31 July 2008 | 08-0611 |

Chris Herlinger
New York (ENI). An independent U.S. commission that has government backing has urged President George W. Bush to speak out publicly on religious freedom and human rights when he attends the forthcoming summer Beijing Olympic Games.

Officials of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom issued the call on Wednesday 30 July, and said the games had not caused the Chinese government to change course on what the commission calls "the pressing need" for China to embrace guarantees of freedom of religion and public thought.

"Hopes that the Olympic Games would dramatically improve human rights conditions in China have not been realised," said Felice D. Gaer, the commission's chairperson, at a Washington DC news conference. "Instead, the situation has grown increasingly dire, particularly for many of China's religious adherents."

The commission said that Tibetan Buddhist monks peacefully protesting human rights violations within China had been detained or were missing. It also cited the detention of more than 30 Catholic priests and bishops, as well as the detention of 700 Protestant leaders, who the commission said had not been able to obtain government registration documents. This, the commission said, is in addition to the continuing detention and repression of some Muslims and those in the Falun Gong movement.

In its statement, the U.S. commission said the Chinese government "is so intent on maintaining control over allegedly problematic religious communities that lawyers who take up the cases of persecuted religious leaders, and journalists who report on their situation are jailed, beaten and harassed". The commission added that measures "targeting religious communities in China have a long history but new measures, put in place to maintain so-called 'social harmony' during the Olympics, raise the prospect that China will continue to step up repression when the games end."

"It is so important for President Bush to take a strong and public stand now," Gaer told reporters. She noted that Bush "has a strong, personal commitment to the issue of religious freedom in China", and should "convey his convictions to China's people as well as its leaders".

The commission recommended that President Bush should deliver a speech on the need to protect religious freedom, and urge the Chinese government to take steps to guarantee religious freedom in Tibet. The commission said the speech should include a call for China to decriminalise public devotion to the Dalai Lama and release all detained monks and nuns in Tibet from custody.

The commission also urged Bush to meet leaders of religious groups, such as those Protestants who are not, as Chinese law requires, officially registered with the government authorities.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created in 1998 to give independent policy recommendations, and monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief outside the United States.

:: The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games takes place from 8-24 August.

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