12 WITNESS REPORTS, PHOTO & VIDEO EVIDENCE
OF THE CANBERRA (Australia) OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY EVENT (24/04/08)
Apparently these reports were sent to the Chinese embassy, with a request for an apology or they would be released to the media. No apology was given.
Typical example of events (video above)
Sole Tibetan supporter is surrounded and harassed. Police come and warn the Chinese students with arrest. One Chinese student says: "Use your own f***g brain, you are against the free will of 1.4 billion Chinese people, that's one fourth of the world's population, do you think we care. You are pitiful, we hate you". |
Example of Chinese comments (in reports below)
…“If you don’t shut your mouth, we will kill you, we have your photo and we will kill you.” …‘this is Beijing’ ‘go home’ ‘you don’t know China’ ‘free Tasmania’ …“You’re so f***g ugly” “Go home to Europe”. Experience of others attending (in reports below) … "They then started to hit me, punch me; swear at me, shoving their Chinese flags into my face with a lot of aggression" … "As an Australian, shouldn’t I be protected by the law? How is it that these violent Chinese students who are not Australians, but are here on student visas, can come here and do these horrible things to Australians, do not follow the Australian law, are allowed to stay here?" …"I saw a Buddhist monk pushed to the ground just in front of me. While he was on the ground the Chinese began pelting him with stones" …"a Tibetan, was punched in the stomach when she tried to rescue another westerner who was being beaten" |
v
REPORT 1 By Robert Perry, written 7th May, 2008 (THIS REPORT INCLUDES EVENT OVERVIEW)
Preparation.
We were sent a 6 page instruction on behavior which emphasized non-violence.
Travel.
I traveled on a bus organized by the Australian Tibet Council. There were 50 Tibetan supporters, including about 20 Tibetans on the bus. We left Melbourne at 9pm Wednesday evening.
At our first stop, a truck stop for the toilet, there were 2 buses there of Chinese supporters. I overheard a Tibetan getting back on the bus, saying that a Chinese supporter had said they should cover their face and be ashamed. Further on, the driver chose not to stop at a roadhouse as there were 20 buses there. We stopped instead at Albury Station. There we encountered about 4 other buses of Chinese supporters. People kept to themselves and there were no problems.
Arrival Canberra.
We breakfasted on arrival at the Forest Inn and prepared to leave for Parliament House. Marija of the Australian Tibet Council announced to all (paraphrasing) that ‘There are a lot of Chinese students here and they are very angry. We are not to antagonize them at all. Passing on that George Farley had asked for us to think of His Holiness the Dalai Lama standing beside us as we went, not to do anything that we wouldn’t do in His presence. To stay respectful of our Chinese brothers and sisters.’
Numbers there.
From my perspective, I saw about six to twelve hundred Tibetan supporters there (I was with the main group all day), and about five thousand Chinese supporters (who were all in their early twenties and well dressed). The media estimated about two thousand Tibet supporters and about seven to ten thousand Chinese supporters were in Canberra. I saw only these two groups, and no other people on foot at the event.
Preparation.
We were sent a 6 page instruction on behavior which emphasized non-violence.
Travel.
I traveled on a bus organized by the Australian Tibet Council. There were 50 Tibetan supporters, including about 20 Tibetans on the bus. We left Melbourne at 9pm Wednesday evening.
At our first stop, a truck stop for the toilet, there were 2 buses there of Chinese supporters. I overheard a Tibetan getting back on the bus, saying that a Chinese supporter had said they should cover their face and be ashamed. Further on, the driver chose not to stop at a roadhouse as there were 20 buses there. We stopped instead at Albury Station. There we encountered about 4 other buses of Chinese supporters. People kept to themselves and there were no problems.
Arrival Canberra.
We breakfasted on arrival at the Forest Inn and prepared to leave for Parliament House. Marija of the Australian Tibet Council announced to all (paraphrasing) that ‘There are a lot of Chinese students here and they are very angry. We are not to antagonize them at all. Passing on that George Farley had asked for us to think of His Holiness the Dalai Lama standing beside us as we went, not to do anything that we wouldn’t do in His presence. To stay respectful of our Chinese brothers and sisters.’
Numbers there.
From my perspective, I saw about six to twelve hundred Tibetan supporters there (I was with the main group all day), and about five thousand Chinese supporters (who were all in their early twenties and well dressed). The media estimated about two thousand Tibet supporters and about seven to ten thousand Chinese supporters were in Canberra. I saw only these two groups, and no other people on foot at the event.
An Australian is attacked by Chinese. (Reuters: Daniel Munoz) http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/24/2226324.htm
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There are 2 protesters holding a free tibet sign in here somewhere
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24196692@N04/2438431200/ |
Parliament House.
We processed quietly there, getting several toots, smiles and waves from locals in cars. On arrival, I estimate there were about a thousand protesting against the Chinese government. A large group of Vietnamese, and some from other effected countries.
A Vietnamese man and Nigel Hungerford of ATC who were there early with a couple of others, relayed how several hundred Chinese had surrounded them (and separately) a lone monk. They managed to climb on a small stage, the Chinese dispersed soon after when other Tibetan supporters arrived.
Senator Bob Brown, KD Lang, George Farley and a few others spoke. George spoke solely on behaviour. That ‘we should be peaceful and show respect at all times. This is not the time to do anything else.’
The Bridge.
After the speeches and torch passing, we were organised to process quickly together to cross the bridge to Regatta Point to see the torch again. The Chinese supporters quickly lined our path, most watching quietly.
Chinese supporters were waiting behind the old Parliament House, and when we got there a group surged out and joined our procession, walking in the middle of our line. This occurred right along the procession. By the time we were reaching the bridge, we were broken into smaller groups with Chinese supporters running through us yelling. One that was screaming at us was later arrested on the bridge.
As we arrived at the bridge, the Chinese supporters had blocked our access. I called for people arriving, not to try and cross as a dispute was arising at the blockage. The Chinese supporters then surrounded us, leaving no exit. Some Tibetan supporters then broke a barricade and started crossing the highway (Commonwealth Ave). Police quickly came and escorted us along the other side of the bridge. One Chinese supporter ran across into the highway berating us from the road. Several police got him to the ground, handcuffing him and taking him to the median strip til a police van arrived for him. Several car loads of Chinese supporters drove across the bridge, waving flags that fluttered across Tibetan supporters’ heads as they were walking.
We processed quietly there, getting several toots, smiles and waves from locals in cars. On arrival, I estimate there were about a thousand protesting against the Chinese government. A large group of Vietnamese, and some from other effected countries.
A Vietnamese man and Nigel Hungerford of ATC who were there early with a couple of others, relayed how several hundred Chinese had surrounded them (and separately) a lone monk. They managed to climb on a small stage, the Chinese dispersed soon after when other Tibetan supporters arrived.
Senator Bob Brown, KD Lang, George Farley and a few others spoke. George spoke solely on behaviour. That ‘we should be peaceful and show respect at all times. This is not the time to do anything else.’
The Bridge.
After the speeches and torch passing, we were organised to process quickly together to cross the bridge to Regatta Point to see the torch again. The Chinese supporters quickly lined our path, most watching quietly.
Chinese supporters were waiting behind the old Parliament House, and when we got there a group surged out and joined our procession, walking in the middle of our line. This occurred right along the procession. By the time we were reaching the bridge, we were broken into smaller groups with Chinese supporters running through us yelling. One that was screaming at us was later arrested on the bridge.
