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9 April 2008

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120765486995597695.html Torch's Guards Have a Link to Tibet By GORDON FAIRCLOUGH in Shanghai, STACY MEICHTRY in Paris, ALISTAIR MACDONALD in London, and DAVID CRAWFORD in Belgrade, Serbia April 9, 2008; Page A11 [Excerpts]

As the Olympic torch procession fought its way through protesters in London and Paris on its way to Wednesday's leg in San Francisco, Chinese men in blue-and-white tracksuits guarded the flame, at times shoving away people who tried to get too close.

The guards appear to be members of the Beijing Olympic Games Sacred Flame Protection unit, a detachment of personnel from China's People's Armed Police. This paramilitary force has wide-ranging duties, from protecting diplomatic missions to maintaining internal security. Units of the People's Armed Police were deployed to forcibly quell violent unrest last month in Tibet.

Word of the involvement of the People's Armed Police with the Olympic flame is likely to further stoke protesters dogging the relay.

The identity of the men guarding the flame had been a mystery. British police would say only that they are "torch attendants whose role was to protect the torch."

Lord Sebastian Coe, a two-time Olympic gold medalist and chairman of London's Olympic organizing committee, called them "thugs."

"I have no idea who they were," said Marie Lajus, spokeswoman for the Paris police. Ms. Lajus said the Chinese security men rarely interacted with French police when the flame weaved through Paris streets amid throngs of protesters. Several times, the security men confiscated the torch from the torch-bearers and extinguished the flame for reasons that remain unclear, Ms. Lajus added.

Last August, Olympic officials, police officials and Beijing city officials held a well-publicized swearing-in ceremony for men recruited from the People's Armed Police special-forces training academy. Their mission: guard the torch and the lamp containing the flame from Olympia, Greece.

The mystery around the identities of the Chinese guards has received a lot of attention in the British media. Tuesday's political cartoon in The Times of London had one tracksuited Chinese guard outside Number 10 Downing Street, with Prime Minister Gordon Brown looking at his usual police guard in a beaten-up heap.

Sunday, as one protester tried to wrestle the torch from TV presenter Konnie Huq, the Chinese guards leapt into action, pushing the protester to the ground and forcing the British police to intervene and snatch him back.

In interviews afterward, Ms. Huq described the guards as "aggressive" and "robotic," barking commands at her throughout the run.

Stéphane Diagana, a former hurdler who was the first torch-bearer in the Paris relay, said he noticed the Chinese guards were on edge from the beginning, when protesters immediately began to gather round the torch.

"They were very cross and nervous," he said. "They didn't care about the torch-bearers at all."

Mr. Diagana said one of the men told him to remove a badge saying "For a Better World" from his uniform. Mr. Diagana says he refused.

The People's Armed Police, a force of 660,000, performs a wide variety of functions in China. The bulk of its members are engaged in internal security. Large numbers have moved into the Tibet Autonomous Region and parts of neighboring provinces with large Tibetan populations to put down antigovernment protests by Tibetans.

