Barbara Lee
Tuesday, April 8, 2008

The Olympic torch will pass through San Francisco Wednesday during the only North American stop on the worldwide Olympic torch relay to Beijing, where the 2008 Olympic Games will be played. Against this backdrop, millions of activists worldwide are calling on China to end the violence and repression in Tibet and urging China to use its influence to put pressure on Sudan to end the genocide in Darfur. Thousands are expected to turn out in San Francisco to cheer the torch on its way or protest the policies of the host nation.

China's resistance to sanctioning Sudan for the ongoing genocide in Darfur, and the continuing violence toward and repression of Tibetan monks have prompted a world outcry against China. The reason is clear. The spirit of the Olympics is about bringing together nations and people from all over the world in peace. China's support for the genocidal regime in Khartoum, and its own actions in Tibet, run contrary to that Olympic spirit. But as host, China puts itself in the international spotlight and invites questions about its own commitment to human rights.

In the case of Darfur, international human rights organizations report that Sudan's ability to sustain the genocide over such a long period of time is in large part due to the heavy support that Sudan receives from China. The genocide in Sudan is entering its sixth brutal year. The Khartoum government, and its proxy Janjaweed militias, are estimated to have killed more than 400,000 Darfuri civilians, raped countless women and young girls, and driven some 2.5 million civilians from their homes. These horrific acts must end. Unfortunately, China continues to strengthen its ties with the government in spite of the genocide.

Concerns over human rights abuses in Tibet are also mounting.

China has engaged in the cultural, religious, economic and linguistic repression of the Tibetan people for almost 60 years. During the past month, China's crackdown on nonviolent protests and demonstrations by Tibetans has led, by some estimates, to the death of more than 140 people and the arrest and detainment of some 1,000 peaceful protesters. China has also censored and restricted the ability of international journalists to monitor and report on the crackdown, and has violated its own stated commitment to the International Olympic Committee to allow freedom of access to the press as the Olympic Games approach. Despite international condemnation of these actions, China has not indicated it will act in a manner consistent with international human rights standards - this posture is clearly contrary to the spirit of the Olympic Games. 

We should not condone China's actions. That is why I sent a letter to President Bush urging him not to attend the Opening Ceremony and why I am co-sponsoring the Defend the Olympic Spirit Act, which restricts funding to prevent any U.S. official from attending the Olympic Opening Ceremony in China, with clear exceptions for the security of any U.S. athlete and support staff. While I support our athletes and honor their achievements, the act of removing an official U.S. presence from the Opening Ceremony will send a clear message that we do not tolerate human rights abuses.

There is much that we can do both as a nation and as individuals to take a stand against further human rights abuses. The United States has already given billions of dollars in humanitarian aid to Western Sudan and the Darfur refugee camps in Eastern Chad. And last December, the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act, which I originally introduced in the House, was signed into law. The act allows cities, states, universities, pension plans and mutual funds to divest their holdings from companies doing business with the Sudan regime, many of which are Chinese state-run companies. Divestment sends a message to both China and Sudan that we do not support genocide - not on our watch and not on our dime.

It's past time for China to acknowledge and denounce the atrocities in Darfur and end the violence and repression against the Tibetan people. The spirit of the Olympics demands nothing less.
Barbara Lee represents the Ninth Congressional District, which includes Oakland and Berkeley, in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

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This article appeared on page B - 7 of the San Francisco Chronicle