Protesters Disrupt Olympic Torch Ceremony

Officials Criticize Human Rights Activists, Exile Leaders Say Almost 140 Tibetans Now Killed

(CBS/AP)  Press freedom and pro-Tibet protesters disrupted Monday's flame-lighting ceremony for the Beijing Games and the early stages of the torch relay.

Police said four people had been detained, a Tibetan woman and three members of the Paris-based group Reporters Without Borders.

"This is a disgrace," said Lampis Nikolaou, a Greek member of the IOC. "I am furious with these people ... who did not respect this site. Whatever their differences with China, they should express them in their own countries."

The protests occurred despite heavy security at Ancient Olympia - birthplace of the games - where more than 1,000 police were deployed.

The three French protesters ran onto the stadium's field while Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Olympics organizing committee and Beijing Communist Party Secretary, was giving a speech. One of the men held a banner showing the Olympic rings as handcuffs.

"If the Olympic flame is sacred, human rights are even more so," the French group said in a statement. "We cannot let the Chinese government seize the Olympic flame, a symbol of peace, without denouncing the dramatic situation of human rights in the country."

Moments later, a Tibetan woman covered herself in red paint and lay in the road in front of a runner carrying the Olympic torch into the village of ancient Olympia, while other protesters chanted "Free Tibet" and "Shame on China."

The protesters came within a few yards of the torchbearer, who ran on the spot for about 10 seconds while police in plain clothes removed the female protester and a man holding up a Tibetan flag.

IOC president Jacques Rogge attended the ceremony, where the sun's rays were used to kindle the flame.

"It's always sad when there are protests. But they were not violent and I think that's the important thing," Rogge told The Associated Press.

The incidents came Rogge told The Associated Press in an interview that he was engaged in "silent diplomacy" with the Chinese but wouldn't intervene in politics to try to change their policies.

"We are discussing on a daily basis with Chinese authorities, including discussing these issues, while strictly respecting the sovereignty of China in its affairs," Rogge said.

The Greek government also denounced the incidents.

Reporters Without Borders identified its detained men as Robert Menard, the group's general secretary, Jean-Francois Juliard and Vincent Brossel.

"They are waiting for the prosecutor," spokeswoman Sanny Dumont told the AP. "They don't know if they will be released or charged. They have not been mistreated at all."

When the stadium incident took place, China state TV cut away to a prerecorded scene, preventing Chinese viewers from seeing the protest. Commentators on Chinese TV never mentioned what took place.

Protests are bound to follow the torch throughout its 136-day, 85,000-mile journey across five continents and 20 countries. China pledged strict security measures to ensure its segment of the relay won't be marred by protests. The route is to end at Beijing stadium on Aug. 8.

Tibetan activists have already said they plan to demonstrate elsewhere on the route.

"Later we will do protests in London and Paris," said Tenzin Dorjee, a member of Students for a Free Tibet who protested in Ancient Olympia.

Tibet's deadly protests started March 10 in the capital of Lhasa on the 49th anniversary of a failed uprising against Chinese rule. The demonstrations turned violent four days later, touching off demonstrations among Tibetans in three neighboring provinces.

Almost 140 people have been killed in demonstrations and a crackdown by China's government since the protests started, the main Tibetan exile group said late Monday.

The Tibetan government-in-exile in the northern Indian city of Dharmsala released a statement giving the names and details of 40 Tibetans killed since the protests started in Lhasa.

It said about 100 others also have been killed. The group's previous overall toll was 99 killed.

Beijing's official death toll from the protests in Lhasa is 22, including civilians killed in rioting and three Tibetan suspects who jumped to their deaths to avoid arrest.

"While we have confirmed information on the death toll from the demonstrations so far, it has been extremely difficult to get the details due to all the restrictions that have been imposed by Chinese authorities," the statement from the Tibetan government-in-exile said.

"As the demonstrations continue to spread vastly to many areas in Tibet, the number of people who have died from the brutal military and police suppression during the peaceful demonstrations is astounding," the statement said.

