(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-14 07:14

The attempts to sabotage the Olympic torch relay by Tibet separatists and anti-China forces has not only gravely violated the Olympic spirit of universal peace and friendship, but also hurt the national dignity of Chinese people, says Sit Ngam, a political commentator, in the Hong Kong-based newspaper Wen Wei Po. The following is an excerpt:

If the warring states of ancient Greece could make peace during the sports competition at Olympia, should not today's protesters feel ashamed?

I was shocked two days ago to hear that the "Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China" is planning to stage protests close to the torch-bearers when the relay is held in Hong Kong. We are all Chinese people. We can argue vehemently with each other over political issues at any other time and place, but not now and definitely not over the Olympic Games and torch relay.

Whatever the reason, doing anything to mar the event is an act of treason and unforgivable. They say they are trying to promote democracy, but what they would be doing is precisely the opposite because spoiling the Games goes totally against the will of Hong Kong people and the entire nation.

(China Daily 04/14/2008 page4)