China Supporters Try To Undo Bad Publicity

Olympic Torch Relay Gets Warm Reception In Argentina

(AP)  Runners flanked by rows of security carried the Olympic torch past thousands of jubilant Argentines on Friday as China supporters in red windbreakers tried to reverse weeks of bad publicity for the host of the Summer Games.

People showered the parade route with confetti in a joyous celebration that sharply contrasted with the flame's chaotic last stops in Europe and the United States. No violence was reported from small groups of fenced-off demonstrators protesting China's human rights record, who exchanged jeers with pro-China demonstrators.

Activists had promised “entertaining surprises,” but the biggest threat to the torch's tour seemed to be blustery winds that caused the propane-powered flame to flicker. Protesters threw at least three water balloons at the torch as it passed the presidential palace, but guards easily batted them away.

“This is beautiful, a marvelous spectacle,” said Marcelo Tejera, 26.

Banks, government offices and businesses took an impromptu half-day holiday for the only Latin American stop on the Olympic flame's five-continent journey from ancient Olympia.

Mayor Mauricio Macri took the torch from Chinese organizers and opened the relay by passing it to three-time Olympic windsurfing medalist Carlos Espinola, who jogged into Buenos Aires streets flanked by Chinese bodyguards. Heavyset police from Argentina's navy huffed to keep up.

Rowers sped the flame down a muddy River Plate canal, their long oars flashing beneath gathering storm clouds, before runners on land jogged past the pink presidential palace.

Heavy security accompanied the torch. About 1,300 federal police, 1,500 -naval police and 3,000 traffic police and volunteers guarded the 8½-mile (14-kilometer) relay route, and at least four security layers swaddled the torchbearers.

A tight group of Chinese guards wearing Argentina's blue-and-white surrounded the runners, with riot police driving alongside. Farther out, a line of burly men in blue-and-black track suits linked hands in a moving cordon, and plainclothes federal police patrolled beyond that.

Liu Qi, head of the Beijing organizing committee, told senior International Olympics Committee officials in Beijing on Friday that additional steps had been taken to protect the flame, IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said “we're very confident and comfortable with that.”

About 500 China supporters in red windbreakers handed out by organizers waved banners and denounced the political protests that disrupted the flame's last stops in London, Paris and San Francisco.

“We are here to celebrate the Olympics,” said Shao Long Chen, a 19-year-old Chinese immigrant. “It's a great source of pride for us that the Olympics are being held in Beijing and that the torch is passing through Buenos Aires.”

As for the protesters nearby, he said: “They're using sports to deliver a political message, and that's not right.”

Protesters say China doesn't deserve to host the Olympics because of its human rights record, its harsh rule in Tibet and its friendly ties with Sudan. Pro-Tibet demonstrators tossed lotus flowers onto the route in what they said was a nonviolent protest against Beijing as Olympic host.

About 25 Falun Gong supporters lit a “human rights torch” and marched along the route to protest China's ban on the spiritual movement. Some traded insults with China supporters, but no violence was reported.

The ceremony began with a tango performance along a canal. The torch passed by the pink Government House and the iconic Obelisk, and was ending at an equestrian club with Argentine tennis great Gabriela Sabatini as the last runner.

Following the relay, the torch is to be flown to Tanzania.

[middleman8]

If these protesters believe in human rights so strongly, why don''t they demonstrate against the terrible murder and destruction bush and crew are causing in Iraq?
Is it because they are perpetual agitators and China is a safe target?

[infidel_us]

middleman8,

Only a bedwetting whiner lib could pull Bush into a story about the Olympic torch. I think you and the torch are both F L A M M I N G!

[pugster]

Pelosi will probably have a hard time getting elected next term because she decided by turn her back on the Chinese Americans in her dist by protesting the opening ceremony.

[sistatee-2009]

How can you tell the arrested people in San Fransicko from the S&M, handcuffed, studded-collar freaks?

[ginnyw6]

Indian people, stand up!
Look at what happened to Tibet!
If you stand up and get support from China and other countries, those people who robbed your land have already been driven away!
At least the world heard you! They''ll do anything to humiliate those people who you are against!

