Prague, July 7 – A group of opponents of the Chinese government’s policy went on a cycling ride through Prague today in order to highlight human rights violation in China, Tibet and Burma.
The ride, organised by the M.O.S.T. pro-tolerance association from Ostrava, north Moravia, will also take place in other Czech towns in the next month.
“The goal of the relay cycling ride is to draw attention to the long-term violation of human rights in China, Tibet and Burma, and the discrepancy between this and the Olympic charter, which emphasises peace, fair play and education without discrimination,” Matej Kastner from the M.O.S.T. said.
He said the M.O.S.T. does not want to protest only by means of petitions which the Chinese embassy always refuses to accept. Therefore it looked at the forms of protests held abroad, such as runs in support of human rights and cycling rides.
The participants in the ride today set-off from the namesti Miru square via Prague’s centre for the Petrin hill, wearing Tibetan colours and flags. Their event was supported by three Tibetans living in Prague.
The M.O.S.T. has been promoting the idea of free Tibet for a long time.
Some time ago it called on Czech politicians and high-ranking officials to ponder their participation in the Olympics in China this summer if China refuses to launch peace negotiations with leaders of the the Tibetan government in exile about solving the situation in Tibet.
