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Olympics protester returns to UK | |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A Briton thrown out of China after unfurling a pro-Tibet banner in Beijing has returned to the UK. | |
Philip Kirk, 24, of St Albans, Herts, said he was "happy" to be home less than 24 hours after his protest outside the China Central Television building. | |
Along with Australian-Canadian Nicole Rycroft, 41, Mr Kirk, from the group Students for a Free Tibet, unfurled the banner in the early hours of Friday. | |
A Beijing Olympic Games spokesman said the protest was "unwelcome". | |
Wang Wei of the Beijing Olympic Games organising committee said that most foreigners did not understand the issue of Tibet. | |
"Tibet is an inalienable part of China and the whole world recognises it. | "Tibet is an inalienable part of China and the whole world recognises it. |
"A small number of people are trying to split the territory and that is not going to work at all," he said. | "A small number of people are trying to split the territory and that is not going to work at all," he said. |
Obviously you're always worried when your child is arrested, especially abroad, but we are also very proud of what he is doing for the Tibetan people Wendy CharltonPhilip Kirk's mother | Obviously you're always worried when your child is arrested, especially abroad, but we are also very proud of what he is doing for the Tibetan people Wendy CharltonPhilip Kirk's mother |
The banner read "Free Tibet". | The banner read "Free Tibet". |
The pair abseiled down the hoarding at the new headquarters of China's state television, which was completed just before the start of the Games. | The pair abseiled down the hoarding at the new headquarters of China's state television, which was completed just before the start of the Games. |
The climbers and three other protesters, all American, were arrested about half an hour after they were first spotted by security officials. | The climbers and three other protesters, all American, were arrested about half an hour after they were first spotted by security officials. |
Proud mother | Proud mother |
Mr Kirk's mother, Wendy Charlton, described her son as an "ordinary, outgoing person who loves climbing and is passionate about the Tibetan cause". | Mr Kirk's mother, Wendy Charlton, described her son as an "ordinary, outgoing person who loves climbing and is passionate about the Tibetan cause". |
"Obviously you're always worried when your child is arrested, especially abroad, but we are also very proud of what he is doing for the Tibetan people. I am very pleased he is highlighting their plight. | "Obviously you're always worried when your child is arrested, especially abroad, but we are also very proud of what he is doing for the Tibetan people. I am very pleased he is highlighting their plight. |
"China seems so normal when you watch the Olympics on television, but you can't say what you want to say there," she said. | "China seems so normal when you watch the Olympics on television, but you can't say what you want to say there," she said. |
Philip Kirk was also arrested for pro-Tibet protests in Paris last April | Philip Kirk was also arrested for pro-Tibet protests in Paris last April |
"I know he practised beforehand to make sure they would be as safe as possible. They wanted to do (the protest) peacefully, but it is always a worry." | "I know he practised beforehand to make sure they would be as safe as possible. They wanted to do (the protest) peacefully, but it is always a worry." |
Previous protests | Previous protests |
Last week two other British pro-Tibet protesters, Lucy Fairbrother, 23, from Cambridge, and Iain Thom, 24, from Edinburgh, were deported after scaling a 120ft-high (36.5m) lighting pole and unfurling banners reading "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet" and "Tibet will be free". | Last week two other British pro-Tibet protesters, Lucy Fairbrother, 23, from Cambridge, and Iain Thom, 24, from Edinburgh, were deported after scaling a 120ft-high (36.5m) lighting pole and unfurling banners reading "One World, One Dream, Free Tibet" and "Tibet will be free". |
Eight demonstrators from Students for a Free Tibet were also detained on Wednesday after staging a demonstration. | Eight demonstrators from Students for a Free Tibet were also detained on Wednesday after staging a demonstration. |
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Qin Gang, warned activists on Wednesday to obey the law in China, which does not allow unauthorised protests. | A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Qin Gang, warned activists on Wednesday to obey the law in China, which does not allow unauthorised protests. |
He said: "No matter Chinese citizens or foreigners, in China if you want to have processions or demonstrations, you should abide by Chinese laws and regulations." | He said: "No matter Chinese citizens or foreigners, in China if you want to have processions or demonstrations, you should abide by Chinese laws and regulations." |