In a silent, yet powerful protest against China´s despiccable human right record, Prince Charles of England will not be going to the Beijing Olympics later this year. -Follow his example, says Chungdak Koren, Chairperson of the Norwegian Tibet Committee to the Norwegian king, queen and crown prince, who plan to travel. (04-MAR-08)

This article has been written and prepared for publication by HRH F / Niels Jacob Harbitz. Photo of Koren: HRH F / Harbitz.

-The Norwegian royal family has yet to decide whether or not they will in any way distance themselves from China´s regular and very severe violations of human rights, says Sven Gjeruldsen, spokesperson for the Royal Castle, who also confirms that the king, queen and crown prince will be travelling to Beijing. -The royal family is of the opinion that respect for human rights is important, and these are issues that Norwegian authorities have an ongoing dialogue with Chinese authorities about, adds Astrid Versto, the royal castle´s Director of Cultural Affairs.

-Come out clear
Complimenting Prince Charles, Koren expresses her disappointment with the Norwegian royal family. -We have not written to the Norwegian royal family to ask them not to travel to Beijing, but in respect of the thousands of victims of China´s massive human rights violations, and in solidarity with all those who struggle tirelessly to improve the human rights situation in the People´s Republic of China, the Norwegian royal family could at least stay away form the opening ceremony. I obviously understand that this is problematic, and that the royal family only does what Norwegian authorities recommend, but human rights are a universal responsibility, and my personal view is that they should do like Prince Charles and make it clear where they stand on this issue, Koren concludes.

Even more disappointed with Heiberg and the IOC
Koren shakes her head in disbelief about Gerhard Heiberg, a Norwegian member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and his statement last month that the Olympics are not political. -What happens, replies Koren, -when the IOC permits the People´s Republic of China to take the Olympic torch across the peak of Mount Everest, and in relation to this PR excercise builds roads and also in other ways creates problems for the local population? This is of course a political statement from China´s side – Mount Everest is in Tibet – and, as such, a lost opportunity from IOC´s side to influence the People´s Republic of China on its treatment of Tibetans. Heiberg adds that IOC is a sports committee, and thus unable to take any kind of responsibility to improve the human rights situation anywhere.

-´The Genocide Games´
In Denmark, Koren adds, -the crown prince has been asked by the Danish Support Committee for Tibet to stay away from the opening ceremony. Of other celebrities, the American actress Mia Farrow, consequently calling the Beijing games ´the Genocide Games,´ is the one who has come out clearest. Amnesty International (AI) criticises both the IOC and Chinese authorities. AI´s chief concerns regarding the People´s Republic of China are the widespread use of torture and the death penalty, detention without charge or trial, censorship of the media and surveillance of the Internet, and harassment and persecution of human rights defenders.