Chinese students bully torch crowds
Paul Maley; 25/4/08
Gangs of Chinese students have marred the Australian leg of the Olympic torch relay, assaulting, intimidating and harassing vastly outnumbered pro-Tibetan activists as the torch was carried through Canberra’s streets. Last night, the ACT Government proclaimed the event an “outstanding success” after managing to avoid the violence that has marked the flame’s passage through Europe and the US. “This is the 14th stop of the Beijing Olympic torch relay … and it’s the first successful relay that’s been run,” ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said. While the majority of the crowd was peaceful, there was sporadic violence during yesterday’s 16km run.
See: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23595689-2702,00.html
Embassy drummed up China support
25/4/08
The Chinese Embassy in Canberra orchestrated the mass support for China at the Olympic torch relay by bringing in thousands of students from Melbourne and Sydney, ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope says. The Australian leg of Beijing’s troubled Olympic torch relay was declared “an outstanding success”, despite seven arrests and clashes between protesters and Chinese supporters. More than 10,000 chanting pro-China supporters from across the country flooded Canberra’s streets with red flags before dawn before the Olympic flame travelled uninterrupted through the capital.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23596285-26103,00.html
Tags: Australia, China, Human Rights, Tibet