RewritingHistory Rewriting History Countdown to the Olympics in China

China Vibrant, Hi-Tech Country China Vibrant, Hi-Tech Country ?

Country of culture?

Or country suffering in silence?

Next year the olympic games will open in Beijing. As part of its bid for the Games, China pledged to improve its poor human rights record. Yet this is not happening.

The Death Penalty Estimates suggest that up to 8,000 people will be executed in China over the next year - nearly 22 people killed every day. The death penalty is the punishment for about 68 crimes in China. Many are non- violent offences like taking bribes or re- selling a VAT receipt. Methods of execution include lethal injection and a public execution by firing squad.

Re-educating the masses Anyone who criticises the government can be sent to a “re- education through labour” camp. They can be kept here for up to 4 years without charge or trial. These camps are being used to “clean up” Beijing in time for the Olympics.

The hidden disabled There are no special provisions for disabled people in China. Many disabled people are forced to beg on the streets. In time for the Olympics the government will clean the streets of Beijing to give the impression that they care for the disabled and homeless.

Police who torture instead of protecting Torture is widespread and the police are free to carry out electric shocks, kicking, beating, deprivation of food and sleep, and suspension by the arms. People are too scared to question these methods of treatment despite the fact that many people have died in police custody.

The Chinese government have used the ‘war- on-terror’ as an excuse to treat the Muslim Uighur people of the Xinjiang province of China in an extremely harsh manner. They have closed mosques, restricted the use of the local language and have banned certain books. In another region called Tibet, freedom of expression and religion are severely restricted. Hundreds of prisoners of conscience including Buddhist monks and nuns remain in prison and there have been reports of torture and deaths in police custody. Freedom of expression? freedom of belief?

Re-writing History The people of China need our help. Their government are excellent at creating a false impression of the country so that we in the West believe it to be a land of opportunity, wealth and freedom. They are willing to re-write history in order to maintain this false impression.

What can you do to help? In the new year, government officials from the UK will be visiting China as special guests. The Chinese nation will welcome representatives from all over the world in preparation for the Olympics. They will want to give the best impression possible so that world leaders have no reason to question the poor treatment of the Chinese people. This is wrong. Our government representatives have the opportunity to help by asking questions to those in charge. Interference from governments like ours could help change the lives of the people of China.

You can help in two ways You could write a letter to the Welsh Assembly leader Rhodri Morgan and the Prime Minister Gordon Brown asking them to ensure that their representatives question the Chinese authorities about the treatment of their people when they visit the Olympic games next year. Or you could create a class petition which everyone can sign. The filled petitions outlining your requests will then be sent to Rhodri Morgan and Gordon Brown.

It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.