Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition News and Article Release Issue Number: A403-O123

中国民主运动海外联席会议新闻与文章发布号：A403-O123

Release Date: August 8, 2008

发布日：2008年8月8日

Topic: "Freedom First - No Olympics Medal for China" Rally Held on August 7, 2008, in Front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC, Joined by Hundreds of People and Visited by Over a Dozen Major News Media (statements by Congressman Thaddeus McCotter, New York City Council Member Tony Avella and John Kusumi of China Support Network)

标题：数百人参加亚洲民主联盟及各人权组织２００８年８月７日在中国驻美大使馆前举办的“自由第一 -- 中国无金牌”的抗议集会活动，十多个主流新闻媒体采访

Original Language Version: English (Chinese version at the end)

此号以英文为准（英文在前，中文在后）

Note: Please use "Simplified Chinese (GB2312)" encoding to view the Chinese parts of this release. If this mail does not display properly in your email program, please send your request for special delivery to us or visit:

http://www.weijingsheng.org/report/report2008/report2008-08/DCrallyBeijingOlympics080808detailsA403-O123.htm　which contains identical information.

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"Freedom First - No Olympics Medal for China" Rally Held on August 7, 2008, in Front of the Chinese Embassy in Washington DC, Joined by Hundreds of People and Visited by Over a Dozen Major News Media

On August 7, 2008, more than 200 people held a "Freedom First - No Olympics Medal for China" rally, in Front of Chinese Embassy in Washington DC. The event was sponsored by multiple organizations and high-profile freedom activists including Mr. Wei Jingsheng and Ms. Rebiya Kadeer. More than a dozen media including Reuters, Associate Press, Agence France-Press, BBC, Asahi, Sankei Shimbun, Dutch TV, World Journal, Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, arrived on the scene to report.

The rally was preceded by a march from the White House to the Chinese embassy and opened by Ms. Doma Norbu, president of Chushi Gangdruk. Many Tibetans, especially members of Chushi Gangdruk participated in the rally. The program of the event was composed by speeches and chants towards the Chinese embassy. Congressman Thaddeus McCotter and New York City Council member Tony Avella sent statements to the rally condemning the Chinese government's human rights abuses.

Besides speeches by Ms. Rebiya Kadeer, president of the World Uyghur Congress, and Wei Jingsheng, chair of the Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition, various international organizations sent representatives to speak including Elisa Bermudez from Reporters Without Borders and T. Kumar, Advocacy Director for the Asia & Pacific Region of Amnesty International USA. Other members of the Asia Democracy Alliance and guest speakers included: Wen-yen Chen, Executive Director of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs; Binh Nguyen, chair of the International Committee to Support the Non-Violence Movement for Human Rights in Vietnam; John Kusumi, Director Emeritus of the China Support Network; and Drawopon Rinchen Tsering, former president of Central Chushi Gangdruk. The rally was moderated by Karma Namgyal of Chushi Gangdruk and Ciping Huang of the Wei Jingsheng Foundation.

On August 6, 2008, Mr. Wei Jingsheng was invited to speak at a rally by the White House hosted by Amnesty International, urging President Bush to speak up for human rights and democracy in China while he is in China.

The following are related photos of the events:

http://www.weijingsheng.org/pic/newsletters/newsletters2008/newsletters2008-8/DCrally080807KadeerR-c-4.jpg

http://www.weijingsheng.org/pic/newsletters/newsletters2008/newsletters2008-8/DCrally080807AIspeaks-c-4.jpg

http://www.weijingsheng.org/pic/newsletters/newsletters2008/newsletters2008-8/DCrally080807leaders-c-4.jpg

http://www.weijingsheng.org/pic/newsletters/newsletters2008/newsletters2008-8/DCrally080807monks-c-4.jpg

http://www.weijingsheng.org/pic/newsletters/newsletters2008/newsletters2008-8/DCrally080807Vietnam-c-4.jpg

http://www.weijingsheng.org/pic/newsletters/newsletters2008/newsletters2008-8/DCrally080807Tibetans-c-4.jpg

http://www.weijingsheng.org/pic/newsletters/newsletters2008/newsletters2008-8/DCrally080807embassyChina-c-4.jpg

http://www.weijingsheng.org/pic/newsletters/newsletters2008/newsletters2008-8/DCrally080807gathering-c-4.jpg

http://www.weijingsheng.org/pic/newsletters/newsletters2008/newsletters2008-8/AIrally080806PresidentBush-c-4.jpg

http://www.weijingsheng.org/pic/newsletters/newsletters2008/newsletters2008-8/AIrally080806WeiJSspeaks-c-3.jpg

