German Press: 'It Was a Mistake to Let China Host Olympics'

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After a recent breakout of violence in Lhasa, many world leaders have condemned Chinese attacks on monks. Some leaders have gone so far as to call for an international boycott of the Olympics. IOC President Jacques Rogge requested other countries not overreact.

Also, Richard Gere, a follower of Dalai Lama and chairman of the International Campaign for Tibet called for a boycott. He told Reuters on Friday:

"They've been brutally repressed for 50 years, 55 years, close to six decades…I've not been pro-boycott, but I think if this is not handled correctly, yes we should boycott…Everyone should boycott."

Today, German commentators have voiced their criticism against China, some of them calling for a boycott while others say the world should proceed with caution. One of the commentators, the center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung was very harsh with words. They said in their publication:

"It was a mistake to let China host the Olympic Games. The recent deaths following the military crackdown in Tibet allow no other conclusion. Who can enjoy the Olympics while monks are hunted in Lhasa? Who can sit in a Beijing stadium with a clear conscience while jails overflow on the roof of the world?"

The Süddeutsche Zeitung, however doesn’t call for a boycott; it says this will be unfair to the trained athletes who have lifelong ambitions to get a medal in the Olympics. A boycott will also lose whatever good that comes out of the games, as it unifies various countries and spreads goodwill among nations.

They said:

"It would be a start if the Olympics could open even a few people's eyes in the West to the true situation in China. Because the current dance around the Golden Calf (by the world community) is tasteless..."

The Süddeutsche Zeitung warned that a government that shows violence on its own people will also pose danger to its neighbors and to the rest of the world. They cited German history as an example, concluding:

"The tragic bloodletting in Tibet, only a few months before the Olympic Games, demands a cool reassessment of China. We grow wise by our mistakes."

And if they suppress the news or continue to ban international websites like Youtube, it will only show their bad side and unwillingness to treat people fairly. China has every right to host the Olympics, but it does need to show the world it deserves that right.