simon, Leeds, UK

When your mind is absorbed in your belief you cannot see the plight of your brave policemen.

Put yourself in the shoes of your policeman. You have a duty to do and you are faced with people all bent in causing disruption. They charge at you. What do you do. Run away?
Your policemen are well trained and they acted in the best way for such a situation. It was not extreme. I saw your police were unarmed, not even a baton. If they were armed I did not see it in the telecast over here.

Seriously, they did a great job. They had to jog along with the torch bearers, they had to be extremely fit and alert.

Bravo, Mr. Policemen, great job. you were all very brave. Sad though some of your countrymen did not appreciate your service.

Lim, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

I think the Police definately over reacted when handling the protestors. You could clearly see on national TV, they used extreme force on a few occasions. I saw people being kicked and punched while they were being restrained by 4 or 5 police officers on the floor.
It just looked like any excuse for the Police to "stick the boot in".
Disgusting!

simon, Leeds, UK

To CHen, Wake up. I have lived in CHina for years. I am back in the US. Your country is corrupt. The wealth that you tout is a "house of cards" based on selling substandard crap to the west. Your so-called technology advances have come from Japan, Korea, and Europe. Your family structure is breaking down. You have money, but you have rampant prostitution and drug addiction. Money is your god, your moms and dads working all 14 hours a day leaving children to fend for themselves. You have over 1100 uprisings a year all over China. The Western media ignores it for fear of being expelled from China for telling the truth. It is just a matter of time before your whole structure falls apart like the Soviet Union did.

Joel Weymouth, Harrisburg, PA USA

The article today on the BBC, of the Nazi origins of the modern torch run, is delicious irony, coming on the day of China's own clumsy propaganda ritual of running around in false triumph in support of that bloated, corporate, nationalistic exercise known as the Olympics. The germans were so much better at it. As old Adolph himself would say, "Those who don't remember the past are doomed to repeat it."

ingo baker, los angeles, california, usa

It is all about politics - and money.

What does the IOC say now about China improving its human rights record on being awarded the Olympics? Another dissident jailed, violent repression in Tibet. Just what is it going to take?

Lizzy, Sydney, Australia

If you were invited to a neighborhood party and you became aware that the host was a murderous thug would you still go? The freedoms, traditions, and the very identities of the Tibetan people are being erased by China's oppressive communist government. This is the same government that supports the brutal regimes in Myanmar and North Korea. Shunning the Olympics is one way the world can demonstrate its conscience.

Cathy, Houston, Texas

Mark
Not rioting does not mean the natives do not want back their land and they sure do. They have tried to do it through treaties and international legal means. There have been riots by natives not too long ago in Canada which turned violent too. It does seem to me that most Westerners do not want their voices heard either. But, unlike the natives, the violent Tibetan protesters have killed innocent civilians, which Westerners have turned a blind eye.

China had been improving the lives of citizens inside Tibet because it was in their interest. In many cases Tibetans were given more rights and more economic privileges than the Han.

jeff, calgary, canada

Eight more Tibetan protesters were shot to death by soldiers of the Chinese Communist Government!

The state-run Chinese media said that the police used force as a "last resort"

...those peace loving Buddhist monks can be SO unruly!

Where is the OUTRAGE from BUSH??? The so called leader of the FREE world????

Duane, San Diego,

I am a British citizen of Chinese heritage and I am ashamed of what the Beijing dictatorship is doing.

Michael, London, England

I'm a very normal young Chinese citizen educated and grown up with Western culture via various media and many people from Europe and America. I dislike or even can say hate violence as most of the Chinese people. But as a member of an old, ever weak, and not enough developed country, I believe it's absolutely difficult to keep the land integrity. It's so obvious that citizen in any country do not wanna experience the split of her or his country.

Maybe foreigners regard Tibet as a colony, however, Tibet is always a part or a satellite territory of China from over 1000 years ago. You will find lots of Lama Temple in China even in Beijing city. That's why Chinese think that Tibetan, Hans, and other 54 nations are all "Chinese".

Do you know who is Dalai Lama? Do you know he has been a leader of Chinese government before? How ridiculous the photos taken in 2001 used as "news" recently. So obvious the goal of someone's that arrange photos in Nepal in the newsletter for Tibet , China.

Leo Zhuang, Tianjin, China

Sorry, but everything is actually about the politics and the ideology, when some peoples cultures are being eliminated. And perhaps the "ppl" should be aware that it is not simply a big party. If it is not the Chinese govt, then the 1.3 billion chinese "ppl" should step forward to claim responsibility their actions. Please take the torch and change history instead.

MRice, NY, NY

Its not an either or situation. It is pretty obvious. China should stop arresting people if they have a photograph of someone. If this is just the obvious example, imagine how the rest of the day is.

Mark Rice, New York, USA, NY

Yes, very smart for those people who said boycott the county, doesn’t anyone care for the citizens in China, sure you think that boycotting the county is so smart and righteous but you don't understand that it will accomplish nothing, by boycotting your causing more trouble to the citizens of China. Boycotting goods China, how do you propose you solve the fact that all those people in these factors will have no where to work if you all boycott. Do you think the government will provide for these people? How do you think by putting pressure on the Chinese government and the government of the world will help the innocent people in China working in mines and as slaves unless you have some brilliant scheme up your sleeves, if the answer to the problems in china was resolved by protesting then it would have already been resolved. The world is not that simple, of course the Chinese government is wrong but should you show such anger at the people of China?

Fang, London,

"same position????please study history first. the history between Britan and Indian, and Tibet in Chinese history

pong, cardiff, uk"

I've studied the history. You are right. Britain and India isn't the right comparison. Britain and Ireland would however me much nearer the mark. Is your point that when one nation dominates another for a certain number of hundered years it gets the chance to keep it like a football team with a trophy?

DW, Beijing, China

I find it odd that people mention that past crimes against other people here, the USA should give back the USA to the native Indians etc etc. The thing is the native Indians of USA are not rioting or have held worldwide protests in the last couple of months, and if they chose to do so they can legally form a party to run for there government and rights without fear of being jailed.

As for Iraq I think its too soon to compare Tibet with Iraq maybe after 57 years then the USA and allied forces have been in Iraq then we can start to compare with the time the Chinese has been in Tibet. But as for Iraq we want to get our soldiers out and leave the Iraq's to run there country in the way they see fit. We even protest about the war/occupation in Iraq.

Mark, Stamford, Lincs

Please come to the spot of China and you will know the truth, or ask your friends who are in China. Please , seeing is beliving. MAYBE or OF COURE some will laugh at me. Whatever.

Lysino, Beijing, China

If the Chinese government was so bad how come we get so few negative comments from Chinese people?
Most of the complaints are silly (and shallow…?) westerners who want to feel morally superior by jumping on the latest bandwagon.

Daniel K888, Melbourne , Australia

FREE TIBET. FREE ALL OF CHINA.
The Berlin Wall came down. When will they tear down
the Great Wall? (so to speak). Dictators retire and free your
people. It isnt that hard.

Jimmy Moble, Brooksville, Fl

chinese government is lack of freedom of speech, which has been like this for a long time. chinese people are eager for the freedom they should have. so do the Tibetans.if they can have enough freedom of religion, everything will be easy.so chinese government should be clear first what their people really want from it and try to meet its people's desires.

jack, ottawa,

I've worked in China and Saudi Arabia - both countries are considered "hardship" postings for professional foreign-hire employees.

However, working in Riyadh was a dream in comparison to being here in Beijing - this corrupt and rapidly sliding out-of-control place stinks and is sinking fast - Beijing 2008 is going to show us all that China is finished and that India is going to be the supreme power.

Thomas Wesley, Beijing, China

"China is in a tough position -- it's pretty hard to understand why they don't simply accept the inevitable and permit Tibet to have the autonamy it wants. "

inevitable???we'll see.

"Britain was in this same position back when it controlled India..."

same position????please study history first. the history between Britan and Indian, and Tibet in Chinese history

pong, cardiff, uk

Even if all the torch-bearers refused to carry the torch, millions of Chinese people living in the overseas would like to carry the torch and finish the relay. It's nothing about politics or different ideology. the Olympic Games are just big parties for sports and all the people. The host is not Chinese government, it is 1.3million Chinese ppl. Any attempt to kidnap the Games to put pressure on the gov does not work in this way, because the gov on this issue represents most Chinese ppl's interests.

