A Tibetan monk pleads for mercy as the police arrested them during anti-China protests in front of the United Nations office in Kathmandu March 15, 2008.
(Deepa Shrestha/Reuters)
By Benjamin Kang Lim and Chris Buckley
BEIJING (Reuters) – Chinese officials have declared a “people’s war” of security and propaganda against support for the Dalai Lama in Tibet after riots racked the regional capital Lhasa, and some sources claimed the turmoil killed dozens.
Residents of the remote city high in the Himalayas said on Sunday that anti-riot troops controlled the streets and were closely checking Tibetan homes after protests and looting shook the heavily Buddhist region
Two days ago Tibetan protesters, some in Buddhist monks’ robes and some yelling pro-independence slogans, trashed shops, attacked banks and government offices and wielded stones and knives against police.
China has said at least 10 “innocent civilians” died, mostly in fires lit by rioters.
But an outside Tibetan source with close ties in Lhasa said that number was far too low. He cited a contact who claimed to have counted many more corpses of people killed in the riots or subsequent crackdown.
“He said there were 67 bodies in one morgue alone,” the source told Reuters. “He saw it with his own eyes.”
The self-proclaimed Tibetan government-in-exile in northern India has said some 30 people were killed in clashes with Chinese authorities. Beijing bans foreign reporters from freely reporting in Tibet, so the conflicting claims cannot be easily checked.
The convulsion of Tibetan anger at the Chinese presence in the region came after days of peaceful protests by monks and was a sharp blow to Beijing’s preparations for the Olympic Games in August, when China wants to showcase prosperity and unity.
The monks took to the streets on Monday to mark the 49th anniversary of an earlier uprising.
The protest later spread to Chinese areas inhabited by Tibetans. Xiahe in Gansu province saw hundreds of monks and lay residents march in peaceful defiance, to judge from pictures sent to reporters.
Chinese authorities have now signaled a sweeping campaign to redouble security in the region and attack public support for the Dalai Lama, who fled into exile in 1959 after that year’s failed uprising.
“This grave incident of fighting, wrecking, looting and burning was meticulously planned by reactionary separatist forces here and abroad, and its goal was Tibetan independence,” a Saturday meeting of senior regional and security officials announced, according to the official Tibet Daily on Sunday.
“Fight a people’s war to oppose separatism and protect stability … expose and condemn the malicious actions of these forces and expose the hideous face of the Dalai clique to broad daylight.”
The meeting was attended by Tibet’s hardline Communist Party boss, Zhang Qingli, and senior central government security officials, and it strengthens signs that China has no patience with international calls for a lenient response to the riots.
Authorities have already set an ultimatum to rioters, urging them to hand themselves in to police by Monday midnight and gain possible clemency, or face harsh punishment.
The government has mobilized officially favored Buddhist monks to denounce the protests and the Dalai Lama, the Tibet Daily reported.
“The Party’s policies on religious freedom have been very well observed,” one said, according to the paper.
“But monks in a few monasteries don’t study the scriptures well … and coordinate from afar with the Dalai clique.”
International pressure has mounted on China to show restraint. Australia, the United States and Europe have urged China to find a peaceful outcome, and Japan has expressed concern.
Lhasa residents contacted by telephone, including some who spoke relatively freely a day or two ago, were frightened and reluctant to say much even anonymously.
“There are police checking our homes and handing out warnings,” said a shopkeeper who lives near the old Tibetan part of Lhasa that saw torrid rioting. “Now is not the time to talk.”
The Dalai Lama earlier released a statement urging China not to use “brute force” against protests, and his representatives have said the charge that they organized the violent protests was ridiculous.
The Dalai Lama, who won the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, has said he only wants greater autonomy for Tibet. To the great majority of Buddhist Tibetans, he remains a powerful and venerated figure.
I am bothered by this “People’s War” declared by China. Let us stand shoulder to shoulder with the Tibetians. Just like what China is doing in our country, they are exerting their muscle & bullying Tibet. I agree with Richard Gere that should China “not act properly”, the world should boycott the Beijing Olympics !
To China: “Back Off !”
Huwag naman sana mangyari ang ganito sa atin..
If we are not careful, we will be subjected to the same treatment as Tibet! China wants to dominate Asia. She starts with corrupt countries like the Philippines to slowly take over the region. We are very proximate to China.
I wonder what kind of agreements Tibet entered into with China that the former is being treated like a possession.
