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China frees Canadian protesters

LAUREN KRUGEL

Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 1:24 PM EDT 08/08/07

Pro-Tibet group confirms three Canadians held in China have been released and deported from the country ...Read the full article

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  1. James P from Toronto, Canada writes: Who cares? I wonder how many of my tax dollars were spent helping these people in the last 24 hours.
  2. Sunny Vegas from Canada writes: I hope they pull another stun again. See if China will let them go the second time.
  3. Andrew Lehigh from Toronto, Canada writes: I think China had good reason to arrest the protesters, for the Great Wall is sacred among Chinese people. And the government was prompt in releasing them. Some people might encourage the protesters to do it again, but I imagine their families would think the other way, or maybe they have cut off their families for this lofty cause?
  4. Thumb Sucker from Toronto, Canada writes: Good news!

    The olympics however will still be very boring.

    'Next up at the shot-put are the Latvians!'
  5. Tian Feng from fredericton, Canada writes: Keep them, we don't want them back.
  6. J D from Canada writes: Talk about an overhyped story. This is the second protest this year like this. The Chinese simply gather them up and put them on the next plane out. There was no personal danger involved at all. The people knew exactly what was going to happen. I guess reporting that doesn't get viewers and reader though.
  7. Brian Roth from Vancouver, Canada writes: I think the Chinese authorities were remarkably kind in this case. Frankly anyone who goes into a foreign country and defaces a public landmark deserves far more punishment than simply being sent home. These fools should consider themselves lucky. It is simply crazy of these people to expect identical rights and privileges to be upheld around the world and across cultures and regions. The world just doesn't work that way. They can go ahead and fight for change diplomatically, but trying to publicly embarrass the government of the region is not going to get them very far, just as trying to do so here in North America wouldn't either.
  8. Tian Feng from fredericton, Canada writes: Man I have spent more time in Chinese jail than they have. In Beijing they once thought I stole my Girlfriends car and I had to spend the night in jail until they could contact her an figure it out.
  9. Adam Allouba from Montreal, Canada writes: Since when does unfurling a banner constitute 'defacing?' And why on Earth are so many people gleeful over the lack of free speech in China and the fact that what these people did was illegal?

    So many commentators sound almost joyful that these people got thrown in jail. Would they be happy if protesters got imprisoned in Canada for doing the same? If so, they frighten me. If not, why the double standard? Yes, what these people did was probably stupid given that it would change nothing and they knew perfectly well that it could have landed them in the Chinese prison system for a long, long time. But why should that affect whether arresting them was the right thing to do?

    If jailing people for free speech in wrong in Canada, then it's wrong everywhere.
  10. Peter Walker from Calgary, Canada writes: Should have kept them for a few weeks / months in the same conditions as other Chinese prisoners.
  11. F H from Canada writes: Good. I'm glad the protesters were able to highlight the scorn China has for human rights were you can be arrested for simply holding a sign.

    The fact that they're having the countdown celebrations at Tianamen Square, the site were hundreds of students were massacred, shows how little they think the rest of the world knows about their human rights abuses.

    It's true that many Chinese living there know little about that disgusting chapter in Chinas history, but those of us who don't live in a country of blanket censorship will never forget.
  12. Gary Dare from Portland, Oregon, Canada, writes: Brian Roth writes, 'I think the Chinese authorities were remarkably kind in this case.' If these two Canadians didn't happen to be westerners and Caucasian to boot (there have been cases where Chinese-Americans were held for a couple of weeks if US born and raised, but months if naturalized US citizens from China), they wouldn't have been merely shown the door. China is still run by a totalitarian regime, Communist in name but more fascist in practice now, despite that their economy has become free and growing.
  13. Mitch Sprague from Ottawa, Canada writes: Glad to hear they're out and hopefully safe. Its nice to see not everyone is ok with the Chinese government and they're repressive behavior. Hosting the 'shiney happy games' doesn't make the bad they do go away.
  14. Wade Tompkins from Edmonton, Canada writes: The posts in this thread really make me lose hope for Tibet.
  15. c rob from Canada writes: Adam Allouba from Montreal, writes 'So many commentators sound almost joyful that these people got thrown in jail. Would they be happy if protesters got imprisoned in Canada for doing the same?'

