Let The Protests Begin: Groups Bash China

Activists Demonstrate At Key Olympic Venue; Bush Plans Speech On China And Human Rights

(CBS/ AP)  Foreign activists unfurled pro-Tibet banners at a key Olympics venue Wednesday and spoke out against China's rights record in Tiananmen Square, in the first attempts to use the white-hot spotlight of the games to raise other issues.

One athlete, U.S. swim star Amanda Beard, also made a public political gesture, on behalf of animal rights.

All of the groups had problems with Chinese authorities, who are determined to make sure the communist government's plan for the Beijing Games to be an international showcase for the country goes off without a hitch.

Meanwhile, U.S. President George W. Bush plans to pointedly express "deep concerns" about the state of human rights in China and urge the communist nation to allow political freedoms for its citizens.

"America stands in firm opposition to China's detention of political dissidents, human rights advocates and religious activists," Mr. Bush is to say in the marquee speech of his three-nation Asia trip. "We speak out for a free press, freedom of assembly and labor rights - not to antagonize China's leaders, but because trusting its people with greater freedom is the only way for China to develop its full potential."

Mr. Bush is to deliver the address in a Bangkok, Thailand, convention center on Thursday morning to a crowd of foreign diplomats, Thai government leaders and business officials, before flying to China later that day. The White House released the text of the president's speech on Wednesday, nearly 18 hours in advance, as Mr. Bush traveled to Thailand from South Korea.

No arrests were reported despite the rare displays of dissent in the capital, where normally stringent controls over criticism of the government have been tightened even further for the 17-day Olympic competition.

Four foreign activists were led away by police after they hung pro-Tibet banners outside the Beijing National Stadium, where Friday's opening ceremony will be held.

Two men from Students for a Free Tibet each climbed a light pole in front of the so-called Bird's Nest and put up the banners at dawn, said Lhadon Tethong, the New York-based group's executive director. The other two - a man and a woman - provided support from the base of the poles, she said.

It was the first demonstration at a games venue. Beijing organizers condemned the protest.

"We express our strong opposition," said Sun Weide, spokesman for the Beijing Olympics organizing committee. "In terms of assembly and demonstrations, China has related laws and regulations. We hope that foreigners will respect the related Chinese laws and regulations."

Sun said the demonstrators were "persuaded to leave" by police, who received tips from local residents about the protest. The four have not been arrested or taken to a police station, he said.

International Olympic Committee spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau said organizers should expect people to "use the platform of the Olympic Games to draw attention to their causes."

"The IOC are confident Beijing city authorities will assess the situation reasonably and act with tact and understanding," she said.

Later Wednesday, three Americans spent almost an hour in the iconic Tiananmen Square criticizing Beijing's handling of issues ranging from forced abortions to the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement to pro-democracy demonstrations in 1989.

"It was important for us that there be a clear voice speaking out against the Chinese government's abuse of human rights," Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition in Washington, said in a telephone interview.

The trio also set up a banner in the square that said "Christ is King" and knelt and prayed. Brandi Swindell, national director of the activist group Generation Life, also put out seven roses in memory of those who died in the military crackdown on pro-democracy protests on and near the square in 1989.

They said plainclothes security agents and police officers tried to block the banner with umbrellas and started shoving the group when they tried to walk around the square. The agents eventually pushed them out of the area and made them sit nearby for almost an hour, checking their passports, before letting them go, Mahoney and Swindell said.

"It's so shocking being an American ... to see the blatant oppression," Swindell said.

Tibet has been an extremely sensitive topic since protests against almost 50 years of Chinese rule turned violent in the region in March. Many Tibetans insist they were an independent nation before communist troops invaded in 1950, while Beijing says the Himalayan region has been part of its territory for centuries.

The protests prompted a massive crackdown by Chinese security forces. Pro-Tibet groups say scores of monks and nuns have been arrested, imprisoned and beaten since March.

One of Wednesday's banners said "Tibet will be free" and "Tibet Freedom" in Chinese. The other read, "One World, One Dream" - the slogan for the Beijing Olympics - followed by "Free Tibet." One of the men also flew the flag of the Dalai Lama's former Tibetan government.

Tethong's group identified the protesters as Thom, 24, of Scotland; Lucy Marion, 23, of England; Phill Bartell, 34, of Bridgewater, New Jersey; and Tirian Mink, 32, of Portland, Oregon.