Zy.X, Manchester, UK

Only France has the backbone to kick back at China's genocide of the Tibetan nation. Shame on the rest of us

John, Plymouth, Devon

Witnesses said that the clash, in which dozens were wounded, erupted after an inspection team entered the ancient monastery trying to confiscate pictures of the Dalai Lama. As many as 1,000 paramilitary police were deployed. The dead were said to include a 27-year-old monk and two women.

who is the witnesses ? is the news true?

chen, shanghai,

No question China is an oligarchy, a form of government not democratic nor republican which cannot tolerate the concept of Freedom which has developed in the Western world. It is unfortunate and dangerous to the rest of the world.

Rossi, Sarasota, United States

"State run Media." Meaning, of course, that the "information" that is presented in such media is that which The State views as desirable or beneficial to the State. Such releases are not going to be particularly factual, and are going to be designed to allay the fears of the readers.
Example: How many pedestrians are killed in Bejing on a daily basis? (don't know, but at least 10; not a news-worthy item) How many laborers are killed in Communist China on an annual basis because of insufficient safety equipment? (From a previous article, at least 140,000, and not particularly news-worthy). AND SARS, which had the entire country and SouthEast Asia spun up killed only 8?
Boys and girls, a totalitarian government, a Communist government, is not "people friendly." Never has been.

Jubal Harshaw, Los Alamos, NM USA

This has been going on for years folks, heck even the mountain climbers from all over the world have seen Chinese guards killing civilians.

The 2 groups in the world that no one wants to offend are the Muslims and Chinese, ooh you are are so scared you will let them do and say anything.

You shut down your presses and you make it a crime to write or speak in a negative way against these killers.

RonB, Canyon Lake, U.S.A.

If the Olymoics are genuinely non-poltical, then please explain the following:
Why is the Chinese Ambassador crrying the torch?
Why has Gordon Brown, George W. Bush and other politicians been invited to attend the Olympics?

Alan, Brighton, England

Quoting JC from London:

I know my life has imporved significanlty since I was born 23 years ago, and I am happy with my government as many of other Chinese are. Stop use the power of media to poision the China's image!!!

If you are so happy with "your" government and you have a significant improvement in your quality of life since you were born, why are you living in London??

You should be living in China enjoying "La Dolce Vita"......

Klaus Cook, Houston, Texas, USA

GO ENGLAND!!! If anyone can give the Chinese what for it's the British. If anything, maybe China can be shamed into treating the TIbetans like human beings.

Rick, Santiago, Chile

To:ron, London, UK.....you wrote:

Yes, protest you USA shameless killing people in Iraq, You USA citizens have no rights to make any comment on torch relay.

That is the beauty of living in a free society. We can make comments on anything we want. It is called freedom of speech, and is guaranteed by our constitution.

Klaus Cook, Houston, Texas, USA

I'm afraid that we are now in bed with the Chinese through our manufacturing companies and will be politicall;y correct where we should not be. I say withdraw!

Jody-at-large, Union Pier, MI

What's the carbon footprint of the Olympic torch?

P Jay, London,

it is estimated that in 1930 there were about 4 million child slaves in tibet. And beforce 1950 the situation was still, which just like south part of US before independence war.That society was ruled by Dalai Lama's government.

jack, beijing, china

It is sad that Chinas gross human rights violations are only now becoming known by more people accross the world. Many have known for years and campaigned tirelessly against one of the most brutal and unjust regimes in the world but sadly it is only when a high profile event or money is involved does China have to run the gauntlet of the worlds media. Even then it is so powerful that it can shrug it off. With Chinas population and increasing wealth it is highly unlikely that Gordon or anybody else with ant power or influence will put his head above the parapet in case he looses it and the highly important and lucrative business opportunities that go with it! Forget the millions of suffering people in China and in other countries bankrolled and supported by them accross the world. As long as we continue to become more cash rich at the expence of others we will continue to become spiritually poorer and dead to the plight of the poor. Tibets deep spirituality is perhaps a metaphor.

chris bristow, sheffield, s yorks

What happens in Tibet is happening to human rights advocates all over the world, including Hu Jia, chinese national, who has just been imprisoned. Chinese supremacy via the World *Slave* Trade Agreement is a threat to us all. I am boycotting anything relating to china olympics and its supporters. I have not reactivated my VISA card who is sponsoring a trip to chinese olympiads. I am not buying anything made in china, period! I've written to my congressional reprezsentatives. The struggle of the Tibetan people is our struggle too. We must stand together and fight by whatever legal means we can.

Atlantida Lizasuain, Wayne, USA, NJ

Some people die beacause they are ignorant.They underestimate the resolution of Chinese people on keeping China united and stable.At the same time they overestimate their influence .Though they get some support from Dalai Lama ,they are still weak when most Chinese oppose them.

