【大紀元4月25日訊】(大紀元記者衛泳新澤西報導) 全球人權聖火傳至美國新澤西州﹐ 4月24日和4月26日分別在該州普林斯頓市(Princeton)和帕特生市(Paterson)舉辦兩場人權聖火接力和集會活動。新澤西州美國聯邦參議員羅伯特-梅南德斯（Robert Menendez）向人權圣火接力活動發來支持信, 對人權圣火接力活動表示支持和讚賞。
梅南德斯參議員支持信的部份譯文如下﹕
“人權圣火接力” 活動是將中國在全世界的惡劣人權記錄与2008北京奧運會連系起來的多項活動之一，目的是敦促中國政府在其國際和國內政策上做出重要改善。如果中國政府希望得到全世界的尊重，就必須在保證人權方面做出更多努力，無論是在蘇丹、西藏，還是中國本國境內。
我從新澤西州一些選民那里得知，對法輪功修煉者的不公正對待仍在繼續。据2007年美國國務院的報告，法輪功修煉者僅僅因為信仰法輪功的原則而被迫害。法輪功學員在被關押中因被折磨、毒打、怠慢而致死的确切人數目前無法統計。但不論這個死亡人數是多少，都是無法接受的；必須立即停止迫害。”
在中國人民准備慶祝今年夏季北京奧運會開幕式之際，我對你們為敦促中國政府徹底停止違反人權行為所作出的努力表示祝賀。鑒于中國最近對西藏抗議者的處理，以及對制止達富爾种族屠殺缺乏有效行動，就在兩個星期前，我和參議員克林頓（Clinton)及柏德（Byrd）一起聯名致信總統布什，敦促總統放棄出席奧運會開幕式。
奧運火炬最近通過了舊金山。加利福尼亞州的抗議者，連同在新澤西這里以及全球的示威活動，反映了國際社會向中國政府施加的壓力。反對的呼聲正在掀起，我們不應讓這個呼聲削弱下去，也不應讓這個呼聲隨今夏奧運會閉幕火炬熄滅時而熄滅，直到違反人權的行為徹底停止。
英國官方發言人埃德蒙-伯克（Edmund Burke）曾說：“邪惡取胜的唯一條件是好人默不作聲。”而我相信反過來也是對的：如果好人都站出來反對反人類的暴行，那么我們這個時代的大邪惡必終將走向滅亡。
羅伯特-梅南德斯
美國聯邦參議員
附信原文如下
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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)
