Olympic flame in Paris

Times Online

April 7, 2008

Tibet protests force organisers to snuff out Olympic flame in Paris

(Andy Rain)

Paris is hoping to avoid trouble of the kind seen when the Olympic torch passed through London

Image :4 of 4

Charles Bremner in Paris, and Alexi Mostrous

The Olympic torch was extinguished in Paris today as human right protesters continued to disrupt the flame’s progress across the globe.

On two occasions officials were forced to put out the torch as it travelled through the French capital, after police scuffled with campaigners protesting against China's crackdown in Tibet. Officials said "technical reasons" were to blame for the flame going out.

At least four people were arrested as they attempted to block the relay route, echoing the ugly scenes in London yesterday.

More than 3,000 police had been deployed across central Paris, equivalent to that for a visit of a US President, to protect the torch, which is supposed to represent the eternal flame of human achievement.

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The flame began its journey from the Eiffel Tower, with Stephane Diagana, the former French athlete, leading off the proposed relay of 80 runners chosen to carry it through the Paris streets.

A phalanx of motorcycle police, jogging firemen, police on roller blades and dozens of riot police vehicles protected the torch, whose 85,000-mile journey from Greece to Beijing has become a stage for activists decrying China's recent crackdown on Tibetans and support for Sudan despite civilian deaths in Darfur

But it had barely progressed more than 200 meters (yards) before it was put out and placed aboard a bus to prevent any attempt to extinguish the flame. It was relit but, at about 12.30pm, was extinguished for a second time by officials, reports suggest.

A thousand demonstrators chanted “free Tibet” as the torch was bustled out from under the Eiffel Tower at the start of its journey. Chinese students and supporters attempted to drown out the jeering from protesters, many from government offices in the surrounding area.

Activists carrying Tibetan flags were asked to either put them away or leave the sector, as the flame set off on the 28-kilometre (18-mile) route through the French capital, from the Eiffel Tower, down the Champs Elysées and on to the Charlety stadium. Those carrying French and Chinese flags were allowed to stay.

A policeman at the nearby Quai Branly ripped a flag bearing the slogan of the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) press freedom group from the hands of a Vietnamese protester.

Yesterday in London, demonstrators had grabbed at the Olympic torch and tried to snuff it out, in protest at China's human rights record.

The authorities have urged demonstrators to remain peaceful but they have not discouraged people from protesting. Public opinion in France is highly critical of the Beijing government over its recent crackdown in Tibet and its repressive measures against dissenters.

Many of the 80 torch bearers are wearing a badge reading "For a better world". The badge, which carries the Olympic rings, was devised on Friday by the athletes' commission of the French Olympic committee as a way of indicating concern over rights in China without breaching rules.

Bertrand Delanoe, the socialist Mayor of Paris, has draped a banner across the front of the City Hall that reads: "Paris supports human rights everywhere in the world".

Bernard Kouchner, the Foreign Minister and a lifelong rights campaigner, said he expected demonstrations. "I would like people to be informed. For that to happen, we need to know better what is happening in Tibet," he said.

Leftwing emotion over the games was reflected in the front page of Libération newspaper. "Free the Olympics", read the headline over a picture showing handcuffs replacing the Olympic rings.

Concern over Tibet and China's handling of the games has led President Sarkozy to threaten to stay away from the opening ceremony in Beijing in August.

However the Government was embarrassed over the weekend by confusion over its position. Rama Yade, the Minister for Human Rights said Mr Sarkozy was imposing three conditions for his attendance. The presidency said that she was speaking out of turn and that Mr Sarkozy was not imposing conditions, but simply "ruling out nothing".

Opinion polls show about 60 per cent of the French favouring a boycott of the opening ceremony, but no-one is suggesting that athletes stay away from the games.

The consensus across party lines and in the media holds that the IOC made a mistake in awarding the games to Beijing but that protests now will have little impact.

Support for Beijing came today from Jean-Claude Killy, a former skiing medallist and member of the IOC. "The courage of the Olympic movement in awarding the games to China is a blessing, especially for the Tibetans. They are benefiting from spectacular media cover," he said in Le Figaro.