A coalition of human rights groups is calling on China to release eight political prisoners in advance of next month’s Olympic Games in Beijing. On Tuesday, one month to the day before the games begin, the groups said the eight’s release would be a symbolic gesture in showing improvement on human rights. Former Chinese prisoner Yang Jiaali said the Olympics should bring scrutiny on China’s policies.

Yang Jiaali: “The Chinese government is using the opportunity of hosting Olympics to showcase the China that the Chinese government wants the world to see and cover up the China that the Chinese government does not want the
outside to see. So we came here to reveal this China to the other side of the world, and more than that, we have to send a message to the international community.”