Tibet's anti-China protest monks gassed

[Tronic]

Tibet's anti-China protest monks gassed

Tibet's anti-China protest monks gassed

By Richard Spencer in Beijing
Last Updated: 2:23am GMT 13/03/2008

Tibetan Buddhist monks, staging the most serious protests against Chinese rule in years, were driven back with tear gas and electric batons, according to reports from Lhasa, the capital.
# US drops China from worst human rights list

Two days of protests led by hundreds of monks shouting "Independence for Tibet" and "Long live the Dalai Lama" were broken up by thousands of police

Scores of monks were reported to have been arrested, with the remainder surrounded by security forces in their monasteries and in many cases shut up in their rooms, according to reports.

Meanwhile, the Chinese authorities sent a letter to mountaineering organisations saying that the Tibetan side of Everest, and the nearby mountain Cho Oyu, were being closed to climbers until the middle of May.

This was interpreted by Tibet support groups as an attempt to disrupt plans to take the Olympic torch relay to the top of Everest as part of its advance on Beijing for this summer's games.

The report was denied by the Chinese authorities, which said the letter had been "misunderstood", but tourist authorities have been warned to pay extra attention before issuing the permits that foreigners need to enter the region.

The protests on Monday, first reported by the Tibetan-language service of Radio Free Asia, marked the 49th anniversary of the uprising in 1959 which led to the Dalai Lama fleeing into exile, where he has remained ever since.

The monks marched on Lhasa from different directions, including Drepung, once the largest monastery in the world.

What happened next was described in a dramatic blog entry by two European tourists, who said they saw hundreds of ordinary Tibetans gather in Barkhor Square to try to protect the small group of monks.

"They form a strong, silent, peaceful circle around the police who keep the middle of the square open," wrote Steve Dubois and Ulrike Lakiere.

"Soon they call for backup. Undercover agents, not so difficult to recognise, film the whole happening. Especially the faces. This is one method to create fear.

"Suddenly there is panic. Six or seven monks are arrested and driven away. Tibetans are very scared because of the stories about the prisons and tortures. In the meanwhile big numbers of policemen arrive. They drive everybody apart."

On Tuesday, the protests were apparently aimed at freeing the monks, estimated to be 60 or 70, who were under arrest.

"A sort of momentum seems to be building up," said Kate Saunders, of the International Campaign for Tibet.

Unusually, the Chinese authorities confirmed Monday's protests, saying 300 monks had been involved.

Jampa Phuntsok, the ethnic Tibetan governor of Tibet, who is in Beijing for the annual meeting of the National People's Congress, said the incident was "really nothing".

Tibet's anti-China protest monks gassed - Telegraph

[Tronic]

130 Tibetans arrested in anti-China protest in Nepal

Kathmandu, March 12: Violent clashes between Tibetan protesters and police in Nepal on the 49th anniversary of the abortive uprising in Tibet against the communist rule led to the arrest of at least 130 protesters in the capital on Monday.

At least 130 Tibetans were arrested in Kathmandu while staging protests to mark the failed uprising against the Chinese rule that forced the Dalai Lama, the Buddhist spiritual leader, into exile in India in 1959.

The incident occurred as police intervened when thousands of Tibetans began to march from Bouddhanath Stupa in the east of Kathmandu towards the Chinese embassy on Monday morning, Deputy Inspector of Police Yek Bahadur Pal said.

"We had asked the Tibetan agitators to confine their activity within a monastery near Bouddhanath Stupa but as they tried to stage protests outside the monastery we had to take action as per the orders of the administration," the police official told.

At least 10 policemen and four refugees also sustained injuries during the scuffle, he said, adding the demonstrators insisted on submitting a memorandum demanding an end to
Chinese rule in Tibet. They carried banners and placards with slogans like "Free Tibet" and "Tibet Is Not Part of China".

Around 4,000 Tibetans had gathered in Boudha to mark the occasion. As the Tibetans chanted slogans against Chinese government and tried to march towards the Chinese Embassy, the police resorted to baton-charge.

