Protesters rappel down Chinese TV station's wall, hang banner

In one of the most brazen examples of "unsanctioned" protests in Beijing to date during the Olympic games, two pro-Tibet demonstrators lowered themselves down the side of a China Central Television wall and unfurled a "Free Tibet" banner on Friday.

Draped in Tibetan flags, Nicole Rycroft, a Canadian-Australian from Vancouver, Canada, and Philip Kirk, of Hertfordshire, UK, accomplished the feat with the aid of three Americans (Bianca Bockman of  Hoboken, N.J., Sam Maron from Ossining, N.Y., and Kelly Osborne from Oklahoma City), according to the website freetibet2008.org.

With the help of three support people, two pro-Tibet activists rappeled from the top of a large Olympic billboard and unfurled a 375 square foot/115 square meter banner in front of Chinese state television’s new headquarters in Beijing early this morning.

The activists dropped the banner, which read “Free Tibet” in English and Chinese, over an Olympics billboard reading “Beijing 2008” at 5:45 am Beijing time. Chinese security officials gathered quickly outside the China Central Television (CCTV) building. After approximately 30 minutes, officials detained the five activists, whose current whereabouts are unknown.

The Voice of America says that this is just one of many small unsanctioned protests that have occurred over the last week in support of Tibet. It is possible to have legal protests, according to the VOA, but officials haven't announced how many there have been:

Chinese public security authorities have not responded to faxed questions as to how many protest applications they have approved during the Olympics. All Chinese or foreign groups have to apply for permission to hold demonstrations in one of Beijing's officially-designated protest parks.

After the jump, a larger photo of the pro-Tibet banner from a different angle.

Protesters climbed flag poles a week ago and unfurled Tibetan flags as the Games began.

-- Tony Pierce

Top photo: Oded Balilty/AP, Bottom photo: AFP/Getty Images

Comments

[Carlos]

You know, most "Free Tibet" idiots don't know exactly what they're protesting. Religious suppression? Hardly. More like political suppression of a region that they rightfully control.

Human rights abuses?
Hello? Have you LOOKED at what we do in the US? Gitmo? There's far more to protest here. Fix our crap here before we go out and act ignorant in the world's eye.

[Rebo]

Carlos, you must be underinformed. Its a shame that colonization using murder, pillage and rape against unwilling, soveriegn nations should be considered rightful. I guess in the US, that is our norm.

[herman]

Hey US and Europe, stop bashing China on "human rights", you guys are the worst human rights abusers by instigating war in Iraq, killing their people, occupying their land, and still not leaving. Shame on you for attacking a peaceful nation like China!

[sonam wangmo]

we are not against chinese people but we are annoy with chinese govt.who ruthlessly occupied our land which historically not belongs to them .we will fight until we are not given our freedom back .wake up and feel the pain of others who are suppressed in their on motherland.
free tibet

[robert]

To herman
don't try to split Chinese Gov and Chinese people. on this point, they stand tightly together. Believe it or not, Chinese public will be more anger towards your idiot actions. Tibet was, is and will always be a part of China.

[TV on Wall]

Thanks a lot

[Wall TV]

Great informative post