BEIJING — Activists continued their pro-Tibet demonstrations on Saturday, with the boldest protest coming when they breached heavy security in Tiananmen Square and urged Tibetan freedom before being confronted by angry Chinese onlookers.
The activists clasped each others’ hands and walked around the square, chanting “Freedom for Tibet,” and “One world, one dream, free Tibet” — a play off a Beijing Olympics motto — before they were confronted, according to Canadian Broadcasting Corp. video footage.
Men who appeared to be plainclothes security agents separated the two sides and led the protesters away, said John Hocevar, a member of the activist group, Students for a Free Tibet, who also videotaped the protest.
Separately, two protesters unfurled the Tibetan flag and chanted pro-democracy slogans among the spectators at the equestrian stadium in Hong Kong, but were removed and banned from the venue.
Earlier in the day, two protesters tried to unveil a Tibetan flag that was concealed behind a Canadian flag but security officers covered them with a piece of cloth before it was fully exposed.
At the Tiananmen protest, the protesters — three Americans, a Canadian and a German — “were calling for an end to the Chinese government’s occupation in Tibet,” said Lhadon Tethong, executive director of the New York-based group.
Tethong said four of the protesters wrapped themselves in the Tibetan national snow lion flag, which is banned in China, and lay down in a part of the square. Nearby, the famous portrait of Mao Zedong — Communist China’s founding leader — overlooks that section.
The fifth stood by as the others were on the ground and told passers-by why they were protesting, she said.
While the demonstration was initially regarded with curiosity by onlookers, a group of young Chinese men suddenly started shouting “Get out! Get out!” and began surrounding them, the CBC footage showed. Some wore red and yellow headbands, China’s national colors.
Confrontation over what is perceived as an insult to national pride by Chinese has become more common in recent months after protests by pro-Tibet groups and others during this spring’s overseas Olympic torch relay.
Hocevar said he did not know where the protesters were taken.
Tethong identified Saturday’s activists as Chris Schwartz of Montreal, Canada; Diane Gatterdam, Evan Silverman and Joan Roney from New York; and David Demes of Germany.
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