Paramilitary police have surrounded Tibet’s most important monasteries after
hundreds of monks shouting “Long live the Dalai Lama” defied Beijing in the
biggest protest in the Himalayan region for almost 20 years.
Witnesses described violent clashes between monks and police on the outskirts
of Lhasa on Monday afternoon and reported hearing as many as 60 gunshots as
troops forced the monks to return to their quarters early yesterday. They
said that about 60 monks from Drepung monastery were detained on the edge of
the Tibetan capital and about 11 from Sera monastery were arrested after
shouting anti-Chinese slogans.
The demonstrations were timed to coincide with the 49th anniversary on Monday
of an anti-Chinese uprising in which the Dalai Lama fled into exile in India
and tens of thousands of Tibetans were killed. Around the world, Tibetans
took to the streets to commemorate the anniversary and to press demands for
independence for the deeply Buddhist Himalayan region before the Beijing
Olympics.
Monks took part in three demonstrations across Lhasa on Monday — a show of
unrest likely to unsettle the Communist leadership in a year when China is
under worldwide scrutiny before the Games in August.
The protests began when 400 monks left Drepung on Monday afternoon and marched
about eight kilometres (five miles) as far as the Lhasa Customs office,
where a dozen police cars blocked the road. They refused to return to their
monastery unless the authorities met a series of demands.
Topping the list was a plea to the Government to grant full religious freedoms
to Tibet before the start of the Beijing Games, a source at one monastery
said. They also demanded the release of monks detained in purges at Drepung
in recent months, including several expelled after they failed to pass tests
to demonstrate their allegiance to Beijing and to vilify the Dalai Lama.
The police tried to force the monks to return to Drepung, once the largest
monastery in the world with 10,000 monks and now home to about 900. When
they refused, clashes erupted. Two columns of covered military trucks, each
containing about seven vehicles, arrived to back up the police. Later an
ambulance appeared. The monks then staged a sit-in. The police appeared
reluctant to take on such a large number of protesters.
Meanwhile, a second group from Drepung monastery, numbering about 100 monks,
raced down the hill and headed towards the city. They were stopped by police
before they reached the bottom of the hill. They also staged a sit-in and
refused to return to their rooms. At about the same time in the heart of
Lhasa, around the Jokhang temple that is the holiest site in Tibetan
Buddhism, about a dozen monks from Sera monastery — the second-biggest in
the city — staged a third demonstration. They waved the banned Tibetan flag,
which shows a snow lion. Their shouts of “Long live the Dalai Lama” and
“Independence for Tibet” swiftly drew large crowds to the square in front of
the temple where hundreds of Tibetan pilgrims arrive each day.
Police appeared from several stations that surround the temple. A Tibetan
source said that about 11 monks were detained, with one or two ordinary
Tibetans who joined in the shouts. It was not until early yesterday that
police and troops were able to end the sit-in by the monks from Drepung.
Witnesses said that most of them returned to the monastery but between 50
and 60 were believed to have been arrested.
The numbers could not be confirmed, and Chinese officials said that there had
been no arrests. A Foreign Ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, said: “Some
ignorant monks in Lhasa abetted by a handful of people did some illegal
things that can challenge the social stability.” He said they had been dealt
with according to the law.
Reports by monks at Drepung described sounds of gunfire around the monastery
at about 2.30am, but it was not clear if anyone was hurt. The monastery was
encircled yesterday by hundreds of paramilitary police. In Sera monastery
plainclothes police patrolled the halls. Monks there said they were fearful
of reprisals and that government teams would launch new re-education
programmes.
Champa Phuntsok, the ethnic Tibetan governor of the region, said that the
monks had been counselled and released. “It’s really nothing. Everything is
great,” he said.
Q&A The Himalayan conflict
Has Tibet ever been independent?
The Beijing line is that Tibet became part of China in the 13th century, when
the Mongol Yuan Dynasty extended its rule over the Himalayan region. Most
historians say that Tibet was at least a protectorate of China in the 18th
and 19th centuries until it unilaterally declared independence in 1913.
