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Chinese Heavies "Posed As Athletes"
The government has revealed that the Chinese "guard of honour" which caused so much controversy in London last week entered the country described as "athletes" on their visa. A government source told The Sun that as part of the official Chinese delegation to London, the men entered under a block visa granted to the party. The Sun's source added that as soon as the men appeared in action, "everyone could tell they were anything but athletes."
“We are looking into how they came to enter the country and their jurisdiction", the source claimed.
Previously the Home Office has refused to say under what auspices the security detail was granted entry to Britain. Government and security sources claim that they were not granted precedence over the British police, a claim contested by witnesses.
Is the government shifting the buck to the Chinese government here? Was Beijing less-than-transparent over the men's status when the visa was applied for and granted? It is difficult to believe that their role was not discussed as security arrangements for the Olympic torch procession through London were made. Would mere "athletes" be providing the torch's last line of defence, particularly following the international outcry that has accompanied China's handling of protests in Tibet, or Britain's own terrorist problems?
Instead of government incompetence and collusion in this shameful episode, which gave British law secondary status to a foreign power, the government is trying to tell us it was the fault of those fiendish Chinese trying to pull the wool over the eyes of the Good Old British Bobby. Pull the other one.
