Tibet protest planned at Olympic flame-lighting

Campaigners opposed to Chinese rule in Tibet said tonight they planned to protest outside the site in southern Greece where the flame bound for the Beijing Olympics will be lit.

Tendon Dahortsang, a protest organiser, said two Tibetan groups hoped to stage a peaceful protest timed to coincide with Monday’s ceremony at Ancient Olympia, the birthplace of the ancient games.

“Traditionally the Olympic torch has symbolised peace, justice and freedom and equality – the ideal values of sport.

“Unfortunately the Chinese government is using this very basic Olympic symbol as a political tool to spread its propaganda,” Dahortsang said by telephone from Zurich, Switzerland.

He refused to give details of the planned action, but said it would not disrupt the ceremony.

A rehearsal of the flame lighting – a mock ancient ceremony which uses the sun’s rays to light the torch – will be held on Sunday.

International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge is scheduled to attend the lighting ceremony.

“We want to be there and to tell the world the truth about China … China is making the Olympics

polluted and dirty,” Dahortsang said.

“The real situation is China’s crackdown on peaceful Tibetan protesters, 50 years of illegal occupation of Tibet, and the oppression and violation of human rights all over the country.”

On March 10, Tibetan groups, joined by Dahortsang, held a protest at Olympia. Greek police prevented a group of athletes from entering the ancient stadium and extinguished a torch carried by one of the protesters.

Police today said security would be tight for the ceremony.

“Irrespective of Tibetans, increased security measures will be in place at Olympia. The measures would have been increased in any case,” police spokesman Spyros Pepes said.