Protests around the torch relay should not be stopped

Amnesty International UK today responded angrily to comments made by the head of the International Olympic Committee on the protests surrounding the Olympic torch.

Speaking in Beijing, the IOC President Jacques Rogge, described attempts to disrupt the torch relay “for whatever reason”, as “not compatible with the values of the torch relay or the Olympic Games.”

Kristyan Benedict, Amnesty International UK’s China Campaign Manager, said:

“Amnesty International asks Dr Rogge which best upholds the Olympics values:

“The Chinese authorities torturing someone for speaking out against injustice or Amnesty International calling for that torture to stop?

“The Chinese authorities using excessive or lethal force on peaceful protestors in Tibet, Beijing or elsewhere or Amnesty International calling for those violent crackdowns to stop?

“If Dr Rogge really wants to uphold the Olympic values he should speak up strongly and consistently in outrage against the Chinese authorities’ many human rights abuses and their failure to keep their Olympic promises.”

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