Chinese Expats Protest Dalai Lama In Seattle

From Wednesday's Taipei Times:

In a showing of pro-China support, hundreds of demonstrators protested outside a college arena as the Dalai Lama spoke to students on solving problems through dialogue.

Thousands of people have flocked to Seattle to hear the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader speak since he arrived Thursday for a five-day conference on compassion, but the city’s Chinese community had remained largely silent until Monday.

[...]

Some [protesters] echoed Beijing’s stand that the Dalai Lama is behind the recent uprising against five decades of Chinese rule. Signs called the Dalai Lama a liar and a “CIA-funded militant.” Many people waved large Chinese flags.

The group chanted “We love Tibet,” “Stop lying” and “Dalai, your smiles charm, your actions harm,” as thousands of people filed into the University of Washington arena. A small plane flew overhead with a banner mirroring the chants.

Ah yes, they love Tibet.  Though not enough to march in favor of free speech or democracy there, I'll wager.

To paraphrase the old Soviet joke:  In America, Chinese are free to denounce the Dalai Lama.  While in China . . . they're FREE to denounce the Dalai Lama, too!