Edition: U.S. | Arabic | Set Pref
March 14, 2008
Posted: 1837 GMT

BEIJING, China – Tibetan demonstrators torching shops; vehicles on fire. Police troops in anti-riot gear clashing with protesters, firing live ammunition and tear gas. Many people injured, some perhaps killed. Reports were sketchy but soon it was clear: Tibet was in turmoil.

Tibetans throw stones at army vehicles in the capital Lhasa.
Tibetans throw stones at army vehicles in the capital Lhasa.

We’ve always found it extremely difficult to get accurate information and images from the Himalayan region.

Even without chaos, we can’t easily get into Tibet because China strictly controls our travel and reporting there. I went on a reporting trip to Tibet in 2003. That was only one of the two times CNN reporters were allowed into Tibet in 10 years.

We visited major monasteries, interviewed officials and monks, and got a good feel for the region — and the simmering ethnic tensions between the local Tibetans and the tens of thousands of Chinese migrants who have dominated trade and commerce there. Many Tibetans, we found out, deeply resented Chinese rule.

 How do we find out what’s going on?We don’t have a crew there and are not allowed to send one now. So we tap various sources, including residents and travelers in Lhasa. Using modern tools of communications, we gather dribs and drabs of eyewitness accounts from people who prefer to remain anonymous. “If you put it in Al-Jazeera terms, it is Gaza now,” quips an overseas visitor.

 “It’s chaotic now, that’s all I can say,” a young Tibetan told us over the phone while he was caught stranded inside an office building in central Lhasa.We also reached an exasperated young woman who had been beaten up by a mob of Tibetans apparently because she was an ethnic Han Chinese. “I am now in the hospital with bandage on my head,” she whispered, sounding traumatized. “All is chaotic now,” she said, wondering if and when she could get out of Lhasa.

Each time we made contact, we took steps to protect the identity of our eyes and ears. The news of the day was unpalatable to the Chinese censors, so most of CNN’s reports in the mainland were blacked out. Most Chinese seemed unaware of the chaos in Tibet. The local media blacked out the news, but there were loopholes, thanks to modern technology. Our intrepid researchers found one Chinese Weblog, a local version of Twitter, which collected and disseminated reports from citizen reporters who sent them in by SMS and Internet. It was impossible for us to independently verify the accuracy of these reports, but they gave us a sense of the mood in Lhasa.“Netizen” reported seeing “troops wearing bullet-proof vests, walking behind armed personnel carriers moving in front of monasteries.”

Another posting shared emotions. “I feel so confused,” wrote “Mtdancer,” apparently a Han Chinese who felt unsafe. “I so look forward to going home”. By the end of the fateful day of March 14, a citizen reporter wrote, “The streets are virtually deserted now, except for police cars and armed personnel carriers patrolling the street.”Tibet transformed overnight. That’s not the picture that the Chinese public relations strategists wish to portray of Tibet, just five months before Beijing hosts the Summer Olympics.

 

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SONAM   March 14th, 2008 1945 GMT

I AM GLAD THAT THE TRUE NATURE OF TIBETAN’S STORY FINALLY COME OUT IN CNN. THIS TELLS THE WORLD HOW TIBETANS ARE NOT HAPPY UNDER THE COMMUNIST CHINESE.

TIBET INDEPENDENCE IS NOT FREEDOM ONLY FOR TIBET IT GIVES FREEDOM TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN THE WORLD.

WE ARE NOT HATRED TO CHINESE CITIZEN. WE ALL ASKING IS TO CHANGE THEIR POLICY AND RESPECT HUMAN RIGHT.

