By JANE BRADLEY
PROTESTERS against the Chinese army’s appearance at the Tattoo vowed to continue their fight as they presented organisers with a 2500-signature petition.
Iain Thom and Jamie Robertson from Students for Free Tibet yesterday joined Edinburgh South MSP Mike Pringle to hand over the petition along with letters from 3800 exiled Tibetans now living in India.
The move came as two Free Tibet campaigners were found guilty of breaching the peace and fined £250 each for attempting to display the Tibetan flag on Edinburgh Castle.
Michele Rosato, 32, of London, and 37-year-old Huw Williams of Buxton, Derbyshire, yesterday pleaded guilty to committing a breach of the peace at the castle on Thursday.
The protestors believe the People’s Liberation Army oppresses the people of Tibet and claim the army is a “symbol of brutality” and should not be allowed to perform at the Tattoo, where they are set to display Chinese music and dance.
Mr Thom, 20, a student at Edinburgh University, said the petition showed the depth of support for the campaign.
He said: “I think this shows that it’s not only westerners who think that inviting the PLA here is wrong – people from Tibet have spoken out themselves now.”
Mr Pringle, a supporter of the campaign, added: “The thing that impressed me was the 3000 signatures obtained from northern India.
“I think just the volume of paper, combined with the signatures from Scottish people, shows the strength of feeling for what we’re trying to do.”
Members of Students for Free Tibet last night joined other Free Tibet campaigners to hand out leaflets to visitors to the Tattoo, urging them not to applaud the army’s performance.
Free Tibet’s campaign manager Anne Callaghan said: “Tonight we call on people of conscience in the audience not to applaud the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
“It is an army of occupation in Tibet and a force of repression in China – it should not be welcome in Scotland.”
A spokesman for Lothian and Borders police said the group would be allowed to protest.
“They’ve got permission to protest and have agreed with us that they will be handing out leaflets. As long as they do that and don’t cause any problems, that’s fine.
“The difference is when you get protestors like on Thursday, who want to do something like scale up the castle and as a result, they spent the night in a cell and appeared in court. As long as protesters are peaceable and happy to comply with police advice, we’re not bothered.”
Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard yesterday that the two men were seen lowering ropes over the ramparts near the entrance on the north side of the Castle.
Both were dressed in climbing gear. A member of staff asked if they had permission from Historic Scotland, but there was no reply. Rosato jumped over the wall, but Williams was prevented from following him by the Castle employee grabbing his leg. Other staff arrived and helped to restrain Williams.
Defence solicitors told Sheriff Andrew Lothian that the men were part of the “Free Tibet” campaign and their aim had been to display that country’s flag on the rock.
Rosato was said to be an experienced mountaineer, while Williams trained people in cave rescue and was a manufacturer of climbing equipment.
Fining the men, Sheriff Lothian said nobody disputed their right to express their feelings, but they should not have broken the law “in this silly way”.