However ,Chinese government's actions are not well considered.In my opinion,even sentencing these mob to death is better than shooting them directly.Chinese government should learn from democratict countries to use skillful methods to keep the protestors silent.

I feel shamed that the world watches a bad farce in which all the actors are Chinese and in which both sides act as if they are barbarians.

I feel angry that some western countries try to threaten us by boycotting the Olympic Game ,which we have expected for 12 years and do our best to prepare for 8 years ,a token that China is a member of the world.

However I am still confident that all the problem will be solved
quickly.

King, Changsha, China

Let em have it Britons. Give em a helluva scene that no news media can ignore. Show the world that we will not tolerate the disregard of human lives, the disregard of our environment, and the disregard of the voice of dissent. Let em have it good... STOP THE TORCH..... TAKE THE TORCH.....

Jimmy Wilson, Havre, MT

The time is right for the overthrow of Communism in China.
Freedom and Democracy must prevail.

JQ, NYC, NY

How can you assert that 8 protestors were killed, when your only source is from the "free tibet" exiles? Without evident, you should at least correct this sensationally emotional headline by qualifying this information as being "unconfirmed". Remember how the Iraqi exiles duped the west and much of its audience into invading Iraq with their propaganda? Please don't jump into this bandwagon of bashing the Chinese or its government. This is creating unjust animosity between Chinese people and the West. As for the Tibetan exiles trying to demonise China, please understand that your action is completely counterproductive. It is a historic and geographical reality that Tibet's future lie with a stable and prosperous China. Similarly, any western audience that regards China as some appalling brute should open your mind to the amazing progress that Chinese society (including all of China's 56 ethnic minorities) has made and continue to strive for.

Tim, Manchester, UK

The west should dump China until its human rights and pollution policy suits us. Companies in the west use the far east for cheep labour to produce products that could be produced in the West for a few extra Dollars/Pounds.
The Chinese Government will do what it likes no matter what the west says. Hit its economy and show them we can do what they can do in manufacturing and design maybe they will change there views.

Peter, Hastings, East Sussex/UK

With the torch coming through London, the English Production Company Jack Morton, for the opening and closing game ceremonies in Beijing has a lot to deal with at home. They are in a beautiful position to really make a difference in the world. On their home page the claim "We create multidimensional experiences that inspire people to take action and influence others". Now is a perfect time and a fabulous time to put it through the test my friends. Stop hiding behind the "we are not political" shield. The world is political and we all are part of it, we are free; and with freedom comes responsibility. Do the right things because we want the right things, this is freedom.

Steve Spillbert, Hollywood, California

I am totally ashamed of our Prime Minister Brown saying we should not boycott the Games. Has he no soul or feelings for the people of Tibet who are now being killed by troops?
When are we going to get a leader with guts and morals who will stand up and speak up for the repressed?

Colin , Stuttgart, Germany

When goverments kill people other goverments (not the peoples) refuse to acknowledge it as murder. They prefer to skirt around the issue as though the "killer" goverment has the right to kill whoever lives within its borders.
What the chinese goverment has done is no different to the murders in Soham a while ago - it is murder, vile, premeditated & as tyrannical as Mao or Stalin.
Nonetheless, let's all go to Peking and have a lovely olympics.

Ian, London,

So where in the world were all the American protesters back in July of 2001 when china was given the olympics? Makes you think?

Nate K, Owensville, IN

The Olympic committee had to know that choosing China for this year's Olympics was a bad choice but went ahead with it because they are just another Left-Wing Politically Correct group of Global Govt want to bes...just like Al Gore and B.Hassein Obama.These people are socialists and just love the China model of Govt. Nancy Pelosi went there and gave "Lip Service" and then went back to America and forgot about it.Her and the rest of the Liberal Moonbats have done nothing to pull out of the games. Why? because they all have huge investments in China..the worlds biggest market. This no surptise....pelosi and her other "fallen Catholic now Atheist friends don't care about left wing attacks on Catholics and Christians here in America....so why would they really care about Buddists?....unless she has a thing for Richard Gere.

peter cardarelli, Boston, mass,U.S.A

I cannot blame the Chinese posters for being uninformed. After 5 months spent in China i cant believe how appalling the news sources are. Complete propoganda, and i have seen how this has clouded and formed Chinese peoples attitudes and opinions. I have met Chinese who consider wiping out villages in Xinjiang to be a good method of dealing with Uygur seperatists.

