News Overview
Monday, April 7 2008
Update on Arrests in London
The numbers of protestors in London has outstripped all expectations.
As of 2pm there are reported to be 25 arrests during the passage of the
Olympic torch, of which at least 6 are Tibetans/Tibet supporters. One
protestor (name and affiliation unknown, but - from the video - not a
Tibetan) tackled torch-bearer Konnie Huq, which was unfortunate as she
had issued a very strong statement in support of Tibet. The protestor
got his hands on the Olympic torch before being dragged away. Ms Huq was
shaken but unhurt. The incident can be viewed
at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7332942.stm .
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7332942.stm> You will see there are no
fewer than 15 Chinese runners flanking the torch in London, in addition
to police (in St Petersburg there were 6 - 8)
More Updates from the World
Actress Joanna Lumley and Olympian (and torch-bearer) Sir Steve Redgrave
were interviewed on the lunchtime radio news. Joanna held the the IOC
accountable for failing to act, said the torch should not go through
Tibet. Sir Steve Redgrave agreed that sport and politics could not be
separated and said he thought economic pressure on China was now
required. Tessa Jowell, UK Sports Minister, interviewed from Downing
Street, said she hoped today would show the world that legitimate lawful
protest was a democratic right in this country; further that governments
must continue to speak out against the unacceptable abuses of human
rights in China. Gordon Brown posed with the torch, but did not hold
it. Hans-Gert Pöttering was also interviewed and said he wouldn't attend
the Opening Ceremony.
The Chinese ambassador took part due to a last-minute change of route,
which saw the flame being run through Chinatown.
Post-script to yesterday's report, France's Human Rights Minister Rama
Yade, said she was "misquoted" by Le Monde in listing "conditions" for
Sarkozy to attend the Olympics. She said the word conditions was never
used. Le Monde is standing by its story.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7332543.stm
Protesters disrupt Olympic torch relay in London- The Guardian
http://sport.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-7441346,00.html
Simon Jenkins in The Times- Opninion
Stand up, for today you can force China through a tunnel of shame, The
London torch procession shows how craven Britain has become: ignore it
or protest
A few choice extracts:
"It is not the protesting Tibetans who are polluting sport with
politics, but their Chinese overlords. Participants in today's display
are thus endorsing an event the climax of which is to celebrate a
dictator's conquest of a neighbour. When Saddam Hussein did that to
Kuwait, Britain went to war. The least Britain owes the Tibetans is not
to add to their humiliation. Playing sport is one thing, political
cheerleading is another." "The British, led by Tessa Jowell, the
ensnared Olympics minister, periodically intone their “concern for civil
rights in China” as if it were a Buddhist mantra. It makes no difference."
"From the moment the Games were awarded to Beijing, all involved knew
they risked becoming quislings to the Chinese cause."
"...... athletes always knew that Beijing would be a seismic political
event."
"Politicians should go nowhere near these Games except in protest. Leave
them to sport. Today and at every stop along the way, the torch and its
bearers must suffer a tunnel of shame, parodying its protestations of
peace, brotherhood and justice. This is an opportunity to publicise and
protest against the world's greatest dictatorship."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/simon_jenkins/article3689920.ece
The Dalai Lama's statement to TIbetans
(see http://www.dalailama.com/news.222.htm )
<http://www.dalailama.com/news.222.htm> has been widely picked up. It is
generally described as "strongly-worded".
Other News
China insists torch with go through Tibet -AFP
Zhang Qingli, Party Secretary in Tibet, is quoted on Tibet Daily website
as saying Tibet was determined to play its part in a successful Olympics
by hosting the torch relay on June 19 and 20 and overseeing the flame's
ascent of Mount Everest in May. He further urged the people to "deepen
their drive to complete the glorious, important and arduous task" of
having the torch pass through Tibet."
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jUetewJIR98QGfC4QDXD868fA9RA
Chinese Harass Western Journalists on Tibet -Wall St Journal
Some Chinese nationalists have undertaken a campaign of harassment,
including violent threats, against foreign reporters who took part in a
recent trip to Lhasa, for alleged bias in their coverage of unrest in Tibet.
The intimidation efforts have included hundreds of calls and text
messages to the cellphones of reporters who took part in the
government-arranged Lhasa trip late last month, including correspondents
from The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and the Associated Press. The
flood of threats began this past week ...
Alison
ITSN Secretariat