The Tibetans residing in Kathmandu mark March 10 as the 'Uprising Day,' when the Buddhist community revolted against the Chinese annexation of Tibet. Thousands of Tibetans escaped from Tibet across the Himalaya on March 10, 1959.

Nepal recognises Tibet as a part of China and has refused to allow "anti-China" activities. Some three years back the government had shut down the Tibetan liaison office in Kathmandu under Chinese pressure.

Udayavani - First look on Karnataka

Greek police block Tibetan activists Freedom Torch Relay at Ancient Olympia

By Dimitris Messinis, Associated Press Writer
ANCIENT OLYMPIA, Greece — Tibetan activists held a torch-lighting ceremony in Ancient Olympia on Monday to protest China's rule over Tibet on the 49th anniversary of the thwarted uprising.

Police prevented the group, Team Tibet, from entering the Ancient Olympia stadium, and the ceremony took place outside the gates of the museum. The group intends for its Tibetan Freedom Torch Relay to pass through 50 cities and finish inside Tibet on Aug. 8, the day of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics.

"The Chinese regime will try to use the games to advance its own political agenda ... that's why we took the protest to Ancient Olympia," said Tendon Dahortsang, a spokeswoman for the Tibetan group.

The Tibetan uprising against China was crushed in 1959, leading Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, to flee to India.

Five Tibetan women in traditional goddess dresses performed a short ceremony outside the museum, lighting a torch and handing it to Tibetan shot-putter Tsultim Golpe.
FIND MORE STORIES IN: China | Chinese | India | Greece | Beijing Olympics | Olympic Games | Beijing Games | Dalai Lama | Ancient Olympia

Police stopped Golpe as she took the torch and began her run, handing it back later with the flame extinguished. She and other activists were escorted back to their hotels in Olympia by police, but there were no arrests.

Officials from China's Athens Embassy were in Olympia, filming the participants in the ceremony.

The official flame-lighting ceremony for the Beijing Games will held March 24 in Olympia, birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games. Authorities have been working to restore the site after devastating wildfires swept southern Greece in August and stopped just short of the ancient stadium.

The ceremony Monday was intended to highlight the situation in Tibet and "to show the (Beijing) regime that the torch stands for the values of peace and understanding," Dahortsang said. She said while local authorities and police tried to stop the ceremony, "local people were very supportive and encouraging."

Some local officials were angry about the use of an archaeological site.

"Olympia is a sight where people come together, a site of peace," Olympia Mayor Giorgos Aidonis said. "It's not a place for political conflict or settlement of disputes, whatever the rights and wrongs in the case. They did not even meet with us to discuss their issue."

---

Associated Press writer Demetris Nellas in Athens contributed to this report.
The Associated Press

Greek police block Tibetan activists Freedom Torch Relay at Ancient Olympia - USATODAY.com

Indian police detain Tibetan exiles

March 13, 2008 - 2:04PM
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Indian police have detained more than 100 Tibetan exiles marching in northern India to Tibet in protest of China's Olympic Games, organisers and witnesses say.

Indian authorities fear the march could embarrass Beijing and police have banned the exiles from leaving the Kangra district that surrounds Dharmsala. The city is the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

Police stopped the march in the town of Dehra, shortly after the protesters set off.

Officers forced about 130 protesters into buses.

A local police official named Sitaram said the protesters included several foreigners.

He said they had been taken to a nearby police station.

Organisers have vowed to continue the march.

© 2008 AP

Indian police detain Tibetan exiles - Breaking News - World - Breaking News

I just don't get it. Now everyone is trying to suppress a relatively peaceful people?


Kosovo and Tibet. The world's double standards?

[kuku]

What double standards

Its a easy to understand, short and sweet policy.
"We support freedom, when it is convenient to do so."

If the Tibetans declare independence (can they do it?) they will find support.

I like the Indian approach, just another protest would have been a 10 second news, add batons and water canon, and i bet its playing over the news.

I think i will join in the protests if they happen in Delhi and if they happen on a Saturday, been a long time since i joined a protest rally and these ones seem as useless as the last one.

[Tronic]

What double standards

Its a easy to understand, short and sweet policy.
"We support freedom, when it is convenient to do so."

