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Posted on 04.20.08 by Stephen Covington @ 11:21 pm
Australia has warned the Chinese government that if any members of the People’s Armed Police touches a member of the public, they will be arrested and charged. The PAP previously roughed up protesters in London and Paris, leading to their branding as “thugs” by the governments in those countries. Additionally, the PAP has been the force primarily responsible for atrocities in Tibet, and regularly carries out executions for non-capital crimes. They can be easily distinguished by their green, military-style uniforms. Australia has decided to allow three PAP officers to run next to the torch, not allowed to carry weapons, and will be surrounded by Australian police. China has not been happy with the agreement, but has been forced to agree as a condition for allowing the torch to go through. Below: Three members of the People’s Armed Police preparing to scatter the brains of one of their unlucky people all over a wall.
Filed under: Foreign affairs Comments:
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Why don’t you just come out and say what you had really meant to say: that all Chinese are slant-eyed and evil, and do not deserve to live!! What a load of crap. The blue track-suited flame guards have been running all of the legs of the relays, and they never carried any weapons. Their duty is to protect the flame, not to rough up anyone. If the protesters were peaceful and stayed away from the flame, no body contact could have happened.
Comment by Tongluren — April 20, 2008 @ 11:50 pm
Actually, that’s not what I meant at all. I favor China as a culture and people, which is why I don’t really like the Chinese government’s policies that have tarnished the entire area. The PRC government has brought this entirely on themselves by hosting the Olympics when it is clear that they have so many unresolved human rights issues.
The general act of emphasizing the PAP’s lack of authority is completely appropriate in light of their abuse of authority on their own people. If this means metal detectors, strip searches, or whatever is necessary to put them in their place, then so be it.
Some commentators have cautioned against China “isolating themselves” as a result of the criticism. Well, they’re not going to - they’re too heavily invested in the world. The PRC government needs to realize that taking criticism is a natural part of being a leader, and this is their crash course in it. They’ll get used to it eventually.
Comment by Stephen Covington — April 21, 2008 @ 12:31 am
This Tibet thing is interesting. “Free Tibet!” has long been a cause championed by young left leaning university student idealists, but the right takes equal issue with the oppression because its an officially “communist” state doing the oppressing. They do say that politics makes strange bedfellows.
Comment by Canada Mark — April 22, 2008 @ 5:09 am
I might add, its interesting how we would almost subconsciously interpret the photo posted as an act of excessive force, and it may very well be. I’m assuming that was the intent in posting it, but if you were to swap the Chinese PAP soldiers with American troops, still leaving the other elements in tact, would you feel the same way?
Comment by Canada Mark — April 22, 2008 @ 5:13 am
Well, the PAP is a paramilitary law enforcement agency, not an actual military. However, if US troops were executing anyone after capture, especially nonviolent criminals, then I would obviously have a problem with that.
Comment by Stephen Covington — April 30, 2008 @ 2:53 pm