The Olympic torch left China only a month ago on what was billed as “a journey of harmony.” Instead, the torch became a moving target for protesters worldwide. The focus of most demonstrations was China’s crackdown against the Tibetans who rioted March 14 in Lhasa. Other protesters criticized China’s role in the Darfur conflict. By the time the torch was paraded Sunday in Seoul, poor treatment of North Korean refugees was added to Beijing’s list of sins.
The government’s reaction to the unexpected avalanche of criticism was shrill. It described the protesters as “separatist elements” and claimed that they were seeking the breakup of the country, perhaps as part of a conspiracy. It railed at foreign media coverage, accusing reporters and editors of unspecified “ulterior motives.”
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