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May, 2002
Dear
American,
For
myself and for the China Support Network, let me introduce you to our amazing,
urgent, and outrageous situation, which we suddenly face.
We
are suddenly campaigning for China to lose its host status for the 2008 Olympic
games. These were scheduled to go to Beijing, and there is a new "smoking
gun" outrage which is so large, it requires, calls for, and demands
removing the Olympic name off of this Chinese abuse.
A
Chinese crackdown on human rights is always revolting -- but now, the Communists
went too far and crossed a line, in naming the Olympics as the pretext and
reason for a crackdown -- in top secret Chinese government orders, with the
Olympics' name on them. The orders came to light this month. Now, there is a
crackdown campaign to abuse Chinese human rights, in the name of the Olympics.
The
Chinese Communists should not be using the Olympic name as an excuse for their
vile practices of gross, flagrant violation of people. It is an absolute misuse
and debasement of the meaning of the Olympics.
Chinese
people, such as practitioners of the Falun Gong spiritual movement, should not
suffer more because of the Olympics. There should be no extra death, torture, or
incarceration because of the Olympics!
The
more you read about this, the more offensive it gets. I have written the
article, "Olympic Misbehavior From China," about this matter, and it
is inserted at the end of this letter.
Can
we remove the Olympics from China, and do the right thing? This is an achievable
objective, and we are appealing for your help.
Hosting
the Olympics is a privilege, not a right. Also, it is important to protect the
"brand name" of the Olympics. Any marketing manager would say,
"get our brand name off of that torture and tyranny." We believe, the
International Olympic Committee can be brought to see matters the same way.
The
alternative brings us to a new question about human rights statistics – what
portion is Olympic-related? By present estimates, Falun Gong has suffered 1,700
deaths, 20,000 labor camp sentences, and 100,000 arrests. We can only guess what
portion has been added by the Olympic crackdown. By way of example, if 4% is due
to the Olympic crackdown, then we have 68 deaths, 800 labor camp sentences, and
4,000 arrests in the name of the Olympics.
A
SPORTING EVENT should not precipitate ANY percentage of deaths, slave labor, or
prisoners of conscience. –Yes, we can remove the Olympics from China. To
preserve any semblance of upstanding character, this is already the right thing
for the International Olympic Committee to do.
But,
we urgently need help from you and all concerned Americans. In this amazing
situation, we can actually rebuke China's Communists, where more usually,
Americans feel powerless to make a difference in the face of Chinese tyranny.
This time, it will be different! The Olympics belong to the international
community, not to the Chinese Communist Party. We can send a strong and clear
message to China that the world has higher standards than this.
We
ask you to send letters of pressure to the International Olympic Committee
(IOC), to your politicians, and also a letter to the editor. This is a joint
action combining the China Support Network, the Free China Movement, and the
human rights community. In 1989, Americans created the China Support Network, as
we reacted to Tiananmen Square's tragedy. Our campaign of "take back the
Olympics" may be our best chance in years to make a difference and draw the
line against abuse of human rights by Communist dictators and the perpetrators
of heinous atrocity.
If
you need a sample letter of pressure, use our written example at kusumi.com/action/pressure.htm.
We also hope that you tell a friend what you have found and done about this
issue. Everyone with concern for others and basic human decency will likely feel
revolted and offended at the use of the Olympics for cracking down, and for
applying the vicious practices of Chinese communism. We will always welcome more
involvement as we seek to stop the abuses, which amount to a holocaust in China.
This
is part of our larger cause, which has stood for many years. The China Support
Network represents Americans who care about the causes of freedom, human rights,
and democracy. Working directly with leading Chinese dissidents, we began to
help their efforts upon their escape from Tiananmen Square in 1989. Our causes
are pro-freedom, pro-democracy, anti-communist, and we favor a strengthened
American China policy. At the same time, we support only actions which are
non-violent and peaceful, in keeping with the character of the Chinese democracy
movement.
If
you are an American with compatible views -- believing firmly that China should
join the free world, and must have self-determination -- then, you are invited
to join the China Support Network.
My
readers may occur in two types -- comfortable, and less comfortable, with this
cause. If you would help the crowds of pro-democracy college students in
Tiananmen Square, then stand with us in the China Support Network (CSN). People
who are less comfortable might simply pressure the International Olympic
Committee on a humanitarian basis. To join the China Support Network, see the
URL, kusumi.com/action.
Many
people may wonder what ever became of us, the Tiananmen Square cause, and its
crew. Bravely standing for democracy and against tyranny, they were the original
rock stars of Generation X politics. Later, they returned to college, and seemed
to become China's invisible opposition. They should not be mistaken for gone.
