SOH News

Breaking News – Bloodshed as the Chinese government brings terror to Lhasa

Large scale protests have broken out as Tibetan monks remembered the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan Anti-violence Day on March 10. The protest has extended to provinces including Qinghai and Gansu in China where ethnic Tibetans reside. On March 14th, the longest and biggest protest against the Chinese communist rule since 1989 erupted in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa. Eyewitnesses have confirmed that many shops and cars have been set on fire and shots were fired in the streets. Simultaneously in China around 4000 people put on a protest demonstration in Xiahe city in Gansu province.
Chinese officials have admitted to using guns and tear gas to crackdown on the monks and rioters killing 7 people. However, the Tibetan Government in Exile in the north of India has said that the Chinese military police have killed around 100 Tibetan protestors and continue to injure many others.

Interviews with local residents by SOH reporters on March 16th have revealed that the Chinese regime called an immediate stop to work and school classes after the sudden eruption of the large scale demonstration. Residents were also ordered to stay indoors. According to eyewitnesses, large groups of police, Chinese military, tank and armored vehicles lined the streets of Lhasa on March 15th. However there were still hundreds of Lamas who staged a protest march from the famous Labolengshi Temple.

Currently groups of police and military are stationed in Lhasa. They have surrounded 3 ancient temples. There are 2000 people barricaded within the Sera monastery. They are cut off from outside communication and food supplies. According to reports, two monks have slit their wrists in protest and the situation there is becoming critical. According to media, 14 monks have been arrested and 2 other monks from the Sera monastery have self-immolated. Currently there are large groups of Chinese communist military searching private residents sending Lhasa city into even more chaos and despair.

A number of community groups and democratic leaders in Hong Kong have voiced their concerns, including a protest to the Liaison Office of the Central People’s government to ask the Chinese Communist Party to respect the International Convention on Human Rights and the Olympic Charter and immediately cease the bloodshed and crackdown.

Chairman of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China has said that there are some governments who have ignored the human rights situation in China due to trade and economic reasons and that he believes that the people of those countries will oppose these governments disgraceful lack of action.

The above news is brought to you by Qian Wen and hosted by Daniel Teng for Breaking News on the SOH Radio Network