By Tenzin Sangmo
New Delhi, April 23 – The Indonesian leg of the Olympic torch relay ended in a private ceremony at an invitation-only event in Jakarta. The National Complex Stadium played host to the occasion which was manned by 2,500 policemen and some 1,000 military guards. The recent Beijing crackdown on protests in Tibet drew a wave of anti-China sentiments and attempts to mar the torch relay during its European and American stopovers.
Few thousand hand-selected guests which reportedly included 1,000 Chinese students and accredited members of the press were invited to watch the event inside the stadium complex. The relay saw participation from around 80 local personalities including athletes, officials and actors. The relay began at 2:00 pm (0700 GMT) where the torch was paraded around the main stadium covering a rough distance of about seven kilometers as opposed to the original route through Jakarta’s congested streets, changed at the behest of Chinese officials after fierce protests dogged the torch on its previous international course.
Some 100 anti-China protestors were involved in a face off with the police even before the event started. Protestors wearing ‘Free Tibet’ T-shirts carried ‘No Human Rights, No Olympics’ banners and rallied outside the expansive perimeter of the Bung Karno Stadium, named after the first Indonesian President, Sukamo. The police intervened shortly breaking the rally and taking the activists away for questioning. All were said to be released immediately sans a Dutchman who was taken to the Jakarta Police Headquarters for further questioning.
Fauzi Bowo, the Governor of Jakarta was the first torch-bearer for the Indonesian leg of the Olympic relay. The troubled flame embodying the spirit of the Games and symbolizing peace and harmony among all beings went out and had to be re-lit seconds after the relay began. The Indonesian leg of the relay ended after 90 minutes without any major uproar from the Pro-Tibet and Human Rights activists. The torch reached Australian Capital for its next leg today, where it is speculated will be greeted by a large number of anti-China sentiments and protestors.
Australian authorities have already confirmed the re-routing of the course of the flame from the heart of the City fearing clashes between demonstrators and supporters. Meanwhile China has apparently urged supporters to come out in strength during the Australian leg of the run to equalize the number of pro-Tibet demonstrators.
Measures have also been taken to change the original route plan in Japan and world wide protests have resulted in sponsors pulling out of a motorcade for Sunday’s relay in Nagano City, Japan.
