1984: Thread

[grarpamp]

Olympics supposed to be about peace and freedom for all mankind...


China appoints Military Agent as its official Olympic Torchbearer,
demonstrates its anti-freedom models being adopted by your country...


Activists Arrested For Planned Olympic Protest Just Before Opening Ceremony

https://thehill.com/policy/international/592804-veteran-hong-kong-activist-arrested-ahead-of-planned-olympic-protest
https://apnews.com/article/winter-olympics-hong-kong-activist-arrested-45a1191a712dbb3e5aa4d3296470a22e

Just before the Beijing Winter Olympics formally kicked off Friday
with the opening ceremony, and as Presidents Xi and Putin held a
meeting wherein they condemned US and Western interference, a
well-known Hong Kong pro-independence activist was arrested over plans
to protest the games. Others who allegedly coordinated with him were
also detained.

Veteran activist Koo Sze-yiu had been planning the protest to be held
in front of the office representing China in Hong Kong at 10am,
according to a media announcement he sent out with the bold-faced
words "Coffin Winter Olympics". He invited the media to attend the
protest, which was to correspond with the opening of the games in
Beijing.

"Don’t forget that human rights are being oppressed in Hong Kong!" -
the media announcement emphasized. But HK police got to him before the
demonstration could commence.

As The Hill details, "Hong Kong authorities cited their controversial
national security law to arrest him on Friday morning. Koo was
identified by the South China Morning Post as the police would not
name him."

The controversial 'national security law' gives the pro-China HK
government sweeping powers: "Police said the 75-year-old was arrested
for suspicion of inciting subversion, with four others detained for
questioning as well, according to the AP."

Koo has previously been arrested for protest-related "crimes" -
including for "flag desecration". He's often protested with Chinese
flags placed upside down, and with pro-democracy writing on them. The
AP details of prior similar protest efforts:

    Over 150 people have been arrested under Hong Kong’s national
security law since it was implemented in June 2020. Before that, Koo
took part in protests where he would help carry a mock coffin outside
China’s Liaison Office in demonstrations held on the Chinese National
Day of Oct. 1.

Despite US government officials boycotting the games, the 2022 Winter
Olympics marks a milestone in the games' history, with China now
becoming the first country to ever host both the summer and winter
games.

    China's Xi Jinping declares the #Olympics open at the
#OpeningCeremony https://t.co/Ieb9vctmwY pic.twitter.com/qkh8vZXIQU
    — Reuters (@Reuters) February 4, 2022

The White House and State Department have meanwhile been warning US
athletes to be careful about what they say, including in social media
posts, which could trigger Chinese authorities to accuse individuals
of breaking national laws.