French Prez May Boycott Olympic Ceremony

China's Crackdown In Tibet A Concern; State Television Says It May Not Carry Games If Censored

(AP)  French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Tuesday that he cannot rule out the possibility he might boycott the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics if China continues its crackdown in Tibet.

An official from France's state television company said the broadcaster would likely boycott the games if coverage was censored, and the European Union, United States, Australia and Canada urged China to show restraint as it tries to quell continuing unrest in its Tibetan areas.

Asked whether he supported a boycott, Sarkozy said he could "not close the door to any possibility." A spokesman for the president said Sarkozy was referring to a possible snub of the Aug. 8 opening ceremony.

"Our Chinese friends must understand the worldwide concern that there is about the question of Tibet, and I will adapt my response to the evolutions in the situation that will come, I hope, as rapidly as possible," the president said during a visit with a military regiment in southwest France.

Sarkozy also said he had told Chinese President Hu Jintao of his concern, asking for restraint, dialogue and the end of violence in Tibet.

Sarkozy also disclosed contacts between his office and that of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader.

"I have an envoy who spoke to the authorities who are closest to the Dalai Lama," Sarkozy said. "I want dialogue to begin, and I will gauge my response on the response that the Chinese authorities give."

A Paris-based media freedom group, Reporters Without Borders, last week appealed for an opening ceremony boycott by heads of state and government, as well as royalty - an idea that has gained the support of many French.

Reporters Without Borders made headlines again Monday when three high-ranking members were arrested at the Olympic flame-lighting ceremony after unfurling a black banner showing the Olympic rings as handcuffs. Jean-Francois Julliard, the group's research director, welcomed Sarkozy's comments.

"We feel that things are starting to get moving, that political leaders are starting to change their attitudes," Julliard said in a telephone interview Tuesday. He was one of the three arrested in Greece and charged with "insulting national symbols."

He said that to his knowledge, Sarkozy was the first world leader to go so far in the boycott discussion. Prince Charles has said he will skip the Olympics.

At the White House, press secretary Dana Perino said President Bush still plans to attend the Olympics.

"We want everyone to refrain from violence. We believe that China should respect minority cultures, in particular in this case, the Tibetan culture," she said.

"Because (Bush) has a good relationship with President Hu, he then is also able to speak very frankly about our concerns about human rights and democracy," Perino added.

The sports director at France's main television company suggested Tuesday it could consider a boycott if Chinese government censors the footage.

"For the moment, we don't intend to boycott the games," Daniel Bilalian said on RTL Belgium radio. But, he added, if the games are "in any way censored or sanitized by the Chinese authorities ... that would obviously put our position in question."

"At that point, the president of France Televisions ... would without a doubt decide not to cover the Olympic Games," he said.

Violent protests in Tibet, the most serious challenge in almost two decades to China's rule in the region, are forcing human rights campaigners to re-examine their approach to the Aug. 8-24 Olympic Games.

The government says at least 22 people have died in Lhasa, while Tibetan rights groups say nearly 140 Tibetans were killed, including 19 in Gansu province.

A protest in Sichuan province on Monday ended in a deadly clash between demonstrators and police, reportedly leaving a policeman and at least one monk dead.

[cbsnews8881]

I was in Los Angeles during the riot in the ''90s, the California national guards ''crackdown''ed on the rioters, does that make sense? You do not want laws and orders in a civilized society? Innocent civilians have no ''human right'' to live? But the ''rioter'' have the right to express their opinions, which is to kill others? If the Roman Catholics priests (=monks) start to persuade young people to continue the riot, shouldn''t they be dispersed? Moral: don''t be a hypocrite and one-sided.

[cbsnews8881]

Steelsil, I challenge you to throw away everything that is ''made in china'' or not to buy anything new: your life would become very difficult. That was what a couple found out after one year of trying in east coast. To start: I suggest you throw away your computer that you are using, then your toothbrush, cups, cell phone, light bulbs, pens, clockradio, TV, etc. etc. At the end of the day, you are a true proletariat.

[cbsnews8881]

Most people criticize China based on the info from western media. At the time of the riot, there was only one western reporter at Lhasa, who happened to be a tourist. Most of these news articles were generated in newsrooms thousands of miles away with third or fourth hand info. or inaccurate ideas. The verify the original source is the basic rule of journalism.

