Posted on 03/25/2008 8:34:21 PM PDT by nuconvert
China wants army to oversee torch relay in Australia
CHINA wants its army to oversee the Australian leg of the Olympic torch relay to ensure protests do not mar the event.
The move, which has been rebuffed by the Australian Federal Police, comes as Beijing reels from an embarrassing relay launch in Athens when human rights activists hijacked the event.
China has responded by radically cutting back relay legs in cities where it expects more trouble, including San Francisco and Paris.
It is understood Beijing has deep concerns that protesters will turn the Canberra leg of the relay on April 24 into another public relations disaster.
The Canberra leg will feature several Australian Olympic superstars including Ian Thorpe, Jodie Henry, Petria Thomas, Marjorie Jackson-Nelson and Ron Clarke.
"We have explained to the Chinese Embassy that people have a democratic right in Australia to stage demonstrations and people are free to demonstrate when the torch does arrive but we would hope that demonstrations are peaceful and won't disrupt the relay in any way," AOC spokesman Mike Tancred said.
Boycott threat
Meanwhile, France overnight threatened to boycott the Games' opening ceremony.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said a boycott of the ceremony was possible over China's crackdown in Tibet, though leaders of other major powers vowed to attend.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
The CHutzpah of it all. no no and heck no.
I wonder what China has asked the United States for concerning this... And what the US has agreed to do.
China, no more or less than any other nation, has ownership of the torch. It’s protection is provided as needed by each country though which it passes and it carries no trash with it.
The Chinese communist torch should be treated as would be hot nuke material carried into the country. Buried in the Outback for a long, long time and the importers (smugglers) arrested and imprisoned.
USA is boycotting Myramar, formerly Burma, for his inhumane treatment of the Budda Monks in Yangoon and the General Junta.
What makes China any different, other than being “host” to the Olympics?
China, IMHO, is a Police State and the State Department should treat it as such.
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!
I saw this “logo” all over China in November. Your cartoon panels are an excellent tribute to the Olympics being held in China.
CONGRATS on a terrific job.
It appeared in a German publication. The cartoonist is brilliant, no?
Lock and load Aussies... oh I forgot, your government took and melted a whole bunch of your guns, the ones most effective for repelling boarders.
Well San Francisco is trying to keep the route secret so that protesters won't know where to protest.
That's quite a conflict with nearby Berkley accommodating the Code Pinko "protesters" with their own parking spot right close by the Marine Recruiting office.
The Olympics, to me nevertheless, look quite unsavory with all of these malignant characters and communist troglodytes bearing association with this noble event. Let Beijing and her ostentatious facade be cast off to show these malefic demons for what they truly are.
ping
This is the first year I will not be watching one second of the Olympics.....and I love them! One of the chances for the world to truly come together.
After this China fiasco, I think all future games should be held in Greece, the bithplaces of the games. No need to give countries like China a chance to showcase their country built off of slave labor and horrendous human rights.
The difference is that we import so many things from China... We really screwed ourselves out of being able to put ANY pressure on China for almost ANYTHING because of that fact, IMHO.
Oh, and YES, I agree with you! There is no such thing as “Free Trade” when the people are slaves!
I hope a few western democracies do boycott the games, and not just the opening ceremonies.
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