Dozens dead in Tibet riots; China demands surrender (2nd Roundup)

Beijing - Chinese authorities on Saturday deployed troops and tanks in Lhasa, demanding that Tibetan rioters surrender to police or face more serious punishment for the violence that reportedly claimed dozens of lives following escalating pro- independence protests. A mobile telephone image provided by a Tibetan student activist group shows monks and civilians marching despite a heavy police presence in the streets of Sangchu County in the Kanlho Tibetan prefecture in northwest China's Gansu province, 14 March 2008. EPA/TIBETAN STUDENT ACTIVISTS HANDOUT

A mobile telephone image provided by a Tibetan student activist group shows monks and civilians marching despite a heavy police presence in the streets of Sangchu County in the Kanlho Tibetan prefecture in northwest China's Gansu province, 14 March 2008. EPA/TIBETAN STUDENT ACTIVISTS HANDOUT 'We have unconfirmed reports that about 100 people have been killed and martial law imposed in Lhasa,' the Tibetan government-in- exile, based in the Indian city of Dharamsala, said in a statement. US-based Radio Free Asia on Saturday also quoted Tibetans in Lhasa as saying up to 80 people could have died in the rioting. 'There could be about 80 dead, or more, but there is too much commotion here to give an exact number,' the broadcaster quoted one Tibetan witness as saying. The Indian-based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said at least 25 people were believed to have died around the Ramoche monastery, Jokhang temple and Thomsigkhang market in central Lhasa on Friday. 'Confirmed information indicates that hundreds of Tibetans injured in yesterday's protest are hospitalized in various hospitals for treatment,' the centre said. State television on Saturday broadcast its first footage of the rioting, showing burning buildings and vehicles, and groups of protesters breaking into shops apparently unchallenged by police. 'The outbreak of violence died down in Lhasa Friday night, after a tumultuous day that saw windows smashed, shops robbed, a mosque burnt down and reportedly many casualties,' the government's official Xinhua news agency said. The agency quoted officials as saying that at least 10 'innocent civilians,' including two hotel employees and two shop owners, had died in some of the 60 fires recorded in the city on Friday, 'The number of injured and other losses kept rising' and 'many policemen on duty were badly injured,' it said without elaborating. Paramilitary police rescued some 580 people, including three Japanese tourists, from banks, supermarkets, schools and hospitals that were set alight, it said. The rioters would be treated leniently if they turned themselves in by midnight on Monday, and unspecified rewards and protection would be given to anyone providing information on the violence, said a joint notice from the high court, police and state prosecutors in the Tibet Autonomous Region. State media quoted the notice as saying the protests against Chinese rule in Lhasa, the regional capital, since Monday were a 'political conspiracy' by supporters of the exiled Dalai Lama, the highest leader of Tibetan Buddhism. But state media reports denied that the police had opened fire on protesters and said they had only fired warning shots. Radio Free Asia said youths attacked police and businesses run by non-Tibetans during the rioting. 'Several buildings owned by Chinese immigrants and Chinese Muslim immigrants were set on fire,' one witness told the broadcaster. 'All those shops owned by Chinese were ransacked and burned. Tibetan shop owners were told to mark their shops with scarves,' he said. The broadcaster reported that police had 'fired into the crowds' of rioters, but the government on Saturday denied the charge. 'We fired no gunshots,' Xinhua quoted Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the regional government, as saying in Beijing on Saturday. The agency quoted officials as saying the police were 'ordered not to use force against the attackers'. 'But they were forced to use a limited amount of tear gas and fired warning shots to disperse the desperate crowds,' it said. Friday's rioting followed protests by Tibetan monks that began Monday, the 49th anniversary of an uprising against Chinese rule that was crushed by troops. The protests have since spread to several other monasteries in other Tibetan areas of China.

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rock n roll fan .Mar 15th, 2008 - 12:46:39

china should get out of Tibet . let The Dhali Lama return . let the Tibet people have their country to themselves .

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NoharnessMar 15th, 2008 - 13:26:38

By all means, let us be as kind as we can to the Neo-Monarchists ruining China. They are, after all, socialists at heart, right?

Here is the truth. The Muslims and other immigrants in Tibet were brought to Tibet by Despoilers in Beijing in an effort to dilute and marginalize Tibetan culture and religion. Today the goal is the homogenization of China. Tomorrow it will be the homogenization of the world per specifications established in Beijing. Eventually, ALL clocks the world over will be set to Beijing time. All the world will one day bow to the Middle Kingdom.

This is the goal of the Neo-Monarchsts residing in Beijing make no mistake about it. Doest this make them 'Neo-Cons, Tonny?

It does make them despicable, I know that.

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juhaMar 15th, 2008 - 15:47:38

ahhh...with the olymics just around the corner..perfect time for the Tibetans to mount such a campain. the only problem i see with independent movements is they seem to be racially or culturely based, marginalizing those of the populace that arent of the same culture or race.

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tonny from belgiumMar 15th, 2008 - 18:27:09

I'l gladly side with the tibetans in their fight for independance .As for neo-conservatism dear noharness,that is a US domestic product ,involving the US unilateral world domination most of all,you can see it practised by Bush in smearing the UN,trying to impose it's will on every country .There is plenty evidence for all of that.Better avoid confusing the debate,sear noharness.Accusing China of some form of monarchism is another example.You might want to consult the dictionaries on that .

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NoharnessMar 16th, 2008 - 00:05:13

RE:'I'll gladly side with the tibetans in their fight for independance .'

Again we find ourselves in agreement.

RE:'As for neo-conservatism dear noharness,that is a US domestic product ,involving the US unilateral world domination most of all,you can see it practised by Bush in smearing the UN,trying to impose it's will on every country .'

True, the 'neo-cons' really are an American product. One of which I am not too terribly proud or enamored. On the other hand, they do have a great deal in common with the neo-monarchists in Beijing. Both groups originated on the left, then suddenly made a hard right turn. Neither of them have ever given up on their core beliefs nor their rather aggressive agendas.

RE:'There is plenty evidence for all of that.Better avoid confusing the debate,sear noharness.Accusing China of some form of monarchism is another example.You might want to consult the dictionaries on that .'

I call like I see 'em, Tonny. Russia is a 'neo-monarchist' state as well now, only it has overtones of the old Samurai order that once ruled Japan. You should learn to note similarities. They are very often more important than the differences.

Have you not noticed that the Bushbaby seldom says anything bad about the Chinese government? Oh, sure, he pays to lip-service to 'human rights' in China, but what does he DO about it? Nothing.

It's ironic when you do a bit of digging and then pause to do some thinking. You are being screwed in the name of socialism supported by 'kinder and gentler markets'. I and my countrymen are being screwed in the name of 'Capitalism' and 'Free Markets.' We are both being lied to.

Mercantilism is ruining the world, Tonny. In some ways, both of us are 'has beens.'

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TsenamMar 18th, 2008 - 04:09:02

As a Tibetan I am happy to see the arrogant, igorant and sometimes racist comments written by some of the Chinese commentators in many of the blogs.

Imagine if you were a Tibetan in Tibet and the only information that you read were from people like that. Now if you have the appetite multiply this by atleast 10 times because I am sure this is the commentators diluted version.

I recently tried to share Tibetan perspective on some of the Chinese blogs and it got immediately taken out or deleted. It shows how afraid they are to hear different opinions.

Tibetans do not hate Chinese people. Simply put Tibetans want freedom.

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