Beijing Human Rights Record Worsening

Amnesty International has released a report stating that the human rights situation in China has deteriorated as a result of Beijing hosting this summer’s Olympics.

The report documents the increased use of ‘re-education through labour’, the suppression of rights activists and journalists, and the use of arbitrary imprisonment in the run-up to the Games.

A spokesman urged world leaders due to attend the Games, opening in 10 days, to speak out against the violations.

While China has refused to comment on the allegations, Beijing routinely denies allegations that it abuses human rights, arguing that recent reforms have improved the situation and saying its economic management has improved the quality of life of hundreds of millions of people.

When it was awarded the chance to host the Games, China promised an improvement in human rights, media freedom and better provision in health and education.

However the report says that Chinese activists have been locked up, people have been made homeless, journalists have been detained, websites blocked, and the use of labour camps and prison beatings has increased.

‘We’ve seen a deterioration in human rights because of the Olympics,’ said Roseann Rife, a deputy programme director for Amnesty International.
 
‘Specifically we’ve seen crackdowns on domestic human rights activists, media censorship and increased use of re-education through labour as a means to clean up Beijing and surrounding areas.’