News Home Just In Australia World Business Sport Entertainment Weather | Opinion Blogs

Sport Home AFL Cricket Football Rugby League Rugby Union The Sports Desk Scoreboard

Hot tags: sport, australia, olympics-summer, australian-football-league, nrl, rugby-league, football, sydney-2000, nsw, melbourne-3000

Rival protest groups clash at torch relay

Posted April 24, 2008 12:00:00
Updated April 24, 2008 16:48:00

A pro-Tibet protester is stopped by supporters of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games during the relay

Gang claims: A pro-Tibet protester is stopped by pro-China supporters (Reuters: Daniel Munoz)

A gang of pro-China demonstrators assaulted people and tore down pro-Tibet banners in the wake of today's Olympic torch relay in Canberra, an onlooker has claimed.

Pro-China demonstrators vastly outnumbered pro-Tibetan protesters in Canberra today, with Chinese flags dominating Reconciliation Place and the route of the relay.

One spectator says he and others were assaulted by group of Chinese supporters who were following the torch's progress from behind the barriers.

Alastair Paterson says he and his seven-year-old daughter were standing on Limestone Avenue next to a small group which included a woman with a homemade banner saying 'Free Tibet'.

He says as the torch passed by a gang of people with Chinese flags and sticks ran past.

"One bloke lined me up and kicked me and as I turned around he ran away," he said.

"I took a step towards him and three or four others said 'Come on, Come on'. They wanted to fight me.

"The woman's husband got hit across the head with a stick. The woman got jostled. The banner got torn down and they basically ran off."

Mr Paterson says he told a policewoman standing in front of him what had happened.

"She said 'Oh, yeah, well we know what they're doing but we're giving good security' which is obviously not the case," he said.

"We walked a bit further down. There was a man there with two young boys about three and four years old with a small little flag saying 'Free Tibet.'

"They got jostled, his flag got torn off by this, basically the same gang running through."

One caller to ABC Radio in Canberra complained that pro-Chinese demonstrators have been overly aggressive in Commonwealth Park, where the torch relay finished.

"They're shouting slogans, we're scared, we have to leave because we're scared," one caller said.

"We can't go into a crowd like that with our grandchildren.

"Police say there's nothing they can do about it, they don't have enough police here to control the crowd, it's just totally out of control."

Tags: sport, olympics-summer, canberra-2600

Search for news

Comments (197)

Comments for this story are closed. No new comments can be added. If you would like to have your say on this issue, you can do so via the Emails section of our Opinion pages.

liz:

24 Apr 2008 12:10:14pm

well, what did you expect from totalitarian thugs?

Agree (7) Alert moderator
Dirk Irfing:

24 Apr 2008 12:13:55pm

Passions are running high in the Chinese debate aren't they?
You know when a side feels it's losing, when they have to "rent a crowd" to defend their point.
Wake up world, China is a waste of our collective time and attention. It's a non-innovating country

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Dane:

24 Apr 2008 12:13:55pm

Nothing like escaping a repressive communist regime only to harshly volently protesting on behalf of pro-communism

Love the consistancy

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Boggs:

24 Apr 2008 12:14:08pm

One would hope that the law is equally applied and that the violence and mayhem initiated by the pro-China faction will be investigated with the same diligence as that applied to the pro-Tibet demonstrators who ha ve been arrested for what would appear to be minor indiscretions.

Agree (1) Alert moderator
Sum Chang Chee:

24 Apr 2008 12:14:38pm

Early in the running there was some confusion as to the role of Chinese flame attendants, who jostled with their Australian Federal Police (AFP) counterparts in attempts to get close to the torch runners.

I know that I would be arrested if I 'jostled"with police. Will the Chinese be charged??

Agree (0) Alert moderator
smg:

24 Apr 2008 12:14:39pm

take your nationalistic bully-boy tatics back to "middle earth"

Agree (0) Alert moderator
QX:

24 Apr 2008 12:15:30pm

The whole purpose of Chinese people (young and old) going to Canberra by large numbers is to protect the torch. As you can see if without those young Chinese students the torch relay would be hijacked by the pro - Tibet thugs (those thugs even burn Chinese flag during the opening ceremony in order to provoke their opponents but they have failed)
Well done.

Agree (2) Alert moderator
Martino:

24 Apr 2008 12:15:41pm

All they needed was some nice brownshirts to wear. Good one china.

Agree (1) Alert moderator
Henry:

24 Apr 2008 12:16:49pm

You may find out these thugs from Sydney or Melbourne by shipping buses paid by Chinese Embassy. Chinese government even pay the breakfast and lunch according my friend infor.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Leraf:

24 Apr 2008 12:16:55pm

The Chinese should be ashamed of themselves. I hope the Chinese Embassy is proud of their countrymen who are harrasing inocent spectators and bullying old people and children or grandchildren. This is VERY un-Australian behaviour and should not be tolerated in Australia. I hope these pro-chinese people were caught on CCTV and can be identified and charged accordingly.

Being proud of your country is one thing, but thugish behaviour is something altogether different!

Agree (0) Alert moderator
jr:

24 Apr 2008 12:17:52pm

It's deeply disturbing that supporters bussed in by the Chinese Consulate falied to even show basic respect for our ANZAC's...

