"Free Tibet" skywriter above the Torch Relay this morning

Imagine back in time, pre-Kevin I guess, when some functionary in the public service first gets the news that the torch will arrive here on 23 April.
I would have thought they might think, “cripes a bit close to ANZAC Day”. But let’s skip past that.
Now we know the torch flew in on the morning of the 23rd and I have a question here. All logic would seem to say, “run the event in the middle of the day when disruption would be least, get the relay over on that day”. That then gives a day clear before the 25th.
Now we know the “powers that be” simply wasted 24 hrs until the day before ANZAC Day, the 24th was also the day of the HMS Sydney Commemoration.
Why and how did Australia agree to this torch relay / media event being run unnecessarily closer to ANZAC Day ?
Correct me if I am wrong but the only people I can think of who gained by delaying the relay till the 24th were the Chinese who obviously found it easier to drum up their coach loads of “rent-a-crowd” on the day before a public holiday than the Wednesday which would have meant breaking into the 4 day week.
Can any readers cast light on how the decision was reached not to run on the 23rd ?
A fascinating revelation of a potential “Fifth Column” here too.

CanberraResident: So once again you have ignored my comment.

captainwhorebags said :

Dave_K: maybe the Chinese Govt thought that the Chinese expat community would like to be a part of something special for their country, rather than some sinister plot to stamp out any protest.

I truly have no idea either way, but I think if the Australian govt provided money and transport for expats in Europe to attend a service at Gallipoli that this would be perfectly okay.

The mass-produced shirts reading ‘One China’ and other slogans seem to indicate the political agenda being pursued by the Chinese. The commie thugs weren’t chanting ‘Olympics’ they were chanting ‘One China’ and ‘Go Away’ and ‘You have no right’.

Dave_K: maybe the Chinese Govt thought that the Chinese expat community would like to be a part of something special for their country, rather than some sinister plot to stamp out any protest.

I truly have no idea either way, but I think if the Australian govt provided money and transport for expats in Europe to attend a service at Gallipoli that this would be perfectly okay.

Many hundreds, if not thousands, of the ‘pro-China’ crowd were bused into Canberra at the behest of the Chinese Government. Many of them disregarded the rights of others to engage in their own peaceful expression of their point of view. Much of the police security effort was focused at preventing the ‘pro-China’ mob doing over the considerably outnumbered Tibetan protestors, largely as a result of the Chinese Government’s mobilisation of its nationals in Australia. Anyone else offended by the Chinese Government’s direct hand in all of this? Why have we let the tyrants of Beijing manipulate our freedoms in this way?

CanberraResident said :

I rest my case. Nothing further.

CanberraResident , rubbish, you’ve said the same numerous times, just shut the fukc up , ok ?

Wedding vegetables? Heh…

??? I didn’t protest actually, but don’t let that stop your (drunken?) ranting.

Has anyone come to the possible conclusion that just maybe CANBERRA RESIDENT is a victim of Domestic Violence?

The poor sod has had his masculinity removed (via wife with kitchen knife because he wouldn’t shut up) and hence now demands that everyone should protest RE: the removing of wedding vegetables until they grow back?

Not losing any argument el, your ACT Tibetan leader managed to do that on tonight’s Stateline program. She flustered her way through the interview like she had absolutely no idea what she was talking about. The Chinese fella came out on top.Tibetans peaceful people? Not a chance after what they’ve created.

Oh, and the fact that you are trying too link me to someone else just shows that you’ve spent way too much time on these silly blogs. I’ve been on this site 6 weeks – never even heard of the site before then. I am not one to change my name and come back with a new name as some fool has suggested – no need to do that.

Glad to see the “peaceful” Tibetan people have such fools as yourself as one of their short-term supporters … you go hand-in-hand with the blithering idiot of a woman on Stateline tonight … gosh that was embarrassing for Tibetans everywhere …

Rave on to your hearts content, and when you find a new “cause”, make sure to tell us all about it, but pleeease, next time, don’t look up the “cause” on Wikipedia and cutting and pasting it into this blog like you did earlier … duckbrain, pffft

I rest my case. Nothing further.

@ the ferret – Nah the posts aren’t long enough to the CC.

@AD you haven’t come up with anything to add to this thread. Just a bunch of swearing and the like. Your normally more coherant than that.

Take a look at the Major events security Act – http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/2000-41/default.asp – the section you are after is number 15. I can pretty much guarantee you if Police saw anything that interfered with the event or the enjoyment of the event they would have stomped on it straight away – hence the initial arrests before the relay even started. Extra Police powers were discussed in this thread – http://the-riotact.com/?p=7271.

What do you people think the orders given to Police might have been – let the Chinese have their day – not bloody likely – hence why the ‘flame attendant’ ‘Chinese super ninja fckmaster of all things olympic’ or ‘thug’ got punted away from the inner cordon.

Wow, I am impressed, I may have been mistaken but I could have swore I saw some compliments for the AFP in some of these posts. Maybe I have been judging people a little harshly on here?

Sepi and Ant still did their best to take off the gloss and highlight and exaggerate any slight whiff of violence they could find. They must have been really disappointed that there is no footage anywhere of Police being too aggressive.

A great day for the Capital and the Police, we should all be very Proud.

🙂

(DMD – good sign btw and good on you for peacefully protesting about something you feel strongly about. All citizens should do the same.)

Glad I’m not the only one that noticed, Growling Ferret. It’s not CC though – she was more coherent. I suspect one of the blow-ins that had their arse handed to them about a month or two back.

Wonder what name Canberra Resident post under in the future? Crazy Chester again?

Name ONE protest against Domestic Violence (by way of example) that has taken place in Australia.

That was the question.

Hint: Shifting the goalposts to the other end of the field makes it look like you’re losing the argument (after you so arrogantly claimed that you’d won, too!).

Put down your shovel and stop digging. You’ve already proven yourself an idiot.