[ginnyw6]

Indian people, stand up!
Look at what happened to Tibet!
If you stand up and get support from China and other countries, those people who robbed your land have already been driven away!
At least the world heard you! They''ll do anything to humiliate those people who you are against!

[ginnyw6]

Indian people, stand up!
Look at what happened to Tibet!
If you stand up and get support from China and other countries, those people who robbed your land have already been driven away!
At least the world heard you! They''ll do anything to humiliate those people who you are against!

[undermyboot]

Who are these "Chinese immigrants" in America who so wholeheartedly support the dictatorial government in China? They need to be weeded out and sent back to China where they can "enjoy" the fruits of the freedom-hating dictatorship they profess to support. I mean- ***?

The fact that these lovers of Chinese dictatorship are in America should frighten every patriotic American. Recent news has been full of stories about the arrest of "sleeper" spies who are Chinese "immigrants" that stole military and commercial secrets to send back to their mother country. EVERY Chinese "immigrant" should be carefully scrutinized.

[undermyboot]

Who are these "Chinese immigrants" in America who so wholeheartedly support the dictatorial government in China? They need to be weeded out and sent back to China where they can "enjoy" the fruits of the freedom-hating dictatorship they profess to support. I mean- ***?

The fact that these lovers of Chinese dictatorship are in America should frighten every patriotic American. Recent news has been full of stories about the arrest of "sleeper" spies who are Chinese "immigrants" that stole military and commercial secrets to send back to their mother country. EVERY Chinese "immigrant" should be carefully scrutinized.

[undermyboot]

"Ling Li, 29, who immigrated from China''s Guangdong Province eight years ago, said she was disappointed that this pivotal moment in her country''s history was being marred by demonstrations. She said Tibet is a rightful part of China and its quest for independence should not be part of the Olympics. "

"Her Country"? Why is she here?
"Rightful part of China"? Another example of the Chinese dictatorship sending people over here to cause trouble and spread their propaganda.

[easternview]

If you and other protesters think that it''s not OK to let China host the 2008 Olympics, why didnt you all protest against it 7 years ago when China was looking for a chance to host 2008 Olympics? From the past 7 years, I have not heard or seen all these so-called or self-claimed freedome or human right supporters to protest regarding to 2008 Olympics. WHY NOW? People have the right to protest and speak their minds, but other have the same rights to participate in the real sporting event - Olympics. Please dont manipulate this event for your political intention. Honestly, I dont think China government would make any big change on Tibet policy. If any of you can read or understand Chinese language, maybe you should go check out some Chinese online forums and see how mad common Chinese people are after seeing the torch reply got interrupted in London and Paris. How many protesters know the history of China and Tibet? How many of them hear the stories from the other side (China)? I do believe that everyone has the right to speak and protest, that including people from Tibet as well. If you dont have any respect to the Chinese people''s effort to host an Olympic game, I dont see a reason why they would respect your ruless and selfish act. Richard Gere speaks out for Tibetan, but why doesnt he speak out for Iraqi as well? I thought US brutally invaded Iraq and people in Iraq are suffering 10 times more than people in Tibet.

[undermyboot]

"We are begging for five hours of peace," said Sam Ng, president of the Chinese Six Companies, a prominent benevolent association."

Is that what they are calling these Chinese Government supported groups in America these days? "Benevolent" my AZZ.

[undermyboot]

The "common Chinese view" in China is irrelevant since they are manipulated by a totalitarian government that only tells them what the government wants they to know and believe. Other viewpoints are crushed by the secret police, the rigged courts, and the massive internet filtering of any opposing views. Of course the Chinese people are angry- they have been told by their masters to be angry and every news organ in China tells them to be angry- so they are angry. "Chinese public opinion" is a joke. It is only "Chinese Government opinion." Only a Chinese government supporter and dictatorship lover will argue otherwise.

China, with its secret dictatorship and expansionist policies is a danger to the world. The sooner the world wakes up to this danger the better.

