To those of you who live here or will be here—the main demonstration currently scheduled is for the 10th of April, across from the Chinese Embassy, at 18.00.

There should be a showing of documentaries about Tibet at the Dirty Deal Cafe, Andrejsala, soonest—no time/date yet.

Here’s a report from Latvijas Avīze on a demonstration in Tallinn.

/P

“We for our part tend to underestimate the political importance of symbolic acts...anyone who has experienced a repressive regime...knows just how important to the oppressed people are those acts of symbolic recognition...” some quotes fromTimothy Garton Ash.

Irena

March 27 (Bloomberg)—Czech President Vaclav Klaus and
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk declined invitations to the
Olympic Games in Beijing following clashes between Tibetan
protesters and Chinese security forces.

I eagerly await similar announcements from Messrs. Adamkus, Ilves, and Zatlers.

/P

Godmanis to attend Beijing Olympics

RIGA, March 26 (LETA) - Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis (Latvia’s First Party/Latvia’s Way) has accepted an invitation to attend the Beijing Olympic Games, LETA was informed by Premier’s press secretary Edgars Vaikulis.

Godmanis had previously received a note from the Chinese Foreign Ministry regarding accreditation opportunities, and has agreed to visit the final stage of the Games.

Commenting on the tense situation regarding Tibet, the premier agreed with the Latvian Foreign Ministry’s position that there cannot be a political decision to boycott the games. It has to be taken into consideration that the Olympics is a dream of a lifetime for many athletes, intense training lasting several years is dedicated to this goal, therefore, in this case the decision to take part in this major event or not has to be made by the athletes themselves, the prime minister pointed out.

As reported, regardless of the protests by human rights defenders, on Monday, the Beijing Olympics flame was lit in ancient Olympia, starting a five-month long relay-race that will finish at the Olympics opening ceremonies on August 8.

Sorry, but if you are seriously waiting- it will be a very long wait. This bunch, including St. Vaira when she had an official title, regularly send fawning commercial delegations to the People’s Republic.

I guess it just proves the old maxim: A billion Chinese can’t be wrong. Not when you want them to potentially buy what ever you are selling.

Andrejs

I read that Zatlers and Godmanis are going to the Opening Ceremonies.

Not sure if Adamkus will go - or anyone who may be left unresigned from the current government by then - but the athletes are set to go.

Tom,

I wasn’t holding my breath, no.

I do understand the concern for the athletes—but heads of state are not athletes, and opening ceremonies are not sporting events.

Regarding “Saint Vaira”—she did at least meet the Dalai Lama and was at the Dom.

Vysu lobu,
/P

Edward Lucas wrote an article called “Remember, remember: Tibet, the Olympics and the Baltic republics.”

/P

Mar 27th 2008
From Economist.com

Tibet, the Olympics and the Baltic republics

THE highest point in the Baltic states is Big Egg Mountain in Estonia, at a towering 318 metres above sea level, about one-thirtieth of the height of Everest. That aside, the similarities between the Baltic states and Tibet are striking.

Both were wiped off the map by much larger neighbours, who criminalise any expression of national sentiment (the Tibetan flag is banned by the Chinese authorities, just as owning a flag in the colours of the pre-war Baltic republics guaranteed harsh punishment in the Soviet era). In both Tibet and the Baltics, public yearning for independence is matched by apathy from the outside world.

The Kremlin’s policy of using migration and forced Russification to counter “nationalist” tendencies in the Baltic states was pretty similar to China’s current policy in Tibet. The bogus rhetoric of communist ethnic harmony (“Be like us and we can all be happy”) is almost identical, as is the genuine incomprehension among the dominant ethnic group (Russians in the Soviet Union, Han Chinese in the People’s Republic) that minorities have anything to complain about.

If by some historical fluke Tibet regains independence, it will face the same problems as Estonia and Latvia with their Soviet-era Russian migrants. Will the Chinese settlers who have so contemptuously refused to learn Tibetan become automatic citizens of the new country?

For both the Baltic states then and Tibet now, émigré outfits matter a lot. The Tibetan government-in-exile is the symbolic focus of the country’s statehood, maintaining legal continuity from the days when it ran a real country. The feeling of slightly desperate, dusty determination in Tibetan offices is uncannily like that in the Baltic states’ surviving embassies in the 1980s.

The big difference, of course, is the Dalai Lama, who has the star appeal of Pope John Paul II, Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi combined. Ernst Jaakson, the Estonian consul-general in New York, and Stasys Lozoraitis, the Lithuanian ambassador to the Vatican, were both deeply impressive, but hardly household names.

And now the Olympics. The Moscow games in 1980 and then the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 were a chance for both sides to fight their propaganda war. The Kremlin staged the sailing events in Estonia, hoping to undermine the non-recognition policy maintained by most western countries (who regarded the Baltic republics as occupied territories rather than Soviet Socialist Republics).

In Washington, DC, a group calling themselves the Embassy 18 chained themselves to the then-Soviet embassy, hanging a banner across 16th St reading “Lithuania 1940, Afghanistan 1980”. It showed “Happy Mischa” (the cuddly ursine mascot of the Soviet Olympic effort) dancing on a pile of skulls.

Tibetan efforts against this year’s games will be more dramatic. Disrupting the torch-lighting ceremony in Athens was just the start. But does it do any good? Interfering with sport—a secular religion in much of the world—risks annoying the apolitical, rather than highlighting the desired cause.

At least it is clear that staging an Olympic games sharpens choices for a totalitarian regime. Even the most brutal party hacks and secret policemen realise that when you are trying to showcase your system, beating people up in public risks giving the wrong impression. What will the Chinese authorities do if thousands of athletes are wearing “illegal” Dalai Lama badges?