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Attachment 1:

Statement from Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) for the rally:

I would first like to extend my appreciation to you for your kind invitation to attend the "No Olympics Medal for China: Protesting Chinese Human Rights Record" rally. I regret I am not able to attend the rally due to a conflict of schedule. I wish you all success with this important event.

When it comes to dealing with communist China, we have two paths we can take. We can take the path of detente that says we can manage the rise of communist China, that we can engage them and barter with them and engage in structural diplomacy, all the while the oppression of their own people's God-given rights to life, liberty, and dignity are repressed, while Tibet suffers under their yoke, while the Burmese and Sudanese regimes are propped up, and while they continue their stealth assaults on our national security with sleeper cells, and I could go on. Or we who profess to be the heirs of Ronald Reagan can follow the path of President Truman and understand that you cannot barter with butchers. You cannot constructively manage evil nor engage it. But what you can do is unleash the liberty of people yearning to breathe free where and when you can.

Therefore, we must continue to work on behalf of human rights and democratic change in communist China because communist China is presenting itself to the world as a rival model of governance to Western democracies. The fundamental tenet of the communist Chinese approach is this: Liberty is a danger to their people's prosperity and security. This is a direct contradiction to what we believe here in America and in the free world- people's liberty leads to a nation's stability and prosperity.

Thank you.

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Attachment 2:

Statement of New York City Council Member Tony Avella

Chinese Human Rights Abuses in Tibet

August 7, 2008

As the Chinese Government prepares to open its doors to the world, we can only hope that this will be an opportunity for people around the world to focus their attention not only on the spectacle of the Olympic Games but also on the conduct of the Chinese government in continuing human rights abuses in Tibet and against other ethnic and religious minorities within China itself.

In March of this year, I introduced a resolution calling upon all American businesses and corporations who have their headquarters in New York City or do business in New York City to review their financial dealings with China to ensure compliance with international human rights standards, and to withdraw sponsorship or support of the 2008 Olympic Games if they are held in China.

Although the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games are hours away and the opportunity to send a message in this particular way has passed, we must continue to urge these same corporations to use their influence as financial partners with China as it continues to emerge as a world financial power. These American businesses and corporations are in a position to appeal to the Chinese Government to comply with international human rights standards and cease the harsh practices being used against those who seek increased freedom and independence in Tibet.

As the recent mass demonstrations in Tibet illustrated, it is clear that the Chinese Government has not changed its policies toward this country and its people, including systematic human rights violations, imprisoning and torturing hundreds of thousands of Tibetans, arbitrary arrests, detaining without public trials, and of denial of free speech and free press. In addition, as recently as last week, the Chinese Government continued to prevent access to journalists covering the Olympic Games to certain websites it deemed detrimental to "state security" despite promises that it would allow greater media freedom.

I will continue to support this cause during the remainder of my term in office and beyond and I thank you for the opportunity to show my support and to share my thoughts with you.

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Attachment 3:

The rally speech of the China Support Network as delivered by John Kusumi before the Chinese embassy (and hours before the Olympics' opening ceremony) in Washington DC on August 7, 2008:

An investigation must be launched, because the Olympic Games have sunk to a new low. The Olympics now celebrate genocide; honor the worlds most brutal communists, dictators, tyrants and thugs; and provide a vivid display of the priorities of world leaders. The world is faced with an abomination, a disgrace, a farce, a failure, a calamity, and a tragedy. The critics of Communist China have entirely too many things to complain about, so I can only briefly touch upon the issues that we might find abominable, and soon I will tie it back to the Olympics.

In China, they say do not talk about the "three T's:" Tibet, Taiwan, and Tiananmen Square. Similarly, they do not want you to talk about East Turkestan, Inner Mongolia, and Falun Gong.

