Reportage – 2008

Biggest anti-China protests in Tibet in 20 years

A Tibetan Buddhist nun in a candle light vigil to support and show solidarity to the demonstrations in Lhasa and other areas in Tibet in the last few days. A large number of Tibetans and western supporters participated in the candle light vigil. [ click here for print size   3.4M ]

MCLEOD GANJ, India, 14 March 2008 — Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, is under an extremely tense situation, with Tibetans protesting against the Chinese rule, setting shops and police vehicles on fire on Friday.

Several people have reportedly have been killed and many others injured in Lhasa by Chinese bullets.

Monks from several different monasteries were leading the protests, which were started on Monday to mark the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against the Chinese rule of Tibet.

On Friday morning, around a hundred monks from the Ramoche Temple (north of Lhasa), while on their way to the streets around 10 a.m. to stage a peaceful protest, were blocked by Chinese armed police,which led to minor scuffles between the two sides. The monks’ peaceful demonstration grew bigger with bystanders joining them, according to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy.

Vehicles and shops were burned following today's demonstration.

Roads leading in and out of some of the busiest streets in Lhasa have been sealed off. Despite a huge presence of Chinese security forces, the protesters continue to stage demonstrations.

BBC reported that Tibetan rioters had taken control of the city centre.

There are also reports of protests by monks of Labrang Tashikhil Monastery in Amdo region (Gansu province).

The Dalai Lama expressed deep concern over the situation in Tibet and called the demonstrations "a manifestation of the deep-rooted resentment of the Tibetan people under the present governance."

"As I have always said, unity and stability under brute force is at best a temporary solution. It is unrealistic to expect unity and stability under such a rule and would therefore not be conducive to finding a peaceful and lasting solution," his statement said.

He urged the Chinese leadership to stop using force, but rather to address the long-simmering resentment of the Tibetan people through dialogue. He also asked Tibetans to restrain from resorting to violence.

China has officially acknowledged the protests in Tibet, and blamed the supporters of Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, of "masterminding" the uprising.

One hundred exile Tibetans who were on a "Return home march" have been detained by the police in Kangra district following the orders of the central government of India. They will be kept in judicial custody for two weeks,

The Indian government explained that Tibetans were not allowed to engage in anti-China activities on Indian soil.

The Tibetans in Mcleod Ganj held a candle light vigil to show their solidarity with the demonstrations in Tibet.