Brown must pull out of Beijing Olympics ceremony - Clegg

4 April 2008

Ahead of the arrival of the Olympic torch in London this weekend, Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg has written to Gordon Brown urging him to pull out of the ceremony in the light of China's human rights record.

He added that he did not believe the Prime Minister could attend the Beijing Games 'in good conscience', unless and until the Chinese Government took steps to 'honour the spirit of the Olympics' in its conduct from Tibet to Darfur.

The full text of Nick Clegg's letter reads:

Dear Gordon,

I understand that on Sunday you will welcome the Olympic torch to London. I urge you to reconsider your participation in this event and indeed any future events to mark the Beijing Games, including the opening ceremony on the 8^th August.

Recent events in Tibet, broken promises over media freedoms, ongoing human rights abuses and intransigence over the humanitarian catastrophe in Darfur demand a response.

Serious concerns cannot be swept under the carpet for the sake of ceremonial duties. Unless and until China takes steps to honour the spirit of the Olympics, as laid out in the Olympic Charter, I do not believe that the British Prime Minister can attend the Beijing Games in good conscience.

The Chinese Government knows very well that hosting the Games is a solemn undertaking underpinned by core ethical principles. Indeed the Charter says, "Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."

The Chinese pledged, before winning the games, to uphold these values. In February 2001, Beijing's Deputy Mayor Liu Jingmin stated, "By applying for the Olympics, we want to promote not just the city's development, but the development of society, including democracy and human rights." The behaviour of the Chinese Government to date falls well short of this commitment.

China should, however, take the following steps to show to the world that it honours the Charter and can meet the responsibilities it has undertaken by hosting the Games:

1. President Hu Jintao could agree to meet the Dalai Lama for face-to-face talks on a mutually acceptable solution to the contested status of Tibet and the treatment of Tibetans. A suitable independent moderator should be appointed to convene and oversee the talks.

2. China could honour its commitment to allow the free access of foreign journalists to all parts of the country and to talk to any individual who gives consent to be interviewed. China should not use the Olympics as an excuse to further restrict the freedom of its domestic media.

3. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China could use its influence in Khartoum to remove obstacles to the United Nations-African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

4. China could demonstrate its commitment to civil and political rights by ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Until these actions are taken, I believe our national political leaders should not participate in ceremonies celebrating the upcoming Beijing games, or attend its opening and closing ceremonies.

I am a great believer in the spirit of the Olympics as set out in the Charter. Indeed it is for the sake of those principles and for all those who are suffering as a result of China's actions that you must now through your own actions take a stand for human rights in China.

Yours,

Nick

Applicability: this item refers to the UK.

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