SYDNEY—The regional New South Wales leg of the Global Human Rights Torch Relay launched in Wollongong last Friday with former Commonwealth Games baton relay runner, Geoff Gregory, running the first leg of the relay from Wollongong Lighthouse.

Former Commonwealth Games relay runner Geoff Gregory launched

the regional NSW leg of the Global Human Rights Relay at the Wollongong Lighthouse.

Mr Gregory passed the torch to Barry and Carolyn Armstrong near the WIN stadium. As a victim of severe child abuse, Carolyn related to the persecution of groups in China and the human rights abuses they are undergoing.

"I have been through the beatings, the psychological torture, I have been through all that and I emphasize with these people and what they go through."

Barry, who ran the 2000 Olympic Games Torch, believes that the Olympic Games should have never been given to China in the first place.

barry and Caroline Armstrong, carrying the Olympic Replay

Torch and Human Rights Torch. (Jason Wyatt/The Epoch Times)

"My message is the 2008 Olympic Games should have never been given to Beijing. The sacred flame that is given to us in Greece should never cross the borders of a hostile country."

When asked if the Australian Olympians should boycott the Olympics, Barry said no, and that it is up to the Olympic Committee and the United Nations to act.

"No, they should not have the chance to go. It is up to the Olympic committee and the United Nations to call off these games under the circumstances of the Chinese military and the government removing body parts illegally from innocent people and that does not fit in with the Olympic ideals.

"I am calling for the international Olympic committee and the United Nations to ban the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing."

Barry and Carolyn walked the Human Rights Torch and the 2000 Olympic Games torch to the local mall with a crowd, chanting, "Freedom—for China".

Former Green's Australian federal member Michael Organ received the torch in a ceremony at the local mall, saying while the Olympics will go on, watchers shouldn't forget what is happening behind the glamour of the Games.

"I think when we watch the Olympics next year, we should all keep that in mind that basic human rights are being abused in China ... they're being abused in countries such as Australia even.

"The fact that it happens in places such as Australia, imagine what its like in communist countries such as China, where they control the media, they control dissidents, they control people speaking out.

"We've seen former Prime Minister Bob Hawke crying because of what happened in Tiananmen Square. So we need to be very much aware of the truth, of the reality of the Olympics.

Mr Organ questioned why the Olympics was given to the Chinese regime given its history of human rights abuses.

"We need to support the Olympics where we can, but in this case we should be saying, 'Why are we holding the olympics in China, in Beijing, when the Chinese government does not deserve that honour.'"

Wollongong Catholic Bishop Peter Ingham

Local Catholic Bishop Peter Ingham said he hoped the games were a success for China, and dialog with the Chinese regime "can raise awareness of the abuse of human rights, but also educate those in power so that they will recognise that the promotion of human freedom does not put at risk the government's ... authority."

Teresa Tran, representing Wollongong's Vietnamese community, said many Australians don't understand communism without having experienced life under its rule.

"We have fled our homeland because of fear of persecution and oppression. My family were put in jail in 1975, because my father was served in the army. He was taken from us for seven years, and we didn't know the whereabouts of him. You cannot imagine what communists did to their own people, unless you've been there and lived with them."

After the speeches there was some entertainment by local musicians and then the torch was handed over to runners bound for Goulburn.

The torch will be in Australia until December the 15th and then will be going over to New Zealand. The Global Human Rights Torch Relay brings with it the message that "the Olympic Games and crimes against humanity cannot co-exist."