Every protester who climbed the fence should be deeply ashamed... you have offended OUR culture!

The ANZAC flame is the only torch I care about!

Agree (0) Alert moderator
mr_scruff:

24 Apr 2008 12:18:46pm

As a Canberra resident, I found the pro-China protestors aggressive and offensive this morning. The AFP should have been properly resourced, so that they could make some appropriate arrests, instead of Australian onlookers and families being left feeling intimidated and bullied by bussed-in pro-Chinese demonstrators. Hardly an admirable achievement for the Olympics; I'm left with a nasty taste in my mouth.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Bob:

24 Apr 2008 12:18:49pm

So its ok for the Chinese supporters to create problems, but not the tibetan supporters, its a joke, and think god the flame has gone, and hopefully we never have to see it again.

The IOC knew what would happen when they gave to olympics to china, so the flame derserves what it gets, and if it tarnishes the olympic name then so be it. I will not be watching 1 minute of the olympics, and neither should any individual who respects human rights and freedom for tibet.

i hope all those who carried the flame, understand that they have assisted the chinese government in their never ending quest to control human rights in tibet, and may they never be able to remove the blood from their hands, Ian Thorpe included ! What a disgrace.

Agree (1) Alert moderator
Grog:

24 Apr 2008 12:18:57pm

I attended the relay thought it was a most orderly even.

Congratulations to the organisers, the spectators, the police, and all those involved.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Nicko:

24 Apr 2008 12:19:10pm

China is a beautiful place. This behaviour spoils that.

The poor kids in the crowd are just there to see the torch, and be introduced to the Olympic spirit.

Protestors, of all sides, need to respect that. The ones that get physical are just wasting oxygen.

Personally, I can't wait until I can actually see the atheletes perform. Remember? It's actually an event.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Al:

24 Apr 2008 12:20:10pm

Interesting that the police can do something about pro-Tibet protesters, but mysteriously can't do a thing about pro-China protesters. I guess it's one thing to upset our trading relationship with Tibet, but another to do so with China. Oh wait, we don't have a trading relationship with Tibet.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Simmo:

24 Apr 2008 12:20:41pm

Would Australian students in China would be allowed to act like this? No way! Their visas should be withdrawn and they should be deported back to China if they love the regime so much.

Agree (3) Alert moderator
dalek:

24 Apr 2008 12:20:59pm

And here we are spending a fortune of ACT tax payers money on security and they can't even get the basics right. What are the police doing? Or are they only concerned if the pro-Tibet protesters do anything wrong? But what else would you expect from Stanhopeless.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Max:

24 Apr 2008 12:21:00pm

"The Chinese protesters who jumped the fence at the War Memorial were eventually brought under control"

Cameras rolling, and well behaved? Seems Tibet does have a concern with the media blackout there.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
NZP:

24 Apr 2008 12:21:06pm

So what?
They did not kill you, did not burn your shops and cars. Even if they did so, they are still right, that's their human rights.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Cha Noi:

24 Apr 2008 12:21:17pm

It's really a shame this sort of behaviour is around. This is about the olympics. You want to protest, fine. But do it somewhere else.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Observer:

24 Apr 2008 12:21:20pm

What the Chinese did in Australia this morning is abhorrent. I hate that such a thing can be orchestrated in our country by a foreign power. No matter who they are.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
lilly:

24 Apr 2008 12:22:27pm

Bloody hell! China should never have been given the opportunity to hold the Olympics. What a discrace! I didn't realise that there are actually Pro-china supporters out there, i thought they would all be ashamed.
Pretty pathetic, running away.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
danwon:

24 Apr 2008 12:23:24pm

See? This is how the media is reporting the Tibet-related issue:

When pro-Tibet protestors are robbing the torch and hurting the athletes, they won't say they are thugs;

When pro-China protestors are a bit out of control, they can't wait to report that the Chinese are gangs of thugs.

When pro-Tibet people are protesting, it is for human rights;
When pro-China people are protesting, it is a propaganda.

Whatever the Chinese are doing is wrong. There is no righteousness in this world mate.

Agree (2) Alert moderator
P Cadwell:

24 Apr 2008 12:24:03pm

To the Chinese people residing in Australia.
You and your country should be thouroughly ASHAMED of your actions in Austrapai regarding the Olympic flame.

Do not bring your bad manners and chinese thuggery to this wonderful country that has opened its arms to you and allowed you the privilege of staying here.

Your behaviour is exactly what creates distrust and discrimination.

I suggest that you all pack up and go back to your own country where your police and politicians would put up with your disgusting behaviour---you would all end up in prison----no one needs you.

Agree (1) Alert moderator
cj:

24 Apr 2008 12:24:20pm

I've just come back from the torch relay in Canberra. I participated in a protest with Amnesty International, which I thought would be fairly peaceful.

Our group of around 30 people was surrounded by a couple of hundred pro-Chinese supporters near stage 88 and we were basically trapped whilst they shouted at us and told us to go home. It actually started to get a bit violent. They started hitting our signs out of our hands and there was a bit of pushing and shoving, with the police absolutely nowhere to be seen at all.

Finally after about 15 minutes of this, two policeman showed up and escorted us back out.