[moonface6]

Olympic is a great chance for athletes, tourists, journalists to see the Chinese human rights with their own eyes in the streets. Why are these human rights activists so afraid?

[jackmerkel]

Dalai Lama said he supports Beijing Olympics.
The Beijing communists said Dalai will handicap the Beijing Olympics.
What we are seeing now seems to prove Dalai is a lier. Is all this a trap set up by the Beijing communists?
Beijing certainly is more interested in the oil of africa and high techs of the west than Tibet. They will never really worry the practically impossible independence of Tibet.
The only possible threatening ethnic problem to them is probably the Uigur that is linked to a billion of Islams, but Beijing has made the whole western stand with them against this billion.
Oh, those poor protesters, they could just be used for playing for Beijing. Who knows how many communist spies are among them.

[michellem99-2009]

china is the oldest nation...they have a right to goven as they see fit..yet they do abuse but we must butt out..they have more people...

[pugster]

What the media didn''t tell you that there are numerous Pro-China cheering for the Torchbearers in San Fran. Too bad you have to youtube in order to see those videos.

[pugster]

jackmerkel, the reason why China call Dalai Lama a ''liar'' was that he was blamed on the violent protests from the ''Free Tibet'' group.

[jackmerkel]

So they did call Dalai a liar.
Then its more than probable they also set up all these protests to "prove" it.

[jackmerkel]

By the way, these "free tibet" protesters are not like peaceful Tibetans, they are just emotion-driven nobrainers or just hopeless losers in this society.

[mjvw2]

we should send these nuts back to california...oh wait, they''re already there

[mjvw2]

china is the oldest nation...they have a right to goven as they see fit..yet they do abuse but we must butt out..they have more people...
Posted by MichelleM99

poster child for government education

[jumkey]

mjvw2: yeah, that''s why we have the largest economy in the US, because we''re "nuts".

Let me guess, you live in some backwater Red state that can only survive by sucking at the government teet - a teet that is provided for by Californian tax dollars. Get a job pal. I''m sick of carrying your lazy shiftless a$$.

And the irony of all of these conservatives defending civil rights violations in China is a hoot. Every time some con spouted off about peace and freedom and democracy and small government etc etc I would just smile say "you don''t believe in any of that. It''s just more Republican lies".

And they just keep on proving me right again and again.

[mjvw2]

jumkey: actually I retired 5 years ago at the ripe old age of 42. Just bored today as rain is keeping me off the golf course. As for sucking on a teet...still enjoy it thanks

[moonface6]

If we look at the question and what is happening in San Francisco, it''s a no brainer to call Delai Lama De-Lie Lama.

[moonface6]

"Dalai Lama said he supports Beijing Olympics.
The Beijing communists said Dalai will handicap the Beijing Olympics.
What we are seeing now seems to prove Dalai is a lier." -- jackmerkel

If we look at the question and what is happening in San Francisco, it''s a no brainer to call Delai Lama De-Lie Lama.

[pugster]

I find it funny that there Darfur protestors like Clooney protesting China. China just buy oil there and if they decided not to buy oil there, it won''t change the situation what happened there. Bush and the UN should''ve have a unlaterial response to get rid of the dictator but instead they used China as a scapegoat.

[roger_inkart]

we should send these nuts back to California...oh wait, they''re already there

Posted by mjvw2

Thankfully when the American colonies revolted against England in the 1770''s and demanded to rule themselves there wasn''t a bunch of fat, uniformed, clueness red-necks listening to rightwing talk radio and muching on pork rinds - unlike today - otherwise it''s unlikely to have ever happened.

[jackmerkel]

Just from their language you can already tell how shallow minded these groups are, and how easy it would be for them to be used by the communist Chinese.

Dalai Lama said he supports Beijing Olympics.
The Beijing communists said Dalai will handicap the Beijing Olympics.
What we are seeing now seems to prove Dalai is a liar. Is all this a trap set up by the Beijing communists?
Beijing certainly is more interested in the oil of africa and high techs of the west than Tibet. They will never really worry the practically impossible independence of Tibet.
The only possible threatening ethnic problem to them is probably the Uigur that is linked to a billion of Islams, but Beijing has made the whole western stand with them against this billion.
Oh, those poor protesters, they could just be used for playing for Beijing. Who knows how many communist spies are among them.

