Olympic Torch Protesters Scale Golden Gate

1 Ties Tibetan Flag To Cable; Torch Relay Canceled In Paris Amid Anti-China Protests

(CBS/AP)  Three people protesting China's human rights record and the impending arrival of the Olympic torch climbed up the Golden Gate Bridge Monday and tied the Tibetan flag and two banners to its cables.

The banners read "One World One Dream. Free Tibet" and "Free Tibet."

The protesters wore helmets and harnesses as they made their way up the cables running next to the south tower of the famed span. The climb had the group suspended several dozen feet above traffic.

Mary Ziegenbien, a spokeswoman with the California Highway Patrol, said authorities would not try to go get the protesters out of concern for their safety.

"We don't want to put their lives in danger by going and grabbing them off the suspension cables right now," she said.

The torch relay is scheduled for Wednesday in San Francisco, its only North American stop.

Its path around the globe already has been marked by protests against China's policies toward Tibet and Sudan. In Paris, organizers canceled the final leg of the Olympic run after chaotic protests, snuffing out the torch and putting it aboard a bus.

Security officials put the torch on the bus for the last stretch but stopped right outside its destination, a Paris stadium, so a runner could finish the last 15 feet.

At least two activists got within almost an arm's length of the flame before they were grabbed by police. A protester threw water at the torch but failed to extinguish it and was taken away. Officers tackled numerous protesters and carried some away.

The chaos started on the Eiffel Tower's first floor moments after the relay began. Green Party activist Sylvain Garel lunged for the first torchbearer, former hurdler Stephane Diagana, and shouted "Freedom for the Chinese!" Security officials pulled Garel back.

"It is inadmissible that the games are taking place in the world's biggest prison," Garel said later.

The procession continued but a crowd of activists waving Tibetan flags soon interrupted it by confronting the torchbearer on a road along the Seine River. The demonstrators did not appear to get within reach of the torch, but its flame was put out by security officers and put on board a bus to continue part way along the route.

Less than an hour later, the flame was being carried out of a traffic tunnel by a woman athlete in a wheelchair when the procession was halted by activists who booed and chanted "Tibet." Once again, the torch was temporarily extinguished and put on a bus.

The third time, security officials apparently interrupted the procession because they spotted demonstrators ahead. After the torch was put on a bus, protesters threw plastic bottles, cups and pieces of bread at the vehicle and at a male wheelchair-bound athlete.

The torch disappeared back inside the bus a fourth time shortly after a protester approached it with a fire extinguisher near the Louvre art museum. Police grabbed the demonstrator before he could start to spray.

The flame was whisked into a bus again outside the National Assembly, where protesters gathered. A session of parliament was interrupted and a banner on the building read: "Respect for Human Rights in China." City Hall draped its building with a banner reading, "Paris defends human rights around the world."

The Chinese, who have been hoping to use the games as a showpiece for their newfound prosperity and power, have dismissed the protestors as a small group of Tibetan separatists. But this torch-relay fiasco may well unsettle the big Olympic corporate sponsors, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips. The top five alone spent half a billion dollars on the last games and are poised to spend a lot more this time. The risk of being tainted by association with Chinese policy has become a real one for those companies.

"They are trying very hard not to seem like the bad guy and I think a lot of the companies really do sympathize with the cause. But they are really not sure how to go about this because you don't want to tick off the Chinese government," says Judann Pollack, managing editor of Advertising Age.

Other demonstrators scaled the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame cathedral and hung banners depicting the Olympic rings as handcuffs.

About 3,000 officers were deployed on motorcycles, in jogging gear and with inline roller skates.

A Paris police official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to media, says at least 28 people have been taken into custody during the protests.

Pro-Tibet advocate Christophe Cunniet said he and around 20 other Tibet advocates were detained after they waved Tibetan flags, threw flyers and tried to block the route. Cunniet said police kicked him, cutting his forehead. "I'm still dazed," he said.

Mireille Ferri, a Green Party official, said she was held by police for two hours because she approached the Eiffel Tower area with a fire extinguisher.