I mean, its just not on, there were little kids around and these chinese supporters were, as is mentioned in the article, acting with a gang mentality.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Coote:

24 Apr 2008 12:24:25pm

Boring!!!!!!!! The Olympics have become too politically influenced. It's been a steady progression in this direction for a long time. Sport is great.......I love it. But the Olympic Games is not something I hold in high regard anymore.

And another thing............. the cost in hosting an event like this is totally appalling considering the state of global economic suffering.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Ed:

24 Apr 2008 12:24:48pm

Funny how when the media covers Chinese supporters they're refered to as a "gang" but they so valiantly shine heroic praise on the pro-tibet groups. The tibetan side is definately more violent.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Matt H:

24 Apr 2008 12:25:11pm

When did the ABC stoop to reporting unsubstantiated claims from an onlooker? Is there any actual evidence of this stuff happening at all?

Agree (1) Alert moderator
grambo:

24 Apr 2008 12:25:14pm

They're just representing China. Rather better than they realise. No sense of irony.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
David L:

24 Apr 2008 12:27:24pm

If these accusations are true, and I'm not suggesting they aren't, just that they have to be verified (Australia needs to follow due process), it is deeplt concerning and in my eyes would warrant criminal assault charges and the immediate cancellation of visas.

People in Australia have a right to protest peacefully, a right to associate freely, and an expectation of protection by the police and justice from the law. I call on the government of Australia to demonstrate these principles to world.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Max:

24 Apr 2008 12:28:02pm

Chinese websites did point out they would send "strong men". Seems they lived up to their promise. They are lucky we don't have a gulag to stick them in, like their homeland.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Paul:

24 Apr 2008 12:28:48pm

Is there any truth to the rumour that a reincarnation of Chairman Mao ran alongside today's torch relay?!

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Spider Dijon:

24 Apr 2008 12:28:51pm

Sounds about right. Chinese supporters act in the same way the Chinese government does. That is, using violence and aggression against peaceful protesters. Congratulations to the Chinese people. Your dedication to the abuse of human rights is unfathomable.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Kane:

24 Apr 2008 12:32:18pm

This is ridiculous. Media and disgruntled trying to dress up what was a peacefull demonstration on both 'sides' of the camp into something it simply was not.

Liz - please actually read the article. You'll see 'basically the same gang running through'. Eg. one small group of 'three or four' running through the crowd causing trouble. I'm willing to bet they were young men of 17-21, who as everyone knows are totalitarian thugs. Oh, wait, that's not right, boys just like to cause trouble.

You'll also notice that virtually everyone in Canberra today was Australian, regardless of what agenda they were pushing. I'll thank you not to call Australians 'totalitarian thugs'.

I notice the faceoff between the two groups at Reconcilliation Place, which had screaming on both sides, doesn't even get a mention. No doubt because it would illustrate both 'sides'.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Justin:

24 Apr 2008 12:33:14pm

It would seem the Chinese have found a way to clearly highlight why the pro-Tibetan protesters are demonstrating in the first place. Do they think the rest of the world is stupid? If China wasn't such an important trading partner, we'd be boycotting the Olympics and suspending trade. But the dollar talks so we in their case - we can change the rules.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
richard:

24 Apr 2008 12:33:23pm

So essentially what we've got is a few unconfirmed reports about some stuff that may have happened and we're going to jump to conclusions and generalisations based on that?

This is not news. It's probably not even fact. What is news and what is fact is now matter how they got there there was thousands of China and Olympic supporters and only a handful of Tibetan protestors.

Now I've been told time and time again here and in other places that the whole of Australia is for Tibet and against China. But this event proves otherwise. You can if and but to death but the fact is they were outnumbered and it proves at the very least that thee is division on the issue.

We were told that we all agree with them when Tibetan protestors we beating up policeman in Sydney. We all agreed with them when they were rioting with racist and destructive intention in Lhasa and we all agreed with them when they were showing how peace loving they really were in London and Paris. What this shows is that in fact we DON'T all agree with them.

The faster this bunch of hippies and their currently trendy issue goes out of fashion the better. It won't take long. People will find something new to be outraged about in a few months anyway.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
John:

24 Apr 2008 12:34:34pm

Such displays of nationalism (well beyond what would be considered patriotic pride) win no friends. Even if they are students they should consider that other students from China will have to wear the reputation that has now been established. This is not a proud day for China.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Patch:

24 Apr 2008 12:34:41pm

I saw a mob of Pro Chinese seriously harass a couple of women in their 50's who had a free tibet poster. Me and my friend who are males in our 20's weren't attacked for some reason. The cowards.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
nola:

24 Apr 2008 12:34:54pm

Why don't you all just get on with the true spirit of the olympics!

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Stewie:

24 Apr 2008 12:34:55pm

This sounds like a beatup. There were many police present and they had a pretty firm grip on crowd behaviour. Anyone who stepped out of line was arrested or detained. Just like flag burning chap.

I don't beleive these claims, they are just tryng to stir up trouble and sympathy through the media because the AFP did a great job today.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
metafive:

24 Apr 2008 12:35:08pm

"Police say there's nothing they can do about it, they don't have enough police here to control the crowd, it's just totally out of control."

What is the point of having police if they're not protecting citizens?

