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Rogge in 'silent diplomacy' with China on Tibet and rights

Associated Press

Latest comment posted at 5:26 PM EDT 24/03/08

IOC president reiterates stance that his organization is not a political organization and cannot interfere in internal affairs ...Read the full article

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  1. Andre Seguin from Montreal, Canada writes: Nations that favor communism thrive on conformity and conformism.

    Why then does the I.O.C. consider not playing the olympic anthem in Beijing. The entire world could pause for brief moment to honor Tibet and Tibetans. By not respecting olympic protocol the I.O.C. would therefore not respect a concept related to conformity and conformism. That could represent a great insult for China and it's unflexible leadership.To top this off, the mayor of Beijing will have to hand off the olympic flag to the mayor or representative of the city that will host the games 4 years later. Let these individuals shine by their absence in Beijing. The circle of non conformity would then be closed. China will have been slapped in the face while the entire world is watching it being thought a lesson it will not forget anytime soon.
  2. JP M from Canada writes: Luke R from Toronto, Canada writes: What exactly is this "silent diplomacy"?

    Luke, sounds like you took your education in diplomacy from Steven Harper.

    Silent diplomacy is a means of engaging another in private discussions to try to influence their behavior in private and avoid embarrassing or humiliating the other party publicly. It's a means of negotiating "win-win" situations where every party saves face, and can walk away from the table a winner.

    Unlike the divisive politics of brinksmanship, and trying to demonstrate openly to the world how you got the other (your opponent in this case) to buckle and bend to your will, this diplomacy thing is interested in arriving at a positive and just end as opposed to "winning".

    It's a crazy idea I know, but it generally tends to produce results that are real and enduring, and typically avoids the catastrophic consequences of long wars in which tens of thousands die and millions are displaced.

    Of course, it generally requires a strength of character that helps overcome fear, and a willingness to actually listen to the other, so there is a degree of humility involved.

    So in direct opposition to your assertion, it is actually allowing it to look like nothing is happening while you are working very hard in the background to generate real and positive results, as opposed to posturing like a peacock for your own glory while nothing good is actually being accomplished.

    Get it now?
  3. EJ Ravensbud from Canada writes: So, JP M, does this silent diplomacy work in all cases? For example, if this approach had been taken with Adolph, Benito and Hirohito prior to WW II the killing of over 50 million persons could have been avoided?
    If city states had carried on silent diplomacy with the Mongols a thousand years ago mass slaughters could have been avoided? China is a totalitarian regime that always comes back with the iron fist approach. As history has proven when dealing with dictators Teddy Roosevelt's walk softly and carry a big stick approach usually works out best.
  4. Simon Croswell from Toronto, Canada writes: The IOC is a disgrace. Clearly, the IOC is a political organization if it engages in "silent diplomacy". The Olympics are also clearly being used for political purposes, namely to legitimize the Chinese torture state. Perhaps we should just acknowledge that Beijing 2008 is being used to advance the cause of evil and keep the athletes home. After all, what's more important - running around a track or the human rights of Tibetans?
  5. Comments are Closed from Toronto, Canada writes: I wonder if "violent protests" were a parameter in awarding Communist China the Olympics?
  6. dim bulb from Canada writes: Never has an Olympic boycott had the potential it does with the Beijing games. When you consider the investment the chinese have made in infrastructure, the massive exposure for corporate sponsors, and the propaganda opportunity for the Chinese government, it readily becomes apparent how critical a boycott would be to China. Those who would say the atheletes should not be used as pawns need to understand that they are already pawns in a movement that serves corporate interests first with sportsmanship as an afterthought. The Olympics are broken.
  7. David Smith from Markham, Canada writes: I think I.O.C is doing the right thing, boycott will only have negative impact on peaceful solving the Tibet issue.

    And everybody is talking about "subjugated or killing" in Tibet, but I'm wondering if we have proven evidences showing that it is what are really happening there? I couldn't find such evidence anywhere on the internet, while I do see some Nepal police beating protesters video was commented as "happened in China", but apparently that's fake.

