Torch Back in China

With just under 100 days remaining before the opening ceremony of this summer’s Games, the torch has completed the international half of its relay and reached China. After being paraded through Hong Kong (read James Reynold’s blog entry) on Friday, the torch returned to the mainland and travelled through the Southern province of Hainan. Given the chaotic nature of the journey thus far, Beijing officials will undoubtedly be relieved to see the torch on home soil. The remaining legs (which the BBC will continue to cover) are expected to remain peaceful; only the Tibetan leg scheduled for June 20th-21^st is likely to face disruptions.

Meanwhile, talks between Tibetan envoys and Chinese government authorities have begun. Today Chinese President Hu Jintao said he hoped the summit, taking place in the Southern town of Shenzhen, would be a success. However, he also made clear that he would like the Bhuddist leader to acknowledge that Tibet is an integral part of China and not an independent entity. The Dalai Lama insists he doesn’t want independence, but a high level of autonomy, for the predominantly Buddhist Himalayan region. Many Western observers believe that negotiations are doomed to fail.

China Agrees to Talks

According to China’s Xinhua News Agency (who also have an English language page), Chinese government officials are willing to meet representatives of the Dalai Lama in the coming days. Earlier this week, Tibet’s spiritual leader renewed his appeal for talks between Beijing’s authorities and his Tibetan envoys (read the Dalai Lama’s letter on his homepage). China will agree to hold discussions, under the condition that Tibet makes a convincing effort to end violence and protest. The announcement from Beijing called on Dalai Lama supporters to “stop inciting violence…and stop sabotaging the Beijing Olympic Games.”

A summit would be the first meeting held by members of both factions since violent demonstrations began in Tibet in March. Western observers have claimed that Beijing officials may use the talks simply to give the impression of being willing to engage in dialogue, in order to pacify critics and buy time. The Dalai Lama’s envoys are likely to use the opportunity to voice their concerns over China’s handling of the protests and put forward a proposal to bring peace to the region. However, China will not acknowledge talks as official negotiations.

Interview with Amnesty International

Amnesty International is one of the world’s leading NGO’s, dedicated to fighting against human rights abuses around the globe. This week I spoke to one of their activists, Niall Couper, about the Pro-Tibetan protests throughout the relay and the impact of the Olympics on the development of human rights in China. Here’s what he had to say…

Question: When China was awarded the Olympics in 2001, its committee claimed that the event would help the development of human rights – has it done this?

Answer: “When the games were awarded, there were statements from the Beijing Olympic Organising Committee and they were very pro the idea that it would help the development…”

Q: “Is this relay an appropriate occasion for protest against China’s human rights violations?”

A: “I think it’s a fantastic opportunity for people to protest…”

Q: Many people say politics and sports shouldn’t mix, and that the spirit of the games shouldn’t be overshadowed by the political context. How do you feel about this line of argument?

A: “For me it’s a bit ridiculous really, because – what are sportsmen? They’re ordinary individuals like ourselves, and for that very reason should be aloud to speak out and speak about issues that conern them…”

Reactions to London Protest

“I think it really shows to the Chinese people that you can’t fool the world. They have to be broad minded; they can’t just listen to their Chinese TV and then read the Chinese book…”

- Tashi, Tibetan protestor

“‘Free Tibet’ doesn’t mean ‘independent Tibet’. It’s a misconception for most people. When most Western people say ‘free Tibet’ they are simply blindly supporting…”

- Yi Bi, Chinese student and pro-China demonstrator

“My fellow torch bearers got attacked with a fire extinguisher, another one got hit with paint…”

- Lawrence Sinton, carried the torch near St. Paul’s Cathedral

*Reactions courtesy of Camilla Menezes*

Torch Sparks London Protests

London became the centre of heated protests yesterday as the Olympic flame passed through its snow-clad streets. Despite the chilly weather conditions thousands of activists lined the 31-mile route (see map), demonstrating against China’s human rights record and treatment of Tibet. According to the BBC, 35 were arrested as individual demonstrators repeatedly stormed the ring of policemen protecting the torch-bearer. One man even attempted to smother the Olympic flame with a fire extinguisher.

The resulting scenes – security forces wrestling activists, as masses of protestors waved flags and shouted slogans (see original footage) – weren’t far removed from a sporting event. But the political debate, increasingly difficult to extract from this summer’s games, was impossible to overlook. The link between sports and politics was highlighted further by Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s decision not to touch the torch despite greeting it outside 10 Downing Street – a diplomatic move aimed to appease both Tibetan supporters and Chinese officials in equal measures.

Meanwhile in Beijing, China’s state-controlled television networks opted not to show scenes of protest and demonstration. Instead reports focused on peaceful images of the Chinese ambassador handing the torch to a British runner. With another 20 countries left for the torch to travel through, the Chinese censors ought to have their work cut out for them in the coming months. Next stop: Paris, a city well acquainted with the concept of demonstrating and revolting.