The show must go on

MY article which was pulished in Dawn Magazine today

The Olympic torch relay represents “internationalism” and is defined as “an emotionally charged symbol of peace” by Britannica. It seems that the editors of the encyclopedia will soon have to revise this definition.

The 2008 torch relay, which is halfway on its journey to the host country, has so far been anything but a symbol of peace. On the contrary, it has symbolised chaotic parades.

The torch, which was lit on March 28, has been subjected to protests against all things wrong with the Chinese government — its human rights record, environmental hazards and the repression in Tibet. What was supposed to be an attempt to present a more amicable image of Chinese society has gone terribly awry. When entrusted with the responsibility of hosting the Olympics, the country vowed to make improvements on all those issues that posed a challenge to its acceptance in the international arena. So, has China met the challenge? It would be unfair to say no.

Even though Tibet remains sealed off and journalists and international adjudicators await entry into what is known as ‘the roof of the world’, it would be wrong not to mention the efforts being made to address the environmental issues in the country — perhaps the US will follow suit.

The Olympic torch is being taken as something representing Chinese autocracy. In London, the attempt to extinguish the flame led to 35 arrests; in Paris, the flame had to be put out at least twice to avoid the crowd, which was being controlled by 3,000 policemen; in San Francisco, the torchbearers had to re-route the relay to avoid the protests. No one should judge the intent of those who came out on the streets to voice their concerns over the Tibetan movement. However, one is forced to wonder whether these protests were pro-Tibet or anti-China. It is one thing to speak out for a repressed nation facing the risk of cultural annihilation, and quite another to target a nation trying to come out of its claustrophobic cocoon.

The Chinese people are happy and proud to be hosting an event that promotes internationalism. Instead of taking the Olympics as an opportunity to improve communication with the Chinese society, the games are being projected as a grossly extensive propaganda campaign by the Chinese junta. The western media has been aggressive to the extent of alienating the progressive sections of the Chinese populace who rely on their support and international diplomatic mediation to achieve liberal values that have so far been denied to them.

It is ironic that world leaders are being discouraged to attend the games to show support for the Tibetan cause when Dalai Lama himself has supported the Olympics saying that the Chinese people deserve to host it. Perhaps it would be too ambitious to expect the likes of ‘ping-pong diplomacy’ work at the Beijing Olympics, but it would be too cynical to dismiss hopes of something fruitful coming out of international participation.

While the players in the international arena must give some leeway to China, the Chinese government should also realise that merely hosting the Olympics would not be enough to earn international acceptance. It will have to allow basic freedom of expression to its people, prefer diplomacy to militarism while dealing with Tibet, and will have to loosen media control to counter the allegations of symbolised propaganda in order to prove that Chinese society is, in fact, on the road to transformation. So while the games go on with all their pomp and grandeur, the government will have to tolerate the Tibetan monks protesting outside sporting venues. At least that’s what the warmongers did in Washington and London while making plans to invade Iraq.

~ by Amna on April 27, 2008.