The other side of the Beijing Olympics
James Forsyth 3:43pm
It is heartening to see Britain doing so well at the Olympics but it is worth remembering that for all the excitement of the games, China has not abided by the commitments it made to allow a modicum of freedom of expression during the games. Take this story highlighted by Bill Keller:
Hosting the Olympics probably has acted as a check on China’s actions on the world stage; the Chinese were concerned about sparking a boycott of the games. But it has not brought about the internal changes that many claimed it would.The pre-Olympics promises that attention would be paid to international norms of behavior went unredeemed. The New York Times’s Andrew Jacobs followed one citizen who decided to take up the government’s Olympic offer of designated protest zones for aggrieved parties who had filed the proper paperwork. Zhang Wei applied for the requisite license and was promptly arrested for “disturbing social order.”
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mitch
August 17th, 2008 4:28pm Report this commentBig surprise eh? like all lefty governments from ours to theirs its all gong and no dinner.I shan't watch a minute of it
Augustus
August 17th, 2008 4:56pm Report this commentIt was simplistic for anyone to hope that the Olympics would bring human rights to China. Much too good to be true. What liberal elements there are within the government will need to experience a lot more political traumas over time than just the odd Olympic demonstration before they are really able to make progress.
John
August 17th, 2008 5:33pm Report this commentAnd you expected anything else??? Good grief ...
Mitch: I am not watching a minute of it either, but because it's a FASCIST country.
John Page
August 17th, 2008 6:27pm Report this commentPleased to see the Mail covering this angle - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1045764/Rounded-torture-camps-The-undesirables-China-doesnt-want-see.html
Marian C
August 17th, 2008 6:35pm Report this commentI agree with all of the above comments.
"The pre-Olympics promises that attention would be paid to international norms of behavior went unredeemed"
It is a ridiculous notion to believe anything else from a fascist state.
dilys
August 18th, 2008 8:22am Report this commentThose who 'expected' change were only intent on their own pleasures.
Thank God I am English.
Tim Carpenter LPUK
August 18th, 2008 10:24am Report this commentThose who expected change are the same useful idiots who infest our entire government and F&CO.
It is like they have had a triple common sense bypass.
The Tories and LibDems are no better. This is why we cannot expect the big three to come up with sensible reactions or answers to the problems we all face.
Earl
August 18th, 2008 12:38pm Report this commentI dont see any difference this and the anti-terror legislation skewed to suppress the right to protest.
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