Associated Press Photos and Captions |
Chinese security carry the Olympic flame to the start of the torch relay along Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 9, 2008. In the background are San Francisco police officers. (AP Photo/George Nikitin, Pool) | Olympic torch runners Ed Lee, left, a San Francisco city administrator ,and Andrea Vincent, right, begin the Beijing Olympic torch relay on Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 9, 2008. (AP Photo/George Nikitin, Pool)
Torch-bearers exchange the Olympic torch during the Beijing Olympic torch relay Wednesday, Wednesday, April 9, 2008, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/San Francisco Chronicle, Carlos Avila Gonzalez, Pool) | An unidentified Chinese Olympic official holds up the Olympic torch during ceremonies in San Francisco, Wednesday, April 9, 2008. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
A police officer tackles a demonstrator during the Olympic torch relay in London, in this April 6, 2008 file photo. The security agents wear blue tracksuits, but a military bearing hints at their true pedigree: They are members of China's paramilitary police force, dispatched from Beijing with a mission to protect torchbearers and ensure that the Olympic flame never goes out during its journey around the world. (AP Photo/Yui Mok, File) | Jiang Xiaoyu, left, executive vice president of the Beijing organizing committee, holds the Olympic flame with an unidentified handler, shortly after arriving at San Francisco International airport, Tuesday, April 8, 2008. The Olympic Torch will make its only North America stop in San Francisco. The Olympic torch will weave its way around the streets of San Francisco on Wednesday and likely be greeted by angry demonstrators protesting China's human rights record and its recent crackdown in Tibet. (AP Photo/ Tony Avelar, Pool)
A police officer detains a pro-Tibet demonstrator along the route of the torch relay in London, in this April 6, 2008 file photo. The security agents wear blue tracksuits, but a military bearing hints at their true pedigree: They are members of China's paramilitary police force, dispatched from Beijing with a mission to protect torchbearers and ensure that the Olympic flame never goes out during its journey around the world. (AP Photo/Ian Walton, File) | A Chinese official carries the Olympic torch into a bus during the Olympic torch relay, after a relay interruption, Monday, April 7, 2008 in Paris. Security officials extinguished the Olympic torch four times Monday as chaotic protests against China's policies on human rights and Tibet turned a relay through Paris into a jarring series of stops and starts. (AP Photo/Patrick Kovarik, pool)
Police officers apprehend a demonstrator as he tries to interrupt the Olympic torch parade, Monday, April 7, 2008 in Paris. Security officials extinguished the Olympic torch four times Monday as chaotic protests against China's policies on human rights and Tibet turned a relay through Paris into a jarring series of stops and starts. (AP Photo/Patrick Kovarik, pool) | An unidentified athlete, center, carries the Olympic torch on the Champs Elysees avenue, Monday, April 7, 2008 during its relay through Paris. Chaos has struck the Olympic torch relay through Paris, with security officials extinguishing the flame four times amid raucous protests.The Arc de Triomphe is seen behind. (AP Photo/Patrick Kovarik, pool)
Policemen surround an unidentified carrier of the Olympic torch at the top of the Champs Elysees avenue, Monday, April 7, 2008, during its relay through the streets of Paris. Chaos has struck the Olympic torch relay through Paris, with security officials extinguishing the flame three times amid raucous protests. The Eiffel tower is seen behind. The Arc de Triomphe is seen behind. (AP Photo/Patrick Kovarik, pool) | A Chinese official takes the Olympic flame after the final leg of the Olympic Torch Relay at the Charletty stadium in Paris, Monday, April 7, 2008. Security officials extinguished the Olympic torch four times Monday as chaotic protests against China's policies on human rights and Tibet turned a relay through Paris into a jarring series of stops and starts. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
French judo world champion Teddy Riner carries the Olympic torch, Monday, April 7, 2008 during its relay through Paris. Chaos has struck the Olympic torch relay through Paris, with security officials extinguishing the torch three times amid raucous protests. (AP Photo/Patrick Kovarik, Pool) | Two-time French judo gold medalist David Douillet, center, carries the Olympic torch, Monday, April 7, 2008 during its relay through Paris. Chaos has struck the Olympic torch relay through Paris, with security officials extinguishing the torch three times amid raucous protests. (AP Photo/Patrick Kovarik, Pool)
