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Vancouver - Activists will take to the streets and focus attention on human rights abuses in China before the Summer Olympic games in Beijing when the "human rights torch" arrives in Vancouver on May 25.
Initiated by the Coalition to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (CIPFG), Apaak Clement said, the torch relay is not looking to cause problems or interruptions. “It's a very peaceful group who are against human rights violations. They've got lots of support from world leaders.”
The Human Rights Torch Relay is a global grassroots effort to raise awareness of the Chinese communist regime's human rights abuses. It strongly condemns the Chinese regime's ruthless crackdown in Tibet; the underwriting of genocide in Darfur; the ongoing persecution of Falun Gong and arrest of nearly 2,000 followers since January 1; its support of corrupt regimes in Burma, N. Korea and Zimbabwe; and persecution of Christians, lawyers, reporters and all who have become ‘prisoners of the Olympics' as a consequence of China's pre-Olympic whitewash.
The message behind the relay, Clement said, is that “the Olympics and crimes against humanity cannot co-exist in China.” Since it was lit on Aug. 9, 2007, in Athens, Greece, the torch has traveled to 80 cities in 26 countries; Vancouver is its last stop in Canada.
The welcoming of the torch will take place at noon at the Art Gallery/Georgia St. Side. Guest speakers will be:
Bill Siksay, Member of Parliament
David Matas, Human Rights Lawyer
Simma Holt, Former member of parliament and former journalist
Clive Ansley, Chair of CIPFG and China Country Monitor for Lawyers Rights' Watch Canada
Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Recording Artist
Guo Guoting, Attorney and China Expert
ShahramVahdany, Founder of Media with a Conscience
Representatives of Falun Gong, Burma, Tibet, Darfur
*2:00 – 5pm – More speeches interspersed with live music from Darker the Sky~Innocent Bystander~Sarah Wheeler~David Newberry
“We invite everyone concerned with human rights in China to join the relay. There will be speeches from VIPs followed by the Torch Walk and a celebration with 4 local bands and more speeches from supporters until 5pm at the Art Gallery”, Clement said.
He stressed that it is not “a campaign against the people of China. This is just [protesting] the government's role in human rights abuses. This is supporting the people of China.”
The relay, which follows the Olympic torch relay route in some areas, plans to span five continents, 40 countries and 150 cities.
Dates for the Canada route are: Halifax, May 4; Quebec, May 8; Winnipeg, May 9; Montreal, May 10; Ottawa, May 14; Toronto, May 17; Kingston, May 18; Calgary, May 19; Edmonton, May 21; and Vancouver, May 25. http://www.humanrightstorch.org
For interviews, please contact Apaak Clement
Tel. 778-895-9242
Clement Abas Apaak
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