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It was a sorry day for free speech in Australia when
gangs of Chinese students 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.
In spite of Prime Minister Rudd's promise that the blue track-suited Chinese
thugs would be confined to a bus, two of them managed to guide the torch along
its path.
It was a day when one of the world's most brutal and repressive regimes,
renowned for crushing dissent in its own country, mobilised and organised
thousands of Chinese students studying in Australia, to crush dissent on
Australian soil. Tibetans and Australian citizens gathered in Canberra to
peacefully protest China's human rights abuses in Tibet were assaulted, shouted
down and beaten with flag poles.
An estimated ten thousand Chinese students were bussed in from Melbourne and
Sydney, supplied with large Chinese flags and stage managed by Chinese
organisers sporting walkie-talkies and colour-coded uniforms.
The day will be remembered most for the fervent outpouring of Chinese
nationalism and chauvinism, with thousands of Chinese supporters waving flags,
chanting slogans and singing the Chinese national anthem.
Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister Jon Stanhope confirmed that the
Chinese embassy in Canberra was closely involved in helping transport up to
10,000 Chinese students to the demonstration.
It is understood Beijing's officials in Canberra were in constant contact
with travel companies and student leaders who were recruiting China's red army
of young activists.
Chinese supporters surrounded and shouted at a small band from Amnesty
International, who were eventually extricated by police.
"It's pretty insulting that Australians in their own country need riot
police to protect them foreign nationals," one of the Amnesty group said.
The Olympic torch relay must be one of the most over-hyped PR exercises on
the planet. The celebrities and wannabe celebrities should look at the pictures
bottom right and ponder whether their five minutes of glory was worth it.
It behoves every Australian to urge Prime Minister Rudd to abstain from the
Olympic opening ceremony as a form of protest that will not harm the athletes.
Related stories:
Tortured nuns suicide in Tibet
Torture, murder and genocide in Tibet
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