very important topic has been in the news over the last few days and I think that it is very important that everyone understands the events that are happening Tibet.
This picture is of Chinese riot police in Lhasa
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/15/world/asia/15tibet.html?scp=1&sq=Violence+in+tibet&st=nyt
Over the last week there have been riots in Tibet's capital Lhasa. Peaceful protests started on Monday by Buddhist Monks who were protesting against the religious restrictions set forth by the Chinese. On Friday the 14 of March the protesting turned violent. It is unclear what set of the violence, because there are conflicting reports from Tibetans and Chinese. The New York Times reported that "Monks starting marching the Barkhor Area in protest to the rough treatment of monks, who had marched earlier in the week, according to a Tibetan Rights advocate" (Yardkey, 2008). Chinese police arrived on the scene and started beating the Monks and Tibetan rioters in Barkhor area; this lead to angry mobs setting fire to a police car and a store owned by a Chinese store keeper. This was reported by the Tibetan Advocate in the US who had been in contact with Tibetans.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7297911.stm
It is hard to find what really happened but from what I can gather many cars and stores where burnt.
There are conflicting reports on the death toll as well. The Chinese government has reported that only 10 people have died but Tibetan sources have said over 100 people have died. The BBC has quoted the Tibetan government in exile saying "There have been 30 confirmed deaths until today, and over 100 unconfirmed deaths" (Yardkey, 2008) .It is hard to know exactly how many people have died, but the number is not important. The important fact is that people are being killed.
The riots have coincided with the anniversary of a failed 1959 Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule that forced the Dalai Lama to flee to India. The demonstration in Lhasa is the largest Tibetan protest against the Chinese since 1989. Also the Tibetans might be trying to draw attention to china as the Olympics starting in a few months. The Chinese government does not what to be known for what they are doing to Tibet and they want the Olympics to be peaceful. The Tibetans are well aware of this and because all eyes are on china right now for the Olympics that Chinese government is holding back on the amount of force putting on Tibet.
I am not a huge fan of the Chinese government and what they are doing to Tibet. I think that the Chinese are trying to take away all freedoms from the Tibetans and making them give up their culture and religion. I also don't think that the information that they release is 100% accurate. If anyone one knows anything about Tibetans and Buddhist they know that they are a peace people and violence is not really in their nature. Every time in the last 50 years the Tibetans have tried to fight the Chinese they have lost many of their people.
Figure 1 Hundreds of minks took to the streets, defying Chinese authorities
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7298617.stm
The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader living in exile, condemns violence. He has openly come out and said numerous times that he is against violence and believes that violence will not solve anything and wants to have peace communications with the Chinese government.
The Chinese government is blaming the Dalai Lama for the violent protesting. A report was released by Xinhua, the Chinese government's official news agency stating that "The government of Tibet Autonomous Region said Friday there has been enough evidence to prove that the recent sabotage was organized, premeditated and masterminded by the Dalai clique" (Yardkey, 2008). In response the Dalai Lama released a statement "calling on both sides to avoid violence and appealing to China's leads to address the long simmering resentment of the Tibetan people through dialog with the Tibetan people" (Yardkey, 2008).
It is hard to know what exactly is happening in Lhasa but whatever is happening isn't good. I think that it is time for the international community to step up and help the Tibetan people. We have turned a blind eye long enough. Hopefully the Beijing Olympics will draw attention to this matter.
The following pictures are from the BBC webpage "In Pictures: Tibet aftermath"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7298022.stm
Figure 2 This picture from the official Xinhua news agency shows shops that were attacked by protesters. The authorities say 10 people - mostly business people - were killed.
Figure 3 This picture - sent to the BBC by a reader - shows troops patrolling Lhasa's streets on Saturday - when some small-scale clashes were reported.
Figure 4 The head of Tibet's government, Champa Phuntsok, urged those involved to give themselves in. He promised leniency if they do, but a harsh response if they do not.
Figure 5 Exiled Tibetans in several countries - including neighbouring Nepal - demonstrated their support for the protesters.
Figure 6 In the Indian capital, Delhi, police had to restrain Tibetan activists who marched on the Chinese embassy.
Figure 7 Meanwhile far from the unrest in Lhasa, the National People's Congress - Beijing's rubber-stamp legislature - was a picture of order and discipline.
For more information go to
www.nytime.com
Works Cited
BBC World News. (2008, march 15). Asia-Pacific. Retrieved March 15, 2008, from BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7297911.stm
Yardkey, J. (2008, March 15). World. Retrieved march 15, 2008, from New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/15/world/asia/15tibet.html?scp=1&sq=Violence+in+tibet&st=nyt
