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Rights groups violating Olympic charter, China says

A plainclothes Indian police officer clashes with Tibetan Youth Congress members during a demonstration against the Beijing Olympics outside the Chinese embassy in New Delhi yesterday. Hundreds of Tibetan exiles also continued a march toward Tibet in protest of Beijing rule. PHOTO: AP

China's foreign minister yesterday said human rights groups that cite the Beijing Games in their criticisms of the Chinese government were violating the Olympic charter.

Yang Jiechi (楊潔箎) said China was willing to work with those who bring constructive criticisms and suggestions on how to do a better job of holding the Olympic Games, scheduled for August.

"We welcome suggestions and criticisms offered out of goodwill," Yang said at a news conference held annually on the fringes of the National People's Congress session.

But he said those who "want to tarnish the image of China ... they will never get their way."

China is under fire from a wide range of activists and foreign politicians who are using the Olympics to draw attention to China's restrictions on free speech, religion, and legal redress.

"I want to say, that not to politicize the Olympic Games is required by the Olympic charter," Yang said.

Yang also reiterated previous statements that Beijing's fetid air would be cleaned up by the Aug. 8 start of the Olympics.

His assurances followed an announcement this week by marathon record-holder Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia that he would probably skip the long-distance running event in Beijing because of the poor air.

Meanwhile, a civil rights activist who has dedicated himself to chronicling the plight of other dissidents will be tried soon on a subversion charge, his lawyer said yesterday.

Prosecutors have charged Hu Jia (胡佳) with inciting subversion of state power and sent his case to a Beijing court this week, said Li Fangping, one of Hu's lawyers.

The indictment did not give specific details, Li said, but Hu has for years been vocal in his criticism of China's human rights record.
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