image:5209:0::0
|
The marchers have been prevented from leaving Dharamsala according to the Indian authorities. They had attempted to leave during the 49th anniversary in which the Tibetan leader and Buddhist spiritual leader the 14th Dalai Lama had escaped from Tibet. It was during the time where China had started to occupy Tibet. The Communist leader of China, Mao Zedong, had moved to eliminate all religion.
In regards to China, the Dalai Lama called for great pressure to be placed upon the government in regards to human rights. Many human rights and pro-Tibet independence groups plan to use the Olympics in Beijing as a place to protest due to the wide media coverage that the games should receive.
Human rights groups also plan to protest the Olympics to pressure China to do more to end the violence and killing in Darfur. It has been said that there are many groups that plan to use torch relay locations to stage their protests.
In Nepal, 1,000 exiles clashed with police in the capital of Kathmandu. They were planning to protest in front of the Chinese embassy.
“
We have issued a restraining order to the marchers not to leave the Kangra district and if they violate the order then all necessary actions will be taken,” according to Atul Phuljile, the district police chief.
This march is supposed to be six-months as Tibetan exiles will march from India to Tibet. Like many groups, these activists plan to use the Olympics in Beijing to strengthen their cause. Issues like these protests have been one of many woes that have surrounded the Olympics that will be hosted in Beijing.
The Dalai Lama said that it was good that Beijing is hosting the Olympics. He said that the world is able to use the games as a means to place pressure on China.
“China should prove herself a good host by providing these freedoms. Therefore, besides sending their athletes, the international community should remind the Chinese government of these issues,” said his holiness, the Dalai Lama.
Hollywood award-winning director Steven Spielberg resigned from his position as a creative adviser to the Beijing Olympics over Darfur.
Before US President George W. Bush had started his six-day Africa trip, he said that the United States would not boycott the games. Instead, he said he would remind China’s president that there is more he can do in regards to Darfur.
As the groups wanting the violence in Darfur to end have taken action, these pro-Tibet independence activists are now doing the same thing.
The question remains: Will the pressure affect the Olympic games at all?
