As Amnesty International globally releases its 10-day count-down report on the Beijing Olympics on July 29th, Amnesty members in New Zealand will be outside the Chinese embassy, Wellington, highlighting China’s broken promises.

“The Olympics Countdown: Broken Promises” report evaluates the performance of the Chinese authorities in four areas related to the core values of the Olympics; persecution of human rights activists, detention without trial, censorship and the death penalty.

Those core values features on Olympic Legacy banners Amnesty International plans to deliver to the Chinese embassy at 3pm today. 

“Sadly, the embassy has declined numerous requests to meet and discuss human rights with Amnesty International and nor is it willing to accept our petition, advises AIANZ spokesperson Margaret Taylor.

Amnesty members aim to encourage a change of heart from the Embassy with an early morning action, and will give Wellingtonians one last chance to sign the banners before returning to the Embassy.

“The Olympic slogan is ‘One World One Dream.  Sadly for all too many peaceful activists in China it has become a human rights nightmare as they continue to face persecution, unfair detention, ill treatment and torture.  China must release all imprisoned peaceful activists, allow foreign and national journalists to report freely and make further progress towards the elimination of the death penalty,” says Taylor.

Olympic Legacy Banner event details, Tuesday 29 July

7.30am-9am –  Display of Olympic Legacy Banners outside Chinese Embassy, 2-6 Glenmore St, Wellington.

Noon–2pm –  Olympic Legacy Banner signing, Manners Mall, Wellington

3pm - Presentation of the Olympic Banners to the Chinese Embassy

Amnesty International website blocked at Olympic venue

“The Olympics Countdown: Broken Promises” Report

A copy of the 18 page report is downloadable via http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/ASA17/089/2008/en

This report details that human rights have continued to deteriorate in the run-up to the Olympics.  In preparation for the Games, the Chinese authorities have locked up, put under house arrest, and forcibly removed individuals they perceive may threaten the image of “stability” and harmony they want to present to the world

Amnesty International believes that local activists and journalists working on human rights issues in China are at particular risk of abuse during the Games.

One such activist Ye Guozhu should have been released on Saturday (July 26) but his detention has been continued until October well after the Games.  See this link for more information - http://www.amnesty.org.nz/archive-news/China-Ye-Guozhu-must-be-immediately-released.

Click here to read the facts and figues of Olympic realities

For more information visit: www.amnesty.org.nz/chinacampaign