By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
BEIJING, China – Fifty-five Tibetans have received prison sentences for their involvement in anti-government riots on March 14th, according to the vice chairman of the Tibet regional government, Baema Cewang. The prison sentences range from three years to life, Xinhua reported. It did not give details of how the sentences were handed down or what sort of trial the prisoners had received, if any.
The anti-government riot, led by Buddhist monks, erupted in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa on March 14th. The protests soon turned violent, with demonstrators burning vehicles and shops, and attacking Han Chinese living and working in Lhasa. The March riot led to a government crackdown in the region and other Tibetan areas in western China.
The report came as representatives of the Dalai Lama, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, met with Chinese officials to discuss Tibet policies and the status of the Dalai Lama. A senior Chinese official ruled out giving Tibet the kind of autonomy that Beijing grants Hong Kong. Du Qinglin, head of a government department in charge of the talks, says, “It is impossible for Tibet to become independent, semi-independent, or independent in a disguised form, ” and called the Dalai Lama to face reality.
The talks failed to make any progress, according to Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. He said the Dalai Lama side should “shoulder full responsibility for that.” Although the two sides have engaged in “frank and sincere” talks, there are still “serious divergences” of opinion, according to the Chinese government. Mr. Zhu alleged that a memorandum presented by the Tibetans contained proposals were unacceptable, such as a plan to withdraw Chinese troops from Tibetan areas. “It clearly shows they had not given up their dream of independence,” he said. China would not accept any mid-way such as “independence, half-independence or covert independence,” he added.
For more information, please see:
BBC – Tibetans blamed for failed talks – 10 November 2008
CNN – China sentences 55 people over Tibet riots – 05 November 2008
Guardian – China reveals fresh sentences for Tibet unrest – 05 November 2008
New York Times – China Has Sentenced 55 Over Tibet Riot in March – 05 November 2008
XinHua – China says no compromise on national sovereignty, refutes Dalai’s so-called “middle way” – 10 November 2008