FREE TIBET………

gilona   March 14th, 2008 1947 GMT

it is a pity
these people are a small portion of people who lived in tibet.
the people involved in this tumor were supported by india and us.
every chinese knows that.
this is so called “human right”
we chinese treat minor race too good.they are vips in china .they have more priviledge than normal people.
we treat they like brothers. luckly .99%of they appreciate that.
we are good friends.
should i treat they like us treat the “indian”, then ,once for all. then no so called “human right” problem exist. of course not. we are brothers.
how can a strongest country do this kind of things.
provoke the brothers to fighting

Passang   March 14th, 2008 2048 GMT

the fact that the chinese are restricting media coverage on whats going on in Tibet right now is proof that the chinese govt do not want the world to know about the real situation in Tibet. if the chinese are indeed true about the progress of Tibet since their illegal occupation in Tibet then why not promptly show it to the world? Tibet was forcefully taken away from Tibetans in 1959 by the chinese. there are reports that rioters are beating up chinese people in Lhasa but how else are we Tibetans to react? Tibetans are becoming a minority in our own home country, our culture is on the verge of extinction and we are deprived of our freedom. Olympics signifies peace and prosperity among all the countries in the world and its ironic that it is being held in china this year. of all countries, china, who has time and again deprived not only tibetans but their own people of freedom and human rights, is hosting the Olympics. i am sure the Olympic committee had their reasons but i am guessing they didn’t look beyond china’s growing power. 5 months from now china will host the olympics, athletes will proudly represent their countries and we tibetans and the innocent chinese suffering under the chinese dictatorship will be left alone to face the harsh treatment of the chinese govt. i was born a refugee but i will not die as one. Tibet is not a part of china and will never be. “china lie, people die” FREE TIBET….I pray for all the brave tibetans all over the world fighting for freedom..

lisa   March 15th, 2008 009 GMT

The trouble with Tibet is that the Tibetans once knew freedom and an independent existence from China, and having lost it the people do not forget what freedom means. The trouble with Tibet is countries like the US have not done much to help to restore at least Tibtean cultural and religious independence from Chinese repression, and now that the US owes China so much money it is unlikely the US will ever do so though it boasts of spreading democracy to places such as Iraq and Afghanistan and defending democracy in places like Kuwait. The trouble with Tibet is that the westernized world has grossly underestimated the resolve of the Tibetan people to restore “liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…”,or the reverberating impact it will likely have on the world. China is a big and strong bully that decided to push its borders beyond the China Wall. This world doesn’t have the courage to face down China so it ignores how many provinces China has conquored and re-named. It is a shame, but the long memory of the Tibetan people is a testimony to the human condition for which we are all judged. That is the trouble with Tibet.

diane   March 15th, 2008 133 GMT

Jaime,

Thank you so much for posting this blog about Tibet.
The world should be aware of exactly what is going on there and about those brave Tibetan hero’s. As hard as the CCP tries to hide the truth about there human rights abuses, the truth will alway come out.

Looks like the Chinese Communist Government is up to the same old bloody history. They learned nothing from 1989, and remind me again why they are able to host the Olympic Games???????

They made human rights promises to the IOC, and the world in order to obtain those games. They have not kept any of their promises, as a matter of fact, things have only gotten worse.

God speed the Tibetan hero’s that are fighting for THEIR country and fighting for THEIR heritage.

ONE WORLD ONE DREAM FREE TIBET. FREEDOM FOR ALL PEOPLE.

Tenzin Tsayang   March 15th, 2008 332 GMT

Tibet Belongs to Tibetans, China should get out of Tibet.

lekshay   March 15th, 2008 335 GMT

does the chinese leaderhip has any sense of conscience, any sense of shame and guilt? I wonder how they would feel if they were treated the same way they treat the tibetans in tibet.

MIke H   March 15th, 2008 456 GMT

What happaned in tibet is more of racial riot nothing more. Don’t try to make up stories please

observer   March 15th, 2008 517 GMT

The picture presented in this article has been well cut in order to mislead people. Nice and brilliant —– and shamelss. Excellent sample for us to know what exactly the free and responsible western press is. Biased, reality-distorted, not better than some other countries they often criticie for
control of media, but the westerns make it in a more professional and bright way.

http://picture.talkcc.net/0,0803/6538_14184242.jpg

Tenzin   March 15th, 2008 627 GMT

Chinese treatment of peaceful protest in Tibet is worse than what world had seen in Tiananmen Square. Chinese security forces repeatedly used lethal force to restore order in the Tibet and they have done it without the world knowing about it. Even today as we speak they have locked down whole of Tibet and blackout foreign news media covering Tibet protest. They have barred all foreigners from entering and leaving Tibet. They have cut off electricity so that no news can spread to the outside world by phone, TV, and internet.
China had occupied a peaceful country with brutal force (genocide in Tibet).Tibet can never be a part of China. We are totally different from the Chinese - language, culture and historically. 2008 is year of Tibetan independence.