So when they say we dont know because we arent there, they forget to mention that all they know is what CCTV tells them.

John, Penang, Malaysia

This is yet another report of how the Chinese authorities are handling dissent ahead of the Olympics: with violence and complete disrespect for human rights.

There is now a real worry that peaceful protests in Beijing during the Olympics could be met with similar violence. If this happens the 2008 Games will go down in history as an Olympics characterised by extreme and violent repression.

World leaders like Gordon Brown must now speak out publicly about human rights and demand that the Chinese authorities respect the right to peaceful protest.

Kristyan Benedict, Amnesty International, London, UK

Stop the kowtowing to Peking!

Rob, Leicester, England

B o y c o t t.
The games should have never been there.

john, Sanford, FL/USA

hello John, London, UK:I only talk about two possible ways may happen,but we do not get from this news.If there was more than 50 people or 0 people dead ,I will no doubt.Because an American student in Virginia killed 33 students,and China soldiers have more train than that student,I am sure the soldiers are good at playing with gun than that student .So if they fire to people ,it is easy for 30 soldiers kill more than 50 people,which not happen.I think they did not receive the order to fire .On the contrary ,I am sure they do not fire to people ,because fire to people may sentence to dead by China's law,without order.
Right now,from the news, their two ways do not happen .Can you gave me a third way?someone receive order and the others do not receive order??

Leeyang, Shenyang,

It's time for the world to boycott the Olympics.
Seems to me the Government of China are nothing but thugs

Phill, Cheshire, England

Dalai Lama Should make good his words to resign immediately as more violent protests are happening. He can't be both a politican and a religious leader.

Morris, Devon, UK

Why do you think China wants Tibet ?
China has identified large quantities of oil shale resources, which could be turned into oil, also found on the Tibet plateau.

The plateau may have "large or super-large" deposits of hydrocarbon resources, said Zhang, adding that geologists had detected promising reserves of oil and gas in northern Tibet.

"These deposits will fundamentally ease China's shortages of mineral resources".

China will increase its copper concentrate output by 30 percent because the country has started to exploit three of the plateau's copper mines in Qulong, Pulang and Yangla regions, which are predicted to produce 250,000 tons of copper concentrates every year.

The new discovery on the plateau is significant to China's regional economic development

What comes 1st.The rights of the Tibetin people for self rule..or the Chinese State's ravenous economic machine?

Who endorses the Chinese governments policy? Look on the back of the TV,where was it made?

John, Portsmouth, UK, Hampshire

CVJ, peking - elaborate, please.

CFNeumann, Englewood, USA

Don't stop at boycotting the Chinese Olympics.
Boycott the whole country. We're sick of the junk they keep sending over here: Poisonous kids' toys, substandard pharmaceutical materials, contaminated pet foods and the long list of other substandard garbage, including spies.

The now-Taiwanese fled the communists in China, but China now calls them a rogue province. They force themselves on Tibet and now call TIbet a rogue province.

Interesting that some of the previous pro-Chinese posters supposedly from the UK don't seem to know enough English to write coherently. Makes one wonder if it's really just more hackers and plants posting from inside China.

One really doesn't have to wonder. You can tell by the sentence structure English isn't their first language.

They aren't fooling anyone, as their writing emulates their products.

Dave, Cherry City, USA

boycot the olimpics, don't watch it! and boycott the sponsors.

ja, Kraków, Poland

Leeyang,

Maybe they were shot while running away and then counted later. If someone wanted to 'invent' deaths as propaganda, they would probably claim 80 dead and not 8!

John, London, UK

The torch now symbolises the Chinese government's determination to use it for its own propagand ends. It is quite right that the relay is being challenged world wide. Let us hope more upright politicians and sportspeople will boycott this charade. The Chinese Communists didn't expect this: it's the Law of Unintended Consequences kicking in, and their own wrong doings against their own people and acts of genocide in Tibet are coming back to haunt them.

Great! And about time too.

Danny Friend, LONDON, U.K.

I will definately be there tommorrow to fight with the pro-indepandance. Tibet was, is and will always be part of China. There is no need for the western to bother about Chinese policies and politics. It is down to us to talk about our polices and politics, not the foreign media or politians. I know my life has imporved significanlty since I was born 23 years ago, and I am happy with my government as many of other Chinese are. Stop use the power of media to poision the China's image!!!

