ITSN News Digest
Tuesday, 10 June
ARRESTS
China detains scores of nuns calling for the release of solo protester
and critically injures three monks in Kardze Protests (TCHRD)
On 8th June, at around 9am, Tsering Tsomo (27), a nun from SamtenLing
Nunnery staged a peaceful solo protest in Drango County, Kardze TAP,
Sichuan Province, by shouting pro-Tibet slogans and distributing
pamphlets. Tsering Tsomo was severely beaten and tortured by security
forces before being taken to the local detention centre for questioning.
At around 5pm more than 200 nuns of SamtenLing Nunnery staged a peaceful
demonstration and headed towards Drango County headquarters to call for
Tsomo's release. The security forces used force to stop the nuns at
Gogaythang. Scores of the nuns were injured and ten were taken to a
nearby hospital for treatment. Scores of protesters were detained and
taken away in military trucks to the County Detention Centre. There is
no further information on the current condition of those injured or
detained.
In a separate incident, on 6th June, three monks staged a peaceful
protest at the county government headquarters in Drango County. The
three monks Tsewang Dakpa (22), Thupten Gyatso and Jangsem Nyima (22),
were beaten by security forces and all three were taken to hospital for
treatment. Tsewang Dakpa in particular was severely injured and further
unconfirmed reports suggest he may have died.
http://www.tchrd.org/press/2008/pr20080609.html
ENVOYS-CHINA TALKS
US, Europe to hail China talks with Dalai Lama (AFP)
The US and the EU will call on China to have 'results-orientated' talks
on Tibet with the Dalai Lama's representatives, according to a draft
joint declaration. The declaration, to be released after US President
George W. Bush and EU leaders hold an annual summit in Slovenia, says,
"We welcome China's recent decision to hold talks with the Dalai Lama's
representatives. We encourage both parties to move forward with a
substantive, constructive and results-orientated dialogue at an early
stage. We are concerned about the recent unrest in Tibet and urge all
sides to refrain from further violence."
http://tinyurl.com/56q96x
OLYMPICS
Beautiful Lijiang bids farewell to sacred flame (BOCOG)
Lijiang concluded its leg of the 2008 Olympic torch relay on Tuesday
morning at 11.59am with the lighting of the flame cauldron at a parking
lot in the town of Ganhaizi, 26 km from the city. In the afternoon, the
relay team will launch another leg of the torch relay, this time in the
third scheduled stop for the torch relay in Yunnan Province, Shangri-La.
http://tinyurl.com/5ew5ry
*Felipe and Letizia to attend Beijing opening ceremony (ThinkSpain.com)*
Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia will represent Spain at the Olympic
opening ceremony in Beijing. The announcement followed a meeting in
Madrid between President Zapatero and China's Foreign Affairs Minister,
Yang Jiechi. "Spain is China's best friend in the European Union,"
declared the minister, who urged Mr Zapatero to try and convince those
of his European counterparts appalled by Chinese repression in Tibet to
follow Spain's example in not mixing sports and politics.
http://tinyurl.com/6pogcy
*Spanish gov't reaffirms support for Beijing Olympics (Xinhua)*
Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos reaffirmed the support
of the Spanish Government for the Olympic Games in Beijing. Boycotting
the Olympic Games goes against the spirit of concord of the games,
Moratinos told a joint press conference with visiting Chinese Foreign
Minister Yang Jiechi after their talks. Moratinos said an official
Spanish delegation will attend the opening ceremony of the games.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/09/content_8329226.htm
*Mexican sportsmen asked to act responsibly in Beijing Olympics (Xinhua)*
President of the Mexican Olympic Committee Felipe Munoz asked his
athletes to represent Mexico with responsibility in the 2008 Olympic
Games. Munoz invited the sportsmen to behave with respect inside and
outside of the competitions. "This is a great responsibility. All the
country will be observant of what you do. You must be careful with what
you say, we have to think twice what we say, what we do", Munoz said.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/10/content_8336608.htm
*Tokyo governor to attend Beijing Olympics opening ceremony (Xinhua)*
Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara said that he will attend the opening
ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games. Ishihara said that he wants to
have a look at the opening ceremony and learn some management strategy
and techniques in the meanwhile.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-06/06/content_8322620.htm
*China Rises - To Challenges (Wall Street Journal)*
(From WSJ China Journal blog) A Chinese TV commercial has been launched
using the mood in China following recent setbacks. The ad asks, "The
difficulties are hard to overcome?" The answer: "Chinese People, let's
fight for our pride." The ad was inspired by Chinese people's response
to the earthquake, says the makes of the ad, JWT Shanghai. "We decided
to extend the brand message from individual glory to national glory,
encouraging everyone in China to stand tall through these obstacles,"
said Tom Doctoroff, the China chief executive of JWT. From the unrest in
Tibet to the torch relay and the earthquake, 2008 could turn out to be
known as China's great year of tests. (Includes link to 55 second ad.)
http://tinyurl.com/6e85ul
*Amnesty asks Kiwi Olympians to take stand (New Zealand Herald)*
Amnesty International is sending information packs to New Zealand
Olympic athletes in the hope they will speak out about human rights
abuses in China. The packs tell the stories of those who have suffered
under the Chinese Government, outlines Amnesty's position on the
Olympics, suggests ways athletes can take action and contains badges,
bumper stickers and tattoos. Athletes are being asked to speak out,
write to those jailed by the Chinese regime, sign petitions and a
banner, place an Amnesty sticker on their luggage or sports bag, and put
their views on Amnesty's China campaign website.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10515544
MARCH TO TIBET
March restarts with leaders (TPUM)
At 2.30pm on Monday, the March to Tibet restarted from Berinag, with the
previously arrested leaders heading a group of 50 Tibetans. The marchers
broke into song and joy as they saw the snow-capped Himalayan ranges in
the horizon. The march from Berinag to Tibet is expected to take more
than a week during which the 50 marchers will traverse approximately 180
km along the historical Himalayan trade route. They will reach Tibet
around the time when China's controversial Olympic torch is expected to
pass through Lhasa.
http://tinyurl.com/66le5w
EDITORIALS & OPINIONS
Olympic propaganda plan a loser (The Standard - Hong Kong)
Opinion by James Rose, who says China has taken the wrong approach with
regards to public relations around the Olympics, with its "PR spin and
manipulation of ritualized events". He says, "It's hard to think of
another example, where a country has had to work so hard to convince the
world that the International Olympic Committee was right." He concludes
by saying that "denying the realities of modern China will only enhance
the power of the spotlight when it is cast on them."
http://tinyurl.com/5s53oj
Beijing 2008 - Stop the sport of China-bashing (Ethical Corporation)
Column by Chandran Nair, who says that, "Racism and hypocrisy lie behind
the approach of western politicians, campaigners and celebrities towards
China". On Darfur and Tibet, Nair says says that the Chinese Government
is "all too aware of the importance of social reform, as is shown by the
"harmonious society" mandate". He claims, "The (Chinese) government sees
that the Olympics are a positive influence and has made significant
steps by granting access to foreign media and attempting to address
pollution and child labour issues in Beijing." He concludes that the
West must "look beyond ideological stereotypes and embrace an active
engagement policy" with China.
http://www.ethicalcorp.com/content.asp?ContentID=5947
Will We Be Able to Watch the Olympics this August? (CBN)
Laura Robertson asks the question. She says that there is "a chance that
the masses watching the Games...might not get a complete picture of the
events". She adds that "China has a pretty difficult tightrope to walk
this August" and that "any appearance of media censorship will actually
look worse than whatever unsightly blemish it might be trying to cover-up".
http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/389293.aspx