I have to admit absentmindeddiane/dean is pretty funny. You are a true wit. a comedic genius even?

First of all you did not address the following points:

Your logical fallacies regarding people who protest.

What is your standpoint? Do you think the torch is moreimportant than human rights?

To answer your question, here is ‘ONE’ (putting something in capitals doesn’t make it a better point) group that organises events against domestic violence. They are sponsored by the NRL. Its links with sport are strong and many.

White Ribbon Day – http://www.whiteribbonday.org.au/

Also note the ‘australia says no’ campaign.

Also there is Reclaim The Night – http://www.isis.aust.com/rtn/ – an annual global protest march.

Now what does this have to do with anything? Your point appears to be ‘There are no protests against domestic violence (which is wrong) therefore there should not be protests about tibetan human rights’. why?

Protesting sport events has also happened before. Infact protests at sport events is a credited as a significant factor in ending Apartheid.

I don’t care about AbsentDianes gender. That was a pathetic, petty and pointless point.

Ofcourse you can keep your view, i doubt you are capable of admitting when you are wrong. But i do not respect it, you are a stupid man (maybe not a man, after that last post i am beginning to suspect your are about 12) CanberraResident, your comments in this and the other torch post prove this. You are stupid for thinking that logical fallacies, assumptions, petty insults and outright lies help your point. You are stupid for thinking no one would pick up on your stupidity. Admit you are wrong and move on, then this post will have some evidence that you are something other than stupid.

el – that makes you very very well informed then doesn’t it??? … the fact that you knew that AbsentmindedDEAN is a bloke.

OK, when was the last time Reclaim the Night disrupted the olympic flame, Munich in 72 – nope, montreal in 76, nope, moscow – I don’t think so, LA, naaaah, seoul, I doubt it, barthelona (sic) not a chance, atlanta, nope sydeney … fat chance, athens, nope, and not ever have they disrupted the olympic torch relay. You’ve shot yourself in the foot by raising that mob, because they’ve managed to be around for 30 years without causing mayhem and disruption to the Olympic Games unlike your do-gooder tibetans. Weren’t they supposed to be a peaceful people??????? What rot.

I thought everyone knew Absent Diane had exterior plumbing.

It’s well known by most here that AD is a feller.

Oh, and a little protest called ‘Reclaim the night’ has been running worldwide (yes, that includes Australia) to rally against domestic/sexual violence against women.

But then again, that’s only been going on for 30 years or so…

zipededoodaa … zippedeeyaaaay … my my my what a wonderful day. I just got out on bail. The judge asked me what my reasons for the protest were. I said “Uhm, I’m not sure. I just did it coz the other bloke told me to and it was fun holding up a flag but I have no real understanding of why I thre myself in front of a famous marathon runner like a fliptwitduckhead. Sorry your Honour/Worship or whatever they call you these days”.

Tap – Name ONE protest against Domestic Violence (by way of example) that has taken place in Australia. If there has been a protest, did they hijack a sporting icon to make their point? Did they follow people all around the world to make their point causing problems for the authorities??? At least I’ve made an attempt to explain some things Tap. As for THIS particular thread, uuuhhm, I see ONE explanation in detail about the Tibet issue – yours – and only after I asked several times. Thanks, but I still take my standpoint on the issue. So let me have my view, and you can have yours and AbsentmindedDiane can keep the transvestite flame burning alongside the Olympic flame if he/she so desires … you see, for those who missed it, he/she hinted at being of the male gender earlier, just to spice things up a bit I suspect …

This thread is now boring me to tears, and if I’ve left myself open with that remark … Who cares! I know I don’t! Mmm, nice dinner. Byzeez.

Canberra Resident: Ive just been reading a bit more of your drivel on this post. some good reading, i have a few questions though.

‘If you protest, you ignore domestic abuse.’ Can you please explain the logic behind that idea?

Another one: ‘If you protest, you ignore the plight of aboriginal children in remote communities.’ Again, ill need the logic of how that is truth pointed out.

Still more: ‘If you protest, you eat meat’ … you’ve lost me.

To use your words, can you explain this in detail? and dont forget to respond to my previous post either.

Canberra Resident you said ‘I win you lose’ … just keep telling yourself that, you sad little man.

A couple of weeks ago you were on a different post spouting the same drivel. When i finally lowered myself into actually discussing this with you, you did not comment. You hero. There is a chance you didn’t read it though so just in case, here it is again.

I strongly disagree with Chinas actions regarding Tibet. Now maybe the monks were worse than China is, maybe not, if so then maybe that has something to do with the previous Dalai Llama not the current one, maybe not. Maybe it was the times, maybe not. To me that doesn’t really matter as thats not why I will be protesting, I will be protesting because I am against the human rights abuses that are taking place by the Chinese government. If other regimes have previously been horrible to the Tibetan people, then that sucks, but it does not justify what the Chinese are doing.

I must admit though, if it turns out the current Dalai Llama is actually some kind of bastard, I will be massively surprised. And very disappointed. But to me it does seem that its time for the Chinese to enter into talks with him.

As far as whether or not I think its cool to be seen standing up for “human rights” as some have accused me of, of course I do. How is it not? Maybe I work off a different meaning of the word cool, but in my life in general I try to do things I think are cool and not do things I think are not cool. Do other people not? Is CanberraResident wishing he could protest but won’t because its cool? Maybe, but it seems more likely that he thinks that being seen talking about how little everyone else knows is cool, and thats why he is doing that.

What I don’t understand here is what the people who are anti protesting want. A requirement that a written examination be taken by anybody wishing to protest to prove that they know (what somebody decides) is enough about the issue? Or perhaps that protest become illegal? Maybe people are against protest because they don’t think it achieves anything, and if you can’t win don’t try. If that is the case then our disagreement is a simple one, i believe that if a person feels strongly enough about something, then they should do what they can to try change that thing, even if in the end the persons effort means little to nothing. And you do not. Fine, but the fact is that protesting has worked in the past, protesting at sporting events too.