In various locations throughout the city, activists angry about China's human rights record and crackdown on protesters in Tibetan areas carried Tibetan flags and waved signs reading "the flame of shame." Riot police squirted tear gas to break up a sit-in protest by about 300 demonstrators who blocked the torch route.

"The flame shouldn't have come to Paris," said protester Carmen de Santiago, who had "free" painted on one cheek and "Tibet" on the other.

Torchbearer Diagana said he was disappointed to see the protests, though he understood why activists were there.

"Nothing is happening as planned. It's unfortunate," he told France 2 television.

At least one athlete was supportive of demonstrators. Former Olympic champion Marie-Jose Perec told French television: "I think it is very, very good that people have mobilized like that."

Pro-Chinese activists carrying national flags held counter-demonstrations.

"The Olympic Games are about sports. It's not fair to turn them into politics," said Gao Yi, a Chinese second-year doctoral student in Paris in computer sciences.

France's former sports minister, Jean-Francois Lamour, stressed that, though the torch was put out aboard the bus, the Olympic flame itself still burned in the lantern where it is kept overnight and on airplane flights.

"The torch has been extinguished but the flame is still there," he told France Info radio.

Police had hoped to prevent the chaos that marred the relay in London a day earlier. There, police repeatedly scuffled with activists angry over China's human rights record leading up to the Beijing Olympics Aug. 8-24. One protester tried to grab the torch; another tried to snuff out the flame with what appeared to be a fire extinguisher. Thirty-seven people were arrested.

In Paris, police had drawn up an elaborate plan to try to keep the torch in a safe "bubble." Torchbearers were encircled by several hundred officers. Boats patrolled the Seine River, which slices through the French capital, and a helicopter flew overhead.
About 80 athletes had been scheduled to carry the torch over the 17.4-mile route that started at the Eiffel Tower, headed down the Champs-Elysées toward City Hall, then crossed the Seine before ending at the Charlety track and field stadium.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has left open the possibility of boycotting the Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing depending on how the situation evolves in Tibet. Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Monday that was still the case.

Activists have been protesting along the torch route since the flame embarked on its 85,000-mile journey from Ancient Olympia in Greece to Beijing.

The round-the-world trip is the longest in Olympic history, and is meant to highlight China's economic and political power. Activists have seized on it as a platform for their causes, angering Beijing.

Beijing organizers criticized London's protesters, saying their actions were a "disgusting" form of sabotage by Tibetan separatists.

"The act of defiance from this small group of people is not popular," said Sun Weide, a spokesman for the Beijing Olympic organizing committee. "It will definitely be criticized by people who love peace and adore the Olympic spirit. Their attempt is doomed to failure."

The torch relay also is expected to face demonstrations in San Francisco, New Delhi and possibly elsewhere on its 21-stop, six-continent tour before arriving in mainland China May 4.

[ee_cbsnews]

I am sad and disappointed for how irresponsible bloggers are abusing this cooment posts - with hate-speech, racist speech, ignorant speech, speech that will incite anger for both sides...Please remember: Governemtn and People are two entities....Peace and make good use for free speech

[zhoulei-2009]

Tibet belong to China forever!

[zhoulei-2009]

Tibet belong to China forever!

[brianbwb-2009]

The protesters should spend an equal amount of energy protesting the US occupation of Iraq, then maybe their convictions would seem a bit more consistent.

US boycott? To be consistent, countries opposed to the occupation of other countries should boycott if the US participates.

[moonface6]

It''s never too far to call them scumbags, or trash. These men were shamelessly attacking the two disabled athletes on and on in the Olympic torch relay in Paris. The female athlete in the wheelchair has one leg and the male athlete pushing the wheelchair is blind.

This is a video that any popular news agency will feel disgraceful to show you. Go to http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4ztb8_la-flamme-olympique-chahutee-a-pari_news to see with your own eyes.

You can also google with "rue89 la flamme olympique chahutee a paris" on the net to find the clip.

[moonface6]

Forgot to mention the name of the article. It''s "Myth and Reality of Tibet". You can easily google it on the net.

[moonface6]

fakusa: Thank you for providing the link of the article. It helped me a lot to learn the history of Tibet.

