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Britain Condemns Tibet Violence, EU Backs off Olympic Boycott
by Rob Walker | March 19, 2008 at 09:36 am | 515 views | 1 comment | 5 recommendations
Britain called on China to end the violence in Tibet after recent protests there in relation to the 50th anniversary of a failed Tibet coup. He also said China was prepared to enter into dialogue with the Dalai Lama. [q
url="http://www.ctvbc.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080318/Tibet_china_080319/20080319/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome"]China
has used some of its strongest language yet in reference to the Dalai
Lama, but Britain's prime minister says the Chinese are prepared to
talk with the spiritual leader of Tibetans.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown told Britain's House of Commons Wednesday
that he had spoken with China's Premier Wen Jiabao and urged restraint
in the face of the biggest anti-China protests in Tibet since 1989.
"I made it absolutely clear that there had to be an end to violence in Tibet," Brown said.
"The premier told me that, subject to two things that the Dalai Lama
has already said - that he does not support the total independence of
Tibet, and that he renounces violence - that he would be prepared to
enter into dialogue with the Dalai Lama," Brown said.[/q]Meanwhile, the EU (pressured mostly by France) are considering a boycott of the olympic ceremonies. However, the same official later backpedaled, saying some economic decisions must be made 'at the expense of human rights'. Wow.[q
url="http://eursoc.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/2398/Will_EU_Boycott_China_Olympic_Ceremony_.html"]France's
foreign minister Bernard Kouchner has raised the possibility
of the European Union boycotting the opening ceremony of this summer's
Olympic Games in response to the continuing violence in Tibet.
While he said that a boycott of the entire games by European
competitors would be "unjust", he floated the idea that EU foreign
ministers should consider the option of avoiding the opening spectacle.
The idea of a boycott of the Olympic opening ceremony has been floated
by Paris based press freedom organisation Reporters without Borders.
RSF has campaigned to raise awareness of China's crimes against press
freedom and the internet in the build-up to the Olympics. China
promised the International Olympic Committee and the international
community "concrete steps" in the improvement of human rights when it
was awarded the Games in 2001.[/q]
Foreign
Minister Bernard Kouchner of France said Tuesday that the European
Union should consider punishing China for its crackdown in Tibet with a
boycott of the opening ceremony of this summer's Olympic Games in
Beijing.
Later in the day, however, he appeared to backtrack from the comments,
saying that some economic decisions must be made "at the expense of
human rights," according to The Associated Press. Speaking of a boycott
of the opening ceremony, Kouchner on Tuesday evening told France-2
television: "We're not in favor of it."
Human Rights groups say hundreds, possibly thousands of TIbetans have been arrested following a recent security sweep. These groups say these people are at risk of torture.
Human
rights groups say hundreds, possibly thousands, of Tibetans have been
detained and are at risk of torture amid a sweep by Chinese security
forces throughout Tibet and other hotspot areas.
China's official Xinhua news agency said 105 Tibetan rioters
in Lhasa had surrendered, following a deadline in which they were
promised leniency if they turned themselves in to authorities.
However, exiled groups and rights activists say the number is in the
hundreds, possibly the thousands. And while China says 13 people have
been killed by rioters in Lhasa, Tibetan exiles say 99 have died in
clashes with authorities.
China says it's going ahead with plans for the Olympic torch to be carried through Tibet and to the top of Mount Everest, despite recent protests against Chinese rule.
Beijing tightened its clampdown on Tibetan areas today, banning foreigners from entering and escorting journalists out of one potential trouble spot in neighboring Sichuan province.
Read previous NowPublic coverage on the Tibet Protests here.
March 19, 2008 at 09:36 am by Rob Walker, 515 views, 1 comment
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (1)
at 09:56 on March 19th, 2008
Hello Rob,
Such things frustrate me and make me seethe with anger against China - and more so with the leaders of other countries, who seem to be content wearing any blindfold that suits them, at any given time.
Everyone knows what happens in China by now - it's not news any more, except when even more deaths occur, caused by Chinese officials administering torture to people who shouldn't even be in jail!
it IS something that the world should be keeping tabs on and if necessary actually do something about - but fear of China and it's military strength is an awesome force to reckon with, if it should ever come to that.
Instead, a lot of kow-towing occurs, with George Bush and Gordon Brown the first ones to lower their lips to Wen Jiabo's feet.
I never thought I'd find myself agreeing with anything political that France had to offer, but the solution they suggest is excellent. We should boycott the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games, to show Jiabo that the windows into China are now wide open - and that the rest of the world watches and condemns them for their actions.
Thank you for the story Rob,
~ Swan