JC, London,

Why shouldn't Tibetans demonstrate and try and regain some freedom when China has destroyed their culture, outlawed their spiritual leaders and made them aliens in their own land!!! China should never have been awarded the Olympics!

Jennie S, London,

Why would the IOC grant Beijing the right to host the 2008 Olympics? Maybe the same reason Berlin was alowed the 1936 Olympics. Like Hitler, China's leaders are attempting to use the Olympics as a propaganda tool. They want to show the world that they have entered the international community as a unified superpower. And like 1936 Germany, China has used eugenics to justify the oppression of their minority groups. This is a disgrace. Stop the genocide and stop the appeasement!!

Rob Fleming III, Patchogue, NY

Look beyond the headlines, why do you think China wants Tibet, read on....Chinese geologists have discovered more than 600 new sites of copper, iron, lead and zinc ore deposits on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau since 1999, according to the results of the latest geological survey.

Preliminary estimates show the plateau has reserves of 30 million to 40 million tons of copper, 40 million tons of lead and zinc and billions of tons of iron, said Zhang Hongtao, vice director of the China Geological Survey Bureau.

Zhang said geologists have also compiled the country's first Qinghai-Tibet plateau geological map on the scale of 1:250,000 and the plateau's first map of metal and nonmetal deposits on the scale of 1:1.5 million.

Currently 90 percent of China's iron ore deposits are of low grade but geologists have discovered three large high-grade iron ore deposits on the plateau, including the one in Nyixung with reserves of 300 million to 500 million tons.

John, Portsmouth, UK, Hampshire

The world need to make things clear to China or China is going to make things clear to the world. If our whip leaders continue to turn a blind eye to China's unabashed aggressions then one day their grandchildren will be being shot for worshipping what they believe. Clear the world must rise and say enough is enough.

Terre Sattertwaite, Chelsea, Michigan

Great joke.When police 'shot',every nomal men would run away,and also some abnomal men did stay here to count : 1,,2,,3,,4,,5,,6,,7,,8,,After that the abnomal men became nomal and run away.My question is when police 'shot' you ,what would you do first :run away or stay here to count how many dead~IN WW2 ,even the soilders were hard to count how many dead around them ~

Leeyang, Shenyang,

"DO you know the truth of the riot?

CVJ, peking, "

From all accounts both Chinese and western CJV they began as young mainly male Tibetans rioting and attacking Han owned enterprises and violently assaulting local ethnic Chinese. As any government would do the Chinese have tried to restore order to bring stability. Despite the trivial arguments over 'media lies' there is actually quite a consensus over this. To what extent the Chinese used unnecessary force and to what extent other more peaceful protests also broke out is the area of contention.

It should not be. The incident regardless of rights and wrongs on each side and also I add regardless of history, merely once again highlights that a distinct ethnic community with their own culture and homeland seperate from that of the Chinese is being prevented from having a decision on choosing any meaningful degree of self-determination while all the time having that community diluted by immigrant settlers.

DW, Beijing, China

Unfortunately any critisicm of China will backfire. As the BBC world opinion survay showed this week (assuming its not a western media lie - had to get that in!) China has by far the highest percentage of people who believe that their own country is a positive influence in the world (at 90% - compare this with those "patriotic" Americans at just over 50%). Any attack on China's policies is expertly presented as a continuation of the West's attempts to humiliate China and keep her weak and thus an attack on all Chinese people. If you make someone feel they are being insulted rather than their autocratic bosses then you are much less likely to find reason in the response to that criticism. It barely needs censorship as the masses of Chinese students in the UK with free access to western mdeia will show with their counter protest.

DW, Beijing, China

I often wondered what might trigger China great outward march (read Revelation 9:16 and 16:12 re: the kings of the east).
Perhaps we are seeing the seeds of this great outward march today with all of Tibet and the protests against China and a fizzer of an Olympic Games coming up.

Graeme Gibson, Sydney, Australia

No, the world shouldnt protest! This story is so biased. It is written in a way that everything seems to be the Chinese government's fault, did you not consider that maybe both sides is to be blamed for this riot?! The article mentioned that Tibetans were killed, well, they forgot to mention the number of chinese that were also killed or injured in this riot. The chinese police did not just shoot at any random person for no reason, there is always two sides to a story, maybe you should mention what these people were doing before they were shot. What is wrong with some people in this world, just because this incident happened, you should not link it to the Bejing 2008 Olympics, just like one should not blame the mother of a killer for his or her killings. The riot in Tibet is one thing, the Olympics is another! Just because something happens in one country does not mean everything else there should be boycotted as a result.

