Watson Coordinates Action Against Olympic Rights Abuses

5.07.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 22nd Jul 2008

Graham Watson MEP for the South West and Gibraltar and Leader of the ALDE Group in the European Parliament, has written to liberal and democrat prime ministers and party leaders in Europe asking them to join him in writing to the Chinese premier, Hu Jintao, to demand that China meets the human rights commitments it agreed to as part of its bid to host the 2008 Olympic Games.

Mr Watson said:

"China promised improved standards in human rights, and greater freedom for the press to report. In practice, things have got worse.

'Democratic leaders have just a small window of opportunity to influence the Chinese authorities before the Games open on 8th August.

'I have therefore written to my liberal and democrat colleagues urging them to join me in pressing the Chinese government to honour its word.

'Specifically, I want to see greater press freedom and the release of Hu Jia, and all other Chinese citizens who have been imprisoned for speaking out about China's human rights record in advance of the Beijing Olympics.

'If China now meets its human rights commitments, its reputation will be enhanced. If not, that reputation will be diminished yet further.

"President Hu must know that the world is watching."