If smaller police numbers were used to protect the torch bearers, perhaps they could have offered some protection to me and my 15 year old sister, who were blatantly intimidated by aggressive pro-Chinese supporters.

With the support of some crowd members, we were able to escape the mayhem unharmed. I was afraid that the aggression might turn violent, but who could I rely on...certainly not the AFP.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Wayne Sullivan:

24 Apr 2008 12:35:57pm

These comments must be investigated.

If correct this is totally unacceptable in Australia.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Bev:

24 Apr 2008 12:38:33pm

Absolutely disgusting and disgraceful.

How dare these foreign nationalists come to our peaceful country and attack our citizens with violence. Women and children? Unbelievable and outright sickening. The 0.03% of respect I had for China has now deminished.

Deport these idiots immediately, they are tainting our society. I bet they don't even speak english either.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
frank:

24 Apr 2008 12:38:34pm

I suggest we round up those barbaric Chinese thugs and send home those on temporary visa.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Andrew:

24 Apr 2008 12:39:01pm

I'm very much in favour of using the torch relay as a place for peaceful protest against Chhina's role in Tibet. But what is a three or four year old doing waving a Tibet flag ?

Adults with a well thought out point of view protesting is fine, but parents sticking a flag or protest banner with children this young and including them in the protest is wrong. The children obvioulsy have no capacity to have formed a view.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Australian:

24 Apr 2008 12:39:41pm

Is this gang of pro chinese realising that they have more freedom to express their opinion in Australia than in China. Again they form the mojority of the protest crown here in Australia and show how crude they are in treating others who don't agree with them. This is Australian not China. Shame on you Chinese migrants.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Paradimn:

24 Apr 2008 12:41:43pm

It seems to me that there is a large outcry from Canberrans over some jostling of people today. Where are all the comments when people lose their lives in other countries?

We can be grateful that we live in a mostly peaceful country but we should not let it make us complacent to suffering of people in distant lands.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Kevin:

24 Apr 2008 12:43:08pm

Does John Howard's policies make Australia a bad country and Australians bad people? No, it doesn't. Does White Australian's black history make an Aussie ashamed of who you are? No, it doesn't.

Agree (1) Alert moderator
Beau Locks:

24 Apr 2008 12:44:35pm

I also witnessed this behaviour. I was following the torch relay from Parliament House, and jogged with it down to the Lake. I witessed a repeated behaviour from three young Chinese supporters. They would spread out, and run up behind pro-Tibetan/anti-Chinese Government protesters and kick them in the back, before running off into the crowd. I saw this happen at least half a dozen times, as did hundreds, if not thousands of Chinese supporters, none of whom made any effort to discourage this behaviour.

Even though there were hundreds of police protecting the torch and its bearers, they were not making any effort to control the crowd. I raised the issue of people being kicked with three separate police officers. One ignored me, another effectively told me to piss off, and a third said, "So?", and asked what I wanted him to do. I told him I thought he should get on his radio and inform his colleagues of this. He very rudely declined this advice.

I also witnessed a large group of pro-Chinese people with very big Chinese flags go and stand next to a group of Tibetans, and sing what I suspect was the Chinese anthem.

Overall, both groups were well behaved, however I was unimpressed by the antics of some pro-Chinese supporters, not to mention the boys in blue.

Agree (1) Alert moderator
DR:

24 Apr 2008 12:44:48pm

I am a Canberra resident and went to show my support for human rights, freedom and peace.
The Pro-China demonstrators abused my small group as we walked past and generally tried to intimidate us. They tried to come into the small peaceful Pro-Tibet rally and had to be held back by the police line.
One Pro-Tibetan supporter we saw was set upon by a group of Chinese and assaulted for carrying a Tibetan flag.
This is disgusting behaviour, we should send them all home. In all my years of peacefully voicing my opinion I have never seen such an appalling lack of respect, kind of like how the Chinese treat Tibet. The Pro-Chinese supporters have brought only shame to their cause.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Max:

24 Apr 2008 12:45:50pm

So what did the AFP do with those extra powers? Seems the Chinese protesters (nationalistic thuggery team) assaulted people and got the better of the AFP.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
amuse:

24 Apr 2008 12:46:18pm

Nowhere in the article is it even suggested that the pro-Chinese were put up to it by the CCP.

I can fully understand the plight of the pro-China supporters....the torch relay has been hijacked everywhere else in the world, and they were determined that it would not be hijacked here. So they got a bit overexuberant....so did the pro-Tibet protesters elsewhere in the world.

Everyone should just get over themselves. People should just realize that, for better or worse, Tibet is a part of China at this point in history, and therefore they should just knuckle down and make as decent a go of life as they can, instead of provoking a tyrranical regime into doing what all tyrranical regimes do best: put down revolts by any means necessary. The Tibet thing is something being driven purely by the lunatic left in the West. Most people in Tibet, I bet, just wanna get on with their lives - you people should let them.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Maka:

24 Apr 2008 12:47:15pm

There were LOTS of Chinese supporters in Canberra. There were a fair few Pro-Tibetan supporters. There were quite a few people interested in seeing the Olympic torch relay.

And no-one was hurt. The relay went ahead.

Well done to all concerned.

