Robles Linked to Human Rights Protest

The rivalry between the Olympic host city's sporting hero, Liu Xiang, the reigning 110 meters hurdles champion, and the event's world record holder, Dayron Robles, gained a political edge yesterday when the Cuban's name was linked to a campaign for peace in Tibet and improved human rights in China.

The Cuban was among 40 athletes who signed a letter addressed to China's president, Hu Jintao, issued by Amnesty International and the International Campaign for Tibet. The German arms of the two organizations, which issued the letter, yesterday said the signatures were gathered in Berlin on June 1. After the letter's international publication yesterday several signatories asked for their names to be removed. Robles was not one of them.

The letter calls on Hu "to enable a peaceful solution for the issue of Tibet and other conflicts in your country with respect to fundamental principles of human rights". It also asks the president to work towards freedom of expression, freedom of religion, an end to the death penalty and a halt to imprisonments of human rights defenders.

"China is the focus of worldwide attention," the letter says. "Your decision on these issues will determine the success of the Olympic games and the image the world will have of China in the future."

Other signatories include the United States 400m runner DeeDee Trotter and Croatia's women's world high jump champion, Blanka Vlasic.

The Chinese government says human rights have improved in the country, with fewer death sentences, increased numbers of religious worshipers and a temporary relaxation of travel restrictions for foreign journalists. But the run-up to the Games has been dogged by protests and calls by foreign leaders for greater openness and respect for civil rights.

China's foreign ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, said China opposed any use of the human rights issue to interfere in the country's affairs. "The Chinese government puts people first and is dedicated to maintaining and promoting its citizens' basic rights and freedom," he said in response to a speech by the American president, George Bush, which criticized China's human rights record. "Chinese citizens have freedom of religion. These are indisputable facts."

As Bush flew in for today's opening ceremony three American demonstrators were dragged away from Tiananmen Square by police. "We come here to speak out against the human rights abuses of the Chinese government," shouted Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition, as officials tried to prevent the incident being filmed. "We are the voice of those with no voice."

Two British protesters who were arrested on Wednesday for displaying Free Tibet banners outside the Olympic Stadium arrived in the UK yesterday after being deported from China and banned from returning for five years. Lucy Fairbrother, 23, from London, and Iain Thom, 24, from Edinburgh, members of the international Students for a Free Tibet group, back in London, said they were well treated by the Chinese authorities but called on them to enter into meaningful dialog with the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

"The freedom movement is building," said Thom. "There will be more protests at the Games and until Tibet is free."