    Yes Adam, they would. Nice isn't it?
  16. dave s from Canada writes: People who go to another country and criticize the government there are either very naive or very arrogant. It's a dictatorship stupid! There is no right to free speech.
  17. M Lafrance from Ottawa, Canada writes: Adam Allouba from Montreal, I couldn't agree more. I was shocked by how many posters sided with an oppressive totalitarian regime rather than with freedom of speech. I guess they only believe in free speech when it comes to badmouthing the U.S. If it's China, then hands off.
  18. Just the Truth from Canada writes: These folks were asserting their right to freedom of speech . . . yeah, that would explain the fact that the right-wing morons on this site would be denouncing them and backing up the Chinese COMMUNIST Government re: their arrest.
  19. ghostofpatbuchanen buchanen from Victoria, Canada writes: ...If jailing people for free speech is wrong in Canada, then it's wrong everywhere. ...

    China is a sovereign country with its own laws. Some of which we don't agree with. It's the height of arrogance to travel to China and start telling the Chinese government how to run its affairs. These idealistic yahoos are lucky there aren't rotting in jail over there. We westerners have got a lot of nerve.
  20. Vickky Angstrom from Calgary, Canada writes: The Chinese people don't deserve their leadership. The Tibetans didn't deserve to be invaded and tortured. The powerful elite in China does not represent the people who are honourable, decent people who understand freedom of expression and human rights very well.

    Bravo to these brave young folks for speaking out. And best wishes to the sovereign people of Tibet.
  21. Another Opinion from Toronto, Canada writes: For Sunny Vegas: 'I hope they pull another stun again. See if China will let them go the second time.'

    Sunny, it doesn't say it in this article but an earlier story pointed out that this actually IS the second time these particular people were detained for a protest act on Chinese soil.

    Frankly, I think the Chinese were remarkably tolerant just to let these two back into their country at all. I know if it were here, I'd want the foreigners expelled permanently. I guess the Chinese have more tolerance for ignorance than I do.
  22. Anti Elvis from Calgary, AB, Canada writes: Now, of course if the USA invaded Canada & declared OUR country didn't exist anymore.....we'd be full of glee is someone went to Washington and hung up a poster 'free Canada'

    I used to think the G&M was a paper for intelligent people, but based on these forums I realize part of it's readership is simply narrow & uneducated.
  23. Tom inCanada from TO, Canada writes: Now their stunt is over and their moment in the press will be forgotten in few days.

    However, tibet will continue to develop, either western countries like it or not, it will be the most developed area around the himalaya. In the near future, tibetans will be more integrated into the chinese society;into professions like medicine, engineering, doctors, teachers, fashions, musicians..etc(more so than the natives in our country)

    also, the chinese government will continue to treat tibetans like all people in china; in some cases, even better than other chinese.
  24. Gaber Lightning from ottawa, Canada writes: boooo
    did these protesters just not make an example that you can
    indeed protest in China and not face any 'draconian'
    reprecussions. They gave China a world audience to display
    their tolerance. If they keep it up, the Chinese government
    may just look better and better.
  25. J M from Canada writes: Thank-you, Adam Allouba! I was starting to wonder if everyone on here was vengeful, nasty, and perhaps not in favour of free speech outside of North America. So strange, people are incensed and outraged over the problems with food products coming from China, yet they seem to think that human rights violations are completely acceptable. They're two facets of the same larger problem; peoples' lives are not very important there - it seems most everyone is expendable and if you die from eating contaminated food, or rot in prison for holding up a banner that says 'free Tibet', it's all the same to the Chinese government.
  26. Peter Walker from Calgary, writes: Article 38 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China protects the basic human rights of freedom of speech and religion.

    Will the people on this blog who speak who speak against these brave people Canadians, please tell us what Chinese law has been broken, by holding up a sign to demand human rights.

    Someone totally changed my previous post. Please note.
  27. P C from Canada writes: LOL, now who said you can not do so called 'free speech' in China?
  28. Calvin Chi from Markham, writes: I'm a proud Chinese Canadian just climbed the Great Wall and came back from a tour to China.

    Tibet is a complex, historical and Chinese national issue. Like Quebec in Canada or Guantanamo Bay prison issue in the U.S., which very much considered as complex, historical and national issue for Canada and U.S. respectfully.

    Would Canadian and people in Quebec be amused or supportive if some Chinese come here and hang up a banner 'One World, One Dream, Free Quebec' on CN tower or on The First Canadian Place?

    Would American people be amused or supportive if Chinese hang up a banner 'One World, One Dream, Close Guantanamo Bay' on the Space Shuttle Columbia or on the Empire State Building in New York City?

    Chinese do not like people imposing views on them, especially in a humiliating and insensitive way like the group did on the Great Wall. By the way, they may even have broken certain laws or rules locally by doing that. We can engage Chinese in more respectful, reasonable and persistent means. I think the way they did not only not effective, but also degrading and disrespectful to Canadians.
  29. Sonam Ling from Canada writes: As a Buddhist who has worked with several organizations over the last thirty years for a FREE TIBET, I applaud the very brave actions of my brothers and sisters in the cause. Getting this media attention is good for our cause. The Human Rights violations by the government of China are beyond my comprehension. I understand very few people would agree with me here. I would say to you, educate yourselves on the tragic situation in Tibet.

    'Kindness is my religion', His Holiness The Dalai Lama

    In dynamic peace, for a very peaceful demonstration,

    Sonam
  30. Tian Feng from fredericton, Canada writes: You people that are saying free speech this and free speech that must never travel to other countries. The rule is that if you are a guest in another country you follow their rules. If you don't like them then don't go there. People can't just come here to Canada and do things like beat women or have sex with little boys because in their country it is ok and they believe it is right.

    Yea I disagree with the Chinese governments treatment of Tibetans and their lack of free speech but throwing a banner over the Great Wall is just a stunt that has no real merit in changing anything. Solidarity with the Tibetans and supporting their cause here is the right thing to do. Going over there and acting like jackasses will probably just cause the government to crack down on Tibet further. Are these protesters so ethnocentric that they think only they can help the poor useless Tibetans and they can do nothing for themselves?
  31. john wardle from vcr, Canada writes: “However, tibet will continue to develop, either western countries like it or not, it will be the most developed area around the himalaya. In the near future, tibetans will be more integrated into the chinese society;into professions like medicine, engineering, doctors, teachers, fashions, musicians..etc(more so than the natives in our country)&8221;

    Riiiiight, just as soon as the Chinese are finished murdering Tibetans in the worst genocide in the modern age. Boy I bet Tibetans are super happy about that! Tell me, how does murdering innocent unarmed civilians make them better?
  32. Paul, Bytown, from Canada writes: Let's be thankful that they weren't wearing a backpack with the Canadian flag on it. Then we'd all be moving targets.
  33. Tian Feng from fredericton, Canada writes: Sonam Ling - maybe if you had worked a little harder over these last 30 years we wouldn't be in this problem now.
  34. Tom inCanada from TO, Canada writes: Peter Walker from Calgar:'Article 38 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China protects the basic human rights of freedom of speech and religion.'

    What is 'basic human right'? How about the Right to stay alive? Well, then the Mighty USA doesn't have basic human right now, eh? How about the Right to die? Then almost all countries doesn't have basic human Right now, eh?

    I think human right and religion freedom must be tailored to each country at its respective stage of development and culture.
  35. Mike Mike from writes: Note how nobody still gives a hoot about Tibet. All the talk is about should or should not have Chinese thrown these punks in jail. Congratulation, protesters. What an achievement!
  36. john wardle from vcr, Canada writes:
    “Would Canadian and people in Quebec be amused or supportive if some Chinese come here and hang up a banner 'One World, One Dream, Free Quebec' on CN tower or on The First Canadian Place?&8221;

    The point is, yes, some people here wouldn&8217;t be happy about that, but you wouldn&8217;t go to jail and you won&8217;t be tortured here unlike in china. China let those protesters go knowing the Olympics are fast approaching&8230;but what about all the other tens of thousands that are still locked up and tortured for similar reasons?

    Furthermore, Quebecors are not using VIOLENCE and are NOT using MASS MURDER to get their point across, unlike china.