Why are these six topics off limits? It is because they are five places and one spiritual group where innocent people are getting a raw deal, or the short end of a stick. And actually, Tibet is both a place and a spiritual group; and East Turkestan, also known as Xinjiang province, is the home to Uighur Muslims. That is a third spiritual group. Let's add to our discussion a fourth spiritual group, namely house church Christians. These four religions are persecuted, persecuted, persecuted, and persecuted, respectively. So, speaking for the China Support Network:

We find it abominable that Communist China invaded Tibet, and now persecutes Tibetan Buddhists. The China Support Network demands that China bestow freedom upon Tibet, and deliver to justice those CCP leaders who have wrought havoc and destruction in Tibet. Do not ask the Dalai Lama to acknowledge any special nature in Chinese Communists, if Chinese Communists themselves refuse to acknowledge any special nature in the Dalai Lama. When a prisoner is made to defecate on a picture of the Dalai Lama, Chinese jailers have gone too far!

We find it abominable that Communist China has arrayed over 1,000 ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan. Between the two, Mainland China is the larger and more powerful nation. Mainland China has no need to fear that Taiwan will attack or invade - hence, the missiles are offensive rather than defensive. The missiles are a provocation and threat to Taiwan, and the China Support Network demands that China must remove and dismantle the missiles that are threatening Taiwan.

We find it abominable that Communist China attacked the students and citizens in Tiananmen Square. The leaders do not want to talk about Tiananmen Square because it is to their shame and disgrace. It was mass murder and a crime against humanity, beamed into the world's living rooms in full color by television. The China Support Network demands atonement to the victims of Tiananmen Square. An independent investigation, with perpetrators brought to justice, and a full accounting of victims, to victims' families, is necessary for closure in this matter.

We find it abominable that Communist China invaded East Turkestan, and now persecutes Uighur Muslims. I find it abominable that China under the CCP has used that land for above-ground open-air testing of nuclear weapons, with insufficient protection for the health and safety of nearby residents. It is fair to say that they "nuked" East Turkestan. The China Support Network demands that China bestow freedom upon East Turkestan, and deliver to justice those Communist leaders who have abused and nuked East Turkestan.

We find it abominable that Inner Mongolia is held as a captive nation. It used to be that the Great Wall of China was the boundary of China. Inner Mongolia is on the other side of the wall. These days, Communist Chinese leaders get to have it both ways, and run the government on both sides of the wall. But, too many citizens of Inner Mongolia have suffered persecution under this Communist regime, and the China Support Network demands that China bestow freedom upon Inner Mongolia.

For that matter, we demand that China bestow freedom upon Mainland China, itself! In mainland China, we find persecution of Falun Gong, of underground Catholics and other denominations of house church Christians; and as well, we find persecution of journalists such as Shi Tao and political dissidents such as Wang Bingzhang, and of rights defending lawyers such as Gao Zhisheng. There are recent reports that Gao Zhisheng was tortured in captivity, and he remains there right now!

The pre-Olympic crackdown has made it plain that Chinese citizens are living in a police state. The existence of a police state might be old news, but it has consequences that continue to drive today's news. The preparations for the Olympics are perhaps more newsworthy, but they are also a cause of action. I began this speech by saying that an investigation must be launched. Questions to investigate include, "What is the relationship of the Olympic Games to human rights abuses?" "In how many instances did the Chinese regime use the Olympics as a pretext for human rights abuse?" "Have earlier Olympics in other lands led to human rights abuse? And if so, can past and present Olympics be compared on quantitative measures of harm caused?"

In other words, a pattern may be emerging. Perhaps the Olympics are a repeat offender, harming the world routinely. Perhaps the IOC can be categorized as an accessory to these crimes against humanity. I would shed no tears if I saw IOC President Jacques Rogge getting prosecuted at the International Criminal Court. He certainly has a chipper and cheerful countenance for crimes against humanity. His legacy is that he is the man who smiled throughout genocide, and brought the Olympic Games to a shameful new low in the increasingly sordid history of these Games.