Police and security guards apprehend a demonstrator, center, who attempts to grab the Olympic torch from TV presenter Konnie Huq, not seen, during her leg of the torch relay in London, Sunday April 6, 2008. Police scuffled with protesters as Olympians and celebrities carried the Olympic torch through snowy London during a chaotic relay Sunday. (AP Photo/Yui Mok, Pool) | Stephane Diagana, left, the 400-meter world champion in 1997, carries the Olympic torch at the beginning of its relay from the Eiffel tower in Paris, Monday, April 7, 2008. About 3,000 French police, on motorcycles, in jogging gear and on skates, mobilized to protect the Olympic torch relay Monday when it departs from the Eiffel Tower and crisscrosses Paris amid threat of protests. (AP Photo/Patrick Kovarik, pool)
Officials light the Olympic Torch at the start of the relay on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Monday, April 7, 2008. Security officials have extinguished the Olympic flame amid heavy protests during the torch relay in Paris. Police in jogging gear put the flame out and brought it aboard a bus, apparently to move it away from protesters. The flame was being carried down a road along the Seine River amid demonstrators carrying Tibetan flags when the relay was stopped. It is not immediately clear what police plan next, or when or where the relay will resume. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena) | The Olympic flame burns after the the final leg of the Olympic Torch Relay at the O2 Arena in east London Sunday April 6, 2008. Police scuffled with protesters as Olympians and dignitaries carried the torch Sunday during a chaotic relay through snowy London. (AP Photo/Chris Jackson, Pool)
Olympic torch bearer Paula Radcliffe runs over Tower Bridge during her leg of the torch relay in London, Sunday April 6, 2008. Police scuffled with protesters as Olympians and celebrities carried the Olympic torch through snowy London during a chaotic relay Sunday. (AP Photo/Ian Walton, Pool) | Police apprehend a demonstrator who attempted to grab the Olympic torch from TV presenter Konnie Huq, not seen, during her leg of the torch relay in London, Sunday April 6, 2008. Police scuffled with protesters as Olympians and celebrities carried the Olympic torch through snowy London during a chaotic relay Sunday. (AP Photo/Yui Mok, Pool)
British sailor Ellen MacArthur carries the Olympic torch during part of its journey across London on its way to the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at the O2 Arena formerly known as the Millennium Dome, in east London which will be one of the venues for the 2012 Games, on Sunday April 6, 2008. Protesters challenging China's policies in Tibet and Darfur tried Sunday to extinguish the Olympic torch as it completed its winding and sometimes-chaotic journey through London, waving Tibetan flags and clashing with police. The biggest protests since the flame was lit two weeks ago in Greece underscored human rights concerns and tarnished the Asian powerhouse's plans for a harmonious display of pomp and sport ahead of the summer games in Beijing. (AP Photo/ Leon Neal/PA Wire) ** UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE ** | Escorted by Chinese security, British gold medalist Kelly Holmes arrives with the Olympic torch at the Arena in North Greenwich, east London, Sunday, April 6, 2008. Protesters challenging China's policies in Tibet and Darfur clashed with police as they tried to extinguish the Olympic torch on its winding and sometimes-chaotic journey through London. Roughly 2,000 police officers and a cordon of Chinese guards kept the flame moving in the face of repeated onslaughts. Police say 35 people have been arrested for a range of public order offenses. (AP Photo/Akira Suemori-Pool)
Backdropped by Chinese flags waved by pro-China protesters, and Tibet flags waved by anti-China, pro-Tibet demonstrators, British police officers and security personnel surround an Olympic torch bearer as he crosses Tower Bridge in central London, Sunday April 6, 2008. Police scuffled with protesters as Olympians and celebrities carried the Olympic torch through London during a chaotic relay. Demonstrators tried to board a relay bus as five-time Olympic gold medalist rower Steve Redgrave launched the 31-mile (50-kilometer) procession at Wembley Stadium. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis) | London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (LOCOG) Chairman, Lord Sebastian Coe, 2nd right, stands alongside the route of the Olympic torch relay in London, Sunday April 6, 2008. Police scuffled with protesters as Olympians and celebrities carried the Olympic torch through snowy London during a chaotic relay Sunday. (AP Photo/Ian Walton, Pool)
