letter to the international olympic committee

PureInsight | March 11, 2007

[PureInsight.org] Here is a
letter that has been co-signed by David Kilgour and David Matas (the
authors of the investigative report on the organ harvesting of Falun
Gong practitioners in China) addressed to Mr Rogge, the President of
the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in regard to the continuing
human rights abuses in China.

This letter was sent about two weeks ago now to Mr. Rogge and some
practitioners are in the process of sending this letter to all Olympic
members (National and State) worldwide in the coming weeks. The
intention of this letter is to send a clear message to all Olympic
members and the public worldwide that China is failing to meet the
principles of the Olympic Charter which clearly state that the host
nation of the Games is to respect human rights and human dignity.

We are posting this article in the hope that it will allow many people
to read it, to potentially share it with others and to clarify the
truth and inspire others to action, and the like.

A suggestion would be to include with this letter the contact details
of the IOC and a brief request that people share their concerns about
China's human rights abuses with the IOC and/or the National Olympic
Committees within their respective countries or even to write their own
letter.

Here are the contact details below:

International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Chateau de Vidy

C.P. 356 CH- 1007, Lausanne Switzerland

Ph: +41 21 621 6111

Fax: +41 21621 6216

The letter:

The Honourable Mr. Jaques Rogge

President

The International Olympic Committee

Lausanne, Switzerland



Re: Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

We hereby request that you raise the issue of human dignity and human
rights in China with your colleagues in Beijing to stop the persecution
of those whose fundamental rights are being denied. We have great hopes
that the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games will be conducted in true Olympic
spirit. We base this statement on the following:

The Olympic Charter states in part:

   "The goal of the
Olympics is to place sports everywhere at the service of a harmonious
development of man, with a view to encouraging the establishment of a
peaceful society concerned with preservation of human dignity. To this
effect, the Olympic Movement engages, alone or in cooperation with
other organizations and within the limits of its means, in actions to
promote peace" (Olympic Charter, article 3);

   And "Safeguarding
the dignity of the individual is a fundamental requirement of the
Olympics" (IOC   Code of Ethics, "A. Dignity;" part 1)

What dignities has the Chinese Government accorded the people of China
with violations against the innocent still continuing after being
awarded the Olympics?

In regard to these Charter provisions, the IOC media office has sent
letters to those who raise concerns about human rights violations in
China which state:

"We have carefully thought about what
kind of role the IOC - an organisation created to bring the benefits of
sport to society - can play in more diverse matters. Our belief is that
we must focus our work within the scope of our remit - which is to
guide and assist the Games organisers to host successful Olympic Games.
Within this framework of bringing sports and Olympic values to China,
we are hopeful that benefits to the wider social landscape will follow
in post-Games years. "The IOC is committed to bringing the
Olympic Movement to China for the first time in history because we
believe that examples set by the Olympic ideals have - and will
continue to have - many positive benefits for China and the world."

The Charter would suggest a more direct and forthright approach.

Both past and present Olympic athletes, coaches and officials who have
been made aware of and shown information regarding human rights
transgressions in China are deeply concerned with China's un-kept
promises.

Today, stringent human rights violations happening daily in China are
being ignored. We, David Matas, Canadian human rights lawyer and David
Kilgour, former MP and Secretary of State for Asia and the Pacific in
the Canadian Government have released an investigative report, which
states, in part:

   "Regrettably, it
confirms our earlier conclusion, that the government of China and its
agencies in numerous parts of the country, in particular in hospitals
but also detention centers and 'people's courts' have put to death a
large but unknown number of Falun Gong prisoners of conscience since
1999. Their vital organs, including hearts, kidneys, livers and corneas
were virtually, simultaneously seized involuntarily for sale at high
prices, sometimes to foreigners who normally face long waits for
voluntary donations of such organs in their home countries."

As Olympians become informed of these inhumanities in China, how will the IOC and world governments respond?

Would the athletes, coaches and officials as a whole want to compete in
a country that imposes such cruel persecution upon her people?

We further deplore the incarceration and gag order on China human
rights lawyer Mr. Gao Zhisheng who on orders of the Chinese government
is forbidden to speak to any media until after the 2008 Olympic Games.

Amnesty International, Human Rights in China and Human Rights Watch
have noted increasingly deteriorating human rights conditions in China.
We are confident that the IOC would not have awarded the Games to
Beijing had they then known of the human rights abuses happening in
China.

Please, consider the following:

1) How will the Games benefit China's citizenry if the IOC doesn't speak out against China's human rights violations?

2) Can the IOC assure the rights and safety of Falun Gong practitioners
and members of other peaceful groups repressed by China's regime if
they wish to attend the Games without fear of being arrested and
imprisoned?

3) Will Falun Gong practitioners travelling from abroad be allowed entry into China without reprisal?

We urge you to please take effective action by calling on the Chinese
authorities to bring an end to the ongoing persecution against millions
of innocent citizens in China, and we hope that the 2008 Games will
embody the principles of the Olympic Charter.

The favour of a reply is appreciated.

Sincerely,

David
Matas

(Canadian human rights
lawyer)

David Kilgour

(Former Canadian Secretary of State (Asia - Pacific)

and Member of Parliament 1979 - 2006)

Links to further information: