Protesting China: Doused in Red at Site of Ancient Olympic Games

The brief disruption [by Reporters Without Borders] occurred as Liu Qi, president of the Beijing Organizing Committee, was addressing thousands of spectators and dignitaries at the site of the ancient Olympic Games. It was broadcast live by Greek television, but China state television cut away to a prerecorded scene.

The Athens chapter of the rights group Reporters Without Borders said three of its members had staged the protest.

Moments after the disruption, a Tibetan woman doused herself in red paint and lay in the road in front of a torch runner while police officers arrested two other Tibetan protesters planning a peaceful demonstration about a mile from the old sanctuary.

Challenging China's Rule

The Communist leadership has faced the biggest challenge to its rule in the Himalayan area in nearly two decades after protests in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa exploded into violence on March 14, sparking sympathy protests in the neighboring provinces of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai.

Protests also have spread to Nepal and India.

In Nepal on Monday, police arrested about 475 Tibetan refugees, monks and their supporters as they gathered in Katmandu, the capital, to protest a crackdown on Tibetans in China, the U.N. said.

Chanting “China, stop killings in Tibet. U.N., we want justice,” protesters were marching toward U.N. offices when police stopped them about 300 feet away, beat them with bamboo sticks and snatched their banners.