Genocide is more than just a word. Because it is mass murder, it has implications. And it will have consequences for its perpetrators, accessories, and enablers. Genocide should first of all be stopped, period. But secondly, for bystanders - meaning the rest of the world - we should at least acknowledge that it is reprehensible. To acknowledge the same is a matter of human decency. What does Jacques Rogge say? He says, "Uh - we're not a political organization." Really? Let's be clear: Rogge tells us that mass murder is a political issue, perhaps like any other issue that can have people "for" and "against" it. We're speaking of a clear and present and not even speculative humanitarian disaster, happening at this minute - and he would refer the topic to a debating society!

Let's consider the weasel statement of Jacques Rogge: "We're not a political organization." More accurately, he should admit that the IOC is "not a human organization." These Olympics are rewarding genocide, rewarding abuse, rewarding very reprehensible crimes against humanity. It was a mistaken bad move to put these games in the capital city of a nuclear armed, communist superpower - and Rogge's easy countenance for genocide and crimes against humanity has added an indecent and inhuman character to these games. It's a good thing that Mr. Rogge is not a world leader; but, oops - guess who's coming to the Olympics' opening ceremony? World leaders! They can't miss this photo op with the modern day Hitlers who are hosting these Genocide Olympics! Imagine a photograph of the bent meeting with the craven, hosted by the depraved! We'll see it in tomorrow's newspaper!

It is abominable that the world is now asked to celebrate this boneheaded sporting event. For my part, I will be switching off NBC, staying out of McDonalds, and avoiding Coca Cola and Visa during these games. (Applause) I hope you will do the same. (Applause) Right now, the Communist Party of China is having a propaganda festival, and world leaders are having an appeasement festival, all of which adds up to a sordid spectacle. Because we can already smell the foul stench, we can anticipate the bad aftertaste that these Games will leave behind in the world's mouth. The investigations and the blowback will begin immediately on the heels of these Games.

But, why is there a crowd of people at the Chinese embassy, here and now? We are the crowd that says, "Stop the killing!" -Because we know that killing continues at this minute in China and in Tibet and in East Turkestan and in Mongolia and in Burma and in Sudan's Darfur region, and in Vietnam and North Korea. Those places are run by communists, dictators, tyrants and thugs, and among them right now the Chinese Communist Party is the king of the hill. The regime of Communist China qualifies it as the motherlode of evil and the godfather of dictatorships.

We are a crowd of humans, for human rights. And let me say to my fellow humans: Let's continue to boycott communists, dictators, tyrants, and thugs. Thank you for being here, and keep the protests going!

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中文版

Overseas Chinese Democracy Coalition News and Article Release Issue Number: A403-O123

中国民主运动海外联席会议新闻与文章发布号：A403-O123

Release Date: August 8, 2008

发布日：2008年8月8日

Original Language Version: English (Chinese version at the end)

此号以英文为准（英文在前，中文在后）

如有中文乱码问题，请与我们联系或访问:

http://www.weijingsheng.org/report/report2008/report2008-08/DCrallyBeijingOlympics080808detailsA403-O123.htm

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数百人参加亚洲民主联盟及各人权组织２００８年８月７日在中国驻美大使馆前举办的“自由第一 -- 中国无金牌”的抗议集会活动，十多个主流新闻媒体采访

２００８年８月７日，北京奥运开幕前夕，亚洲民主联盟及各人权组织在中国驻美大使馆前举办“自由第一 -- 中国无金牌”的抗议集会活动。两百多人参加。十多个主流新闻媒体包括路透社、美联社、法新社、英国广播公司、朝日新闻、产经新闻、荷兰电视台、世界日报、美国之音、自由亚洲电台等到现场采访。

参加这次集会的藏人组织四水六岗在此前进行了从白宫到中国驻美大使馆的游行。四水六岗的主席朵玛诺布做了开场白。美国国会议员麦可特及纽约市议员阿维拉分别给集会写信，谴责中共的人权迫害。

集会上，魏京生、热比娅等著名人权活动家分别讲话。亚洲民主联盟里西藏、台湾、越南的代表及著名国际人权组织记者无疆界与大赦国际的代表也分别讲话，抗议中共的人权纪录。

此外，2008年8月六日，魏京生先生受国际大赦的邀请参加了在白宫后花园举行的抗议活动，要求布什总统在北京为中国的人权和民主说话。

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