[YLE News, 07.08.2008]
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/kotimaa/oikea/id98218.html

The names of two Finnish javelin throwers representing Finland at the Olympic Games in Beijing have been stricken from an international appeal in support of Tibet. The appeal of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) calls on the Chinese government to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in Tibet.

Kai Müller, spokesman for the ICT, told YLE News that the signatures of the two athletes, Tero Pitkämäki and Teemu Wirkkala, were removed from the appeal after Müller had spoken to Pitkämäki’s manager, Tero Heiska. Pitkämäki said neither he nor Wirkkala wish to comment China’s human rights situation in any fashion.

Heiska claims Pitkämäki was never asked any questions related to the appeal, and accuses the organisers of the campaign of “gross misconduct.” Amnesty International Finnish Section, which took part in publicising the appeal, has apologised to the two athletes for the inconvenience, according to the organisation’s spokesperson, Noora Jokinen.

The ICT is a non-profit advocacy group working to promote human rights and democratic freedoms for the people of Tibet. The organisation’s Board Chairman is Mr Richard Gere. The international appeal of sportsmen in support of the Tibetan people is available at www.sportsforpeace.de.