IOC urged not to take the torch into Tibet
Tuesday, 29 April 2008, 4:20 p.m.
Dharamshala: The Tibetan
Solidarity Committee has urged the International Olympic Committee
(IOC) to comply with the Olympic spirit and rethink the decision to
take the Olympic torch into Tibet, to prevent further loss of precious
human lives.
“Many Tibetans have been killed and arrested due to China’s brutal
and violent suppression of peaceful Tibetan demonstrators. Moreover, if
the Olympic torch passes through Tibet, it will undoubtedly be an
immense insult and disrespect to the Tibetans, who are enduring extreme
repression, mental and physical torture. It will be akin to adding salt
to their wounds, which will deeply hurt their sentiments,” noted the
press statement released on Monday.
The statement added: “If lives are lost due to IOC’s failure to
reconsider their stance, the IOC and related organisations will be
solely responsible.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration have never opposed the Olympic Games in China.
Authorities have placed immense restriction in areas of Tibet
where the torch route lies. Following a heavy deployment of Chinese
armies, many Tibetans have been arrested. In addition, each Tibetan
household has been forced to hoist Chinese national flag on the
rooftop. The Chinese authorities have also chosen few selective
Tibetans to speak to the international media as their spokespersons and
these speakers are trained what to say and what not to say.
Jampa Phuntsok, governor of Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), has
earlier has warned that the Chinese authorities will not show mercy and
deal severely with troublemakers, with a tacit reference to Tibetans,
who try to impede the torch relay in Tibet.
Tibetans fear that protests might occur during torch relay and the Chinese authorities would ruthlessly put down the protests.
The actual situation on the ground will be completely in
contradiction with the Olympic spirit. The Chinese government will
create such a strict and suffocating atmosphere that the Tibetans, who
are already under a martial law like condition, will suffer further
repression, subjugation and tension.
