Lhasa Under Tight Control as Beijing Olympic Draws Near

Lhasa, 5/8/08 - Epoch Times (Qiao Long of Radio Free Asia) - As the Olympics approach, Chinese security forces continue to patrol Lhasa. Armed forces are guarding some major monasteries and forbidding monks to leave.

Naqoin Monastery, attached to Drepung Monastery, is currently patrolled by armed security forces. Monks are locked inside, and other Tibetans are not allowed to approach the monastery. Sera Monastery is also reported to be closed. The Communist Party recently issued an order requiring all monks return to the monasteries to “provide convenience for tourists and to produce a harmonious environment in Tibet.”

A spokesman from the Tibetan Government in exile said, "Key monks such as khenpos and geshes have been required to call back to the monastery all monks under their supervision. If any monk under their charge marches on the street or engages in any protest, the khenpos and gesher will be held directly accountable.”

http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/china/lhasa-under-tight-control-as-beijing-olympic-draws-near-2146.html

Police told to stop interfering with reporters

Beijing, 5/8/08 - Reuters (Benjamin Lim) - According to an internal document seen by Reuters, new rules issued last week instruct Beijing police not to interfere with foreign journalists' news coverage. This includes the coverage of anti-government public speeches concerning the Falun Gong, Xinjiang, Tibet or Taiwan independence.

Police were also told not to interfere in interviews with evicted residents, farmers deprived of land, laid-off workers, discharged servicemen, anti-Japanese, anti-French and human rights activists, the document said. They can only intervene if there is "drastic action that attracts a crowd or affects public order" on the capital's Tiananmen Square or other politically sensitive sites. The rules also bar police from blocking camera lenses.

"Foreign reporters will no longer be prohibited from filming on Tiananmen Square," a law enforcement official told Reuters.

http://www.reuters.com/article/olympicsNews/idUSPEK5108620080805

Keep protests off the podium: Gosper

Beijing, 4/8/08 - NineMsn - Olympic athletes should not make any political protest while on the winner's podium or in the athletes' village, according to top Games official Kevan Gosper.

"We would seek that all athletes make no effort to demonstrate or use any form of propaganda, particularly on the podium and certainly in the village. The whole idea of this is to keep harmony, " Gosper said.

He criticised European Parliament president Hans-Gert Pottering, who has urged athletes to protest against human rights abuses in Tibet. "I think it's unfair that politicians should encourage athletes or incite them to make political statements," Mr Gosper said.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/olympics/article.aspx?id=608868

SFT to launch 24 hour online TV channel

New York, 4/8/08 - Phayul - SFT has announced that it will launch Free Tibet 2008 Television (FT08.TV), a 24 hour online television channel broadcasting on the internet to go live from August 8 through the end of the Games on August 24. FT08.TV will be co-produced from several different cities, with a central production hub in London.

FT08.TV aims to broadcast breaking reports about Olympics, Tibet related protests, pro-Tibet efforts in Beijing, newsmaker interviews, profiles of Tibet activists, Skype/chat/call-in talk shows, video press releases and in house statements.

http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=22193

China's Olympic image battle

Beijing, 4/8/08 - BBC (Carrie Grace) - Video report about the Chinese Government's promotional film which is to be aired on CNN and BBC and other international broadcasters prior to the start of the Olympics. Reports on the struggle China faces with counter publicity from human rights and pro-Tibet protesters. (3 minutes)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7540155.stm

IOC being grilled on Internet censorship

Beijing, 3/8/08 - AP (Stephen Wade) - IOC president Jacques Rogge was accused of backtracking on promises of press freedoms and some Internet sites remained blocked. Under pressure from the International Olympic Committee, Chinese organizers unblocked some sites at the main press center and venues, but others remained censored for journalists covering the Games.)

Rogge said, "I'm adamant in saying there has been no deal whatsoever to accept restrictions. Chinese officials and high-ranking IOC members have repeatedly said there would be no censorship on the Internet for accredited journalists covering the games - even though Chinese authorities regularly block sites used by its citizens.)

"I'm not going to make an apology for something that the IOC is not responsible for," Rogge said "We are not running the Internet in China. The Chinese authorities are running the Internet.")

