China Turfs Edmontonian Protesters
12/08/2008 06:01
Four Edmonton activists expelled for opposing Tibet occupation
Four Edmonton activists were deported from China yesterday after contributing to a protest effort at the Beijing Olympics.
Edmonton computer technician Steve Andersen joined Padma-Dolma Fielitz, a German-Tibetan, and three other members of Students for a Free Tibet on Tiananmen Square over the weekend.
They unfurled a banner and flag, which were immediately wrested from their hands by security guards who roughed them up, Andersen said from a Los Angeles-bound plane delayed because of bad weather.
"They treated us fairly well. One person was kicked and the others were hit. We got treated better than the people who live in Tibet." A second group, also with Students for a Free Tibet, said they were detained Sunday -- even though they had not yet done any protesting.
Among them was anti-oilsands campaigner with Greenpeace Canada Mike Hudema, 31, as well as Edmonton protester Paul Baker, 29, and Denise Ogonoski, 26, a two-time candidate for the Alberta NDP.
More from the Edmonton Journal.
SWIVEL HIPS SAYS:
It’s really unfortunate these games have degenerated into a platform for every self-interest group with a cause.