Pro-Tibetan demonstrators made their presence felt during Chinese president Hu Jintao’s two day visit to Madrid. Despite heavy downpour, Hu and his entourage were followed assiduously by a crowd, which included both Tibetans supporters from the CAT, Madrid and Casa del Tibet, Barcelona. Falun Gong followers were also present at all stops in the programme which included the Spanish Parliament, Madrid Town Hall, Telefónica Techonolgical Centre, the Pardo Palace, Plaza de la Lealtad, Palacio de Congresos, and the Chinese Embassy.
The Spanish President, political and business leaders bowed their heads to the Chinese leader of an apparently idillic China of business, progress and prosperity that no one seemed to question in his presence. But outside not just the rain raged but relentless protesters waved flags, shouted, chanted, meditated or stood in silence. Two demonstrations were also staged outside the Chinese Embassy, one the day before Hu’s arrival, the other the most succesful was organised by Amnesty International and joined by all, including numerous media, on the last evening of his visit.
A bus load of Chinese Government supporters from The Friends of China Association, all dressed the same with Chines flags, drums and cymbals followed Hu Jintao around Madrid and stood next or near the protesters looking homogenous, rigid, unconvinced or unconvincing. It may have had something to do with the alleged 50 Euros that they received from the Chinese Embassy to be there and wave in support. But their drums and cymbals were not able to damp our cries and chants and the open air reception at the Town Hall under the rain, with the Town Hall band dripping and trying to make themselves heard, the horses of the Special Guards restless and soaked and with our permanent mantras of peaceful criticism made the welcome anything but warm and romantic. A definite triumph for Tibet and Falun Gong supporters in apparent disadvantage but definitely “on top” of things!
The rest of Madrid wondered what the fuss was about, went around business as usual or stayed at home in front of the TV and wondered why on earth every other news about Hu Jintao and China started with astronomical business figures and ended with “despite very poor human rights record”.
The media reflected the demonstrations and some of the darker aspects of “China´s deceptive Miracle” but not well enough in most cases. We hit most daily papers, radio and TV channels and newstands but some of the usual politically correct understatements or simplifications were repeated. Still given the weather conditons it was a triumph to be present and reach that far in the news.
Two days previously CAT (Comité de Apoyo al Tíbet) participated with Amnesty International, Falun Gong and Reporters without Frontiers in a Conference – Colloquium entitled “Unmasking the Communist Party of China”. The conference aimed to denounce the worst aspects of the lack of human rights and fundamental freedom but also the suffering and repression of Tibetan and Falun Gong practitioners and the blind eye turned by Western Governments including Spain in their desire for opening up trade with the Asian giant.
Speakers included representatives from Amnesty International: on the human rights violations non existent justice system in China; Falun Gong victims and lawyer; Reporters without Frontiers on the control of and manipulation of the Media, lack of freedom of speech and alarming statistics of the 31 journalist jailed in China; Diario La Gran Época presented the book “The Nine Commentaries about the Chinese Communist Party” which based on leaked internal evidence that reveals the worst and predicts the downfall of the Communist Party. Speakers for Tibet included Alan Cantos (Coordinator of CAT) and José Elías Esteve, the CAT lawyer who researched and prepared the criminal lawsuit lodged by CAT last summer against 7 Chinese officials for genocide and crimes against humanity and Thubten Wangchen, Director of Casa del Tibet, Barcelona.