Chairman Mao’s troops entered central Tibet in 1950
Why did Tibetans rise against Beijing in 1959?
When China imposed land reforms in eastern Tibet and began to destroy
monasteries, thousands of refugees fled to Lhasa, setting off a popular
uprising. The Dalai Lama, accompanied by thousands of followers, fled into
exile in India. Official figures say that 80,000 Tibetans were killed as
Chinese troops crushed the rebellion
Have Tibetans always opposed communist rule?
At first Tibetan aristocrats and young intellectuals regarded Chinese rule as
a new beginning, but many changed their minds when Beijing imposed land
reforms. However, some poor Tibetans welcomed the reforms
Are Tibetans free to worship?
The authorities do not generally interfere in worship by ordinary Tibetans and
allow them to visit temples. However, there are some restrictions in
monasteries, where lamas must take part in government-run patriotic
re-education classes and are required to renounce the Dalai Lama
Does the Dalai Lama want independence?
No. He has given up that idea and says that he is asking for genuine autonomy
and this now seems to mean that he wants cultural autonomy, leaving the
central Government in Beijing in charge
If China had decided to annihilate Tibetan culture, it could have - simply by moving a fraction of its 1.3 billion people to Tibet with 5.5 million Tibetans.
Look up Webster dictionary, Tibet and Taiwan are both defined as part of China, a fact recognized and followed by all but a few small nations on the surface of the earth.
The end effect of this media war will be the extreme distrust of western media and westerners by ordinary Chinese. It's truly sad that people on both sides will be blind by their prejudice.
Fred, San Francisco, US/CA
Saying that if the people in a certain territory want independence they should have it is just plain stupid.
What if that region is where the oil in the country is. Or all the land amenable for agriculture. Or the access to sea.
Should 1% be allowed to restrict access to the goods the other 99% need ?
antonio, Bonn,
enlightenment for you all, please read this article by Michael Parenti (http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html)
okay, can't deny that the Chinese government is doing a good job. but let us not forget that Dalai Lama was on CIA's payroll (http://www.straight.com/article/dalai-lamas-links-to-cia-still-stir-debate)... wait... who else was linked to the CIA? Do I hear Saddam Hussein and Augusto Pinochet?? You may ask 'so what?' FYI:
"In April 1999, along with Margaret Thatcher, Pope John Paul II, and the first George Bush, the Dalai Lama called upon the British government to release Augusto Pinochet, the former fascist dictator of Chile and a longtime CIA client who had been apprehended while visiting England. The Dalai Lama urged that Pinochet not be forced to go to Spain where he was wanted to stand trial for crimes against humanity."(http://voyage.typepad.com/china/2005/10/dalai_lama_and_.html)
once more, the keywords: Tibet, CIA, Bush, Pinochet, Saddam Hussein
it makes you ponder
Jack, Sydney, Australia
William,
Whites in US/Canada respect native amerian culture and native american has full rights, may be more , as white american and Canadian citizen. While for the case in Tibet, Han chinese brutally supressed tibetan culture, human rights and trying to eradicate precious tibetan buddhism and language.
Tibet was never part of china, those who claim tibet has been part of china in 18 th , 19 th century or what ever, Its totally lie!!!! Tibet was a complete independent nation rule by the center tibetan government in Lhasa prior to chinese invasion in 1959. Being a country extremely devoted to religion and with no military power at all, chinese took an advantage of that an illegally occupied Tibet killing more than 6 million tibetan.
THIS IS THE TRUTH...
Tsering, NY, US
All you foreigner talking about tibet and the feelings of tibetan. How ridiculous !!!!!!! There is no investment in Tibet and the reason to expand railway to Lhasa is to start influx of han chinese in Tibetan land. Now, tibetan in their own land are feeling like minority. Chinese government are trying their best to suppress religious freedom, human rights and eradicate a tibetan identity from Tibet. Tibetan hardly get an opportunity learn Tibetan and tibetan are not even allowed to have their spiritual leader Dalai Lama's picture in their house. They could face a life imprisonement or death penalty.
