Cultured Views

I am currently watching the attempted procession of the Olympic flame through the city of London – what a sad sight it is and what a public relations disaster for the Chinese Olympic organisers in London. The flame is being carried by a lineup of the UK’s greatest athletes and what should be a proud and exciting moment for each person is becoming an ordeal they could never have imagined. Ten arrests have so far been made as the relay makes it’s way along and thrown into the situation are pro-Beijing supporters – one wonders whether they have been planted.  The whole ceremony is turning into a debacle and the Chinese ambassador may have to rethink her participation in the ceremony – for her own safety.

The Flame’s progress is being hampered by Tibetan  anti-Chinese protesters and whilst I feel for torch bearers such as Konnie Huq, who almost had the torch wrestled from her grasp by a protester, I have to say I support fully the emotion behind their protests. They are attempting to get the message across to the rest of the world, and to the Chinese Govt, that the record of human rights abuse in that country is appalling. It’s actions against the people of Tibet is atrocious. And they are absolutely correct in what they are doing.

These people must be heard. The world must listen to what these people have to say, they must be accorded the freedom to express their concerns – to attempt to do the same in China would see them arrested, tortured and killed. Their message is clear and simple – Stop the killing in Tibet!

As I say, I fully support what these protesters are trying to say; however it would be nice to see the Torch make it’s way unhampered through the streets of London – this is a high point for those athletes chosen to carry it in this relay. But also those standing up for the people of Tibet rarely have the chance to achieve such an audience – what a shame they have no other way to do this than in this manner.

Above: a Tibetan protester at the start of the Olympic Torch Relay is taken away by police.

Photo: The Press Association.

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