For interested readers here a teaser I quoted from the article:

"In fact the belief that the Dalai Lama is the leader of world Buddhism rather than being just the leader of one sect among more than 1,700 "Living Buddhas" of this unique Tibetan form of the faith displays a parochial view of world religions."

Wow, there are 1700 Living Buddhas, it really surprise d me? The article also has account of the story of the Chinese princess that you may want to know. Just go to http://my.telegraph.co.uk/elle/march_2008/myth_and_reality_of_tibet.htm to read the article by yourself if you want to learn more.

[fakusa]

It is sad and dangerous to this world that many of these protesters are acting based on propaganda and distorted information by the hidden hands of governements/politicians with ulterior motives, those that do not wish to see a peacful world, because less war means less money from sales of arms, They will find ways and means to prevent the acceptance of of beliefs held by China - every nations in this world is equal, no single country should detect the behaviour or imposed their own social values, May be all the protesters should first learn the true history of Tibet. Suggest all of them to read the write-ups by someone they should fell comfortable with, a non-PRC and respectable wester writers. If they think they are doing the right things to go against China about Tibet, go to the link, read to understand and decide again --- http://my.telegraph.co.uk/elle/march_2008/myth_and_reality_of_tibet.htm

[listener2000-2009]

Visit site: http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html.

You can understand Tibet better.

[cbsuser20078]

Hung Hin Chu gives a good synopsis of the situation. Many times people on the outside don''t fully understand a situation like this. It''s definitely more complex than it''s presented in the popular media. The one issue that most people can agree on though, is that a person should not be imprisoned for stating an opinion in public. This whole situation could be improved by simply allowing people to express opinions openly without being imprisoned. Ironically the history of slavery and non-democratic governance in Tibet before the communist party entered Tibet that Hung Hin mentions could also be told if the central Chinese government would allow public freedom of expression, giving the world a complete picture of the situation and not having the picture one-sided as it is now.

[jyj2008]

Shame on the Chinese government. Why don%u2019t they dare to play the %u201Chuman rights%u201D card, and advocate the Beijing Olympic as a great chance for the world to reveal the human rights status in China and help the Chinese government to improve?

Chinese government has so much human resource, so many dollars just earned from US, but why can%u2019t they just train some good PR specialists? Why can%u2019t they get some media to speak for themselves? We already know that all the media are biased, one way or the other. So why can%u2019t the Chinese government establish some %u201Cpro-China%u201D media channels overseas? Where did they throw all their money to on the PR side? Some government officials%u2019 mansion in Manhattan for their %u201Cgrandsons to be born%u201D?

[jyj2008]

The more I look at these %u201Chuman rights fighters%u201D performance, the more I look down upon them.

They say that they want the world to see the %u201Ctruth%u201D of China%u2019s human rights status, but they are doing exactly the opposite. If they indeed want the western media and the rest of the world to see the %u201Ctruth%u201D inside China, shouldn%u2019t they advocate the Beijing Olympic? Isn%u2019t Olympic a great opportunity for the foreigners to flood the streets of China to find the truth themselves first hand? How can the Chinese government conceal the %u201Ctruth%u201D when western media are everywhere? If China is indeed the %u201Cworld%u2019s biggest prison%u201D, why should the western world pass this great opportunity of %u201Cprison open day%u201D to pay a visit?

Why are these %u201Cfighters%u201D so desperate to boycott the Beijing Olympic? Why are they so afraid of the %u201Ctruth%u201D to be revealed? Are they exaggerating the human rights problem in China? Are they afraid of losing funding (and their way to feed themselves) once the real truth is found? Is that why they performed such an ugly drama in Paris on Monday, and probably we will see more drama in San Francisco this coming Wednesday.

Shame on these %u201Cfighters%u201D, they talk about %u201Chuman rights%u201D, but indeed have no clue what %u201Chuman rights%u201D mean.

[hung_hin_chu]

14 March 2008 was a riot/war from Zang tribe (Tibet original people) against Han tribe (immigrant from mainland). Tens people Han people were hurted, killed, burned to death. Han''s shop was burned and robberies.