    Do you understand now?
  37. D J from Calgary, Canada writes: More gullible fools. What? You want China to return Tibetans to dirt poor feudal serfs ruled over by religious overlords living in fantastic opulence?? That would be a huge improvement. Might as well remove the electricity, health care and any other improvements while you're at it.
  38. Douglas Freestone from Calgary, Canada writes: J M from Canada (at 2:03) - I agree completely with your 'two facets' assessment of the situation in China. Unfortunately, every time you purchase something with the words 'made in China' on it you are only propagating the situation.

    To everyone else bleating for the liberation of Tibet, I agree with your principle(s), but unless you boycott anything and everything 'made in China' you yourself are a willing/unwilling part of the problem. Just the Truth from Canada does this include you?
  39. Gabriel Hall from Calgary, Canada writes: It's absolutely amazing the amount of self righteous people that think we are the paragon of virtue and a perfect society that should place it’s systems, values, and morals on others. I bet 95% of everyone on here complaining about the rights of Tibetans and the oppression in China have never been there and/or have never been exposed to the socio-political environment there.

    China is in the midst of a massive socio-political change and moving from one extreme to another would be devastating to the social fibre of the Chinese people. If you also examine North American culture there's a lot of undesirable elements that the Chinese want to avoid introducing into their society, although if you look at the state of places like Shanghai, many undesirable American habits and influences have already crept in.

    It's in very poor form that these 'activist' groups recruit and indoctrinate members of the population to &8220;protest&8221; things they don&8217;t truly understand, or truly have a full appreciation of, often due to the one sided and narrow views of the organization. This puts these people at a serious disadvantage and often in danger of running afoul of a country&8217;s legal and moral systems.
  40. Sam Patel from Victoria, Canada writes: A few points:

    Tibet has had a long relationship with China going back 2,000 years, it intermittently falling under China's contol then out of then back. Also, not all Tibetans opposed China's annexation of Tibet but most did (including its then government). However, this pattern of Tibet granting allegiance to Beijing etc. is not the same as the current conquest/colonization/incorporation of Tibet into China proper that has been going for the past 50 years.

    Chinese nationalists often rail about the Opium Wars and western imperialism subjucating China and pillaging its cultural and economic resources. They are often less capable of owning up to their own nations's past and current imperial adventures and actions.
  41. Black Adder from Toronto, Canada writes: Calvin Chi - if you are comparing the US holding prisoners in Guantanamo Bay to the Chinese hold over Tibet, then I have to say - Free Tibet!

    Also, I think there are some key differences between Quebec and Tibet. For one thing, I don't think there was a Quebec invasion where tens of thousands of Quebecers were killed in the process. Also, there is Quebec political party allowed and none of its members are put in jail.
  42. Ricky Lam from writes: The Chinese government has been very kind to these people. If a foreigner came to Ottawa and put up a banner on our parliment building, I am sure he would not be released the next day!
  43. john wardle from vcr, Canada writes: I find it incredible that few if any Chinese people express any sort of sympathy or compassion for what their government has done to what was once a totally autonomous country.

    The Fourth Reich has arrived!
  44. F H from Canada writes: 'Calvin wrote: Would Canadian and people in Quebec be amused or supportive if some Chinese come here and hang up a banner 'One World, One Dream, Free Quebec' on CN tower or on The First Canadian Place?

    Would American people be amused or supportive if Chinese hang up a banner 'One World, One Dream, Close Guantanamo Bay' on the Space Shuttle Columbia or on the Empire State Building in New York City?'

    I wouldn't support the content of the first banner but I would certainly support anyone right to hold the banner up (or down if it were dangling). As for the second banner, I think you'd be amazed at just how many Americans would support a sign calling for the closure of Guantanemo.

    The thing is with free speech, it's not just acceptable if you agree with the content. It's acceptable as the right to free speech REGARDLESS of content.
  45. Sam Patel from Victoria, Canada writes: A few points:

    Tibet has had a long relationship with China going back 2,000 years, it intermittently falling under China's contol then out of then back. Also, not all Tibetans opposed China's annexation of Tibet but most did (including its then government). However, this pattern of Tibet granting allegiance to Beijing etc. is not the same as the current conquest/colonization/incorporation of Tibet into China proper that has been going for the past 50 years.

