The article said "..156 torchbearers,half of them Tibetans.." yet the title seems to imply Tibetans all shun the torch. If so, why are some of them carrying it? There is a picture of Tibetans cheering the torch in bbc. This article is biased.

Lee, NY,

Taking torch into Tibet in a virtual martial law situation is a gross human rights violation. His Holiness the Dalai Lama never said Tibet was a part of China. Beijing Olympics is a choice an athlete has to make between the glory of winning and human conscience.

Penpa Kura-Amje, Richfield, USA

Unless they allow reporters and tourists to travel freely into Tibet, we should boycott the Olympic games. Let them hold their orgy of totalitarian self-congratulation by themselves. We should not be giving legitimacy to a regime that suppresses freedom.

Max, Southampton,

Let's take Alex's comment as an example - forceful, determined and seems as if he or he is talking about...

John from Singapore is right - the gulf of perception between China and the Western media is huge - it seems that the West either cannot, or will not, understand China's position.

Charlie, Sydney,

It is really hypocrite to diplomatically recognize Tibet is part of China while trying encouraging its split from China by saying it was occupied territory. Even Dalai Lama himself does not seek Tibetan independence from China while his foreign sponsors are seeking Tibetan Independence from China.

han, NY,

Its another piece of propoganda-as usual by western media. How can westerners understand china better when they are bombarded with such news articles every day?

john, Singapore, Singapore

The way that Chinese government dealt with Tibet in March was quite restrained. But I think it's a little bit too weak. If some Tibetans still want to make a riot, the government should make a hardline action to recover social order and reduce the casualty of the civilians and the police.

Ran, york, UK

The communists are destroying China's reputation. Boon Ler, what is a shame is people like you who keep spinning the issues. China should welcome criticism and use it as information to plan for a better image.

T.Z., Hon,

It's a shame that the publicity given to the tibetans outside Tibet to encourage hatre and separatism activities without truly knowing the facts. Having met dalai lama and reading some articles about buddhism do not make you a buddhist and savvy about the situations. Yr colonial past be blamed 2.

Boon Ler, KL, Malaysia

He pledged he would “totally smash” what he called the “Dalai Lama clique”.

Such consummate eloquence, truly in the spirit of the Olympics

Obviously they couldn’t let the opportunity go by without venting a little of the purile propaganda we so admire them for.

Mike, Nottingham, UK

The Chinese actions in Tibet are disgusting. I hope somebody really manages to disrupt the Olympic games. I have totally lost any interest in the sporting aspect of the games after this criminal farce in Tibet, and I think any athlete who takes part this year should be ashamed of themselves.

Alex, London,