
Two communist Chinaman and Spielburg 2006 at Beijing stadium. (click to enlarge)
Spielberg Left Olympics Role Over Darfur
Friday, February 15, 2008
BEIJING, Feb. 14 -- Chinese officials defended the country's human rights record regarding the troubled Sudanese region of Darfur on Thursday in the first official reaction to Steven Spielberg's abrupt resignation as an artistic adviser to the Beijing Olympic Games.
In withdrawing Tuesday, the Hollywood movie director said "China should be doing more to end the continuing human suffering" in Darfur, where fighting between rebellious African tribes and government-backed Arab militias has led to the deaths of as many as 450,000 people and displaced 2.5 million others"
China buys two-thirds of Sudan's oil exports and sells weapons to the Sudanese government. Spielberg's departure from the board advising the Chinese government on how to stage the Games' opening and closing ceremonies in August undermined China's efforts to present itself as a modern and advanced nation.
According to an online survey by the state-run newspaper Global Times, 82 percent of respondents believe Western pressure was due to political prejudice against China. The paper is contending that the West uses its "media hegemony" to produce biased stereotypes.
Human rights activists have been applying more pressure on the Chinese government as violence has surged in Darfur in recent weeks.
China doubled its trade with Sudan last year and worked to weaken a U.N. resolution calling for a peacekeeping force opposed at the time by the Sudanese government, according to an open letter signed by Nobel Peace laureates, Olympic athletes and other advocates.
Those complaints are part of a rising wave of criticism of China's human rights record, both at home and abroad, as it prepares for the Aug. 8 start of the Olympics. The Chinese leadership views the Games as a way to showcase the country's record growth in recent years.
But human rights advocates and other government critics have taken the leadership to task over issues of pollution and food safety during the Games, while pressuring the government to end domestic repression and release rights activists and dissident journalists now in jail. In response, Chinese officials have insisted the Olympics not be politicized.
According to a report this week in the South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong daily. Political commentator Li Datong said Beijin government officials are reluctant to make real changes, despite the mounting criticism.
"They expected it, but just had no way to stop it," Li said. "The political system makes them conflicted. They are not willing to improve the situation of human rights, since it will change the basic system, yet they can't stain their international image. So they have to do something."
~~~
We, the Nippon Falcons League are human rights advocates. Not only advocates for human rights, we also believe that pressure is necessary to force Beijing to comply with stated international laws.
Chinese weapons are killing African tribes. China must stop selling their weapons to the Islamic government of Khartoum in exchange for oil.
Whatever their excuse is to continue relations with the Sudanese government it won't be accepted by Americans, Europeans and Japanese. No matter what their claim is, the Chinese Communist government led by dictator Hu Jintao is perceived as a bunch of liars.
Iseheijiro : spokesman for Nippon Falcons League