It is easy to forget how bleak the chances of restoring Baltic independence seemed only 25 years ago. Imagine the Tibetan team at the 2036 Olympics. Farfetched? Perhaps. But in 1980 few would have placed a bet on Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian teams appearing in international sport ever again.

Why does it take a non-Balt, Edward Lucas, to make this Tibet/Estonia-Latvia-Lithuania connection?

And what makes you assume that no Balts have made that connection? Just asking.

Andrejs

Offer some evidence. 

I’ve yet to read a single article by a “Latvian Edward Lucas” linking Tibet/Latvia.  When I heard an NPR (National Public Radio) program yesterday, I was thinking about Latvia when they were discussing Tibet.  What a terrific surprise to see the Edward Lucas article!  Too bad no one in Latvia wrote that story.  There was barely a peep about the March, 1949, deportations in the Latvian press and nothing in the Russian press.  What a missed opportunity to make the linkage.  Where were the comments about Zatlers and Godmanis timid participation in Latvia’s own tragedy?  All this outpouring of support for Tibet now and clucking about Zatlers heading off to the Olympics.  Zatlers can’t even press Russia on the occupation issue but it’s more important that he stand strong for Tibet against China?

Maybe the Russian papers are full of this Tibet/Latvia story.  Let me know.

Ah. Should have know. Its the inimitable Ambersun style. Make a blanket statement and then follow up with a strong left hook and ask someone to disprove it. Haven’t read all Balt newspapers. Nor have I listened to or watched all Balt media outlets. As to the Russian papers. Can’t help you. Ja ne chitayu Russkii gazettii.

Andrejs

Andrejs wrote: “Ah. Should have know. Its the inimitable Ambersun style. Make a blanket statement and then follow up with a strong left hook and ask someone to disprove it.”

Andrejs, you asked why I made an assumption ”that no Balts had made that connection” and I sent a direct punch - “I’ve yet to read a single article by a “Latvian Edward Lucas” linking Tibet/Latvia” - followed by a “strong left hook” - “Offer some evidence.”

PS Did you ever get all that “daiving” and internet stuff figured out?  I can understand how it must have disracted you from reading the Latvian press on the deportations and Tibet.  I don’t dive but hike in the mountains and that’s even more problematic in Latvia than daiving.  I also need to get internet in Latvia, so that part was interesting.

Ambersun writes:

“Andrejs, you asked why I made an assumption ”that no Balts had made that connection” and I sent a direct punch - “I’ve yet to read a single article by a “Latvian Edward Lucas” linking Tibet/Latvia” - followed by a “strong left hook” - “Offer some evidence.”

To which my question was have you read every article written by a Balt? I can offer evidence that I for one have not. Maybe they’re just not set up to be picked up by a Google alert.

“PS Did you ever get all that “daiving” and internet stuff figured out?  I can understand how it must have disracted you from reading the Latvian press on the deportations and Tibet.  I don’t dive but hike in the mountains and that’s even more problematic in Latvia than daiving.  I also need to get internet in Latvia, so that part was interesting.”

Its a work in progress. Still figuring bits and pieces out. Didn’t find out much about daivings, but but did find out that the country of my birth considers me a foreigner. Right now leaning towards going baltcom, but they expect you to be a cable subscriber as well. Might still consider it because eventhought I might not need the cable, it still might be the most practical option for my internet needs. Planning to make some phone calls next month and see what I can find out directly from the providers, but the most practical option might be to take a week’s vacation from work when I first land in Latvia. And cross my fingers that I can resolve any issues during that week.
Have an idea for you regarding hiking. Have you considered Gaizinkalns? Go up one side. Come down the other. Repeat. 50 times should simulate a vigorous hike through the Sieras. I know it ain’t much, but figured you being a proud Latvian would want to use the available Latvian resources to their fullest. Rather than imply that there is anything potentialy problematic with such a natural Latvian resource.

Andrejs

A speech from Latvia’s 2006 winter olympics bronze medal winner in the luge, Martins Rubenis:

http://www.humanrightstorch.org/newslink/Paris_Speech_Lv_Martins Rubenis_EN.htm
(The link doesn’t want to work so I’ve copied and pasted the speech below):

It comes from my heart to say that we have reached one of the most important thresholds of humanity, when each and every action taken and word said leave permanent message and carry heavy responsibilities to the future of humanity.

There were times when the decadence of moral norms of society led us to the processes of global purification such as wars, epidemics, nature catastrophes and other disasters, which should have served as a serious warning for the next generations to come.

In my belief Olympic Games have always been a symbol of high moral standards founded on natural striving for the harmony of physical strength and spiritual force of human being. Historically Olympic Games are also the indisputable symbol of peace, which has a power to unite all the nations worldwide.

Looking towards Beijing I can not find a single reason why communist regime of China has moral right to represent the ideals of and the highest principles of Olympic movement.

In the face of all world Chinese Communist Party has not fulfilled the promise to adjust the situation with human rights and even more, has transformed it to genocide of its own nation by building enormous factory of violence and lies.

That’s why I would like to ask you to dignify those almost 100 millions of people whose lives were blown away by the evil nature of CCP and also to think for a moment what is going to happen next if we continue to look helplessly at the ongoing situation.

As I see, now we have to make the clear choice in what world do we want to live - in lies, hate and aggression or in true peace and harmony.

I would like to appeal to the whole world with the petition to light “The Torch of Human Rights” as a symbol of renascence of true human nature.

We have to stop this blemishing of the Olympic ideals with blood. I know that as an athlete I could not feel deep fulfilment and satisfaction of well done job standing on the podium built over lives of thousands and thousands of people.

I have made my choice and therefore I appeal to the whole world to raise up high this Torch of Human Rights, as a symbol of renascence of true human nature.