Protesting is my right, and I choose to exercise it.

Addition: If you think that the torch relay is more important than human rights, then we will just have to disagree, because I certainly do not.

Canberra Resident do you know this or just assume this? if you know this to be the case please provide your source of information.

Someone was claiming that all those Chinese came under their own steam, nothing was subsidised by the Chinese gov’t or any organisation. Well, reading this again certainly gives the lie to that:
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=963039

Aurelius – glad to see you have waaay too much time on your hands by so stupidly pointing out what we all do from time to time. Over and out could mean anything.

Anyway, it’s Anzac Day and I’m sure all the “protesters” of yesterday have already forgotten their “cause”, no doubt drinking up a storm somewhere without as much as a thought about their Tibetan “friends”.

Seems to me they think there’s a certain “coolness” attached to being a “humanitarian”. Makes you seem like an individual with depth, when in actual fact they have no qualms about killing animals for a feed, and wouldn’t look twice if the neighbour was abusing his wife, or the plight of the children in our Aboriginal communities.

Sad thing is, most of these protestors have little idea of what they were actually protesting about yesterday … if I asked you to explain it in depth, you couldn’t. Plain and simple.

I saw the relay from the intersection of Currong St and Anzac Pde. Two non-Asian people held a sign saying ‘Free Tibet’ and were subject to the attention of several dozen Chinese flag-waving young people. Despite being goaded, insulted and bullied for at least 30 minutes (from what I saw) the pro-Tibet sign holders didn’t seem to fight back. However, some of the Australians standing nearby took great exception to the tactics employed by Chinese flag-wavers, basically telling them to rack off and get stuffed.

There was a bad vibe there, which didn’t seem to have much to do with the Olympic spirit, whatever that really is.

I took a video of the Chinese flag-wavers chanting ‘Go! Go! Go!’ as the ‘Free Tibet’ people walked off towards Reid. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4142454605813779772&hl=en

I think police only arrested those who were disrupting the progress of the flame.

The Chinese seem to have bullied Tibet supporters waiting before the flag arrived, and before the police presence was on the scene.

So 7 arrests doesn’t mean there were only 7 troublemakers.

i enjoyed the fact that stanhope is taking credit for bringing the torch relay to canberra.

I’m sorry but I must be missing something here….I didn’t see one flag supporting the olympics.

As mentioned, a lot of the rent-a-crowd had Olympics banners/flags (spiffy white ones with the logo in the middle), typically carried hand-in-hand with a same sized Chinese flag. Saw a few flying Chinese and Australian flags, which was nice.

I will protest about issues in my own backyard when they are about human rights. Luckily, we live in Canberra where we don’t have our human rights taken away from us.

DMD great sign.

I heard someone on the radio say “I am here where there is tension building between the two groups, which is exactly what the media … feared would happen.” Haha hoped more like it! They love a good scuffle.

7 arrests is not a lot. Seems like everyone was pretty well behaved.

CanberraResident,

You said “Over and out” (Post #54) yet you were neither over, nor out.
You said “goodbye” (Post #105) but you have not left.

I am sure I speak for many when I say I’m waiting for your departure with considerable anticipation.

Aurelius

Basically the Chinese thuggery worked out well.

A fantastic tv coverage internationally of happy supporters, a peaceful relay, and loads of red flags waving.

A few miffed Canberrans is nothing in comparison to that.

I’m disappointed the Canberra Times couldn’t find a few vicitmised Tibetan protesters to talk to, to at least put it on the record somewhere.

Anyone claiming to ‘win’ an argument on teh intarnets has automatically:

1. Lost the argument.

2. Lost all credibility.

HTH. HAND.

@115, the Chinese were out waving the rings as well as the 5 star banner. And there were a lot of “good luck in Beijing” banners, etc. We came across two sorts of Chinese rent-a-crowd. The chirpy and cheerful, mostly older and family types, and then there were the angry, younger students.

I’m sorry but I must be missing something here….I didn’t see one flag supporting the olympics.

CanberraResident said :

I win you lose, goodbye.

But you’re STILL a wanker.

ant said :

I’m really disappointed that Australia’s media didn’t follow up properly on the bully behaviour by the organised Chinese mob yesterday.

Did you see Sky News? “What we’ve seen here today just gives us another reason to be proud to be Australians”.

Wtf? Maybe if you never left your helicopter?

Panhead said :

Anyone standing at the intersection of Northbourne and Constitution Avenue?

What intersection are you talking about ?

Northbourne and Constitution don’t even meet.

haha awesome. someone wants god to save me. pity there is no god.

I am glad that you think i have taken disgusting language to an all new level. Pity you are wrong. Some of the worlds greatest authors use similar language; infact I my use of that language is completely uncreative (which is unlike me).

Interestingly I wonder if you have any understanding of the etymology of the words i have used. They have a fairly historic background. Probably not I would guess.

When it comes down to it words are just words and they have no-meaning bar the context they are used in. And I feel my use of these words has been contextually correct, in this instance.

However you a correct in your assumptions that I will never be a lady.

I was quite disappointed to read the CT webpage (since it’s only 1 page) today. They pretty-well dismissed the thuggery as “minor scuffles” and the like, or briefly mentioned “unconfirmed reports of Tibetan protestors being targetted”. How hard can it be to actually go investigate properly? There’s too many reports from real people about more than “minor scuffles”.

The picture I’m getting is that the Chinese authorities did indeed arrange for large numbers of riled-up citizens to attend. There was a guy on Whirlpool a few days ago plaintively asking if anyone knew details of the “free buses”. Now what he says seems a bit clearer.

It is a worry that Chinese students can live here for years, exposed to different points of view, their country’s actions portrayed without the spin, but still cleave to their government’s view.

I’m really disappointed that Australia’s media didn’t follow up properly on the bully behaviour by the organised Chinese mob yesterday.