Karma, Boston, US
Michael, Michael, Michael,
Your statement that "Every developed and civilised country in the world has reached the separation of religion and politics since long time ago." shows the level of your knowledge about what goes on in China.
In China there is no separation of church and state, the church has been outlawed in China and what has been allowed to remain is only there as a tourist attraction. Remember Mao's statement that "religion is poison?" He was serious!
The Chinese propaganda mill along with their state controlled media does a wonderful job of keeping the average Chinese in the dark about the situation in Tibet. If you read the Chinese news about Tibet you will find glowing reports of the happiness the Tibetans feel about having their country
"saved" by Communism. If you were to go to Tibet to see for yourself, you would find a completely different set of circumstances from that presented by the Chinese. Most Chinese were unaware of the Tiananmen Square protests.
Walt Bush, Knightstown, IN
The pattern of oppression continues and the world does nothing -Tibet 1959, Burma recently and now this as a government's actions will again be unchallenged. Politicians will express righteous indignation and the world will go on. My question is how can the action of buddhist monks deeply connected to peace and the happiness of all sentient beings be labeled and believed by the world as disruptive to the social order? How can we not help them?
It is another horribly sad day for all people.
jack reilly, wayland, mass, usa
It’s getting more and more ridiculous! Tibet has been an autonomous region of China for hundreds of years, just like Scotland to the UK. Would anyone in the West support some priests in Scotland trying to be independent? Western media should really do a bit research on Chinese history before pointing fingers to the Chinese government.
It is really ridiculous and unacceptable that the Tibetan separatists hold the Olympics Game a hostage for their own political benefits. Every developed and civilised country in the world has reached the separation of religion and politics since long time ago. Imagine the Church of England trying to uprise against the UK constitution and gain political control of the country? Dalai Lama has trying to do exactly that to Tibet!
Michael, Cambridge, England
I think its high time the UN and EU countries started to recognise an independant Tibet. After all it worked for Kosovo! Didint it? Errm.. no it didnt and it never will. Or is this bully China just too big?
Or perhaps, like the Sudetan areas of Czechoslovakia, at the start of WW2 its a case of " a little, unimportant country, we know little about"
How sad, and how ashamed the west should be for the double standards of our "leaders".
Lukas Tatek, London, UK
funny you all!
Mrs Ess of Madrid, sorry for your dismay experience in the centre of our country (which town? I wonder). I must say that you are soooooo unlucky encountering everything here which fall apart at once. But it’s strange that I’ve worn these trousers so long that must have even become the nightmare to those peddlers. I’ve lived for decade in this house which yet shows no sign to fall down. Some times the toys I bought (in the most cheap bazaar) for my son fall apart as what you said, but which would not annoy me so much for I can buy a new one. I must say that you are a little bit bolder to assert whole a nation as a fake one only by living there for two years.
chen, beijing, china
LOL. I love the irony behind this all. President Bush has clearly been quoted countless times that America does not tolerate dictatorships. That they do are a strong supporter of freedom(They said this again recently when a country declared independence). Hell it's even "part of the reason" the war started in Iraq. Yet we leave China untouched. Why? Who knows. Honestly my opinion is that we are scared of China. We know it would be a fight we might lose. So in my eyes it makes us look like a bunch of bullies at pre-school. Always picking on th smaller kids.
On topic though. China has long been an oppresor of any sort of religious freedom. In the 80's the rising's were huge. These new risings will be momentous for China. Because the new "young" generation of 20 somethings weren't alive during the 80's risings. So these are the first risings that they've seen so far. It'll help us, the foreign countries see. If the Chinese residents really do want a change or if they choose not to fight
Zach Smith, Fort Piere , United States/Florida
I don't care what anyone says. If a majority of people of a state/region demand to be free, then they should given the freedom to make that decision. To do otherwise is imprisonment by a dictatorship. Its that simple really. There should be no reason why ordinary Chinese would have anything against this, as Tibets independence would not affect their lives in any way. But, of course, when it comes to pride and political interests...