[moonface6]

When they say "Free Tibet", I alway hear "Free to Bed". Why?

There are always two sides of the same story. If you want to
hear some unbiased opinions you may read some articles from authors in
the 3rd party. Here''s a short reading list:

- "Friendly Feudalism: The Tibet Myth" by Michael Parenti
- "Myth and Reality" by Foster Stockwell
- "Tibet through Chinese Eyes" by Peter Hessler

You can google these articles easily on the net. They are FREE to read.

[moonface6]

When they say "Free Tibet", I alway hear "Free to Bed". Why?

There are always two sides of the same story. If you want to
hear some unbiased opinions you may read some articles from authors in
the 3rd party. Here''s a short reading list:

- "Friendly Feudalism: The Tibet Myth" by Michael Parenti
- "Myth and Reality" by Foster Stockwell
- "Tibet through Chinese Eyes" by Peter Hessler

You can google these articles easily on the net. They are FREE to read.

[jeffstersf]

SistaTee: I live in San Francisco and am SO glad you do not share this privilege. This is God''s country. Not the hateful, vengeful god of Christianity, but the non-hateful, tolerant, loving REAL one.

[mjvw2]

we should send these nuts back to California...oh wait, they''''re already there

Posted by mjvw2

seems I''ve touched a nerve so thought I''d post it again. LOL

[ianlou]

Countries that decide to host the Olympics decide to put their country in the lime-light for world scrutiny.
If the Chinese leaders are surprised by recent protest, they are as "in the dark" as most of their citizens.

Perhaps they thought that the rest of the world would handle the Olympic Torch protests like they handled Tiananmen Square.

[moonface6]

When Da-Lie Lama talks about the freedom with a smelly face, every
conscious person chuckles. Why?

The truth is that the Da-lie Lama is only the leader of one sect among
more than 1,700 "Living Buddhas" of this unique Tibetan form of the
faith, but he wants to be the leader of world Buddhism. Let read
"Through the Eye of Dorje Shugden Buddhists" by Grain to see
what is the Da-Lie Lama''s definition of freedom. Here''s a quote:

"In recent years, Dorje Shugden has become a controversial issue in
which many western Buddhists who follow the Dorje Shugden deity of
the Tibetan Buddhism have raised the issue of religious freedom under
the Dalai Lama."

Go to the web and google this article.

[scroogle-2009]

ianlou, you know you are in the dark while you dont feel you are in the dark.

Trust my words ''cause I have lived in China for more than 20 years and the same length abroad.

[moonface6]

The merciful Da-Lie Lama cares many things, like his people in the exile
government, Tibet freedom, and even animals. There''s one video on Youtube
"The De-Lie Lama on Animal". I didn''t watch the video, but laughed at the
one and only one comment by a visitor.

The comment says "IS HIS GUCCI SHOES MADE OF ANIMAL SKIN?"

[undermyboot]

Chinese government has its hands all over this. There is too much influence in this country by the brutal dictatorship in China.

From the WHOLE AP ARTICLE (Notice CBS took out this part).

"Across the street, a bus carrying dozens of pro-China supporters arrived... Chen said his was one of 50 buses chartered by an amateur sports association that wanted to celebrate China''s first opportunity to host the Olympic Games."

In China there is NO SUCH THING AS AN INDEPENDENT "SPORTS ASSOCIATION". They are, as are ANY organization in China, RUN BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. So here we have the Chinese working in OUR COUNTRY to influence and spread their poisonous totalitarian propaganda.

[flajoe1]

China just buy oil there and if they decided not to buy oil there, it won''''t change the situation what happened there.
---
Posted by pug_ster

Of course it would. It would cut off a major source of the governments funding. That would fource them to start changing.

