Ending his three day tour of Asia in Beijing, US President George Bush chided China on its dismal human rights record. In July, Amnesty International released a report claiming human rights violations in China have increased in the lead up to the games.
Just hours before the Olympic ceremony is to kick off, Bush, standing in front of the US Embassy in Beijing said freedom of expression and religion are essential to fully develop the potentials of society. Without indulging in the long list of human rights violations (i.e. torture, state executions) committed by the US, the messenger has no credibility.
Before his stopover in Beijing, Bush was in South Korea where he held summit talks on Wednesday. At the same time, South Korea's Truth and Reconciliation Commission released a report accusing the US military of indiscriminately killing South Korean citizens during the Korean War. The commission is seeking compensation for the victims.
Charles Hanely, a Pulitzer prize winning correspondent for the Associated Press uncovered the slaughter of 400 civilians, mostly women and children, by 7th Cavalry Regiment at No Gun Ri hamlet. For three days, soldiers of the cavalry sought out and killed the refugees. Some soldiers, it is reported, refused to fire but others obviously didn't. One US soldier who witnessed the massacre called it pure madness.
This is not to detract from China's own scourge. But if Mr Bush wants to preach human rights, then he needs to live up to his own country's violations; past and present.