In 1989,several hundred civilians have been shot dead by the Chinese army during a bloody military operation to crush a democratic protest in Peking’s Beijing Tiananmen Square.I hope this won’t be repeated again.
How much more for the Filipinos if we become under Chinese rule.
I call to all Ellenville people to pray for Tibet. In One-ness with our Buddhist brothers, prayers are our best weapon to counter these forces of aggression. Yep, China is much like any super power around—a bully.
Pray for the people of Tibet, pray for the Buddhist monks.
I was looking thru the pictures of the demonstration in Tibet and came across pictures of Tibetan exiles demonstrating in India too. India looks like they are just following China’s violent methods. After talking to some of my Tibetan friends who are stationed in India, I know
that they are not in a good predicament. India fears China. The only reason why India has allowed Tibetan refugees to stay this long is because the Dalai Lama is a popular international figure. Tibetans have not been given Indian passports and continue to hold refugee status.
The fear that most Tibetans have is when the Dalai Lama dies – will India kick them out? Will India send them back to Tibet to suffer under the hands of the Chinese government even more? Many strongly believe so. I can’t imagine what will happen to the Tibetan people when the Dalai Lama passes away. The cultural genocide in Tibet has already obliterated much of their rich cultural and religious history.
PSB,
Tibet did not enter into any agreements with China. It was a pure invasion.
Buddhist monks are courageous fighting for who Tibetans are. In 1998, hubby and I were in Tibet. We went to Shigatse, one of the more populous province of Tibet but was forbidden to stay overnight because the monks in the monastery were fighting the Chinese for the disappearance of the young Panchen Lama, second in line to the Dalai Lama. China kidnapped the Tibet’s Pachen Lama, believed to have been killed, and replaced him with their own. (Shades of Arroyo’s regime, nawawala na lang basta!)
The United Nations is inutile when it comes to Tibet because China is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Laging bulilyaso ang anumang motion for the good of Tibet. Kaya si Richard Gere na lang ang lumalaban para sa mga Tibetans.
We can’t be as complacent as many who can care only for fattening their pockets with crumbs from the national treasury being stolen by Gloria Dorobo and Company regarding their attempt to pawn or make collaterals of the patrimonies and/or territories of the Philippines in the country and abroad. They should be stopped now.
Filipinos should not wait for the Chinese to make true of their threat to make war with the Philippines and start annexing territories as it did to Tibet, etc.
Personally, I am joining the Tibetan protest in Tokyo versus China, which should leave the peaceful Tibetans alone.
With your indulgence, this is off topic: As a Filipino, I rejoice the victory of our Manny Pacquiao over Mexican’s Marquez. But like many boxing experts mostly our own local RP analysts, Marquez should have won. It was a close fight but Marquez actually scored more points. The only thing that could have saved Manny was the knockdown; but the rest of the rounds clearly showed Marquez leading. It was a split decision making it an unpopular one. What went wrong and why this controversy this time? Well, the judges should be investigated, claimed by some. Here’s my own analysis: To up her very low popularity rating and to use Pacquiao’s victory again to hide her many scandals, Arroyo could have used money to bribe the judges; at least two of them. How?
Nation’s Number one Gambling Lord Chavit Singson was in Las Vegas days before the fight. Las Vegas is the Gambling City of the world where shady characters frequent. The whole place is run by Mafia. We should not be surprised if Singson has long been part of this International Mafia. Singson could have brought Pidal’s money over there in Las Vegas to fix the fight. A defeat by Pacquiao would anger the already volatile population in RP that might hasten the ouster of Arroyo. Pacquiao’s victory is all Malacanang is needed to counter the protests against Arroyo. Expect photo-ups in Malacanang, propaganda, publicity to favor Arroyo. That would keep her happy for a while and people’s anger subsides a little. Anyway, congratulation Manny! If I were you, use this victory as an opportunity to ask Arroyo to resign…if you are a true Filipino, Manny.
The Tibetan crisis is only a preview of our days to come. Since we cannot decide what to do with our country, let a second opinion intervene. The third party surely is China. China could eradicate the severe corruption in the country that we only now recognise (just because others say so). Its better to live under the Chinese than live with corrupt kingpins and local dictators.
It appeared to me that Manny was lousy in the fight. He was very vain and noisy earlier. Pacman and the Mexicans are moneymakers so a rematch is more possble if they would give the belt to Pacman.
