said it wished the Chinese leadership had taken "more tangible" steps during the talks. The Chinese side failed to agree to issue a joint statement committing the two sides to talks, it said

Obama said he "would liked to have seen some more aggressive efforts to encourage progress and talks between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama.

"It strikes me that although some meetings have been taking place, that we were not aggressive in encouraging the Chinese government to make serious concessions there," he said.

Bush on Sunday defended his decision, saying that to skip the opening ceremonies would be an "affront" to the Chinese people.

Obama's Republican rival, John McCain, said in April that if he were president, he would only attend the opening ceremonies if China improves its record on human rights and other issues.
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[+/-] : Pro-Tibet groups call for Olympic boycott

Pro-Tibet groups call for Olympic boycott

More than 60,000 Swiss have signed a petition demanding that President Pascal Couchepin boycott the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony on August 8.

The petition, organised by four pro-Tibet organisations, was handed over to the government on Thursday.

Couchepin announced at the end of May that he would attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

"Switzerland is home to the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee and other international sports federations, so it is only natural that the Swiss president attends the opening of the games," Couchepin said at the time.

The pro-Tibet groups also launched a campaign on Thursday, calling on the Swiss not to forget the Chinese-ruled region during the sporting event.

Switzerland is home to around 3,500 Tibetans.

from:
http://www.swissinfo.ch/

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[+/-] : France urged to support Games ceremony boycott as new head of Council of Europe

France urged to support Games ceremony boycott as new head of Council of Europe

Reporters Without Borders called today on France, as new president of the Council of Europe, and its European partners to say they would boycott the Olympic Games opening ceremony in Beijing on 8 August.


Members of the worldwide press freedom organisation unfurled a giant 100 sq.metre banner showing the Olympic rings as handcuffs across the front of a building opposite the Brussels headquarters of the Council, which began its new session today.

“Threatening to boycott the ceremony may be the only way to get concrete results,” it said. “If Europe does not take a stand, the Chinese government will be able to dismiss future European Union demands to improve human rights. The Olympic flame will be passing through the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, in a few days time and Europe’s political leaders will win respect by firmly calling now for greater freedom of expression in China. Repression of journalists there has not diminished and well-known dissident and blogger Huang Qi has just been arrested again. It is urgent for Europe to speak up.

“French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said clearly that he will not attend the ceremony unless talks resume between the government and representatives of the Dalai Lama. The situation is deadlocked and China rejected the recent United States and EU joint call for sincere talks about Tibet as interference in its internal affairs. Beijing also refuses to allow foreign journalists to visit Tibet and the neighbouring Xinjiang autonomous region where mass arrests and “re-education” operations are under way,” Reporters Without Borders said.

“The competitors at the Games rightly say it is up the politicians, not them, to sort out this tricky issue. The Council of Europe must not pass up this historic chance to create the necessary conditions to extract real progress from the Chinese government. The ruling Communist Party will not always be able to get away with answering legitimate demands to free political prisoners by drumming up nationalistic fervour.”

Reporters Without Borders has for several months been urging a boycott of the opening ceremony by heads of state and government and members of royal families. The Polish, Estonian, Austrian and Czech governments have already agreed not to attend. Most EU states have not yet taken a stand and are waiting for France to take the lead in the name of Europe.

Reporters Without Borders is also calling on European institutions to ask the International Olympic Committee to consider the criteria for allowing countries to host future Olympic Games and to take account of the local level of individual liberty, notably freedom of expression.

About 100 journalists, cyber-dissidents, bloggers and other Internet users are currently imprisoned in China, with only two months to go before the Games start. The Chinese government has not kept the promises it made to improve human rights after Beijing was awarded the 2008 Games in 2001.