As we arrived at the bridge, the Chinese supporters had blocked our access. I called for people arriving, not to try and cross as a dispute was arising at the blockage. The Chinese supporters then surrounded us, leaving no exit. Some Tibetan supporters then broke a barricade and started crossing the highway (Commonwealth Ave). Police quickly came and escorted us along the other side of the bridge. One Chinese supporter ran across into the highway berating us from the road. Several police got him to the ground, handcuffing him and taking him to the median strip til a police van arrived for him. Several car loads of Chinese supporters drove across the bridge, waving flags that fluttered across Tibetan supporters’ heads as they were walking.
Chinese student arrested, video of him to right
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26013128@N03/2445022640/sizes/l/ |
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Regatta Point.
Once over the bridge, the police escorted us across the highway to Regatta Point. It was a sea of Chinese supporters there. The Chinese supporters forced us up into the park and, as we proceeded about two abreast, they broke us up by blocking our path then letting a few more through again. I made it to the top of the hill and our small group stopped. Those ahead had started to come back as they were getting lost and from everyone’s expressions, very subdued and nervous. There were very angry Chinese supporters yelling all around us. The way we had come no longer seemed safe. Two police arrived by car on a cross path and I explained the situation to them, but they seemed already aware of the problem.
They called on hailers for us all to try and get back together into one group. Dozens more police arrived, forcing a path pack down. Within our stunned group, several monks started chanting ‘free Tibet’. A few people turned to stop them as it looked too dangerously provocative, but my impression is that it had the positive effect of restoring some confidence on our group as others slowly joined in. I think the monks stopped people panicking this way.
Finally the police escorted us back down the path. I remember a wall of Chinese supporters either side screaming at us. Some of their words were… ‘this is Beijing’ ‘go home’ ‘you don’t know China’ ‘free Tasmania’ and there was swearing and spitting. Many of them were filming us.
Once over the bridge, the police escorted us across the highway to Regatta Point. It was a sea of Chinese supporters there. The Chinese supporters forced us up into the park and, as we proceeded about two abreast, they broke us up by blocking our path then letting a few more through again. I made it to the top of the hill and our small group stopped. Those ahead had started to come back as they were getting lost and from everyone’s expressions, very subdued and nervous. There were very angry Chinese supporters yelling all around us. The way we had come no longer seemed safe. Two police arrived by car on a cross path and I explained the situation to them, but they seemed already aware of the problem.
They called on hailers for us all to try and get back together into one group. Dozens more police arrived, forcing a path pack down. Within our stunned group, several monks started chanting ‘free Tibet’. A few people turned to stop them as it looked too dangerously provocative, but my impression is that it had the positive effect of restoring some confidence on our group as others slowly joined in. I think the monks stopped people panicking this way.
Finally the police escorted us back down the path. I remember a wall of Chinese supporters either side screaming at us. Some of their words were… ‘this is Beijing’ ‘go home’ ‘you don’t know China’ ‘free Tasmania’ and there was swearing and spitting. Many of them were filming us.
Stateline film showing Chinese student behaviour
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Tibet supporters surrounded, one is crying then the Chinese students pull down Tibetan supporters flags
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At the bottom, the police cleared the barricade for us just as the torch passed. Then they asked us to all stay together and sit in a group. There seemed to be only a few hundred of us left.
The monks did some chanting and the Chinese supporters seemed not to have seen this before. The situation became more subdued as they chanted. A group of four plain-clothed security with ear pieces spoke with the Tibetan supporter leaders, while police stayed around us. A larger group of police moved around to points of conflict.
Some fellow supporters spoke of Chinese attacking Tibetan supporters. Later, Alison Ribush of ATC told me of a Tibetan being beaten by Chinese supporters in Canberra.
Acton Park.
After about half an hour, the police shepherded us across the highway to Acton Park, on the lake. There a few Chinese supporters watched over us at either end. Here we all stopped for lunch near a kiosk at the ferry terminal.
The operators of the kiosk advised us to hide our pro Tibet things because they thought it was too dangerous for us. They told us that a 15 year old Tibetan boy had been brought there earlier by the water police after he had been assaulted by a crowd of Chinese supporters. They said he was alone, crossing over to his father near the lake, and was mobbed and repeatedly punched. He had to jump into the lake to escape, where the water police rescued him. He was in shock and crying they said.
As the sun was coming down, Lisa and I passed Parliament House on the way back to where our bus would be, and spoke with the last two police there. They told us that they’d heard of a few Tibetan supporters being attacked. Two were taken by police for their own safety, into protective custody, but released again quickly. None arrested.
They were interested in the boy rescued from the lake as they had only heard roughly of that. They also told us they’d heard that Chinese supporters had been paid about $350 each to come here.
The monks did some chanting and the Chinese supporters seemed not to have seen this before. The situation became more subdued as they chanted. A group of four plain-clothed security with ear pieces spoke with the Tibetan supporter leaders, while police stayed around us. A larger group of police moved around to points of conflict.
Some fellow supporters spoke of Chinese attacking Tibetan supporters. Later, Alison Ribush of ATC told me of a Tibetan being beaten by Chinese supporters in Canberra.
Acton Park.
After about half an hour, the police shepherded us across the highway to Acton Park, on the lake. There a few Chinese supporters watched over us at either end. Here we all stopped for lunch near a kiosk at the ferry terminal.
The operators of the kiosk advised us to hide our pro Tibet things because they thought it was too dangerous for us. They told us that a 15 year old Tibetan boy had been brought there earlier by the water police after he had been assaulted by a crowd of Chinese supporters. They said he was alone, crossing over to his father near the lake, and was mobbed and repeatedly punched. He had to jump into the lake to escape, where the water police rescued him. He was in shock and crying they said.
As the sun was coming down, Lisa and I passed Parliament House on the way back to where our bus would be, and spoke with the last two police there. They told us that they’d heard of a few Tibetan supporters being attacked. Two were taken by police for their own safety, into protective custody, but released again quickly. None arrested.
They were interested in the boy rescued from the lake as they had only heard roughly of that. They also told us they’d heard that Chinese supporters had been paid about $350 each to come here.
REPORT 2 By Kunchok, written 7th May 2008
I went to Canberra on the 24th April 2008, to peacefully protest against the ongoing inhumane acts that the Chinese government inflicts upon not only my people but all minority groups in China.
I met with all the other Tibet supporters on the Parliament Lawn and there were speeches and we were okay there as a group until the police asked us to move and were shuffling us over the bridge. There were many Pro Chinese protesters who were very aggressive both physically and verbally, and we were being forced to go towards them all. The police were very forceful and made us go into the crowds of thousands of Chinese people.
I made it to half way across the bridge carrying my Tibetan flag in one hand and showing the symbol of peace with my other hand and about 10-15 Chinese young people approximately 20-30yrs, that could have been students, completely surrounded me and started yelling and swearing at me and demanding that I give them my flag. I felt very scared and thought that they may throw me off the bridge, so I jumped the barrier fence and ran down the road until I was cleared of the bridge and then I jumped back over the barrier.
The 10-15 Chinese students chased me and then another gang of approximately 30 more Chinese students ran from the other direction and completely surrounded me and started kicking me, punching me, swearing at me, some were pulling my hair, some were hitting me with full bottled mineral water, some threw the full bottles of mineral water at me, some were spitting at me and then a few of them stole my Tibetan flag.
While some were punching me about three of them were taking photos of my face and yelling at me with their fingers directly in my face, “Where do you live?” One man in particular looked very different from all of the rest as he was wearing a suit and tie and glasses, he was approximately in his late 20’s early 30’s, he approached me and started pushing his chest into mine very forcefully, he had both his fists clenched and continued to bully me by shoving his whole body forcefully into mine, and he was trying to get me to hit him back, he was really provoking me. I felt really intimidated, when he said to me with his finger right in my face in a very aggressive manner,
“If you don’t shut your mouth, we will kill you, we have you photo and we will kill you.” I didn’t retaliate and I kept telling them that I didn’t come here to fight; I came here for Human Rights for the Tibetans and the Chinese people.
