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Red Square for pro-China marchArticle
April 14, 2008 12:00am
SWANSTON St was a sea of red as up to 4000 Chinese rallied yesterday in support of their homeland's right to rule Tibet.
Pro-China protesters blasted the media, politicians and supporters of the Dalai Lama for what they called lies over China's role in Tibet.
While the rally was mostly peaceful, it was marred by an attack on a man by several protesters, seen by a photographer.
Shane Wells, a pro-Tibet supporter from South Yarra who lived in Tibet, was punched by up to 15 protesters near the State Library after he yelled pro-Tibet chants.
One attacker punched him to the head from behind, while other protesters shielded the attack from cameras.
"Their reaction took me by surprise," Mr Wells said.
"This is typical of China, that someone voices any opinion against them and then they get violent about it."
The attack was not reported at the time to police, who said the rally was incident-free.
Protesters said Tibet had been part of China for more than 1000 years and Tibetans had greatly benefited from Chinese rule, with improved health and infrastructure.
Rally spokesman Arthur Lai said separatists, not Chinese forces, were to blame for violence in Tibet's capital, Lhasa, on March 14.
"They simply went on the streets and attacked everybody," said Chinese-born Mr Lai, 18, a university commerce student who lives in South Yarra.
"The Chinese Government only reacted."
Louise Clayton, state president of the Australia-China Friendship Society, won rapturous applause.
"Celebrity followers of the Dalai Lama, and there seem to be a lot of them, and other outsiders are opportunistically seeking to challenge China's longstanding sovereignty," Ms Clayton said.
"The fact remains the vast majority of Chinese, including Tibetans, do not want Tibet to be separated from China.
"While the Dalai Lama cultivates the image of a peace-loving religious figure . . . it is clear he is a political figure with a political agenda."
Protesters waved Chinese flags, chanted slogans in Mandarin and English, and sang the Chinese anthem as they marched from Fed Square to the State Library. |
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