Politicising the Olympic Games

The POST, Sun, Apr,27, 2008.

Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema

Ever since the Olympic torch has been handed over to the concerned Chinese officials in Athens ceremony, it has been passing through many countries. In some countries, protests have been organized by the pro-Tibetan groups either independently or in close congruence with other local activists. In some cases the protests were the product of genuine sympathizers of Tibetan people but the large number of protests were the product of more anti-Chinese lobby than being reflective of great sympathy for the plight of the Tibetan people.

Since it started its journey, the torch has passed through many countries. In some countries, the arrangements to allow the torch pass through peacefully were better than in some others. In some countries there was hardly any protest, while in some others there were relatively visible and they managed to occupy prominent places in the local newspapers.

In fact even in those countries where the protesters were no more than few dozens, the reports published generated the impression that it was really a major protest. Apart from few western countries where protests were relatively larger, the Olympic torch seemed to have passed through the chosen countries without any noticeable incident. The countries like UK, USA and France seemed to have experienced noticeable protests rallies.

The Olympics are symbol of peace and harmony. The games in each Olympic gathering reminds of certain universal human values. Every participating athlete struggles for excellence and after the games are over, he/she is enriched with experiences which continue to be narrated for years. Not only the athletes recognize the ultimate competition but learn and enjoy from the experience.

Protest is part of the human rights which almost every nation bestows on its citizens.
It is an expression of discontentment. However most of such protests are of peaceful nature. Occasionally these protests take an ugly turn primarily because of mishandling by the law enforcing agencies or unwanted acts of some miscreants who join many protests with ulterior motives.

Minor clashes took place between the protesters and the police when the Olympic torch was passing thought countries like France and Britain. Most of the protests were the focusing on the recent developments that have taken place in Tibet. China has faced international criticism over its policy pursuits regarding anti-Chinese protests in Tibet that started on March 10, 2008 in Tibet’s capital city Lasha.

Most observers believe that protests against Chinese recent crackdown in Lasha are product of two distinct factors; total ignorance or ulterior motives. Many in the West are somewhat ignorant of the situation in Tibet. However their dislike for China’s peaceful rise is well known to every concerned individual. One does not have to discuss in detail that many in the West are dedicatedly engaged in proving total failure of communism. But the peaceful rise and galloping economy of the China is likely to prove something totally different.

The efforts that have been and are still, in many ways, undertaken to discredit communist system are continuing until the attainment of its ultimate goal. While the economic situation of other remaining communists states are not all that impressive, the economic progress in China is indeed very impressive. For decades the growth rate in China has been touching 10%. Many in the west think if China can sustain this growth rate for another decade, it economy is going to surpass many western countries.

While the dislike for the communist system was projected almost regularly by many in the west, their frustrations have been accumulating over the impressive Chinese growth rate and consequential strengthening of their economy. Further frustrations stemmed from Chinese successful incorporation of both Hong Kong and Macao. The Chinese have been able to handle most of the tricky problems that confronted them over the years.

There are only two areas where the Chinese are subjected to some kind of criticism; the East Turkmenistan Movement and Tibet. While there is no doubt that both are internal matters and outsiders should refrain from interfering in the internal matters of China, those who intensely dislike Chinese system are unlikely to refrain from interference in internal matters.

The recent resolutions of the US Congress and European parliament urge China to stop repression in Tibet, release the non-violent Tibetan protesters and have a dialogue with Dalai Lama. It seem pertinent to mention that the people of Kashmir have been suffering from the repressive measures and the operative black laws, but neither the European parliament nor the US Congress deem fit to pass similar censure. This clearly exposes the biased attitude of the western countries against China. In addition, the rights of Palestinian people have never been treated at par with those of Tibetan especially by the guardians of human rights in the west.

Having exhausted all avenues, many in the west have been dwelling heavily upon politicizing Olympic Games primarily because these are being held in China. According to China Daily the plan to organize worldwide protests against Beijing Olympics were finalized sometimes in the middle of 2007 in an International Tibet Support Groups Conference in Europe. It is also alleged that the plans were developed with collaboration of the US state department and Tibetan government in exile.

The international gathering ended with a ‘plan of action’ entitled Roadmap for Tibet Movement for the Coming Years. Four areas of interest were included in the plan; political support for negotiations, human rights, environment and development and ‘the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing’. Given these reports there is no doubt that the most of the protests were organized with ulterior motives by those who are less moved by human sufferings than by their own designs. If there are genuine sympathizers for oppressed people all over the world, then it is indeed difficult to ignore the plight and sufferings of the people of Kashmir.

The writer works for Islamabad Policy research Institute.