One Australian man was passing by and saw the gang attacking me and he ran to help me and sheltered me with one of his arms and used his other arm to push them away from me. He was yelling at them to stop. He said to me, “I saw what happened and I saw them beat you, and I saw that you didn’t provoke them or fight back, that is really good he said, but please just run away now!.” I said, “Okay, but I want to get my flag back first” and he said “Okay, you wait here and I will go and get it back for you.”
He went to get the flag back and asked for it back and the Chinese started to harass him by pushing him and yelling at him and shoving the Chinese flag into his face so he couldn’t see anything else. He was unable to get the flag and said, “It is too hard to get it back” at that time another man came up to me and whispered into my ear, “ I am a Tibetan, please run away, I saw what they did, I don’t think you can get your flag back so please run away.”
I listened to him and jumped the fence to run away when they all started yelling at me, “Loser, you’re a loser.” They called out to all the Chinese that were standing in the direction I was running towards, chanting “Catch him, beat him, catch him, beat him.”
So when I got to the other side many Chinese people ran towards me and completely surrounded me, so I couldn’t move. They then started to hit me, punch me; swear at me, shoving their Chinese flags into my face with a lot of aggression.
Then three Australian ladies, one Australian man and his son aged about 10yrs and another Australian guy on a bike were around me and trying to help me, but they were all harassed. They violently pushed the man off his bike burst his ‘Save Tibet’ balloon, and I tried to help him up and then many of them started to kick me really hard into my back.
Then the Chinese completely surrounded all of us and we were stuck. There must have been about 60 of them around us at this time and we couldn’t see through the crowd at all, we could only see the sky. We were all very scared and we tried very hard to all stay together to protect each other. We were pinned in like animals and the Chinese harassed us shoving flags into our faces, yelling at us, spitting at us, hitting us with their flag poles, we were all very scared. At one point they hit the Australian man that was there with his son, over his head with the flag poles and he turned around to them with his camera and said, “Why are you hitting me, I am going to take a photo of you.” They then shoved so many flags into his face so he was unable to take any photos of them.
We were stuck like this for about 20mins and I don’t think anybody could see any of us in the middle as there were so many of the Chinese around us. We all made a decision at one point to try to push through the crowd and then they started taunting us and throwing coins at us all, but in particular to all the Australians yelling out, “How much did they pay you?”
We then continued to push our way through the crowd and we finally saw a few Tibetan flags, which made us push even harder to get through to join the rest of the Tibet supporters. Once we were free we could also see a few police and I ran up to one policeman and pointed in the direction from where I came and said, “There are many Tibetan people that are stuck in the middle of the Chinese crowds over there, and they are being beaten.” The policeman stared straight through me and didn’t say anything back to me at all.
The Tibetans had no protection at all against these very violent Chinese people and the police kept yelling at us to go one way, which was directly into the Chinese crowds, telling us if we stayed here they couldn’t protect us and we had to move. Then we would move and the Chinese would harass us until we got to the other end and the police there would send us back in the same direction from where we came. We were being sent from one massive crowd of Chinese by one police officer and then back into another crowd by another officer. We had no protection as the police couldn’t control the violent Chinese protesters.
I was also interviewed by Garry Linnell, from The Daily Telegraph and he wrote an article on his experience, as when we finished the interview he asked me to stay in that spot until his photographer could come and take a few photos. At that time many angry Chinese students rand towards me and spat in my face and were yelling and swearing at me, and I continued to stay calm and say, “All I want is peace.” When the photographer arrived, they tried to stop the photos being taken and shoved flags in front of the camera.
I was so very sad, I nearly cried. I felt like I was back in Tibet under the Chinese rule, being once again controlled by the Chinese.
Since my escape from Tibet in 1993, this is the first time that I have feared for my life. I have lived in Australia with my wife and children for nearly 3 years and I have always thought that I am lucky to live in a free country under a democratic law, where I could walk down the street with a Tibetan flag if I wanted to, but on this day I really felt like I was back in China when Australia became China for a day.
There was no freedom to peacefully demonstrate against the Chinese government brutal regime and its atrocious human rights record – as it became very obvious to me that the Chinese government was already heavily inside Australia.
I am now quite worried as Australia is my home, and my children’s home and I can’t go back to Tibet or I will be either killed, imprisoned and tortured. My only crime would be that I am a man that wants freedom, freedom of religion, freedom of speech and freedom to live with basic human rights.
As an Australian, shouldn’t I be protected by the law? How is it that these violent Chinese students who are not Australians, but are here on student visas, can come here and do these horrible things to Australians, do not follow the Australian law, are allowed to stay here?
* Full names have not been used in this report due to ongoing fear of threats and intimidation, however full details have been provided to the AFP.
I went to Canberra on the 24th April 2008, to peacefully protest against the ongoing inhumane acts that the Chinese government inflicts upon not only my people but all minority groups in China.
I met with all the other Tibet supporters on the Parliament Lawn and there were speeches and we were okay there as a group until the police asked us to move and were shuffling us over the bridge. There were many Pro Chinese protesters who were very aggressive both physically and verbally, and we were being forced to go towards them all. The police were very forceful and made us go into the crowds of thousands of Chinese people.
I made it to half way across the bridge carrying my Tibetan flag in one hand and showing the symbol of peace with my other hand and about 10-15 Chinese young people approximately 20-30yrs, that could have been students, completely surrounded me and started yelling and swearing at me and demanding that I give them my flag. I felt very scared and thought that they may throw me off the bridge, so I jumped the barrier fence and ran down the road until I was cleared of the bridge and then I jumped back over the barrier.
The 10-15 Chinese students chased me and then another gang of approximately 30 more Chinese students ran from the other direction and completely surrounded me and started kicking me, punching me, swearing at me, some were pulling my hair, some were hitting me with full bottled mineral water, some threw the full bottles of mineral water at me, some were spitting at me and then a few of them stole my Tibetan flag.
While some were punching me about three of them were taking photos of my face and yelling at me with their fingers directly in my face, “Where do you live?” One man in particular looked very different from all of the rest as he was wearing a suit and tie and glasses, he was approximately in his late 20’s early 30’s, he approached me and started pushing his chest into mine very forcefully, he had both his fists clenched and continued to bully me by shoving his whole body forcefully into mine, and he was trying to get me to hit him back, he was really provoking me. I felt really intimidated, when he said to me with his finger right in my face in a very aggressive manner,
“If you don’t shut your mouth, we will kill you, we have you photo and we will kill you.” I didn’t retaliate and I kept telling them that I didn’t come here to fight; I came here for Human Rights for the Tibetans and the Chinese people.
One Australian man was passing by and saw the gang attacking me and he ran to help me and sheltered me with one of his arms and used his other arm to push them away from me. He was yelling at them to stop. He said to me, “I saw what happened and I saw them beat you, and I saw that you didn’t provoke them or fight back, that is really good he said, but please just run away now!.” I said, “Okay, but I want to get my flag back first” and he said “Okay, you wait here and I will go and get it back for you.”
He went to get the flag back and asked for it back and the Chinese started to harass him by pushing him and yelling at him and shoving the Chinese flag into his face so he couldn’t see anything else. He was unable to get the flag and said, “It is too hard to get it back” at that time another man came up to me and whispered into my ear, “ I am a Tibetan, please run away, I saw what they did, I don’t think you can get your flag back so please run away.”
I listened to him and jumped the fence to run away when they all started yelling at me, “Loser, you’re a loser.” They called out to all the Chinese that were standing in the direction I was running towards, chanting “Catch him, beat him, catch him, beat him.”