The riots and protests, the largest and most sustained in almost 20 years, have embarrassed and angered Beijing. They have also drawn attention to the country's human rights record ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August.

[iamauto]

I say let''s go to China and make China another Iraq.

[jingt-2009]

just found it slightly ironic when Steelsil described him/herself as a pround american. just wondering are you proud of vietnam? korea? iraq? afghanistan?

i''m not defending the chinese government, just wanted to point out that the united states is equally fxxxed up.

[iamauto]

So some of you mean let those gangsters kill people freely on Lhasa streets?

[BigCatOne]

Awong22 said, "Why don''t we just mind our own business?" Funny, this reminds me of the the German Catholics said after WWII-"We didn''t say anything when they took the Gypsys, and we said nothing. We didn''t say anything when they took the Jews, because we weren''t Jews. When they came for us, there was no one left to protest."

I am a proud American. I am proud of our forefathers. I am proud to be the spiritual descendent of Lincoln, Jefferson, Franklin, and Washington. In the best tradition of their ideals, I say, "Free Tibet!"

If the Chinese had invaded us 55 years ago, they still wouldn''t be safe in our streets in groups of less than several dozen. What they do to the Tibetans is the equivalent of making them spit on pictures of Lincoln, Jefferson, Franklin, and Washington. Try that here, Hu Jintao, and see what kind of reception you get. Live free or die!

[BigCatOne]

Someday the Chinese people will realize that the 29 intellectuals and scholars who published an open letter to the Chinese government urging a reform of Tibet policy are heroes. I am deeply concerned about their welfare, as these brave moral leaders will almost certainly be punished by the Chinese government for their outspoken criticism of the government%u2019s brutal Tibetan policy.

Olympic sponsors include McDonnalds, VolksWagen, CocaCola, Lenova (watches,) Samsung, Adidas, Omega. I don%u2019t know about you, but I will think of the Tibetans being repressed, beaten, tortured, and killed every time I consider purchasing a product produced by these companies. Every time.

Webmasters, bloggers, blog posters and BBS posters, please use the following code on your website, blogs, and posts, substituting %u2018v%u2019 brackets for %u201CL%u201D brackets. [a href=%u201Dhttp://www.freetibet.org/%u201D] %u201CI support the Tibetan people in their struggle for religious freedom and human rights [/A]

I support the Tibetan people in their struggle for religious freedom and human rights!

http://www.freetibet.org
Viral marketing for Tibetan rights can help!

[guysdigdirt]

Why don%u2019t us just mind our own business? And let other countries run their business?
Posted by awong22

For the same reason you don''t let your 8 year old son thrash the $hit out of your 3 year old daughter.

[guysdigdirt]

BOYCOTT CHINA TORTURE/GENOCIDE OLYMPICS!
China, you have SHAMED YOUR ANCESTORS!
China is eater of turtle slime!
Posted by gce65

This I can agree with, but turtle slime is mild comapred to what they really eat.

[guysdigdirt]

SHAME ON JACQUE ROGGE AND GEORGE BUSH for caring more about business and business as usual than our fellow humans and their human rights.
Posted by GerriM

So Gerri, tell us all what you have done for your fellow humans.

[gerrim]

WOW! Right On, French protesters! Bravo.

SHAME on IOC Jacques Rogge. (It''s always sad when there is a protest.) Not for me. Numerous protests exult me. The people expressing their concern for their fellow humans is so noble. SHAME ON JACQUE ROGGE AND GEORGE BUSH for caring more about business and business as usual than our fellow humans and their human rights.

[sandyteds1]

You will all love these videos from this. We just posted them www.theoandavirus.com

[gce65]

BOYCOTT CHINA TORTURE/GENOCIDE OLYMPICS!
China, you have SHAMED YOUR ANCESTORS!
China is eater of turtle slime!

