The
Olympic torch relay was carried under high security as 3,000
policemen
stood
at high alert. The heavy guard was posted to
protect relay runners from intruders throwing raw eggs and tomatoes,
but it also kept away interested citizens.
Many
of those attending were asking “Is this a peace festival? Aren't the Olympics
supposed to be a symbol of peace and friendship?”
The
Olympic Torch Relay ceremonies around the world have been
dogged by controversy, as demonstrators in many countries protest
egregious human rights violations by China, host of the 2008
Olympic Games.
In
an ironic bit of timing, the Torch Relay day in Nagano coincided
with the first day of the annual North
Korea Freedom Week, April
26 to May 3, 2008
LFNKR
members stood in a cold rain as they publicly urged China
to reconsider its North Korean refugee policy. |
LFNKR
members braved rain to focus our energies on the
demonstration in Nagano on April 26. The demonstration urged
the Chinese
government
to
respect the human rights of all people, including the North Korean
refugees attempting to flee to China. Read
the LFNKR flyer handed
out on the street.
If
you would like to help, LFNKR suggests sending a letter
to the PRC embassy in your country. Your letter could urge
the Chinese
government to show international society that they do respect
human rights by halting their inhumane behavior.
You
can find the PRC embassy in your country at this URL:
http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zwjg/2490/default.htm
