Home -> Law Blog Directory -> International Law Blogs -> International Law Blog

International Law

: International Law Blog

Olympics Bring More Abuses

By Paul Townsend

It was hoped that hosting the Olympic games would cause China to better its deplorable human rights record. According to some, however, it has only increased the abuses. Steven W. Mosher, an internationally recognized China expert, says that in preparation for the games the Chinese government has:

-- Arrested, imprisoned, and tortured numerous political dissidents.

-- Broken all of its promises to ensure freedom of the press, speech, and assembly during the Games.

-- Put in place new control on the Internet.

-- Destroyed the homes of millions of citizens to make way for new Olympic structures.

-- Forcibly deported hundreds of thousands of migrant workers.

-- Introduced restrictive and forceful security measures that infringe on the basic freedoms of thousands of Chinese citizens.

Meanwhile, some of the Olympic athletes themselves have denounced China's human rights abuses.

Full post as published by International Law Blog on August 08, 2008 (boomark / email).