A Buddhist tattoo artist from Boulder climbed a light pole outside China’s main Olympic stadium and unfurled a “Tibet Will Be Free” banner Wednesday before Chinese police whisked him and three others away.
Phillip Bartell’s whereabouts could not be confirmed Wednesday evening, but Chinese state-run media reported that he and the others were not arrested.
The white banner displayed by Bartell, 34, called for freedom in Tibet in English and Chinese and was the first protest at a competition site for the Games, which begin Friday. He delivered a message into his cellphone to his wife, Kirsten Westby, from atop the pole as police converged.
“This is for all the Tibetan people, and it’s for all of the people of conscience in the world to come together and to raise the Tibetan flag at the Olympics, which is basically the flag for all human rights around the world,” Bartell said. “One world. One dream. Free Tibet 2008. It will be free. We can make it happen. The Chinese government is building a world of tyranny and problems for all ethnic groups.”
Bartell went to China planning this protest and “was prepared to face the music — whatever happened,” said Westby, 31, from San Francisco. “He knew he could have a long prison sentence and that he could be harmed. He was pretty clear it was a risk he was willing to take.”
Leaders of Students for a Free Tibet said nobody had heard from Bartell, a practicing Buddhist who owns Rising Tide Tattoo shop on Pearl Street in Boulder, or fellow activist Tirian Mink, 32, of Portland, Ore.
Westby questioned state-run media reports that the four pro-Tibet activists were not detained. She said she was part of a group that unfurled a pro-Tibet banner at the base of Mount Everest last year. Chinese authorities “told our families we’d been released” but held them for 55 hours.
Two British activists who worked with Bartell reportedly were deported.
Chinese Olympics organizers condemned the pro-Tibet and other demonstrations, which involved groups of four or fewer foreign activists.
Tibetans in Boulder, including some who were denied visas to attend the Olympics, planned vigils.
Bartell “will be given a hero’s welcome by the Tibetan Association of Colorado for his courageous act when he returns home,” group president Tenzin Dhongyal said. “We’re concerned for his safety, considering China routinely puts protesters through very harsh treatment, including tortures.”
Bruce Finley: 303-954-1700 or bfinley@denverpost.com
