Ways That Are Dark

The Washington Post writes on China’s offer to resume human rights dialog with the United States. The headline says it all: China’s Offer To Resume Rights Talks Is Discounted. On Wednesday, activists from some of the world’s leading human rights organizations testified before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

Robin Munro, research director of the China Labour Bulletin, said China’s official record makes a “mockery of promises made” and warned that the crackdown on dissenters might “become the new normal” once the Games are over.

The China Blog also mentions the irony of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi’s remarks that public security officers are more likely to offer a protester a “a cup of tea” than arrest them. The remarks were made on the same day another “a petition organizer was seized in Beijing”.

It seems that lying is also the norm.

Why exactly did Beijing get the Olympics? The International Olympic Committee is unwavering in its public support of Beijing. In light of all the shortcomings and unfulfilled promises, the IOC continues to proclaim that the games are good for China. They still would have you believe that the human rights situation in China is improving.

Follow the news, and it is clear that the Olympics are being used as an excuse to suppress human rights in China more than ever before. The IOC, like the Chinese government, is guilty of practicing double-speak; they know what they say is all lies but they still claim it’s true.

The now famous Chinese dissident, Hu Jia, describes for the world what they can expect to see during the summer games. In an open letter translated by Human Rights Watch, he writes: “You may not know that the flowers, smiles, harmony and prosperity are built on a base of grievances, tears, imprisonment, torture and blood.”

He warns:

Please be aware that the Olympic Games will be held in a country where there are no elections, no freedom of religion, no independent courts, no independent trade unions; where demonstrations and strikes are prohibited; where torture and discrimination are supported by a sophisticated system of secret police; where the government encourages the violation of human rights and dignity, and is not willing to undertake any of its international obligations.

Clearly, this is turning out to be the worst choice of host city in the history of the Olympic games. Not only are there many promises the Chinese are having trouble keeping, such as pollution, traffic, and a real openness; but even the IOC is not standing up for humanity. The IOC is now unequivocally complicit in human rights violations. It’s not the 2008 Olympics people should be boycotting, but all future games until the IOC gets their head on straight.

Read the complete translation of Hu Jia’s letter.