U.S. Calls for Release of Protesters Held in China

Wall Street Journal

BEIJING — The U.S. is urging China to release eight Americans who were detained after pro-Tibet independence protests during the Olympics.

“We are continuing to raise our concerns at senior levels of the Chinese government about eight Americans currently being detained in Beijing. We have asked for their immediate release and are continuing to follow their cases closely,” U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Susan N. Stevenson said Saturday.

Six members of the Free Tibet Reporters group were detained by authorities Tuesday as part of government efforts to prevent pro-Tibet activists from continuing to stage unauthorized protests during the Olympics.

Two days later, two more Americans, members of Student for a Free Tibet, were detained after hanging a Free Tibet banner near an Olympic venue.

China won the right to the host the Olympics in part by promising to improve human rights. Human-rights advocates say instead the government has staged a crackdown on dissidents, and detained or harassed Chinese applicants for special protest zones set up by the government during the Olympics.

“We are disappointed that China has not used the occasion of the Olympics to demonstrate greater tolerance and openness,” Ms. Stevenson said.

The government has deported most of the foreigners who have managed to stage scattered, brief protest. Among the most active have been those pushing for a free Tibet. Extended detention for foreigners under such circumstances is unusual.

Write to Shai Oster at shai.oster@wsj.com