Five pro-Tibet demonstrators arrested in clash outside Chinese embassy

Monday, February 02, 2009

Times Online
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A demonstrator is dragged away by police outside the Chinese embassy. Photo: Paul Rogers/The Times

London, Jan. 01: Protesters leapt over security barriers outside the Chinese Embassy in London today in an attempt to disrupt Wen Jiabao’s three-day visit to Britain.

Five of the pro-Tibetan demonstrators were arrested when they tried to take the Free Tibet flag to the doors of the Embassy as the Chinese Premier arrived for a brief meeting.

Firecrackers let off by embassy staff as the Premier pulled up to the front door created a few moments of confusion as smoke filled the street. Dignataries scuttled from the motorcade through the embassy’s doors amid the din, narrowly avoiding the dancing dragon.

One protester had concealed himself within the pro-Chinese group of about 100 people, who were gathered opposite a bigger crowd of people, many of whom were from the Free Tibet organisation.

But the 30-strong police presence quickly quelled the rebellion and the majority of the protest passed off peacefully and without violence.

Corralled behind metal fences, protesters waved flags bearing peace prayers and brandished placards with pro-Tibetan slogans. They chanted “Shame on China”, “Stop the torture in Tibet” and “Religious freedoms in Tibet”.

The protesters have vowed to dog the Chinese Premier during his three day visit, which ends tomorrow.Photo: Paul Rogers/The Times

Pempalahmu Samuels, a 33-year-old primary school teacher from London, braved the freezing conditions for hours before the Chinese Premier arrived just after 12.30pm.

She said: “My parents are from Tibet, I grew up in Darjeeling in India. I and everyone else are here today to show our presence to the Chinese Premier, who is not listening to the Chinese people at all. We want to share Tibet’s feelings with the rest of the world. Tibetans in Tibet have no freedom of speech.”

As the protesters waited for Mr Wen to emerge from the embassy, they stepped up the shouting and jabbed their posters in the air. Many were daubed with red paint and read “Wen Jiabo: Tibetan blood on your hands”.

John Scovell, a student from Surrey, was moved to join the protest after hearing a nun tell how she had been tortured after attending a demonstration in Tibet.

“I’m here to show my support for the Tibetan people. The British Government has abandoned them, it wants to be closer to China. We’ve got to let our Government and the Chinese Government know that people will not forget Tibet. Our Government would rather we forgot about Tibet so it can have a closer relationship with China.”

Mr Wen met Gordon Brown after arriving for his stay on Saturday and will hold further talks with the Prime Minister on Monday morning. He also toured Chinatown on Saturday ahead of the Chinese New Year celebrations in the area today.

Ugyan Norbu, a Tibetan who has lived in Britain for 30 years, said: “For too long the British Government has appeased the Chinese Government. The British Government is in the best position to negotiate with the Chinese on Tibet. I know the British people won’t let us down but the British Government are still appeasing the Chinese.”