美参议员梅南德斯支持人权圣火

【大纪元4月25日讯】(大纪元记者卫泳新泽西报导) 全球人权圣火传至美国新泽西州， 4月24日和4月26日分别在该州普林斯顿市(Princeton)和帕特生市(Paterson)举办两场人权圣火接力和集会活动。新泽西州美国联邦参议员罗伯特-梅南德斯（Robert Menendez）向人权圣火接力活动发来支持信, 对人权圣火接力活动表示支持和赞赏。

梅南德斯参议员支持信的部份译文如下：

“人权圣火接力” 活动是将中国在全世界的恶劣人权记录与2008北京奥运会连系起来的多项活动之一，目的是敦促中国政府在其国际和国内政策上做出重要改善。如果中国政府希望得到全世界的尊重，就必须在保证人权方面做出更多努力，无论是在苏丹、西藏，还是中国本国境内。

我从新泽西州一些选民那里得知，对法轮功修炼者的不公正对待仍在继续。据2007年美国国务院的报告，法轮功修炼者仅仅因为信仰法轮功的原则而被迫害。法轮功学员在被关押中因被折磨、毒打、怠慢而致死的确切人数目前无法统计。但不论这个死亡人数是多少，都是无法接受的；必须立即停止迫害。”

在中国人民准备庆祝今年夏季北京奥运会开幕式之际，我对你们为敦促中国政府彻底停止违反人权行为所作出的努力表示祝贺。鉴于中国最近对西藏抗议者的处理，以及对制止达富尔种族屠杀缺乏有效行动，就在两个星期前，我和参议员克林顿（Clinton)及柏德（Byrd）一起联名致信总统布什，敦促总统放弃出席奥运会开幕式。

奥运火炬最近通过了旧金山。加利福尼亚州的抗议者，连同在新泽西这里以及全球的示威活动，反映了国际社会向中国政府施加的压力。反对的呼声正在掀起，我们不应让这个呼声削弱下去，也不应让这个呼声随今夏奥运会闭幕火炬熄灭时而熄灭，直到违反人权的行为彻底停止。

英国官方发言人埃德蒙-伯克（Edmund Burke）曾说：“邪恶取胜的唯一条件是好人默不作声。”而我相信反过来也是对的：如果好人都站出来反对反人类的暴行，那么我们这个时代的大邪恶必终将走向灭亡。

罗伯特-梅南德斯
美国联邦参议员

附信原文如下
==========================
Senator Robert Menendez
United States Senate
New Jersey
April 2008
Human Rights Torch Rally
Princeton, New Jersey event
Paterson, New Jersey event

Dear Friends:

I am sorry I could not be with you as the Human Rights Torch Relay is carried through Princeton and Paterson on April 24th and April 26th.

The Human Rights Torch Relay is one of many initiative that are linking China’s poor humanitarian record around the world with the 2008 Beijing Olympics in order to pressure the Chinese Government to make important changes in international and domestic policy. Whether it is in Sudan, Tibet or within China’s own borders, the Chinese Government needs to do much more to ensure human rights if they wish to be respected around the world.

In particular, I hear from a number of my constituents in New Jersey about the continued mistreatment of Falun Gong practitioners. According to a 2007 State Department Report, Falun Gong practitioners have been punished for simply believing in Falun Gong principles. The exact number of Falun Gong members who have died while they were in custody either from torture, abuse, or neglect is unclear but whatever the number, it is not acceptable and needs to be stopped immediately.

As the Chinese are poised to celebrate the opening of the Olympics in Beijing this summer, I congratulate you for highlighting the pressure that can be exerted on the Chinese Government to work towards eliminating human rights violations. Just two weeks ago, I sent a letter to President Bush with Senators Clinton and Bryd, urging the President to forego attendance at the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games because of China’s recent treatment of Tibetan protesters and its insufficient action regarding the genocide in Darfur.

The Olympic flame passed through San Francisco recently. The protesters in California, along with demonstrations here in New Jersey and around the globe, highlight the pressure that the international community is applying on the Chinese Government. The outcry is building and we must not let it die down, not when the flame itself goes out this summer at the end of the games, and not until human rights violations come to an end.

The British statesman Edmund Burke once said, “All that is required for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.” I believe the opposite is also true: if good men and women stand up to inhumane cruelty, then the great evils of our time will ultimately be brought to an end.

Sincerely,

Robert Menendez
United States Senator(http://www.dajiyuan.com)


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