Agencies

Silicon Valley, April 2:

San Franciscos on Wednesday approved a resolution to welcome the Olympic torch in Silicon Valley on April 9 with “alarm and protest” rather than “in the spirit of the Olympics” over China’s failure to address human rights issues.

Citing the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and Beijing’s repression of the press and religious groups, Supervisor Chris Daly introduced the successful resolution to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

“These may seem a bit out of reach for San Francisco supervisors. But the torch is coming to our city. And with it comes China’s record and the attention of the international press. The eyes of the world will be watching San Francisco on April 9. China knows this.”

The resolution states that the torch’s presence “will ... provide the people of San Francisco with a lifetime opportunity to help 1.3 billion Chinese people gain more freedom and rights.” Chinese officials had earlier expressed displeasure at the developments taking place in San Francisco, which is the only city in North America to play host to the Olympic torch relay.

“If this resolution passes, it will hurt the Chinese people,” consulate spokesman Defa Tong said before Tuesday’s vote at City Hall.

“What they are doing is an insult to the torch relay.” Political and human rights activists are demanding to know the route for the torch as it passes through the city, because they want to protest against China’s crackdown in Tibet and its support for the repressive and brutal Sudanese government.

Mayor Gavin Newsom has said over the weekend that protesters have the right to voice their grievances against China when the Olympic torch makes its way through San Francisco.

Meanwhile, US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from San Francisco, has suggested that President Bush consider boycotting the opening ceremony in Beijing in August.

Pelosi, who led a congressional delegation to Dharmsala and met with the Dalai Lama, told the National Public Radio in an interview that she “salutes” French President Nicolas Sarkozy for suggesting a boycott of the Olympics’ opening ceremonies, adding that it “should be something that is considered.”

Although not supporting a boycott of the athletic competition at the summer games, she said “the US policy has to be that there be negotiations between the government of China and the Dalai Lama about the autonomy of Tibet.

The Chinese government keeps insisting that ‘His Holiness’ is advocating for independence. I’ve heard him in person for over 20 years advocate for autonomy, not independence”, she added.