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Times Online
March 14, 2008
One of the largest markets in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, is in flames and at least one police car has been burnt as angry monks and Tibetans clash with police today.
The surge of violence follows almost a week of demonstrations by lamas from monasteries around the Tibetan capital, who have been demanding greater freedom of religion before the Olympic Games as well as independence for the deeply Buddhist Himalayan region.
Witnesses said the most serious display of anti-Chinese feeling in nearly two decades escalated at around 11am when monks from the ancient Ramoche monastery in central Lhasa attempted to stage a demonstration.
Police tried to prevent the lamas from getting onto the streets and a police car posted outside its gate was set on fire, a witness said. Hundreds of Tibetans then rallied around the monks.
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One resident of the old city near the monastery told The Times: “It’s very dangerous. Tibetans are fighting the Han people in the street outside. I can’t talk because I’m afraid.”
The nearby Tromsikhang market, built in 1993, had been set on fire and a column of smoke could be seen billowing into the sky, one witness said. The market contained shops belonging to Tibetans as well as ethnic Han Chinese and members of the Hui Muslim minority.
One Tibetan, covered in blood, was seen carried away from the scene by about five or six other people. Witnesses said dozens of ambulances and police cars had raced to the city’s 102 People’s Hospital but it was not known how many people were hurt or how seriously.
Dozens of paramilitary police vehicles were seen patrolling central Lhasa to try to restore order. However, crowds of Tibetans and monks were still demonstrating in the afternoon. One witness wept as he spoke and said he was too afraid to say anything.
The violence comes as Buddhist monks opposed to Chinese rule have launched a hunger strike and two others attempted suicide after troops surrounded monasteries in a government crackdown on the biggest protests since 1989. In March 1989, thousands of Tibetans rioted in the streets of Lhasa, setting fire to shops and causing widespread damage in a rampage that prompted the government to impose martial law.
Some reports said officials had declared a state of emergency today in Lhasa, but there was no immediate confirmation from the government.
There are 4 comment(s) so far ;)
karma is present for the chinese breathe, and the winds of change will have there say, and those on top will one day be on the bottom. the immature emotional child called china has been blessed by the conditions of karma. causality is a swift sword who never sleep at night and those who don’t understand karma will never find peace at home with someone to love.
As most Tibetans expect, comes timely, the baseless Chinese accusation of His Holiness being the mastermind behind the protest in and out of Tibetan territory. The world knows His Holiness and His compassionate and non violent policy. No way to fool the world blaming Him as “separatist” and “mastermind”, no one would give credit to such affirmations. I am sure that even the Chinese themselves are embarrassed and upset of their leaders. I hardly recollect in my memory of His Holiness inciting violence, alluding people embracing armed resistance or any political ventures that might bring to blood. He was rather several times commented in support of Railway line to Lhasa and Olympic for the well being of millions of Chinese and never inflicted harm to the interest of Chinese people. Not finding any credible excuse to their brutal, undemocratic and illegitimate control over Tibet and Tibetans, they don’t know to handle media. They can censure CNN and BBC but they should know that this act itself indicate that the Tibetan cause is to be hidden to their own people and are ashamed of the facts.
Almost fifty years of autocracy and tyranny rule in Tibet, our peoples failed to resist further, can not let the Chinese devastate the nation and suppress it’s people. His Holiness’s teachings are precious but the fight and die for the rights and freedom for six million moved Tibetans in all parts of Tibet, fully conscious of the fate. The will power to fight and rebel against oppressors is justifiable and we bow to held high the spirit of our brethrens who are suffering at this very moment. China should find other excuses and we the Tibetans should never let fade our spirit. Never mind the Nepalese Govt., Indian Govt. and PRC are striving to shed water over the burning spirit of Tibetans. This fire once ignited should keep it burning till Beijing decides to dialogue with His Holiness without any preconditions. Tibetans who has access to this web in Tibet should learn that your brothers and sisters in the foreign countries are with you forever through peaceful sit-in, protest for your safety and against Chinese’s drastic measures to suppress your spirit.
Long life Dalai Lama!
Bod Gyallo!
Free Tibet !
Dalai Lama told BBC news that “There will be more deaths in Tibet,unless Beijing changed it’s policies towards Tibet”.
Osama Bin Laden threatened US by saying “there will be more deaths, unless Washington changes it’s policies towards Mideast”.
Sounds similar?
#2, you are right. Here’s the latest words from google news:
“I always support (that) the Olympics should … take place in Beijing … so that more than 1 billion human beings, that means Chinese, they feel proud of it,” he said Sunday in New Delhi, India.