We thank you for your statement in affirming your commitment on human right in China while you were in Thailand today.
We extend our sincere gratitude for your meeting with Laogai Research Foundation Executive Director Harry Wu, Chinese democracy advocate Wei Jingsheng, Uyghur American Association President Rebiya Kaddeer, China Aid Association President Bob Fu and activist Sasha Gong before you left for your trip to Asia.
Additionally, your promise to raise human rights issues with President Hu Jintao of the Peoples Republic of China has raised our hopes for a humanitarian reform, which may result as part of the good will associated with the Olympics.
.We ask you to
use diplomatic pressure, to use your political capital, specifically to
ask for
the release of the China POC 8. These
people need your direct intervention.
They are not criminals and the world waits for their release.
These 8
prisoners of conscience are:
Chen Guangcheng, Hu Jia, Huang
Qi, Qi Chonghuai,
Shi Tao, Sun Lin, Yang Chunlin
and Yang Zili.
If the Peoples Republic of China releases these 8 prisoners of conscience it will be a gesture of good will for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Last
month, Visual Artists Guild, together with many international
organizations around the world joined together for a
24-hour global appeal for the release these 8 Prisoners of Conscience.
The appeal was made in New York City,
Los Angeles, Boston,
Seattle, Berlin,
Melbourne, Calgary,
Toronto, Vancouver
and Hong Kong to implore the government of the
People's
Republic of China
to follow the spirit of the Olympics and release these 8 Prisoners of
Conscience before the Opening Ceremonies on August 8, 2008.
This appeal follows on the heels of a four-day human rights mission to China
by US Rep. Chris Smith and US Rep. Frank Wolf. “With just weeks to
go to the
Olympics, we join our voice to those of millions of Chinese and appeal
to the
Chinese Government to free its prisoners of conscience, stop the
harassment and
arrests of dissidents and respect fundamental human rights,” said
Congressman Smith.
We look forward to your bringing your personal message
to the leaders of China in persuading them to act in the spirit of
the One World-One Dream Olympic theme, to
release these 8 Prisoners of Conscience immediately
after the 8-8-08 opening ceremony of the Olympics games
and show the world that China can make a humanitarian gesture
and that
China has the magnanimity to show compassion for these individuals and
their
families.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely yours,
Ann Lau,
Chair, Visual Artists Guild
Ken Aaron,
President, Visual Artists Guild
Ann Noonan,
President, Visual Artists Guild, New York Chapter
James
Higginson, Visual Artists Guild, Berlin
P. O. Box 861132,
Los Angeles, California 90086
August 6, 2008
President
George W. Bush
The White
House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
NW
Washington, DC 20500
Fax
202-456-2461
Dear President Bush:
We thank you for your statement
in affirming your commitment on human right in China
while you were in Thailand today.
We extend our sincere gratitude for your meeting with Laogai Research Foundation Executive Director Harry Wu, Chinese democracy advocate Wei Jingsheng, Uyghur American Association President Rebiya Kaddeer, China Aid Association President Bob Fu and activist Sasha Gong before you left for your trip to Asia.
Additionally, your promise to raise human rights issues with President Hu Jintao of the Peoples Republic of China has raised our hopes for a humanitarian reform, which may result as part of the good will associated with the Olympics. .
We ask you to
use diplomatic pressure, to use your political capital, specifically to
ask for
the release of the China POC 8. These
people need your direct intervention.
They are not criminals and the world waits for their release.
These 8
prisoners of conscience are:
Chen Guangcheng, Hu Jia, Huang
Qi, Qi Chonghuai,
Shi Tao, Sun Lin, Yang Chunlin
and Yang Zili.
If the Peoples Republic of China releases these 8 prisoners of conscience it will be a gesture of good will for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Last
month, Visual Artists Guild, together with many international
organizations around the world joined together for a
24-hour global appeal for the release these 8 Prisoners of Conscience.
The appeal was made in New York City,
Los Angeles, Boston,
Seattle, Berlin,
Melbourne, Calgary,
Toronto, Vancouver
and Hong Kong to implore the government of the
People's
Republic of China
to follow the spirit of the Olympics and release these 8 Prisoners of
Conscience before the Opening Ceremonies on August 8, 2008.
This appeal follows on the heels of a four-day human rights mission to China
by US Rep. Chris Smith and US Rep. Frank Wolf. “With just weeks to
go to the
Olympics, we join our voice to those of millions of Chinese and appeal
to the
Chinese Government to free its prisoners of conscience, stop the
harassment and
arrests of dissidents and respect fundamental human rights,” said
Congressman Smith.
We look forward to your bringing your personal message
to the leaders of China in persuading them to act in the spirit of
the One World-One Dream Olympic theme, to
release these 8 Prisoners of Conscience immediately
after the 8-8-08 opening ceremony of the Olympics games
and show the world that China can make a humanitarian gesture
and that
China has the magnanimity to show compassion for these individuals and
their
families.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely yours,
Ann Lau,
Chair, Visual Artists Guild
Ken Aaron,
President, Visual Artists Guild
Ann Noonan,
President, Visual Artists Guild, New York Chapter
James
Higginson, Visual Artists Guild, Berlin