AbsentmindedDiane – you will never be a lady. Ever. A point of view is one thing, and this website is here so people can express their own point of view. People make use mild language at times, but you take it to a whole new level. I have never resorted to disgusting name calling such as yourself. To resort to such filthy foul language such as “fcking”, and “pigfcking swine”, not once, but twice!, just shows what sort of a peson you really are. God help you.

Just want to make sure I’ve got the rules right, CanberraResident:

– nobody can protest about international events unless they also protest about local issues, because…well, just because.

– nobody can protest about an issue unless they also protest about all issues because…well, you get the idea.

– nobody can protest about something happening in another country unless they’re from that country because…um, see the first two rules.

You’re the worst kind of moral coward – a gutless, sniveling, absolute relativist. What do you do on Anzac Day? Complain about all the do-gooders who went overseas to fight in other people’s countries, and ask them when was the last time they fought on Australian soil? What’s Timor-Leste ever done for us, right? Why are we there when we’re not also fighting the Reds in Chechnya? Do you ask veterans protesting for better treatment if they also protest about the dragway? Clueless f*cktard.

BAM – ouch that hurt. You have got me there. What is an absent minded lady like myself to do. lol.

oh and actually you were the one that started the name calling.

You may speak three languages but one might suggest that your comprehension of language is pretty below par.

Example – “I don’t protest! i don’t believe it always the best way to get a point across” – I really am unsure on how you can misinterperate that. I can try and simplify it a little. Actually no I can’t, it is already pretty fcking simple.

I don’t normally attack people. So I guess what this comes down to is that I think you are pigfcking swine! Thats all.

CR, the entire point of the protest is that the cameras are rolling. Lots of cameras.

Canberra Gardener – it is you’re, not your. Yes, I have been overseas, lived in DC for three years, have had two extended holidays around Europe and have been to Asia about a dozen times times for work. I am on my third passport – you? I speak three languages and the nonsense I say about myself on these boards is so far from the truth it’s not funny. You have NO idea who I am, so please, in future, try not to be so gullible. The rest of your drivel was nonsense and you are only trying to convince yourself.

CaptainWhorebags raised a VERY good point – will these do-gooders feel as strongly about this issue when the cameras stop rolling? I suspect not.

AbsentMinded Diane – Ditto for you (see above). Resorting to disgusting name calling is exactly what I expected from you. Will you also be protesting against this cause next week, next month, next year? I doubt it. You’ll be down the club playing the pokies and having a fag with your less-than-committed husband or boyfriend I suspect.

I win you lose, goodbye.

PS Let me know when you’ve set up the Protest for the Tibetan people since you seem to be so committed to the cause.

Canberra resident you must be so fcking content with your life, you know being a canberra resident and all. fark have you ever left the borders? it is a pretty spectacular country? ever gone overseas? it is a pretty spectacular world? I really detest simple minded cnts like yourself.

Oh and you know what I don’t protest! i don’t believe it always the best way to get a point across. But others certainly have the right too.

So you can suck my balls you pigfcker.

Have a nice day.

One of my favourite lines from the Chinese rent-a-crowd was “You don’t understand, none of you know the facts, you’re not thinking right”. And they then proceeded to hassle us with our “Free Hugs” and “Heather Mills got a raw deal” signs…

They must’ve been Paul McCartney fans.

Canberra Resident your an idiot.

How you promote and support the Chinese Embassy (or any external government) to pay for and rally for Nationalistic protests that promote violence against innocent people is disgusting. We live in Australia mate. And isn’t it funny that all the Chinese that were part of the rent-a-crowd are also living in Australia. I wonder why? Oppression ain’t very nice to live with.

Also I cannot see how protesting against wholesale genocide (which is what the Chinese Government did to Tibet) is a bad thing. You complain that they are not protesting against local issues. Your bigoted ways are just proving that you’re a narrow minded fool that has obviously never left this great land to experience other cultures and countries.

We all have the freedom to protest. But we dont have the freedom to intimidate or bully others, so why don’t you stop it. Your bullying is cowardly and no different to the Chinese rent-a-crowd.

Try finding something else to believe in rather than youself and maybe you may understand how the rest of the world see’s the pain and suffering of how others are forced to live.

Grow up.

Bludge Day at Work today with 4 staff in in my area – wish we had a torch relay everyday…KInda like a paid day off

Bad vibes in Canberra today. Bus-loads, in fact. Not many people were out there today celebrating what’s left of the Olympic spirit.

Good to see that it went relatively smoothly.

How many people who went and protested today plan to maintain the rage with a protest next week outside the Chinese embassy? Or the week after that? Ever again?

If you feel strongly about the issue, don’t let your actions stop when the cameras do.

The chinese government slaughters religeous disenters, puts democrats who what to express their rights in jail for life and sent countless millions to death camps. They are the lowest vometous scum to grace the face of planet earth. How could the olympics not be politicised. Anybody who thinks otherwise is just a moron.

Australians basically boycotted the event. Didnt the Chinese realise what a disaster the whole torch relay event would turn out to be????

No – because they think every country is like China.

CanberraResident said :

(Sigh) I’ve asked this twice now but still nothing. When was the last time these do-gooders protested about a home-grown issue? I suspect never.

Well I would love to protest against the lack of motorsport facilities (and the throttling and closing down of existing facilities) and a dragway in the ACT but then the Dragwayaway clowns would come up with some more misleading propaganda and lies.

If we organise protests in Canberra they don’t work because Canberrans are too lazy to do something about their state. Saying that I agree with you that it is funny how they come out of the woodwork and jump on the bandwagon when a big event comes to town. It was all very funny watching on TV and Youtube. Good thing I didn’t bother leaving the house to see the farce that was the running of the torch.

So…it’s not right to protest unless you protest about absolutely everything?

The next time Russia or Israel have a major event like this that extends to Canberra I will be there, I promise. When will that be? Ever?