So when I got to the other side many Chinese people ran towards me and completely surrounded me, so I couldn’t move. They then started to hit me, punch me; swear at me, shoving their Chinese flags into my face with a lot of aggression.
Then three Australian ladies, one Australian man and his son aged about 10yrs and another Australian guy on a bike were around me and trying to help me, but they were all harassed. They violently pushed the man off his bike burst his ‘Save Tibet’ balloon, and I tried to help him up and then many of them started to kick me really hard into my back.
Then the Chinese completely surrounded all of us and we were stuck. There must have been about 60 of them around us at this time and we couldn’t see through the crowd at all, we could only see the sky. We were all very scared and we tried very hard to all stay together to protect each other. We were pinned in like animals and the Chinese harassed us shoving flags into our faces, yelling at us, spitting at us, hitting us with their flag poles, we were all very scared. At one point they hit the Australian man that was there with his son, over his head with the flag poles and he turned around to them with his camera and said, “Why are you hitting me, I am going to take a photo of you.” They then shoved so many flags into his face so he was unable to take any photos of them.
We were stuck like this for about 20mins and I don’t think anybody could see any of us in the middle as there were so many of the Chinese around us. We all made a decision at one point to try to push through the crowd and then they started taunting us and throwing coins at us all, but in particular to all the Australians yelling out, “How much did they pay you?”
We then continued to push our way through the crowd and we finally saw a few Tibetan flags, which made us push even harder to get through to join the rest of the Tibet supporters. Once we were free we could also see a few police and I ran up to one policeman and pointed in the direction from where I came and said, “There are many Tibetan people that are stuck in the middle of the Chinese crowds over there, and they are being beaten.” The policeman stared straight through me and didn’t say anything back to me at all.
The Tibetans had no protection at all against these very violent Chinese people and the police kept yelling at us to go one way, which was directly into the Chinese crowds, telling us if we stayed here they couldn’t protect us and we had to move. Then we would move and the Chinese would harass us until we got to the other end and the police there would send us back in the same direction from where we came. We were being sent from one massive crowd of Chinese by one police officer and then back into another crowd by another officer. We had no protection as the police couldn’t control the violent Chinese protesters.
I was also interviewed by Garry Linnell, from The Daily Telegraph and he wrote an article on his experience, as when we finished the interview he asked me to stay in that spot until his photographer could come and take a few photos. At that time many angry Chinese students rand towards me and spat in my face and were yelling and swearing at me, and I continued to stay calm and say, “All I want is peace.” When the photographer arrived, they tried to stop the photos being taken and shoved flags in front of the camera.
I was so very sad, I nearly cried. I felt like I was back in Tibet under the Chinese rule, being once again controlled by the Chinese.
Since my escape from Tibet in 1993, this is the first time that I have feared for my life. I have lived in Australia with my wife and children for nearly 3 years and I have always thought that I am lucky to live in a free country under a democratic law, where I could walk down the street with a Tibetan flag if I wanted to, but on this day I really felt like I was back in China when Australia became China for a day.
There was no freedom to peacefully demonstrate against the Chinese government brutal regime and its atrocious human rights record – as it became very obvious to me that the Chinese government was already heavily inside Australia.
I am now quite worried as Australia is my home, and my children’s home and I can’t go back to Tibet or I will be either killed, imprisoned and tortured. My only crime would be that I am a man that wants freedom, freedom of religion, freedom of speech and freedom to live with basic human rights.
As an Australian, shouldn’t I be protected by the law? How is it that these violent Chinese students who are not Australians, but are here on student visas, can come here and do these horrible things to Australians, do not follow the Australian law, are allowed to stay here?
* Full names have not been used in this report due to ongoing fear of threats and intimidation, however full details have been provided to the AFP.
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Chinese student is cheered on tearing up a stolen Tibetan flag, then another starts burning it. |
REPORT 3 By Libby Shields, written 11th May 2008
Canberra Torch Relay – What Really Happened?
In the lead up to the Canberra Torch Relay His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Australian Representative and a Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile hosted a meeting with the Tibetan Community and Tibet supporters.
I attended this meeting where it was impressed upon us what the current situation in Tibet was, the danger of attempting to make contact by phone or email to Tibet directly and in particular, the potential for an attempt to sabotage the peaceful nature of the torch relay demonstration in Canberra. It was made very clear that we would be challenged not just as a group but on an individual basis using a variety of provocative tactics. The importance of maintaining a peaceful disposition in order to be of any real benefit to the plight of the Tibetan people was emphasised.
At this particular meeting, members of the Chinese community were also in attendance, reinforcing the likely goal of some pro-regime Chinese groups to cause trouble which was not necessarily reflective of the entire Chinese population.
Having been directly involved in the support of Tibetan refugees upon arrival and then living in Victoria I felt a personal responsibility to show practical support to my Tibetan friends by attending the Canberra torch relay. Two friends of mine in particular, orphaned by the Chinese regime, had asked me to keep an eye on them as they knew how distressing such an event could be (having already attended some smaller demonstrations in Victoria).
Once in Canberra, when we arrived at the designated location it was clear that we were outnumbered which was not in itself a problem. The “One China” chanting, whistle blowing and music was very loud. At this stage, whilst a little depressing, it reminded me that freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest was something even people I didn’t agree with, had the right to enjoy.
What I wasn’t prepared for was the level of blatant animosity. That this large group of Chinese students considered it appropriate to call out personal insults to individuals like, “You’re so f***g ugly” and “Go home to Europe”. These insults and obscenities could even have been overlooked, but as a young woman who has only ever lived in Australia, taking her personal liberty and safety for granted, the bullying that followed is still difficult to come to terms with.
After the torch passed ‘Old Parliament House’ our group was advised to walk to the next point to meet up with the next leg of the torch relay. What came as a disturbing shock was that ‘Pro-Regime Supporters’ instead of also travelling to see the torch, lined our paths so they could hurl more verbal abuse and stones, take our photos, push us, spit on us and obstruct in whatever way possible, our peaceful passage. As I had one Tibetan girl tucked under my arm I also could witness first-hand some of the scripted abuse intended for non-“Western ethnic scum”. Abuse like, “What is your name?” “We have your photo…We will find your family in Tibet…You’re F***d!” and.” Go Home!” These threats were made while pushing her and taking photos. It was not just one student with a camera. It was at least six or seven at a time all taking photos of us and awaiting some kind of outburst so that they could capture that, desperate for anything to discredit us.
I held my friend back, discouraging her also from giving any verbal reply, pleading with her, “Don’t give them what they want.” That is, a reaction.
Because we had then become separated from the larger group (a definite bullying strategy to encircle us and block our passage so that the group would become dispersed and hence more vulnerable) it was a long and traumatic walk towards the bridge whereupon despite arriving to more chaos and scuffles it was at least a bit safer to be reunited with a larger group.
We then crossed the bridge together and fortunately a police presence had physically separated us and at least one Chinese student was arrested and handcuffed, although still hurling abuse as he was held down in the middle of the road. Cars with Chinese flags drove slowly past us with the horn held down and middle fingers poking out at us outside their windows.
Once we were then completely obstructed from the second last opportunity to see the torch by another group of thousands, it became clear just how seriously aggressive these students were prepared to be. It was obvious that no one was safe, later emphasised by the van full of police who then had to line our paths and escort us away from the large group of students blocking the route screaming, blowing whistles spitting and so forth.
If the Tibetans and their supporters had not been so particularly adamant to uphold a peaceful stance despite all possible forms of provocation, the potential for riot would have been realised.
The anti-social behaviour was unfathomable – something I have never experienced, even at the rowdiest of drunken football matches.
