Jump to content

Olympic torch ceremony marred by protests


veer

Recommended Posts

Olympic torch ceremony marred by protests ALSO READ TIBET'S CALL FOR FREEDOM Rate the Story NDTV Active To read the biggest stories of the day on your mobile, type mobile.ndtv.com on your phone browser. Also Read Protests affect tourism in Dharamshala Beijing Olympics should go on: Dalai Lama China lashes out at crackdown critics India's stand clear on Tibet: China Forums Does Dalai Lama represent Tibet's aspirations? User Name Password New User ? Sign In Press Trust of India Monday, March 24, 2008 (Beijing) The fortnight-long protests against Chinese rule in Tibet that have reverberated worldwide overshadowed the Beijing Olympic torch lighting ceremony in Greece on Monday as the communist giant vowed to take strict security measures to thwart any move to ''sabotage'' the event. Tibet activist groups have called for stopping the Olympic torch relay from passing through the restive Himalayan region swamped by the Chinese military to crush the most volatile protests against its rule in two decades. Apprehending trouble, around 1,000 police officers were deployed in ancient Olympia, where the games originated 3,000 years ago, for the traditional torch lighting ceremony. The torch is to be carried through 20 countries including India, and scale 8,848-meter high Mount Everest in Tibet in May for the games that will begin on August 8. Ahead of the ceremony, the head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said there was ''no momentum'' for a boycott but hoped that China will change by opening the country. ''The major political leaders don't want a boycott. There is no momentum for a boycott,'' said IOC president Jacques Rogge. The Olympics, he said, while ''not a panacea for all ills'', were a force for good that could prompt change. According to China, at least 19 people have been killed and over 700 injured in the protests that coincided with the anniversary of the failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet. Tibetan groups claim the death toll is 130.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...