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Off course the Olympics have no place, and never should have had any place, in the represive and crimninal communist state called the PRC.
This is the 21st Century of having Hitler's Germany host the games - the very same.
Once the the Chinese people have got rid of that blood-sucking mafia-like cleptocracy, the very antithesis of what the wonderful Chinese peoples deserve, then certainly, by all means, 'do' the Olympics there - but intil then - we should all be ashamed that we have not risen up and DEMANDED that China not host these next games until they clean up their act, meaning;
1. Release all political prisioners, apologise to them and pay them compensations.
2. Same aplology and compensation for the families of those executed for political 'crimes'.
3. Shut down all political prisoner work camps and prisons.
4. Remove the system of spying and reporting on the activivities of ordinary citizens by party members and their lackies.
5. Initiate a process of free and fair election with multi-party participation.
6. Intiate a free press.
7. Stop punishing individual's expressions of freedom of speech.
8. Abopt stsytems of accountability and review of all aspects of social interaction, justice and punishment as might be found in democratic nations.
9. Drop the requirement for CP membership for positions of power and influence in government, the civil service and the military.
10. Apropt international norms with regard to freedom of association, freedom to travel, freedom to procreate, etc.
Then let's have the Olympics.
Olympic boycott threatened as Burma death toll climbs
-------------------------------------------------------Dragonhead.
Like we said a few days ago
That your Chinese CCP supported Junta in Burma, would copy cat your Chinese 1989 Tianenman Sq. massacre.
Quess what, they have. They just started to kill their citizens the Monks. Because they marched in a public protest, demanding FREEDOM.
"Witnesses and a Western diplomat said that dozens of people were arrested and badly beaten after soldiers fired into a crowd in Rangoon. Troops in at least four locations fired into the crowds after several thousand protesters ignored an order from security forces to disband, witnesses and diplomats said.
Soldiers shot three people dead in the city as crowds regrouped and taunted troops. The bodies were tossed in a ditch as troops chased fleeing people, beating anybody they could catch, witnesses said.
In other parts of the city, thousands of protesters fled after warning shots were fired into crowds that had swollen to 70,000. Bloody sandals were left lying in the road.
Protesters shouted at the soldiers, angry about early morning raids by security forces on Buddhist monasteries. Soldiers reportedly beat up and arrested more than 100 monks, who have spearheaded the largest challenge to the junta since a pro-democracy uprising was brutally suppressed in 1988.
"Give us freedom, give us freedom" some demonstrators shouted at the soldiers, who by mid-afternoon had fanned out across the streets of Rangoon"
So Dragonhead,What are your Chinese friends the CCP/PLA going to do to stop the massacre of Monks in Burma.
The Olympic Games should be cancelled if your friends the CCP/PLA choose to do nothing.
The CCP will not be allowed to repeat a TIBET on Burma. Not this time "old bean"
GC
2. GalacticCannibal, Murrieta, CA
GC, been smoking a lot of pot tonight?????
#1 Conan. This is bad. I totally agree with everything you've said on this subject. I even agree with Galactic Cornball.
The only thing I would add is never mind threatening them, actually do something, now.
I don't suppose we'll see too much by way of comment from Dragonhead, as it is difficult to defend the indefensible. Though he tries it often enough as regards the illegal occupation of Tibet and the genocide of the Tibetan people.
I do not agree with politicising sport or the Olympics but that horse bolted long ago so I suspect that this is the enlightened world's best card
The absence of the USA, Canada, the EU, Japan, Australia and New Zealand and probabaly others from the Olympic Games would really send a message to China and through them to Burma.
The pressure is hotting up, even the normally mild and mealy mouthes ASEAN is making some noises
Meanwhile I do my best to support my 2 Burmese colleagues
I am going to boycott the Olympics in the PRC. I will not watch any events, nor purchase any related products, nor help to sponsor any team in any manner. It's not much, but I hope others will join me in this.
It's tragic to have the Olympics there and speaks greatly to the corruption in the IOC. The West has sold it's soul for greed.
