By IANS,
Dharamsala : As many as 127 athletes have appealed to China’s President Hu Jintao to find a peaceful solution to the issue of Tibet and improve human rights situation in China.
The athletes, including Croatian high jumper Blanka Vlasic and 110m hurdles world record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba, have urged Hu “to protect the freedom of expression, freedom of religion and the freedom of opinion in your country, including Tibet”, an official website of the Tibetan government-in-exile here said Thursday.
The athletes also urged Hu “to ensure that human rights defenders are no longer intimidated or imprisoned” and to end the death penalty.
“China is the focus of worldwide attention,” the athletes stated in a missive to Hu.
“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,” they added.