    Chinese nationalists often rail about the Opium Wars, Boxer Rebellion and western imperialism subjucating China and pillaging its cultural and economic resources. However, they are often silent re: China's recent and past imperial adventures and actions (conquests in Central Asia, invasion of Vietnam, annexation of Tibet). A bit mealy mouthed me thinks.
  46. Sean Morency from Ottawa, writes: Calvin Chi: If foreigners came to protest about something in Canada or the US, even if most people didn't agree with them, as long as they didn't break the law, we'd let them. Because people are allowed to express their opinions here; it's a right.

    Hanging a banner from a building might be trespassing or otherwise illegall, and so they might be stopped. Just like climbing the Great Wall might be illegal. But carrying a protest sign or a banner around the lawn on Parliament Hill isn't. It seems to be illegal to do the same thing in Tiananmen Square, though. I think that's the key difference.
  47. James Zhou from Toronto, Canada writes: China Frees protesters.
    Oh well… some people were saying that the students will rot in prison without consular and legal service... what a slap on the face...Please don&8217;t confuse Huseyin Celil&8217;s bomb-placing charge with the student&8217;s banner hanging stunt.
    With regard to the view toward Tibet under the communist&8217;s regime, how many of us are influenced by Brad Pitt&8217;s handsome play rather than a reading into the history or visits to that region in the recent 20 years? Are we taking side with the Tibetan people, or really helping the cause of a small group who had enslaved the region before the communist regime and are now forcing their own agenda which is nicely dressed in religious beliefs and the modern human right ideologies.
    Every Canadian knows China&8217;s notorious human rights record and many want to help wisely, but aligning human rights with separatists&8217; cause would only discount the value of human rights and even shame many real Chinese human rights fighters.
  48. James Gill from Vancouver, Canada writes: To be fair, there is a difference between free speech and climbing over an ancient monument and rapelling down the side to unfurl your banner. I have no objection to free expression, but I lament the disregard for an important world heritage site.

    I also question the value in this action. The participants of Tibetan nationality clearly have an interest in pursuing independence for their homeland by whatever peaceful means are at their disposal--but surely the non-Tibetan and non-Chinese protesters could have put their energy to better use at home?

    I would prefer to address the injustices taking place in my own backyard before I take on those that are happening across the world.
  49. Johnny B Good from GTA, Canada writes: RE: Calvin Chi from Markham 'Chinese do not like people imposing views on them, especially in a humiliating and insensitive way like the group did on the Great Wall.'

    In any event, if that is all it takes to humiliate anyone Chinese, you have a problem not only in your self, but China as a whole.

    How about addressing the human rights violations in China that likely offends most of the civilised world? You would think 5,000 years of history they would have evolved into a nation with better treatment of their people and human rights.

    Canada may not be a perfect country, but at least the government treats people of this country with far more respect than they do in China.
  50. Chris Yang from Canada writes: Adam Allouba, if I put up a poster of Omar Khadr on the CN tower, would you be very happy? Some of these posts are funny, they make China seem almost as totalitarian as North Korea. Yeah, let's forget about the problems on our own soil, problems with our southern neighbours, problems in Darfur, problems in Afghanistan, and focus on China because we build factories over there to import goods back to us to feed our faces with cheap stuff and pass the Chinese off as scum of the earth. I'm liberal, but liberal or not being compassionate and being stupid are two different things.
  51. Thomas King from Canada writes: Proof that China does not deservenor is it ready to host the Olympics. The Olympics stand for everything China is against!!
  52. P S from Canada writes: You guys who find what China did to these people to be contra to free speach break me up... ITS THEIR COUNTRY STUPID... they can do what they want.

    If one disagrees with the Chinise process then by all means protest but don't be surprised if they Chinise government acts the way they want to. Good God, do try to think first.

    And my guess is most of you folks bitching are the ones that want to break trade ties with bad old USA and start to trade with China, think about this next time you rant against the lumber issues...
  53. Thomas King from Canada writes: James wow you are clueless. The people of Tibet want nothing to do with China.
    As for your comments about Brad Pitt, that may be who influences you but give the rest of us a littel more credit.
  54. Grant Samuel from Canada writes:

    James P from Toronto, Canada writes: Who cares? I wonder how many of my tax dollars were spent helping these people in the last 24 hours.

    James a small fraction of a penny. I hope it didn't break you.

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