{"id":235144,"date":"2021-10-19T00:17:21","date_gmt":"2021-10-19T07:17:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/?p=235144"},"modified":"2021-10-22T23:44:18","modified_gmt":"2021-10-23T06:44:18","slug":"protesters-disrupt-olympic-torch-lighting-ceremony-in-greece-drawing-attention-to-chinese-human-rights-abuses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chinadigitaltimes.net\/2021\/10\/protesters-disrupt-olympic-torch-lighting-ceremony-in-greece-drawing-attention-to-chinese-human-rights-abuses\/","title":{"rendered":"Protesters Disrupt Olympic Torch-lighting Ceremony in Greece, Drawing Attention to Chinese Human-rights Abuses"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tibetan and Hong Kong human-rights activists staged <\/span>a series of protests around the torch-lighting ceremony in Greece<\/span><\/a> in the run-up to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Greek authorities detained nine activists; six have been released, while three others remain in detention awaiting their court hearings. The protests drew attention to the CCP\u2019s human rights abuses in <\/span>Xinjiang<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>Tibet<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Hong Kong<\/span><\/a>, and highlighted the campaign seeking to garner international support for boycotting the Beijing Olympics. The detentions and arrests pointed to China\u2019s growing influence abroad and<\/span> commensurate capabilities to silence dissent<\/span><\/a>, even beyond its own borders.<\/span><\/p>\n

The first protest occurred on Sunday at the Acropolis in Athens. Nicholas Paphitis from the Associated Press described the ten-minute incident, in which <\/span>two activists climbed onto scaffolding by the Acropolis stairs to brandish flags and shout slogans<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The women, 18-year-old Tibetan student Tsela Zoksang and 22-year-old exiled Hong Kong activist Joey Siu, both American citizens, are members of the \u201cNo Beijing 2022\u201d campaign, the New York-based organization Students for a Free Tibet said.<\/span><\/p>\n

A security officer took the banner away, but the activists remained on the scaffolding and deployed a Tibetan flag and a smaller banner proclaiming, \u201cFree Hong Kong Revolution.\u201d They also chanted slogans including \u201cFree Tibet,\u201d \u201cBoycott Beijing 2022\u201d and \u201cNo freedom, no Games,\u201d before police arrived and detained them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Protests are not allowed on the Acropolis \u2014 which has not stopped several from being held over the years by groups ranging from Communist unionists to soccer fans. [<\/span>Source<\/strong><\/a>]<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The non-governmental organization Students for a Free Tibet published <\/span>statements by the two activists<\/strong><\/a>:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Tsela Zoksang, an 18-year-old Tibetan-American activist with Students for a Free Tibet, said: \u201cThe IOC\u2019s decision to award the Winter Olympics to China is a clear endorsement of the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s extreme and brutal human rights abuses towards Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Hongkongers. Tibetans in Tibet, my people, live in daily fear under China\u2019s brutal and illegal occupation; facing arrest and torture for simply calling for basic rights and freedoms. The IOC \u2013 Thomas Bach and Juan Samaranch \u2013 know full well what is happening but they have chosen money over human dignity.\u00a0 So now it is time for the international community, and all people of conscience, to take a stand and boycott Beijing 2022; anything less will be a clear endorsement of China\u2019s genocidal regime.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Joey Siu, an exiled 22-year-old Hong Kong activist, said: \u201cI am a Hong Kong activist and I cannot return to my homeland. Taking this nonviolent direct action today is bittersweet as in Hong Kong, if I protested in this way,\u00a0 I would face unpredictable, lengthy jail time, or worse. As we shared our message today, my heart was with all my friends that are being unjustly persecuted in Hong Kong. By awarding the Chinese government the honor of hosting an Olympic Games yet again, the IOC is sending the world a message that it is ok to turn a blind eye to genocide and crimes against humanity in Hong Kong, Tibet, East Turkestan, and Southern Mongolia. We must stand together to oppose Beijing 2022.\u201d [<\/span>Source<\/strong><\/a>]<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\n

Yesterday, after waving flags at the Acropolis in Athens, Tibetan and Hong Kong activists were arrested by Greek authorities.<\/p>\n

The activists were peacefully protesting the Winter Olympics in Beijing next year. The Acropolis is where China will be handed the Olympic torch shortly. pic.twitter.com\/wusyJXnqAb<\/a><\/p>\n

— Free Tibet (@freetibetorg) October 18, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n