Emily Mader/ 20 March 2008/2:36pm/Human Rights
Canadian Prime Minister Harper has joined the voice of international opposition to China’s actions toward the uprising in Tibet. Hundreds of protestors gathered in Canada’s Parliamentary Hill to call for a boycott of the Olympic Games in Beijing this year. So far no country has openly advocated or initiated a boycott of the Olympic games; USA President Bush has stated that he will not support a boycott because he wishes to keep the games separate from politics. The European Union has also taken this stance, stating that it would be harmful to the Tibetans to pursue a boycott.
Prime Minister Harper further urged the Chinese government to follow the Dalai Lama’s offer to pursue a “non-violent reconciliation.” The Chinese government so far has not been interested in this tactic, and has in fact increased paramilitary troops in all areas with a high Tibetan population. Furthermore, the Chinese government has banned all foreign journalists and tourists from entering Tibet.
From what I know of the conflict between China and Tibet, it seems that China has been systematically imprisoning anyone who voices his or her opinion of dissent against the Chinese government, including peaceful protestors. It is the moral obligation of the international community to voice their opposition to what is happening in Tibet, and I think a boycott of the Olympic Games is not necessarily a bad idea. Though, I would be interested the reason why such a boycott would have the negative results the European Union has predicted.
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5gZS3kdnR6ob94FXdKxdRBSO9KCbw
1 comment:
I think a boycott of the games would incur even more wrath from the Chinese government towards Tibet. They see hosting the games as a huge honor. For major world powers to boycott the games would be detrimental to the morale of their people and to their notion of being a legitimate world power. This would lead to unrest within China, which would have untold consequences throughout the region.
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