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OLY_CHINA_INTERNET_BLOCKED?SITE=NJMOR

Olympic protesters required to apply first

Beijing, 3/8/08 - AP - Foreign and local protesters who want to speak out at the Olympics are required to apply five days in advance, and not harm "national interests," Liu Shaowu, the security chief for BOCOG said.)

"Assembling to march and protest is a citizen's right. But it must be stressed that when exercising this right, citizens must respect and not harm others' freedoms and rights and must not harm national, social and collective interests," Liu said.)

Chinese citizens must turn in a written application to police while foreigners must submit an application to the border entry-exit administration. Police will inform applicants whether they received approval at the latest two days before the protest, he said. If they don't hear from the police, that can be taken as approval, Liu added.)

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OLY_CHINA_PROTEST_RULES?SITE=KLIF

EU parliament chief calls for Olympics protest

Brussels, 3/8/08 - EU Observer (Honor Mahony) - European Parliament President Hans-Gert Poettering has called on athletes taking part in the Beijing Olympics to protest against the human rights situation in Tibet. In an article in German newspaper Bild am Sonntag, he said that love of sports should not be an excuse to overlook human rights issues.)

"I would like to encourage the athletes, men and women, to look at things as they are, and not to turn away. Each athlete can, in their own way, give a signal," he wrote. "It is our duty not to forget the people of Tibet, who are fighting for their cultural survival.")

http://euobserver.com/9/26577

IOC, Beijing discuss unblocking more websites

Beijing, 2/8/08 - AFP - Chinese and international organisers were working together on a compromise to unblock more censored websites for foreign media, a senior IOC official said on Saturday. Beijing has since unblocked a number of those sites including that of Amnesty International, but many others remain inaccessible, bringing more unwanted bad publicity for Games organisers and the Chinese government. )

IOC press chief Kevan Gosper said the IOC and BOCOG have set up a working group to examine which remaining censored websites can be opened up to reporters. He described the process as a "work in progress", but said he was hopeful access would improve.)

"We believe we are moving to a point where you will be in a position to report in an unfettered way," Gosper said, adding there will always be a debate over whether a country's own regulations meet international expectations.)

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jn0lS9BLQCEkhZSqtqoCHDL7MYCQ

Tibet party chief: Absolute stability in region still far off

Lhasa, 1/8/08 - Xinhua (the official Chinese state news agency) - Zhang Qingli, secretary of the TAR Committee, said that there was still far to go before achieving absolute social stability in the region, since the Dalai clique had continued planning separatist activities. )

"Although Tibet returned to normal in terms of social order, it's still a tough task to maintain peace in the region," Zhang told a celebration of the 81st anniversary of the People's Liberation Army. )

"Troops in Tibet should always be prepared for possible emergencies, to safeguard the national defense security and region's peaceful development," he said.)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-08/01/content_8893254.htm

China lifts some Internet curbs for Olympic press

Beijing, 1/8/08 - AFP - China on Friday allowed media at the Olympic press centre to access Amnesty International's website and a small number of previously censored sites, but a wide array of others remained blocked. The previously barred websites of Reporters Without Borders and German broadcaster Deutsche Welle were also accessible. However many other sites were still blocked, including those linked to Chinese dissidents, the Falun gong, the Tibetan government-in-exile and sites with information on the 1989 Tiananmen massacre.)

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gI4coLNu9o-2CJUDgz4NeqaxIf5A

Tutu and Havel urge athletes to speak up at Games

Prague, 1/8/08 - Reuters - Czech ex-president Vaclav Havel and Desmond Tutu called on Olympic athletes to speak up on human rights in China during the Olympics. They said in a joint open letter the IOC should let athletes know about the suppression of liberties in China.)

"It is necessary for all Olympians to be able to learn about the real situation in China and to point out human rights violations freely whenever and wherever, in line with their conscience," the letter said. "To speak of the conditions of human rights ... cannot be in violation of the Olympic Charter. To speak of human rights is not politics; only authoritarian and totalitarian regimes try to make it so. To speak of human rights is a duty.")

http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-Olympics/idUSL166331620080731