[1635] Of violent PRC citizens in South Korea fuels anti-PRC sentiment
April 30th, 2008 by Hafiz Noor Shams
Violence by Chinese during the Olympic flame relay in Seoul, Sunday, has ignited anti-China sentiment among Koreans.
The Beijing Olympic torch was successfully relayed from the South to North Korea, supported by enthusiastic Chinese supporters. However, the relay was marred by a clash between human rights activists and an overwhelming number of supporters, which left a sour taste in the mouth of many South Korean citizens.
Before the event, the police’s main concern was that rallies by human rights activists to protest China’s crackdown in Tibet might disrupt the relay. However, tens of thousands of nationalistic Chinese supporters flocked to streets in Seoul, resulting in an outbreak of violence against anti-Beijing Olympic protestors.
[...]
Koreans watching the relay were surprised to see the lining up of as many as 10,000 Chinese on streets the flame passed through. About 8,300 policemen were mobilized for the event. Among other questions raised were whether all the Chinese were legal residents or not; how “foreigners” could attack citizens of their host country; and why they held a demonstration here, not in Beijing, a Seoul citizen said.
[...]
Citizens also criticized the police for their lack of stern measures against the Chinese nationalists. “It is obviously dereliction of duty,” Seong Baek-ju posted on the official Web site of the National Police Agency. “How could they not do anything about these Chinese rioters.” [Anti-Chinese Sentiment Looms After Torch Relay. The Korea Times. April 28 2008]
Hmm, foreigners attacking citizens and the police did nothing against the aggressors.
Why does that sound so familiar?
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I will keep my finger crossed. Oversea China citizen seems are frenzy of the Olympic to show their nationalism without using their brain.
South Korea response are not positive either. It can be yet another nationalism showcase for South vs North vs China. Bare in mind , historically, Korea are always under pressure from two country : China and Japan.
I also suspect some of so called “Chinese supporter” are north Korean. I bet Korean government intel know it. Now “free Tibet” has become a political agenda that many entity ride on it for various reason.
watched the video of the Japanese protestor in the KL relay leg.
Nationalistic Chinese supporters used their bodies to block his path and harass the man. And all the while, they tell us the Olympics should be apolitical.
I’m pretty pissed at people who say “why don’t you go protest Iraq instead” who assumed that those who protested Tibet hasn’t protested Iraq yet.
cheers