Nagano Protests

[ohgodtheyreeverywhere]

Has anybody heard anything about protests centered around the Olympic torch going through Nagano? I haven't seen anything online.

(Also, I'm not here to get into a discussion about Tibetan independence or the appropriateness of the torch relay as a venue for protest. I simply want to see Japanese protesting something other than the American military presence.)

[Nobody]

[ohgodtheyreeverywhere]

It does, thanks a lot!

[IkemenTommy]

Fuckin hippies

[Mulboyne]

Yomiuri: NPA hopes entry clause will limit any torch protest

The National Police Agency is hoping application of the hooligan provision of the immigration law will help prevent radical anti-China activists from entering the country as part of efforts to boost security for the Olympic torch relay in Nagano later this month, sources said Thursday. Police officials decided to increase security in Nagano in light of the serious torch relay disruptions seen in Europe and the United States, according to the sources...The NPA initially planned to mobilize about 500 Nagano prefectural police officers and about 1,000 private security guards along the torch relay course on April 26, according to the sources. But the police have decided to boost security in anticipation of demonstrations by anti-China rightist groups with sound trucks and human rights groups in addition to disruption attempts by foreign activists. The NPA is also considering having riot police officers accompany torchbearers during the torch relay, the sources said. As for radical activists from Europe, the NPA is currently in negotiation with immigration authorities with a view to having the hooligan provision applied to prevent such activists from entering the nation...As for the protection of torchbearers, the Beijing Olympics organizing committee has contacted the organizing committee of the torch relay in Nagano over the dispatch of two security officers from China. Though the security guards will officially be designated members of the Beijing Olympic organizing committee, it is thought they will likely be members of China's Public Security Ministry. During the torch relay in Paris on Monday, there was a skirmish between Chinese guards and human rights activists. If they take similar action in Japan, this could be deemed a violation of Japan's sovereignty.

[Catoneinutica]

Yomiuri: NPA hopes entry clause will limit any torch protest

God help me, I actually find myself in agreement with the NPA on this one. Anyone can find "human rights abuses" anywhere if one looks hard enough. And, as the Bush administration has shown, these abuses can be invoked as excuses to invade a country.

Perhaps the Nagano Olympics should have been the target of protests by supporters of Okinawa independence (they certainly exist)?

Perhaps the SLC Olympics should have been the target of protests for any number of, uh, indiscretions Big Daddy has been involoved in (and on general principle because beer in SLC is only 3.2% alcohol)?

Perhaps the London Olympics should be the target of protests by IRA supporters, as well as by any number of folks aggrieved over the legacy of British Colonialism, and because the logo is potentially seizure-inducing? And let's not even mention Simon Cowell.

[Iraira]

Yomiuri: NPA hopes entry clause will limit any torch protest

Just heard that J-pan will not allow the Chinese Special Forces security folks to hang with the torch bearer in Nagano. It's gyoza payback time.

[Charles]

Just heard that J-pan will not allow the Chinese Special Forces security folks to hang with the torch bearer in Nagano. It's gyoza payback time.

I've been watching the news of protests on CNN, they had almost continuous coverage. It started in France where there was just enough time zone difference to edit it all into news bits they ran over and over. Then they went live during the SF leg. I saw an interview with Gavin Newsom, he seemed anxious to bury the whole event for fear of a PR debacle, after the actions of the Chinese paramilitaries. The next I heard was that the Aussies declared the paramilitaries would most definitely not be accompanying the torch on Oz soil, a good move IMHO. I presume the Japanese saw the Ozzie restrictions and are inclined to restrict the paras as well. And good for them if they do.

[Gilligan]

I've been watching the news of protests on CNN, they had almost continuous coverage. It started in France where there was just enough time zone difference to edit it all into news bits they ran over and over. Then they went live during the SF leg. I saw an interview with Gavin Newsom, he seemed anxious to bury the whole event for fear of a PR debacle, after the actions of the Chinese paramilitaries. The next I heard was that the Aussies declared the paramilitaries would most definitely not be accompanying the torch on Oz soil, a good move IMHO. I presume the Japanese saw the Ozzie restrictions and are inclined to restrict the paras as well. And good for them if they do.

