Germany: The Olympic Torch Arrives in Munich, Organisations Appeal For Attention to Human Rights Violations in China

The Olympic Torch arrived in Munich on the 29th of June. Many famous athletes, VIPs, and film stars participated in the passing of the torch baton. Around 20,000 spectators on Marling Square enthusiastically applauded when the baton was brought to the Square.

Munich hosted the Olympic Games in 1972. During a terrorist attack, over ten Israeli athletes and policemen were killed, which shocked the world and left a scar on the Olympic Games. The whole country condemned the terrorists’ action.

Thirty-two years have passed and people in Munich welcome the Olympic Torch once again and many civilian groups and human rights organisations held activities. Among them, the International Society for Human Rights (IGFM) appealed with the message that in order to maintain the Olympic spirit, we need to make the environment of the 2008 Olympic Games safe and pure, so it is necessary to urge the Chinese Government to carefully consider the issue of human rights, protect its citizens rights and interests, e.g. freedom of the media, religion and belief. The brutal persecution of Falun Gong taking place in China and the lawsuits against Jiang Zemin’s crime of genocide launched in many countries were specifically mentioned in the materials distributed by the organisation. The IGFM also discussed the recent shooting of a Falun Gong practitioner that took place in the capital of South Africa, and urged people in Germany to help stop the export of such terrorism to the whole world.