[iamauto]

We should urge the chinese government let people have the right to kill other people freely on streets, especially in Lhasa.

[iamauto]

Jesus!
Do you guys really know what has happened in Lhasa?
Innocent civillian were KILLED by monks.

[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!

[cbsnews8881]

Going to Olympic Games but refuse to attend the opening ceremony sounds like a hypocrite to me. If the rioters caused any harms to innocent civilians, then Mr. Sarkozy should condemn them, including the Dali Lama. If the Chinese government did anything wrong, then the French athletes should stay home and not participate the Game. Just remember, all things are determined by economic issues, there is a lot of trade deals between China and France. Should China buy Boeing or Airbus? Talking about barbarism, have you ever seen the pictures of the old Summer Palace, the Yuan Ming Yuan? China has not asked to be repaid yet.

[Syndicate]

a charge of insulting national symbols. Is mearly code for speaking ones mind. Given that this happened at the olympics flame lighting ceremony the olympics is tarnished. Not by protesters but by state supression of free speech. I personally will be boycotting the olympics by not watching and not supporting sponsors.

[guysdigdirt]

Looks like the "cheese eating surrender monkeys" have more guts than other western politicians who kowtow to Chinese barbarism.

Bravo Monsieur Sarkozy. Freedom fries all round.
Posted by Stezzer

Stezzer, you are a moron. If you think skipping the opening ceremony is a big thing, get real. If Mr. Bruni has any huevos he needs to boycott the olympics all together.

[guysdigdirt]

This is the first good thing Sarko has said since he''''s been in office, but he''''s just trying to gain favor because the French hate him and his new plastic wife Carla Bruni.
She''''s like the village bicycle, everyone''''s had a ride.
Posted by gce65

Accurate and funny, well done.

[guysdigdirt]

This is NOT the only good thing that Sarkozy has done. He has done a number of good things already. Perhaps, you odn''''t follow events in France.
Posted by GerriM

I agree, in France it is a great thing to be a *** for sunglasses, then dump your wife for a model. We all want to have the ethics of a frenchman.

[louielau1975]

Is Olympic a political tool? Capitalism becomes more communist than communism today.

[gerrim]

Trishab:

what are you trying to say inFrench??

This is NOT the only good thing that Sarkozy has done. He has done a number of good things already. Perhaps, you odn''t follow events in France.

[nocatnowaco]

A good way to go to demonstrate the support of human rights and democracy. For all athletes, please wear dust masks especially during the opening and closing ceremonies to demonstrate the fight against air and environmental pollutions.

[incog-nito]

America would boycott the ceremony too, but we owe the Chinese a lot of debt, and they said no.

[sandyteds1]

The French are all scum, here is why www.theoandavirus.com

[stezzer]

Looks like the "cheese eating surrender monkeys" have more guts than other western politicians who kowtow to Chinese barbarism.

Bravo Monsieur Sarkozy. Freedom fries all round.

[gce65]

Micaelt302:
Like it or not, the Olympics have been a world stage for politics from early on.
The 1916 Games were cancelled due to WWI.
1936 in Berlin under the Nazis.
1940 and 1944 cancelled due to WWII.
1952 the Soviet Union boycotted Helsinki.
Black power was highlighted at Mexico City in 1968.
Munich, 1972. PLO/Israel. That stands for itself.
1980 Moscow Olympics were boycotted.
1984 Los Angeles Olympics were reverse boycotted.
1996 Atlanta Olympics were bombed by a right wing religious fundamentalist.
When has it ever really been free of politics?

[gce65]

This is the first good thing Sarko has said since he''s been in office, but he''s just trying to gain favor because the French hate him and his new plastic wife Carla Bruni.
She''s like the village bicycle, everyone''s had a ride.

[bill1fj]

What is our president doing?
Absolutely Nothing.
Boycott the Olympics in china.
Don''t buy chinese goods.
Don''t buy those products, like coca cola, that support the chinese government.
Don''t shop at walmart, as they are the biggest purchaser of chinese goods in the U.S.
Free Tibet and stop the butchering of the Tibetians.
Thank You