Hans, London, UK
It seems that this is in keeping with every State system or structure of power. No Leader of today shares power willingly, and no State system gives up any type of power or control. The trend is for greater control, not less.
The US, European countries, all share this commonality. All large power structures are built this way. Even if a politician was willing to share or give back power to the citizenry, he would be seen as weak by other politicians and would be displaced.
If the PRC gave ANY power back to the Tibetan people, they would be the single exception to this. Other governments which claim to be 'more enlightened' or 'ethical' still cling to every scrap of power they can find. It's the nature of the beast.
Andrew, Portland, OR
I support the Tibetan people fully, I am a Mahayana Buddhist, a proud Marxist Communist and a supporter of Chinese Regime change. One thing that annoys me is how the media blames everything on Communism or when the situation deals with the middle-east they always blame Islam. Have you ever considered blaming the people in charge instead of blaming the ideology which they claim to follow, but in practice deviate far from?
T, Toronto, Canada
William L you can go on about how first nations people were treated by invading Europeans. Two wrongs do not make a right. North Americans have learned from the mistakes of the past--the Chinese, evidently don't care.
Just as China doesn't like its internal affairs interfered with by others, so Tibetans don't like their country interfered with by China. Tibetans are becoming a minority in their own land. That is genocide. Chinese didn't like it when the Japanese invaded their country, why should the Tibetans like it now that their country has been invaded?
What have the Chinese done with the Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the world's youngest political prisoner, abducted in 1995 at the age of six, never to be seen again?
Chinese rule is not liberation, it is tyranny, subjugation and violence toward a people and their culture, and destruction of the environment.
SB, Ottawa, Canada
Many of the people posting here seem to be laboring under the misconception that Tibet is part of China. Regardless of what the Chinese government, or Chinese people say or believe - and regardless of the beliefs of those many westerners who have lived for a few years in China and seem to think they have a special inside knowledge because of this - Tibetans themselves are surely the authority on this question. (Do you ask the occupier or the occupied who the territory belongs to?) And yes, the vast majority of Tibetans, young and old, exiled and in Tibet - including those employed by the Chinese government, if speaking in private to people they trust - say that Tibet is occupied. Tibetans protesting in Tibet for freedom is an issue of sovereignty, like the struggles of indigenous people who have been driven out of their territory the world around. It is not simply one of many human rights issues facing China, it is the struggle of a people to reclaim self-determination.
Frances, Nelson, BC, Canada
I am a Tibetan and strong believer in self determination of Tibetan people. I don't care whether China hosts Olympics or China has democracy etc. We want China to stop repressing Tibetan people. Start respecting the Tibetan people’s right to choose their own destiny. Why are they so brutal with Tibetan people? I came out of Tibet in 2006 and I know that Chinese (han) don’t have any understanding of Tibetan people’s sentiments. Being nationalist is good but when it goes too far it becomes extreme. It is not all about motherland. There are things like self determination, respect for others culture and language. Forcing of ones culture and language to weaker population is just not right. How come we (Tibetan) don’t feel like we are Chinese? Is that our mistake?
Tenor, Rajpur, India
Tibet is not a part of China. We have the right to live as we choose. Justifing the Chinese rule over Tibet with economic benefit is like saying the British Empire was right because they brought development to India / Africa. Fact is, no race have the right over another race.
This is not about religion or economic. It's about our culture, our heritage and our right to live in peace in OUR home.
Dechen, London, UK
WHY must American news media continue to claim the Dalia Lama left Tibet after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule???
He left when the Chinese INVADED TIBET, murdering thousands and destroying temples and holy places indiscriminately.
Prior to that invasion, Tibet was an independent country for CENTURIES. There WAS NO UPRISING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GET IT RIGHT and STOP HELPING THE CHINESE TO SPREAD LIES!