    Or we believe it just because it IS "China'? If that's the case please don't count me in.

    I don't believe what both sides say (Free Tibetan activities or Beijing), until our reporters are allowed in and show the real situation there. (However, I blame Beijing on this as I do think Beijing should open it up let the whole world see what is exactly happening there)
  8. otto von abbatoir from Los Angeles, United States writes: Kinda like the IOC was with Hitler in 1936. Remember, the respectful thing to do is to tilt the Canadian flag at a 45 degree angle from vertical when bypassing the Politburo's viewing box. Arm salutes are a personal decision.
  9. James C from China writes: " JP M from Canada writes: Luke R from Toronto, Canada writes: What exactly is this "silent diplomacy"?

    Luke, sounds like you took your education in diplomacy from Steven Harper.

    Silent diplomacy is a means of engaging another in private discussions to try to influence their behavior in private and avoid embarrassing or humiliating the other party publicly."

    ----------

    could that be the jean chretien school of silent diplomacy, whereby, once you get behind closed doors, you tell your adversary whatever it is he wants to hear, then report back to your people that you had fruitful discussions with him and that you won him over? sounds like those team canada missions, or the handling of the william sampson case also comes to mind :-)

    stephen harper takes the chinese to task on human rights (husein celil), some canadians whine that he's ruining relations with the chinese. stephen harper doesnt take the mexicans to task on the case of that canadian in a mexican jail, canadians whine that he's not sticking up for canadians.

    you dont deserve a good leader.
  10. Jon Butlin from Canada writes: JP M from Canada writes: Luke R from Toronto, Canada writes: What exactly is this "silent diplomacy"?

    Luke, sounds like you took your education in diplomacy from Steven Harper.

    -----------

    James C from China writes: " JP M from Canada writes: ... could that be the jean chretien school of silent diplomacy, whereby, once you get behind closed doors...

    Is it even possible for people to have an intelligent conversation on here without you mindless partisan hacks getting involved and bringing the topic around to who's the biggest a**hole Dion or Harper (or for that matter, the pair of you)???
  11. Jon Butlin from Canada writes: Interesting that Rogge claims the IOC is not a political organization and has no control over China's human rights, but then goes on to boast that the games in China has had a positive influence, with the world watching, on China's human rights record in the seven years since the games were awarded.

    The IOC certainly wants to play politics when the host site is chosen, but then wipes it's hands when the sh!t hits the fan.
  12. Marc C from Calgary, Canada writes: What exactly are these 'improvements' in the human rights situation that Rogge claims have been happening in China? He fails to give a single example, so how can we take his claim seriously? Tell us Jacques, what are these wonderful strides that China has made since 2001?? And how dare he say that the Games and the IOC are 'not political!' In a blatant political act, his predecessor Juan Antonio Samaranch bullied IOC members into supporting China's bid over other far more worthy candidates, all because he dared not offend a rising economic power. Respect for human rights is obviously irrelevant to the IOC. As Canadian Olympian Mark Tewksbury correctly said, the whole 'selection process' was a sham with a pre-determined outcome. The IOC will reap what it sowed. I have nothing but disdain for the organization, and this so-called silent (read: do nothing) diplomacy. I've heard of 'quiet' diplomacy, which can sometimes be effective, but this 'silent' version is a new one to me. As for China, it boggles my mind how 1.3 billion people can be so completely controlled when it comes to accessing information from outside their borders. Are they really oblivious to world opinion on the Tibet crisis? Or about criticism of China's support for the genocidal regime in Sudan? (unfortunately, that tragedy seems to have been forgotten AGAIN....to me, that alone was already a good enough reason to boycott these Games, even before recent events in Tibet). Assuming the Games go ahead, I sincerely hope many countries including Canada will boycott the opening ceremonies and that some athletes will publicly criticize the Chinese dictatorship. I'd like to see how the Chinese propaganda machine will explain THAT to its people. No doubt it will all be the fault of the Dalai Lama. Anything to bring shame and embarrassment to China and the IOC will be worth the effort.
  13. Wasabi Jones from Canada writes: Luke, "silent diplomacy" means doing nothing, saying nothing and being nothing when your international partners do the wrong thing. It means not rocking the boat, not making waves and rendering yourself insignificant and eventually invisible. It is a cornerstone of UN diplomacy, Trudeaupia, Canadian Liberalism and until recently, Canadian foreign policy. Cheers.
  14. Bob Duvan from Canada writes: Trying to influence international politics is pretty close to mission impossible unless somehow you manage to ignite interest in a broad spectrum of people and that's rarely possible.

