Prime Time Protest
Matt Sellwood, a second-year undergraduate at New College, was arrested on Monday after running in front of a car in the Chinese Prime Minister's motorcade.
Wen Jiabao, the Prime Minister, was visiting the new Chemistry research building on South Parks Road when Sellwood broke out from a group of between ten and 15 protesters who were demonstrating against the Chinese government's policy on Tibet. After briefly stopping the car, Sellwood was swiftly tackled to the ground by police and removed to a police van nearby.
Sellwood described the police as having been "very harsh" for several minutes. He sustained injuries to his head, wrists and shoulder, but stated that he "didn't have that many complaints," given that they calmed down once they realised that he "wasn't going to blow anyone up."
The remaining protesters, most of whom were Oxford students belonging to the Oxford Tibet Society, followed the Prime Minister's convoy to Christ Church, where one of those present, Silje Vold, described the security as being "a lot heavier." Like Sellwood, they were objecting to China's activity in Tibet; since China invaded in 1950 it is said to have killed over a million people. The Chinese Embassy in London declined to comment on the incident.
Sellwood, also a Green Party candidate in the upcoming local elections, was detained for six hours at St Aldate's Police Station, after which he was bailed on the condition that he does not approach any Chinese property or the person of the Chinese Prime Minister until his court date.
He will face charges under the Public Order Act at Oxford Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 18 May. Such charges do not carry a prison sentence.
Commenting on the success of his protest, Sellwood told The OxStu that "the way to get him [the Prime Minister] to notice things is to disrupt the visit. It was successful in that it let him know that there are some people who are upset with his government."
Thames Valley Police were unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.
13th May 2004