DavidBodhi, Mequon,
The comments made by SK Lin clearly express the sentiments of the vast majority of Chinese on the Mainland and, believe it or not, Taiwan. For more evidence look at Singapore, a country that has succeeded in making the world believe it is democratic but which is far from it. The Singaporese overwhelmingly don't care as long as they are doing well economically.
Chinese culture has never had what Westerners would consider a true democracy, and the vast majority don't want one. They want material comfort and security. Freedom is a ridiculous illusion to them if the money isn't there. Of course the same might be said for the majority of Westerners, truth be known.
Westerners who don't like this attitude really should boycott the Olympics but won't because of money. Is that hypocrisy?
I have lived and worked in China for many years, and in the main I find the Chinese far more direct, realistic, and honest about freedom and security than Westerners (a gross generalization to be sure
Will, Taipei,
to XC Na, Harbin, China,
I am deeply moved, indeed...I though the younger generations who grow up in strong western influence forget about our country and care only their money.
It hurt me deeply, deeply, when I visited museums in the UK, US and Europe and saw all the Chinese treasures they looted before 1949. No wonder they hate Chinese communist government. and No wonder people like Roz Kadir, kingston, surrey is "very worried".
Yin Yang, Beijing, China
whites in america , canada and australia should leave those countries, and give their land back to the natives, before even thinking they have the right to dictate to us our borders
david, weymouth, dorset
This isn't an issue of nationalism. It's about how the Chinese government thinks it owns the bodies and minds of the people who live inside the borders it has drawn for itself by force.
It seems fairly obvious that a sizable number of people in Tibet resent what's being done to them.
Daniel Loftin, Spokane, USA/Washington
I don't see what's the real purpose of holding on to Tibet; China's control over it is a waste of time, money, and energy, and then there's bad public opinion...
Hmm... there's something odd about the last part of Andrea's post: "And sadly I think most Chinese people would rather feed their kids first, than to have the right to freedom of speech..."
^There's a negative connotation to that last sentence; I don't know if it was intentional or not.
Of course they would; what kind of heartless person do you have to be if you would let your kids starve to death instead of having free speech?
TH, Cali, US
China has a very poor record regarding human rights. They should leave Tibet alone. These monks have a right to their own identity and the freedom to practice their own faith in peace.
China will become a world power and we should be very worried.
Roz Kadir, kingston, surrey
I quite agree with Mr Lin in HongKong.
I am a Chinese but I am not a communist. I admired the western democracy . However,I believe that China's democracy must be achieved without foreign interfere,after the econimic development, at our own pace.
When we were poor and underdeveloped as Catherine(Chicago,USA) said in 1936,nobody in the west cared about our democracy and human rights.You westerners just came to China,raid the tombs and steal the treasures, and treat Chinese as dogs.
I am not a blind patriot. I hope one day China can be as developed as western countries,and we can have a good relationship. But if westerners continues to interfere China's domestic affairs like what you are doing now, that day probably won't come.I grow up dining at McDonald's, drinking Cola. I do the design using Unigraphics and AutoCAD. But I am still Chinese. My friends and I want to have a more free access to the west, but we will do anything to defend China in need.
XC Na, Harbin, China
To have the "ethnic Tibetan" governor of Tibet say that this is not a big deal is one of the most absurd things i've ever heard. He is obviously appointed by the Chinese and is doing their biddings--of course they want the world to thing everything in tibet is fine. reminds me of another appointed figure. remember the panchen lama?
china needs to get out of tibet. tibetans do not, and have never, considered themselves to be a part of china.
if you want to see the effects of what is going on in tibet, look at what we have done to our native americans.
and this is not about china, it's not about the olympics. the tibetans could care less about the olympics. they are using the olympics in beijing as a worldwide megaphone to get their message out and to try to regain their freedom. they want to be able to hail the dalai lama in public again--imagine catholics not being able to go see the pope and praise him! it is equally proposterous.