Bush and the UN should''''ve have a unlaterial response to get rid of the dictator but instead they used China as a scapegoat.
---
Posted by pug_ster

I think you have a good point. The US and UN have not done enough

[taylor2124]

If they weren''t so pathetically stupid, liberals would be considered funny. It''s amazing to see how worked up they get up about an issue(Tibet) that has absolutely no impact whatsoever on 99.999% of Americans, while issues such as the fact that tens of millions of Islamic Jihadists want to kill us all(and already killed thousands of us) doesn''t seem to concern them in the least. Liberals are like that crazy neighbor that all of us have that constantly worries about flesh-eating bacteria, plane crashes and meteorites, the whole time while he refuses to wear a seatbelt or lose that extra 150 lbs.

[libsrweak]

do these anti-war liberals understand that to free anything from tyranny involves more than just ''awareness''..these are the same people who totally refuse to see the logic to that..question really is..

"are they willing to sacrifice american life and resources to this?" .. or is thier agenda really IS NOT for freedom but for that ''15 mins of fame''.

personally I think that it is...

[flajoe1]

If they weren''''t so pathetically stupid, liberals would be considered funny. It''''s amazing to see how worked up they get up about an issue(Tibet) that has absolutely no impact whatsoever on 99.999% of Americans
Posted by taylor2124

Is this an example of those fine Republican Christian values? So are you saying it%u2019s OK to kill people as long as it doesn%u2019t effect you or your country?

[slim1h2o]

If America stands for freedom,, Then America must stand for freedom for all countries,, and all Peoples.

We can''t pick and choose which ones.

[yongamerica]

It is a great thing the Chinese are hosting the Olympics because finally there is a focal point the central chinese governemnt cares about that the world can protest in unison.

Return China to the Chinese People. Take away the wonderful country of China from the murderous criminals who are raping its resources and treating it like a sewer.

[pugster]

According to the live report: they said that there are more pro-China than anti-China Demonistrators by 3:1. Yet the Anti-China (Free Tibet, Stop Darfur, Falon Gong, etc...) get all the glory.

[yongamerica]

We can''''t pick and choose which ones. Posted by slim1h2

What do you mean we can''t pick and choose which ones? It''s called freedom of choice, something the Communist government doesn''t want anyone in the world to have. But its here big time in the US baby.

[yongamerica]

taylor2124 - go back and call your army out on your own people who''d love what is being done today, internationally. Protesting not only China''s treatment of Tibet, but the miserable way the Chinese government treats its own people and its own land.

A pro Chinese rally being held and led by the Chinese spies working in Silicon Valley. What a joke.

[jackmerkel]

David Perry, a spokesman for the city''s Olympic torch preparations, told the Chronicle that officials in the city, which has a long history of hosting protests about a wide range of causes, want to respect the free speech rights of both protesters and Olympic relay supporters in order to carry out a successful torch run.

"I like to think in San Francisco we know how to do a protest," he said. "Here in San Francisco, we''re not the type to jump on people in a wheelchair to try to snuff out the flame."

[moonface6]

It''s funny to see these anti-war liberals want to free the people in Tibet,
but haven''t even asked these poor people for their opinions. These people
are mostly former slaves and serfs or their offspring.

Here''s a quote from a story from the Washington Post:

". . . few Tibetans would welcome a return of the corrupt aristocratic
clans that fled with him in 1959 and that comprise the bulk of his advisers.
Many Tibetan farmers, for example, have no interest in surrendering the
land they gained during China''s land reform to the clans."

The quote is used in "Friendly Feudalism: The Tibet Myth" by Michael Parenti.
Google it and read it with your own eyes. It''s not propaganda from the
Communist China, it''s written an internationally known award-winning author
and lecturer.

I am afraid that these poor Tibetans in Tibet will scare to death to hear
their former masters want to come back.

[flajoe1]

According to the live report: they said that there are more pro-China than anti-China Demonistrators by 3:1..
Posted by pug_ster


Pro-China? Maybe Pro-Olympics

On a side note, it looks like the torch will be going by boat in San Francisco to bypass the protesters.