Only the media seems to be dissappointed that there wasn't a riot for the evening news.

Agree (1) Alert moderator
Lanne:

24 Apr 2008 12:47:44pm

Having been the recipient of anti-Western Chinese aggression, I would discourage anyone from visiting China.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Ford:

24 Apr 2008 12:49:37pm

Thanks to the Chinese propaganda team for proving our point ;)
Go HOME!

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Patrick:

24 Apr 2008 12:50:04pm

Come On Australia, wake up to what's going on in the world around you. So Chinese officials have bused thousands of thugs into Canberra, well what are you going to do about it, whinge or take some action. How how about you stay away from Chinese businesses and you stop buying goods made in China, (if you can seeing as so many Australian manufacturers have set up shop in China out of greed and convenience)
And while we're about it, China is now the biggest polluter in the world. Do they care about this, absolutely not, not even for their own people, millions of who are suffering from polluted rivers, skys and lands. Do you really think this bunch of hypocrites care about the Olympics and all its ideals, don't be stupid, all the select officials care about is their personal glory and they will stop at nothing to save face for them selves. Pity the dumb idiots that were bused to Canberra, they can't see this, they are blinded by their governments glory of being Chinese. Well, go back there and stay there.
Waken up Kevin Rudd. Stop pandering to the Chinese government. Think of Australia's future and stop exports of iron ore, gas and coal to China - we don't want their wanton destruction of the worlds atmosphere so they can bask in their own pitful glory, just like Hitler in 1936 and look where that took the world.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
gk:

24 Apr 2008 12:50:14pm

We should seriously look at our immigration policies.

Some time ago I visited the Beijing and did not see so many Chinese nationals at their main square as today in the Canberra. I guess the Chinese Embassy paid for their nationals to travel here.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Al:

24 Apr 2008 12:51:38pm

Forget about whether they're Chinese, Australian or any other nationality. Hitting people with sticks, attacking people who are peacfully watching the parade? What are we coming to?

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Ken:

24 Apr 2008 12:52:28pm

This is the typricial Western reporter headline about the Chinese in Australian and Worldwide since John Howard Anti-Chinese stand have never erodesd. The racial discrimination in Australian have not changed may be even worse than before. Are you blind or not what about the handicaped girl attacked by the "thug" in Paris have never report in your coloum. Why? Because your are racial reporter.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Emma:

24 Apr 2008 12:52:48pm

I'm in Canberra and there have been a lot of witnesses to thuggish behaviour on the part of the red army. Fortunately, it has been video-taped and will be aired by news outlets - not in China I suspect.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Wyeth:

24 Apr 2008 12:53:32pm

China sets the propaganda on its people and promotes "Nationalism" to fight against democary and human rights. China also controls all media including internet to censor its people's thinking.

What an autocratic country!

Just thinking about the 1936 Berlin Olympic.
Just thinking about what China does towards a 6-year-old Tibetan children.
(the world's youngest political hostage)

Agree (0) Alert moderator
walter:

24 Apr 2008 12:54:23pm

Send those arrogant and disrespectful Chinese students back where they have come. Talk about a rent a crowd. The Games are finished for me. The Chinese Government is hostile towards our country and our culture.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Billy Bob Hall:

24 Apr 2008 12:54:25pm

Why cannot the Australian Government crush with their iron fist the criminal Tibet protesters and then be keeping calm the water tops ?

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Dom:

24 Apr 2008 12:55:34pm

this is all well and good people, free tibet and all that...

but it really isnt just tibet, it seems to just be the 'hot topic' at the moment.

what about Burma, and the arms China deals to numerous African countries..

I think people should open up to these issues as well as the atrocities that have and are being commited by the chinese in tibet..

i dont claim to know much about this whole thing but i think China has alot to answer for at the moment.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Xiang Fienxian, Betty:

24 Apr 2008 12:55:52pm

For every 1 Chinese that support China government action in Tibet, there 10 more that dont support it. You see a lot of Chinese people support for China and Chinese govt and against Tibet, BUT you dont see many many many many more Chinese who dont support. These bad Chinese make me sad and shame about for my Chinese background

Agree (1) Alert moderator
kate:

24 Apr 2008 12:56:09pm

but this picture more looks like A pro-Tibet protester is assaulting an OZ guy who is standing with pro-china supporters and holding red flag. This pro-tibet protester (with cream color top) was later dragged away by police near the parliament house.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
jane:

24 Apr 2008 12:57:01pm

I was afraid that would happen. The sheer number of very patriotic and passionate Chinese people was rather intimidating to the much smaller group of supporters of Tibetans like me. They also seemed very badly informed, shouting slogans of " One China" - don't they know that the Dalai Lama has not called for Tibet to break away but to have genuine autonomy, enjoy human rights & cultural & religious freedom & that he simply wants dialogue ? The large Chinese contingent seemed to be getting quite wound up when I left the area around the start of the Torch Relay to go to work. It is a shame that they felt the need to dominate the proceedings - they do their country's image no good. I have no problem with China hosting the Olympic Games, but they got the opportunity on the promise of improving human rights - they have failed in that regard & we should remind them of that. Thanks to everyone who was there to support the much smaller group of Tibetans - I got a new sense of what it must be like to be Tibetan inside China today out of today's events. Intimidating is the only word to describe it.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Penelope:

24 Apr 2008 12:57:56pm

I am not pro-China in terms of it's treatment of Tibet. I don't think you could call the nation "non-innovating" though.
I think it is worth pointing out that many Australia's exhibit such ignorant behaviour when standing behind their nation on such issues as the treatment of asylum seekers. Not to mention how long it took to acknowledge the government's treatment of indigenous Australians (there are many out there that still believe no mistreatment treatment ever occurred and the government was correct from 1788 onwards).
Each country has them.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Jojochristine:

24 Apr 2008 12:59:13pm

Those pro-Tibet protesters are too much violent as compared with Chinese supporters.Of course,pretending to appeal to non-violence,they have to be a little "gentle".As for those pro-Tibet protesters' and exiled Tibetans' violence,ABC.com almost don't cover them.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Kane:

24 Apr 2008 12:59:23pm

Can I ask if anyone posting here is remotely familiar with Tibetan history? And, while there are vast problems and a serious lack of what I would consider justice in China, what is it you suggest otherwise for Tibet? Free Tibet necessarily requires a different form of government and guess what, it isnt going to come from the poor is it? Its going to come from ethnic-Tibetan elites.

The Dalai Lama perhaps? An interesting proposal. The Dalai Lamas were generally claimed as leaders after that office was invented by one of the Kahns (Dalai is a Mongolian word). Granted, it is also an openly, and traditionally, nepotistic religious office, with serious transparency problems, that passes not by democratic process but by selection of monks who practised slavery, serfdom, religious intolerance and torture during the last time they were in power in Tibet 60-90 years ago (look it up. It isnt pretty).

These are facts, of which many pro-independence people I speak to seem utterly ignorant. Not all the facts the Dalai Lama is an advocate for peace (despite funding armed guerrilla movements with CIA money in the 60s) and preaches tolerance for different sexuality (although terming it unnatural, and indeed forbidden for Buddhists to use any orifice deemed inappropriate for sexual contact for that purpose. Including mouth.)

Tibetans are not, amazingly, a homogenous race of peaceful Buddhist vegetarians who all want a monastic existence in the mountains. They are human. Some hate China. Some do not. Some protest peacefully. Some burned several young women alive four weeks ago when they torched a shop owned by an ethnic Han. In 1997 a bomb was even set off by one of the monks, killing several people. In 2005 Chinese soldiers killed a number of Tibetans as they tried to hike out of the country. Problems abound. Not least of which is how Tibet will provide a modern lifestyle (remember, some Tibetans LIKE shopping malls and television) without funds from China which leaves aid from other sources. Which means less available for other places.

Complex. Dont just scream free Tibet and think this is a sensible or sustainable position in the long run. Finish the sentence with and install the following system instead Not so easy that second part.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
sangomat:

24 Apr 2008 1:00:55pm

Being there - I can say that if you were holding a Tibetan flag you were in the minority. The Chinese supporters were mainly well behaved, but there were elements that were quite aggressive. I saw no aggression from Tibetan, East Turkestan or Vietnamese supporters. Holding a flag was enough to set off the "other side".

Agree (0) Alert moderator
tx:

24 Apr 2008 1:01:14pm

i'm not surprised at all that ABC tries to find out every opportunity to make a big title against the chinese rally. if these is a chinese who complains rude and agressive from the pro-tibet, does you ABC make a big title like that? i tell ABC here: dont be too CNN!!

Agree (1) Alert moderator
Harry Ball:

24 Apr 2008 1:01:20pm

Who would take their 7 year old daughter to an event so predicted to be violent and confrontational then complain when the inevitable happened? - get real mate!

Agree (0) Alert moderator
keith Barrett:

24 Apr 2008 1:01:26pm

Eight years ago I went to the Olympic relay; the torch was brought through Glenelg where a small caldron was lit. It was a sense of wonder, humanity; it encapsulated higher stronger faster it got respect the torch gave respect.

Where is the respect?

The respect is earned, not demanded.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Sonnia:

24 Apr 2008 1:02:20pm

Chinese People have got angry, it is not nothing to do with the Chinese Government,don't you understand?

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Kim:

24 Apr 2008 1:02:28pm

How sad, do we all remember 2000 and the joy in being a part of the torch relay. It was such a special and memorable occasion for us all.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Gerasimos:

24 Apr 2008 1:02:49pm

Dear Auatralia
I wonder which country's criminals and thugs you'll accept next: Indonesia's?
Malaysia's?
Russia's?
America's?
It seems to me, I think, that these pro China supporters are very organised, coincidentally mobile from all over Australia and dare I say over seas, and the poor old AFP couldn't even shrug aside the heavies China sent over to look after the "flame".
That in itself sounds like some pathetic pagan artifact-hang on, it is!
Never mind China's human rights abuses. One shouldn't need a sporting event to be awake to that!
For the love of humanity pro Chinese activists are pure rabble rouser's. Only the elite were there, not poor Chinese or Tibetan peasants, they can't afford to travel and their country needs them there-to work there fingers to the bone for next to nothing or die trying.
Fact.
We all know that, some choose to ignore it. Personally, I have had a good laugh at the "proud" statements being printed. That's like being proud of Saddam Hussein, that doesn't wash. These "students" are not all students, and if you don't believe that, believe this-a totalitarian government, governing over a billion people, has many resources and if you think that all those "kids" were all really here studying trigonometry and social sciences, well, I don't believe a word of it, especially if it's being spruked by some zealot with foam lining his gob.
That's Aussie slang for mouth, for the newly arrived thugs monitoring all these threads, you'll need to know these things to blend in.
To those reading this and getting mad and bug eyed, desperate to respond and teach me a lesson, I wonder how hard your life has been? Couldn't be that hard, you're living in the sweetest country of them all, vast and safe and free.
For everyone, from Tibet to Italy and beyond, not just for thugs looking to beat up old people and children. I was disgusted to see how many red flag waving dills there were out there to smother free speech IN THIS FREE COUNTRY. Your Ruddness, brush up on your linguistic skills and with the deft touch of a leader and a diplomat, how bout you tell our friends up north to tuck their shirts in and behave! Obviously we can't be too forceful, we're all commercial afraid of the big countries, heaven forbid we don't get their money. What would we do in this huge, resource rich country if one of our trade partners had a momentary hissy fit.
I wouldn't feel a thing, I'm poor to the core and I hope if money comes my way the trade off isn't being less caring, less compassionate and some heartless bean counter.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
DavidLastname:

24 Apr 2008 1:02:55pm

To be quite honest, Im not liking the Chinese attitudes.
Very little respect for the policing of the country where the torch went ie treating the torch as its theirs only; the rudeness of the pro Chinese in Canberra today; the disgusting silencing of news about Tibet; etc.

Ive decided to not watch the Olympics as its not about human rights, and boycott Chinese products as well. I bought a mobile phone recently that was made in France and was pleased it was.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
objective citizen:

24 Apr 2008 1:03:41pm

I was just at Commonwealth Park (Stage 88) to have a look at the entertainment. I saw a woman in her early twenties withe a banner saying "Human Rights in Tibet". She got surrounded by a group of about 50 pro-Chinese supporters who were chanting and waving there flags in her face to hide her banner. Then a policeman grabbed her pro-Tibetan banner, obviously intending to beak up the melee, folded it together and took it away.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Di Reeve:

24 Apr 2008 1:04:09pm

Seems to me that the "Australia" Chinese are just as in the dark as the "China" Chinese people and have no idea what is happening in Tibet - I travelled from Kathmandu to Lhasa in September 2008 and therefore have seen it for myself.

FREE TIBET!!!

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Liz:

24 Apr 2008 1:05:20pm

In other news, a witness has reported seeing a three headed Chinese man grow wings and fly to Tibet to meet his spaceship and many witnesses have reported the Pentagon was actually struck by a missile and not an airliner.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Jim:

24 Apr 2008 1:07:34pm

This controversy was inevitable from the time that the IOC awarded the Olympics to Beijing. It was a ridiculous political move that seems to serve no sporting purpose - unlike the awarding by FIFA of the 2010 Football World Cup to the post-apartheid South Africa (and frankly the "new" SA has its own problems, but at least the majority of the population now get to vote) there is nothing to celebrate about the PRC...except maybe its recent rise as an economic superpower...but I digress.

I would hope that any violence perpetrated within Australia's borders by the so-called "flame attendants" (read: Chinese special forces) will be punished by the Australian authorities. But you just know that isn't going to happen - not when the Chinese Ambassador can remind the Australian Government just how much reliant the Australian export economy is on Chinese buyers.

The IOC and governments around the world have sold out to the Chinese renminbi - time to remember that everything comes with a price.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Benny:

24 Apr 2008 1:10:59pm

That's what Commies do. Take down anyone against them. That why brave Australian soldiers fought to stop the spread of Communism in Vietnam.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Mike:

24 Apr 2008 1:11:13pm

I like my laptop, my clothes, my big tv and a host of other things a damn sight more than I care about the oppression of a people who up until 1957 lived largely as serfs and slaves in a fully feudal society. if budhism wasn't a bit trendy this issue wouldn't get any oxygen at all.

Cheap quality goods and human rights do not go hand in hand.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Mike:

24 Apr 2008 1:11:25pm

Nationalism really is an ugly thing. China. more accurately the CCP, think this blind passion is somehow good for their nation. They will reap what they sow.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
MT:

24 Apr 2008 1:12:29pm

An excellent show of support by China for the olympics ..its just unfortunate that ABC news (like others) produces yet more biased China bashing western media, and its just used as more misleading fuel for the bandwagon jumpers that have no idea what they are really getting involved in.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Nick:

24 Apr 2008 1:12:47pm

The scene in Canberra was quite disturbing this morning. Hundreds and hundreds of pro-China demonstrators were brought in on buses and they all had the same large Chinese flags - they were lining all the route of the flag run. Who paid for and organised all this? Would Beijing be happy if a foreign power organised a show of foreign strength there?

Agree (1) Alert moderator
LEE WANG:

24 Apr 2008 1:13:38pm

The Chinese were not here for the Olympics. THEY CARRIED CHINESE FLAGS NOT OLYMPIC FLAGS.

THEY CHANTED CHINA, CHINA, CHINA - NOT OLYMPICS, OLYMPICS, OLYMPICS.

