The official torch of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing is traveling 95,000 miles across five continents in a “journey of harmony” symbolizing international peace.

But on April 9, as the torch reaches San Francisco—its only North American destination—it will face opposition and protests by Bay Area activist groups concerned with China’s conduct in regard to human rights.

The politics surrounding the arrival of the torch have been anything but harmonious.

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a non-binding resolution on Tuesday that condemns China’s human rights record. The resolution has been met with controversy by members of the Chinese-American community in the city, as well as representatives of the Chinese Consulate of San Francisco. They claim that it will damage relations between San Francisco and China.

“As the eyes of the world are on San Francisco,” it needs to be “remembered as a city that cares about freedom,” said Supervisor Chris Daly, who authored the resolution, which passed 8-3. By passing the measure, the board officially greets the torch from China “with alarm and protest.”

The torch’s route was long concealed from the public, prompting prospective protesters to criticize Mayor Gavin Newsom and the San Francisco Police Department for potentially infringing on the right to protest. The police finally released the route on Tuesday. Local activists, including the American Civil Liberties Union and
various human rights organizations have been critical of Newsom’s delayed release of the route.

Activist groups representing Sudan, Tibet, and Myanmar are expecting a massive turnout of thousands to protest China’s influence on these countries, demanding that China commits itself to human rights in these regions.

DARFUR
One major protesting group—the San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition—is using the torch run as a chance to demand China use its power to enforce human rights in the war-torn Darfur region of Sudan.

“This is a very unique opportunity for Americans to get out in front of the government of China in person to continue and escalate our requests that China—as a major superpower, and as a country that is qualified to be the host of the Olympics—needs to step up and persuade the government of Sudan to end the genocide in Darfur,” said Martina Knee of the Darfur Coalition.

“We’re trying to get China to act as a universal human rights protector,” added Stephen McNeil of the Coalition.

The Coalition plans on lining strategic points along the Olympic flame route with thousands of activists holding placards reading, “China: Extinguish the flames of genocide in Darfur.” Newsom has said it is important to realize that the Olympics is about international unity and not politics. Knee insisted that this statement is not intended to disrespect the Olympic games.

“We are not protesting the Olympics or the torch relay,” she said. “We are just using this extremely visible opportunity to get our message to China.”

Nihar Bhatt, a 30-year-old statistics major at SF State, said it is appropriate to protest politically during the Olympics.

“I think that China’s record is obviously atrocious, but I think that as an American it’s important to acknowledge that there is a political element within this country that is not really interested in protecting workers in China or here, but helping the U.S. compete with China as an escalating rival superpower in the world,” he said.

TIBET
Bay Area groups concerned with the current situation in Tibet are also using the torch rally as a chance to express their message and demand human rights for the Tibetan people.

Giovanni Vassallo—president of Bay Area Friends of Tibet, Committee of 100 for Tibet, and SF State alumnus—believes China is using the torch rally to distract the world from the conflict between the Chinese government and the independence movement in Tibet.

“It’s an outrage that there is this charade of harmony, that the Chinese government is using it as a propaganda tool to make it look like everything is harmonious in Tibet,” he said.

On April 8, the day before the Beijing Olympic torch arrives in San Francisco, another torch will pass through the city. The Tibetan freedom torch march is intended to raise human rights concerns and “represent Tibetan aspiration for freedom and justice,” Vassallo said.

“There is really not true freedom of religion in Tibet” due to Chinese oppression, Vassallo said. He added that traditional Tibetan culture is being stifled by the governing powers of China, which will not allow Tibetan language to be taught at high levels.

“Every Tibetan family has lost someone or suffered from the repression of the Chinese government,” Vassallo said. “We are reminding the world that there is no real harmony in Tibet.”

BURMA
Activist groups fighting for human rights in Myanmar (Burma) are also planning on protesting during the San Francisco torch relay.

CONTROVERSIES

DARFUR
Since 2003, the Sudanese government and “Janjaweed” militias have been in violent conflict with rebel groups Sudanese Liberation Army and Justice and Equality Movement.

In attempts to end the rebel presence, the Sudanese military and Janjaweed militias have terrorized the civilian population with murder, rape and torture.

In addition to giving millions of dollars in economic aid to the Khartoum government, China is the largest foreign investor in Sudan—the primary purchaser of the region’s oil—and also its main weapons supplier, according to The Save Darfur Coalition.

The activists believe these strong economic ties enable the Khartoum government to violently oppress the people of Darfur and continue the genocide.

Activists argue that since China is on the security council of the United Nations, it should use its power to do whatever possible to increase stability in Sudan and hold the Khartoum government responsible for the genocide.

TIBET
Ever since China colonized Tibet in 1951, Tibetans have been protesting China’s rule. China’s 1951 occupation of Tibet resulted in “a systematic destruction of monasteries, suppression of religion, denial of political freedom, widespread arrests and imprisonment and massacre of innocent men, women and children” according to the Government of Tibet in Exile.

Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, the Dalai Lama, condemned China’s sovereignty over Tibet, insisting that China is engaging in “cultural genocide.”

On March 10 of this year, the anniversary of a failed 1959 revolt which resulted in the Dalai Lama’s escape to India, Tibetans once again came together to defy Chinese rule. The protests intensified as Tibetans in Lhasa rioted, setting fire to Chinese-owned businesses.

Chinese police reacted by firing tear gas into the crowds, beating protestors, and firing live ammunition to disperse them, according to Amnesty International.

BURMA
In August 2007, about 100,000 Burmese citizens engaged in a peaceful protest led by Buddhist monks against the military government. The government violently cracked down on these protests, beating and killing unarmed protestors and monks.

According to the Burmese American Democratic Alliance, China has supplied more than $3 billion in arms to Burma’s military government. China is also Myanmar’s main trading partner.

According to Amnesty International, there are currently more than 1,850 political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Myanmar—many of whom are journalists, pro-democracy activists and citizens who have expressed dissent against the government.

BADA has written an open letter to the sponsors of the Beijing Olympic games in an attempt to get them to withdraw their support from the Olympic games because of China’s support of Burma’s government.