During Dala Lama in Tibet, Tibet were owned by rich people and religious lama, all other majority were slaves under them. Most Tibet Zan tribe people were slaves. Communist party (1) broke the slavery system, all slaves in Tibet was freed. (2) Most rich people and religious lama lost their properties and privileges after Communist party enterred Tibet. (3) Han tribe ruled Tibet instead of Zang tribe ruled Tibet.

No doubt that China still violate human right and has some level of democracy only, both not accepted by Western people now. But I see that Dala Lama was elected by a crazy system! Imagine American won''t support a child who will be the president of United States until he dead! His government was a regime because most people in Tibet were slaves. Tibet were ruled by fewer lamas and no democracy in Tibet, and may be wosrse than now. Which one is more dirty? Olympic game is a commercial business deal now, it focuses on broadcasting, profit and tickets, game in China will have big profit. China had already made the success Olympic game because the OLYMPIC GAME BUBBLE raised the stock market and property market in mainland to gain billion of dollars. Olympic torch relay is just an advertisement, torch fire is secular and nothing holy.

[taylor2124]

Roger_inkart theorizes and asks "What would you do with your small, sad little nothing of a life". Which is pretty funny, as I''m the one in the 4000 sq foot seaside house making a quarter million dollars a yeat, while he has to say "want fries with that?" all day. Loser!

[iamauto]

but i don''t think this''s a peaceful demonstration.
it''s getting more and more violent.

[moonface6]

Every human being should watch the video clip:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4ztb8_la-flamme-olympique-chahutee-a-pari_news

I watched it again and I think I was wrong for calling it harassment. It''s
beyond harassment, it''s assaulting. Besides the male athlete who was pushing
the wheelchair seemed to be bind.

Is that what your leftist applaud for?

[glock4me]

You''''''''re virtually not even allowed to live in San Francisco unless you''''''''re rabidly Anti-American.

Posted by taylor2124 at 08:53 PM : Apr 07, 2008

taylor2124, the contents of my closet and rifle safe pretty much means I''m not allowed to live in San Fransisco. My advice to you and any freedom-loving American... buy what firearms you want to have now and brace for the worst in November (Osama bin Hillary, or whatever gun hater wins the donkey party). I''ve got a few more items on my must-buy list.

Hey libs, guess what my economic stimulus money will buy!!

[glock4me]

Yup, spoken like your typical brain-dead, clueless conservative moron. You people are really idiots and you are pathetic beyond words.

What would you do with your small, sad little nothing of a life if you didn''''t have all this raging hatred and indignation for these imaginary people? Wow, you might have to actually face your considerable shortcomings.


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

Posted by roger_inkart at 09:20 PM : Apr 07, 2008

roger_inkart, and others of similar beliefs, I''ll let the election results in November speak for me. My guess is that a lot of America haters don''t realize how unpopular Osama bin Hillary (or whoever wins the donkey party) actually is. Recall the 2004 election where the media had me believing that Kerry was going to win big. I guess the NYT was just polling people in Manhattan.

If the constitution would allow it, I''d say that Bush would take at least 48% of the popular vote (maybe even a majority) against Osama bin Hillary, possibly even winning the electoral college. Even though Bush may not be perfect, the opposition is so very incompetent (Rev. Wright, sniper-gate, etc.) Wouldn''t that (a 3rd Bush term) make the heads of most liberals explode.

[moonface6]

Let''s watch a video clip to see how those heroic human rights fighters harassed a young Chinese athlete in wheel chair. I am shocked and totally speechless:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4ztb8_la-flamme-olympique-chahutee-a-pari_news

It is said that athlete lost one of her legs when she was 9 because of a deadly tumor on the leg.

[roger_inkart]

You''''re virtually not even allowed to live in San Francisco unless you''''re rabidly Anti-American.

Posted by taylor2124 at 08:53 PM : Apr 07, 2008

Yup, spoken like your typical brain-dead, clueless conservative moron. You people are really idiots and you are pathetic beyond words.

What would you do with your small, sad little nothing of a life if you didn''t have all this raging hatred and indignation for these imaginary people? Wow, you might have to actually face your considerable shortcomings.