By Ariel Lin
Impunity Watch Reporter, Asia
BEIJING, China – Hundreds of paramilitary troops converged on foot, trucks and helicopters to Tibetan areas. At least 80 trucks were seen traveling along the main road through the mountains into southeastern Tibet. Others set up camp and patrolled streets in riot gear, helmets and rifles in small towns across a wide swath of western China. The troop mobilization was helping authorities reassert control after the massive demonstrations by Tibetans against Chinese rule in decades. Led by Buddhist monks, protests began peacefully in Lhasa but erupted into rioting March 14, drawing a harsh response from Chinese authorities. Demonstrations had also spread across Tibetan areas of Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces in support of protests that started in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa.
Yesterday, the government also issued a “Most Wanted” list of 21 rioters by posting their photos taken from video cameras and security footage on major Internet portals. The official Xinhua News Agency said two of the 21 suspects had already been arrested and a third turned himself in. They will be charged with “endangering national security, beating, smashing, looting and burning,” in Lhasa. Authorities also called on the public for help, offering rewards for information and guaranteeing the anonymity of tipsters. China also has admitted for the first time that its police have opened fire on four Tibetan protesters, but it insisted that the gunfire was in self-defense.
China’s response to riots in Tibet drew worldwide attention to China’s human rights record, and threatens to overshadow China’s attempts to project an image of unity and prosperity for the Olympics in August. The United Nations’ top human rights body is facing calls to break its silence over China’s crackdown in Tibet and send investigators to the Himalayan region Beijing has closed off to foreigners and journalists.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi met with the Dalai Lama in India and called on the world to denounce China’s crackdown in Tibet. She dismissed China’s claim that the Dalai Lama was behind the violence in Tibet, as making “no sense.” Chinese government made its unhappiness clear concerning Nancy Pelosi meeting the Dalai Lama and her statements on Tibet. The Chinese government warned against any meddling in its “internal affairs” by “any country, organization and person”. Chinese officials also expressed “grave concerns” toward British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s upcoming meeting with the Dalai Lama. Also, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called on China to be open about the situation in Tibet.
However, leaders of numerous countries around the world including Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Pakistan and others have also voiced their support for the Chinese government’s efforts to safeguard territorial integrity and national unity in the face of the recent riots in Tibet. Moreover, Many overseas Chinese groups in South Korea, the United States, Mexico and Egypt as well as Chinese-language newspapers have condemned the riots in Tibet.
For more information, please see:
AP – Chinese Troops Converge in Tibetan Areas – 21 March 2008
AP – China Blankets Tibetan Areas With Troops – 21 March 2008
AP – Pelosi Denounces China’s Tibet Crackdown – 21 March 2008
BBC – Top US lawmaker meets Dalai Lama – 21 March 2008
Canadian Press – China warns British PM about planned meeting with Dalai Lama – 20 March 2008
New York Times – China Admits to Wounding 4 Tibetan Demonstrators – 21 March 2008
Reuters – CHRONOLOGY-Day-by-day record of Tibet protests – 21 March 2008
Reuters – China’s torch climbers denounce Tibet protests – 21 March 2008
Recuters – Germany urges China to open up on Tibet – 21 March 2008
XiHua – Foreign leaders support China’s efforts to defend territorial integrity, national unity – 21 March 2008
XiHua – Overseas Chinese groups, Chinese-language media condemn riots in Tibet – 20 March 2008
XiHua – Vietnam, Cambodia, Bangladesh support China’s actions to stabilize Tibet – 21 March 2008