SamuelBeckett said :

Congratulations to all you righteous protestors with no Chinese heritage.

I expect to see you all protesting on behalf of the Basque, Palestinians, Chechynans, Corsicans etc etc next time something of relevance regarding the nations who occupy them visit Canberra.

The majority of protesters as far as i could see were ethnically tibetan or chinese, respectively. I felt very out of place as a white guy.

SamuelBeckett said :

Congratulations to all you righteous protestors with no Chinese heritage.

I expect to see you all protesting on behalf of the Basque, Palestinians, Chechynans, Corsicans etc etc next time something of relevance regarding the nations who occupy them visit Canberra.

Hoo Efin Ray – finally someone with some common sense! Agreed SB, agreed.

They wanted people to turn out to this event. I did and I brought a sign displaying how I felt. I did not engage in any violence, I did not abuse the pro-china group (some of them were nice enough to have a ‘g’day’ exchange). The main ones who tainted the event today were the thugs among the pro-china group.

Congratulations to all you righteous protestors with no Chinese heritage.

I expect to see you all protesting on behalf of the Basque, Palestinians, Chechynans, Corsicans etc etc next time something of relevance regarding the nations who occupy them visit Canberra.

DMD – I understand that, but it’s wrong to protest for one cause and attempt to taint another in such a way. The Olympic Games should not be tarnished in this way; it’s unfair to the Games.

Sorry, but if someone put their head together and organised a day of protest specifically for the Tibetan people, website, chain emails, etc, word would get around the world, and if people then felt the need to protest, they would do so. If people feel so strongly about it, how come this has not been done in the past?????

To protest during the Olympic Torch relay is just laziness and selfishness.

CircusClown – Surely you can do better than, “if you crawled out from under your rock” … puhleez

It was the 1936 Berlin Olympic games (in then Nazi German) where the Olympic Flame was first brought to the hosting city by a torch relay from Olympia in Greece.

Looks like the Chinese learnt a valuable lesson from the Germans… an Olympic torch relay makes an excellent propaganda tool.

Dear Paull,

1. Your request has been approved.
2. Don’t be scared.
3. WTF is mao portait?!?

Watched the flame go to the rowing eight and was NOT impressed with the melee of ?media surrounding the first torch-bearer. All anyone could see was the top bit of the torch and the flame. Loud Chinese crowd there seemed alright until they spotted someone behind with a teeny little “FREE TIBET” sign and moved in with much chanting – which is when I decided Miss 4yo and I should move on.

B*gger all protestors on the Russell side of Kings Ave Bridge.

Up near Olims there was a crowd of flag-waving Chinese that were so un-protestor-like they were positively friendly. The only chanting I heard from them was “Aussie Aussie Aussie – oi oi oi” and “Beijing Beijing Beijing – oi oi oi”. Even the coppers were smiling :).

CanberraResident said :

(Sigh) I’ve asked this twice now but still nothing. When was the last time these do-gooders protested about a home-grown issue? I suspect never. and, Why wait until today to protest about the Tibetan issue? Why no protests of this magnitude in the past?

Why stain the Olympic Games in this way? Do you really think that is fair to the Games? VERY SELFISH!!!!!

LEAVE THE OLYMPIC GAMES ALONE and put your energy into organising a day of protest specifically for your cause? Yeah? But somehow I think that would be beyond your capabilities.

If you crawled out from under your rock today you would see that it is the Chinese marring the Olympics for their own nationalist agenda. It smells like 1936.

CanberraResident, the games bring tourist revenue and world attention to it’s host country. The torch relay is the best time for people to register their displeasure with the practices of the host.

From all accounts the chinese rent-a-crowd thugs caused most of the trouble, one of the girls from work went over to watch (while we watched from the building) who said the chinese following were chanting abusively and acting aggressively to anyone who didn’t share their view (she wasn’t there protesting btw) and another account saw them trash the toilets of an office block along the route. But then they are stupid enough to believe that what their government does is correct, or will do it for a days paid trip to canberra at least, so I guess it’s hardly surprising lol.

I understand the chinese team have aleady won a gold medal in the freestyle shooting of tibetans competition. This is worse than the 1936 olympics.

hingo said :

I noticed this skywriting this morning in the reflection on the back window of the car in front of me while I was sitting in the joke known as the GDE. The regular 30 minute drive to work down Northbourne was now a 1hr 15min drive down the GDE.

I had a blissful ride down Commonwealth Avenue, just before 8:30. So little traffic.
Hardly surprising the GDE wasn’t coping with so many avoiding Northbourne.
Anyway, it was great having to take the lane since police were standing in the bike lane.
Just as well I stayed on the road across Commonwealth Bridge, they had a fence section across the southern end that they were using to control the pedestrians.

Yes, so many pretty red flags.

(Sigh) I’ve asked this twice now but still nothing. When was the last time these do-gooders protested about a home-grown issue? I suspect never. and, Why wait until today to protest about the Tibetan issue? Why no protests of this magnitude in the past?

Why stain the Olympic Games in this way? Do you really think that is fair to the Games? VERY SELFISH!!!!!

LEAVE THE OLYMPIC GAMES ALONE and put your energy into organising a day of protest specifically for your cause? Yeah? But somehow I think that would be beyond your capabilities.

‘day I die’ sorry.

If I was just there to get in the camera, I’d have gotten the f-k out of there once the red army pounced on me and started bellowing in my face. That was not something I would have done had I not believed in the sign I was holding up.

Also, I’d like to clarify why I protested. I didn’t hold up a sign saying ‘free tibet’. It’s not my place to decide who Tibet goes to. One of the screaming wannabe thugs was right, roaring at me, ‘You don’t know China’s history!’. I don’t. But I will never condone human rights abuses like those inflicted on protesters in Tibet and upon ordinary Chinese civilians every day. There are no borders for human rights and I will be against abuses in every corner of this world until the day I day.