Police tackle a demonstrator as the torch leaves Notting Hill during the Beijing Olympics torch relay in London Sunday April 6, 2008. Police scuffled with protesters as Olympians and dignitaries carried the torch Sunday during a chaotic relay through snowy London. Demonstrators tried to board a relay bus after five-time Olympic gold medalist rower Steve Redgrave launched procession at Wembley Stadium _ presaging a number of clashes with police along the torch's 31-mile journey. (AP Photo/Yui Mok/Pool) | Security guards apprehend a demonstrator, obscured at left, who attempts to grab the Olympic torch from TV presenter Konnie Huq, 2nd right, during her leg of the torch relay in London, Sunday April 6, 2008. Police scuffled with protesters as Olympians and celebrities carried the Olympic torch through snowy London during a chaotic relay Sunday. (AP Photo/Ian Walton, Pool)
Chinese delegates light the Olympic torch at the beginning of its relay from Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday April 6, 2008. Police scuffled with protesters as Olympians and celebrities carried the Olympic torch through snowy London during a chaotic relay Sunday. (AP Photo/Jane Mingay, Pool) | Police officers detain a demonstrator along the route of the torch relay in London, Sunday April 6, 2008. Police scuffled with protesters as Olympians and celebrities carried the Olympic torch through snowy London during a chaotic relay Sunday. (AP Photo/Ian Walton, Pool)
Chinese ambassador Fu Ying runs with the Olympic torch along the route of the torch relay in London, Sunday April 6, 2008. Police scuffled with protesters as Olympians and celebrities carried the Olympic torch through snowy London during a chaotic relay Sunday. (AP Photo/Ian Walton, Pool) | British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, centre and minister of culture, Tessa Jowell, right, watch the handover of the Olympic torch from Denise Lewis, 2nd left to Ali Jawad, left at No.10 Downing street, during the Olympic torch relay, in London, Sunday, April 6, 2008. (AP Photo/Odd Andersen)
Police tackle a demonstrator during the Olympic torch relay in London, Sunday April 6, 2008. Police scuffled with protesters as Olympians and celebrities carried the Olympic torch through snowy London during a chaotic relay Sunday. (AP Photo/Yui Mok, Pool) | Police tackle a demonstrator during the Olympic torch relay in London, Sunday April 6, 2008. Police scuffled with protesters as Olympians and celebrities carried the Olympic torch through snowy London during a chaotic relay Sunday. (AP Photo/Yui Mok, Pool)
Jiang Xiaoyu, the Executive Vice-President of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Organizing committee applauds, after handing the Olympic torch to Deputy Mayor of London, Nicky Gavron, center, as Sir Steve Redgrave looks on at the beginning of its relay from Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday April 6, 2008. Police scuffled with protesters as Olympians and celebrities carried the Olympic torch through snowy London during a chaotic relay Sunday. (AP Photo/Jane Mingay, Pool) | Backdropped by anti-China, pro-Tibet demonstrators, security personnel surround an Olympic torch bearer, as she runs in central London, Sunday April 6, 2008. Police scuffled with protesters as Olympians and celebrities carried the Olympic torch through snowy London during a chaotic relay Sunday. Demonstrators tried to board a relay bus as five-time Olympic gold medalist rower Steve Redgrave launched the 31-mile (50-kilometer) procession at Wembley Stadium. Three people were arrested, police said. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Turkish Figure skater Tugba Karademir. center, is escorted by Chinese security officers as she carries the Olympic torch in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, April 3, 2008. Police detained at least six Uighur Muslims at a protest against China during the Olympic torch ceremony near one of Turkey's most famous tourist destinations. The demonstrators were detained after they broke away from a larger group of protesters and shouted slogans just feet away from Tugba Karademir, a Turkish figure skater and Olympic athlete who had just started to run with the torch through the city. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer) | Turkish figure skater Tugba Karademir, center, escorted by Turkish and Chinese security officials, runs with the Olympic torch in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, April 3, 2008. Police detained at least six Uighur Muslims at a protest against China during the Olympic torch ceremony near one of Turkey's most famous tourist destinations. The demonstrators were detained after they broke away from a larger group of protesters and shouted slogans just feet away from Tugba Karademir, a Turkish figure skater and Olympic athlete who started to run with the torch through the city. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)
