Anti-China protesters evaded tight security to disrupt yesterday’s Olympic
torch ceremony, raising fears that the flame’s procession through London in
a fortnight may be similarly hijacked.
Three men from a French media rights group breached a police cordon around
Olympia to unfurl a flag demanding a boycott of this summer’s Beijing
Olympics. Later ten Tibetan activists staged a protest in the town’s main
street before they were detained or chased off by Greek police.
Tenzin Dorjee, a Tibetan activist who was briefly detained during the protest,
said: “Later we will do protests in London and Paris.”
Scotland Yard is planning to allocate 2,000 officers and staff, including
river, airborne and mounted police, to protect the Olympic flame’s journey
from Wembley Stadium to Greenwich on April 6. Human rights activists,
supporters of an independent Tibet and critics of China’s support for the
murderous regimes in Darfur and Burma are preparing demonstrations along the
31-mile (50km) route.
At Olympia, protesters calling for free speech and a free press in China tried
to interrupt an address by Liu Qi, the President of the Olympics Organising
Committee and the Communist Party chief in Beijing. As Mr Liu paid tribute
to Ancient Greece, the demonstrators unfurled a flag behind him. For a brief
moment, television cameras captured the incident before police wrestled one
of the men to the ground and led him away in front of the spectators, who
included Greek leaders and diplomats.
A smattering of applause came from the spectators, some of whom waved Greek
flags while a red-shirted team of Chinese athletes, in Olympia for the
ceremony, appeared embarrassed.
“The Olympic flame will radiate light and happiness, peace and friendship, and
hope and dreams to the people of China and the whole world,” an unfazed Mr
Liu told the crowd.
The Paris-based organisation Reporters Sans Frontières claimed responsibility
for the stunt. Three Frenchmen were briefly detained and charged with an
“offensive act”. They are due to appear in court on May 29.
The Greek media, afraid of offending the Chinese, played down the protest.
Antenna, a television station owned by Minos Kyriakou, the President of the
Greek Olympic Committee, edited out the incident from its news footage.
Lambis Nikolaou, Vice-President of the International Olympic Committee, said:
“I am furious that these people did not respect the site they were on.”
The hour-long ritual, featuring stylised pagan ceremonies dreamt up by Nazi
Germany for the 1936 Berlin Games, proceeded without any further hitches.
Under a spring sky, there were just enough of the Sun’s rays focused by a
concave metal device, acting like a radar dish, to ignite the mock
priestess’s torch.
Then she and a half dozen others walked in solemn step to the stadium with the
assembled dignitaries (even though in ancient times any woman invading the
precinct would be punished by death) and transferred the flame to a torch
held by the Greek Olympic tae-kwondo medallist Alexander Nikolaides, who
jogged with it on the first leg of its five-month journey to Beijing.
Jacques Rogge, the President of the International Olympic Committee, in a
short address, referred obliquely to China’s human rights record by saying
that the Beijing Games would be “a chance for the Chinese people to respect
other cultures”.
Later six people were arrested in protests around Olympia as the torch’s
progress was impeded by demonstrators lying in front of cars. Pro-Tibet
demonstrators covered in red paint invaded the town’s central street.
The torch, with a propane gas-fuelled flame, is designed to stay alight in
winds of up to 50mph and rain. A reserve flame is always on hand in case of
emergency: it has been needed several times in each Olympic year.
Workers at Olympia have been busy repairing the damage caused by devastating
forest fires in August. There were few visible signs of the destruction
yesterday, except for Kronion Hill, overlooking the ancient stadium. The
hill’s tall pine trees, which had formed the backdrop for the 2004
torchlighting ceremony, were gone, leaving only rows of charred stumps.
Following the flame
— The Olympic torch will be carried through London for eight hours on April 6.
