Die Fackel ist in London angekommen, und erwartungsgemäß säumten nicht nur Begeisterte, sondern auch Demonstranten den Weg vom Wembley Stadium nach Greenwich. Und nicht allein das: Es waren Tausende, die teilweise für massive Behinderungen gesorgt haben. Dabei wurden 25 bis 30 Personen festgenommen, so die Angaben der Londoner Polizei.

Die nicht geringen Sicherheitsvorkehrungen und die staatliche Zahl von 2000 Sicherheitskräften in der Londoner Innenstadt konnten die Demonstranten nicht daran hindern, Absperrungen zu durchbrechen und sich in den Weg zu werfen – sehr zum Schrecken der chinesischen Gesandten, die in blauen Trainingsanzügen die Fackelträger abzuschirmen versuchten. Einer der Demonstranten versuchte sogar die Fackel an sich nehmen – nur knapp konnten ihn die Polizisten daran hindern. Besonders kreativ waren zwei Demonstranten, die versuchten, die Fackel mit einem Feuerlöscher auszublasen. Der britische Premierminister Gordon Brown mußte die Fackel hinter einem Stahltor in Empfang nehmen.

…und morgen Paris…

“DARING BANNER HANG PROTESTS CHINA’S OLYMPIC TORCH
Tibet Activists call for “No Torch in Tibet”
London – Four Tibet independence activists were detained this morning after two activists abseiled off Westminster Bridge and unfurled a 74 square meter protest banner reading, “One World, One Dream: Free Tibet 2008,” mocking China’s Olympics slogan “One World, One Dream.” The action took place on the eve of the controversial arrival of China’s Olympic torch relay in London, amidst mounting pressure on the International Olympic Committee to remove all Tibetan areas from the relay route. Pema Yoko (25) of Greenwich, Conall Hon (26) originally from Belfast, Peter Speller (23) of Cambridge, and Dan Burston (22) of Birmingham were detained for their involvement in the action. Over a thousand Tibetans and supporters are expected in the streets of London tomorrow to condemn China’s ongoing crackdown on freedom protests inside Tibet. Reports have just emerged from Tibet that on April 3rd Chinese paramilitary forces opened fire on a crowd of unarmed monks and laypeople in southeastern Tibet, killing at least 8 people.
“The Chinese government wants the British public to celebrate China at a moment when Tibetans are being gunned down by Chinese forces for doing nothing more than speaking out for freedom,” said Pema Yoko, National Coordinator of Students for a Free Tibet UK, a British born Tibetan andone of the activists detained. “With Tibetans being rounded up, brutalized and killed, it is unconscionable for the International Olympic Committee to allow China to take the Olympic torch through Tibet.”
Chinese authorities in Tibet have stated their intention to ensure stability during the torch relay ‘at all costs,’ which means increased militarization of Tibetan areas. According to the Chinese authorities’ own figures, thousands of people have been detained in recent weeks, with speedy show trials promised before May 1st. China’s attempt to politicize the London leg of the torch relay was heightened this week when China’s ambassador to Britain, Fu Ying announced her participation
in the relay. Also, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is scheduled to officially receive the torch at 10 Downing Street.
“It is appalling that Gordon Brown plans to receive the Olympic torch tomorrow. As someone with Chinese and British roots, I feel strongly that Britain must take a firm stance against China’s abuses in Tibet,” said Conall Hon, member of Students for a Free Tibet and one of the people to abseil off the bridge. “If the Chinese government wants acceptance from the international community, it must immediately stop its baseless attacks on the Dalai Lama and start working toward a meaningful solution to the Tibetan issue.”
China’s deadly attack on Tibetans in Tongkor Township (Karze County) in southeastern Tibet on April 3rd came after Chinese authorities detained two monks for possessing photos of the Dalai Lama following a raid by over 3,000-armed police at Tongkor monastery. The police opened fire on the crowd of over 700 people, nearly half of whom were monks, gathered to protest the arrests. All Tibetan areas remain closed off to independent media, but eyewitness reports from all across Tibet describe horrific beatings, suicide attempts by monks locked inside their monasteries, house-to-house searches, and large groups of Tibetans being boarded onto trains at Lhasa’s new railway station. As the situation inside Tibet remains critical, several peaceful protests and actions are planned for tomorrow’s relay here in London.”

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