Jenny, london, UK

Why does China want Tibet?...read on...Chinese geologists have discovered more than 600 new sites of copper, iron, lead and zinc ore deposits on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau since 1999, according to the results of the latest geological survey.

Preliminary estimates show the plateau has reserves of 30 million to 40 million tons of copper, 40 million tons of lead and zinc and billions of tons of iron, said Zhang Hongtao, vice director of the China Geological Survey Bureau.

Zhang said geologists have also compiled the country's first Qinghai-Tibet plateau geological map on the scale of 1:250,000 and the plateau's first map of metal and nonmetal deposits on the scale of 1:1.5 million.

Currently 90 percent of China's iron ore deposits are of low grade but geologists have discovered three large high-grade iron ore deposits on the plateau, including the one in Nyixung with reserves of 300 million to 500 million tons.

John, Portsmouth, UK, Hampshire

People have to get involve:
Go sign the petition at www.avaaz.org
dont buy made in china it is cheap and bad qualtiy anyway
Send email, fax and letter to the olympic committee and to your governement
A lot of Chinese people are asamed now: speak up, and louder. A lot of you flee China because of the regime, the tibetans cause is your cause too
Be a member of student for a free tibet
I have been to Tibet, I know chinese propanganda and the beauty of tibetans

Lucie Fraser, Montréal, canada

-The world should protest.
Les, Los Angeles, USA,


To Les, Los Angeles, USA,

Yes, protest you USA shameless killing people in Iraq, You USA citizens have no rights to make any comment on torch relay.

ron, London, UK

china should be brought to heal by the global world in which they want to be a player in. Boycotting the games would send a strong message.

julie, monterey, USA

DO you know the truth of the riot?

CVJ, peking,

Blair's Britain took a pro-Chinese attitude during the last Chinese official visit to Britain some years ago (I forget the year or date), but China should be shamed this time as holder of The Olympics and suppressor and murderer of Tibetans. It is about time China faced up to its own crimes.

And I also wish that Blair and Bush are held accountable for THEIR crimes in The Hague.

China is a huge risk for world peace and prosperity. She needs to wake up NOW to her responsibilites as a new world power.

Edwin, Bucharest,

If Gordon Brown poses with the torch in one hand he ought to have a brolly in the other—Neville Chamberlain style. If the world's democracies fail to stand up to China's tyrants today, the pain of doing so will be all the worse tomorrow.

Andrew, New York City, USA

I want to let Jane Macartney know that I admire her courage in reporting these events from Beijing.

There is a Free Tibet blog on the Obama website that I frequently contribute to.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/group/FreeTibetwithObama/

I just wrote a post featuring Jane's article on the recent massacre of innocent Tibetans. It is so difficult to get news from Tibet these days and I fear that many incidents of arrests, torture and "re-education" are going unreported.

I have a request that Jane right an article on what the Chinese mean exactly when they say they are "re-educating" the Tibetan monks. The term reminds me of the book 1984 by George Orwell. I recently re-read the book and with all the cliches about Big Brother one forgets what a horrifying story it really is. At the time I was reminded of Stalinist Russia, but as I watch events unfold in China I am constantly reminded of characters and events in the book. 1984 was published in 1949-how sadly prophetic.

Frank Hope, Boston, USA

I will not watch the Olympics this year in protest of the crack down in Tibet!

Chuck, Austin, Texas

China is in a tough position -- it's pretty hard to understand why they don't simply accept the inevitable and permit Tibet to have the autonamy it wants.

Britain was in this same position back when it controlled India...

China: time to grow up.

John, Tokyo, Japan

It's almost beyond belief that the Chinese could have been so ham-fisted.

Geoffrey, Sydney,

Tibetans will be demonstrating that day since they want the world to know that genocide is unacceptable in this century and if you see any Chinese there making troubles, it means they are only there for one selfish reason.They just want the Olympic to happen this year and be proud of Communist China for that only and the 30-60 million people who died directly under communist party doesn't mean a thing.National patroitism is good but blind patroitism is pathetic.

tenzin, new york city, united state

Everyone including the athletes should boycott the games.

C Parkes, Birmingham,

The world should protest.

Les, Los Angeles, USA,