Can China get its act together?

A rally against China’s stance on Human Rights

Paris-Based Reporters Without Borders have acted against the three and half jail term to human rights activists, Hu Jia and are calling for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics Ceremony in August 2008.

The group is hoping this would create a ripple effect on other global organizations such as the European Union’s decision to freeze its rights dialogue with China.

For almost a year now, the people of China have been humming the tune of We Are Ready, the theme song for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games countdown celebration. It was and still is China’s golden opportunity to showcase itself to the world, particularly its economic progress since it was given this opportunity in 2002.

In the last six years, China has suppressed more than the outbreak of violence in Tibet. The country has come under harsh media scrutiny. How should the international community react to human rights violations and clamp down of dissidents in China? Or should the world accept that these are internal affairs of China? Are activists right to target the Olympic torch as it travels across the world? Or is there a danger of the games being hijacked by protesters?

International news agencies began with stories on poisoned pet food. Then crippling pollution. Street buns made of cardboard. Toys with lead paint. Executions of corrupt officials. Most recently the human rights issues from Tibet to Shanghai.

Ideally, the World leaders should speak out when the Olympic Torch passes through their countries and condemn China's support of the Sudanese Government's genocide in Darfur, their failure to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama, and their crackdown on Tibetan protesters and human rights activists. These leaders should make clear that unless progress is made before the Olympics begin, they will not attend the opening ceremony.

Has China equipped itself well as an Olympic country? It is definitely worth considering that despite the international pressures on human rights issues, China shows no sign of being swayed by the arguments. With 5 months, there has been little word about a different strategy. Beijing seems to echo China’s confidence and intent on using the Olympics to flaunt is control of Tibet and an emerging economy. What’s certain is The Olympic host’s hopes that the economic advancement will soften calls for political and social, ethical freedom.

No host will ever be absolutely ready. In 2002, the International Olympic Committee didn't have such a great reputation either. At that time, for the IOC to make a pact with a corrupt quasi-dictatorship nation emerging from third world status -- well, it just seemed like more business-as-usual.

In the meantime, Beijng has honoured promises to sewage disposal, Lithium battery powered buses in the Olympic Village, a review of its Death Reforms by the Human Rights International Committee among other baby steps of improvement.

When it comes to press freedom, the Chinese government has granted more passes to foreign journalists to cover "political, economic, social and cultural matters" and is allowing wider travel, but Tibet is still largely off-limits, as well as other sensitive areas.

In effort to make it a Green Olympics, Beijing planned to plant a total of 12,000 hectares of trees, to increase the green coverage of the urban area to 43 percent and the per capital green area to 48 square metres in 2007.

Nonetheless, China is trying and should continue to do so even after the Olympics, but either way we cut it, there is no doubt it has come a long way.