The Chinese were here to spread the propaganda of Communist China, not support the Olympics. Fear these people. Their intentions in the world are now clear.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
bing:

24 Apr 2008 1:16:22pm

I am sick with this report. A lot of people there, the body touch is a crime! Then in New Years eve, thousands of crimes can be found in Darling Harbor. When those pro-Tibet guys attacted the Olympic torch, or attacted the Chinese embassy, why you just said protests, not GANG? They are really GANG. Please do not be so hypocritical.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Jason:

24 Apr 2008 1:17:21pm

You don't have to scratch the surface to deep Australia to find the racist element. Pauline Hanson, Cronulla Rioters. There out there and there's lot of them. Australians are a nation of ute driving, zero culture, rugby league watching red necks. Go to University and get an education.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
regb:

24 Apr 2008 1:17:46pm

The sad thing is Communistic attitudes are alive and well in Australia because it seems the Chinese Government is funding through the back door the massive mobilisation of young Chinese to today's Torch Relay.

It's high time Tibet got a fair go from all especially the Chinese.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Joel B1:

24 Apr 2008 1:19:41pm

What a typical pro-tibet beat-up.

The basis of this story; "an onlooker has claimed."

Typical ABC hyperbole!

Agree (1) Alert moderator
MK:

24 Apr 2008 1:19:57pm

what ever happened to freedom of speech
this is Australia - not the totalitarian society, that is, China

Agree (0) Alert moderator
jr:

24 Apr 2008 1:20:09pm

Kate, have a better look at the picture... .

....look at the hand of the Australian, seems he is clutching the banner... You would have to have spent too much time in an opium den to belive that the Australian was a Pro China supporter anyway..

Australians are overwhelmingly pro-democracy, its our core national value... celebrated tommorrow ANZAC DAY

The beige jacket thug was clearly Pro China and as such was unlikely to have even been questioned by the AFP let alone dragged away... I'm sorry your propaganda wont work here...

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Php:

24 Apr 2008 1:20:30pm

I have visited China many times, and visited Tibet as a tourist for the fist time several months ago, before the recent troubles. I just wonder how many of the pro-Tibet/anti-China side, while having good intentions, understand well the situation in Tibet and China. Based on everything I saw and heard, and Tibetans I spoke to, I came away believing the Chinese government, overall, is doing the best it can/thinks for all people living in Tibet. Some issues there are complex and difficult to address, similar to the situation with disadvantaged indigenous people in Australia (mind you I think the disadvantages faced by young Tibetans in participation in the modern economy/world are less than that now faced by young Australian aborigines in remote areas). I see terrible bias in the western media on this issue - the same bias and "lies" that is upsetting, and uniting, all Chinese around the world -who understand Tibet and China better than most westerners. I think pro-Tibetan, anti-Chinese activist who do not really have much knowledge of the true situation should be questioning their information sources, and try and better understand some of the complex issues being faced by the Chinese government in dealing with Tibet - I think they would have a different perspective if they did that.

Agree (3) Alert moderator
Grumpy OM:

24 Apr 2008 1:20:46pm

Mass gatherings usually express herd mwentality and often provoke thuggery.
And who invented this torch stupidity anyway?
If it was Hitler, he would be very happy now.
With all respect, those who go along to gape at inanities like that almost deserve what they get.

Agree (1) Alert moderator
djm:

24 Apr 2008 1:20:55pm

Surely in Canberra, one would think there'd be plenty of CCTV cameras about the place. So identify those who broke the law, if they're Aussie residents, charge them. If they're from overseas, deport them. Simple really.

Agree (0) Alert moderator
Greg Thomas:

24 Apr 2008 1:21:00pm

I was there, and in the thick of it, it's really not that bad for the general public but the Chinese community was rather vocal towards the pro-tibetan groups...

Agree (0) Alert moderator

Just In

Sections

Media

Contact Us

Feedback Form

Contribute

This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.

AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of UTC (Greenwich Mean Time)

Sport

Rival protest groups clash at torch relay

Search for news

Comments (197)

liz:

John R:

Jim Bendfeldt:

Lobster:

Jenny:

some entropy:

chalkie:

Peter:

ChrisK:

Jack:

Mike:

Helen:

mike:

ChrisK:

Andrew:

kirsty:

Jon:

Carolyn Minchin:

Caro:

Jamie Bloomfield:

Michael Zhao:

Jamie Bloomfield:

Dave:

anatoli:

danwon:

Miscellaneous:

hercules:

jacky:

drew:

blue:

Dirk Irfing:

GH:

walter:

John R:

Lyn:

jerryj:

ChrisK:

Dane:

mike:

ChrisK:

Boggs:

excantare:

Sum Chang Chee:

Gerasimos:

smg:

QX:

Eirlys:

QX:

MJB:

John R:

Scott:

Jamie Bloomfield:

Patch:

TC:

Tesa:

Martino:

Chinese:

Cant Berra man:

Ann:

Jenny:

L:

Alex:

Jamie Bloomfield:

Andrew:

Nicko:

martin:

Henry:

mike:

JJ:

Steven:

Leraf:

Michael:

jr:

Stu:

Eirlys:

mr_scruff: