Chinese Spectre of Evil Is Roaming -- China handles Tibet protests in Greece, Nepal/Spero News
Micky Wong
Greece, Nepal/Spero News
China handles Tibet protests in Greece, Nepal/Spero News
Observers report Chinese embassy staff were directing Nepal's handling
of protests on Tibet -- BBC film crew caught Chinese staff filming
protesters in Greece
Friday, March 14, 2008
Spero News
http://www.speroforum.com/site/article_images/sampleKTM_protest_10Mar08_05.jpg
Two Chinese officials photographed observing the Kathmandu police. One
of the officials spat on the American who took this photo and the
camera. The Chinese officials yelled in English to the Nepalese police
to apprehend the American and take the camera away, which the Nepalese
police did not act upon. ICT
Chinese embassy officials in Kathmandu on March 10 with the handling of
clashes between Nepalese police and Tibetans carrying out demonstrations
for an important Tibetan anniversary, March 10 National Uprising Day.
In Greece, too, Chinese officials filmed Tibetan activists and were
caught on camera attempting to impede a peaceful protest by Tibetans
linked to the Olympics in Olympia, ancient site of the first Olympics.
Images taken by observers show Chinese Embassy officials working behind
police lines in Kathmandu, and attempting to prevent their photograph
being taken by an American observer, who reported that they spat at him.
It has been well known in Nepal that due to strong Chinese influence on
the multi-party government, the Chinese embassy issues instructions to
the Nepalese Home Ministry to direct the police on various important
Tibetan anniversaries. But the Chinese embassy was visible on the
streets with the Nepalese police, and according to one observer, Chinese
officials were "directing them, positioning them, [and] telling them to
remove people".
An estimated several thousand Tibetans gathered at the Buddhist stupa in
the Boudha neighborhood of Kathmandu on March 10, waving the Tibetan
national flag and shouting pro-Tibet slogans to commemorate the 49th
anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising in Lhasa in 1959. Police
used batons to halt attempts by protestors to move the demonstration to
the Chinese embassy, reportedly injuring more than 20 protestors and
detaining at least 100 more.
An eyewitness in Kathmandu told International Campaign for Tibet that
there was a confrontation between the demonstrators and police at the
bridge below Batpatini. The observer said: "In five police vans and two
trucks, they were able to apprehend about 50 Tibetans, while another 20
or so ran in various directions. During the attempt to apprehend all of
them, many Tibetan demonstrators were beaten with sticks and billy
clubs, kicked, and punched. The altercation took less than 15 minutes
before they cleared the area.
At least 100 Tibetans were detained temporarily following the protests,
and most of them were held in the courtyard at Gosala police post near
Pashupati. Around a dozen Tibetans were detained in Boudha police
station, and there were reports that some were hit with lathis and
punched. Family members of the detained and supporters gathered around
the police station, where they were being held, urging officials to
release those who were arrested. Most of the detained are believed to
have been released without charge later in the day.
One observer familiar with Tibetan protests told ICT: "The number of
[Nepalese] police in full riot gear, fanned out across the city,
counting at least ten intersections with over 25 policemen, and 450
policemen posted in front of the Chinese embassy alone (along with three
police dogs), was a show of planning and coordination that has not been
seen before."
Five Chinese and one Tibetan staff at the embassy, in plain clothes were
positioned in front the Chinese embassy. When an American man
photographing the demonstrations was was taking pictures of the two
embassy Chinese officials telling the policeman where to stand to block
the intersection, the two Chinese men tried to stop him, and upon
walking up to the observer, one spat on him and the camera. While the
American left, Chinese officials yelled in English to the Nepalese
police man to apprehend the American and take the camera away, which the
Nepalese police did not act upon.
In another example of China's interference, Chinese embassy officials
were caught on film on Monday by the BBC at Olympia, Greece, objecting
to a peaceful protest by Tibetan activists at the ancient site that is
the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The Chinese embassy officials
filmed Tibet protestors who symbolically lit a torch as part of a
Tibetan Freedom Torch Relay in the buildup to the summer Olympics in
Beijing. Tendon Dahortsang, of the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe,
told The Guardian, "Greek authorities told us we were not allowed to go
in because of our big bags, as Chinese embassy officials stood nearby
and watched us." When a BBC reporter challenged the Chinese officials
for their involvement in impeding a peaceful protest in a free country,
the Chinese officials became angry and shouted at the camera that Tibet
is part of China, before telling the reporter that he was 'stupid' and
walking away.
Mary Beth Markey, Vice President of the International Campaign for
Tibet, said "In both these instances China has attempted to orchestrate
the bullying of peaceful protestors in democratic countries where --
unlike in China -- free speech and assembly are protected in law. This
manifestation of China's influence is certainly not the peaceful rise on
the international stage of which China so often boasts in its Olympics
year."
http://www.savetibet.org/images/images/KTM_protest_10Mar08_04.jpg
The Chinese embassy was visible on the streets with the Nepalese police,
and according to one experienced observer, Chinese officials were
"directing them, positioning them, [and] telling them to remove people".
(Photo: ICT)
http://www.savetibet.org/images/images/KTM_protest_10Mar08_07.jpg
Tibetan protesters clashed with Kathmandu police when they attempted to
demonstrate in front of the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu on March 10,
2008. (Photo: ICT)
http://www.savetibet.org/images/images/KTM_protest_10Mar08_06.jpg
Chinese Embassy officials working behind police lines in Kathmandu. It
has been well known in Nepal that due to strong Chinese influence on the
multi-party government, the Chinese embassy issues instructions to the
Nepalese Home Ministry to direct the police on various important Tibetan
anniversaries. (Photo: ICT)
http://www.savetibet.org/images/images/KTM_protest_10Mar08_03.jpg
Kathmandu police drag a Tibetan protester during demonstrations in
Kathmandu, March 10, 2008. (Photo: ICT)
http://www.savetibet.org/images/images/KTM_protest_10Mar08_01.jpg
A Tibetan protester with a head wound suffered when police beat
demonstrators who attempted to protest at the Chinese embassy in
Kathmandu. (Photo: ICT)
http://www.savetibet.org/images/images/KTM_protest_10Mar08_02.jpg
A Tibetan protester with visible wounds after being beaten by Kathmandu
police during demonstrations, March 10, 2008. (Photo: ICT)
Copyright 漏 2008 Spero