My friend, a monk, had his flag snatched from him and they used the pole to repeatedly hit him over the head. Another friend of mine, a Tibetan, was punched in the stomach when she tried to rescue another westerner who was being beaten.
Another friend of mine, a senior monk (Geshe) was being interviewed and pro-regime supporters screamed around him in a reasonably successful attempt to drown out his voice. They used Chinese flags to obscure the camera. Later he was explaining to two of his antagonists what His Holiness the Dalai Lama is really asking for, that is, not to be separate from China but in fact for Human Rights. You could see that they were starting to think differently as this information was different from what they had been told by their government. At that point another pro-regime supporter approached them and dragged the other two students away saying, “Don’t listen, it is all lies!”
The most distressing part of the day for me was definitely when the torch relay had concluded. We did have a police escort to cross the road to leave but inevitably we were dispersed into smaller groups. Chinese students lined our paths again and waited for smaller groups so they could then run along beside us, hurling more insults and pushing us in a last attempt to cause a fight. I was walking at this time with a Tibetan woman and her mother who is in her seventies. They pushed into her also. By this stage we all started to say some prayers quietly to protect us. Because we had still not retaliated one of the students following us exclaimed when he pushed us for the last time, “Come on…(Pushing) ..You guys are so boring!”
I have called these students pro-regimists because I know they do not represent all of the Chinese population. I refuse to adopt racist, anti-Chinese sentiments and hold whoever was responsible for orchestrating this behaviour directly accountable for not only traumatising Tibetans and pro-human rights supporters; but for endangering the harmonious co-existence of many cultures and views that we have enjoyed in Australia it seems until now.
The most disturbing taunt that I personally heard was when some bullies were being told they were breaking the law by harassing us, “Do you think we care? We are one quarter of the world!”
REPORT 4 By Merilyn Jones, written 8th May, 2008
Report of events in Canberra while participating in a peaceful march protesting the abuse of human rights to Tibetans.
We had been warned that there were Chinese students from all over Australia, but in particular from Sydney and Melbourne, being bussed into Canberra. They were known to be supported by the Chinese Government because everything had been provided free to them. This included travel, food and flags. We were, on the other hand, a bunch of people of all ages and coming from many different states who mostly had been witness in some form, to the abuse Tibetans had received at the hand of the Chinese Government. Also, there were some Tibetans who are Australian residents among us.
In my own case, I had become friendly with a Tibetan nun quite by accident. This nun had been accepted as a migrant to Australia as a recognised political prisoner. She had been imprisoned because she was accused of being a participant in diversive conduct (participating in making a bomb). She is a nun practising compassion – the accusations and her conduct are completely contradictory. She was tortured in jail and has lost some memory and had some damage to other parts of her brain function. Although she is articulate, she sometimes blanks out. This was because cattle prods were applied to her head many many times – as well as the rest of her body. Her story coupled with many other stories I have heard of unjust treatment by the Chinese Government, confirms that human rights for Tibetans, as well as other minority groups in China, have been inhumanely abused.
My sign said “Human rights 4 Tibet” - it was simply a sheet of yellow cardboard.
We took a bus from Melbourne to Canberra overnight and there were many other buses filled with Chinese students at the same time. When we got to Canberra we met at a small hotel, where we proceeded to get ourselves ready with our signs and personal needs (water etc). We were entreated by the representative of ATC (Australian Tibet Council) that we must not give in to any violent behaviour. The protest must be peaceful.
We then walked around to the front of New Parliament House. There we found some of our compatriots who informed us of a stressful incident which had happened earlier. There had been about 7 people with Tibetan flags and t-shirts who had been surrounded by about 150 Chinese students who were brandishing their flags threateningly and circling them chanting slogans and yelling abuse. All of these people were visually shaken already. It was 7.30am.
As we waited more and more people supporting Tibetans, plus protesters from other groups, arrived and as we could look down the lawn to Old Parliament House, we could see many Chinese students massing together. There seemed to be a huge amount of Chinese people.
After the torch had gone past we were advised by a representative to walk down the hill to the front of Old Parliament House to the barriers for the second run past of the torch. As we walked down we found many Chinese students walking in tandem shouting at us to 'go home', 'mind your own business', 'fxxx off', 'why are you here', 'liars' and generally trying to taunt us.
It was quite impossible for some Tibetans who had lost family members at the hands of the Chinese Government to not reply to their taunts. As we walked down there was a small cement structure with some stairs. On the side of this were Chinese people who were waving their flags up and down in front of us in a very threatening manner. Two monks tried to engage them in conversation to reply to their accusations. This was received with jeering, abuse and hostility – waving their flags menacingly.
We walked further down to cross a bridge – which was 'held' by the Chinese. They refused to let us pass – during this time there were many shuffles and screaming of abuse by the Chinese. One man lifted the barrier to the road and we simply walked over to the other side – so we would not have to engage with them. Chinese students then ran over the road to threaten and taunt us.
As I walked over the bridge there was a very hostile looking Chinese man aged about 30 who was brandishing a large Chinese flag. As I was walking up toward him he hit a man in front of me on the head with the flag handle – this man kept walking. As I passed I showed him my sign and he hit the sign out of my hands narrowly missing my face. There was no way I could engage with this one – he was so angry looking. Spoiling for a fight I think. As we walked there were many taunts and shouting by the Chinese as before with many abusive words such as 'Fuck off'. Many Chinese were taking photos of us individually.
When we crossed the bridge we were directed toward the park – this was very strange because we had to walk through an avenue of two barricades behind which there were Chinese students who were really screaming and hostile. Following us were some Tibetans and as we got to the top of the rise we could see that the Chinese students had broken through the barricades but we could not discern exactly what had happened, but it was with much shouting and abuse we could hear it distinctly. The barricades were broken and the Chinese flags had merged into and moved toward the right side. There were no police to be seen anywhere during this phase.
We then walked further and ended in a kind of corral surrounded by many many Chinese students – here there were police who hastily turned us about-face – to which all the Chinese jeered like we were cowards or something. We felt like we were totally outnumbered by guests in our own country, and treated with hostility and intimidation. We are in our own country and yet this was so hostile – from students who had been granted visas to study here. It was quite shocking. I felt sick with disgust and was quite shaken by the implications.
What were we doing in that area – why had the police directed us to that corral, and why were they not at the entrance of the park where the two barricades were? I believe there may have been many people hurt during a fracas that was ignored by the police. And it was all instigated by Chinese. There is no doubt.
From there we went back toward the road and stood by the barricade. Just near us a Tibetan man collapsed and my friend alerted the police who called for an ambulance. He was in some kind of shock. After the torch passed we were asked to sit down and join in with the Tibetan monks saying prayers for peace and justice for Tibet. From there we dispersed and went into the park by the lake. We saw cars with Chinese flags passing us over and again, they were shouting and motioning rudely with their fingers at us.
We had noticed there were leaders who incited their groups and many took photos – why was that? Are we to be hassled by Chinese Government in future?
I feel threatened. And I feel very upset that this abuse and violence could happen to Australian residents who were peacefully protesting, by guests in our country. Our Government and Police must know what happened to our people and there must be an apology from the Chinese students and their visas revoked. The Chinese Government must be asked to apologise. This behaviour is insupportable – and we must protest because if we do not, then it will happen again.
