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Tibet Activists scale Tower Bridge on Eve of Olympics

Kevin Otto | 06.08.2008 17:47 | Repression | Social Struggles | London | World

Two campaigners have climbed London's Tower Bridge to unfurl banners in protest at China's occupation of Tibet on the eve of the Olympics. The banner-hang was linked to similar actions internationally, most notably the unfurling of free Tibet banners within metres of the 'Bird's Nest' Olympic stadium in Beijing. The activists are linked to the group Students for a Free Tibet.

Two activist climbers and two support campaigners were arrested following a daring action on London's Tower Bridge. The protest was aimed at the Chinese Government's occupation of Tibet, and its use of the Olympic Games as a propaganda tool, claim the group Students for a Free Tibet.

Climbers James Murray (23), of Edinburgh University and Jenny Raynor (26) of Cambridge University climbed suspension cables to reach a height of 100ft above the River Thames before unfurling Tibetan national flags and a 37sq ft banner reading “Beijing 2008: Make Olympic History: Free Tibet”

Climber James Murray said: “The Chinese government is using the Beijing Olympics in an attempt to legitimise its brutal occupation of Tibet and cover up its human rights record."

Students for a Free Tibet spokesperson Terry Bettger added: "These activists seek to remind the world of the ongoing suffering that the Tibetan people endure at the hands of the occupying Chinese forces. Tibetans are living in a climate of fear amidst unspeakable repression and abuse of their fundamental human rights."

"The Chinese government are seeking to mask the truth and whitewash the continuing crackdown in Tibet by denying any independent media access to the region. Recent reports from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch highlight the fact that human rights are deteriorating in China and Tibet."

Kevin Otto

Comments

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...he types on his Lenovo computer

07.08.2008 00:01

The reporting of these 'free Tibet' losers is beginning to annoy and the games haven't even started. Why this gets headlines news on the BBC is beyond me. The hypocrisy beggars belief when so many 'human rights' have been removed in the countries of the coalition of the willing over the last few years. I suppose it is easier to make a fool of yourself over Tibet, it is also easier to spell than Abu Ghraib on an imported Chinese made computer.

Zacarius Moussaoui


Bit sick of this daft objection

09.08.2008 18:21

So since when does protesting on one issue, as Iain and I and many others from SFT and around the world have over the past few days, mean that we have no interest in any other? Stop the War was my first protest, I was at G8 Gleneagles, etc. etc. Just because there's no potted protest history in the Students for a Free Tibet press release doesn't mean we have no other interests.

Ya fanny

James Murray
- Homepage: http://www.ft08.tv