Do you really think that thousands of people protest, just in the hopes of getting their photo taken – that is really wierd.

some people just actually believe in speaking out/standing up for what they believe in.

Dear Freddie 281

You are obviously a Chinese government agent. Im so scared of you.
Please can I be executed in red sqaure – underneath the Mao portait please.

It sounds scary.

I think Paul Bongiorno got it right:

“The Chinese may have won the day on numbers alone, but they didn’t win any friends.”

I’m glad it’s over.

vekta said :

Also, what was scary about the whole affair was how indoctrinated the rent-a-crowd was.[/quote>

It took around 7 years for Hitler to quite easily manipulate German society. Imagine what having over 50 years to do so in China yields for one party rule.

PS:
Canberra Resident… all is well in the world, simply put your weary head to rest in your warm residential Canberran bed and everything bad will go away when you close your eyes. Prime Possum wishes you sweet dreams 🙂

I was holding up a sign that read ‘Everyone deserves human rights’. I could not believe the amount of red-flag-bearers that booed that. I even found it amusing (although I couldn’t start laughing because I was being surrounded by red-flags) when someone tried to cover that sign with a Chinese flag. Very symbolic.

Nick D, I’m sure it was organized at some level by someone in the government (accommodation, transport etc. may have been paid for). I could see some older flag-bearers directing their ‘comrades’ where to stand (i.e. where they could block out our signs with their flags when the torch bearers came past – lucky my little area of protesters [3] did a last minute re-arrangement of signs and stooged them, ha ha!).

Paull, You’re full of @#$%. I can guarantee you the Police would not have just stood by if somebody was being ‘viciously attacked’!!! If they didn’t know it was happening did you bother to open your mouth to alert them? Did you do anything at all to help this poor victim? Shameful day for Australia I think not!! Everybody should be proud of what was achieved today. Isn’t this was it’s all about? Forget the chinese!!! How about a bit of our own national pride?
Quit the cop bashing. I promise you each member of the AFP gets nothing out of china. What would they (being members of the community) have to gain by supporting either political side?

To those Canberrans who went to protest today – you foolish people put yourself in harm’s way, so you deserve everything that’s thrown your way.

Nazi Germany, Rwanda … Tiananmen Square perhaps?

Just let it roll on hey CanberraResident?

I should add that the great majority of the Chinese kids were well behaved. While the level of organisation was a bit odd and the nationalist thugs should have been arrested, it’s pretty understandable for Chinese students in Australia to want to see the torch and to take pride in it.

“When is a Chinese student not a Chinese student?

When he is a Chinese Government spy.”

Yeah, he was definetly a creep. I took some photos of him on my phone.

The Olympics long ago sold its ideals out for drugs and money, but Canberrans found out today what its like to China’s newest southern most province. No dissent allowed. I saw monks and peaceful demonstators vicously attacked while the police stood by. We all know Stanhope is in Beijings pocket – the ACT’s very own Vidkun Quisling. It was merely a sicking replay of a Nuremberg rally with the Tibetans being the modern day jews. Thanks god there were hardly any Australains there and those that were were disgusted by the chauvanistic nationalistic over the top thugery of the rent a crowd. A deeply shameful day for Australia. Expect much more of the same o slaves.

The Chinese government clearly has an extraordinarily powerful system in place to control the minds of its citizens, when even living and studying in another country makes no difference to their thinking.

I work with a Chinese girl in her late 20s, she’s the same way. She’s free-thinking, creative and vibrant on all issues except China; at which point she’ll revert to the party line, and either reply with silence or a “the government knows best” line. It’s a little scary, to be honest.

Re the previous posts…

When is a Chinese student not a Chinese student?

When he is a Chinese Government spy.

It would be fascinating to look below the surface of the Chinese rent-a-crowd to find out who they really are and who was organising them.

Also, what was scary about the whole affair was how indoctrinated the rent-a-crowd was. I mean, they’re in Australia, they now realise media in China (including the net) is vigorously censored, and yet they are still prepared to stick up for the regime back home and pretend all is well with Tibet. The Chinese government clearly has an extraordinarily powerful system in place to control the minds of its citizens, when even living and studying in another country makes no difference to their thinking.

‘I want to know who the creepy looking students who were constantly videotaping the other students were? They didn’t seem very popular with their ‘friends’.’

I wonder if they were the ‘commissar’s’

“I saw a couple of aging women with a small sign saying ‘free Tibet’ be absolutely mobbed on Northbourne. It was shameful.”

I saw that as well – it was awful.

I want to know who the creepy looking students who were constantly videotaping the other students were? They didn’t seem very popular with their ‘friends’.

CanberraResident said :

GibberishMick – no.

AbsentmindedDiane – once again, your absent ‘mind’ has gone down Tangent Street.

Been to any local, home-grown, local-issue protests lately?

I very much doubt it.

Don’t worry, I’m sure this whole globalisation thing is just a fad.

I went along today to observe rather than protest, but by the time I left I had a hell of a lot of sympathy for the Tibetans/Falun Gong.

I won’t soon forget the Nuremberg-style rally and army of obnoxious, aggressive and occasionally violent commies roaming Canberra streets. Highlights included the irony of a loud and aggressive pro-communist protester screaming blue murder when the cops asked him quietly to settle down, and some Chinese girl screeching “you have no right to protest” at me outside Parliament House because I happened to be walking next to a bloke with a Tibetan flag.

Very Red Dawn.

GibberishMick – no.

AbsentmindedDiane – once again, your absent ‘mind’ has gone down Tangent Street.

Been to any local, home-grown, local-issue protests lately?

I very much doubt it.

Do you think all those red flags were made in China?

I had to go into Civic for a meeting this morning. My cabby told me that he’d had a few Chinese student passengers from Sydney heading towards the torch ceremony. They mentioned that the Chinese Govt had paid their transport, accommodation and given them $50 for expenses.

