Superstar Aamir Khan is one of the stars scheduled to participate in the Olympic Torch Relay in India this April. Recently, the actor has had many requests from fans, from friends, from family members and the Tibetan community in India not to participate as sign of support for the struggle of the Tibetan people. However, he has decided to take part and in his latest blog entry he discussed his reasons for his decision not to boycott the relay.
He talked about the struggle of the people of Tibet and also of the human violations that happen in countries all over the world: “I would like to state that I have the highest regard and respect for the struggle that the people of Tibet are going through. I completely empathize with them. Similarly, I have the highest respect and regard for the struggle that the people of Iraq, Kashmiri Pundits who have been displaced, Kashmiris in general, and the people of Palestine, are going through. I have named above just a few instances of human rights violations. Across the world, and indeed within our own country too, there are several instances and examples of atrocities and human rights violation, which are still continuing. I categorically state that I am absolutely against any form of violence, and certainly I am deeply upset whenever the basic rights of human beings are violated anywhere in the world.”
He said that he felt that Olympic Games were by and for the world and not just China, “However, I feel that the Olympic Games do not belong to China. The Olympic Games represent for me the coming together of different people across the world despite their differences and difficulties. It is an opportunity for sportsmen and women across the world to showcase their talent, to challenge themselves and others, and for others to watch and marvel at the achievements of the human body, mind and soul.”
He wrote, “In fact if we were to try and find on this planet a place to hold the Olympic Games where the government of that place has not been responsible for human rights violations (in one way or the other), then I suspect that we would be left with very few options, if any at all.”
Adding, “Are human rights violations continuing across the globe while all this is happening. I’m afraid so. And I hope and pray for the day that we can one day live in absolute peace and harmony, where human suffering is done away with.”
He closed his post with this appeal, “I request those of you who have asked me to stay away from the Olympic Torch Relay to understand that when I do run with the torch on the 17th of April it is not in support of China. In fact it will be with a prayer in my heart for the people of Tibet, and indeed for all people across the world who are victims of human rights violations.”
