Amnesty Ad Attacks Beijing Games

Charitable body Amnesty International is launching an aggressive new advertising campaign to highlight human rights issues ahead of this summer’s Beijing Games that features an Olympic torch giving animated characters electric shocks.

The 40-second ad, one of four that will be released online ahead of this summer’s Olympiad, shows an animated character receiving shocks from a Taser-like baton by Chinese security officials for holding a placard about human rights.

The electro-baton is then passed on to another animated character who uses it to light the Olympic flame. The baton is then returned to an interrogation for use for torture.

Amnesty is trying to highlight the risks of peacefully protesting in China, citing the case of Ye Guozhu who protested after his house and restaurant were bulldozed to make way for Olympics construction.

The ad closes with the line: ‘Torturing peaceful protestors does not uphold the Olympic values. Speak up now if you want human rights for China.’

‘Amnesty is not against the Games but we want people to know what else is happening in China – including the silencing of critics and peaceful protesters – and to join our campaign for urgent human rights reform,’ said Tim Hancock, UK campaigns director.

Amnesty has set up a website which enables people to send campaigning letters and emails, share content and start their own blog.

The organisation is also releasing a booklet to accompany the film called ‘The two faces of the Beijing Olympics’.

The ads have been made by animation collective Sweetworld TV.

The Olympic Torch Relay has been beset by human rights protesters as it moves around the world in the run-up to the Opening Ceremony in July.