Troubles in China

[The understudy]

Hello Y'all

There's Trouble in Tibet that gives China major headaces.

Deaths reported in Tibet protests

Stones were thrown and buildings burnt in Lhasa
Clashes between protesters and security forces in Tibet's main city, Lhasa, have left at least two people dead, according to reports.
An emergency official said that many people had been hurt and an unspecified number had died.

The US-based Radio Free Asia quoted witnesses who said they had seen at least two bodies on Lhasa's streets.

Tibet's government would "deal harshly" with the protesters, its Chairman Qiangba Puncog warned.

"We will deal harshly with these criminals who are carrying out activities to split the nation," he told the Associated Press news agency, denying that police had opened fire.

China's state-run Xinhua news agency earlier said police had fired warning shots and used tear gas to disperse protesters.

Rallies have continued all week in what are said to be the largest protests against Beijing's rule in 20 years.

'Totally crazy'

A Western tourist in the city told the BBC: "[The rioters] seemed to go for all the Chinese shops and the Chinese people as well. I saw quite a few Chinese people beaten up... it turned totally crazy."

One monk was kicked in the stomach right in front of us and then beaten on the ground



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Another eyewitness said there were tanks on the street and he had seen people being carried away on stretchers.

British journalist James Miles, in Lhasa, told the BBC rioters took control of the city centre on Friday.

He some were looting shops and "taking out the contents and throwing them on huge fires which they've lit in the street".

China's government is braced for any further unrest on Saturday, with reports that a curfew is in place.

TIBET DIVIDE

China says Tibet always part of its territory
Tibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before 20th century
1950: China launched a military assault
Opposition to Chinese rule led to bloody uprising in 1959
Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fled to India


Beijing accused the Dalai Lama's followers of "masterminding" the unrest, an allegation the Tibetan spiritual leader's spokesman labelled as "absolutely baseless".

From exile in India, the Dalai Lama expressed deep concern and called for an end to the violence.

He called on China to "address the long-simmering resentment of the Tibetan people through dialogue".

The rallies began earlier this week when a number of Buddhist monks were reportedly arrested after a march marking the 49th anniversary of a Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule.

In other developments on Friday:


Hundreds of monks led a rally at Xiahe, in China's north-western Gansu province, the site of one of Tibetan Buddhism's most important monasteries
More then 100 Tibetans in New York staged a protest outside the UN headquarters
Police in New Delhi, India, clashed with protesters trying to reach the Chinese Embassy
In Kathmandu, Nepal, police reportedly scuffled with some 1,000 demonstrators at a rally
BBC China editor Shirong Chen in Beijing says the Chinese government certainly does not want bloodshed - echoing that last September in Burma - five months before staging the Olympic Games.

On the other hand, they cannot allow the monks and other Tibetans to vent their anger in case this is seen as a sign of weakness, he says.

'Marginalised'

The US urged China to "respect Tibetan culture" and the American ambassador to China urged officials in Beijing to show restraint.

PROTEST TIMELINE
10 March: Monks arrested while marking 49th anniversary of failed uprising
11 March: Police use tear gas to disperse monks staging peaceful rallies
13 March: Police seal off key Lhasa monasteries
14 March: Rioting in Lhasa

A White House spokesman said: "The president has said consistently Beijing needs to have a dialogue with the Dalai Lama."

The European Union issued a statement urging China to address the concerns of Tibetans.

"We would like to see some kind of reconciliation between the Chinese authorities and the Tibetan representatives," said Dimitrij Rupel, foreign minister of Slovenia, which currently holds the EU's rotating presidency.

Hollywood actor Richard Gere - a supporter of Tibet - told the BBC he would back a boycott of the Beijing Olympics unless China adopted a new approach.

"The Tibetans have been marginalised in recent years, much more than before, and that's why you see this pressure cooker effect," he said.

China says Tibet has always been part of its territory - although Tibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before the 20th Century and many Tibetans remain loyal to the Dalai Lama, who fled in 1959.

What do you all think with China to show with the Olympics that they are one Harmonic nation Now Tibet is demanding Attention. do you think Pressure from the west wpuld do it's good or evil for The Tibetans.
My Opinion Lets grill china on both Human rights and Tibet and lets see how much Pressure they can handle.

