You may know the basic story – that Mao Zedong’s China invaded Tibet in 1950 and annexed it as part of China, and that the young Dalai Lama fled Tibet in 1959 and has lived in exile since. After all this
time, why do the Tibetans continue to resist Chinese rule? China claimed ownership of Tibet based on a history of sporadic Chinese possession of Tibet. However, Tibet was an independent nation in 1950, and Tibetans maintain a separate language, culture and ethnic identity from China.
The protests initiated by Buddhist monks have been growing since Monday, the anniversary of the failed 1959 Tibetan uprising against Beijing rule. Tibet, an autonomous province, has long sought independence from China. Roughly 1,000 people hurled rocks and concrete at security forces and military trucks pushing back riot
police.
A Tibetan guide said armed police backed by armored vehicles were blocking major intersections in the city center and that an entire street in a busy shopping area outside the Jokhang temple "seemed to be on fire." He said he had heard "cannon fire" and had heard reports of tear gas being used against protesters.
A main market in the capital was set on fire, and some Tibetans were hospitalized with serious injuries, according to Kate Saunders, a spokeswoman for the International Campaign for Tibet, which promotes
human rights and democratic freedom in Tibet.
Friday''s violence started when police tried to stop a peaceful protest by monks at the Ramoche Temple, Tashi Choephel of the Tibetan Center for Human Rights told CNN from Dharamsala, India.
China continues to impose reporting restrictions in Tibet and the neighboring province of Xinjiang. CNN sought permission to enter Tibet on Friday morning Beijing time. So far, this permission has not been granted. CNN reporting on Tibet was being blacked out Friday in mainland China.
The Olympics are being threatened especially carrying The Torch on April 17th. Aamir Khan, Bollywood actor-director has opted to carry it and has requested nations not to politicize the issue. Let the games happen!
International
politics is also ripening over the issue and for the first time Tibetans the world over are opposing this aloud. Something good lies ahead for them.
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