If the Tibetans declare independence (can they do it?) they will find support.

I like the Indian approach, just another protest would have been a 10 second news, add batons and water canon, and i bet its playing over the news.

If the Tibetans declare independence, thousands, possibly millions will die again without a peep from the world. These monks weren't "just protesting". They planned to march all the way to Beijing from Dharamsala; and I'm sure they were very well aware that this would cost them their life; but were still willing to do so for Tibet's independence, as such a move would surely get the world's attention!

[Officer of Engineers]

Some perspective here. We won the war for Kosovo. No one won anything for the Tibetans. And a once proud determined people have given in to Chinese rule. 300 monks when in the 80s, it was over 5000 and that was in a city of over 100,000. Local support for this ain't no longer there.

[retaxis]

Indians can talk but they never give the sihks. kashmir rebels, maoist rebels any land either.

[kuku]

If the Tibetans declare independence, thousands, possibly millions will die again without a peep from the world.

There will be more than a peep, that is for sure, and there will be support

These monks weren't "just protesting".
They planned to march all the way to Beijing from Dharamsala; and I'm sure they were very well aware that this would cost them their life; but were still willing to do so for Tibet's independence, as such a move would surely get the world's attention!

can not go to marching to tibet, hope they protest in Delhi.

Thats all fine,
this is the problem there is no way marching to lhasa or beijing will get anything done.

Time to move on.

I respect the feeling to die trying, however they should try to take a few with them, The commies do not understand non-violence, commies would have shot Gandhi.

[kuku]

Indians can talk but they never give the sihks. kashmir rebels, maoist rebels any land either.

Here is the deal retaxis, we own it nothing anyone can do, its that simple.

Its not like people have not tried.

And Maoist dont want any land.

And Tibet is not in India, so it does not matter.

[Desdemona]

Sad, sad, sad. I wouldn't go to the Olympics even if you paid me.

[Mobbme]

Sad, sad, sad. I wouldn't go to the Olympics even if you paid me.

I'd go I wouldn't miss a chance to have noodles with a lovely local chinese woman

P.S I'd also bother, I mean TALK TO, to swedish and indian women

[kuku]

Some perspective here. We won the war for Kosovo. No one won anything for the Tibetans. And a once proud determined people have given in to Chinese rule. 300 monks when in the 80s, it was over 5000 and that was in a city of over 100,000. Local support for this ain't no longer there.

In Lhasa?

Well given what the Chinese have been up to (by the stories that come out of people who come to India for shelter), i am amazed that 300 came out.

However its not so bad, i will still give a "job well done" to the authorities.

[FullTank]

Now everyone is trying to suppress a relatively peaceful people?

Atrocities by Govt of India on the Tibetian minorities in India



btw what does section 107 and 151 of CRPC say? Are peaceful protests banned in India now? And that too by Gandhi's party?

[gunnut]

Here is the deal retaxis, we own it nothing anyone can do, its that simple.

Its not like people have not tried.

And Maoist dont want any land.

And Tibet is not in India, so it does not matter.

So you would agree the Chinese have legitimate claim to Tibet?

Possession is 9/10 of the ownership. PLA is in Tibet.

[Tronic]

Some perspective here. We won the war for Kosovo. No one won anything for the Tibetans. And a once proud determined people have given in to Chinese rule. 300 monks when in the 80s, it was over 5000 and that was in a city of over 100,000. Local support for this ain't no longer there.

Sir, it is because the Tibetans were massacred en mass; you cannot possibly say that if people want independence they should keep offering themselves to massacres. And you are right, the West fought for Kosovo, but the Tibetans, completely ignored. Does anyone really fight for someone's rights or humanity? or only one's interests? That is what I'm trying to understand.

Indians can talk but they never give the sihks. kashmir rebels, maoist rebels any land either.

I'm an Indian, and I'm a Sikh. India is a democratic country and Sikh separatist leaders in Punjab get nil votes. As for Kashmir, they also are free to hold elections and even have separatist parties running, which have even won the elections. The issue is openly discussed and debated in Parliament among them. As it should be. We will not hand anything away to "rebels"/ "freedom fighters"/ "terrorists", whatever you want to call them. If they want to raise issues, they are free to raise a political body and fight in Parliament. Blowing up trains, buses or setting up bombs in marketplaces will not get you anything. That is how democracies work.