Its route will pass Nelson’s Column, Downing Street and St Paul’s Cathedral
— The 80 bearers will include Sir Steve Redgrave, the five-time rowing gold
medallist, Sir Trevor McDonald, the newsreader, and Kevin Pietersen, the
cricketer
— London, as the host in 2012, is being targeted by protesters. The
Metropolitan Police is entrusted with the safe passage of the flame
— Various groups have threatened to use the procession to highlight grievances
against China. Tibet and Darfur, where the Chinese are seen as allies to
Sudan, are the main rallying causes
— A Burmese group is also keen to make its voice heard and the Falun Gong
religious sect, which maintains a constant vigil at the Chinese Embassy in
London, is also likely to turn up in force
— The torch’s 85,000-mile (135,000km) route through 135 cities has provided an
unrivalled publicity opportunity for China’s critics. Mia Farrow, the
actress. is staging an alternative torch relay through Darfur, Rwanda,
Armenia, Bosnia, Germany, and Cambodia
After reading all these comments here, I cant help but to laugh. How many peoples are criticising the Chinese goverment for human rights issues, when I myself, as a very oridary chinese guy, who feel nothing but respect for my goverment's performance in general and particularly towards the recent violent and murderous riot in the region of tibet.
I guess people are just enjoy judging their neighbours' house affairs when they themselves are at some point so full of mess at home. aren't we just being humans, laugh and smile.
Every counrties' culture and history and situation is different, what works well may not work else where. China may not be the wonderland, but which country is, i just wonder, trying to isolate a powerful and fast growing country through unreasonable critics is not a wise move in my mind. and if the world really is a conneceted place, you may well at the end get a taste of all the consequences you originally not wished for.
CJH, london, UK
A terrible has being happened: In 1959, the population of tibetan in tibet was about 1.2 million, now the population of tibetan in tibet is aboot 2.5 millions, BUT now, tourists go to Tibet are about 4 millions in 2007. The culture has been changed there, but more and more western including journalists are planning to Tibet and hope not to change its culture before they arrive, it's too terrible and so funny, now everyone hopes to travel in Tibet, it's you and all the World who change and ruin the culture of Tibet. STOP! STOP!!! Donot talk about Tibet, receive the fact that the culture in Tibet has been changed, and it cannot be recovered even if Dalai mala goes to Tibet, because for Tibet he is also a new person with Chinese, India, and western cultue in some extent.
James, Sichuan, China
There is nothing so good or so bad you will not find an Englishman doing it, but you may never find he is in the wrong. He does everything on priciples. He fights you on patriotic principle; he robs you on business principle; and he inslaves you on imperial principle. And what wide lands they conquered and commandeered where they still claims his majesty's right to step the feet.
Tibet had been governed since centuries ago and tibetan had lost their sovereignty. Here I do not want to list piles of historical materials of the research on this matter of chinese or western one, but pls allow me to quote the simple explaination from American Heritage Dictionary about the word Tibet---"A historical region of central Asia between the Himalaya and Kunlun mountains. A center of Lamaist Buddhism, Tibet first flourished as an independent kingdom in the seventh century. It fell under Mongol influence from the 13th to the 18th century and later came under Chinese control (1720)."
Ming, Changsha, PR of China
if we set the ending of heartless time up to 15th Cen. AD, we are all heartless; if to 17th, some countries are heartless and some are not; if to 18th, America liberated and they are still heartless killing the indigenous Indians; if to 19th, the British Empire of Sun Never Set had it sun set and they gradually became heartful, though before this, scottish, irish and the oversea lands were under its repression with the failure of independence of these repressed.
economically its a game of speed run. how civilized we are as human beings? well, it depends on the timeline we set. if we turn the timeline a little bit earlier, i think what these protestors believe the most humane and peaceful epoch must be the time when there is no country and all tribes. if this makes sense, i doubet whether all the countries in this world shall fall into pieces like tribes. Tibet had been a part of China's Territory long ago, it's more scientific to put the issue back to the primeval, earlier than Qing
Ming, Changsha, PR of China
Sorry that so many of you guys are fretted by the Beijing Olympics. Sorrier that China is getting stronger on a daily basis--and, of course, against your wish. Sorriest that China will remain a thorn in your sides if you wish nothing but distress and chaos for 1/5 of the earth's population.
I am not necessarily for CPC. But I am 100% for our motherland and am ready to support any party if the western powers dream again of their atrocities here in China from 1840--1949 when Mao Zedong drove all those beasts away.
