Press Statement regarding the Torch Relay in
Solidarity with the Tibetans – “One World, One Peace”
(Bangkok, 19 April 2008) We, representing student organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and human rights organizations, as listed below, have gathered today in conjunction to the Olympic torch relay in Bangkok. We express our solidarity with the Tibetans who have fought for their rights but have faced violent crackdown, mass killings, torture and arbitrary detentions last month.
Our network condemns the actions of the Chinese government, which include killing, arbitrary detention, committing torture, and other human rights violations against the Tibetan people. According to the information received by the
The network does not support the boycott of the Olympic games, but we see that the Chinese government as the host to the Olympics, which is considered an event for humanity, should live up to the Olympic principle of “peace, freedom, solidarity, and respect of human dignity”, as stated in the Olympic Charter. Since we are peace-loving people and as a part of the world citizen, we feel that the Chinese government should respect the principle of the Olympics.
The network has these following demands:
(2) The Chinese government must respect the principle of human rights and the international human rights law. As the Chinese government has used the Olympics to portray improvements in their human rights record, it should not taint these Olympic Games with bloody hands. Additionally,
(3) We support the call by regional human rights organizations calling for the UN Human Rights Council to dispatch independent UN investigators to Tibet to conduct a fact finding mission on the human rights violations and reflect accurately the number of people killed, murdered and arrested as well as to give recommendations to the Chinese government.
(4) The Chinese government must open a round of dialogue with the Tibetan government in exile, especially with the Dalai Lama to discuss an end to human rights violations and the reforms in the Chinese policies to make Tibetans marginalized culturally, politically, and socially.
(5) The Chinese government must stop human rights violation with its own workers. We also call to the IOC to stop supporting the brand-named sweat shops that exploit labor for salary less than the recognized standard.
(6) Lastly we call on the Chinese government to improve its human rights record domestically and internationally. We call on
We believe in peace and freedom for the people.
In solidarity:
Thai Labour Campaign
Student Federation of
People’s Reforms Group
Chulalongkorn University Social Critics Group
Workers Democracy Group
Campaign Committee for Human Rights
Working Group on Justice for Peace
Youth Network for Peace in
Young People for Democracy –
People Coalition Party
Students for a Free
International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB)
For more information:
Numnual Yapparat – 081 583 3713 ,
Anuthee Dechtawaporn – 081 171 3370
Pokpong Lawansiri – 086 603 8844
2 comments:
sawadee ka,
salute to all protestors and thanks for the pics I spread it on Burma Blogs
FREE TIBET FREE BURMA
...nice..
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