Atrocities by Govt of India on the Tibetian minorities in India



btw what does section 107 and 151 of CRPC say? Are peaceful protests banned in India now? And that too by Gandhi's party?

It is truly atrocious! I just can't wait for this spineless pathetic good for nothing Congress government to fall in the next elections!!

[Tronic]

China intensifies Tibet monasteries siege

Beijing laid siege to at least three monasteries in Tibet today, leaving monks trapped with dwindling food supplies, as the biggest anti-Chinese demonstrations in nearly two decades intensified.

Monks at Ganden monastery, located on a hilltop near the regional capital Lhasa, were reported to have started a hunger strike to protest against the deployment of armed paramilitary police, who continued to surround them today after being sent in to restore order yesterday.

Soldiers were today also reported to have been stationed around the Sera and Drepung monasteries. Drepung, in particular, was surrounded by "three layers" of army personnel, a witness told the AP news agency, while the Sera monastery was surrounded by more than 2,000 police.

The protesters had taken to the streets to demand greater religious freedom before the Beijing Olympics in August and to show their support for the exiled Dalai Lama.

As protests continued in China, police in neighbouring India dragged away more than 100 exiles as they tried to march to their homeland to coincide with the start of the Olympic Games.

Indian officials - apparently fearing the march would embarrass China - banned the exiles from leaving the Kangra district that surrounds the city of Dharmsala, the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile in India.

Meanwhile in Tibet senior officials called meetings with local politicians to remind them not to take sides with the monks, as the Chinese government intensified its crackdown in Lhasa.

Reading out a prepared document to staff, the officials outlined details of the protests that erupted on Monday, with a march by 500 monks from Drepung monastery on the outskirts of the city.

One resident quoted the statement as saying: "These incidents pose a grave challenge to the long-term stability of Tibet."

The notice described as "very serious" the demonstrations that spread to the Jokhang temple in the heart of the city, the nearby Sera monastery on Tuesday and to Ganden monastery a day later. All staff of government offices and state entities were banned from visiting religious institutions where unrest had erupted.

They were also forbidden from talking about the protests, which the government has dubbed the "310 and 311 incidents" because they occurred place on March the 10th and 11th.

Many residents of Lhasa called their children studying in cities in other parts of China to urge them not to take part in any unrest for fear of reprisals.

The government notice did not specify the punishment for those who defied the ban, but Tibetans know that the usual penalties are dismissal from their state jobs or withdrawal of salaries.

The demonstrations coincided with continued marches around the world today to mark the 49th anniversary of an uprising against Chinese rule in the remote region from which the Dalai Lama and many followers fled to India and tens of thousands of Tibetans were killed.

In India, the marchers heading for Tibet were stopped by police today in the town of Dehra, about 12 miles from the Kangra district boundary.

Protesters resisted arrest by sitting or laying down, but they were hauled away into police buses. They were reported to have shouted "Free Tibet!" and other slogans, and some wept as they were taken away.

Senior police official Atul Fulzele said the protesters had been charged with threatening the region’s "peace and tranquillity." In the past, protesters charged with the offence have been released after formally pledging not to carry on demonstrating.

Several protesters began a hunger strike within hours of being arrested, Tenzin Palkyi, a march coordinator, told AP. They were joined by nine foreigners, including Leanne McKenzie, a British woman from Ayrshire in Scotland.

Ms McKenzie said: "We all got put in the van and they took us to the police station, where they took the Tibetans in and put the Westerners aside as they didn’t want the trouble of arresting us."

The Scot said she did not know how long the hunger strike, being staged outside the police station in Dehra, would last. But she said: "We will probably continue for however long the monks do. The monks are the core marchers.

"We have no idea how long it will last as everything is really big and everyone is really emotional at the moment. We don’t know how long this is going to go on for. We will just wait and see what happens."

China intensifies Tibet monasteries siege - Times Online

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