Outside View

Four points should not be ignored

Amnesty International has taken advantage of the global focus on China to pressurize Olympic athletes to make statements about the alleged lack of human rights in China, but these campaigns don't fit well with Amnesty's traditional role and pattern of activity, a professor in New Zealand wrote in his recent article "Human rights in China and Amnesty International".

Emeritus Professor Bill Willmott, president of the New Zealand-China Friendship Society, wrote, "I find them rather distasteful and destructive of the positive spirit of peace and friendship the Olympics are intended to promote. Furthermore, they are uninformed about the situation in China today".