Whatsthefuckingtibetanneed   March 15th, 2008 1318 GMT

Independence or live, think wisely, Tibetan! without Chinese aid, you were all ghosts!

Life is more important than violence! Stupid violence by nothing but triggered by the policitians! You die for thier new ruling and that’s all!

andy   March 15th, 2008 1351 GMT

Tibet has always been part of China. This fact can not be changed. If you look at the videos of the so called “peaceful” protest you will see violent MONKS. Aren’t monks suppose to be non-violent and peaceful? Those monks are TERRORISTS. The Chinese government has every right to destory these terrorists groups.

No government is the world would torlerate this type of violence from a terrorist group.

jb bauer   March 15th, 2008 1429 GMT

The U.S. has also been sold down the river to China. The only real protest we can make as simple citizens is to boycott Chinese goods as completely as possible. The lack of safety of Chinese products is only one obvious flaw. It only proves how vulnerable the whole world has become in the eyes of a Chinese government that intends to seize, dominate, and enslave the rest of the world. The Bush government has financed its deficits with a huge debt to the Chinese. Our next president had better figure out a way to pay it off or we will be treated like the poor citizens of Tibet.

Jacqueline   March 15th, 2008 1445 GMT

This comment is ungrounded and simply ridiculous.
1) How can you call a protest where protestants are armed with knives and gas, where they would attack banks and civilians, a PEACEFUL protest? If there is ANY chaos, anywhere in the world, the government has the obligation to secure its citizens’ safety!
2) From what we heard, Tibet is NOT blocked out by phone, TV, internet. Please, please GROUND your arguments.
3) And for your information, Tibet is, has never been, HAD never been an individual country. For centuries it has been a rightful territory of China. Unlike you Americans who had no problem with yourselves driving away Natives and calling their land your own, in the whole of history, Tibet is always a part of China.

John   March 15th, 2008 1509 GMT

I saw monks turn over vehicles and setting fires. Thought they were suppose to be peaceful.

ARIJIT DAS   March 15th, 2008 1522 GMT

The world should stand against china. We must boycott Chinese products. The entire would must boycott china made products.

Bjorn Ahlin   March 15th, 2008 1542 GMT

CNN.com runs “100 dead in Tibet” as its lead story, when the basis for the number is the exile community in India. With China taking direct control of Tibet, after the Buddhists’ armed uprising of 1959, I don’t know how many serfs were freed from forced labour. I don’t know what’s happened to infant mortality rates and average lifespan at birth. And I don’t know what’s going on now.
But I know that Beijing, Lhasa, and Dharamsala, all have views on the history and the current situation, and I know that CNN’s obligation is unbiased reporting.
Tibetan Buddhism is unique among religious personality cults to get favourable treatment from our western press. I’ve returned from a trip to China to merely find opposite bias here.

Anonymous   March 15th, 2008 1547 GMT

After reading excerpts of blogs, I was apalled and disgusted. There is so much ignorance among people who are siding with the Chinese rule over Tibet. Read your history. Read the facts. Use your own intelligence to know truth from manipulated facts. The Chinese government has been manipulating information for decades making people believe in their brainwashing tactics over the Tibetan issue and His Holiness Dalai Lama. Obviously it has been working for so many to speak such ignorance. It’s the same as when the Japanese government removed from their history books post World War II about the abuse of comfort women and brothels during the war that was backed by the government. Tibet was NEVER a part of China for centuries. That’s as absurd as saying that India was always a part of Britain. That the Phillipines were always a part of the U.S. That Korea was always a part of Japan. That Mongolia was always a part of Russia. Learn about the historical relationship of these countries from true sources to understand the point here. Open your eyes! Stop living in the Matrix.

Jaswant Singh   March 15th, 2008 1603 GMT

The Chinese shamelessly occupied Tibet nearly 50 years ago. Tibet IS and ought TO BE A SOVEREIGN COUNTRY AGAIN. They practise Buddhism which is as tolerant and peaceful as any other Indian Philosophy whether it is classical Hinduism,Sikhism or Jainism.