No wonder they were cheering for their government!! I reckon the Chinese students massacred at Tiananmin Square would be turning in their graves…

I went I saw and listened to the absolute drivel that got spouted in the news and radio. Plenty of people out there singing songs and the like although no violence anywhere near the torch. If anyone paid attention to the amount of cops out there I’m pretty sure they would have handled any situation that could have arisen.

The torch relay went off without a hitch and the only thing the media latches onto is a scuffle before the relay even started. There are more people arrested every weekend in the City Bus interchange.

the world is a little bigger than canberra, canberra resident.

Dear Comrade Canberra Resident, I find your drivel a little hard to follow. Are you saying that other ‘canberra residents’ should stay at home when your chicom mates take over the streets?

ha! I suspect many Canberrans have very little idea what the Tibet protests are even about. They protest for the sake of protesting, Tap included. When was the last time Tap protested against child abuse, or domestic violence, or something a little closer to home? I suspect the answer is a clear NEVER.

“What did you do today Tap?”

“Oh, I went to the protest mate”.

“Really? What was it about?”

“Oh, you know, how the Chinese treat the Tibetans”.

“Really?” Tell me more”

“oh, uhhhm, eeeer, you know, oooh, uuuhm, eeeerrr, what they said on telly”.

“But what was it about Tap?”

“Did you see my flag???? It was cool wasn’t it … and I got my head on telly … yippeeeeeee!”

Like I said, protesting for the sake of protesting, but they don’t understand the real issue.

Over and out.

To those Canberrans who went to protest today – you foolish people put yourself in harm’s way, so you deserve everything that’s thrown your way.

Just like all those women walking around begging to be raped for exposing all that meat to the sun, ey Mufti?

Anyone standing at the intersection of Northbourne and Constitution Avenue? Damn that was crazy. About 20 pro-Tibetan protesters were standing there quietly and all of a sudden about 100 red flag waving communists came out of nowhere and started singing ect. They decided to move in front of the pro-Tibetan protesters and block them out. I swear about 100 of them rolled in every half hour. It was pretty funny watching all the cars with Chinese flags doing the laps, they would drive past slow down and beep there horns and then all the Chinese would cheer and yell.

One stuff up did occur, everybody was standing in the middle of the street and about 5 minutes before the torch was pass. So the police and laborers who were putting the fences down had to move about 500 people behind the fence. Otherwise the AFP were fantastic.

I agree with tap. To ignore it is to condone it.

Apologises for the double negatives, Wordnazis.

There’s a difference between being well-spoken (as in delivering the line well, with enough spontaneity to be believeable and appropriate) and simply reading off a prepared line.
Stanhope tends to sound like he’s reading rehearsed lines at the best of times.
Nor does having protocol officers write speeches doesn’t really qualify anyone for Statesman status.

At the very least, wait until you either see & hear him (either in person or on news coverage) before you go singing his praises.
He is afterall, a politician and therefore a sleaze.

CanberraResident, Some people think human rights have something to do with all humans, regardless of what country they are in. What would you like to see happen here? The world to ignore human rights abuses because it isn’t happening in their own country? Would that make you happy?

How are your psychic powers today? Did you know i would say that? ooooooohhhhhhh aaaahhhhh.

To those Canberrans who went to protest today – you foolish people put yourself in harm’s way, so you deserve everything that’s thrown your way. People had a choice to stay away from any potential conflict, but nooooo, you have to stick your fat noses in to protest about something that has nothing to do with your own country. Oh, you just HAD to walk over the bridge did you? Well, whooppee dooo. Excuses, excuses. Fools.

Do you protest about issues relating to your own backyard??? I doubt it.

Where were the police you ask? FFS people. If you walk over the road and step on a tack, do you say, where’s the ambos. Police can’t be everywhere at every moment of every single friggin day!!!

Foolish sticky-beaks. Nothing more.

Although I’m having trouble deciphering Skid’s mangled writings, I’ll paste in what it said in the SMH:
(starts)
Earlier, ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said he upheld the right for people to demonstrate peacefully.

“I uphold utterly the right of anyone to use the leg of today’s relay as an opportunity to have their voice heard, to be allowed to assent, to speak freely as a mark of our democracy,” Mr Stanhope said.

“We do not muzzle dissent just because it might embarrass us or embarrass our friends.

“We hope our friendship can bear a little plain speaking.”
(ends)

SMH is also starting to print reports from people of violence from the Chinese towards anyone holding pro-Tibet material. I expect more reports will be aired, and a very ugly picture will emerge. People who were sanguine about the Tibetan issue will now see what the people in that country are dealing with.

Do we have a number on exactly how many buses came in?
I have heard 100 twice, but I have also heard 80 and 200.

Bearing in mind there are about 50 seats per bus, this is a rent-a-crowd of between 4000 people and 10,000, brought in for the purposes of intimidating anyone not providing support to the burning stick.

neanderthalsis said :

So, a “spontaneous” counter protest organised well before the event, people bussed in to make up the numbers for the red team. Interesting times to be had on 24 Apr methinks.

sepi said :

Yes but if you watched the live tv coverage, all you saw was crowds of Chinese red flags waving. No violence was shown.

And won’t Beijing love that – makes us look like we all support their regime!

Yes but if you watched the live tv coverage, all you saw was crowds of Chinese red flags waving. No violence was shown.

From all reports most of the violence and tension came from the pro-China supporters who were bussed in for the occasion. Seems they are just doing it the Chinese way.

v_man_returns, that crossing the line is called Nationalism

At the very least it was a well-written, prepared comment but as it sounds like it was written by a Protocol Officer, and as you say you read it I’ll not side with Loose Brown\ant in either the “very well spoken” or “statesman” pro-Stanhope comments.

In plain English: your logic is flawed.

All these pro-China people are starting to make many others anti-China. There’s patriotism and then there’s crossing the line, as we’ve all witnessed here as well.

