Beijing - Two campaigners from the International Tibet Support Network (ITSN), who were detained yesterday for unfurling a banner in Beijing reading "No Olympics for China until Tibet is Free," have been deported to their respective home countries. Han Shan (31, US citizen) and Liam Phelan (33,
Australian citizen) were held for seven hours yesterday and were this morning required to report back to the Public Security Bureau.

Paul Bourke, an ITSN representative speaking in Beijing said, "This peaceful protest, which was carried out to mark an intensification of the International Tibet Support Network's campaign to oppose the 2008 Olympic Games, also sadly demonstrated that China still has no tolerance for freedom of speech. Despite this, we remain committed to raising the profile of our Olympic campaign between now and 2008."

ITSN Steering Committee member Alison Reynolds added, "With China in the spotlight for the next four years our sincere hope is that by 2008 China's occupation of Tibet will have been brought to an end through peaceful negotiations with the Dalai Lama and his representatives."

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