[gurusavant]

the upheld image of peaceful chanting seems slightly inconsistent with violently charging monks and nuns. the olympic games are a poor target for such aggression, as athletics are commonly used to channel such, especially in the form of international olympic competition. taking this event as a means to attract the most attention, because their agenda is otherwise an overly religious indoctrination, archaic, and which no one would advocate for realistically, shows that no other benevolent ground is available.

[libsrweak]

Why don%u2019t us just mind our own business?



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by awong22 at 03:05 PM : Mar 25, 2008
+ report abuse
**********************

because a lot of people REFUSE to allow this kind of human atrocity to occur. I am afriad that you are perhaps one of those that ''just walks away when a fellow human being is being mugged and beaten the death''..KARMA IS GOING TO HIT YOU IN THE ARSE..HARD.

[awong22-2009]

There is a lot of misinformation according to readers'' comments. To say that China occupies Tibet is identical to saying the US occupies Texas, California and most of the Northwest. Tibet has been part of China throughout history. Tibet is NOT a separate country.

China spends a fraction on military compared to what we spend.

US spy planes routinely flying on spying missions within 200 miles of China%u2019s coastline. Do we hear Chinese spy planes flying that close to the Californian coast on clandestine missions?

Why is there so much hostility toward an economically recovering nation that is of no military or political threat to the US?

Why don%u2019t us just mind our own business?

[awong22-2009]

There is a lot of misinformation according to readers'' comments: To say that China occupies Tibet is identical to saying the US occupies Texas, California and most of the Northwest. Tibet has been part of China throughout history.

China spends a fraction on military compared to what we spend.

US spy planes routinely flying on spying missions within 200 miles of China%u2019s coastline. Do we hear Chinese spy planes flying that close to the Californian coast on clandestine missions?

Why is there so much hostility toward an economically recovering nation that is of no military or political threat to the US?

Why don%u2019t us just mind our own business? And let other countries run their business?

[awong22-2009]

There is a lot of misinformation according to readers'' comments: To say that China occupies Tibet is identical to saying the US occupies Texas, California and most of the Northwest. Tibet has been part of China throughout history.

China spends a fraction on military compared to what we spend.

US spy planes routinely flying on spying missions within 200 miles of China%u2019s coastline. Do we hear Chinese spy planes flying that close to the Californian coast on clandestine missions?

Why is there so much hostility toward an economically recovering nation that is of no military or political threat to the US?

Why don%u2019t us just mind our own business? And let other countries run their business?

[lfitts1]

Protesters are disruptive scum and nobody pays attention to them. They should be shot on sight.

Posted by sblake63

Actually that''s what Bush believes too so you are in good company--that is OK I wasn''t using my civil rights anyway. How stupid of the IOC official--the disgrace is that the Chinese are killing the Tibetans--not the fact that people are protesting

[oda755]

Where is the internationl nations throwing a fit with these Commie''s, or better yet the one''s who protest the war in Iraq o that''s right the would shoot them DUH !

[ricknuber]

China will make a ton of cash from the games, none of which will trickle down to their people. This will all be spent on China''s massive military buildup. Which *IS* a threat to America, as China is a hostile nation.

Between Wal-Mart and all of the other morally bankrupt corporations who are willing to sell their souls for a quick buck, we will soon have to worry about our troops facing shiny new Chinese weapons paid for by American citizens. They don''t exactly have the greatest track record in non-proliferation.

Boycott China. Not just the games, but their products and corporations as well. I understand that it''s hard to buy anything not made there, but we have to start trying. Stop supporting the enemy.

[libsrweak]

f the Cowardly Cowboy really had a set, he would cancel our participation in these games because of the most recent human rights violations against Tibetans, by the Chinese government. But, then who would he have to borrow money from to fix the train wreck he has made of our economy?

Posted by exCoachKen at 07:58 AM : Mar 25, 2008
+ report abuse

**********

and if the cowboy does pull out team..what would you say then? the same thing..you know how i know..BECAUSE YOU REALLY DONT CARE ABOUT TIBET..CHINA OR HUMAN RIGHTS......ALL YOU CARE IS YOU WANT TO BIT CH BIT CH BITC H