"We 'saved' torch relay: AOC"
Seems like the 2020 summit is not the only showcase of
Aussie ingenuity as cunning compromises enabled the
Olympic traditions to continue, balanced by democratic
protests that match Rudds own strong stand on human rights,
something Howard could never do because of his own terrible
record: http://www.geocities.com/wmds_r_us/gulags.htm
"AUSTRALIA "saved" the torch relay from being a public
relations disaster for China by minimising the role of
the Chinese torch attendants, an Australian Olympic
Committee spokesman said yesterday."
Well done! Australia is again taking the lead, rather
than blindly following others (eg Iraq)
Aussie athletes, including legends and young folk, were thrilled
to participate in the Olympic torch relay.
Tibetans were able to make their democratic protests against
China's policies in Tibet.
Chinese were equally able to demonstrate their sup****t of China
finally achieving Olympic host nation, after 100 years of exclusion.
And because Rudd minced no words over Tibet when facing the Chinese,
even coming under attack for his strong stance n human rights, from
the Chinese (and the tories at home) he, and Australia, are seen
in China as strong and straight-talking, and we were able to run the
torch on OUR terms.
Of course the whole torch 'tradition' was invented by Hitler, but
if it was good enough for every national leader, including Howard,
to salute it at the Sydney or Atlanta or.. MUNICH Olympics, then
it is good enough for the Chinese students to do so.
"The spokesman, Mike Tancred said Australia had shown
"how to do the torch relay" after federal police forcefully
moved Chinese attendants away from torch bearers during
yesterday's event. He said this ensured no repeat of the
type of chaos that occurred in London and Paris."
The balance between keeping an open door to talk to the Chinese,
opposing human rights violations, sup****ting the Olympics as a
great op****tunity to strengthen peaceful ties among nations, and
preserving our vital trade ties.. has been achieved.
"The claim came as speculation grew about the role of the
Chinese embassy in organising the mass pro-Beijing demonstration
that effectively swamped anti-China protests during the Canberra
leg of the torch relay."
As is their democratic right. The Australian embassy in
Turkey is heavily involved in the thousands of Australians
who visit Galippoli.
And for the Chinese, denied an Olympics for a century, this is
a huge matter of national pride, as those trekking Kokoda,
or attending a dawn service would understand.
The fact that China has control of Tibet should no more
stop Chinese from celebrating the Olympics, than the Invasion
of Iraq should stop Aussies from celebrating Christmas.
"ACT police said that between 7500 and 10,000 Chinese demonstrators,
most from Sydney and Melbourne, travelled by bus to Canberra for
the relay."
Many will travel much further from all parts of the
world to visit Beijing.
Occupation of the Phillipines, Vietnam, Cuba, Iraq.. etc did not
stand in the way of America hosting the Olympics..
The issue of s****t and politics is a valid debate, but not one
that hypocrites should participate in.
"ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said it was clear there was contact
between the Chinese embassy and Chinese groups that organised the
pro-Beijing demonstration. "I have absolutely no doubt and the
ambassador has indicated that he was in contact with representatives of
Chinese organisations and groups, most particularly in Sydney and
Melbourne."
Naturally he would want to ensure they were peaceful and did not
damage China's reputation (further than it has been by their
actions in Tibet!)
Personally I think they overplayed their hand, jostling Tibetans
simply draws attention to their actions in Tibet.
But it was very satisfying to see ACT police pull the torch
attendents into line! B^D
"Mr Stanhope said he did not know precisely what sup****t was
given to the pro-Beijing demonstrators. But he said that if a
similar event involving Australians took place overseas, he
had no doubt the Australian embassy there would facilitate
attendance by Australians."
Precisely. Q.E.D.
"Despite seven arrests and some tense confrontations, the torch runners
negotiated a pro-Tibet protest and the massive rival pro-Beijing
demonstration without serious incident."
And that is a glorious outcome for this nation!
We have firmly stated our concerns over the human rights issues
arising from Chinese control of Tibet.. just as they have expressed
concern at our unprovoked ****d agression against Iraq, illegal
occupation of that country and creation of 4,000,000 refugees and
hundreds of thousands of dead and mutilated men women and children.
Should they not buy our coal? It's a difficult moral issue.
