http://www.nysun.com/foreign/c...ctive-on-darfur/83299/
China Bars American Gold Medalist Active on Darfur
The Chinese government is barring an American Olympic gold medalist who has criticized China's policies toward Darfur from traveling to Beijing for the Olympics. In a statement sent to reporters via e-mail, the former Olympian, William "Joey" Cheek, said he was scheduled to fly to China today, but an official from the Chinese Embassy in Washington called last evening to advise him that his visa, issued a few weeks ago, had been canceled. Mr. Cheek, who won the gold in speed skating in 2006, said the diplomat said he was not obliged to give a reason for the cancellation.
"I am saddened not to be able to attend the Games," the athlete said. "The Olympic Games represent something powerful: that people can come together from around the world and do things that no one thought were possible. However, the denial of my visa is a part of a systemic effort by the Chinese government to coerce and threaten athletes who are speaking out on behalf of the innocent people of Darfur."
Activists such as Mr. Cheek, who heads an athletes' group called Team Darfur, have pressed China to use its influence over Sudan to bring an end to the genocide in that country's Darfur region. However, China has largely deferred to Khartoum on the issue and has vigorously denounced efforts to link the conflict to the Olympics.
"I still remain convinced of the great role the Olympics can play as a force for promoting peace around the world, including in the still raging crisis in Darfur," Mr. Cheek said. "Yet, despite the fact that I've always spoken positively of the Olympic ideal, and never called for a boycott or asked an athlete to break an IOC rule, my visa was revoked less than 24 hours before my scheduled departure."
Yes, if you are against genocide you are clearly an enemy of the Chinese people.
I guess its true:
1936 Berlin ='s 2008 Beijing.
Why is America even trading with this murderous, barbarous, slimey, disgusting, (fill in blank) gang of thugs who are keeping 1.2 billion people as slaves?
China Bars American Gold Medalist Active on Darfur
The Chinese government is barring an American Olympic gold medalist who has criticized China's policies toward Darfur from traveling to Beijing for the Olympics. In a statement sent to reporters via e-mail, the former Olympian, William "Joey" Cheek, said he was scheduled to fly to China today, but an official from the Chinese Embassy in Washington called last evening to advise him that his visa, issued a few weeks ago, had been canceled. Mr. Cheek, who won the gold in speed skating in 2006, said the diplomat said he was not obliged to give a reason for the cancellation.
"I am saddened not to be able to attend the Games," the athlete said. "The Olympic Games represent something powerful: that people can come together from around the world and do things that no one thought were possible. However, the denial of my visa is a part of a systemic effort by the Chinese government to coerce and threaten athletes who are speaking out on behalf of the innocent people of Darfur."
Activists such as Mr. Cheek, who heads an athletes' group called Team Darfur, have pressed China to use its influence over Sudan to bring an end to the genocide in that country's Darfur region. However, China has largely deferred to Khartoum on the issue and has vigorously denounced efforts to link the conflict to the Olympics.
"I still remain convinced of the great role the Olympics can play as a force for promoting peace around the world, including in the still raging crisis in Darfur," Mr. Cheek said. "Yet, despite the fact that I've always spoken positively of the Olympic ideal, and never called for a boycott or asked an athlete to break an IOC rule, my visa was revoked less than 24 hours before my scheduled departure."
Yes, if you are against genocide you are clearly an enemy of the Chinese people.
I guess its true:
1936 Berlin ='s 2008 Beijing.
Why is America even trading with this murderous, barbarous, slimey, disgusting, (fill in blank) gang of thugs who are keeping 1.2 billion people as slaves?