Boycott the Olympics ... this could be the best weapon to use. China is spending an enormous amount of money on these Olympics ... this is China's showcase to the world, These Olympics are a source of great pride to the Chinese, what a huge letdown it would be for them if there was a boycott by the main countries. This could spur China to give Burma a big nudge.
The athletes wouldn't be happy if there was a boycott but what's an ego worth compared to the freedom of a people?
#7
Who was the Scottish runner who would not run on Sunday's as he was very religious? I'll bet there are a number of athleats with a conscience, I just wonder if they can pass by all the endorsement money they are vying each other for.
I fully agree with the boycott on the games.
Under the same moral principles we should plan for the boycott of the London Olympics in 2012. The UK government(s) has been bombing, invading and generally running around the place like a hired thug.
Unless, of course, we save our moral outrage for the 'sins' of others and not our own.
These is nothing the Chinese elites/military are doing that the USA/'uk' elites/military have not done; including killing religious folk.
Does anyone else notice the slow drip of negative propaganda against China oozing out the western media machine?
#9 - you might have been better advised to stop at your first sentence, as the rest was contorted tripe.
Funny how things work out.....
1886: the year the 'uk' imperialists brought Myanmar under the auspice of India. It was also the year that the first modern olympic games were held in Athens.
Ne win took control of the place in 1962 and then they went on to shooting 100 students. 1988: military junta killed thousands. The local elites performed crimes too.
Aye, the 'brits', the Japanese, the French, the chinese......"empire" does it again with the suffering augmented by local elites.
Tragic.
10. Conan,
How so , oh wise one?
The 'uk' should be encouraged to intervene to end the oppression in Kuwait!!!!!! This should be achieved by boycotting the London Games!
Unless, of course, we are only interested in the crimes dutifully expressed by our media.
Is that "crime fashion"? "Moral outrage focus for this week"? Or selective moral indignation for the herd?
#8 his name was eric liddell
Boycott the "World Series" next year in an attempt to force the USA elites to intervene in Saudi oppression!
That will show them! Imagine if no other nation state shows up for the World Series??!! The sheer embarrassment will force the US elites to do something about it!
Or maybe not.............
Of course China should NEVER have been awarded the Olympics. Their Human Rights record is appalling. And it is still not a democratic country. If the Chinese really want change, they must trust the people, which clearly they don't!
Burma has been a military regime for far too long and should have been ostracised from the international arena as soon as the junta took over.
However, when it comes to political will ... corporate and business interests take over and the will of the ordinary voter is sidelined. Profit comes first.
The world needs an international interventionist army, who are prepared to take the battle for freedom into the country that denies these freedoms for their own people!
Sanctions, while they are sometimes useful don't work, because some countries will keep breaking them. Again, it's all about profit and lining one's own pockets!
Who the hell in their right mind want the expense of hosting an Olympiad anyway ? Better if the summer games had a permanent venue - Athens perhaps ?
16 - "an international interventionist army" ? like Dubya & Bambi's glorious venture into Iraq ?
16 - I suppose you'll enlist for this army ?
A boycott by all nations opposed to the obscene going ons in Burma and China would send the strongest message possible to those in power that the world is not willing to stand by and accept such oppression. It would also hurt them deepest by not allowing them to hide these crimes behind the usual propaganda that is broadcast to show them in a good light.
Boy WonderI agree with much of what you write above, however, do you not see that:
1. "Their Human Rights record is appalling"...on the world stage, the HR records of all empires are appalling, including the current lead empire?
2. "And it is still not a democratic country."....Florida? Ohio? Scotland's last debacle? Bliar gets massive majority with only 27% of the vote then ignores the people over Iraq war and runs teh cabinet as a dictator? 'We' do not live in a democracy.
3. "...denies these freedoms for their own people"...there's a huge difference between having "freedomS" and having "freedom".
4. On sanctions: Sure folk will 'sanctions bust' but the main problem with sanctions is that it rarely, if even, affects the people who have power. Always, the powerless get the brunt of the negative effects. Poverty, hunger, displacement leads inevitably to the poor gravitating towards supporting those with extremist views or, just as bad, duality based faith.
