The Human Rights Torch Relay Brings a Flame of Hope
During the Olympics, a flame of hope for the Chinese people is traveling mainland China. It started its journey in March after having visited more then 162 cities worldwide. The “Human Rights Torch Relay” was launched by the “Coalition to Investigation the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG) and is endorsed by a number of other groups. Its motto is “The Same World, The Same Human Rights” as it refers to the Olympic Games’ motto “One World, One Dream” and the current human rights violations taking place in China.
The Human Rights Torch Relay sheds light on the other side of the Olympics—that is, upon the increased violation of human rights in China in the run up to the Olympics.
The response from the public is diverse and positive. In an interview with Sound of Hope radio, Mr. Liu from Hunei province states, “I strongly support the Human Rights Torch Relay during the last leg of its journey. Chinese people seem to live like human beings, but in fact the Chinese live without any dignity, with their basic human rights trampled. I think that the theme of the Human Rights Torch Relay “The Same World, The Same Human Rights” is to the point and very realistic. I support the Human Rights Torch Relay spreading to every corner of China.”
An anonymous Chinese lady from Shanghai who had her house illegally dismantled by the Chinese government and was repeatedly detained during her appeals for justice said the following about the torch relay: “We certainly support the Human Rights Torch reaching Shanghai. People like us, innocent people, detained, with our rights violated, want human rights and freedom.” She also took the opportunity to call upon the international community to voice more genuine concern.
Mr. Song of Jingzhou, Hubei Province commented: “Ordinary people in many places of China have spontaneously joined the tour of the torch.” Furthermore, he said that the motto ”embodies the whole concept of a civilized society. This ideal is an inevitable sign of human civilization that mankind pursues”
He contines, “The dictatorship under the rule of the Communist Party, in fact, goes against the entire human civilization. This campaign is very important to those who have been persecuted during the preparation for the Olympics, including democratic activists, Falun Gong practitioners, human rights advocates and many others.”
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