Chinese Special Police Get Torch Detail

Posted on 9 April 2008 by tanith6227

Continuing the theme of Chinese Olympic heavy-handedness, it has come to light that the blue track-suited security detail that is accompanying the Olympic Flame on its global tour are hand-picked members of special police units of the People’s Armed Police, China’s internal security force. Already described by some as “thugs”, the same units tapped for torch security have reportedly also been dispatched to reassert control in Tibet.

According to sinodefense.com, Special Police are top-tier paramilitary, chosen for skills in martial arts, marksmanship and hand-to-hand combat.

 

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4 Responses to “Chinese Special Police Get Torch Detail”

  1. tanith6227, on April 9th, 2008 at 9:07 am Said:

    The print version of the Globe ran this story on page 1 under the headline “Trained to Kill and Protect the Flame.”

    In years past, the torch-bearer would be escorted by one or two security guards. After September 11th, the detail was made a bit larger. Those who’ve seen footage of this year’s torch-bearer have seen the farce - a single athlete running in the midst of a pack of security. It’s absurd. If it’s this bad now - months before the Opening Ceremonies - one has to wonder just how much worse it could get by the time it’s over.

  2. rustedangel, on April 9th, 2008 at 1:29 pm Said:

    Absurd it certainly is. I am a fan of people making their voices heard, however, and grand thematic gestures are just about the only thing the Chinese gov’t are likely to understand. That is the currency they use too, after all.

    That and T-55s.

  3. rustedangel, on April 16th, 2008 at 8:42 am Said:

    …and the torch itself.

  4. rustedangel, on April 29th, 2008 at 8:09 am Said:

    also: “irony!”

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