While Beijing has announced that it would allow applications for public protests in three designated areas, it isn't immediately clear if any had been accepted. None of the protests Wednesday were in the designated areas.

China's rights record and its policies in Tibet and Sudan have been a flash point in the run-up to Olympics.

Former Olympic speedskater Joey Cheek had his visa revoked by Chinese authorities Wednesday, hours before he was set to travel to Beijing to urge Beijing to help make peace in war-torn Darfur.

Beard, the reigning Olympic champion in the 200-meter breaststroke, on Wednesday unveiled a poster of herself naked in support of the anti-fur activist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The poster's launch was planned for a hotel but happened outside the Athlete's Village after Chinese authorities canceled the hotel event.

[kelev3]

No, its disgusting CBS and other networks cover this disgusting country who tortures and murders thousands of dogs in their "preening" for Olympics. The ground on which Olympics take place runs with blood of the helpless dogs who cried out for mercy, and the others who are "produced" and bludgeoned to death, electrocuted for consumption and fur. Millions of cats were killed also, with no wince of sympathy, only grinning, unfeeling robots, beating and kicking defenseless, starving animals. What a shame that our society doesn''t speak up for this injustice. The suffering and cries for justice speak from the blood soaked ground of China''s Olympics. What a farce, atrocious betrayal of the creatures of our planet. Shame shame!

[linktrust]

I''M CHINESE,AND HERE I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT WE ARE POOR/DIRTY/UNCULTURED/COWARDLY PEOPLE AS YOUR MEDIA REPORTED ,IT IS TURE ,SO WE ARE EASY TO BEAT ..... JUST SEND TROOP TO FREE US . COME ON! WHITE PIG .

[thepitbull13]

I don''''t want to trash China ... but I would like to register my disgust with American athletes that show up at Beijing airport wearing black surgical masks. What incredibly bad manners! If air quality is a concern, fine, but at least have the class to go mask-less when you arrive in their country for the first time. What an insult to their Chinese hosts!!!


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Posted by emelder at 02:36 PM : Aug 06, 2008

Then I will trash them. I''m glad the Olympics are there to showcase the pollution. You see the environmentalist world wide via the Kyoto Accord have allowed this pollution to happen all the while corporation are leaving the US over air quallity regs not enforced there. MAKE them comply with the same standards as us and level the playing field or else we will continue to see our economy go down the tubes because we cannot in no way compete in a global economy when the table is tipped so heavily in there favor. If you are an environmentalist then don''t complair about our economy until everyone plays by the same rules!

[whiskyrokkr]

Our athletes don''t need to go to China and start crying about animal rights. Just keep your mouth shut and win the gold. If they think the air quality is so bad they have to get off the plane with a mask on then stay home.

[minnick8-2009]

I would like to see the world''s young athletes get in and out of China safely without incident to mar their memories. They have worked hard for the priviledge of going. If they are opposed to China and its policies, they should refuse to go.

I wish China had not been chosen as the location of the Olympics, but it was. How the Chinese are handling the event from tearing down people''s homes, to taking water from farmers, and shutting down factories and traffic is their concern and they will have to take the consequences which I''m sure they will.

[minnick8-2009]

Animal rights protests? In China? That''''s stupid. How about people''''s rights?

Posted by downtowner97

Respect for life is all tied together. I''m not opposed to hunting if the meat is actually used to feed the hungry and it isn''t left to rot while poachers take the skins, the teeth, the bones, and whatever else they use to grind up into their magical cures. Many of the endangered species of the earth are endangered now because China imports them for their exotic uses.

I wish they (China) had a use for the millions of supposedly endangered Prairie Dogs.

[gurusavant]

i really do believe that china is doing the best job possible to maintain the lives of 3 billion citizens. air pollution is probably a lesser concern of a government right now, whose main focus is to provide food, shelter, clothing and jobs to that many citizens, while also keeping a great degree of peace.

comparably, to countries with a similar condition, it is amazing itself, that china is able to host the international olympics in the first place. this is something the world even should acknowledge instead of continually bashing such an enourmous nation that is trying it''s hardest to gain stability.

the olympics could have provided this stability on an interantional level. but it seems like it''s gonna be a handful of dissident ''athletes'' who are gonna be pulling their political strings instead.

[emelder]

I don''t want to trash China ... but I would like to register my disgust with American athletes that show up at Beijing airport wearing black surgical masks. What incredibly bad manners! If air quality is a concern, fine, but at least have the class to go mask-less when you arrive in their country for the first time. What an insult to their Chinese hosts!!!

