Olympic Legacy dreams to be presented to Chinese Embassy

“To see a China with freedom of speech would honour the Olympic dream”

This is one of the thousands of positive human rights messages members have collected since May on the Olympic Legacy Banners, which Amnesty International plans to present to the Chinese Embassy on Tuesday 29 July.

“Tuesday marks the 10-day countdown to the start of the Games. Many Kiwis supported Amnesty’s call urging China to deliver on its human rights promises but China is at imminent risk of failing to meet those commitments”, says Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand spokesperson, Margaret Taylor.

Despite assurances from the Chinese embassy here in New Zealand that the Chinese government has consistently “advocated dialogue” to “boost human rights development around the world” embassy officials have continued to decline to meet with Amnesty International nor to accept its petition.

“Which is why Amnesty members displaying Legacy banners will be outside the Embassy from 7.30-9am on Tuesday in the hopes that when we return at 3pm Embassy officials will accept the petitions from us, “ adds Taylor.

The Olympic legacy banners each highlight one of four key human rights concerns Amnesty International has urged the Chinese government to deliver on, and include:
- putting an end to the death penalty,
- ending the arbitrary detention, and particularly of human rights activists as part of the pre-Olympics “clean up”,
- releasing all human rights defenders detained for speaking out on human rights,
- allowing full media access and freedom for both international and Chinese journalists.

Wellingtonians will be given their last chance to sign the banners at a stall at Manners Mall, CBD, from 12 – 2pm.

“Signatures from high school students through to the Prime Minister Helen Clark are visible evidence that New Zealanders are not only seeking sporting wins but human rights victories from the Olympics,” says Taylor.

The action marks the launch of Freedom Week, Amnesty International’s annual awareness and appeal week. Amnesty members will be organising street and supermarket collections throughout the country on Friday 1 and Saturday 2 August. An automatic $20 can also be made by calling 0900 AMNESTY.