The Canadian TV network CTV has reported a protest that took place in Beijing on Wednesday morning, or Tuesday night in North America. Two men climbed tall light poles and each unfurled a banner calling for Tibetan independence.
One banner read “One World One Dream Free Tibet.” The other read “Tibet Will Be Free.” The first man also unfurled a Tibetan snow leopard flag.
The protest took place near the National Stadium, the “Bird’s Nest,” where the Olympic opening ceremonies will take place.
In an interview conducted by cell phone with CTV correspondent Steve Chao, one protester identified himself as Ian, and said he is a “long-term Tibet supporter.”
Ian continued, “Now is a really critical time for Tibet. The Beijing Games are being used as a propaganda tool to white wash their human rights record in Tibet.”
According to Chao, Ian is a member of the student group, “Students for a Free Tibet.”
Asked about the objection that the games are for sport, not protest, Ian replied that the Chinese regime had “politicized these games.”
Chao reports that shortly after the protest took place, police massed and took Ian and the other protester into custody.
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