The Olympic Saga of Chinese Shame Continues -- Anti-China protests at
torch run in Bangkok / National Post
National Post
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Presented by
Anti-China protests at torch run in Bangkok
Ed Cropley, Reuters Published: Saturday, April 19, 2008
http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/www.nationalpost.com/news/458522.bin?size=404x272
Rodger Gdnanson, 30, a Tibetan activist, yells "free Tibet" as the
Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay p***** the United Nations building in
Bangkok April 19, 2008. Hundreds of Thai police braced for another .
BANGKOK (Reuters) - About two hundred China sup****ters taunted pro-Tibet
demonstrators as the Olympic torch was paraded through Bangkok amid
tight security on Saturday.
Police pushed back several people who tried to advance beyond barricades
to counter demonstrations by scores of activists angry at China's human
rights record and rule over Tibet.
A crowd dressed in red waving China flags gathered outside the regional
headquarters of the United Nations, chanting pro-China slogans as the
demonstrators held aloft banners saying "no torch in Tibet" and "one
world, one dream, free Tibet."
"They are killing many Tibetans, like animals," said one protester, who
had "free Tibet" scrawled on his bare chest.
A police helicopter hovered overhead as the torch and runners began
their 10.5-km (6.5-mile) relay in the city's China Town, watched by
Olympic marshals and tightly escorted by police patrols and motorcycles.
The parade got underway without incident with crowds cheering as the
symbolic flame made the short journey towards the golden-spired Grand
Palace.
"We, Thailand, confirm our pure intention to separate politics from
s****t and give our sup****t to China for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing,"
deputy prime minister Sanan Kajornprasart, told the crowd.
State television in China made no mention of the protests in its re****t
on the relay in the Thai capital, saying that it received a rapturous
welcome.
"There were no disharmonious voices," the re****t said.
Several thousand police have been drafted in to protect the parade
route, which has not been altered by security chiefs despite the planned
demonstration.
On the previous leg of the torch's swing through Asia, India had to
deploy 15,000 police to keep at bay protesters from the world's largest
community of exiled Tibetans.
MALAYSIA RUN
Malaysia announced on Saturday it will deploy police commandos to beef
up security for Monday's run through Kuala Lumpur. They will escort the
torch bearers over the 16.5-km route, newspapers said.
There were some early signs of concerns on Friday after about 20
followers of Falun Gong, the religious group outlawed by Beijing,
protested peacefully outside the Chinese embassy in Kuala Lumpur.
"We are prepared to counter any form of disturbance from anyone or any
organization," the Star newspaper quoted the city's police internal
security chief K. Kumaran as saying.
The official China Daily on Saturday quoted French ambassador to China,
Herve Ladsous, as saying he regretted what happened on the Paris leg of
the relay, and would like to meet the disabled Chinese athlete targeted
by protesters there.
"I deeply regret what happened," he said.
"I hope I can meet Jin Jing in person to show friend****p and my deep
regret," Ladsous added, referring to the disabled athlete, who has
rocketed to national fame in China after fending off anti-China
protesters in Paris.
The Olympic Games take place in Beijing from August 8-24.
(Additional re****ting by Jalil Hamid in Kuala Lumpur and Lindsay Beck in
Beijing, writing by Martin Petty, editing by Sanjeev Miglani)
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