Tibet campaigner deported ahead of Olympic protest (From Daily Echo)

Tibet campaigner deported ahead of Olympic protest

8:49am Monday 11th August 2008 in

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A HAMPSHIRE human rights campaigner was deported from China before he could take part in a protest at the Beijing Olympics.

Mat Guy flew to the Chinese capital in the hope of joining others at Tiananmen Square for a peaceful Free Tibet demonstration.

But the 35-year-old did not even make it through airport immigration after security staff stepped in and escorted him to a holding room. Three hours later he was put on a plane back to England.

Mr Guy, who lives at Alma Road, Southampton, said: "I wanted to go to Beijing to take part in a peaceful protest because as a life-time Tibet supporter and a person of conscience I am horrified at the terrible human rights abuses and the climate of fear Tibetans are forced to endure.

"I also wanted to protest because, as a huge fan of sports, I am angry at China's attempts to hijack the Olympic spirit, using the 2008 games as a tool to promote the illusion of a happy and harmonious country."

The cinema complex manager is unsure how Chinese authorities knew to intercept him at the airport though he suspects that the organisation he belongs to - the Free Tibet Campaign - had been under surveillance beforehand.

Members believe their website had been hacked into and e-mails and mobile phone conversations monitored.

Even though his trip ended early, Mr Guy is adamant that the protest - which went ahead on Saturday afternoon - achieved its goal.

Five other Tibetan supporters - three Americans, a Canadian and a German - took part in the "die in" at Tiananmen Square, which lasted ten minutes before security teams moved in.

They breached heavy security before wrapping themselves in Tibetan flags and speaking about freedom in the Himalayan region.

The protesters, who were confronted by angry Chinese onlookers, clasped each other's hands and walked around the square, chanting "Freedom for Tibet," and "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet".

Free Tibet Campaign spokeswoman Anne Holmes said: "The dedication of Mat and other Tibet supporters who travelled to Beijing to protest during the Olympics is inspiring. They have ensured that the ongoing brutal crackdown of freedom protests in Tibet and China's broken promises about improving human rights will not be forgotten. We hope Gordon Brown and other world leaders will show similar courage and speak out publicly about Tibet."

Mr Guy added: "Being turned away and experiencing that regime does bring it all in to stark reality - it felt very strange on the flight back home.

"I was very disappointed not to be able to join my colleagues in the demonstration but the bigger picture is that it did receive exposure around the world."