Democracy and Human Rights Are Not For Sale-An Open Letter to the International Community

China Aid Association
An Open Letter to the International Community
Democracy and Human Rights Are Not For Sale
March 8, 2008
We, the undersigned, call on the international
community to express its outrage at the Chinese
government’s continued and flagrant disregard for human rights. Its most recent
actions reveal a rogue state that blatantly challenges the resolve of free
nations everywhere.
We sadly learned that, Mr. Teng Biao, noted human rights
lawyer, was kidnapped in front of his apartment 9:30pm on March 6th.
He was interrogated with a bag over his
head for 41 hours. He was finally
released on March 8th with a stern warning not to talk about civil
rights.
During the same period, a state security vehicle crashed
into the car of another famous human rights lawyer, Li Heping, who was driving
his seven year old son to school.
Both these brave men are well known for their
active defense of citizens’ rights and their fearless reporting of the
government’s routine disregard for its own laws and constitution.
Both these actions took place during the so called
“People’s Congress”. But, these actions
clearly show that this government neither represents nor respects its people.
The time has come to tell the Chinese Government
that human rights are not for sale. The
Chinese government must hear that it cannot benefit from Olympic Gold and, at
the same time, deny its citizens the benefits of human rights.
We call on world leaders, friends of human rights,
scholars, athletes, and all members of the entertainment and business
communities, to follow the brave lead of movie director, Steven Spielberg. Like Mr. Spielberg, we must now answer the
question: “how much abuse can I tolerate before the Chinese government renders
as untenable, its position of Olympic host.
If we do not make this stand now, our silence will
send a loud message to Bejing. A message
that will return to haunt us. In the
word’s of the beloved Martin Luther King Jr.
“In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the
silence of our friends”
Yang Jianli, Hu Ping,
Sheng Xue, Wang Dan, Xu Wenli, Pan Yongzhong, Huang Heqing, Wang Juntao, Yan
Jiaqi, Bob Fu, Zhang Er-ping, Chen Kuide, Zhou Fengsuo, Liu Guokai, Fei
Liangyong, Lin Muchen, Feng Congde, Chen Pokong, Tang Yuanjun, Wong Min, Edmond
Yiu, Zhou Jian,Xue Wei, Wang
TianCheng, Pan Qing, Zhang Weiguo