“Part of the goals of the Olympics as stated in its charter is to place sports at the service of the harmonious development of people, promotion of a peaceful society, and preservation of human dignity; we urge the Chinese government to now replicate that in their policy on Burma.”
Thus said activists from the Free Burma Coalition-Philippines as the group today challenged the Chinese government to withdraw its support from the military regime in Burma. The group added that *”China’s pledge to improve its own human rights record should extend to its foreign policy especially on Burma, where human rights abuses are rampant.”
Activists urge China to review foreign policy in Burma
“Part of the goals of the Olympics as stated in its charter is to place sports at the service of the harmonious development of people, promotion of a peaceful society, and preservation of human dignity; we urge the Chinese
government to now replicate that in their policy on Burma.”
Thus said activists from the Free Burma Coalition-Philippines as the group today challenged the Chinese government to withdraw its support from the military regime in Burma. The group added that *”China’s pledge to improve its own human rights record should extend to its foreign policy especially on Burma, where human rights abuses are rampant.”
“With just a few days remaining before the Olympics, we hope that the Chinese government realizes that another torch must be carried: the torch of freedom and democracy for the peoples of Burma,” said Egoy Bans, spokesperson of the Free Burma Coalition-Philippines (FBC-Phils).
“If that happens,” Bans continued, “the Beijing Olympics will bring victory not only for the peoples of Burma but also for China and the whole world. No amount of Olympic gold medals could ever match that.”
Remembering August 8, 1988
Ironically, the start date of the Olympics, August 8, 2008, marks the 20th anniversary of the peaceful national uprising-turned-massacre in Burma where thousands of activists were killed, detained and tortured.
Bans stressed, “On this day, China will brandish the Olympic Flame while the peoples of Burma still cringe from memories of the day the military regime put democracy in the dark and killed their aspirations for a peaceful society.”
In 2006, China and Russia used their veto powers and defeated a UN Security Council resolution, which called on the military regime in Burma to cease from attacking civilians in the ethnic minority regions, to end violations of human rights, and to open up the country to international humanitarian organizations.
“A “substantive political dialogue” is needed in Burma now but it can only happen with concerted pressures on the SPDC military regime to sit down with Burma’s opposition parties and ethnic minority groups. China’s continuous blocking of the UNSC resolution on Burma further decreases chances of democracy being enjoyed by one of Asia’s poorest peoples,” Bans concluded.
*For more information: Pls contact Egoy Bans and Gani Abunda at 0929-4109647, 09209132472 or call 435-2900 or 911-0205*
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