BEIJING - China launched the Olympic torch relay here on Monday but tight security highlighted concerns that protests over Tibet, human rights and other issues may tarnish its journey around the world.
President Hu Jintao officially sent the flame off on its globe-trotting trip at a nationally televised ceremony from Tiananmen Square, Beijing’s political heart, after it arrived from Greece earlier Monday.
The 130-day relay, hailed as the most ambitious ever, will cross 19 countries before returning to China for a three-month tour that includes an ascent of Mount Everest.
“I declare the start of the torch relay of the Beijing Olympic Games,” said Hu, holding aloft the torch before passing it to Liu Xiang, a Chinese sporting icon who is the reigning Olympic and world champion in the 110m hurdles.
China’s newly appointed Vice President Xi Jingping, widely tipped to eventually succeed Hu, used the ceremony to welcome the world to the Chinese capital for the August 8-24 Games.
“The modern Olympic Games are a great event of peace and friendship for people around the world,” said Xi.
“The Chinese government and people warmly welcome athletes and friends from all countries and regions to come to Beijing for the grand Olympic event.”
But thick security showed that China’s communist rulers were worried about the kind of trouble that dogged the torch on its journey around Greece last week and threatens to take the shine off Beijing’s Olympic showpiece.
Activist groups have warned they will use the relay to highlight concerns over China, including the crisis in Tibet, Beijing’s ties with Sudan, and domestic human rights issues.
Media rights group Reporters Without Borders disrupted the torch-lighting in Greece last week in protest at China’s restrictions on the press.
Tibetan and other activists also tried to disrupt a ceremony in Athens on Sunday when Greece passed the torch to Beijing organisers.
Against this backdrop, Chinese authorities sealed off Tiananmen Square—the scene of 1989 democracy protests that were crushed by the military—on Sunday night ahead of the torch ceremony.
Security personnel were seen on surrounding buildings and in the crowd on Monday, while nearby subway stations were closed off.
The square was open only for about 5,000 people, selected guests and performers.
In Tibet and nearby areas of western China with Tibetan populations, three weeks of protests against Chinese rule of the Himalayan region has left 18 civilians and two police officers dead, according to China’s count.
Exiled Tibetan leaders have put the death toll from the Chinese crackdown at 135-140 people, with another 1,000 injured and many detained, prompting international concern.
The torch will pass through Tibet for the Everest leg in May, and then again when it goes through Lhasa in June. Chinese officials have already pledged tight security for the Tibetan portions of the relay.
Pro-Tibet activists and other groups have said they are planning protests at relay locations including London on April 6, Paris on April 7 and San Francisco on April 9.
Another potential flashpoint is New Delhi on April 17. India is home to the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and many other exiled Tibetans.
Coinciding with Monday’s ceremony, about 150 people staged a pro-Tibet rally in Sydney while 100 Tibetan protesters were detained in Kathmandu.
After the protest at the lighting of the flame in Greece last week, Chinese state-run television broadcast Monday’s ceremony
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