Not even a third party or any other foreign country could stop China from asserting her control over Tibet which she long claims to be part of China. Of course US and other parties with vested interest would try to influence the situation and add more flame to the fire; but that’s all they could do. China to show her power and strength will not hesitate to kill thousands. Let’s hope Arroyo won’t learn this from China and one day also hurt our people demanding her resignation.
Rematch means more money. To justify rematch, the fight should be close and controversial. Manny is a gambling addict himself. He’s into cockfighting and casino. Unless he won convincingly, a close fight…a split decision is viewed with suspicion and doubt….especially if one is in the company of criminal elements like Chavit Singson.
And did you see Chavit Singson climb up the ring in jubiliation? How much did Singson win?
Red China invaded and annexed Tibet against Tibetan’s will. Beijing’s people’s war will be bloody and may lead to ethnic cleansing. Tibetans are out numbered by Chinese migrants in their homeland. The Chinese can annex Kalayaan Group Is. without firing a single shot. They just bribe local surrogates like Gloria Arroyo and Jose Pidal and his cronies to complete final annexation process. Malacanang Mafia already got their initial down payments thru fat commissions from $8 billion loan.
Just like our corrupt Bishops here, some Tibetan monks are also in the payroll of the Chinese government. So, these pro-China monks are denouncing the protesters.
Pacquiao Victory Fixed?
MANILA, Philippines – Some Filipino boxing analysts on Sunday said they believe Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez won over Manny Pacquiao in their rematch in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao won a narrow split decision to claim Marquez’s WBC 130-pound title Saturday night (late Sunday morning in Manila) in a sensational fight that left two of the world’s best boxers bloody and triumphant.
Boxing columnist Ronnie Nathanielsz said if one would look at the scorecard, Marquez out pointed Pacquiao.
Nathanielsz, however, said that when Pacquiao floored Marquez in the third round, it saved the Filipino boxing icon’s day.
Though Marquez landed more punches at a higher percentage, Pacquiao (46-3-2) knocked down Marquez (48-4-1) in the third round and persevered through a nasty cut. Marquez also was cut, but neither backed down from one scintillating exchange after another.
Boxing analyst Recah Trinidad said Marquez should have been declared winner of the match. He believes Marquez led by two to three points over Pacquiao.
Trinidad called for a probe to remove doubts that the fight was rigged.
Boxing expert Ed Tolentino is also convinced that Marquez was the real winner. According to Tolentino, Pacquiao won the bout because he is more “marketable” than Marquez.
In order to dispel doubts on Pacquiao’s victory, Tolentino urged the Filipino boxing hero to accept Marquez’ request for a rematch.
Sports critics Ed Picson and Dennis Principe said Pacquiao gained the edge when he knocked down Marquez in the third round.
Not contented with his advice to Erap not to enter politics again, Cebu’s Cardinal Vidal ordered all the priests in Cebu not to offer Mass for Jun Lozada. What’s wrong with Vidal? What’s going on with him? Wasn’t he once among Gloria’s critics? And today, Vidal has become Malacanang’s defender. Vidal, Rosales…may you two go to hell !
Gloria Arroyo and Esperon will exploit Philippine Army reserve Master Sergeant Manny Pacquiao’s WBC boxing crown victory to boost their sagging popularity. They might promote him to the next rank Sergeant Major/ Command Sergeant Major. I believe Pacman won fair and square. He is a better power puncher than Juan Marquez. Pero si Gloria ay great cheater at usurper.
Manny might even be promoted to Lieutenant. He keeps on winning, one day we may still see a Col. Pacquiao or Gen. Pacquiao commanding a battalion of gamblers and crooks in the military.
Sa dami ng nanalo sa pustahan sa laban ni Money Pac-quiao..na pac-quiao na nga nila at ang kanilang mga pera na galing sa Tong Pats ay uulan sa atin..sabihin nanalo sila sa laban ni Money..Incidentally, are gambling winnings taxable sa Phil.? I think dito sa States taxable..thus winnings over $600 (I think) are reported..ano kaya pustahan nila Chavit etc. Legit kaya ang kanilang pustahan or ala Sabong..hindi na record? sayang ang tax money na nawala…kung sa bagay marami naman ang nawawala sa gobierno
Rose, they pay taxes in the US but not necessarily in the Philippines. You know how our BIR ang government are…selective prosecution.
