23 March 2008
Olympic torchbearer withdraws in protest
(AP) One of Thailand's representatives in the Olympic torch relay has withdrawn in protest over China's recent crackdown on protesters in Tibet. Narisa Chakrabongse - one of the country's six torchbearers - said in an open letter that she decided against taking part in the relay to "send a strong message to China that the world community could not accept its actions". "The slaying of the Tibetans [...] is an outright violation of human rights", Narisa wrote. "It happened two weeks before the Olympic torch leaves Athens and five months before the Olympic Games. This reflects the Chinese government's negligence of world sentiment".