As for the interventionist army you propose: The UN is supposed to provide that but the farce of the veto and the higher status given to some states makes it fraught. Also, by what moral yardstick will this Champion of Freedom use? There would have to be a line drawn on was was acceptable and what was not; a)who draws that line? and b)how do ensure that cultural relativism is addressed?
Poor hyline - he wears his emotions on his sleeve and has never been able to weigh reason honestly. Let's get him some tickets to the PRC Oly's opening ceremonies. I'm sure the Red cameras will be mugging for his face to show all the world just how wonderful China really is.
20. Scozzy, Aus
Good, I agree!
How do we address the brutal oppression of the PKK in northern Iraq? The tragic plight of the East Timorese? The economic oppression of Cuba? The 'disappeared' kids of Brazil? The brutal atrocities carried out by the northern alliance in Afghanistan? etc etc etc?
Yes, we need to punish, in whatever way, the groups that could easily resolve these situation if they wanted to.
Boycott the World Series and the London Games!
As you say, "It would also hurt them deepest by not allowing them to hide these crimes behind the usual propaganda that is broadcast to show them in a good light."
22. 49th State,
So, I gather from your reply that they don't teach interpretation skills in the schools of the 49th State?
# 24 re: interpretation skills
Beats me. I didn't go to school here, but I did take logic classes in college. Did you ever? I mean just because we have differing points of view doesn't mean we are both correct. If a tree falls in the forest, and no one hears it, does it make a sound? You bet it does. Try to interpret that.
If you want to help try the following link.http://www.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_burma/f.php?cl=2026365...
#9 etc Hyline White - Your comments are valid and we shouldn't forget what is happening in North Korea, Sudan (Dafur) and Zimbawe etc now let us boycott something to show our solidarity with these oppressed people.
The EU wants China to intervene against Burma's ruling junta ? but why doesn't the EU ask the companies below why they are linked/supporting an evil military dictatorship that has ruled Burma for several decades.
Companies linked with Burma - Global Unions / ICFTU Burma Campaignhttp://www.global-unions.org/burma/default2.asp?Order=Cou...
Companies supporting the regime in Burma - Last modified 29 Jan 07http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/dirty_list/dirty_list_det...
No doubt some of these companies will also be trading in other countries which also have appalling HR records including China ?
#27
ThatScottishwoman:
re: the UN
I agree that the UN is a farce. It's intentions came from the heart, not the mind. It's a lost cause as a world wide delegating body. I'd say we should give it the boot - especially off of US soil.
But then, how shall we live?
#30
Thatscottishwoman
You are a most elegant writer. I to agree that the concept of the UN is high in principle, but I think we differ on actual attainment of the goals therein. I for one am sure that the poor will always be with us - even Jesus said that - and that man will always crave power over others for any reason at all.
I prefer when the USA walked quietly, but carried a big stick. I am so tired of our citizens being sent out to take care of worldly problems.
By the way, my anscestors hailed from Mull in S W Scotland, how about yours?
Boycotting the Olympic Games might actually make the Chinese masses sit up and take a close look at their government.
The whole 2008 malarkey has been ramped up to high heaven in China for the past 4 years or so.
The population are fed on a huge diet of triumphalism, over the games being awarded to Beijing.
If the West pulls out, it will leave the dictatorship with a huge amount of egg on its face.
Someone should start a serious campaign to boycott the games now.
Not just for the Burmese, but also for the Tibetans, the Uighers, and everyone else toiling under the party's corrupt iron fist.
Sure lets have a boycott. How many of the people calling for a boycott of the Olympics buy Chinese made goods because they are cheap even though they are putting money in the hands of an evil regime who use child labour . How many are calling for a boycott of the major super markets who buy Chinese goods. Or do we just call for action that doesn`t affect us personally. Action to help the Burmese people should have been taken years ago with further action on sanction busters such as India who buy their fuel from the generals giving them more money to spend on weapons to suppress their people..
#32 49th State:
Thank you!
As long as we have capitalism we will always have poverty, capitalism cannot exist without poverty.
I am not anti free trade, more pro fair free trade.
World "problems" are every one's business. It is not appropriate, or acceptable, for one nation to act as the "policeman" of the world, this is why we need a strong UN or similar supranational. A supranational with underpinning principles acceptable to all.
