azcentral.com
Apr. 10, 2008
USA Today
WASHINGTON - If President Bush attends the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing, he could be a lonely leader.
The king of Cambodia, the president of Latvia and the mayor of Athens - host of the 2004 Summer Olympics - say they'll be there for the festivities, according to the Beijing Games' website.
But Bush's counterparts in Great Britain, Germany, Canada, Poland, Estonia and the Czech Republic are planning to skip the ceremonies amid protests against China's human rights policies, particularly regarding Tibet and Darfur.
"This is becoming a big problem for the Chinese government," said Jerry Fowler, president of the Save Darfur Coalition, which advocates a boycott of the opening ceremony.
Many world leaders have yet to say whether they'll attend. Human rights groups say they will continue to press Bush and others to stay away, and were buoyed by this week's protests in Paris and San Francisco of the Olympic torch run.
Bush has said he plans to go to the Olympics, but spokeswoman Dana Perino said it's too early to schedule the specific events that the president will attend, including the Aug. 8 opening festivities.
Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama support the boycott. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, said Thursday he would not attend if he were president but stopped short of saying that is what Bush should do.
Bush told reporters on Feb. 28 he would attend the Olympics "because it's a sporting event."
Perino said Thursday that Bush has often discussed his concerns about China's human rights record "and he's going to continue to do that before, during and after the Olympics."
Four years ago in Athens, former president George H.W. Bush led the U.S. delegation at the opening ceremony. Among others who attended then: British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac, and the leaders of Turkey, Bosnia and the Ukraine.
This year, China has put a special emphasis on attracting world leaders for what amounts to "a coming-out party," said Derek Mitchell, the Pentagon's senior director for China during the Clinton administration.
"The opening ceremony is much more about the host country and celebrating them," he said.
The Save Darfur Coalition and other groups issued an open letter last week urging world leaders to pressure China over what they called Sudan's genocide in that nation's Darfur region. The letter said China has major influence because it is Sudan's "largest economic partner, major military supplier and chief diplomatic supporter."
Human Rights Watch issued a similar letter this week, citing Darfur and the recent Chinese crackdown on Tibet, the jailing of dissidents and media restrictions.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he is weighing his options. Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, meanwhile, said he would not participate in any boycott and "nobody hopes for this." The Chinese have not said whether he'll attend.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said this week he would not attend the opening, but would go to the closing ceremony. London hosts the 2012 Summer Games. "Politicians have to make decisions themselves," said Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee.
Apr. 10, 2008
USA Today
WASHINGTON - If President Bush attends the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Beijing, he could be a lonely leader.
The king of Cambodia, the president of Latvia and the mayor of Athens - host of the 2004 Summer Olympics - say they'll be there for the festivities, according to the Beijing Games' website.
But Bush's counterparts in Great Britain, Germany, Canada, Poland, Estonia and the Czech Republic are planning to skip the ceremonies amid protests against China's human rights policies, particularly regarding Tibet and Darfur.
"This is becoming a big problem for the Chinese government," said Jerry Fowler, president of the Save Darfur Coalition, which advocates a boycott of the opening ceremony.
Many world leaders have yet to say whether they'll attend. Human rights groups say they will continue to press Bush and others to stay away, and were buoyed by this week's protests in Paris and San Francisco of the Olympic torch run.
Bush has said he plans to go to the Olympics, but spokeswoman Dana Perino said it's too early to schedule the specific events that the president will attend, including the Aug. 8 opening festivities.
Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama support the boycott. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, said Thursday he would not attend if he were president but stopped short of saying that is what Bush should do.
Bush told reporters on Feb. 28 he would attend the Olympics "because it's a sporting event."
Perino said Thursday that Bush has often discussed his concerns about China's human rights record "and he's going to continue to do that before, during and after the Olympics."
Four years ago in Athens, former president George H.W. Bush led the U.S. delegation at the opening ceremony. Among others who attended then: British Prime Minister Tony Blair, French President Jacques Chirac, and the leaders of Turkey, Bosnia and the Ukraine.
This year, China has put a special emphasis on attracting world leaders for what amounts to "a coming-out party," said Derek Mitchell, the Pentagon's senior director for China during the Clinton administration.
"The opening ceremony is much more about the host country and celebrating them," he said.
The Save Darfur Coalition and other groups issued an open letter last week urging world leaders to pressure China over what they called Sudan's genocide in that nation's Darfur region. The letter said China has major influence because it is Sudan's "largest economic partner, major military supplier and chief diplomatic supporter."
Human Rights Watch issued a similar letter this week, citing Darfur and the recent Chinese crackdown on Tibet, the jailing of dissidents and media restrictions.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy says he is weighing his options. Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, meanwhile, said he would not participate in any boycott and "nobody hopes for this." The Chinese have not said whether he'll attend.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said this week he would not attend the opening, but would go to the closing ceremony. London hosts the 2012 Summer Games. "Politicians have to make decisions themselves," said Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee.
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