Houston Community News >> Chinese Ambassador Pulls out of Torch Relay
4/3/2008-- China's ambassador to Britain
has pulled out of running in this weekend's Olympic torch relay ceremony
in the first indication that growing international concern at the
country's recent actions in Tibet is starting to become a major source
of embarrassment for Beijing.
Fu Ying, China's ambassador to the UK for the past year, was meant to be one of 80 athletes, celebrities and dignitaries to carry the Olympic torch through the streets of London on Sunday, as part of the UK leg of the 130-day relay. But yesterday it emerged she had pulled out of the ceremony after being asked by her superiors in Beijing to spend the day with China's official delegation instead.
Ms Fu's potential involvement in the Olympic relay had infuriated human rights campaigners, who accused the British Government of allowing a Chinese official to participate in the relay at a time when the host nation was instigating a string of oppressive crackdowns and media blackouts.
Human rights groups said scores of protesters in Tibet had been killed and hundreds more imprisoned after some of the most sustained protests against Chinese rule in the restive region for almost two decades.
There have also been a number of arrests in western China over the past three weeks following demonstrations by the region's predominantly Muslim Uighur population.
Campaigners welcomed the news that Ms Fu had backed out of the relay, and said the withdrawal of such a high profile figure from such a prestigious event showed the protests over China's human rights record were starting to rattle the authorities in Beijing.
Mark Farmanar, from the Burma Campaign, said: "Clearly something that was supposed to showcase China has in fact turned into an unmitigated disaster. The Chinese government wants to use the Olympics to make themselves look good and the ambassador was all part of that. It's is a PR exercise that is rapidly going wrong for them."
Anne Holmes, acting director of Free Tibet UK, said: "I think it was a controversial decision and on reflection, they probably realised it was in bad taste. The fact is, Fu Ying is the official representative to the UK for the Chinese government, which is currently instigating a total media blackout in Tibet."
China is fiercely proud of the 137,000 kilometre (85,130 miles) torch relay, which they have billed as a "journey of harmony". Instead, it has become the focus of protests. Campaigners have vowed numerous protests during the London ceremony this weekend, and during upcoming relays in Paris, San Francisco and Delhi. Yesterday police in Istanbul detained six Uighur activists protesting at the torch's arrival in the Turkish city.
The Olympic torch will arrive in London on Saturday night from St Petersburg and will be carried on an eight-hour relay the following day; beginning in Wembley and ending in Greenwich.
(Contributed by the Independent)
Fu Ying, China's ambassador to the UK for the past year, was meant to be one of 80 athletes, celebrities and dignitaries to carry the Olympic torch through the streets of London on Sunday, as part of the UK leg of the 130-day relay. But yesterday it emerged she had pulled out of the ceremony after being asked by her superiors in Beijing to spend the day with China's official delegation instead.
Ms Fu's potential involvement in the Olympic relay had infuriated human rights campaigners, who accused the British Government of allowing a Chinese official to participate in the relay at a time when the host nation was instigating a string of oppressive crackdowns and media blackouts.
Human rights groups said scores of protesters in Tibet had been killed and hundreds more imprisoned after some of the most sustained protests against Chinese rule in the restive region for almost two decades.
There have also been a number of arrests in western China over the past three weeks following demonstrations by the region's predominantly Muslim Uighur population.
Campaigners welcomed the news that Ms Fu had backed out of the relay, and said the withdrawal of such a high profile figure from such a prestigious event showed the protests over China's human rights record were starting to rattle the authorities in Beijing.
Mark Farmanar, from the Burma Campaign, said: "Clearly something that was supposed to showcase China has in fact turned into an unmitigated disaster. The Chinese government wants to use the Olympics to make themselves look good and the ambassador was all part of that. It's is a PR exercise that is rapidly going wrong for them."
Anne Holmes, acting director of Free Tibet UK, said: "I think it was a controversial decision and on reflection, they probably realised it was in bad taste. The fact is, Fu Ying is the official representative to the UK for the Chinese government, which is currently instigating a total media blackout in Tibet."
China is fiercely proud of the 137,000 kilometre (85,130 miles) torch relay, which they have billed as a "journey of harmony". Instead, it has become the focus of protests. Campaigners have vowed numerous protests during the London ceremony this weekend, and during upcoming relays in Paris, San Francisco and Delhi. Yesterday police in Istanbul detained six Uighur activists protesting at the torch's arrival in the Turkish city.
The Olympic torch will arrive in London on Saturday night from St Petersburg and will be carried on an eight-hour relay the following day; beginning in Wembley and ending in Greenwich.
(Contributed by the Independent)