Perhaps they have decided that by maintaining good relations and
dialogue they can convince us to change our ways, and that if they
are patient we would eventually tip out the warmongers and elect the
ALP.. which history shows would be a very wise course. B^)
"Last night the torch was on its way to the former winter
Olympic host city of Nagano in Japan, where security is
expected to be so tight for Saturday's relay leg that it
will exclude most members of the public. In the final part
of the relay, the public will sit in stands and watch a giant
screen but be blocked by a fence."
How lucky our young, multicultural society is to be largely FREE
of the ancient hatreds that seperate China and Japan, or Catholics
and Protestants in Europe, or Greeks and Turks, or ****ites and
Sunnis..
We have shown that the middle path, allow all PEACEFUL dissent,
but prevent ANY violence.. and continue to negotiate with all
parties in conflict elsewhere in the world, is the wisest.
"In Canberra, Mr Stanhope said the local leg of the relay was the first
of the 14 run so far to be done successfully. Those who exercised their
right to protest did so peacefully, he said. "We do not muzzle dissent
just because it might embarrass us or embarrass our friends."
Outstanding! It makes me very proud to be an Aussie.
"The pro-Beijing demonstrators overwhelmingly outnumbered an estimated
2000 pro-Tibet protesters and their Australian sup****ters. As they
poured out of dozens of buses, the torch sup****ters turned much of the
relay route into a red sea of waving Chinese flags and banners that
effectively overwhelmed the Tibetan protests."
We better get used to it, Chinese nationalism is resurgent
and after a century of American hegemony the baton of economic
leader****p is being passed back to it's historical owner.
For 18 of the past 20 centuries China has been the largest
economy on the planet. The last two have been a tem****ary
abberration, as first the UK and then the USSA grew rapidly due
the technoligical revolutions of industrialization.
Those are now diffused globally. China, as we speak, is seen,
even by the West, as the best hope of avoiding global recession,
because it's DOMESTIC economy is so strong that even the American
economic collapse may not be significant enough to pull down
Chinese demand.
For anyone who realises the immensity of the ****ft taking place,
the Mandarin for 'thank you' is "Xie xie"
"Early in the relay, the Australian Federal Police officers protecting
the torch forcefully steered the blue tracksuit-wearing Chinese torch
attendants away from the runners."
That was beautiful to watch. The Chinese have much to learn
from the Aussie police and military! B^D
"It emerged last night that two officials from the Commonwealth
Department of Immigration were issued with media p*****, which they wore
as they took video footage and photographs along the route.
Jeremy Lasek, executive director of ACT Government Special Events, said
the officers worked the department's media and communications area and
had had been given permission to gather material for internal cor****ate
video purposes, for use in their department's annual re****t and in their
staff television news service.
"I am told the … officers wore their Immigration Department uniforms and
name badges and only sought media accreditation because there was no
other option available to give them access to the main areas of the
relay," Mr Lasek said.
At one point protesters broke through a barricade and were caught by
police. And at the end of the relay scuffles broke out between rival
groups, with the pro-Beijing sup****ters la****ng out at the Tibetans with
flags on long poles.
Police quickly intervened to stop the pu****ng and shoving and repeatedly
warned both sides to calm down."
And they did a great job at keeping order.
"One pro-Tibet protester who sat down cross-legged in the path of the
torch near Parliament House was hauled out of the way by the AFP
security team. He was then grabbed by other police and held down firmly
before being handcuffed and led away.
Many of the protest chants were drowned out as the rival groups of
protesters shrieked at each other "Liar! Liar! Liar!"
The torch went out several times as it travelled around the national
capital and across Lake Burley Griffin and the attendants were on hand
to relight it."
When swimming great Ian Thorpe finally lit the Olympic cauldron, it also
quickly went out and the attendants rushed to the rescue again.
A "flying wedge" of Chinese students menaced small groups of
pro-Tibetans several times. But by last night ACT police had received no
complaints of assault or other damage."
A brilliant result. Whatever the Chinese Embassy, the Dalia Lama
and the ACT police command told their people... it worked.
"Of seven protesters arrested, five were pro-Chinese and two were
pro-Tibetan. They were held under the ACT's Major Events Security Act
and will face a magistrate at a date to be set. They could face possible
fines but not jail.
Others who used the relay to protest against China were Vietnamese, East
Turkistanis, Mongolians and Falun Gong devotees. The military regime in
Burma was also targetted."
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"They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears
into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore." — Isaiah 2:4 & Micah 4:3
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"Where there is no vision, the people perish." - Proverbs 29:18
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