For more on the Reporters Without Borders worldwide campaign concerning the 2008 Games, see: www.rsf.org (in English, Chinese, Spanish, French and Arabic).
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[+/-] : Beijing Olympic Games: Dalai Lama calls for boycott of opening ceremony

Beijing Olympic Games: Dalai Lama calls for boycott of opening ceremony
By Stephen Adams 23/05/2008

The Dalai Lama, Tibet’s spiritual leader, has called on Western governments to boycott the Olympic Games’ opening ceremony in Beijing if they think it will put pressure on the Chinese government to change.


But he said if they thought they could achieve more through diplomatic means, they should attend the ceremony.

Speaking during a high-profile 11-day tour of Britain, he also confirmed it was Gordon Brown’s decision to hold their meeting tomorrow away from Number 10, in a bid not to offend the Chinese.

The Dalai Lama is due to meet the Prime Minister at Lambeth Palace, the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

He is also due to meet with House of Commons’ Foreign Affairs Committee to lobby his cause today.

In the interview with the BBC , the Buddhist spiritual leader, 73, said of the Olympics’ opening ceremony: “Right from the beginning I fully support about the Olympic Games. Meantime I have also made clear the world takes this opportunity to remind the Chinese government about poor record on human rights, religious freedom and environment. The Chinese leadership should pay more attention.”

Asked whether politicians and others should attend the opening ceremony if invited, he said: “[If an ] individual feel [that is] the best way to remind them [is] not [to[ attend, don’t do it.”

But he qualified that: “If they feel to talk, to meet with Chinese leaders, that’s more effective, then go there.”

On the question of where his meeting with Mr Brown is to be held today, the Dalai Lama said: “From my part there’s no differences, so long as the meeting [takes place]. So perhaps I think [with] our meeting, the Prime Minister I think, is becoming more spiritual minded.”

He accepted the Prime Minister did not want to receive him at Number 10 for “economy reasons”.

The Bhuddist spiritual leader, 73, said he was fully committed to a “middle way” of bringing greater autonomy for Tibet, but said he did not want the disputed province to break away entirely from the Chinese state.

Asked what exactly he wanted for Tibet, he replied: “We are not seeking separation. It is in our own interest to remain within China.”

“Defence and foreign affairs should be carried by central [Chinese] government but the rest of business - education and environment, religious work - should be handled by Tibetans themselves. That’s meaningful autonomy.”

He said he thought the Chinese leadership “should take a more liberal way, a more open way, to look towards Tibet.”

Despite the recent crackdown which Tibetan authorities claim left 203 civilians dead - a figure denied by the Chinese - he said he was “quite optimistic” about prospects for his homeland.

But he admitted his people were getting “frustrated” with the lack of progress towards greater autonomy.

“The longer time [there is] no improvement inside Tibet and ruthless suppression continue, then more frustration.”

On Friday he will also plant a tree at Clarence House in the presence of the Prince of Wales.

The pair have met a number of times before, with Charles known to be a keen admirer of the Dalai Lama.

The Tibetan holy man will also deliver a speech on Universal Responsibility in the Modern World at the Royal Albert Hall.

Story from Telegraph News:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2006564/Beijing-Olympic-Games-Dalai-Lama-calls-for-boycott-of-opening-ceremony.html
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[+/-] : President Bush: Boycott Olympics Opening Ceremony

President Bush: Boycott Olympics Opening Ceremony
Target: President George Bush
Sponsored by: Care2

When China was awarded the 2008 games seven years ago, the international community expected that this opportunity would help improve China's human rights record. Yet the world has witnessed exactly the opposite. Despite rallying cries around the world, China continues its harsh crackdown on protesters in Tibet and internal dissent, most recently by imprisoning noted human rights activist Hu Jia. But with the blazing tour of the Olympic torch, millions of protesters from Paris to San Francisco have been speaking out passionately for human rights in China, Tibet, Darfur and Burma. President Bush has a unique opportunity to speak out for those who are silenced. By boycotting the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics, President Bush can join other world leaders in urging China to stop its repression of activists and work to improve human rights at home and in Darfur and Burma where China wields great influence....
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