    Best bet is to target the advertisers and threaten them with a boycott. That gives a much smaller number of people leverage.
  15. Jeremy K from vancouver canada, Canada writes: the IOC gave the games to the russians in 1980 and to the yugoslavs in 1984 so the precedent has been set that human rights aren't an issue when it comes to who gets the games so lets get over the hypocrisy of singling china out as the world's "bad guy" and get on with the crass commercialism, the cheating athletes and the product pimping that we've all come to know and love!
  16. Philip Potts from Canada writes: The silent diplomacy is best approach. olympics must and will be held in beijing. This force can not be stopped fot the brigand monk who pray for the west and lit fire at china.
  17. Wayne H from Canada writes: "Rogge in 'silent diplomacy' with China on Tibet and rights"

    Rogge in 'complete denial' with China on Tibet and rights
  18. Joe Froze from Canada writes: Agree we should all press China harder on improving its human rights and freedom of expressions. The title of this article is however on Tibet thus association with Dalai is inevitable. Hesitation though the effectiveness of employing Dalai to try promoting human right issues when the first 40 years of his life seriously violated human rights by practising serf or slavery himself. If anybody could push China for more human rights is perhaps Mr Ma, the newly elect President of Taiwan Province. By the way, England had its 1st Parliament in 1200, however free to vote was only granted to woman after 1st WW after seeing that women contributed tremendously during war time. In practical terms China only ended its 'imperial' rule after the passing away of its 'last emperor' Deng Xiao Ping in 1997 despite the fact that Qing Dynasty was brought down in 1911. Some 40 years ago in many places in Southern US black men and whites were segregated in the public. Just hope that China doenst need to take that long to have equalities for all of its citizens.
  19. Bob McDonald from Canada writes: The baloney: "We are NOT a political body . . . ," Rogge said. From the other side of his mouth, he also said: “We believe the Games will be a catalyst for change."

    And he is very proud of this overt political interference: &8220;(Tibet) would not be on the front page if the Games were not being organized in China." Rogge added: "I believe the Games have advanced the agenda of human rights.&8221;

    The IOC learned the hard way at Moscow and LA but: ". . . we knew there would be discussions. We were not naive. We knew discussions would flare up in the last six months. . .&8221;

    Rogge and the IOC use sports as an excuse for political meddling: &8220;We cannot deny one-fifth of mankind the advantages of Olympism . . . &8221; Baloney: China has sent strong teams to the Olympics for some time so how have they been disadvantaged or denied?

    If the Olympics are again ruined by politics, I blame the IOC exclusively for using sports to knowingly and provocatively generate political intrigue.
  20. Joe Froze from Canada writes: A very interesting write-up: http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html
  21. Sev Scott from Calgary, Canada writes: If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.
    Desmond Tutu

    Another Nobel Peace Prize winner.
  22. Krakatoa East of Java from Canada writes: Silent Diplomacy is like Quiet Diplomacy only quieter ---usually done on tippy toe and stocking feet.

    The cone of silence is often invoked under special circumstances (see related entry - Maxwell Smart).
  23. Ocean 13 from Toronto, Canada writes: you should watch this:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWGGjpJJCKE

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