The Chinese rule and illegal occupation of Tibet is an outrageous and unacceptable act. Sadly the World does not have the moral courage to physically evict the Chinese from Tibet.

My prayers and the very best wishes to the brave Tibetans and the Dalai Lama.

Chen   March 15th, 2008 1605 GMT

Tibet is part of China whether America likes it or not. It has always been part of China and is going to stay that way. America should keep its big fat nose out of other countries’s buisness especially when it has its own problems. America cannot even elect a president, they are facing financial troubles, mounting debts, so why should they care about other countries?
Tenzin: Beijing respects Buddists and allows them to practice their religion. And haven’t you wondered how the only information the public recieves is through the biased views of Americans?

What allows Americans to run around yelling “Free Tibet” when they are still facing racial discriminations? How would America like it if the South decides to become its own country? Americans have no idea what its like it Tibet; most of them have never even been to China, so what do they know? And as for people who “deeply resent Chinese rule”, Chinese rules don’t affect the large majority of the people who live in Tibet, only those in major cities who feel like they have to make a fuss.

Americans have no right to go poking around in other people’s buisness. Do you have any idea what kind of an image you give off to the rest of the world?

You know, its funny, CNN only seems to post comments that support their article. So chances are that I’m typing all this for nothing. But I don’t care. There are always two sides to a story, and Americans aren’t reading the second side.

chinaman   March 15th, 2008 1608 GMT

tibet is part of china. anyone try to separete Tibet from China will be punish.please studie history.

Teresa Johnson   March 15th, 2008 1645 GMT

Please keep reporting about Tibet. The whole world should know what is
going on there. Tibet is not an autonomous region. It is an invaded country. Tibetan people do not have any rights, they are second class to the Chinese. They cannot display their flags nor have a picture of The Dalai Lama. Moreover, you cannot find any postcard of their Spiritual Leader who had to leave his country. The Chinese read the emails and open the letters that Tibetans receive. I can continue, but you got the idea. We visited Tibet in 2006, we love the country and its very nice and compassionate people, to say the least about them.

Jim   March 15th, 2008 1650 GMT

Peaceful? Your so called peaceful protesters are burning up shops, cars and beating up scores of innocent individuals.

It’s always amazing how Tibetans can keep claiming that they are peaceful even when they commit violence. I’ve been to Tibet, most Tibetans are a pretty rough crowd, they are uneducated and many are pretty violent.

John   March 15th, 2008 1710 GMT

I fear that the Chinese will overeact to the Tibetans protests.

-John
http://www.patrioticactivist.com

nathan   March 15th, 2008 2140 GMT

I hope CNN will put my reply:
1st anybody who reply here live in China ?
2ed Anybody know the real conditions in China?
If you don’t know , please don’t guess or assume that?
I was born and lived in China from more than 20 years, Tibet is part of China, those say tibetan independence will destroy the friendship of 1.4 billion chinese people. I lived in USA for many years, so i could make a conparison between China and USA. Our government has a lot of corruption, or control media, that’s right. i don’t deny that. But Overall Chinese government made such a big progress of improving the human rights, more people have health insurance which they don’t have it before. our economy conditions are changing, we have food to feed on ourselves. At this crucile moment, we -Chinese people don’t want anybody to destroy the progress we made for many years.
Tiananmen Squrare, my old professor now remind those things when he had done. he told me , it’s a stupid genernations who make such a destroy to China. Now almost 20 years past , i have to say it’s right to do for the tiananmen square. i support it. because it bring 20 years fast development for China, make our generation , for example like me, have a better live conditions.
If you want to know the real China, please go to visit China before you say anything about China.
I grew up in China, now study in USA , from my personal experience, i have to say some of american are too stupid , they didn’t even have the basic knowledge about China. Your media doesn’t tell all the truth. If you want to know the real truth, go to China, and say what you see before bringing any protest.
I hope CNN will publish my note!

Sven Hedin   March 16th, 2008 1413 GMT

One can never be sure how much to trust the press, but assuming that Jamie’s reporting is accurate, there is nothing peaceful about burnt cars, looted shops, and the young woman beaten by Tibetan mobs.

