Centrelink sex P6 Right of return P7 Mountain art P11 Clash of chords P12 In fashion: clean P14 The Australian National University Student Newspaper | 1948 - 2008 8 May - 22 May 2008 “Protect the torch!” Over the break, thousands of protesters and pro-China supporters descended on Canberra for the Torch Relay in a show of force that boiled over into intimidation and occasional violence. Woroni investigates this strong display of nationalistic pride. Tom Stayner Tom Swann Special Report On the morning of 24 April, tens of thousands of people and more than half the ACT police force descended on Canberra’s streets for the sole Australian leg of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay. Organisers had expressed con- cerns in the weeks leading up to the event about the possibility of violent scenes of the scale of those on the previous Paris, Lon- don and San Francisco legs of the relay. But the torch was carried through its full course, with only seven arrests and minor cases of disruption in its path. ACT Chief Minister, John Stanhope, claimed afterwards that the relay was “an outstand- ing success”, adding he was “ab- solutely chuffed” about the ab- sence of a major incident. Torch Relay Chairman Ted Quinlan claimed the estimated $2 million bill, and widespread disruptions to the national capital, were well worth the honour of hosting the ‘Journey of Harmony’. “Australia has shown the world again that we can organise an event bet- spirit’ was, at many points, any- Organisers were already call- China” and slogans in Chinese safety. ter than anyone”, Quinlan said. thing but a peaceful celebration. ing for calm as the sun rose soon from behind a fence as pro-Tibet Scuffles and violence The event’s success was also Atmosphere of tension after 6 a.m. on the relay’s start- activists arrived. After the torch passed the first recognised by media around the Tensions throughout the day ing point in Reconciliation Place. As the crowds dispersed, an- time around through Constitu- world, with the BBC reporting a were palpable between up to Chinese supporters traded angry tagonism between pro-China tion Avenue, one ANU student “smooth run for Australia’s re- 20,000 pro-China supporters chants with protesters from the supporters and protesters con- and pro-Tibet protester, Andy lay”. and a smaller assortment of pro- Eastern Turkistan Australian As- tinued. Calls of “liars” and Lee, was involved in a scuffle with But for many who were there, test groups, most notably pro- sociation, and scuffles broke out “bullshit” could be heard against pro-China supporters on Com- these logistical achievements Tibet activists. As the morning to the sound of “China, forever” shouts of “free Tibet” and “Who’s monwealth Bridge. “I was hit were largely beside the point. progressed, the chants and an- and “China, terrorists”. Police the murderer? Hu Jintao”. Police when I tried to take a picture of What was supposed to be a tagonism boiled over into public moved through the crowd and told the outnumbered pro-Ti- the man who stole [my friend’s] peaceful celebration of interna- displays of intimidation, verbal separated protesters from pro- betan protesters to stay together, flag and threw it over the bridge”, tional goodwill and the ‘Olympic abuse, and physical violence. China groups, who shouted “One as they could not guarantee their Continued Page 2 Woroni 8 May - 22 May 2008 Charles Prestidge-King News Editor NEWS Nationalists clash: from Page 1 ence. “I don’t know the nature of the word ‘Communist’ from its rights in Tibet. Rudd is unique woroni Lee said. He was “disgusted” the links or the organisation but I name. Rongan Zhang denied that in having done so in Chinese and by the aggressive behaviour of know there was contact between the ACT CSSA and the Embassy in the Chinese capital of Beijing. © 1948 - 2008. many of the pro-China support- the embassy and Chinese repre- are closely linked: “[As far] as I However, his remarks, made in All rights reserved. ers. sentative groups”, Stanhope told know, there is no straight rela- a speech addressed to students While the pro-China sup- the Daily Telegraph. When asked tionship. The embassy can’t ask at Peking University on 9 April, Woroni is an official porters greatly outnumbered by Woroni, the Chinese embassy the association to do something went unreported in China, says publication of the other protesters, allegations of in Canberra denied that they had for them; it won’t happen”. He Professor Barmé, where the Australian National violence came from both sides. any organisational role in the said there may be an exception media is largely state-owned University Students’ Davidson Ng, a second year stu- event, saying that the students with some postgraduate students and without independent criti- Association. dent from Hong Kong, claims he organised themselves. who are financially supported in cal voice. But the subsequent was attacked by an Australian Zhang Rongan, from the Australia by the Chinese govern- protests and disruptions to the The opinions expressed activist who was making racist ACT branch of the Chinese Stu- ment. torch relay in London, San Fran- within are not necessarily comments towards him and his dents and Scholar’s Association Protest and counter-protest cisco and Paris, greatly surprised those of Woroni or friends. After an exchange, Ng (which includes groups from Regardless of how the Chi- and upset many people in China. ANUSA. claims the activist threatened ADFA, UC and ANU), says the nese turnout was organised and The Chinese media, unable to him: “he said, ‘Do you want me CSSA only liaised with interstate where the money came from, it play down or ignore the events, to break your glasses?’ then el- groups to disseminate informa- was clear that the real intent was appealed to an “‘international Editors bowed me in the face”. Ng says tion about the event. In Sydney to do more than simply wave conspiracy’ against China”, as the activist was taken away by and Melbourne in particular, flags and watch the torch. Their Professor Barmé puts it. Outside Tully Fletcher police after the crowd turned smaller groups of Chinese sup- presence was a counter-protest. of China, the protests had the ef- Robert Wiblin against him. porters came together of their What motivated so many Chi- fect “propagating the righteous Organisers of the relay were own accord, he said, and paid for nese supporters was the inten- outrage of the international Chi- Section Editors widely reported in Australian the buses themselves. The sup- tion to “protect the torch”, as the nese community” that had de- media as claiming that instances porters’ material such as flags call went out on CSSA posters veloped in light of suggestions of John Birrell of conflict were very isolated, a and banners were in some cases and websites, and overwhelm boycott. Leah Ginnivan view shared with representatives A response from many Chi- Erin Hill of the Chinese supporters. ACT “It was clear that the real intent was nese has been to claim, following Alex Johnson Stateline suggested otherwise by statements by Chinese authori- Alice McAvoy running a story the next evening to do more than simply wave flags and ties, that the Olympics should Gemma Nourse composed entirely of footage be apolitical. Zhang Rongan in- Charles Prestidge-King of verbal and physical alterca- watch the torch” sisted “the Olympic torch is not tions from the day. Some people, donated by the Chinese business the criticisms and concerns rep- a political toy”. This has long Staff Writers meanwhile, managed to avoid the community. resented by the protesters. As been the official response of the aggression. Ailsa Robertson, an Of the interstate Chinese stu- one Chinese supporter put it, IOC to controversies the Olym- Alessandro Antonello Australian student who was just dents Woroni spoke to on the day, “we [wanted to] win by voice”. It pics often generates, espoused Maiy Azize there to see the “unique event”, many said they had paid their was this intent that, in some cas- by many in recent weeks, not Emily Birks says she didn’t see any unrest. “I own way to Canberra. However, es, boiled over into intimidation only those affiliated with China. Scott Bolton didn’t feel as if the Chinese sup- some said that their transport and aggression. But as ANU nationalism expert David Butler porters were there against Tibet, and accommodation had been Why did the Chinese support- Dr Ben Wellings points out, Lyndsay Dean but just that they were support- paid for, and Woroni has learned ers feel it necessary to express the Olympics, as “competitions Annabelle Craft ing the Olympics.” of a number of other buses from their patriotism by overwhelm- are organized between national Jonathan Fisher While ‘4.24’ (as it was known Sydney that were provided free ing perceived anti-China protest- teams or individuals”, are inevi- Jamie Freestone to many Chinese students) was of charge for Chinese students. ers? The Beijing Olympics hold tably bound up with national in- Katja Grace not entirely marred by conflict, Furthermore, a letter leaked to a special and significant mean- terests and identity. Dr Wellings Cathy Haines it was clear that most people Crikey from the Australian Chi- ing great significance for China says, “the politics of national- Joe Harrison were there to make a passion- nese Youth Exchange Promotion and Chinese people. As Zhang ism has often intruded into the Melissa Jogie ate statement about China. The Association (an non-profit or- Rongan explains, this is the first Games, and although the Games Bradley Kunda large numbers of Chinese sup- ganisation sponsored by the Chi- time that China, a nation with themselves are hosted by cities, David McGill porters, in particular, surprised nese Embassy) assured Chinese one sixth of the world’s popula- these bids are supported by na- Tom Stayner relay organisers and the Chinese students that “the organisers will tion, has hosted such a large in- tional governments, so that any Shane Svoboda community alike.