I hope hindi nabenta ni GMA ang Pilipinas sa China..but if she did by whatever agreement..nag traidor siya sa ating bayan..kung ganoon di si Judas siya..kasi si Judas nag traidor kay Jesus Christ..Kay Judas 28 silver coins..magkano daman kaya ang kay GMA?
bitchevil: that is what I thought and maybe ang pustahan ay sa US pero ala sabong ..walang record…at maybe ang bayaran ay sa atin..no money laundering..no taxes pa..grabe! just wondering sa ganoong klaseng transaction..no trail..may gntleman’s agreement kaya sila?
Sabit swingson is a regular in Las Vegas. The allegation that he may be a conduit to Pacman’s winning by bribery of the judges is not remote. Sabit is the Fatso’s sidekick! Fatso nad SAbit are gambling buddies! Las Vegas is just like Quiapo to them. Sabit is a regular at the Mandalay Bay even reserving rooms for dozens of people and not just for one night but for weeks even. Guess who foots the bill?
China is a country of over a billion people. Even if China makes all our shoes, clothes and all other consumer products, it is still dealing with its own economic problems. Just lately, the harsh winter killed hundreds in the provinces.
Corruption is also their way of life. China is now into bribing corrupt countries worldwide to sell more of their products. Products with chemicals rejected by the US and Europe find their way in these third world countries.
Our proximity to China is indeed an enticement for China to strategically have a piece of our land and resources. China is one big country but does not have the uniqueness of our 7000 plus islands. China would be more than glad to make our islands their private vacation place. Talagang ingat lang tayo because like a blooming young lady to China, the Philippines is ripe for courtship and marriage. Si Evil Bitch ang dakilang “BUGAW”!
I lost interest in Pacman when he allowed himself to be used in politics. Mabuti nga at na-onse siya. His handlers wanted him to use his own money for his ads etc in the elections and he was promised that the money would be returned to him. But when he lost, he did not get the money back. NAONSE siya! Lately I do not see him associate himself much with the Atienzas and not even hear him praise the Evil Bitch which he used to do. I heard that he is concentrating on his private academic studies. If his intention is to be a politician one day, he has to prepare himself academically as well. Oterwise he will become like another Lapid and Revilla. Hanggang saling pusa na lang at papormaporma!
Does it ever occur in your mind and ask why the Tibet protests and riots are happening today just months away from the Beijing Olympic? While I condemn in strongest term the victims and Chinese’s brutality towards Tibetans, I can’t help to suspect there’s some foreign hand in this. That foreign hand is no other than China’s number one rival, the US. Let’s hope it won’t happen in Spratly or any part of the Philippines. The US has history of using other countries as pawns to get back at their enemies they find difficult to bully.
Bitchevil, who do you think has a hand in the NBN-ZTE expose and the Spratley’s? Eh di siempre ang US. Using our own system, the US through a few whistle blowers(and their handlers whoever they are) has uncovered the anomalies. Whether the anomalies will be fully investigated, that is a million dollar question. It looks like the US just wants the Evil Bitch to curtail her flirting ways with China! US wants these China projects aborted! But it is not to say that the US wants the Evil Bitch out! They like her in power because for the most part the Evil Bitch allows them to operate in the guise of “Balikatan” in the South and she is able to protect the multi-national companies(the elite of our country are partners with these businesses) through tax breaks etc… The US just wants her “being too friendly with China” curtailed. US is happy for as long as they are allowed to poke their noses in what is going on in our country and for as long as their commercial and military interests with the country are protected. If the US wants the Evil Bitch out, she will be out in a second. But they would rather have the Evil Bitch than have a president whose main agenda is to take care of the poor, as in the case of Erap. That would have meant that the multinational businesses would be taxed more and their profit margins diminished.
China will find other means to dominate us one way or the other. But the US has his hands on us first and the US will not allow China to have its hold with the same intensity as tha US has on us. Traditionally, we were and still is an ally to the US. China will have a hard time severing that. Dahil sa katakawan ni Evil Bitch sa pera, she tried to sell us to China but now that her greed is uncovered, she will not succeed. There will be more exposes as the days go by. We have not even started with the rails(North and South) yet.
The tengang daga would have expedited all the exposes but he prefers to clam up! Because he is as much a party to the sell outs as the Evil Bitch is!
I have a hunch that Joey and Lozada are protected one way or the other by an unseen hand. This is to remind the Evil Bitch that she can not just do what China wants!
Look at Kenny (the US Ambassador) with all smiles in her appearances in big events! She is comfortable because everything she sees and hears definitely gets addressed by Uncle Sam!