My ancestry is mixed, Highlander and Roma.
Finnking & thatscottiswoman think this each time they log onoto the Scotsman.
I'm a malevolent Troll and would like to irritate the hell out of the Scotsman Community by logging on using existing names, making crazy comments and playing with the automated comment delete function.
Don't boycott the Olympic games.
Let them go ahead.
Let the athletes have their games.
Just don't televise them.
The fact that China was given the olympics in the first place simply underlines the IOC complete contempt for basic human rights,boycott Bejing now.
Really, though, I do not believe a boycott, however correct, is going to make any differance to how Burma represses the will of it's people. Also, I just can't visualize the west actually doing anything militarily, as we in the U.S. just don't have anything left to give, and others lack the will. We, basically, are burned out for now. And, although I had wished the protesters success, I pretty much thought it would end up in bloodshed, as did many here. Hope for the best, expect the worst.
Get. A. Life.
...and the game they play is the game we played,As the game goes on, we dream ...and wish we played in the game they play.Let the game peoceed.
Sorry, #50 to read Let the game proceed.
25. 49th State
Re: logic; yes I did, both philosophical, mathematical and electronic.
Your post implied (if not, stated) that I supported the Chinese elites. I simply pointed out that your reaction to my posts was illogical and/or the result of misinterpretation. But no matter.
I do agree with you regarding the UN.
Why all the deletions on a thread about the oppression of Myanmars and China's elites' reluctance to react?
I agree with Toast. The Olympics should not have been awarded to China in the first place. The award sends a signal to China that the international community is willing to turn a blind eye to their human rights abuses.
That said, I do not think that a boycott will have any effect on the mind set of China's ruling elite.
Burmese citizens have been living under an oppressive regime for decades, to the shame of the international community.
How we can justify the Olympics at all beggars belief. How can we possibly justify spending obscene amounts of money to watch someone running 100 metres a hundredth of a second faster than someone else, when there are people dying every day from preventable diseases and lack of clean drinking water?Let's get our priorities right. Eliminate war, hunger, poverty and disease...then have jollies like the Olympics. (I still wouldn't watch them but they'd be a bit more ethical)
It's a great pity these posts are degenerating into mediocrity and mundanity-I wonder whether the people of Burma would abuse these freedoms in such a way?
What is worse?
Human rights abuses in one's own country or human rights abuses in someone else's?
#65,
Horrible Cankers is real, it was just that Ma and Pa Cankers were strange folk!! She got pelters at school for having a name like Horrible!!! Made her the spikey wee thing she is now though!!!
On a serious note, does anyone trust the media these days and do you accept the reporting of the current strife in Burma/Myanmar?
After Bosnia, Iraq, Afghanistan etc, I'm a bit sceptical of the Western news agencies!! They may/do all dance to GWB's tune!!!
Looking at the amount of deleted posts, there was either a lot of swearing going on or Canky declared war on a couple of neo-con types!!!
Bawbag,
There's something strangely familiar aboot you......
btw I saw HC first!!
3. Hiline White, Some other tax zone
No I do not smoke pot. But my friends and I eat it in hambrgers using 98% lean beef , lettuce, onions and tomatoes.
Try it some time, makes for the best hamburgers you will ever experience.
And we also eat shroom omelets using brown free range eggs and fresh shrooms with hot salsa.
You only get one shot at life , so enjoy it the best way you can. Experiment all the time, and boredom is gone.
Olympic boycott threatened as Burma death toll climbs;
Does anyone know why so many comments have been removed from this thread ?And how does one read those coments that were removed.
79 - GC, Dude, you are the man. LOL.
#50 Annlass, love it, great comment, you say it all, even if it was it was Tennyson who said it first. Keep coming we need more intelligent responses.
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black. The British are the last ones who have the right to criticize anyone else for human rights violations. I mean, you still have a monarchy, not a democracy, despite all the claims to the contrary. You have surveillance cameras everywhere, many more than in any other country in the world. You regularly support and help the US prop up repressive regimes all over the world, and have for a very long time.
I call for a boycott of the 2012 London Olympics because of your involvement of the vicious and illegal attack on Iraq, which was based entirely on lies and which violated every known international standard and law. It's time people stood up to repressive, violent and warmongering regimes everywhere.
