Minor protests at Thai leg of torch relay
Thailand successfully hosted its leg of the Olympic torch relay today, as minor anti-Chinese protests remained peaceful and thousands of people followed the flame through the streets of the Thai capital, Bangkok.
The afternoon run through the city’s sweltering streets took almost three hours to complete after an auspicious send-off by thousands of flag-waving supporters in Bangkok’s Chinatown.
No trouble was reported along the route at a spot where about 100 human rights demonstrators faced off across a road against an equal number of China supporters. Tempers flared as the torch passed, but police kept the shouting contenders apart.
From a stage next to a large red Chinese-style gate, Thai dignitaries and the Chinese ambassador delivered brief speeches praising their countries’ ties as athletes stood readying the torch for the relay.
Many in the festive crowd of onlookers waved Chinese and Thai flags.
A sole dissenter, a Western woman, carried a picture of the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader. Some members of the crowd shouted “get out,” but no violence broke out.
Protests over China’s crackdown on anti-government riots in Tibet have dogged the torch relay at various stops on its way to the Olympics’ opening ceremony in August in Beijing.
Growing criticism of China’s human rights record has turned the Olympics into one of the most contentious in recent history.
Security in Bangkok was tight but not overwhelming despite concerns about possible disruptions. Police mostly handled crowd control and directed traffic.
The run began when Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin handed the lit torch to a sportswear-clad colleague who set out through the streets of the capital, followed by many of the onlookers.
Eighty runners took part in the relay, with the torch carried home by Pawina Thongsuk, a Thai weightlifter who won an Olympic gold medal at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens.
Thai authorities had deployed about 2,000 police and barricades to protect the Olympic torch along the relays 6-mile route. Hundreds of crowd control and security personnel were also on duty.
Police kept a cautious watch for provocative anti-China signs or banners, as well as protesters possibly emerging from small alleyways when the torch passed.
Thai authorities warned earlier that any foreign activists who tried to disrupt the relay would be deported.
On Friday, Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej lashed out at potential protesters.
“Whoever tries to destroy the flame is crazy and unreasonable,” he told reporters. “Why would anyone protest in Thailand? Why don’t they protest in China?”
A coalition of human rights and other activist groups staged a loud but peaceful protest in front the UN’s Asian headquarters, which is along the relay route in Bangkok.
“We want to show the Chinese government that the crackdown in Tibet did not spark outrage only in the Western world,” said Pokpong Lawansiri, co-ordinator of the Free Tibet Movement.
They waved placards and chanted “Free Tibet” and “Shame, shame Hu Jintao” referring to China’s president.
They were countered by an equal-sized, mostly Chinese-speaking crowd across the street yelling pro-China slogans.
Before the torch passed by, police made a modest effort to disperse the pro-Tibet demonstrators, with one officer on a loudspeaker imploring them to “think of the reputation of the country and not be opportunistic”. Police also videotaped the protesters.
The torch passed by many of Bangkok’s historical sites, including the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, the ceremonial Grand Palace and Chitralada Palace, the residence of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
The torch was scheduled to leave for Malaysia tonight.
