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San Francisco shouldn't welcome tainted Olympic torch

Article Last Updated: 11/19/2007 10:15:30 PM PST

China is an egregious violator of human rights.

It seems by this point in history this should be common knowledge, and proponents of free speech, media and religion shouldn't have to keep justifying opposition to the regime by offering the examples that repeat from day to day.

China's track record is grim: Labor and re-education camps full of political prisoners. More executions than anywhere else in the world. More journalists and cyber-dissidents caught and punished by a massive crew of censorship police. China's propping up the brutal regime of Myanmar that kills democracy protesters in cold blood - and blocking U.N. Security Council action by maintaining it's just business as usual in a sovereign state.

So why in the world would a progressive city like San Francisco welcome the torch of the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics?

"The torch should not be permitted to be used as a propaganda vehicle for the communist dictatorship in China," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., who in August co-sponsored resolutions calling for the United States to boycott the Olympics over China's role in Darfur and its human-rights violations at home.

Yet the City by the Bay is the sole U.S. stop on the global torch relay, with the flame set to pass through on April 9. One grass-roots group of human-rights-minded residents isn't so willing to let that happen, but so far the San Francisco Team Tibet Coalition can't even get an audience with Mayor Gavin Newsom to ask him to cancel the torch relay through the city.

"Your welcoming of the Olympic torch would suggest ... that you are ready to turn your back on a unique opportunity to promote legitimate international concerns and... take a stand for justice in Tibet and China," stated the Aug. 8 letter to Newsom. According to Giovanni Vassallo, president of coalition member the Committee of 100 for Tibet, the mayor's office has not responded.

Repeated attempts to obtain comment from Newsom's office were unsuccessful.

The "Journey of Harmony" torch relay hasn't just stirred the waters in the Bay Area: Beijing included Taipei on the relay route, only to have Taiwan - which is not allowed to use its flag, seal or anthem at the Games - declare the torch unwelcome, calling it "a brazen attempt to downgrade Taiwan to a part of China." China has also instituted strict background checks on foreign climbers on the Tibetan side of Mt. Everest in an effort to thwart protesters on the torch route.

Shannon Service, a Students for a Free Tibet member who was detained by Chinese authorities in April for protesting at Mount Everest, is part of the coalition setting its sights on San Francisco.

"The mayor doesn't seem to quite get that when the torch passes through our fair city it will not be hailed as a symbol of international unity and sports," she said. "It's going to raise international protest as a symbol of occupation, torture and genocide."

"San Francisco is known worldwide as a center of progressive consciousness," said Laurel Sutherlin, also arrested on Mount Everest. "We cannot allow the Chinese government to exploit the reputation of our city to advance their nefarious policies on the global stage."

At this point, we unfortunately can't go back and fix what the International Olympic Committee should have never done in the first place: awarding the 2008 Summer Games to Beijing. It takes a truly blind individual to not see the hollowness of the regime's empty promises to reform in return for the games. Conversely, we've seen increased press-freedom crackdowns and, according to Amnesty International, "re-education through labor" and "enforced drug rehabilitation" in order to "clean up" Beijing before the games.

What we can do, though, is take a stand and decide that this tainted Beijing torch does not represent the values of a nation that has pledged to defend the basic dignity and human rights of every individual.

China's torch should not be welcomed on American soil. The city of San Francisco should take the bold step of canceling the torch relay through its streets, putting humanity before revenue and justice before publicity.

This torch should also light a fire under Americans to reconsider other partnerships with China until its people and the Tibetan people are free.

"After the monks have been mowed down and slaughtered in the streets of Rangoon, (Myanmar), it has to be more difficult for people to accept that we have the Olympics in Beijing," Rohrabacher said.

Bridget Johnson writes for the Daily News and blogs at insidesocal.com/friendlyfire. Write to her by e-mail at bridget.johnson@dailynews.com.

'08 Torch Route Includes San Francisco

San Francisco will be the only U.S. city on the international route. The 2008 Olympic Torch Relay will begin with the lighting of the flame in Olympia, Greece, on March 25, 2008, and will be delivered to Beijing on March 31. On April 1, the torch will start its journey to 22 cities, including San Francisco, before returning to mainland China. The Olympic Flame will cross China for more than three months, with the trek concluding in the Olympic Stadium at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2008 Olympic Games on August 8, 2008.

"This an extraordinary honor and privilege for the United States and the USOC to be given the opportunity to welcome the Olympic Torch in San Francisco, whose citizens and leaders have shown great commitment to and passion for the Olympic Movement," said Bob Ctvrtlik, USOC Vice President, International. "The Olympic torch is a powerful symbol of hope and unity for the world and we are sure that San Francisco's diversity, beauty and rich traditions will provide an ideal showcase for the torch and our country."

"We’re very proud and deeply honored to be part of the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay," said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom. "As the only American city selected and also as the gateway to the Pacific Rim, I believe San Francisco truly reflects the diversity that is consistent with the Olympic Games."

San Francisco Bay Area will welcome the torch for a fifth time -- also 1960, 1984, 1996 and 2002. The Olympic Flame last appeared in the U.S. as part of the 2004 Athens Olympic Games route, stopping in Los Angeles, St. Louis, Atlanta and New York City.

Overall, the truly global relay is scheduled to last 130 days and travel 137,000 kilometers. The torch will visit all five land masses represented by the Olympic rings on its "Journey of Harmony." One of the highlights of the flame's journey across China will be the attempt to bring it to the highest peak in the world, Mount Everest, or Mount Qomolangma, as it is known in China. Innovative engineering in the development of the torch will allow it to burn at high altitudes, in rain and high winds.

Coca-Cola, Lenovo, and Samsung will serve as presenting sponsors of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay. All three companies are Worldwide Partners of the International Olympic Committee, as well as U.S. Olympic Partners. They will provide financial and service support for the operation of the relay. The design of the torch, the "Cloud of Promise," was developed by the Lenovo Creative Center, and Coca-Cola will serve as a worldwide partner of the Olympic Torch Relay for the sixth time in 12 years.

Details on the nomination and selection of runners, along with information on the route of the torch while in San Francisco, will be announced at a later date. For more information on the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay, visit torchrelay.beijing2008.cn.