Activists threaten Games protests

Global groups call for clean-up on rights | Peter Simpson and Ng Tze-wei in Beijing

International protest groups yesterday urged the central government to clean up its human rights record over the next nine months or face mass protests at next year's Beijing Olympic Games.

Their demand was in response to a warning issued by the Public Security Ministry, which said domestic and international protesters planning unauthorised parades, demonstrations or other gatherings would be handled in accordance with the law.
"China has nine months in which to improve its human rights, a pledge it made when it bid for the Games ... If it fails to do so, we will continue to voice our strong disapproval of its failure to improve during the lead-up to the Games and during the Olympics," warned Matt Whitticase, of the Free Tibet Campaign.

Human rights group Amnesty International echoed these views. Spokesman Mark Allison said last night: "We will continue to protest in China before and during the Olympics if China does not reform over the next few months. People with grievances in China are still being silenced, sometimes in the name of the Olympics."

Both groups are among scores expected to attempt to exploit the potential global publicity by launching demonstrations on a range of issues from the Darfur conflict to religious freedom and environmentalism during the two-week event next August.
Public Security Ministry spokesman Wu Heping said yesterday groups wishing to protest during the Olympic Games must first apply for approval.

"Any group or individual who stages a gathering, parade, or demonstration during the Beijing Olympic Games period must respect Chinese law," he said.

"As to those legal activities, police will protect them according to the law. As for those activities that are illegal, we police will handle them according to the law."

Mainland security agencies are regularly condemned internationally for their heavy-handed approach to both domestic and international protesters.

"Beijing restaurant owner Ye Guozhu was jailed for four years in 2004 when he applied for permission to protest for compensation after his business was demolished to make way for the Olympics," Mr Allison said. "If anything, human rights are backsliding prior to the Olympics."

Mr Whitticase said: "We have not applied for permission to protest."

Both groups called on the International Olympic Committee to apply further pressure on the mainland authorities to allow peaceful protests for aggrieved groups.

Last night, an IOC source said the organisation stood by comments made on Tuesday that it was advising the authorities and Games organiser - the Organising Committee for the Beijing Olympic Games - to take a "soft approach" towards protesters.

Mr Wu said the new Beijing Olympics Security Co-ordination Group, formed of 20 high-ranking ministries, was now up and running.