REPORT 5 By Cynthia Karena, written 1st May 2008
My name is Cynthia Karena, and I was in Canberra when the torch came through to make a peaceful protest against human rights abuses in Tibet. As a journalist, I made a banner that read, ‘Let the media into Tibet’. Having attended many peaceful protests in the past, I was completely unprepared for the viciousness and the vitriol from many of the Chinese people that I encountered in Canberra. I was continually screamed at by young Chinese people; once they were three deep on both sides of a path I was walking on yelling and screaming at me. I found this confrontational and combative approach to be not only deeply distressing, but I felt that for the first time in my life I couldn’t peacefully and safely walk the streets of my own country. I was shaken by the experience to the extent that I couldn’t work the next day, which I had planned to do since I took the day off to go to Canberra.
On the flight home, I recognised a fellow protester who was visibly upset. She could barely talk, and whispered how upset she was by the Chinese. The Qantas steward was also concerned and made sure she was looked after on the flight. At Tullamarine airport she regained her voice and explained that at one stage she was surrounded by Chinese protesters who attempted to physically wrestle her Tibetan flag away from her.
REPORT 6 By Christian Walsh, written 1st May 2008
At the very first toilet stop on the way to Canberra a bus full of Chinese rolled up and told us to F___ OFF and tied a Chinese flag to the rear of our bus. It was removed when brought to the attention of the bus driver.
At the Olympic flame event on the grounds of Parliament house. I was struck with Chinese flags on numerous occasions. I was pursued by very large numbers of intimidating Chinese shouting “Liar”. I was attacked and had a balloon violently burst by one angry Chinese youth and another balloon was torn out of my hands by another youth as I went to the aid of a young girl who was alone and in tears and being attacked by large numbers of Chinese in a similar manner.
The most offensive behaviour of all was the fact that I was being filmed and photographed by Chinese and unbelievably number of Chinese men where ever I went. These Chinese spies seemed to be gathering intelligence information. I was even interviewed by a Chinese official (denoted by a blue tracksuit top that many of coordinating Chinese were wearing) who was carrying a walkie talkie and was receiving instructions in Chinese. I also noticed that much of the movements the huge Chinese crowds made were being coordinated by more mature looking Chinese men carrying clipboards. The Chinese people there all seemed to be well groomed to ask the same question of us. Have you been to Tibet? How would you feel if Tasmania wanted independence, etc. They also seemed well groomed to chant slogans against any objections we made. They would all shout “Liar Liar” in unison if they felt a valid point was being made by any of us. This was very much like the Mao Tse Tung days of public persecution of perceived dissidents where the government would organize masses of people to chant traitor or what ever to someone who received a letter from abroad. I could not believe the Chinese would so blatantly do this to Australians, in Australia at our own Government house.
The thousands of Chinese present were treating it like a military offensive in order to generate maximum fear and intimidation to any one who dared to be questioning the crimes against humanity and human rights violations in China and Tibet.
In order to stop the mass attacks from these cowardly bullying crowds of Chinese the Police told us to gather together as a group and stay like that for our own safety. The Chinese crowd became more and more vocal and started making Charges and collective murderous screams at us as they were pushing on barricades to try to get to us. Some were being restrained by other Chinese as they became like mad dogs lunging forward at us and even a couple tried to attack the Police. Bus loads of Federal Police reinforcements had to be brought in for our protection and to disperse the menacing Chinese crowds.
The entire experience was like being subject to deliberate, calculated and coordinated act of war.
I was very disturbed by the whole situation and could not believe that the Chinese would organize such aggressive behaviour toward Australians on the grounds of our own parliament in our capital! I no longer felt safe in my own capital and we had to plan a strategic back route back our bus in order to avoid further attacks without police protection.
REPORT 7 By Katrina Moxey, written April 30th 2008
After the initial stage of the relay, I walked with a group of Tibetans and Tibet supporters to cross the bridge and follow the end of the torch relay route. As I walked along, large groups of pro-China youth began to harass and push into our group. They incited us with abusive language and gestures such as telling us to “Fxxx off” and pointing their middle fingers at us. When we tried to move away from them, they barged forward and crushed into us until we were surrounded and had nowhere to go. They began pulling Tibetan flags out of people’s hands and pushing and shoving people. It was frightening. They particularly targeted Tibetans and I saw an elderly Tibetan lady abused and jostled and told to “Go home”. They also used insults such as telling the Tibetans to, “Speak fxxxxxx English”. I was shocked and scared.
As we moved over the bridge we kept to the left-hand side to stay away from the Chinese. However, they kept running over and brandishing flags at us. They also shouted abuse from the other side of the road. (One of them was arrested as he ran across the road to incite us.)
Once over the bridge we crossed the road and we were suddenly surrounded on both sides by Chinese. Although the police kept yelling at them to keep back and stay away from us, they flagrantly disobeyed these police orders. They were out of control. It was clear we were in serious danger. However, we had no where to escape to as we were surrounded on all sides. They abused and vilified us. One protestor screamed at me, “The Dalai Lama is an evil demon!” He was full of vitriol and hate. I have never seen anything like that before.
I saw a Buddhist monk pushed to the ground just in front of me. While he was on the ground the Chinese began pelting him with stones. I also had stones thrown at me. In all of this, I made no provocative or hateful remarks to the Chinese. In fact, our organisers clearly instructed us to remain peaceful, not to go near the torch, to stay away from the Chinese groups and to ensure our slogans were not inciting or anti-Chinese. We fulfilled these conditions extremely well under the most trying of circumstances.
I have no doubt the Chinese were attempting to incite violence and racial hatred and aggressively suppress our right to speak and hold our own views. Their actions were violent and abusive and they targeted us based on our religious and political viewpoints. They also particularly targeted the Tibetans in the most hateful and racist manner I have ever seen.
In the end we were not able to follow the torch relay route as the police advised us, “We cannot guarantee your safety”. We were not able to pass through the Chinese mob so we huddled in a corner and asked the police to guard us and then help us to cross the road. We were too scared to go anywhere. After some time, the police assisted us to cross the road so that we could leave the scene.
Afterwards, I walked with a group of six Australians and two Tibetan women. We walked to Parliament House to go to the café there for lunch. Some Chinese gangs began following us. I looked behind me and felt very frightened as I saw them approaching and shouting at us. It was clear they were going to attack. I searched for police but there were none. I tried to keep walking quickly. However, the Chinese began physically pushing into our group and then surrounding and taunting us. One of the Tibetan women we were walking with was 70 years old and she was also jostled and threatened by the youth. Despite their harassment we all continued walking.
We were also harassed by groups of youth in cars who were driving around with red flags and tooting and swearing and giving us the finger.
It was very upsetting. I felt unsafe in my own capital city. I was relieved when I saw the youth begin pouring back into buses around 4pm in the afternoon as I felt finally I was safe from the mobs. Even in the buses they still harassed us, sticking their fingers out the windows and yelling, “Fxxx you!”
The Chinese student groups who planned, organised and instigated these attacks clearly violated Australian law. They subjected Australians and Tibetans to the most disturbing harassment and abuse, including physical and verbal abuse and intimidation. They used racial hatred and religious vilification of the most disturbing ferocity.
REPORT 8 By Michael Cassapidis, written 6 May, 2008
On the morning of the 24th of April I took the plane up to Canberra in order to join the peaceful protest to support Tibet. Most Tibetans had gone the day before to be there early but since I couldn’t go the day before I left on the same morning. There were a few other Tibetans on the same flight.
Unlike the Chinese students whose travel was arranged and supported by the Chinese embassy, every Tibetan and supporter went up voluntarily at our own expense.
By the time we got to Canberra airport it was nearly 9 o’clock, which was the beginning of the torch relay. We were contacted by a Tibetan community leader and told not to come up to the starting point of the relay because we wouldn’t make it in time, rather to go to the middle of the city. There was a main cross-road there (I forgot the name of it) where the relay was coming through. So we were told to go there. There were about 8 or 9 Tibetans and 2 Australians with us, all from the same flight. So we were about 10 as a group when we went into the city. We took the airport shuttle bus into the city.
