A hotel in Beijing was reportedly closed down on the eve of the Olympics opening after pro-Tibet activists invited foreign media for a screening of a documentary in which Tibetans are interviewed about their feelings about the Games. ABC News has a video report on the incident. Reuters reports:
The film featured a series of interviews with Tibetans talking about how their culture had been trampled on, how they still loved exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, and how they viewed the Olympics as having done little to improve their lives.
“Outsiders may think that the Tibetans are treated very well and that they are happy. But the truth is that Tibetans are not free to speak of their suffering,” one Tibetan said on the film.
“Even if I had to sacrifice my life for this message to be seen by the Dalai Lama, I agree and welcome this chance,” said another.
Al Jazeera reports on the film screening:
The second screening, at Hotel G next to the Worker’s Stadium, one of the Olympic venues, was broken up by the hotel management.
“You know the situation in China,” the hotel’s general manager, Nikolaus Ellrodt, appealed to the journalists watching the video. “It’s better for us if you leave … The PSB [police] are downstairs and know you are here.”
Hotel G paid a stiff penalty for hosting the private video event. Hours later, reception said they were no longer accepting guests and did not know when it would reopen.
The filmmakers were arrested in March and are still in detention. The official website is here. Clips of the film are available on YouTube:
