Epoch Times: June 25, 2007 - New Zealanders may join the call for an Olympic boycott, in a bid to end the state-sanctioned organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners in China.
The Coaltion to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong in China (CIPFG) held a press conference in Auckland yesterday, to draw attention to mounting allegations against the Chinese regime's human rights abuses.
Auckland barrister and solicitor Richard McLeod, a member of the CIPFG panel, said Chinese officials had agreed to improve human rights in China when they were awarded the Olympics in 2001.
"The evidence that is emerging is that the [human rights] stituation [in China] has not improved. There is a good deal of evidence to suggest that it has actually worsened," Mr McLeod said.
1) Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.
2) The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.
3) The Olympic Movement is the concerted, organised, universal and permanent action, carried out under the supreme authority of the IOC, of all individuals and entities who are inspired by the values of Olympism. It covers the five continents. It reaches its peak with the bringing together of the world's athletes at the great sports festival, the Olympic Games. Its symbol is five interlaced rings.
4) The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. The organisation, administration and management of sport must be controlled by independent sports organisations.
5) Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.
6) Belonging to the Olympic Movement requires compliance with the Olympic Charter and recognition by the IOC.
- taken from Olympic website
Amnesty International figures estimate 250,000 Falun Gong practitioners are currently being held in re-education through labour camps throughout Mainland China.
Mr McLeod said the allegations of organ harvesting in China is "an issue of very deep conscience".
"We [CIPFG] are opposed to the organ harvesting from any person. There is clear evidence that the Chinese Government executes political prisoners. The evidence that is emerging is that the majority are Falun Gong."
"The allegations here are so explosive that one wonders why anyone would want to go to the Olympics," he said.
He said Free Trade with China could also be holding New Zealand politicians back from speaking up about human rights.
"People need to make a stand and say let's not just think about short-term economic gain," he said.
CIPFG panel member and Auckland barrister Kerry Gore read the fifth article of the Olympic Charter, which states: "Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement."
He said there was no doubt that Falun Gong practitioners had suffered persecution, discrimination and torture in China. "The question is whether China actually deserves to belong to the Olympic movement," he said.
Mr Gore said the main focus of CIPFG was to send an independent panel of experts to China to investigate the organ harvesting claims in all labour camps, prisons, detention centres and mental hospitals where Falun Gong were being held, but this would require approval from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
CIPFG's New Zealand spokesperson Carole Curtis, an Auckland barrister and solicitor, said China should allow an investigation - if they have nothing to hide.
"Our concern is that the reports that are coming to this country about what is happening in China are more and more convincing," she said.
She said many New Zealanders had either not heard about the persecution of Falun Gong in China, or did not understand what Falun Gong is, but if the New Zealand public becomes aware of what is happening and becomes concerned then our politicians will also become concerned.
Auckland City Councilor Dr Catherine Casey, is also a CIPFG member but was not present at the press conference.
Call For An Olympic Boycott
CIPFG will call for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics from August 8, 2007 unless the Chinese regime allows an independent team to investigate the organ harvesting allegations, releases illegally detained Falun Gong practioners and their supporters such as human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, and puts an end to the persecution of Falun Gong.
If the Chinese Communist Party does not agree to an independent investigation then CIPFG will commence a Global Human Rights Torch Relay to tour various countries before the 2008 Olympics, to raise the profile of the organ harvesting issue and reiterate the call that 'Genocide and the Olympics cannot co-exist'.
The CIPFG will also invite all persons who care for justice and human rights to boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Mr Gore said.
The CIPFG currently has over 300 members worldwide, including MPs, Senators, lawyers, human rights campaigners, religious and community leaders, media personnel and NGO representatives.
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