Olympic torch controversy rumbles on

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Free Tibet-Tibetans Protest China's Torch Relay Greece

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Olympic flame target of more protests

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As the Olympic torch reaches the final stage of the Greek leg of its journey the controversy over the Greek government run media's handling of protests continues to rumble on. Greek journalists have condemned efforts by the state run NET channel  over what they claim were attempts to censor protests by the French based organisation, Reporters Without Borders during the ceremony to mark the lighting of the Olympic flame.

In a petition which appeared in the Greek newspaper, Eleutherotypia they argue that the Greek authorities government have  "aligned themselves with totalitarian China" and that they are guilty of "participating in this festival of hypocrisy".

According to the Greek channel Skai, the state run media at first tried to ignore then play down the attempt by French journalist, Robert Mernard to unfurl a banner depicting the Olympic rings as handcuffs. Similarly, police intervention to thwart attempts by pro-Tibetan demonstrators to protest when the Olympic torch reached the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki were played down by state run nation and local media.

Here is a translation of the petition signed by thirty Greek journalists.

Press release

"During the ceremony for the lighting of the Olympic flame the democratic authorities in Greece aligned themselves with China's totalitarian regime.The police were impressively mobilised in order to hinder every protest over the state of freedoms in China and the continued bloody oppression in Tibet so insulting foreign and Greek citizens, amongst them journalists.

They have put on trial Robert Mernard, general secretary of  the internationally known organisation, Reporters Without Borders which has effectively battled for human rights and freedom of people to be informed.

We condemn the stance of the instigators and accomplices of this as it is bad for journalism, the
country and the hypocrites that have covered it up, if only through their their silence. We are in solidarity with our foreign, persecuted colleagues. We shall all be coming to their trial."

e-mail: manvas@otenet.gr

Click here to read the orginal Greek text.