Oh, the quote for today on my bunch of dates calendar thingy reads…

“Let a hundred flowers bloom. Let a hundred schools of thought contend.” -Mao Tse-Tung

Spooky.

AussieGal83 said :

The worst they did to me was pop my Save Tibet balloon when I was coming back over the bridge from Parly House. They werent acting violent, but it was still uncomfortable walking with them.

Kind of like walking to the MCG surrounded by Essendon supporters I guess. I was going to say Collingwood, but they’d be being violent as well.

And kudos to all protestors who were peaceful.

Were there any Taiwanese flags / protesters?

Unfortunately it seems like the police have acted to get the Tibet supporters away from teh main areas (and the tv cameras). for their own safety it sounds like. but the ned result is still the police ‘assisting’ the chinese to carry they day.

Still I bet they are glad it is over and nothing really drastic happened.

BenMac, from what i saw you are correct

Loose Brown, agree. When I read Stanhope’s comments, I figured that at least he looks and sounds like a statesman. It was well-said.

I was told by an SBS employee who was at Reconcilliation Place, that Pro-China people were spitting on the Pro-Tibet supporters.

It seems it was the red army that the Police should have been more focused on after reading everyone else’s comments.

aaah the beauties of patriotism.. brings out the absolute best in people eh!!

“To be allowed to dissent, to speak freely, are markers of our democracy,” said ACT Chief Minister John Stanhope.

“We do not muzzle dissent, just because it might embarrass us or embarrass our friends. We hope our friendships are robust enough to bear a little plain speaking,” he said.

LEGEND!

On the ABC website: Pro-China gang ‘assaulted relay spectators’

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/24/2226324.htm

well im not sure what the chinese were saying to the Tibetans, but i assume it wasn’t very nice. overall i thought the chinese were very aggressive and was not impressed by their behavior at all. i did leave at about 8.20 though so im not sure how anyone conducted themselves later in the day. I saw one police office take a flag from a chinese girl after he had repeatedly told her to move away from the Tibetans. I though it was quite funny as she complained to all her friends. I mean if she was in china protesting with Tibetan flag she probably would have had her head removed instead.

But we still held that sign up, hey tap. F-k I’m still adrenaline-pumped after being mobbed by that red-flag-waving army.

I saw a couple of aging women with a small sign saying ‘free Tibet’ be absolutely mobbed on Northbourne. It was shameful.

I also was warned by a photographer that another woman had been attacked a few minutes earlier.

Tibet couldn’t handle being free.

Bully-boys. a friend said there were two bunches of rival groups walking on to C’Wealth bridge. They spotted each other and went racing toward each other, but then stopped facing each other and yelled abuse at each other.

Cops were warning Tibetans to stay with the main bunch and not get separated, sounds like some did, from the above report.

Not sure I like the stand-over behaviour being reported.

The worst they did to me was pop my Save Tibet balloon when I was coming back over the bridge from Parly House. They werent acting violent, but it was still uncomfortable walking with them.

My friend took a Tibet flag down to the Commonwealth Ave bridge, for a peaceful silent protest – pro-China supporters ended up taking it off him and throwing it into the Lake. They weren’t violent, he wasn’t hurt, but they weren’t very friendly…

There was one young dude standing amongst us that had a sign saying “Only Here To Pick Up Asian Girls”. It was amusing.

Rather disappointed that I saw no “Canetoads For a Free Tibet” signs about anywhere Surely some Crikey readers would have been out there.

Kind of makes you happy that you don’t live under the communist yoke…

Your re-education will begin next week, Comrade Thumper!

Who were the group of guys dressed in black masks holding up a sign at the boundary fence?, there was a tussle between them and the Chinese too apparently early in the morning.

toadstool said :

A very shaken work collegue…

Shaken, but not stirred?

Walked out of my office in Northborne Avenue this morning to have a look around, almost thought I was in China with all of the red flags and pro-Chinese chants, except the gum trees reminded me where I was.

A few of my staff wandered out with “Free Tibet” signs for their own little protest.

Shortly afterwards a guy turned up with a sign saying “Enslave Tibet” and he joined the red rent-a-crowd of students who cheered his arrival. The rent-a-crowd clearly didn’t get the Australian sense of irony.

After a short moment the AFP turned up and quietly took his sign away despite the fact he was upsetting nobody. Maybe I really was in China?

A very shaken work collegue has just come into the office. She was walking across Commowealth bridge when she came across a group of Chinese attacking a lone Tibetan on the north side of the bridge. When she tried to intervene, she was attacked too. There were about 30 Chinese attacking two people, so she fled. Did anyone witness this? Where were the police? What has happened to the poor tibetan guy?

I was there with the Free Tibet protesters outside Parliament House. It wrote Free Tibet and then ‘Free’ again later.

http://news.theage.com.au/torch-relay-underway-amid-tensions/20080424-287r.html

Bob Brown commissioned this. Good work.

Apparently there are a few scuffles and lots of protesters, but the tv coverage is mostly showing the runners, who are totally segregated from the crowd.

And who gave sunrise the coverage – this is an important live international event, and they are interspersing it with their pathetic infomercials and tacky fashion shows etc.

According to the SMH Sen. Brown paid for it.

I noticed this skywriting this morning in the reflection on the back window of the car in front of me while I was sitting in the joke known as the GDE. The regular 30 minute drive to work down Northbourne was now a 1hr 15min drive down the GDE. How about they run the torch again at 4:30 to 5:30 just for shits ands giggles eh?

did just then. conspiracy? ufo’s/torch relay/people offering free tiget? something funny is a foot.

All seriousness aside you could easily photogshop it and really make it look like a ufo.

not sure how many he squeezed out – I photographed a “free tibet” then and extra “free” for good measure. will post later.

Nice UFO action, makes you realise how easy u can fake! al-foil + arm

free tiget…?? where I wouldn’t mind some free tiget – if i only knew what it was.

Cool.

Bet that was done for free – to my knowledge sky writers aren’t cheap