Here's Jon Stewart's take on CNN's live coverage.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=165989&title=olympic-blitzer

(I wish I knew how to embed that video--if there's a way)

I always thought the point of the torch relay was to bring it around the world and have people come out and see it. But I guess the real point is just to be able to say that the torch went to all these different places.

[Catoneinutica]

Great photo essay on the protests in SF:

http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/zombie-chronicles-the-olympic-torch-relay-in-san-francisco/

Not sure which one of these I'll use in Nagano; any of them would work, really:

[Catoneinutica]

[Catoneinutica]

[Takechanpoo]

I basically support Tibet has its own self-government.
But world should know that originally not a few Tibetan people, especially ones having lived around the border zone with China, had supported China's conquer to Tibet and voluntarily participated as Chinese militaliy forces. Because these Tibetan people had suffered from exploitation, plunder and raping their women by the despotic Lhasa government for a long time.

[Behan]

Catoneinutica, that's really funny. He's obviously an expert in Buddhism.

[Gilligan]

Catoneinutica, that's really funny. He's obviously an expert in Buddhism.

More "experts"

[YT]twHzXN3kNTs[/YT]

[Visitor K]

[nottu]

[ttjereth]

jesus, morons abound.. i probably dont need to mention latin american's love affair with communism, but a sign i recently saw in mexico city really surprised me.. it was a big banner for the communist party of mexico hung up in the center of the city adorned with four portraits, the first two (marx and engels) were understandable with the third (stalin) a little bit more questionable, but the fourth was a picture of lenin, yah that fucking lenin..
peoples absolute blind and unwavering loyalty to a man or an idea can just be downright infuriating.
i mean, whats next fucking pol pot t-shirts?

Not picking a fight, just curious. Why is Lenin worse than Stalin?

[Visitor K]

Not picking a fight, just curious. Why is Lenin worse than Stalin?

hmm.. not sure why i made it sound that way .. im just not sure why a group would want to associate themselves with either of the two dictators..
i guess with a track record like soviet-style communism you dont have much to choose from..
mau?
pol pot?
castro?

fuck.

[Mulboyne]

IHT: Japanese temple refuses to host Olympic torch relay

A major Japanese Buddhist temple withdrew Friday from a plan to host the Beijing Olympics torch relay, a news report said, amid speculation the monks sympathize with Tibetan protesters. Kyodo News agency reported Zenkoji Temple refused to serve as the starting point for the April 26 relay, which has drawn protests around the world against China's crackdown on Tibetan demonstrators. Koichi Yajima, Nagano city official in charge of the relay, said there was a meeting Friday between Zenkoji monks and the city, but he could not confirm the reported withdrawal. Yajima, however, said the monks were concerned about the safety of the temple and its worshippers should the relay spark the angry demonstrations it has brought in Europe and the United States...more...

[Buraku]

Fuckin hippies

X2

I hate this bash the Olympics, boycott Olympics BS.
The Chinese are A-holes but the Lama himself is an even bigger A-hole

Am I anti religious ? Of course not
Everytime I take a Shit Tenzin Gyatso's mother gets re-incarnated

fucking lazy wacos following Richard Gere should go out and do a fucking decent week's work instead of acting like a bunch of reject hippies

Bash China all they want, China is fucked up and it does have a shitty human rights record
but the Lama's human rights record was even worse than China's and contrary to the Richard Gere horror movies about Tibetan exterminations etc China has brought the region forward and improved people's lively hoods, bringing in jobs, better health
The Lama wanker used to own child slaves, a peaceful loving slave merchant chain them up and pull out their tongues when they didn't speak to kindly.
When the Chinese lit a fire under his ass the Lama chickened off to India and collected a few CIA paychecks for guerrilla activity (Colorado trained terrorism)

If someone wants to bash the Chicoms fine but I'd like to see some balance on this BS story and
most importantly they should leave this boycott fucking die away like the stupid idea it is and leave the Olympics the fuck out of it
So many athletes spent their entire lives and dreams trying to get this right and a bunch of retard hippies are trying the ruin it all

Sorry if that sounds like a crazy fucking rant

but I think these boys tell the story better in this youtube clip

[yt]h8FMNtTw24o[/yt]

Penn & Teller - why the Lama is an even bigger shithead than the commies

[Greji]

Sorry if that sounds like a crazy fucking rant

Sure does. You feeling better now?