Chinese security officers and Turkish riot police detain an unidentified man who tried to attack the Olympic torch bearer Devrim Cenk Ulusoy in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, April 3, 2008. Police detained at least six Uighur Muslims at a protest against China during the Olympic torch ceremony near one of Turkey's most famous tourist destinations. The demonstrators were detained after they broke away from a larger group of protesters and shouted slogans just meters, feet, away from Tugba Karademir, a Turkish figure skater and Olympic athlete who started to run with the torch through the city. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta) | Turkish apnea diver Devrim Cenk Ulusoy is escorted by riot police as he runs with the Olympic torch in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, April 3, 2008. Police detained at least six Uighur Muslims at a protest against China during the Olympic torch ceremony near one of Turkey's most famous tourist destinations. (AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)
Olympic swimming champion Alexander Popov, of Russia, carries the Olympic torch past a monument of Peter the Great, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, April 5, 2008. The torch was carried by 80 runners on a 20-kilometer (12-mile) route that wound past some of the city's most famous sites including St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Petropavlovsk fortress before ending on Palace Square outside the Hermitage. (AP Photo/Alexander Belenky) | Olympic champion in speed skating and Russian Parliament deputy Svetlana Zhurova, left, lights the main fire from the Olympic torch during the festivities at the Dvortsovaya square in St.Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, April 5, 2008. The Olympic torch arrived Friday in Russia on its 20-country, 137,000-kilometer (85,100-mile) global journey. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
Artur Dmitriyev, 1992's Olympic gold medal winner in figure skating carries the Olympic torch in St.Petersburg, Russia, on Saturday, April 5, 2008. The Olympic torch arrived Friday in Russia on its 20-country, 137,000-kilometer (85,100-mile) global journey. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev) | Jiang Xiaoyu, center, executive vice president of the Beijing organizing committee, gestures as he holds the Olympic flame, shortly after arriving at London's Heathrow airport, Saturday, April 5, 2008. The Olympic torch will weave its way across the British capital Sunday, carried by a host of dignitaries, athletes and celebrities, and likely greeted by angry demonstrators protesting China's human rights record and its recent crackdown in Tibet. (AP Photo/PA, Steve Parsons) ** UNITED KINGDOM OUT, NO SALES, NO ARCHIVE **
Kazakh motorcycle rider Dmitry Petrukhin drives with the Olympic torch accompanied by China's security staff in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, April 2, 2008. The Central Asian republic was the first of 21 stops for the Olympic flame on its global 130-day tour, which was expected to draw protests against the Chinese government before the August Olympics in Beijing. (AP Photo/Nikita Basov) | Mukhtarkhan Dildabekov, a Kazakh national games rider, carries the Olympic torch in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, April 2, 2008. The Central Asian republic was the first of 21 stops for the Olympic flame on its global 130-day tour, which was expected to draw protests against the Chinese government before the August Olympics in Beijing. (AP Photo/Nikita Basov)
China's security personnel walk with the Olympic flame in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Wednesday, April 2, 2008. The Central Asian republic was the first of 21 stops for the Olympic flame on its global 130-day tour, which was expected to draw protests against the Chinese government before the August Olympics in Beijing. (AP Photo/Nikita Basov) | Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang runs with the Olympic torch across the Gate of Heavenly Peace below a portrait of late communist leader Mao Zedong, Monday, March 31, 2008, in Beijing, China. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
A bearer holds the Olympic flame on its arrival in China, at Beijing airport Monday March 31, 2008. The flame was to be delivered to Beijing's Tiananmen Square for an official welcome ceremony. (AP Photo/Greg Baker) | A bearer holds the Olympic flame on its arrival in China, at Beijing airport Monday March 31, 2008. The flame was to be delivered to Beijing's Tiananmen Square for an official welcome ceremony. (AP Photo/Greg Baker)
Chief Beijing Olympics organizer Liu Qi speaks during the Olympic flame handover ceremony at Athens' Panathenian Stadium on Sunday, March 30, 2008. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) | Chief Beijing Olympics organizer Liu Qi holds a lantern containing the Olympic flame during the Olympic flame handover ceremony at Athens' Panathenian Stadium on Sunday, March 30, 2008. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)