Published on March 18, 2008

Anti-Chinese protests in Tibet

Sites of Tibetan Demonstrations and Protests as of March 17, 2008. Image credit: Tashi D. Lek

Protests against Chinese rule in Tibet have spread from Lhasa to other provinces bordering the Himalayan region, as the demonstrations enter their second week.

The protests started peacefully on Monday, March 10, when 300 monks from a monastery outside Lhasa attempted to march to the capital to mark the anniversary of the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1950, as well as the failed March 1959 uprising that forced the Dalai Lama to flee into exile in neighbouring India. The demonstrations grew into the biggest protests since 1989 and several days later they turned violent.

Tibet violence spreads as Dalai Lama attacks China's 'cultural genocide'

The demonstrations follow nearly a week of protests in Lhasa that escalated into violence last Friday, with Tibetans attacking ethnic Chinese and torching their shops in the longest and fiercest challenge to Chinese rule for 20 years.

Gunfire continued to be heard throughout the city yesterday and armed police went from house to house searching for and arresting protestors. Few people dared to step outside their homes. (The Telegraph)

80 people dead in 'cultural genocide'

Tibet is facing "cultural genocide" by Chinese authorities as protests continue against almost 60 years of occupation, according to the Dalai Lama.

The exiled spiritual leader of Tibet also accused China of a "rule of terror" and said at least 80 Tibetans had died in violence on Friday and another 72 were injured. China had previously claimed just 10 had died, in fires started by the rioters.

But while Lhasa was quieter than it had been the previous day, when thousands of demonstrators took to the streets, PLA soldiers armed with automatic weapons moved into the Barkhor district during the afternoon and early evening, and gunfire could be heard. (The Scotsman)

Tibet protest crackdown claims up to 100 lives

"We heard from our Tibetan guide that there are more than 20 dead people," said Gepke Pals, from Holland. Her companion, France Plooij, said: "Last night [Friday], early in the evening, there were more than 100 trucks of soldiers entering the city. And this morning I saw another 40 trucks of soldiers and 36 tanks - I counted them. They came down on the Tibetan people really hard."

Tourists, both Chinese and foreigners, were confined to their hotels, and Lhasa's airport was closed to incoming flights, with new arrivals being turned back. Tourists were warned that if they ventured beyond their hotels they risked being shot.

Scores of people clashed with police outside the Ramoche Monastery in Lhasa, after two monks were allegedly beaten by the police. At the same time, a crowd in its thousands had gathered outside the Jokhang Temple.

It was there that the police apparently unleashed a hail of fire on the protestors, according to a Tibetan witness. "I personally saw more than a hundred Tibetans killed when the Chinese fired at the crowd. Many of those killed were young Tibetans, both boys and girls," he said. (The Telegraph)

International reactions

Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State:
"We urge China to respect the fundamental and universally recognised right of all of its citizens to peacefully express their political and religious views, and we call on China to release monks and others who have been detained solely for the peaceful expression of their views."

Gordon Brown, UK Prime Minister
Gordon Brown has called on China to show "restraint" in Tibet after the expiry of a deadline for protesters to surrender.
The Prime Minister insisted that violent clashes on the streets of the disputed territory must stop, and urged Beijing to resolve the situation through "dialogue".
"We have made our views known to the Chinese authority," Mr Brown told MPs. "We believe there should be restraint and an end to violence. And we believe there should be a dialogue - and that should happen soon."
Mark Malloch Brown, a UK Foreign Office minister, warned China not to repeat its 1989 response to protesters in Tiananmen Square which led to the deaths of hundreds of students.

Statement of the French Foreign Ministry
"With the approach of the Olympic Games, which ought to be a great show of fraternity, France would like to draw the attention of the Chinese authorities to the importance of respecting human rights."

Statement of the German Foreign Ministry
"Everything must be done to prevent a further escalation of the situation and to enable a peaceful end to the conflict.
Minister (Frank-Walter) Steinmeier calls on his Chinese counterparts to offer as much transparency as possible over the events in Tibet."

Ursula Plassnik, Austrian Foreign Minister
Austria's foreign minister called for an immediate end to the violence and bloodshed in Tibet. Ursula Plassnik said that Austria was deeply disturbed by the recent human rights violations in Tibet.
She also urged Beijing to begin a direct dialogue with the Dalai Lama.