(Clearwisdom.net) The following speech was made by Charles Graves, Secretary General of Interfaith International, on August 9 2007, at the launch of the Human Rights Torch Relay. For more information on the torch, please see http://www.clearwisdom.net/emh/articles/2007/8/10/88496.html.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The authorities of the People's Republic of China have not taken an official
position to tolerate the practice of Falun Gong in China. Therefore, we continue
to proclaim that modern, enlightened states cannot uphold the torch of the
Olympic Games while at the same time suppress the torch of religious belief.
Obviously it was the highest political authority in the People's Republic which
sought for, and obtained, the right to hold the Olympic Games in 2008, and it is
the highest political authority in the People's Republic which promotes the
persecution and oppression of the Falun Gong movement.
The purpose of this ceremony today is to point out the inconsistency in the
People's Republic's 'politics.' How can a government support the high ideals of
the Olympic Games and at the same time denigrate and try to demolish a sincere
religious movement within its borders? This is the anomaly of Chinese politics.
Charles Graves
Every country exhibits such an anomaly to a greater or lesser extent. What
the country proclaims as its ideals and what it does politically very often do
not match. On the other hand, under the pressure of outside political
influences, many countries try to change their policies to fit the international
ideals.
On the question of upholding Olympic ideals while at the same time persecuting
Falun Gong, we are here today in Athens, symbolically, trying to show the
Chinese political leaders that they should change their policies and allow
religious tolerance of Falun Gong in their country. Religious tolerance is a
major principle of the United Nations.
China has no special 'right' to practice discrimination against any of its
religious minorities. Each country which has agreed to follow United Nations
principles must make every effort to promote a political system which protects
the human rights it has agreed to. Many political leaders who have visited China
have asked the political leaders of the People's Republic to respect human
rights. Among these requests is that China respect the religious orientations of
the Falun Gong belief. In the Tang Dynasty period such respect was forthcoming.
Foreign born religions such as Buddhism and Christianity were tolerated in Xi'an
(Hsi-an).
Falun Gong may appear to the Chinese authorities as 'foreign-born' yet its first
growth was indigenous to China. In fact, such a growth made the political
authorities fearful, and they suppressed Falun Gong. But such fear is not the
best support for long term political decisions. The Tang emperors showed no such
fear. A mature Chinese political leadership should not allow such fears to
compromise its position as one of the contemporary world leaders. The Chinese
government should bypass its fear and allow tolerance of the Falun Gong movement
and protect Falun Gong rights.
Charles Graves. D. Theol.
Secretary General
Interfaith International
1 August 2007
Source: http://www.clearharmony.net/articles/200708/40757.html
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Category: Rallies & Protests
