French President Nicolas Sarkozy has hinted at the possibility of a boycott of the 2008 Olympics over China’s treatment of Tibet:
PARIS (AP) — President Nicolas Sarkozy suggested Tuesday that a boycott of the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics was a possibility, making him the first world leader to raise the prospect of punishing China over its crackdown in Tibet.
The United States, Britain and Germany condemned China for using force against Tibetan protesters, but stopped short of threatening to boycott the Games or the opening ceremonies.
Mr. Sarkozy, who had faced rising criticism in France for his relative silence on the issue, couched his comments cautiously. He made it clear that skipping the ceremonies on Aug. 8 was one of several possible French responses to the violence in Tibet.
“Our Chinese friends must understand the worldwide concern that there is about the question of Tibet, and I will adapt my response to the evolutions in the situation that will come, I hope, as rapidly as possible,” he said. Asked whether he supported a boycott, Mr. Sarkozy said he could “not close the door to any possibility.”
I think that the least the world can do is skip the Opening (and Closing) Ceremonies, thereby denying to China the celebration it so desires.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:29 am
good. even though a boycott against the olympics may not be the best response, it’s a response and better than nothing. always the question looms - whether or not citizens deserve to be punished for the policies of their government … while Tibetan’s revolted against Chinese in Lhasa out of desperation, it was for lack of another tangible option. Chinese and Tibetans have co-existed in many parts of Sichuan without great incident. it’s the chinese government’s fault for never having had a real presence in Lhasa, for exercising an oppressive regime, ‘mentally cleansing the Tibetan people of their identity, and then pushing its own Chinese citizens into the mess as representatives, buffers and the like…
http://flyingdakini.blogspot.com/
March 26th, 2008 at 10:12 am
President Nicolas Sarkozy will be too busy at the auction house bidding on nude pictures of his wife to protest the Olympics.