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Hundreds of Tibetans protest against Chinese rule as leaders gather in Beijing Hundreds of Tibetans protest against Chinese rule as leaders gather in Beijing
(10 days later)
Hundreds of Tibetans have joined a demonstration in a town in western China, witnesses say, calling for freedom from Chinese rule in the latest act of protest apparently timed to send a signal to the Communist party elite as it gathers in Beijing to induct a new leadership.Hundreds of Tibetans have joined a demonstration in a town in western China, witnesses say, calling for freedom from Chinese rule in the latest act of protest apparently timed to send a signal to the Communist party elite as it gathers in Beijing to induct a new leadership.
The protesters, mostly high school students, marched through the town of Rongwo, shouting for independence and for the return from exile of their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, according to residents and people visiting the town.The protesters, mostly high school students, marched through the town of Rongwo, shouting for independence and for the return from exile of their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, according to residents and people visiting the town.
"It was chaos this morning," said a Tibetan painter who lives nearby on Friday."It was chaos this morning," said a Tibetan painter who lives nearby on Friday.
The protest was the largest demonstration after days of growing tensions in the town, which sits at the edge of the Tibetan plateau and is dominated by the 600-year-old Rongwo monastery.The protest was the largest demonstration after days of growing tensions in the town, which sits at the edge of the Tibetan plateau and is dominated by the 600-year-old Rongwo monastery.
A 22-year-old Tibetan farmer said protesters had started gathering at about 4am near a local high school not far from the monastery and swelled into the thousands. He said the protests were led by hundreds of teenage students, who were joined by local farmers.A 22-year-old Tibetan farmer said protesters had started gathering at about 4am near a local high school not far from the monastery and swelled into the thousands. He said the protests were led by hundreds of teenage students, who were joined by local farmers.
The painter and farmer both spoke by telephone on condition of anonymity out of fear of government reprisals.The painter and farmer both spoke by telephone on condition of anonymity out of fear of government reprisals.
Government offices in Rongwo, known as Longwu in Chinese, and the county overseeing it in Qinghai province either declined to comment or did not answer telephone calls.Government offices in Rongwo, known as Longwu in Chinese, and the county overseeing it in Qinghai province either declined to comment or did not answer telephone calls.
Police kept watch over the protest but did not immediately make any arrests, said a mechanic who would give only his surname, Ma.Police kept watch over the protest but did not immediately make any arrests, said a mechanic who would give only his surname, Ma.
The march comes after five Tibetans set themselves on fire this week, two of them in the area near Rongwo. The immolations are the latest of more than 50 such acts over the past year which Tibetans say show their growing desperation living under tighter religious and social controls imposed by China.The march comes after five Tibetans set themselves on fire this week, two of them in the area near Rongwo. The immolations are the latest of more than 50 such acts over the past year which Tibetans say show their growing desperation living under tighter religious and social controls imposed by China.
In Beijing, Tibetan Communist party officials attending the party congress told reporters they believed much of the blame for the spate of self-immolations fell on the Dalai Lama and his associates, who they said were instigating the protests.In Beijing, Tibetan Communist party officials attending the party congress told reporters they believed much of the blame for the spate of self-immolations fell on the Dalai Lama and his associates, who they said were instigating the protests.
"Everyone can see that these incidents are being manipulated by external Tibetan forces. They are calling the self-immolations heroic acts and making the self-immolators out to be heroes," said Lobsang Gyaincain, the Chinese-appointed vice-governor of Tibet."Everyone can see that these incidents are being manipulated by external Tibetan forces. They are calling the self-immolations heroic acts and making the self-immolators out to be heroes," said Lobsang Gyaincain, the Chinese-appointed vice-governor of Tibet.
Gyaincain is in charge of "maintaining stability", the party's catchphrase for policing, surveillance and other efforts aimed at quashing unrest.Gyaincain is in charge of "maintaining stability", the party's catchphrase for policing, surveillance and other efforts aimed at quashing unrest.
"The external Tibetan forces and the Dalai clique are sacrificing other people's lives to attain their secret political motives," Gyaincain said in response to a reporter's question at a meeting of the region's delegates to the party congress."The external Tibetan forces and the Dalai clique are sacrificing other people's lives to attain their secret political motives," Gyaincain said in response to a reporter's question at a meeting of the region's delegates to the party congress.
The official defended the party's religious policies, saying the authorities protected religious freedom but that Tibetan temples and monks had to undergo political and patriotic education.The official defended the party's religious policies, saying the authorities protected religious freedom but that Tibetan temples and monks had to undergo political and patriotic education.
Tibet support groups overseas said the increase in protests in recent days was meant to highlight Tibetan unhappiness with Chinese rule as the country's current leaders begin to hand over power to younger successors at a party congress in Beijing.Tibet support groups overseas said the increase in protests in recent days was meant to highlight Tibetan unhappiness with Chinese rule as the country's current leaders begin to hand over power to younger successors at a party congress in Beijing.
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