In recent days, large-scale protests, demonstrations and displays of defiance took place in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, and elsewhere. The burden of Chinese sovereignty has dominated Tibet since its invasion as ordered by Chairman Mao Tse-Tung in 1949. But nothing forces the Tibetans to approve, nor always to suffer in silence.

Looting and burning that accompanied some of the protest actions are undesirable. But most demonstrations, bursts of free speech and resistance to bogus authority sweep across the Tibetan landscape like refreshing breezes.

For the Chinese authorities in Beijing, the defiance comes at a bad time. Soon the Chinese capital will host the Olympic Games. The country’s leaders, keen to preen, strut and preach propaganda, dislike anything that distracts from their “big show”. Almost daily, the Chinese leadership insists that the Olympics should be about sports, not politics, even while harnessing the event to pull political carts.

Ideally, the Olympics should never go to an authoritarian regime. In a perfect world, nations and athletes would boycott Beijing’s Games. Although it’s a little late for that, many of the tourists who’d planned to attend should reconsider. The participating athletes can clear their consciences by speaking loudly in support of the basic freedoms and human rights denied to Chinese citizens and Tibetans.

Police and soldiers have increased their presence on the streets of Tibet, where Beijing continues to rule by pointing guns, threatening, beating and killing. But courageous Tibetans have reminded the world that their thirst for freedom and resentment of Chinese domination remain strong. Packing the streets with security forces may prevent more demonstrations, but fails to change the underlying reality.

Tibetans must persist in their determination to cast off Chinese occupation. Someday, they’ll succeed – if not soon, then when the Chinese Communist Party ultimately collapses, crushed by the weight of its own corruption and brutality.

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