I read that the Olympic Committee may cancel the torch relays because of the protests.
China's Men In Blue
EUROSEC BLOG
Shami Chakrabati, who is director of the human rights group Liberty, said, "Everyone appreciates the difficult duty of our police to hold the line between the Olympic ceremony and critics and supporters of the Chinese regime. But who were the ominous figures running in formation in light blue uniforms? Where was their lawful authority to scuffle with policemen and protesters?"
(She told the Guardian, "Who were the chilling figures in blue running in formation with the relay and who authorised them to scuffle with protesters and policemen alike? At a time when even security guards are regulated by law, what was [their] remit and rules of engagement?")
Others accused British authorities of turning a blind eye to the activities of the guards:
"Britain seems to have caved in to demands from Beijing that Chinese security agents police the streets of London," said Matt Whitticase, of Free Tibet UK. "It certainly fits in with the supine approach Britain has taken towards China over the years, compared with other nations." (The Independent).
In the Daily Mail, Geoffrey Wheatcroft argues that the Beijing Olympics should be the last. On the Chinese security team in London, he says it "was one of the most shameful and humiliating spectacles this country has witnessed for many years...
"Plenty of comparisons have been made between this summer's Beijing Olympics and the "Nazi Games" held in Berlin in 1936, but at least detachments of the Gestapo and SS weren't sent here then to keep us in our place."
The Independent probes the mysterious security team, reporting that officially they are "flame attendants", three of whom must guard the Olympic torch to ensure it remains lit at all times. Other reports suggest that they may belong to one of China's mysterious special forces teams - witnesses spoke of their "robotic" reponse to perceived threats.
Children's television presenter Konnie Huq was also reported to have complained about the activities of the security detail, who surrounded her as she carried the torch. Her leg of the journey was held up by a protestor who tried to seize the torch from her. Huq said she had seen the guards having "skirmishes" with police and Olympic officials and reportedly told a friend they were "bloody aggressive."
EURSOC speculated yesterday that only in Britain, where foreign potentates with private armies are tolerated, would such behaviour be acceptable. Where else has such a dim view of its citizens that it allows them to be trampled by a gang of foreign thugs, seemingly acting on their own rather than British laws?
In France, the "Boys in Blue" began the journey at the Eiffel Tower, but were swiftly confined to a bus when protestors forced the Olympic torch to be extinguished. France's no-nonsense CRS police did most of the heavy lifting.
Gentle and diversity-friendly the CRS are not, but at least they act under French law. Britain's constitutional meltdown has left the country in the grip of any number of conflicting laws, from Sharia to Chinese, it appears.
Other countries are made of sterner stuff. Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has explicitly ruled out the Chinese security detail for the Aussie leg of the torch's journey in Canberra. "Australia will be providing that security," he said. In India, where the torch arrives to be paraded in New Delhi on April 17, the Chinese have demanded their "Red Guard" accompany the torch. India has responded that its own security is up to the job.
China has described protests against the Beijing Olympics as "disgusting." eursoc.com |