It’s not easy to debate, in a responsible manner, over the farewell of millions of people in a part of the world, where most readers, living in the western world, know so little about.

It is certainly fascinating to learn about a group of people accepting that leaders are reincarnated.

Personally, I find it tough to embrace a country ruled by religious dictators with absolutely no concept of the need for the separation between the church and the state, or in this case, the monastery and the government.

While most Hollywood celebrities may tell us that Tibet should be freed, I just feel that being ruled and governed by monks, lamas, nuns or priests will be the ultimate violation of human rights. Leaders should be elected or chosen based on ability and not religious spirituality and blind faith.

robert   March 16th, 2008 1418 GMT

Law must be strictly enforced. Those violences are not allowed in U.S and anywhere else in the world. Political motivated protests must stopped. Those violators must be put in jail.
More control in Tibet. Tibet belongs to China like Hawaii belongs to U.S. No more argument

Sam   March 16th, 2008 1450 GMT

Dalai Lama will not earn my respect until the day he condemns the “cultral genocide” of Native Americans in the U.S. Sure, it happened several hundred years ago. But what if China controls Tibet for another serveral hundred years?

Wenshan   March 16th, 2008 1450 GMT

If you know Chinese, you can find out a lot of comments in Chinese forums. Obvously our Chinese are aware of the chaos in Tibet. It is intresting most of them are blaming the goverment not for freeing Tibet, but for why they responsed too late to crackdown the seperist and pretect the Han Chinese.

We built road and factories for them and give them better lifes. Fortunately, most of them appreicate it. Only the monks who were previleged under Dalai resent the central government. The slavery was abolished 49 year ago, they no longer have slaves for themselves in the morden Tibet. That is why they want Dalai to go back to restore their their master position. These people have nothing to do so called freedom.

Ken H.   March 16th, 2008 1456 GMT

This is China’s version of LA Riot, with economically marginalized and socially corned people rise up against their perceived oppressors. These protesters deliberately sought any non-Tibetan people or structure to kill and pillage. If this were to happen in any Muslim land (IE. Iraq) targeting whites, they were surely being labeled “Islamo-Fascist” by the Western “free” media. Call this what it is : it’s a racism based on Lamanic Fascism!

Free USA   March 17th, 2008 1533 GMT

Free America.~~ you guys are from Europe, go back!! America belongs to natives !!

Peter Tin   March 17th, 2008 1605 GMT

Tibet has always been part of China. The riot last week in Tibet has shown the true sinister color of the so-called “peaceful” monks who set cars on fire and kinnging innocent people on the street. They should be severly dealt by law. They are terrorists just the 9/11 bombers.

Tibet will never be independent. Dream on…

Haiduong   March 17th, 2008 1618 GMT

I got to know about the violence in Tibet through CNN, in my country, the media did’t mention about this, it may be resulted from the sensitive relation between the two countries. Anyway, I do hope this won’t go too far, no more violence, evrybody keeps calm down, memoir of Tiananmen Square massacre is still fresh in mind. I just don’t like Chinese goverment for claiming all of our sea as theirs, and the way they did to our people and our teritorial waters.

yanchen   March 17th, 2008 1914 GMT

Free Tibet?
Why does Spain NOT allow Basque and Catalonia to become independent countries while both regions have their unique culture, languages, music, flags?)
Free Tibet?
How about
Free Basque!
Free Catalonie!
Free Québec!
Free Corsia!
Free Brittany!
Free Scotland!
Free Wales!
“…the problem with Tibetan Buddhism resides in an obvious fact that many Western enthusiasts conveniently forget: the traditional political structure of Tibet is theocracy, with the Dalai Lama at the center. He unites religious and secular power — so when we are talking about the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, we are taking about choosing a head of state. It is strange to hear self-described democracy advocates who denounce Chinese persecution of followers of the Dalai Lama — a non-democratically elected leader if there ever was one. ” frow:“How China Got Religion” By SLAVOJ ZIZEK (nytimes)
Do google:Friendly Feudalism: The Tibet Myth” by Michael Parenti
Thanks