[Gilligan]

A major Japanese Buddhist temple withdrew Friday from a plan to host the Beijing Olympics torch relay, a news report said, amid speculation the monks sympathize with Tibetan protesters ... Yajima, however, said the monks were concerned about the safety of the temple and its worshippers should the relay spark the angry demonstrations it has brought in Europe and the United States

Being concerned with the safety of your own temple doesn't equal sympathizing with Tibetan protesters in my book. (Note to avoid confusion: that's meant as a comment about the news agency and not the temple).

[Behan]

I think there would only be riots in this country if some Johnny' group canceled a show.

[Takechanpoo]

Apparently this time riot is conspiracy by AngloSaxon dudes to avert world's eyes from AngloSaxon dudes' genocide in Middle East.
What a sneak dudes!!

[Visitor K]

Bash China all they want, China is fucked up and it does have a shitty human rights record but the Lama's human rights record was even worse than China's

i am aware that historically the religious class of tibet lived an extremely wealthy life and there were definitely plenty of recorded violations of human rights going on under the lama's rule, but to say that the dalai lama who was appointed as leader at the age of fifteen and ruled tibet for only nine years had a worse human rights record than china is a pretty serious statement.. even the penn and teller boys didnt go that far.. where did you find this information?
strict adherence to a person and his/her beliefs will always lead to problems in my opinion: mau, castro, the dalai lama, its all kind of the same game. even now the dalai lama is being taken to court in india for religious intolerance, so im not all too interested in the dalai lama as a person, but the tibetan struggle for independence is interesting for its own reasons..
because the olympics are a huge world-wide media event, it is obviously going to be co-opted by a huge number of groups trying to get their message heard.. i think the olympics have been in the pocket of the world's politicians for quite some time now.. and with all of its commercialism and branding (advertisements were banned on the playing field until just 1980) the olympics hasnt been just about atheletes and their dreams for some time. so there are plenty of reasons to despise the olympics on their own merit without bringing these other topics into the debate.

[Greji]

Apparently this time riot is conspiracy by AngloSaxon dudes to avert world's eyes from AngloSaxon dudes' genocide in Middle East.
What a sneak dudes!!

Sounds about right and when we finish mopping up in the Middle East, we're going to move it to Japan...

[Iraira]

Japanese Temple Sprayed With Graffiti After Withdrawal From Olympic Torch Relay

TOKYO — A centuries-old Buddhist temple in Japan was spray-painted with graffiti early Sunday, days after temple officials pulled out of the upcoming Olympic torch relay because they sympathize with Tibetan protesters.

The graffiti — consisting of white circular patterns and lines — was found Sunday morning in six spots in the main hall at Zenkoji Temple in the city of Nagano, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.

Nagano police were investigating whether the vandalism was related to the decision to pull out of the Olympic torch relay.

A police spokesman said he couldn't provide further details. He refused to give his name because he wasn't authorized to speak to the media.

Zenkoji had been slated as the starting point for Japan's leg of the relay on April 26. Temple officials, however, withdrew on Friday citing security concerns and sympathy for Tibetan protesters facing a Chinese crackdown.

I can't write Korean script, so I'm clearly innocent........

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351856,00.html

[Taro Toporific]

I can't write Korean script, so I'm clearly innocent........

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351856,00.html

Notice how large and extensive this horrible graffiti consisting of white circular patterns and lines is....



http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstPhotos/index.php?page=3

[ttjereth]

Notice how large and extensive this horrible graffiti consisting of white circular patterns and lines is....



http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstPhotos/index.php?page=3

It was probably the NHK guy making his little marks to note that the temple hadn't paid yet.