[xmanborg]

Oh and by the way talker25 "sinniest" is not a word.

You REETARD.

[barbaraf4]

I refuse to buy anything that''s made in China,I will not support their atrocities against their own people. I also try not to support corporations that do business in China. Posted by crazycwp
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How do you recognize something made in China? How do you know there isn''t a component in the product that was made in China? How do you know how many layers of a US corporation is doing business in China that is well hidden from the public? Do you have a fulltime research staff to find out?

[whyafghan]

President Bush is planning to offer the Chinese government the services of NANCY PELOSI for four years until the next Olympics, but Chinese officials will politely deny the gift by stating that they wish to move forward and not back. The Chinese also forbit the practice of PROSTITUTION so Pelosi cannot w *** herself for political purposes.

[antoniof123]

Later Wednesday, three Americans spent almost an hour in the iconic Tiananmen Square criticizing Beijing''s handling of issues ranging from forced abortions to the banned Falun Gong spiritual movement to pro-democracy demonstrations in 1989.

"It was important for us that there be a clear voice speaking out against the Chinese government''s abuse of human rights," Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition in Washington, said in a telephone interview.

The trio also set up a banner in the square that said "Christ is King" and knelt and prayed. Brandi Swindell, national director of the activist group Generation Life, also put out seven roses in memory of those who died in the military crackdown on pro-democracy protests on and near the square in 1989.

They said plainclothes security agents and police officers tried to block the banner with umbrellas and started shoving the group when they tried to walk around the square. The agents eventually pushed them out of the area and made them sit nearby for almost an hour, checking their passports, before letting them go, Mahoney and Swindell said.

"It''s so shocking being an American ... to see the blatant oppression," Swindell said.

Proof of wing nut stupidity.

Its there country not yours fix the problems at home first.

[crazycwp]

I hope more people protest in China, that''s exactly what they need. I refuse to buy anything that''s made in China,I will not support their atrocities against their own people. I also try not to support corporations that do business in China. Everyone in the world should do this. Oh yeah FREE TIBET AND DO IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pugster]

These moronic American protestors thinks that they it is their right to get a visa to China can go anywhere and protest. Unfortunately, these morons have to respect laws on another country and this is what they don''t understand.

[hypnotoad72]

Strange isn''''t it. So many people crying about capitalism and China are pro''''bly sitting in a chair made in China, and can turn around and find themselves surrounded in Chinese cheap krap!

Rather ironic, what?

Posted by WellHell3
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Well, I don''t see many other countries opening up manufacturing shops (never mind a lot of it is automated anyway) - will you let us know when they do; provide real competition and innovation?

[josebcruz]

Easy Wangbang, there is no need to make comments like"Your Full Of It". It shows your lack of social education and your immaturity.

There are many products NOT MADE IN CHINA. For instance shoes. I''ll buy a shoe made in Spain, Brazil or Italy before one made in China. And yes there are shoes made in China. No more toys for the children that are made in China. No more pet food for my dog made in China. I purchase Nutro dog products, made in California.

The fact is Wangbanger, China does not give a Sh--t about what materials and ingrediants they use in producing these subpar products. Bang on that Wang.

[wellhell3]

Strange isn''t it. So many people crying about capitalism and China are pro''bly sitting in a chair made in China, and can turn around and find themselves surrounded in Chinese cheap krap!

Rather ironic, what?

[mjm117]

China should have never been allowed to host these games. But money talks and BS walks. China is a gold mine for American manufacturing, cheap labor, no unions. What more can a Capitalist want. With that everyone turns and looks the other way as China continues to behave the way they do. I do not buy anything made in China for many reasons now.


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Posted by josebcruz at 09:05 AM : Aug 06, 2008



I agree partly with what you say. I don''t think China should be able to host the Olympics, but for different reasons. They are stealing water from their own farmers to prepare, they are shutting down factories to limit smog. All of these are going to have serious consequences on the Chinese people in 6 months. Farmers won''t be able to produce the food in the amounts they should had they had water. Companies will be way behind in production, therefore losing money. It could have a serious economic backlash. All those steps forward...and a HUGE jump back.

[downtowner97]

Animal rights protests? In China? That''s stupid. How about people''s rights?

[wangbang]

josebcruz, you''re full of it. What do you buy then? Name me some products you buy that are not made in China.