Two Canadians were among six protesters detained in China after they unfurled a banner on the Great Wall protesting China's presence in Tibet. [/p] The banner read "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet 2008." The official slogan for the games is "One World, One Dream." [/p] Non-Chinese members of Students for a Free Tibet carried out the act.[/p] The two Canadian detainees are Melanie Raoul and Sam Price, both of Vancouver. They have not been heard from since the arrest, said the group.[/p] "I am concerned, and looking forward to getting some information as are my parents. So, the sooner the better," said Olivia Claire, Price's sister in Vancouver.[/p] Price has done this sort of thing before. He was arrested in China in 2001 during a demonstration that coincided with a Team Canada trade trip.[/p] A Dept. of Foreign Affairs spokesman told The Canadian Press that the federal government is checking to see if Chinese authorities did arrest the pair and to request consular access if they were.[/p] The other four protesters were reportedly from the U.K. and U.S.[/p] To get around Chinese censors, the activists sent live video via cellphone camera of the banner's unfurling back to New York, where it was quickly posted to the Internet. This particular technique was first tried in April on the Chinese side of Mount Everest.[/p] "It's precedent-setting and in a way I hope we're making history not only for Tibetans but for the many, many groups that have been subjugated," said Lhadon Thetong, the group's leader.[/p] To try and reach International Olympics Committee president Jacques Rogge, she posted a letter to him on her blog, then made a video of her talking about the letter while she stands under the nose of a statue of Mao Tse-Tung, modern China's founder.[/p] She then called the IOC to tell them the video is there for the world to see, makes a video of the call and adds that to the blog. As a result, Lhadon Tethong got a rare informal meeting with an IOC staffer.[/p] She estimates about 20,000 people have checked out her postings from China. While she's been followed by police there, so far they haven't tried to arrest or stop her.[/p] "They can't stop the tide. There are cracks there with the Internet and with email access and even if they try to control, it's up to people like us to pry those open," Lhadon Tethong said.
A different protest occurred Monday, but one also aimed at getting the attention of Rogge, who is in China.[/p] Police in Beijing detained members of Reporters Without Borders who staged their own protest, accusing the government of failing to meet promises for greater media freedom. [/p] Wednesday marks exactly one year before the start of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. [/p] China views the Olympics as a good opportunity to burnish its image, while activists see it as a good opportunity to bring attention to what they see as the country's shortcomings.[/p] In the case of Tibet, Chinese troops have occupied the country since 1951. China claims Tibet is Chinese territory.[/p]
[/p]In this video image released by Students for a Free Tibet, Canadian Tibet supporters Melanie Raoul, left, and Sam Price hang from ropes beside a protest banner they unfurled on the Great Wall of China in Mutianyu, north of Beijing on Tuesday, Aug 7, 2007. The banner reads: 'One World, One Dream, Free Tibet 2008.' (AP / Students for a Free Tibet
Melanie Raoul is one of the Canadians detained in China.
Sam Price, seen here in this undated file photo, is the other Canadian detained in China.
Full Story:
[a href="http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070807/china_protest_070807/20070807?hub=TopStories"]http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070807/china_protest_070807/20070807?hub=TopStories[/a]
[hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;"]where do I sign up? Commies don't scare me.[/p]
[/p]
[/p]