On the way, as we passed near Parliament we began to notice the sea of red, there were thousands of Chinese students around. Just seeing that I began to feel overwhelmed. Then out of the window of the bus I saw an Australian male being harassed by Chinese students. The Australian was dragged out and pushed out of the way and bullied by a group of Chinese. I began to feel scared of what might happen to the Tibetan supporters when I saw this assault. We were clearly out-numbered.
We got out of the bus and went to the square. Initially, there were not many people there. But soon we began to see a lot of Chinese students coming towards us with their red flags. As mentioned, there were only about 10 of us but then a few other Australians came and joined us. We sat at a corner and we were trying to find out if that was the right place to be and what time the relay would come. But no one was really sure. Meanwhile, more and more Chinese students started to come into that area. After about 10 or 15 minutes we were suddenly surrounded by many Chinese students brandishing their flags at us. They began singing patriotic songs in Chinese. They were shouting insults at us, such as: “The Dalai Lama is a liar!”
Then a media team arrived. It was a small crew of two cameramen and one reporter. They came over to interview us. One of the Tibetans amongst us began speaking to the reporter. Once the Chinese saw us talking to the media they immediately began to attack us more forcibly. They blocked the view of the camera with their red flags and completely disrupted the interview and shouted abusive language. There was also a Somalian man and woman who came by and they joined us. The media team attempted to interview them too.
There was another Chinese man who came over. He was wearing a suit and he tried to give the impression that he was interested in talking to us. But in fact whoever tried to have a conversation with him, he would completely overpower and disrespect them by saying, “You haven’t been to Tibet”, “You don’t know the situation there”, “The media is lying” and so forth. He kept pushing his view. He seemed to be an official because he spoke and dressed well but he acted as if he was not involved in the group as he came over separately.
I became scared as I felt this situation could easily get out of control and if it did we were completely outnumbered. There were approximately 300 or 400 Chinese students in the vicinity and we were only a small group (of around 15 people at this point). There was no police in sight. It was a dangerous and frightening situation.
To ease the situation I began chanting Buddhist prayers and the other Tibetans joined me in this. This eased the situation a little. However, the Chinese continued harassing us.
Then we saw a concrete garden structure and we stood on that so that we could be seen. But the Chinese still harassed us. They pushed their flags into us and tried to pull our Tibetan flags down. They continued using abusive language.
Then 10-15 minutes before the torch came that was when the police came and they began putting up the barricades. We saw one police officer was talking on his mobile phone and then after that he came over and selected us and put us behind the barricade to protect us from the Chinese. That way the police could see us. We were glad about that.
In all of this chaos there were families who were scared of this whole situation. Behind us I noticed a lady with a child on her back and a young daughter of four or five. And I heard her say, “Let’s go over to the Tibetans. It seems to be the safest place.” She then came in front of us and her daughter stood in front of me, protected from the Chinese behind.
When we were selected out by the police, some Chinese began shouting and pulling us back. Some police noticed that and came over. After that one police officer stayed with us at all times. Clearly, the situation was so dire that we needed police protection.
There was another person who was with us. I think he may have been Vietnamese. He was getting harassed by the Chinese. This was just after the relay had passed and police began to disperse. The Chinese students were shouting at him and trying to push him out of the way. He was saying that he was there because he had been selected by the police. I got very concerned that this person may be in serious trouble once the police left so I called a police officer over to come and protect him. Then the Chinese were arguing with the police. They seemed to have no concern or respect for the authority of the police. The police told the Chinese, “This is a public area. He has the right to be here.”
When the police were around, the official-looking guy disappeared. I don’t know where he went.
Before and after the relay there were lots of cars with Chinese in them. They were driving past shouting abuse and profanities and sticking their fingers up in rude gestures and tooting their horns.
The Chinese continued to harass us but we didn’t respond at all.
As we walked up to join the others many Chinese took pictures of us. Finally, we managed to join the other larger Tibet group at which time we felt somewhat safer.
I was shocked and disturbed by the aggressive and abusive nature of the Chinese students. I felt threatened.
REPORT 9 By Kerrin Hosking, written 7th May, 2008
I attended the Torch Relay in support of the Tibetan cause and participated peacefully in the pro-Tibet protests. It was an un-missable public event attended by the world’s press and I felt strongly that it was an important time to take peaceful action. My goal, like the goal of the pro-Tibet group, was not to disrupt the Torch Relay, but simply to help capitalise on this moment in history to get our message heard.
As outlined in the Olympic Charter and associated documents produced by the Olympic committee: “All along its route, the flame heralds the upcoming Olympic Games and transmits a message of peace and friendship amongst peoples.” From this guideline provided at http://multimedia.olympic.org, I am afraid that the Canberra Torch Relay was nothing short of a disaster.
Some of the events that I witnessed proved that the Torch Relay failed in its mission to unite people and celebrate the Olympic Spirit.
I spent the day with a large group of pro-Tibet supporters. There were many incidents that were just plain intimidatory, aggressive and rude to say the least, from some members of the pro-China contingent. Here is what I personally witnessed: -
- Large groups of pro-China supporters physically crowding and yelling loudly at much smaller groups of Pro-Tibet supporters.
- Cars speeding around Canberra’s streets with huge Chinese flags flying from the windows and the occupants screaming abuse at pro-Tibet supporters.
- I was personally yelled at and received a myriad of mixed taunts that show little appreciation of the Tibet issue such as “Go Home!” (I am a Caucasian Australian, by the way - I am not sure where they assumed my home was?), "What about your aborigines?” (Good point – we are working on that), “Liar!” (Interesting given I was walking silently at the time), “None of your business!” (Says who?), “Why do you care?”
- I was prevented from walking on a pathway through a crowded parkland area by several pro-China supporters holding a large Chinese flag across the pathway, yelling aggressively and demanding that I not pass.
- I saw one pro-China supporter aggressively rip a Tibetan flag of a young woman’s back pack, which resulted in heated scuffles. The flag was not returned to its owner.Later in the day as I walked with a small group of people (8 women and 1 man), we were surrounded by pro-China supporters, mainly male, who continued their taunts and chanting as we walked silently and felt quite afraid for our safety.
- Later in the day when crowds had disbursed, I walked with two other females from Lake Burley Griffin back to Parliament. We saw several pro-China busess parked near Old Parliament and felt nervous as we needed to walk past them. As we did so, one young pro-China supporter came to us and politely asked if he could have the large Tibetan flag that one of my friends was carrying. When we politely said no, he asked if he could buy it and again we explained no. He then said (please pardon my language)… “F@*K YOU!” and walked away.
REPORT 10 By Fiona McKenzie, written 1st May 2008
On 24th April 2008, I travelled to Canberra by bus with the Australia Tibet Council.
There was one particular incident that I found rather disturbing … I was standing directly behind two elderly Tibetans near the footpath in front of Parliament House as the bus with the "blue tracksuit brigade" went past. It was pleasing to see that they were inside the bus. However, one of them put his head out the window, arm fully extended with a smug smile on his face, looking directly at the Tibetans, gave them the 'thumbs down' sign, then disappeared back in the bus.
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Not only is this behaviour provocative to say the least - and certainly not in line with their ‘so-called duties’ - it is a disgusting insult to those elderly Tibetans who, before this incident, were visibly distressed with tears in their eyes.
Another disturbing incident - well after the torch relay finished - I was walking towards old Parliament House in a group of about 8 of us. Two elderly Tibetans ladies were in front of me with a group of Chinese students (about 6 of them) directly behind us. Next thing, one of the Chinese male students barges right through the middle of the two Tibetan ladies in front of me, elbows out, forcefully pushing them forward. He then moves to the side, pretends to do his shoe laces up, and then starts screaming “SHAME ON YOU LIARS!” Needless to say, we did not do a thing to warrant this attention.
