Editor's Note: Truthout will have an updated story Thursday on today's protest. -js/TO
Protesters Press China on US Olympic Torch Run
By Sari Gelzer
t r u t h o u t | Report
Wednesday 09 April 2008
Protesters crossed the Golden Gate Bridge this morning, beginning a day of
action to put pressure on China as the Olympic Torch makes its only North American
stop in San Francisco.
The ceremonies opened on time at 1 p.m., even though the route of the torch
run had been withheld by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom in response to planned
protests along the way.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu and actor Richard Gere were among the speakers who
addressed a crowd of thousands at a human rights rally and vigil last night,
preceding the run of the Olympic torch.
"Free Tibet" was the most common chant heard at the rally, but the
concrete objectives of last night's event were, according to Giovanni Vasallo,
president of Committee of 100 for Tibet, to "shed a spotlight on the human
rights situation in Tibet, to call on the International Olympic Committee to
say no to the torch going through occupied Tibet, and to ask United States President
George Bush to not attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics."
Earlier Tuesday, at least 1,000 protesters, including a strong presence of
Tibetans, marched through San Francisco to the Chinese Consulate.
Tenzin Dechen, a Tibetan woman who participated in the protests and belongs
to the Tibetan Association of Northern California, said Tibetans from all over
the US, Canada and Mexico attended the protest.
"I hope that everywhere in the world people know what's going on in Tibet
and we can get support," Dechen said after describing the tragic loss of
language and cultural tradition in Tibet after upwards of 50 years of occupation
by China.
"I don't think China deserves to have the Olympics since they have killed
so many people," said Dechin.
The rally's final speeches were made at the United Nations Plaza in the run-up
to protests planned during Wednesday's torch run.
Archbishop Tutu thanked those in the crowd for supporting human rights, reminding
them that protesters in other countries had demonstrated on behalf of South
Africans during apartheid that helped put an end to it. "I am reminding
you because I want to say thank you for continuing the tremendous tradition
to stand for freedom," Tutu said.
Tutu called on all heads of state to avoid traveling to Beijing for the Olympic
ceremonies.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has already declared that she will not be attending
the Olympics in Beijing.
Mona Cadena of Amnesty International called on China to fulfill the human rights
commitments they made to the International Olympic Committee. "Human rights
violations perpetrated in and around Tibet are indicative of human rights violations
all across China, and with little than four months to go before the Olympic
Games, few substantial reforms have been put in place," Cadena said.
Speakers highlighted the need for the International Olympic Committee to prevent
the route of the Olympic torch from entering Tibet. China continues to support
the route passing through Tibet, which supporters of Tibetans have said is deliberately
provocative in a region that has seen a strong wave of recent demonstrations.
The Chinese government refuses to meet with the Dalai Lama, although many speakers
at the rally indicated they believe such a meeting could result in progress
for the Tibetan people.
Richard Gere focused on the importance of this meeting by saying that he believes
the recent attention to the situation in Tibet will "position the world
in such way that the Chinese leaders will sit down with the Dalai Lama,"
leading to an improved situation for Tibetans.
"It seems quite appropriate that the issue of relations between China
and Tibet be highlighted in San Francisco," said Richard Blum, founder
and chairman of the American Himalayan Foundation. Blum noted that the first
speech the Dalai Lama ever gave in the US took place in San Francisco in 1979,
when he spoke of his desire for peace and reconciliation with the Chinese government.
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution led by Chris Daly
last week, stating that the Olympic torch will be received with "alarm
and protest at the failure of China to meet its past solemn promises to the
international community, including the citizens of San Francisco, to cease the
egregious and ongoing human rights abuses in China and occupied Tibet."
The resolution called on Mayor Gavin Newsom to "express his concern regarding
the recent human rights atrocities in Tibet when he hosts the Beijing Olympics
torch in the City on April 8 and 9."
After protest signs were placed on the Golden Gate Bridge, the mayor announced
that the torch route would be changed.
Organizers met at the Ferry Park early Wednesday morning and said they planned
to mobilize small groups of protesters along the route once it became known.
Sari Gelzer is an assistant editor and reporter for Truthout.
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