All these anomalies with China may take years to unravel. It would be great if at the end of the Evil Bitches’ term( if she is not ousted before then) all her sins to the country will be put together and when her immunity from suits run out, she will go to jail or exiled. I prefer her going to a real jail, not just in a rest house like Erap!
Good analysis. I’m now reminded of that arrest of Michael Ray Aquino and Fil-Am Agoncillo. That controversy came out at the same time when Joc Joc Bolante was being hunted and prosecuted. The US knows how to play the game very well. They are expert in blackmailing other countries and government.
If Jocjoc was not kept in the US, matagal ng wala si Evil Bitch! But the US put her there and wants her there unless she misbehaves!
Why is no one asking and bringing up the issue of Jocjoc again?
Isang simboliko na isang babaeng lider na bumisita sa kampo ng MILF si KK(Kenney).
Parang ito yung babaeng lider na si Madeleine Albright noong kapanahunan niya.
Karirinig ko lang sa radio: mainit na ang demonstration sa Chinese sa NYC..
Comparing what’s happening now in Tibet’s streets on how the Chinese occupational forces handles street rallies, we can’t help but remember the scenes in Recto when the over agressive protectors of gloria were hosing the frail body of former VP Tito Guinggona with a water cannon blast when the former senior government official was having a peaceful demonstrations together with a number of citizens who came not from the crime infested slums but from the different educated civil society groups. It can be compared on how the military and police dogs of gloria are used to stop and prevent protesters from nearby provinces of Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna from joining their fellow protesters in Makati City to air out their strong voice of grievances against the despicable corrupt ridden regime of gloria and her horde. It’s no wonder that gloria and mainland China’s top party dogs are smootching each other’s asses, they are all dogs of the same bloodlines.
Paging Cardinal Vidal and Cardinal Rosales, you are needed in Tibet. Kung nahihiya kayo na manguna dito, puwedi doon. Kung gusto nang ibang bishop na dedma lang sa paghahanap ng katotohan, sumama na rin kayo. Baka kayo ang pakikinggan ng mga Chinese pulis a military. Kung okay lang sa inyo now na kasi marami na dito ang naiinip na magbakasyon muna kayo.
there is no question that china is a bully but it also chooses the countries it bullies.pinas i think is a candidate judging from the connections china made with the present administration.at this time of globalisation it is also very important to choose ones friends.
Rose,
Kasi sa NYC ay malaki ang community ng Tibetan refugees. I have Tibetan high monks friends residing there. Visit ko sila almost every year…next time dadaan ako sa iyo.
KapitanKidlat,
Wala ni sa kalingkingan ng mga Tibetan monks ang mga Catholic bishops sa diocese of EK pag dating sa nationalismo at TRUTH. Mga ordinaryong monks pa yang nagra-rally, like those in Myanmar.
Norpil,
Agree! Gloria opened Pinas to China’s bullishness. Dapat sa impaktang babae na ‘yan ay ibitin ng patiwarik! With GloriaAsspweron’s kind of military; religious leaders like Rosales and Vidal; and politicians waiting for 2010, we haven’t seen nothing yet!
‘Deficient’ AFP ready to defend RP territories, says Asspweron.
Nagtatapang-tapangan ang supot! Baka sigawan lang ito ng isang Chinese fisherman ay bumunghalit ng iyak!
Norpil, it’s not only China that chooses the countries she wants to bully; same with the US. I would like to see a China-US fight similar to Pacquiao-Marquez fight.
Re: ‘Deficient’ AFP ready to defend RP territories, says Asspweron.
Tirador at fart bomb siguro ang itapat ni Assperon sa Chinese naval blockcade ng Kalayaan Is. Nagyabang pa ang war freak.
Do not worry much on any Chinese invasion or sea blockades. The chinese military is the PLA. Meaning dominantly army or landlubbers. Those on ships are fairweather or river mariners.
The words of their higher ups have wisdom and scary and followed to the letter. They are senior citizens. They are of the old school. They put more emphasis on the foot soldiers.
Noong panahong 1999 na busy sa pangngampanya si Georgie Bush Jr sa pampanguluhan ng Amerika, naitanong sa kanya sa isang press conference kung alam ba nito kung saan sa mapa ng daigdig ang KOSOVO?
Pero ngayon tanungin mo sa pangkaraniwang Chinoy, ano ba ang Tibet?
Ano ba ang two-country one-identity?