From speaking to other people at the event, it seems I was one of the lucky ones - I didn’t get spat on, I didn’t have my flag ripped out of my hands. I gave one of my signs (CHINA: PLEASE TALK TO THE DALAI LAMA) to another lady from our bus trip as she didn’t have a sign to carry. After the event, she told me that she’d had the sign ripped out of her hands, spat on, and Chinese flag poles pushed through it.
At one stage, I stood up for a Tibetan lady who got told to “Go Home”. Verbal abuse was flying everywhere: “DALAI LAMA ROT IN HELL”, “YOU ARE LIARS, SHAME ON YOU”, “F*** OFF YOU LIARS” etc etc. We had Chinese students going past in cars, middle finger pointed at us, walking along the street.
The Australia Tibet Council informed us at a brief that morning that we were to remain calm at all times no matter what abuse was hurled at us. I am pleased to say that we did not respond to any of this provocation but walked away without comment each time.
REPORT 11 By Judy Mayne written 7 May 2008
I attended the Canberra torch relay on 24th April, 2008. I thought the atmosphere was threatening with the students trying to outdo Tibet supporters by raising and furling their flags above anyone holding a Tibet banner or flag, and mounting daises in order to be higher than Tibet supporters. It was definitely a mob mentality, strength in numbers, that afforded their behaviour.
Although two Chinese people (a student and an older person) initiated a conversation with me it soon became obvious they were not interested in considering or reflecting on my response to their initial statement or question. They were merely trying to force their own opinion and drown out my views.
I walked part of the way with the groups to the road over the lake. I then decided to see if there was a flight home and fortunately I found one. I think the intimidation got worse after that on the way back to parliament. Other people have told me about their abuse and physical intimidation.
REPORT 12 By Ben written 16 May 2008
After attending the torch relay in Canberra in protest against human rights abuse in Tibet and throughout China, I was appalled at the treatment I received from the federal police and the NSW police who were 'protecting' the torch as it went through Canberra. Even though I’m not Tibetan, for much of the day at the protest I felt isolated and scared to walk on my own, just as so many Tibetans are in their homeland, illegally occupied by China. My day began peacefully when I was protesting in front of the new parliament house in Canberra. At this stage the Chinese supporters were peaceful yet vocal. As the torch passed where all the Tibetan supporters were standing, I followed the torch waving my Tibetan flag in a peaceful manner, shouting 'Free Tibet'. As I got further away from where most people had gathered, I was a lone Tibetan supporter, gradually being surrounded by at least 100 Chinese Olympic supporters. It was at this stage that quite a lot of Chinese supporters began shouting abuse at me, accusing me of racism toward Australian Aboriginals by being in Australia! I was spat at, threatened, screamed at, sworn at, had Chinese supporters come up to me beckoning me to fight them and had various drinks and food thrown at me. As I began to approach a bridge which went over Lake Burley Griffin (not sure of the bridge name), I thought little of the hundreds of Chinese supporters who were waving their flags, screaming their national anthem and 'go China'. Yet I began to be surrounded once again, and this time was grabbed and scratched and punched in the stomach by about 15 Chinese supporters. I was there to protest peacefully and so didn’t defend myself as it would defeat the purpose of being at the peaceful protest. My flag was grabbed after being assaulted and the Chinese supporters ran off with it trying to burn it.
Although I have no physical wounds to show of the abuse I received, I’m emotionally scarred. Abuse toward me and other supporters continued throughout the day. We had our photos taken without permission, and the Tibetan supporters I was with feared for reprisals on their family in Tibet.
Another disturbing incident - well after the torch relay finished - I was walking towards old Parliament House in a group of about 8 of us. Two elderly Tibetans ladies were in front of me with a group of Chinese students (about 6 of them) directly behind us. Next thing, one of the Chinese male students barges right through the middle of the two Tibetan ladies in front of me, elbows out, forcefully pushing them forward. He then moves to the side, pretends to do his shoe laces up, and then starts screaming “SHAME ON YOU LIARS!” Needless to say, we did not do a thing to warrant this attention.
From speaking to other people at the event, it seems I was one of the lucky ones - I didn’t get spat on, I didn’t have my flag ripped out of my hands. I gave one of my signs (CHINA: PLEASE TALK TO THE DALAI LAMA) to another lady from our bus trip as she didn’t have a sign to carry. After the event, she told me that she’d had the sign ripped out of her hands, spat on, and Chinese flag poles pushed through it.
At one stage, I stood up for a Tibetan lady who got told to “Go Home”. Verbal abuse was flying everywhere: “DALAI LAMA ROT IN HELL”, “YOU ARE LIARS, SHAME ON YOU”, “F*** OFF YOU LIARS” etc etc. We had Chinese students going past in cars, middle finger pointed at us, walking along the street.
The Australia Tibet Council informed us at a brief that morning that we were to remain calm at all times no matter what abuse was hurled at us. I am pleased to say that we did not respond to any of this provocation but walked away without comment each time.
REPORT 11 By Judy Mayne written 7 May 2008
I attended the Canberra torch relay on 24th April, 2008. I thought the atmosphere was threatening with the students trying to outdo Tibet supporters by raising and furling their flags above anyone holding a Tibet banner or flag, and mounting daises in order to be higher than Tibet supporters. It was definitely a mob mentality, strength in numbers, that afforded their behaviour.
Although two Chinese people (a student and an older person) initiated a conversation with me it soon became obvious they were not interested in considering or reflecting on my response to their initial statement or question. They were merely trying to force their own opinion and drown out my views.
I walked part of the way with the groups to the road over the lake. I then decided to see if there was a flight home and fortunately I found one. I think the intimidation got worse after that on the way back to parliament. Other people have told me about their abuse and physical intimidation.
REPORT 12 By Ben written 16 May 2008
After attending the torch relay in Canberra in protest against human rights abuse in Tibet and throughout China, I was appalled at the treatment I received from the federal police and the NSW police who were 'protecting' the torch as it went through Canberra. Even though I’m not Tibetan, for much of the day at the protest I felt isolated and scared to walk on my own, just as so many Tibetans are in their homeland, illegally occupied by China. My day began peacefully when I was protesting in front of the new parliament house in Canberra. At this stage the Chinese supporters were peaceful yet vocal. As the torch passed where all the Tibetan supporters were standing, I followed the torch waving my Tibetan flag in a peaceful manner, shouting 'Free Tibet'. As I got further away from where most people had gathered, I was a lone Tibetan supporter, gradually being surrounded by at least 100 Chinese Olympic supporters. It was at this stage that quite a lot of Chinese supporters began shouting abuse at me, accusing me of racism toward Australian Aboriginals by being in Australia! I was spat at, threatened, screamed at, sworn at, had Chinese supporters come up to me beckoning me to fight them and had various drinks and food thrown at me. As I began to approach a bridge which went over Lake Burley Griffin (not sure of the bridge name), I thought little of the hundreds of Chinese supporters who were waving their flags, screaming their national anthem and 'go China'. Yet I began to be surrounded once again, and this time was grabbed and scratched and punched in the stomach by about 15 Chinese supporters. I was there to protest peacefully and so didn’t defend myself as it would defeat the purpose of being at the peaceful protest. My flag was grabbed after being assaulted and the Chinese supporters ran off with it trying to burn it.
Although I have no physical wounds to show of the abuse I received, I’m emotionally scarred. Abuse toward me and other supporters continued throughout the day. We had our photos taken without permission, and the Tibetan supporters I was with feared for reprisals on their family in Tibet.