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World Plays Hard in Beijing Olympics Before Games Even Begin
OLYMPIC BOYCOTTS?: The U.S. and other Western governments may boycott the Beijing Olympics to urge China to end its occupation of Tibet.
Protesters attempted to extinguish the Olympic torch as it made its way through London. Meanwhile, Chinese authorities have detained suspects allegedly planning suicide bombings and kidnappings of athletes around the Olympics. The threat of terrorist activity combined with anti-Beijing protests in Tibet and surrounding areas have prompted China to heighten security before the Games begin on August 8.
Olympics and Politics
- In two separate incidences last week, Chinese armed police shot into crowds of people protesting the Chinese occupation of Tibet.
- Sunday, people protesting China's human rights record and its occupation of Tibet attempted to put out the Olympic torch as it made its way through London. Police arrested 37 protesters.
- Despite the Chinese attacks on protesters, and the arrests in London, the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, said he supports the Olympics in Beijing. He had asked specifically that protesters in San Francisco refrain from violence during the Olympic torch procession there.
- During the torch relay through San Francisco yesterday, Mayor Gavin Newsom instructed Chinese security officials to covertly redirect the Olympic torch away from the masses to avoid potential protest incidents.
- President George W. Bush has urged the Chinese into direct dialog with the Dalai Lama regarding China's long-time, disputed occupation of Tibet. Presidential hopefuls, senators Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) support Bush's call, and a resolution to that effect passed in the U.S. House.
- Western leaders including President Bush and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown face growing pressure to boycott the Games. Brown says he will skip the opening ceremony, but plans to attend the closing.
- Some upcoming torch relay courses, such as those planned for Indonesia and Hong Kong, will be cut short for security concerns.
Sources:
"China says it foils ‘terrorist' plot to kidnap Olympians" (Reuters)
"Chinese Police Fire on Tibetan Protesters Two Days After Killing Eight Tibetans in Sichuan Province" (Christian News Wire)
"Olympic torch evades protesters and supporters alike" (Reuters)
"Tibet" (Wikipedia)
Copyright © 2009 Informify
Question for our readers:
Should the United States boycott the Summer Olympics in Beijing?- 1912—13th Dalai Lama declares independence from China
- 1914—Tibet accepts China’s authority but maintains some autonomy
- 1950—China invades Tibet and reclaims it
- 1951—China takes land from Tibetan wealthy and gives it to poor
- 1956—Aristocratic Tibetans revolt and tens of thousands die
- 1959—14th (present) Dalai Lama flees to India
- 1991—Dalai Lama calls China’s settlement of Tibet “apartheid”
- 2005—Dalai Lama says Tibet willing to be part of China if its religion/culture preserved
- 2008—China continues to occupy Tibet; critics protest around world
Chinese authorities detained 45 East Turkestan suspects in allegedly plotting to disrupt the Olympics with suicide bombings and kidnappings. The motivation for the foiled plans is unknown. “We are facing a real terrorist threat. All walks of life and the public should maintain a high degree of vigilance,” said police spokesman Wu Heping.
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