Lausanne/Switzerland, 26 June 2003 - Today, a group of thirty Tibetans and western supporters protested in front of the headquarter of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne. The activists representing a world-wide coalition of Tibetan organisations handed over the second human rights report to the IOC. Based on the report that clearly shows the alarming situation of human rights in occupied Tibet, the Tibetan organisations demand that the IOC reconsider its decision to hold the 2008 Games in Beijing. The protesters were carrying a banner saying ?Politics in China as lethal as SARS?. They were wearing masks with five bullet holes symbolising the brutality of Chinese rule in Tibet.

Following is the press release issued by the Tibetan organizations

Media release, 26 June 2003

"In China Politics is as deadly as SARS"

Tibetan organisations present their second human rights report to the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Lausanne, 26 June 2003 – A world-wide coalition of Tibetan organisations has presented the second human rights report to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) today. The report shows that the situation of human rights in occupied Tibet keeps on alarming. The Tibetan organisations demand that the IOC corrects its decision and cancels the Olympic games 2008 in Beijing. With the motto "In China Politics is as deadly as SARS", the presentation of the report was accompanied by approximately 30 protesting persons, wearing white overalls and masks.

Two years ago, on 13 July 2001, the deputies of the IOC granted the Olympic games of summer 2008 to the Chinese capital of Beijing. Today, the Tibetan organisations stroke a balance concerning the human rights in Tibet, and they have to perceive that the situation hasn't improved. The IOC's prognosis, that the situation would improve by granting the games to Beijing, must be considered as wrong.

Christian Ruch, campaign co-ordinator of the Swiss-Tibetan Friendship Association, presented the report at a press conference and described the following developments as especially alarming:

In spite of the official propaganda the People's Republic of China violates the right on free religious practice.
Countless Tibetans have been imprisoned without any constitutional procedure, and some prisoners were killed by torture and ill-treatment. In January 2003, a young Tibetan was executed.
The traditional Tibetan forms of living and economy are ruthlessly destroyed by the Chinese authorities.

The political situation in Tibet isn't compatible with the Olympic ideals, Ruch declared.

The Tibetan organisations also expressed their disappointment about the Swiss IOC members' missing readiness to set Tibet on the agenda of the coming session of the IOC to be held in Prague. Mr. Joseph Blatter, president of The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and Swiss member of the IOC, declared that he wasn't able to get involved for Tibet and that this topic couldn't be any subject in the field of sports.

The human rights report was presented in the name of the Tibetan Youth Congress, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy and all Tibetan organisations in Switzerland.

Website of our campaign: www.games-of-beijing.org

Contact

Christian Ruch (German and French) 078 788 60 54

Wangpo Tethong (English) 079 307 05 89