Olympic torch for human rights to highlight Beijing abuses

On 9 August, a day after the official Olympic torch is lit, a group of human rights activists will light an alternative flame in Athens, to remind the world about human rights abuses committed by Beijing against the people of China. The flame will travel to 100 countries.

Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) – A group of human rights activists from Taiwan have said they intend to light an alternative Olympic torch to rival the Chinese one, which will serve to “to draw attention to China's human rights abuses”.

The “human rights torch” will be lit in Athens on 9 August, a day after the official one is lit, exactly a year before the opening of the Games in Beijing. It will travel to 100 cities worldwide.

The Taiwanese activists said they were particularly worried about the Tibetan question. The Chinese government has in fact announced that it “will tighten security in the region” throughout 2008 in view of “problems linked to the increased tourist flux”. The promoters of the alternative torch believe such statements are simply paving the way for an even tighter stranglehold over the population.

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Olympic torch for human rights to highlight Beijing abuses

Olympic torch for human rights to highlight Beijing abuses

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