LEI Yuanmin, Shanghai, China
I wonder why you can't tolerate a stronger China? And is distress and chaos all that you wish for 1/5 of the earth's population?
LEI Yuanmin, Shanghai, China
Every since these riots it's strange how everyone easily forgets the poor people in Darfur. Remember how that used to be China's fault too? After the Olympics, how many people are going to be crying for the Tibetans? Doing Yoga and drinking soy lattes doesn't make you a human rights activist.
Simon, Montreal,
Let us hope this sordid glorification of, not athletic prowess, but power and money, grinds to a stop right here in London. Chinese treatment of Tibet has been an international outrage for 50 years, and this is Londoner's opportunity to say so.
Let's support Tibet by NOT buying all the over-priced high tech clothes and trainers the Olympic sponsors sell (and let's not get started about the human rights story of certain trainer manufactuers). Time to stand up and be counted for our fellow man.
I can't be at the inevitable protests when the flame gets to London, but my heart will be with you, guys.
Max, London,
I can't understand the comments whining about people disrupting the games ceremony, surely the plight of an oppressed race is slightly more appauling than than some people unfurling a banner?! David from Weymouth- PATHETIC CAUSE?? What planet are you on? How can you blame people for wanting to highlight this issue, even if it does interfere slightly with some banal sporting tradition, it's not like they snipered some major atheletes or took out some comittee official. Get you're priorities sorted, seriously.
Khia, York, England
The plight of Tibet is conveniently ignored by the World because of self-interest and China's economic might - as for the Olympics - who cares? For me the Olympics is a total "non-event"due to its political overtones and I'll not be watching any event.
James, Hong Kong,
I love how a don from sydney, clearly sees that when some french protesters are added to some Tibetan protesters against China in Greece, it is obviously American Imperialism's fault. What isn't.
Keith, smalllville, IL
Why are people so shocked by demonstrations???
The Olympics has been used (by both sides of an argument) to propogate its message. Just look at the report above "Pagan ritual conceived by Nazi Germany" surely that says it all.
The Olympics is the biggest event in the world, so much media exposure, of course it is going to create controvesy. The IOC and Beijing organising committee must have known this, if not ignorance really is bliss!!!
I expect people to challenge and protest when London hosts in 2012.
Sport its self is propoganda for a nation.
If you don't like it turn on to something else because I know I won't be watching the Olympics this year for a number of reasons.
Kevin, Durham, UK
Firstly, China was given the Olympic games on the condition that it improved it's human rights and opened up it's media. The fact that this has not been done at all means that China should not be hosting the games. On a completely different note, I thought that freedom of speech was allowed in Greece, as well as in London and Paris so I do not understand how these people have caused an 'offensive act'? Can someone please explain this to me?
Rob, London,
The Greeks should know better and their actions here only collude with the Chinese Gov't !!!
Ian Payne, WALSALL,
To Ron London
China was conquered by the Mongol Yuan in the 13th century, Tibet surrendered so they where both ruled by the Yuan. After the Mongols where thrown out both the Ming and Qing maintained their claim on Tibet but for most of this period Tibet was ruled by the Tibetans under the Lhasa government, the Chinese interferrred in Tibet on numerous occasions to promote their interests, sometimes at the instigation of parties within Tibet.
After the fall of the Qing Tibet threw out the Chinese representatives in Lhasa and declared their full independence.
My point is up until the Chinese invasion in the 50’s Tibet was in effect governed by the Tibetans not directly (and repressively) as it is at the moment by the regime in Beijing.
The Legal status of Tibet as an independent country was not clear but the moral status surely is.
Mike, Nottingham, UK
Those protesters are mentally ill and lack the commen sense.
I do think China is ideal place for holding the Olympic Games.Be it the magnificent culture,the gorgeous history and last but not the least its people,people who is warm-hearted and hospitable!
You need to come to China and do not make and biased judgements any more!
Seeing is believing!
Lwe Jing, Xi'an , China
Perhaps we should start treating the Olympics as what they really are:
1) a massive media event, with country-marketing as its main objective.
