United Kingdom: Human Rights Torch Relay in London

A grey wintry day in London was brightened by a torch of hope on Thursday, October 25th. The torch is the symbol of the Global Human Rights Torch Relay. This event draws attention to the human rights abuses committed by the next Olympics host country, China, and resolutely states that “Olympics and crimes against humanity cannot coexist in China”.

UK Falun Gong practitioners joined other groups who are persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), such as Tibetans and Burmese, in the torch relay to let more people know about the human rights abuses that they are suffering. The event also gathered hundreds of people, VIPs, Olympiads and NGOs in Trafalgar Square, who showed their concern over the human rights abuses by the Chinese Communist regime.

One of the event organisers Zek Halu said “Why do we need this Human Rights Torch Relay for the Olympic games in China? We need it because the Olympic charter calls for the establishment of a peaceful society, concerned with preservation of human dignity. We all know that the Communist Regime in China does not care about human dignity and does not care about creating a peaceful society in its own land. Citizens in Communist China do not enjoy the protection of human rights as we do here in the free world.”

The Global Human Rights Torch Relay started in Greece in August and passed through 17 European countries. Britain was the last European country the torch visited on its 100-city relay around the world; ending in Asia in August 2008, as the Beijing Olympics are due to begin.

The Vice President of the EU Parliament, Edward MacMillan-Scott said at a press conference before the event: “Since 1999 when the repression began, over 3000 Falun Gong practitioners have died under torture ... in my view that constitutes genocide. So when people describe the Olympic games in 2008 as the ‘genocide Olympics’ they normally mean, as does Mia Farrow, in reference to Darfur. When I say the ‘genocide Olympics’ I mean genocide inside China against religious groups, especially Falun Gong.”

Edward MacMillan-Scott speaks at a press conference before the torch relay

Other speakers at the pres conference and event included Member of European Parliament Robert Evans, Lord Avebury, Lord Hylton, Chairman of the Greater London Assembly Brian Coleman and Olympian Ghefari Dulapandan.

Annie Yang, who spoke at the press conference before the relay, spent two years in a forced labour camp in China for her belief in Falun Gong. In the labour camp, she was only allowed to sleep for 2-3 hours each day, she was given very little food (a half piece of bread at each meal) and at most 500 ml of water each day, despite the very hot temperatures. She was not allowed to wash or change her clothes and was forced to sit upright on a small stool, without moving, for 20 hours each day. She also could not close her eyes or move without permission from the drug addicts who were in charge of watching her.

The day before this event, Ms Yang learned that a Falun Gong practitioner she had met in the labour camp had just died while in detention. She said “Even last week, the police went to my parents home, still searching for me, asking them where I am. So the situation for practitioners in China is still very dangerous.”

Lord Avebury and Cairman of the Greter London Assembley Brian Coleman speak at the Human Rights Torch Relay in Trafalgar Square

The event in Trafalgar square also had musical entertainment including renown flautist William Bennet, traditional bagpipe music, the London band “Lion Hearted” and a European Choir which sang the theme song of the Human Rights Torch Relay and other moving songs to raise awareness about the genocide against Falun Gong practitioners in China.

A European Choir perform the theme song of the Human Rights Torch Relay

Thirty-eight year old Sicilia Sansom travelled from Stockholm to London to perform with the choir at this event. She said “We were invited to come here to sing in this Torch Relay. I think this is a very important event, because it brings up the human rights issues in China. When Beijing received the honour of hosting the Olympic games they said they would improve their human rights issues. And today we know from Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the UN and Reporters Without Borders, that the situation has become worse in China, with regards to human rights. So I want to support this event.”

The event was organised by the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong but other NGOs also spoke out against the atrocities of the Chinese Communist regime, including the Burmese Muslim Association, the Federation for a Democratic China, the Federation of Saying “Good-bye” to the CCP and Free Tibet.

After the music and speeches, balloons were released and the human rights torch was lit. Representatives wearing traditional English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish and Greek costumes, each holding a lit torch, symbolised the harmonious spirit of the Olympics and led the parade.

Edward McMillan-Scott MEP (right), Vice President of the European Parliament and Ghefari Dulapandan, Olympian swimmer, light up their torches in Trafalgar Square	The parade passed through central London to the Chinese Embassy

When asked about the parade, bystander, Michael, a 28-year-old said, “I know what China does to their people and it’s crazy that there's going to be Olympic games there.”

Kolja, a 35-year-old artist from Berlin said “I think it is very needed because China is a very harsh regime. There’s no human rights, no freedom, so it’s out of order to have the Olympics there.”

The parade containing hundreds of supporters went through the busy centre of London and ended at the Chinese Embassy in Portland Place where a candlelight vigil ended the event on a sombre note in the wintry twilight.