Deported activists warn of Tibet torch protests
Three Tibetan activists barred
from travelling to Hong Kong warned in a live webcast on
Thursday that the Olympic flame's trek through Tibet would
escalate tensions and spark protests.
week ahead of the latest leg of the Olympic torch relay.
Friday's leg follows a tumultuous five-continent tour that was
dogged by protests over China's crackdown on rioting Tibetans
in March.
Kong's reputation as a free and open territory of China.
locations in Canada, England and the United States, warned
that
running a special flame up Mount Everest and then the main
torch through Tibet in June was a "blatant provocation" and
would escalate tensions on the ground.
Gov't may boycott Beijing Games..(yeah right)
As protests continue to disrupt the Olympic torch's journey towards
Beijing, Canada's Defence Minister Peter MacKay said the Conservative
government has not yet decided on a potential boycott of the Beijing
Olympics.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, MacKay said the issue is likely to
be discussed at the cabinet table and no decision will be made until
that happens.
"Without having the discussion we can't rule anything out, so were not at that point," he said.
Canadians join global protests against violence in Tibet
"We're feeling heavy-hearted about what's going on in Tibet, and I think people around the world have felt this way," protest organizer Glen McLean told CBC News in Edmonton.
"We wanted to come together here in Edmonton as one more voice in the world community that's speaking out about the Chinese government's actions in Tibet."
In Vancouver, several streets were closed as about 300 protesters gathered outside the Chinese consulate, some chanting: "Free Tibet! End the killing!"
Some demonstrators even came from across the U.S. border to participate in the protest, including Wuangchuk Durjee from Vancouver, Wash. He said he fled his home country of Tibet in 1959 but still has family there.
"I haven't heard from them at all, everything is cut off," he said.
Demonstrators chant for Tibet on Parliament Hill
Tibetans and non-Tibetans united in a peaceful rally on Parliament
Hill Thursday to protest the recent crackdown by Chinese authorities on
anti-Chinese demonstrators in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa.
Ottawa Police estimated 750 demonstrators gathered to support Tibet and to demand China pull its military from the region.
From
the steps in front of the peace tower, hoarse cries lead the chants of
those gathered: "Human rights for Tibet," "Tibet is not a part of
China," and "Independence for Tibet."
Many at the rally had just
arrived in Ottawa, having taken one of 13 overnight buses from Toronto
booked through the Joint Action Committee that coordinated the event.
"Everyone was pumped," is how organizer Bhutila Karpoche described the
atmosphere on the buses from Toronto.