Thousands of Free Tibet supporters from all over Europe gathered today in Paris to protest against the heavily guarded passage of the Olympic torch as it passed through France's capital. About 3,000 French police were part of a security effort to shield the procession route.
The last section of the Olympic torch run through Paris was cancelled after the protests had repeatedly prompted officials to stop the procession, extinguish the flame and put the torch aboard a bus.
Following closely on yesterday's protests in London this has been an unmitigated public relations disaster for the Chinese Government.
Pictures flashed across television screens throughout the world displayed the intensity of the protests and have awakened public opinion to Chinese repression in Tibet. The Chinese Government has endeavoured to hide the reality of the protests from its own people.
In Beijing today, IOC president Jacques Rogge said he was "very concerned" about unrest in Tibet.
The Olympic torch's relay around the world arrives on Wednesday in San Francisco. Protests are planned here also against China's human rights record in both Tibet and Darfur.
The Chinese Government may also face protests at the Olympics. This will serve to keep the issues of Tibet and Darfur alive. However Chinese foreign policy lacks a moral basis and it is doubtful if embarrassment engendered by demonstrations is sufficient to bring about fundamental change.
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