China deports eight detained Americans: US embassy

Monday, August 25, 2008

BEIJING (AFP) — China has deported eight Americans who were detained in Beijing last week after a wave of pro-Tibet protests coinciding with the Olympics, the US embassy here said Monday.

Activists unfurled a ''Free Tibet'' banner and Tibetan flags Friday in Beijing on top of an Olympics billboard. (Oded Balilty/Associated Press)

Two other detained foreigners, a Briton and a Tibetan-German, were also reported to have been put on planes out of China, although there was no immediate official confirmation that this had happened.

"Chinese authorities informed us last night that the eight individuals, detained August 20 and 21 respectively, were deported by Chinese authorities," a US embassy spokeswoman told AFP.

The eight left China while the Olympic closing ceremony was taking place, and before they had completed 10-day sentences they received last week.

The detention had triggered high-level US pressure for their release, with Ambassador Clark Randt intervening personally on behalf of the eight.

The spokeswoman said they were flown out Sunday night by Air China to Los Angeles.

"We urge China to take positive steps to address international and domestic concerns about its record on human rights and religious freedoms," she said.

In addition to the eight Americans, a Briton and a Tibetan-German were also detained last week.

The Briton, 41-year-old Mandy McKeown, would be released Monday, the British government said earlier.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown used a visit to Beijing for the Olympic closing ceremony to intervene personally to secure her release, an official from his Downing Street office said.

Diplomatic sources in Beijing told AFP McKeown had been due to fly out of Beijing early in the day.

The Tibetan-German, Florian Norbu Gyanatshang, was also released and was on a flight expected in Frankfurt early Monday local time, German magazine Der Spiegel reported on its website. Germany's embassy in Beijing declined comment.

Activist group Students for a Free Tibet welcomed the news of the release of the eight Americans, but suggested China had freed them merely to avoid tarnishing the closing ceremony.

"After two days of negative publicity over its extrajudicial detention of 10 Tibet supporters, the Chinese government is seeking to suppress a story that would have cast a shadow over the closing ceremony of these Olympic Games," said Lhadon Tethong, executive director of Students for a Free Tibet.

Pro-Tibet campaigners carried out at least eight stunts and small-scale protests in Beijing in the run-up to the Olympics and during the Games, despite tight security.

The authorities expelled foreign activists within a day or two after the early protests, but this week they appeared to toughen their approach by announcing punishments of 10 days in detention.

Beijing police headquarters and the Chinese foreign ministry were not immediately available for comment Monday.