In the Senate of the Parliament of the Czech Republic last week, we joined some twelve legislatures from Europe and North America in calling for a diplomatic boycott of the Olympic Winter Games in China.

⁉️ Why shouldn't politicians go to the Olympics?
Precisely because it is being held in totalitarian China 🇨🇳 which hermetically sealed off Tibet during the 2008 Beijing Games. ⛰️
This continues to this day, and Uighurs and opponents of the Chinese government, such as those in Hong Kong, suffer as much as Tibetans. 🇭🇰

Let's stick to the spirit of Olympism and fair play and leave the Olympics to the athletes. The applause of democratic politicians from the Chinese stands will be immediately exploited by local state propaganda to enhance their reputation and to increase pressure on their political opponents. China behaved in the same way in 2008. Indeed, the illegal annexation of Crimea also came not long after the Sochi Olympics.

So, good luck with sport and watch out for the totalitarians! ✌🏿
👉 https://bit.ly/3baUFEv

Přemysl Rabas, the group chairman

PS: We are pictured here with the former Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay, who warned during a visit to Prague last year that China was prepared to hide the oppression of minorities and dissenters behind the Olympics The Senate's decision must have pleased the current Tibetan Prime Minister, Penpa Tsering Sikyong.