2) An opportunity for massive gains by a small group: developers, speculators, politicians. Evictions and massive corruption are an essential element of the Olympic game
3) and don't forget the corruption within the Olympic committee: this is a massive multinational company. Getting rid of the Olympics would lead to serious financial losses for its leaders
4) oh yes, it has something to do with sports as well, but this is clearly less important than the media exposure, sponsorship deals, and construction works
peter, birmingham,
Several years ago, the World voted to give an opportunity to China host Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing. Now some people are going to change the Olympic Games to Human rights Games step by step. It seems the riot happened in Lhasa several days ago is the first step of all the plan.
Welch, Chongqing, China
Several years ago, the IOC members from countries all around the World voted to give an opportunity to China host Olympic Games 2008 in Beijing. Now some people are trying to change the Olympic Games to Human rights Games step by step. It seems the riot happened in Lhasa several days ago is the first step of all the plan.
Welch, Chongqing, China
Mmm - you are not quite right either Ron. Both Tibet and China believe they are right. Tibet for many centuries paid China it's taxes or 'dues' in the hope that they would just go away. So China on it's part believed that Tibet was a vassal state.
But regardless cultural genocide, persecution and lack of freedom is never right anywhere in the world.
So the solution regarding the Olympics seems fairly simple to me. The opening and closing ceremonies are the highlight in pride for the Host country and to be less than perfect would cost China the loss of 'face' which it so desperately craves.
I am sure the athletes love to participate in the opening ceremonies and they are an integral part of them, but they want to ensure they can complete even more. So let's have the athletes boycott the ceremonies and ensure that they can compete. Everyone will be happy ....except the Chinese ....and that is the point.
Maria, Vancouver, Canada
Any nation that allows the torch to pass through its territory is showing tacit approval of the Chinese Communist Party and its barbaric regime.
I would love to see some protesters succeed in throwing enough water on the torch to extinguish it!
Eric, Takoma Park, Maryland, USA
I understand both sides here. For the Tibetans, much like Palestine, it's something that has surpassed generations; the right for freedom in their own land. For the recent chinese in Tibet, their livelihoods, ventures that they have spent time, effort and resources on... all washed out from decades of racial hatred.
While from the chinese perspective it is more individualistic, by no means should it be ignored.
Jeff, Manchester,
This is a matter of a people, a culture, which, once eradicated, cannot be reinvigorated. The imperialism is Chinese, and its ugliness is the same ugliness as any other imperialism. One can abhor its violence without resorting to violence, but in the end perhaps the most effective action would be to deny China what it so craves: legitimacy from global recognition. Should this Tibet abuse continue, in disgust I will not be able to bring myself to view these Olympics on television. If these were an Olympics ignored on a global scale, the message would be resoundingly clear. China: clean up your act or find yourself shunned when you most desire approval. People: Exercise your will to turn aside from evil, no matter how packaged, and even if some innocents (i.e. athletes) are deprived along the way. IOC & media: You have the right to make your choices and presentations, and we have the right to not attend your party. What if they held an advertisement that nobody viewed?
Ken Volk, Tempe, Arizona
To Mike, Nottingham, UK
Learn a bit history, Tibetans lost Tibet to Great China since 13 Century, only unofficially indenpendce between 1912-1950. If they can represent their lost, everyone should do the same, American Indian can, New Zealand Maori can, Scotish Can, Irish can .. there will be endless.
You are just so wrong!
Ron, London, UK
the Tibetans burned the shops which the people own them personally. The Tibetans must pay compensate .
leolews, beijing, china
The IOC must have known awarding the games to China would give a stage for those groups with a grievance.
Well the Tibetans have one hell of a grudge, losing their country, living under Chinese repression for the last 50 years while the world did nothing apart from handing out the occasional award to the Dalai Lama every now and then to salve their collective conscience perhaps?
So the Tibetans are using the Olympics to make a point well who can blame them..
I’m so sorry Cindy was shocked by the protest at the Olympic torch lighting ceremony really, so dreadfully sorry, those Tibetans, so rude!
