China Firm On Defence Of The Torch
The Age
Wednesday April 23, 2008
CHINA'S ambassador to Australia has defied Prime Minister Kevin Rudd by saying the Chinese attendants travelling with the Olympic torch will "use their bodies" to protect it.
On the eve of the torch's arrival in Canberra from Jakarta this morning, Zhang Junsai made it clear that the blue-tracksuit-wearing attendants would become involved physically if anyone tried to extinguish the flame."Their role is to make sure that the flame will not go out," he told the Nine Network. "Was the flame attacked, I believe they will use their bodies to hold this, not to let flame go out."His statement contradicts Mr Rudd's assertions that the Chinese attendants would have no security role in tomorrow's Australian leg of the torch relay.Last night the Federal Government stood its ground, firmly rejecting any suggestion that the torch attendants would become involved in security. Security concerns about tomorrow's event in Canberra have grown following the clashes involving pro-Tibet protesters in London and Paris.The aircraft carrying the torch from Jakarta is due in Canberra at 8.10am today. Mr Zhang said that as long as protests in Canberra were peaceful, they would be respected."This should be an occasion for the people from all ethnic groups to come to celebrate," he said.A former human rights commissioner yesterday fanned controversy surrounding the Beijing Olympics by accusing China of approaching the Games in a manner reminiscent of the way Nazi Germany approached the 1936 Berlin Games.University of Sydney adjunct professor Sev Ozdowski said the forced removal of people living in Beijing to make way for the Games; the likely exclusion of Falun Gong and other dissidents from the Olympics and China's attempt to use the Games to present itself as a new world power all echoed Nazi behaviour.Dr Ozdowski - who as human rights commissioner wrote a major report on the mandatory detention of children in immigration - saidChinese authorities were trying to use the Olympics to enhance China's status as a world power and economic success.After scuffles broke out when the Olympic torch was in London, Paris and San Francisco, Mr Rudd said: "The physical security of the Olympic Torch will be provided by Australian security officials only."Mr Rudd said the Chinese attendants would travel in a bus, except when they were needed to light a fresh torch as a new runner took over.In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said that after extensive consultations with Canberra, the Chinese Government was confident the Canberra leg of the torch relay would be "properly handled"."We believe that with the joint efforts of the two countries and encouraged by the Australian people's love for the Olympics, the torch relay will be smooth," Ms Jiang said.She declined to comment on whether protests would harm relations but said any disruption of the torch should be condemned.The Indonesian leg of the torch relay in Jakarta was held behind closed doors under close security.Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo launched the event before a carefully selected crowd of several thousand cheering onlookers at the national stadium, but the flame sputtered out after a few seconds and had to be re-lit. Police earlier broke up a rally by pro-Tibet activists outside the sprawling sports complex, which was protected by security forces. About 100 protesters wearing "Free Tibet" T-shirts carried banners reading "No human rights, no Olympics" and chanted, "A united people will be invincible." Police moved in, dragging nine away for questioning. All were quickly released at the scene, but a Dutch man was taken to Jakarta police headquarters and remains in custody. The headline performer for the Olympic torch relay celebrations in Canberra, rock singer Shannon Noll, is confident organisers will be able to handle any protests. Noll will perform alongside Australian music veterans Brian Cadd and Russell Morris.Noll's manager, Nicole Hart, said the performer saw the entertainment side of the relay as unrelated to the controversy surrounding the torch.She said Noll was more concerned with pleasing the crowd at Commonwealth Park tomorrow."Shannon's about entertaining people. He sees the protesters as a completely separate thing," she said. "He trusts the organisers to look after that side of things. The entertainment will begin before dawn when Canberra's skyline will be lit up with fireworks to welcome the torch to Australia. Fireworks will be ignited from the capital's three highest hills, Mount Ainslie, Black Mountain and Red Hill, tonight and then above Lake Burley Griffin early tomorrow morning before the relay begins. After Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe lights the Olympic cauldron at the official ceremony on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, 30 hot-air balloons will take to the sky. Spectators will have the opportunity for celebrity spotting, with 2008 Australian of the Year Lee Kernaghan performing and swimmers Libby Trickett and Thorpe running parts of the relay. Thorpe will carry the torch for the final leg of the relay to Commonwealth Park where it will be farewelled by Noll in a free concert. -- With ANNABEL STAFFORD, AFP and AAP"Was the flame attacked, I believe they will use their bodies ? not to let (the) flame go out."CHINA'S AMBASSADOR TO AUSTRALIA, ZHANG JUNSAI "The physical security of the Olympic Torch will be provided by Australian security officials only."PRIME MINISTER KEVIN RUDD
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