Torch protesters shed light on oppressive rule

THE Olympic torch controversy has helped to highlight some of the difficulties with China’s ambitions to become a respectable member of the global community and the ambiguities surrounding the Beijing games.

The Chinese government may be able to suppress protests inside its own borders and such images in the media, but thankfully protest is allowed in democratic countries and, perhaps as important, it is allowed to be reported in the media.

The protests are important to highlight the level of disquiet regarding the treatment of the people of Tibet by the Chinese government. They also serves to remind the Chinese authorities that the protestations about some of its policies cannot be dismissed or supressed, particularly when principles such as those represented by the Olypmic Games are at stake.

Hopefully the Chinese authorities will learn that in order to be respectable members of the global community, they need to show respect to all people, both inside and outside their country’s borders.

Tim Desmond

46 Doyle Rd

Turners Cross

Cork