Riots in Lhasa
03.15.2008 Greetings,
It is with a heavy heart I am reading and hearing about riots and loss of life in Lhasa.
It began on March 10th when monks were arrested following a peaceful protest of the 49th anniversary of a failed uprising. On the 11th, police used tear gas to break up peaceful rallies. Police sealed off key Lhasa monasteries on the 12th - Drepung, Sera and Ganden. Rioting started on the 14th.
Reports coming out of the capital indicate that monks from the Rampoche monastery, about 1/2 mile from central Lhasa making a peaceful march were confronted by the Chinese People's Army.
Reports indicate that young Tibetans may have been involved in torching a tourist bus and looting and burning Chinese owned businesses. Their frustration over the heavy handed Chinese military and secret police presence, ongoing deterioration of religious freedom and proliferation of Chinese business - an insidious economic genocide - especially in the central Barkhor area has turned violent.
Restricted religious freedom in monasteries, mass arrests and torture have been a way of life for Tibetans since 1959. 1.2 million Tibetans have died. Thousands fled over the Himalayas.
Tibetans continue peaceful rallies and speaking out against the oppression in Nepal, India and other countries around the world.
You can hear about my experiences in Tibet in Middle Kingdom podcasts #20 and #24.
Peace.
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