The activism continues, and if you would care to join us at an event, you can
witness it first hand.
The
Tiananmen Square anniversary is, every year, marked by Chinese dissidents with a
significant public occasion. While we commemorate June 4, this year the
observance is on June 1. Leading Chinese dissidents will appear at the annual
gathering in Washington, DC. It occurs in front of the Chinese embassy, 2300
Connecticut Ave., N.W.. It is an early evening gathering, for two hours
beginning at 7 p.m.. Mark your calendar, if interested, and join us at this
upcoming event.
We
also seek volunteers to help spread the word about the CSN Olympic action -- the
best move for human rights in years. You can be a volunteer by simply moving
this information around the internet. If you are handy with the copy-and-paste
function, help by reposting this letter to other visible sites, within limits of
respectful netiquette. (Cyber activists can move the information; mention
the information; or link to the information.) If you have heftier services to volunteer, get
in touch. At the URL, kusumi.com/action, you will also see that we seek
contributions and financial backing.
We
feel, it is well to help this cause, because it has been low profile and not
covered in the media for some years now. This results in less fundraising and
shortages of cash. The cause includes many pockets which are strapped
financially. Your contributions make a larger difference for this reason.
I
believe that world outrage is about to snap back at China's Communist
leaders. To lose the Olympics may represent a black eye for China; a loss of
face; and, international humiliation. Theirs is a flagrant and blatant outrage.
Now is the time to rediscover the China Support Network. In matters of life and
death, we are pulling for life, and relief for survivors of Chinese oppression.
Thank
you for your support!
Sincerely,
National Executive Director,
Olympic Misbehavior From China
By
John Kusumi
China stepped over a
line in secret orders, for an Olympic-related crackdown on human rights,
as leaked last week by the Free China Movement. The orders made use of the
Olympics as a pretext and excuse for a severe crackdown, slated to last
through the six years remaining between now and the 2008 Olympics.
"To better welcome
the smooth holding of the 2008 Olympic Games in our country," the
order "in accordance with regulations from [China's] Ministry of
Public Security [the national police headquarters] and Supreme People's
Court" describes four levels of punishment for those who do not
"obey the suggestions" of the government.
Two of the four levels
include specific instructions to conduct arrests without warrants; and,
the harshest level of punishment is reserved for practitioners of the
Falun Gong spiritual movement. In March, police in Changchun were seen to
be forcing Falun Gong practitioners out of high rise windows, as the
suffering of Falun Gong rose to around 1,700 dead; 20,000 labor camp
sentences; and 100,000 arrests.
This is unacceptable
conduct in the first place -- and it is unacceptable use of the Olympics'
name in the second place. This outrage will rock the sports world, and
forms the reason why the International Olympic Committee must revisit the
decision which made China the site of the 2008 games.
In marketing, image is
everything, and no alert marketing executive in the free world would want
his or her brand name associated with the type of conduct represented in
China's crackdown on Falun Gong. Howls of outrage will also come from the
human rights community, and from the Chinese freedom and democracy
movement, where the selection of Beijing was opposed as the IOC made its
decision last summer.
The China Support
Network has already launched a pressure campaign to "take the
Olympics back" from China, and this is the rightfully indicated
course of action for the IOC. The secret orders of the Chinese government
also list the start date of the crackdown as May 20, 2000 -- fully
thirteen months before the Olympic committee made its decision. Eyebrows
may rise, where China's leaders were very confident in the outcome of the
vote.
The raised eyebrows may
go through the roof, in the cities which were passed over in that outcome
-- Toronto, Paris, Istanbul, and Osaka. The likely destination of a moved
Olympics would be Toronto, which received the second highest number of
votes. Organizers of Toronto's bid knew in their hearts that they had the
most deserving bid, with all being right, well, and in order. They had
boldly predicted a win, and through a twist of fate, they may yet host the
2008 Olympics.
The Free China Movement
and the China Support Network are now pushing for this decision, although
it should actually be a no-brainer at the IOC, for supporters of human
rights, and for all those with any standards of human decency. If more
incentive is necessary, the China Support Network, with others, will also
boycott Olympic advertisers in the event of a Beijing Olympics in 2008.
It is time now for the
Olympic community to side with people and humanity, reflecting our
revulsion at the type of systemic abuse reflected in this flagrant order,
which is at once tawdry, seedy, and blatant. It is certainly beneath
dignifying with the Olympic name. Where China has now offended our
sensibilities, we must send a message back to China: The world has higher
standards than this.
John Kusumi is a former presidential
candidate (Ind., '84).
Kusumi founded the China Support Network (CSN) in 1989. CSN became the
leading group of
Americans responding to Tiananmen Square's Communist atrocity. |