It seems most of you have forgotten that "the games" are just that...they have nothing to do with politics.As a spectator of the games that Pres. Carter decided to boycott..it was, a huge mistake. Those athletes had trained for years, and if they waited another 4 years some of them would be too old to participate in the sport they represented.
One should think long and hard before making that decision.
And if they decide to boycott, they should have special games for those participating countries..all that work, effort, practice, should not go for naught.
I prefer the boycott because it sends an "in your face" message to China..but it doesn't help the athletes.
84. Lynne
The Olympic Games have been political for as long as I can remember, and the athletes know that.
They are not just about sport, and the mere threat that the Chinese event would be boycotted would be enough loss of face in China to make them back off.
85. Hyline White,
Troll
Please explain . As I do not understand the meaning of your comment.
Absolute stunning hypocrisy given that they gave the olympics to China in the first place which, the last time I checked, wasn't a democracy either!
The Olympics are garbage anyway. I don't know why they're taken so seriously by everyone. At almost every level the people who run them are crooks and gangsters or corrupt politicians.
66 - probably, after a while anyway. We have relative freedom and human rights in the UK but Nu Lab finds them a nuisance.
95 - since when did a country have to be a democracy to host the Olympics ? eg Berlin 1936, Moscow 1980.And even in relatively democratic Mexico. A slaughter of demonstraters by government troops didn't prevent the 1968 Games taking place in Mexico City.I agree with you the Olympics = yawnsville> give me the Wotrld Cup and the Euro (soccer) Championship any day.
84 - "Games Pres Carter decided to boycott" ??? Carter got the US to Boycott the Montreal Olympiad of 76 ????Shome mishtake shurely ?
83 - stop the 2012 London Games ! Save the UK taxpayer !
84 - sorry my mistake, peanutman WAS Pres at the time of the Moscow Games.And of course Gerry Ford didnae boycott the Montreal Games !
94. Mrs. McCoy, Livi /
Thank you for that info.
But I do not understand why people use different names in these threads.
Have they something to hide .
Beats me !!
The Olympic Games weren't boycotted when they were held in Atlanta. Why should they be boycotted in Beijing?
#91 Rosie's Opinion
Your confused opinions on who is posting comments are well known. You thought one poster was several different people here.
http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=861602007#c...
where you said "26. Rosie's Opinion, USA / 3:37pm 2 Jun 200719. Tropical DelightVery good spotting Djookers! After reading several of the pair’s comments it's definitely Djooker's words & possibly TSW's
I believe another poster took the time to point out your confusion and here you are with another opinion that has nothing to do with the story so i'll ask you, what is your opinion on a boycott of the games, personally I think they should do whatever it takes to help the burmese people.
The killing of Japanese photographer proves that Burmese brutal junta does whatever it takes to hold on power and they don't even hesitate to kill world's people, NOT just its own people. People of the world should show the strength of people power by pressuring their own respective governments to condemn and sanction Burmese brutal regime. We all should shame those countries such as china, Russia and asean countries which are helping Burmese regime in killing the people by supporting and doing businesses. Boycott the China Genocide Olympic 2008.
I have a better idea, Why not boycot the 2012 London Olympics for the ACTUAL KILLING of HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS Iraq and Afganistan people by the "civilised and democratic and always right" United Kingdom; and for the Genocide of Rwanda not so long ago, which was ignored by the merciful and sympathetic United Kingdom and her honourable allies...BOYCOT THE LONDON OLYMPICS!
And I will never forget the bloody random bombard of Yugoslavia, which in itself is a humanitarian disaster, under the pretext of saving the persecuted minority. And the bombing of the Chinese embassy, which has been selectively forgotten by the western media, the list of atrocities of the "free nations" goes forever, the slave industry, the invasion of China in 19th century. Don't pretend to be the moral master!
And I couldn't care less whether the unfriendly people decide to boycot 2008 Olympics or not, after all, those who don't want to come or watch are not welcome. Stop using this sport event to blackmail China; China will make efforts to help to solve the crisis in Burma, no matter you threaten to boycot or not.