Stephen Ironside, Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
I don't think imposing Western views of democracy will help China very much at this moment. A majority of the Chinese population is still living in poverty and it's a major concern to help the sick and poor. Yes, it's still a developing country and it's not stable enough for the government to change it's policies yet. Freedom and human rights is definitely important but it's not really our say, it's up to Chinese people themselves. And sadly I think most Chinese people would rather feed their kids first, than to have the right to freedom of speech...
Andrea, Montreal, Canada
Peace and harmony, law and order must prevail in China; it is appropriate that the Tibetan protests should be squashed and not allowed to gather momentum (China did the right thing in squashing the Tienanmien democracy protest in Beijing).
Religion MUST NOT disrupt the economy of CHINA in any way. If any religious organizations wish to operate in China, it must observe the rules laid down by the Communist Party of China. There can be no exception.
If anyone, any country wants to boycott the Beijing Olympics, then just go right ahead. No amount of protests (by foreigners) can ever change or affect change in China. China belongs to the Chinese.
Richard Gere Buddha Circus should stay out of China's internal affairs. Just meditate and pray, not encourage protests against China.
(I have lived in the West and China for years)
S K LIN, Hong Kong, China
I think people are seeing it's best to avoid the PRC Olympics. If it is a 'developing' country, let us wait until it is developed. I certainly won't be watching them on television. It reminds one too much of 1936, does it not?
Catherine, Chicago, USA
I cant see being tolerant towards a country such as china, with its record of intolerance against other countrys, religions, and indeed their own people, is going to be helpful in their development, we should , at every opportunity protest our opposition to their policies!.
Shaughan, Gisborne, New Zealand
Mrs Ess. I lived in China for 15 years and I also lived in Europe for 10 years, I have to disagree with you on how you feel about China. You are entitled of your opinion of China, yet you should not rush into such a harsh judgement of China just because you spent two years. Every single COUNTRY BRAINWASH their children. It is happening in China, in USA, in Spain, we are what we were told. You don't know the truth, and from your comment, you certainly don't know China very well. Please don't use such an angry tune as such, because you are putting your own country at shame. Business is business, don't relate that into your personal hatred feeling towards China. Foreign companiese invest in China for a profit. No one is stupid. Long live freedom, maybe those 'angry' 'on-exile' 'never been to Tibet' Titetan should learn about the Tibet history before their march against China :) Ops, I forgot, they must be 'teaching' another kind of history over India's 'Tibet' town. The truths hurt
leilei, Chicago,
Personally I think riot was started by a group of younger generation of Tibetans that feel they deserve self-rule.
China has made investments into the nation with the tourist train to the temples to breach the cultural gap. Some feel this is just a political farce. I respect that but don't agree with their argument.
All these riots in China this year is just an agenda to exploit China's flaws while it has the world's attention with the Olympics. Especially those individual separatist groups from overseas sending their members to China to create chaos and claim their "national citizenry" with their governments to make headlines is just pitiful.
To be honest, how many people have even seen China's tv channels? Most of them are even better than the crappy one-room studios most countries have. But then, most people think China is like what it shows on CNN, with Jackie Chan and martial arts.
Alex Sin, Markham, Canada.
I want to say:
no investigation, no rights to speak
Yes,there are many problems in china.
But we should have a tolerant attitude to a developing country.
It should be encourage to develop, rather than be full of jealousy, vainity and cynicism.
Angelo, sydney, Australia
This is soooooo China. After living in central China for 2 years and seeing the brainwashing they teach the primary school children I couldn't wait to leave when I found put I was pregnant as NO child of mine is ever going to grow up in a culture who has no respect for human being let alone freedom of speech etc etc....do we wnat the Chinese as the next super ecomonic power? Boycott 'Made in China' goods and their ecomony would collapse as it's built on mass production for foreign companies and they don't produce a local brand to export. Everything made for the local market falls apart after bring used once. They are a fake nation with a facade to match. What is the government afraid of? The truth, and it hurts. Long live freedom!
Mrs Ess, Madrid, Spain
What is the difference between Whites in US/Canada and Han Chinese in Tibet?
William L, Detroit, MI