Vancouver: Pro-China Protesters Support Non-Violence in Tibet

by ScienceDave | March 29, 2008 at 12:31 pm

1470 views | 32 Recommendations | 14 comments

Approximately 200 pro-China protesters have gathered on the steps of the Vancouver Public Library this afternoon. They are wearing white t-shirts with "Anti Riot and Explore The Truth" on their backs, and held the banners, "Human rights≠ riots" and "Stop media distortion". They chanted both politically charged and altruisitic slogans, including "We love China, we love Tibet", "We want justice", "We want truth", "Stop violence", and "Stop media distortion". A poor quality video I took with my camera phone can be seen here.

Automobile commuters can be heard honking in support of the protesters. The protest comes one week after Tibetan protesters burned Chinese flags and chanted in front of the Chinese consulate (source). The steps of the Vancouver Public Library has been a forum for discontent for many years. Weekly demonstrations are common.

Other nowpublic coverage on the Tibetan riots can be found here.

ScienceDave, I like this story. It's good stuff. The Vancouver Library is a place for protests isn't it? I suppose because it's such a central location.

That's right amyjudd. Along with the Vancouer Art Gallery, located approximately 4 blocks away, protests are common at the VPL.

Nice shooting, Dave. Toronto had a similar protest; both appeared on the site around the same time.

ScienceDave, thanks for this eyewitness report.

Vinny, thanks for adding the video - for some reason, when I searched for the video title on youtube using the Crowdsourcing tool, it wasn't showing up. I guess it takes some time for it to make its way to NP's search tool?

This is the natural reaction to the bias of so-called imparitial media including CNN, BBC etc

"Human rights≠ riots"

These so-called impartial media concern:

Human rights of themselves, not human rights of 1.3 billion Chinese

Human rights of few Tibetan, not human rights of majority of Tibetan

Human rights of few Tibetan Chinese, not human rights of other Chinese in Tibet

I'm a chinese immigrant currently living and studying in vancouver. I was there this afternoon. It was the first time i felt that i love china so much. I have some friends in Tibet, i called them after the riot happened. The truth was not like what the western medias distorted at all. That's why so many chinese outside china are angry. Thanks for posting the video ScienceDave.

GREAT WORK guys! Too bad I wasn't able to come. T_T Could I have another chance? lol~ Wish I could been there!

I'm sorry but I just don't see why 2 people, let alone 200 or 1500 people would come out and support one of the world's most corrupt and brutal regimes in the area of human rights.

Let's set one thing out to start CHINA INVADED TIBET! Okay, that would make them the aggresor I believe. Not only have they invaded Tibet militarily they have had an ethnic/cultural cleansing program of immigation from mainland China. We are talking about a regime that has blown up monasteries and religous sites, killed, raped and maimed monks and nuns, and ground Tibetan culture into the ground in the past 50 years since the invasion. However, when any kind of protest is made the spin from "free" China is made that Nobel Peace Laurete Dalai Lama is the culprit and is met with brutal and deadly force - some freedom!

We truly live in a free country that upholds human rights and dignity as one of the cornerstones of our system. It isn't a perfect system but it allows misguided individuals the right to come out and support totalitarianism any day they want. I do find it interesting that the chinese folks that commented here have come to Canada for money and not freedom, then again the Germans never knew about the Nazi death camps, while they supported their country's invasions of Europe did they?

I for one will not be supporting Beijing or the Olmpics this summer. I would love to see a boycot. It is truly unfortunate that the IOC and all it's corporate sponsors (it's all about money!) made a truly ignorant politcal blunder that will not bring the world together as per their own charter but divides it given China's human rights record. I support the Dalai Lama and his culture of peace, compassion and understanding. I will always stand on this side of things till the day I am not here.

Peace,

Jeff

rocknahardplace, this must seem like a big paradox doesn't it?

The answer is actually quite simple: The facts you invoked are simply fabricated. I understand this must be really hard to swallow. But ask yourself this: Why do media outlets across western Europe and North America widely use Nepalese and Indian police action video footage as proof of Chinese crackdown?

If whatever cause has to be built on top of fabricated proof, how true or just can that cause be?

I understand the Chinese government blocked media access to Tibet during the riot. Does that justify lies by the western media? Must people be fooled into believing a just cause?

The truth is out there. To get there, let's begin with facts.

It is high time people of this world start talking on a people level instead trusting the instruments of our civilization, peace, democracy and future to the few, be they the Communist politicians, Republican politicians or Democrat politicians, or lying media.

Slate published a short article summarizing "Why does China care about Tibet and when are monks allowed to get violent?" It's a short but informative read. Here's the link.