The Latest Chinese Shame of the Olympic Saga -- Temple refuses serving
as Olympic torch start (NHK Video Clip)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9BHwXETNAIk
Temple refuses serving as Olympic torch start [Japan]
[NHK Japan]
Japan's central city of Nagano has accepted a request by a leading
Buddhist temple, Zenkoji, to abandon its original plan to start the
Beijing Olympic torch relay from the temple on April 26th.
The torch relay has been marred by attempts in various parts of the
world to disrupt it in protest of China's crackdown in Tibet.
Zenkoji is a well-known Buddhist temple in Nagano city.
Zenkoji temple attracts a number of tourists from the world, serving as
one of the symbols of Nagano city.
The Beijing Olympic torch relay, scheduled to take place in Nagano city
on April 26th, was originally planned to start from the temple. But a
growing number of priests had begun expressing their doubts about the
torch relay starting about a month ago, in connection with China's
handling of recent demonstrations in Tibet.
The temple had been swarmed with about 100 telephone calls everyday from
those who are opposed to the plan.
In response, the temple decided to request the torch relay organizing
committee in Nagano city to abandon its original plan to start the relay
from the temple.
The representative of the temple said they had to think about the nature
of their facility as a Buddhist temple.
He said the Olympic Charter is based on principles of absolute equality
beyond racial, religious and ***ual differences. He said the Tibetan
issue is one of the reasons for their decision.
2008/04/18 21:23(JST)
