Tibet protest threat to Olympic torch relay
Angry Tibetan exiles may try to disrupt the Olympic torch relay through London if China continues its crackdown on protesters in Tibet, a campaigner warned today.
About 2,000 police officers and civilian support staff will be on duty in case of trouble when the torch passes through the capital on Sunday April 6.
Hundreds of Tibetans living in Britain and Europe are expected to travel to London that weekend to demonstrate against Beijing hosting the Olympic Games this summer.
Anne Holmes, acting director of the London-based Free Tibet Campaign, said feelings were running very high and some of them might try to disrupt the torch procession.
“We will have a presence – our plan is to do something peaceful to make our point,” she said.
“Actually disrupting the torch relay in any way is not part of our plan at the moment.
“But I cannot speak on behalf of the Tibetan community in exile, who are obviously deeply distressed by recent events.
“The torch relay is two weeks off. Given what may or may not happen in Tibet, I really do not know what will happen on April 6.
“We would not be in the least bit surprised if there were a lot of people protesting.”
China says 16 people have been killed since anti-government protests turned violent in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, last week, although Tibetan groups put the figure much higher.
The Olympic torch will visit 22 cities on five continents in an 85,000-mile relay around the world themed as a “Journey of Harmony”, arriving in Beijing for the Games opening ceremony on August 8.
In London, torchbearers including former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq, classical violinist Vanessa Mae and England cricketer Kevin Pietersen will carry it from Wembley Stadium to the O2 Arena.
Protesters will stage events in the capital throughout the day, including an alternative relay with a “Tibetan freedom torch”.
Some officials have criticised the campaigners for using the torch for political ends.
But Ms Holmes said such complaints were “disingenuous”, arguing that the decision to award the Olympics to China was politicised from the start.
Scotland Yard has been planning the policing of the relay through London for some time, a spokeswoman said.
She went on: “Our plan caters for the safety, security and safe passage of the Olympic torch. In the region of 2,000 officers and staff will be on duty.”
The Free Tibet Campaign is not currently calling for athletes to boycott the Beijing Olympics but it wants political leaders to refuse to attend.