Mike, Nottingham, UK
The Olympic Games have long been the preserve of those who wish to promote the legitimacy of their particular brand of patriotism over other less fortunate nations! The point is all sport is utterly trivial, yet some men and women will sacrifice family, friends and in some cases health to follow fame and increasingly fortune and turn a blind eye to those that manipulate thyem. How can the extinction of a culture and a people possibly equate to the right to jump a pole, kick a ball, etc harmless but utterly pointless pursuits! The best sportsmen do not even bother to compete! The fastest men and women in the world do not bother to pursue such trivialities.
Robert Ex International Fencer
Robert Lawson, Cardiff, UK
Cindy, since when was something invented in the last couple of decades an "ancient Olympic ceremony"? If you lose sympathy for the plight of the Tibetan people so easily then maybe you didn't have a lot of sympathy in you to begin with. Either way, no great loss.
Euan, Glasgow,
It's absolutely shocking to see those people would disrupt an Olympic lighting ceremony, their behavior is absolutely disgusting. They ask the world to respect their Tibetan culture, then they themselves would not even respect an ancient Olympic ceremony, to advance their their own aims, they are so selfish! Sorry, Tibetans, you lost my sympathy completely!
Cindy, London,
David, it rather depends on whether the Chinese people and police ought to have been in Lhasa in the first place.
Natalie, Beijing,
Anyone who has paid attention to the murder and destruction visited on Tibet by the Chinese since 1959 can have little doubt that the agenda is one of cultural extinction, whether the final motive is simply one of territory or of geopolitical strategy, i.e. a buffer between the Chinese heartland and its rival India.
Massacre of monks and razing of temples and monasteries? This is not a way to pursue legitimate political interests. And demonizing a figure like the Dalai Lama, who has always tried to negotiate with the Chinese governmant, simply removes any credibility Wen has on this matter.
David Penney, Baltimore, USA
Oh my Gd. I can't believe there is so much sympathy for the Chinese Government. Monks are being killed. I am horrified by this news. The Olympic committee should change the location of their event. When did it become fashionable to embrace fascism? Dark dark dark days ahead.
mel, washington, dc
Please! Can't the Chinese just give Tibet back to its own people? What do they want it for? No oil, no gold, Why ??
Bramble, Yorkshire, UK
Of course China has issues to deal with. I am no socialist Chinese sympathizer. But I do recognise that American imperialism is trying to dominate the Tibetan debate for their own purposes. Sorry but I am still cynical from the "weapons of mass destruction".in Iraq. My apologies to the Tibetans and the Buddhists. I wish it wasn't so but the USA empire ended in the 20th century.
a don, Sydney, Australia
They may select to hurt athletes in Beijing Olympic games several monthes later as those old terrorists before.
Welch, Chongqing, China
A big congratulations on the West and the Tibetans for making the games a politicized event. I'm simply appauled at this blant manipulation of the games by Dalai Lama and his supporters. If they want to advocate for independence there are many more ways rather than interfiering with the games' theme.
Do not take me wrongly please. I'm all for a greater autonomy for Tibet with minimal PRC interfierence. But Tibet gave up its independence many centuries ago.
Its unilateral declaration of independence in 1911 century was similar to Kosovo, AKA ILLEGAL. The then Dalai Lama took advantage of the weak state of China after the fall of the Emperor (parallel to what Kosovo did to Serbia) but it wasn't recognised.
Isn't it ironic that the Qing dynasty reinstated the Dalai Lama as both a political and spiritual leader of Tiber and then the ''holy'' Dalai Lama turned his back to them?
Do not be mistaken. China is no Serbia and China can neither be occupied or invaded like Iraq!
Andreas Andreou, Nottingham, UK
Funny how those protesters even have the affront to protest against the chinese police actions to defend chinese people against the tibetan mobs who started the violence. either way, its sickening how they think they have the right to try to disrupt something like the olympics and use it against the people who it was awarded to
David, Weymouth, Dorset
those protesters and their pathetic causes. thinking they even have the right to try to disrupt the games
David, Weymouth, Dorset