[margaretcarnes]

Yes, 'him indoors' heard something on yesterdays news. I haven't caught up with it yet but theres talk of major problems - including with their economy. It cetainly doesn't seem to bode well for the Olympics either, and some athletes had already said they have doubts about going.

[Jockey]

My belief is this could be the last Olympics as we know it. If you are a tourist in China you are already told where you can and can not go. With all the security at the games I would imagine an average tourist would have a hard time finding it any fun at all, but the main worry will be suicide bombers.

[The understudy]

Hallo there Jockey and Margaret

what I think of China hosting the Olympic Games well It's a Gigantic Publicity Stunt on a ass scale and nothing really should shatter this picturess perfect Image that China tries to Porttrait to the world.
The promises or taking care of Human rights and listening discending voices that the leading regime turns a Blind Eye on that! and now the disaffecting Tibetans.
I think it's going to be an all out orchestraded Affair where even the Spontaneous Cheering and people litterily going Nuts cause a Naion has won a Gold Medal would be carefully coreographed (cynical speaking0.
I can't wait for the Olympic Games in London in 2012 which I deffnately will attend with my wife and little daughter ( if I have both by that Time) look forward for Games of Fun Nad Sportsmanship. which this Olympic Games also will have but @ what price well shall pay in the Process!

Your's "So Much Trouble in the World!!!" How right my Man BobMarley really is The understudy!!!

[margaretcarnes]

Well I hope the London games aren't ruined by politics either - or terrorist threats.

[caller]

Could depend on whether the mega-mosque planned for the site after the event is allowed the go-ahead or not.

[margaretcarnes]

No chance Caller - surely another mega shopping precinct would be better? After all we need more Starbucks, Subway, Next, Specsavers, TKMaxx.......

[sandman67]

I remember reacting with horror when I saw the Chinese had got the games...what the hell are the IOC thinking? The Chinese government has one of the worst human rights records going.

The fact that their premier blamed the riots on HH The Dalai Lama is just beyond belief....all he has done has been peaceful and reconciliatory. All the Chinese govt has done is sabre rattle, lie and brutally oppress Tibet.

Where next after London?

North Korea perhaps....or by 2016 Burma will (supposedly) have had democratic elections so what the hell....lets stage a games there. Darfur or Uzbekistan perhaps? How about Georgia?

Shame on the IOC for allowing this to go ahead.

Shame on Team Britain for signing gag orders.... in fact shame on ANY athlete that competes.

Shame on any government that allows this bloodshed to continue undressed.

Particular crapbats thrown at India for arresting 100 peaceful Tibetan exile protesters in a cynical political kowtow to China. Forgot M Ghandi's teachings quick didn't you?

You can blow out a candle
But you can't blow out a fire
Once the flames begin to catch
The wind will blow it higher

[edwinadanish]

People should see that the argument for sport not being in politics is not true...

[edwinadanish]

Because the wole Olympic movement in China is a political one for showing he hi level of the country. China is the Third Reich in my view and we should be very careful and thery may mean not bad now but such power may cirrupt as with all empires before in history - Greek, Roman, German, US - now finishing- and China takes over.. with only Indoa to have power to fight it.

[redzonerocker]

are you trying to create your own empire on hhad this evening edwina

[margaretcarnes]

I think Edwina has a point though. Was it Nostradamus who said 'beware the yellow peril'? Or maybe Mother Shipton. One of those soothsaying dudes anyway.

[redzonerocker]

Was it Nostradamus who said 'beware the yellow peril'?

it was indeed margaret, & many did believe that prediction had passed with the japs & ww2.
maybe it wasn't & the yellow peril is yet to rear it's ugly head, china ???
it's quite possible in this unstable world we live in

[The understudy]

Hallo there redzonerocker

Many of us thought of Nostradamusses predictions to happen within their Timely period. a very good example you had given with the Japanese and WW2. it could as you said be well the possability that the yellow peril that we should be aware of is still before us. Red China is building up it''s Millitary for many years right now. Is China's goal possible world domination? who knows? but we all should be careful.

Your's the understudy!!