西藏拉薩大規模騷亂 - 极品民工

Riots erupted in Tibet Friday (3/14) on the third day of protests against China's rule over the province. The violence is the worst in Tibet since 1989 and seems to end the hopes of China's leaders for a quiet Olympics. 西藏拉薩發生大規模騷亂，暴徒搶掠燒車破壞，當局指十二人死亡，藏獨人士說一百名示威者被殺。有在當地旅遊的港人說，拉薩街頭人流稀疏，有坦克駐守。西藏自治區政府指證據顯示是達賴集團策劃襲擊。自治區政府證實死亡人數增至二十二人，包括一名民警三名暴徒，另有六百二十四名民眾、公安及武警受傷。至今有二百多人向公安投案。

Tibet

The Tibetan capital Lhasa has seen heavy clashes overnight between Chinese police and protesters. The normally peaceful Tibetan Capital Lhasa was last night a place of gunshots, fires and heavily-armed police. A week of protests against Chinese rule had led to escalating tensions between monks and security forces. Last Monday (3/10) a group of protesting monks were arrested, prompting more monks to march on the capital calling for their release. Eye witnesses say the latest clashes occurred after police prevented a further protest yesterday. By last night Chinese shops were being smashed and parts of old Lhasa caught fire. As paramilitary police patrolled the streets, gun shots were heard and tanks were seen near the iconic Potala Palace.

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The biggest protests by Tibetan monks in 20 years have spilled over into some Chinese provinces. Tibetans have demonstrated in China's northwestern province of Qinghai and the neighbouring province of Gansu. It follows protest marches around the world to mark the 49th anniversary of an uprising against communist rule in Tibet. On Monday (3/10), 500 monks marched through the Tibetan capital, Lhasa. The human rights group, Amnesty International, condemns what it calls the harsh crackdown on the monks in Lhasa. It is calling on China to immediately release all those detained. China's foreign ministry says the protests are illegal and threaten social stability. In a related development, Indian police have arrested 100 Tibetan exiles trying to walk to their homeland from the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Tibet and the Olympics 3/13 SB120535896141831595

China says preparations are in place to stop campaigners opposed to Beijing's rule of Tibet from protesting in the Himalayan region before and during the Olympics. Pro-Tibetan independence groups have already sought to use the Olympics as a platform to publicise their cause with publicity stunts in Tibet and Beijing. Last April five Americans from Students for a Free Tibet staged a demonstration on Mount Everest in which they called for Tibetan independence. And in August, during celebrations to mark the one-year countdown to the Games, another six foreign free-Tibet activists staged a two-hour protest on the Great Wall near Beijing. Authorities now warned anyone aligned to exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama to stay clear of the region. Meanwhile Beijing will tighten controls on foreign performers after singer Bjork referred to Tibet at a Shanghai concert.

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ALL EYES ON LHASA

Interactive map: Central Lhasa | Photos: Tibet Protests

The World: Tibet protests | Complete Coverage: TROUBLE IN TIBET

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