Monlam   March 17th, 2008 1933 GMT

1.2 million Tibetans and still counting. how many lives more, China? Put yourself into our shoes and you won’t even feel your feet on the ground. China says it liberated Tibet, OK fine done! thank you for your great help, now go back. why are u still here?
Tibet is dying and the world is watching. Too shy to speak up.. too scared of losing business ties. In this huge world of globalisation and diplomacy, Tibet has no place to sit. If only Tibet had OIL, many countries would have come to its rescue.
For me, non-violence is not a choice but a lack of choice.. Frustration is killing me. I don’t get shocks when I hear tibetans trying to immolate themselves by setting themselves on fire. I might also do it some day. and again, this is not a choice but mere lack of choice.
Thank you CNN for listening to us and for showing the truth to the world!

Until the day of my death… to my very last breath!

For Justice! and Freedom!
http://www.Meyul.com

Laurie Fullerton   March 17th, 2008 1939 GMT

Having visited Tibet twice in 1986 and 1987 I can say with conviction that no matter what happens, remember that the Chinese soldiers are armed, the Tibetan monks often carry nothing more than a slingshot which they use to pass the time (perhaps being mischevious young men/boys at times, they use their slingshots to shoot at passing birds. Yes, there was a spontaneous riot and protests, but the punishment of the Tibetans involved will be brutal, swift, and permanent. Public firing squads, torture, starvation, and rape are all common techniques used by the Chinese authorities on Tibetans.

Friend of Asia   March 17th, 2008 2040 GMT

Tibet has its own unique language and culture and political history as an independent country for centuries which is well documented.

The Communist Chinese invaded in the 1950’s to exploit the vast mineral and natural resources and now seek to displace the overflow population of Han chinese from China. This is disastrous for the i.5 million Tibetans killed the over 6,000 monasteries that were detroyed and for peace in Asia and for the environmental degradation of the major rivers that flow from Tibet into China and India and the rest of Asia.

Chinese policy toward Tibet is cultural genocide. This is bad karma for China and the world to allow this to continue…

Peace

Kai Hin Yung   March 18th, 2008 141 GMT

Also, this is an email sent from a Tibetan friend of mine, he talked about his view on the Tibet protest:

“I am absolutely disgusted at the rioters, they are shameful to our ethnic group. They don’t know that the Chinese government has put more efforts and money into our ethnic group than the Han Chinese, I am glad now I have a chance to go to university, and not being a slave of the incompetent Dalai Lama, because of the Chinese. I want the world to know that we Tibetans have a better life now and that we are co-existing with the Han Chinese very well, in fact, Im very proud to be a part of China. I hope the West and the Dalai Lama would just leave us alone, we are happy to be with China.”

Chinesepeople   March 18th, 2008 142 GMT

Comments are moderated by CNN, in accordance with the CNN Comment Policy, and may not appear on this blog until they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

This is the so-called human rights, do I have the right to speak ? Do I have the right to demonstrate my opinions??

I hope CNN will publish my note!

harris Li   March 18th, 2008 159 GMT

Tibet (Xi Zang) was, is and will always be part of China!

Logical Thinking..   March 18th, 2008 232 GMT

After cars have been burnt down and buildings set to fire, arsonists are named “peaceful demonstrators” by BBC and CNN.

If that logic applied, Osama bin Laden is one of the most peaceful demonstrators. Would you believe that?

pierre   March 18th, 2008 233 GMT

Another “peaceful” Tibetan demonstrator was charged with Assaulting Police office in Australia, “A police officer was allegedly hit over the head with a placard before being punched and kicked,” http://news.theage.com.au/protibet-protests-continue-in-australia/20080316-1zob.html
Having spent a month in Tibet, my opinion is that some tibetans are really nice, some are…, I saw both tibetan beggars and thiefs. , they are not divine, nor specially peaceful people…

Eddy Johnson   March 18th, 2008 244 GMT

I, Eddy , an American citizen, strongly support China against the Dala Lama and the Tibetan separatists. The Unites States all E.U. countries should keep their noses out of this matter. Tibet is China ! China should take all necessary measures to keep the country together.

robert   March 18th, 2008 249 GMT

CNN is a liar. It claims cnn=politics. and politics is dirty. then cnn is dirty.

cnn censor news network

gentfixya   March 18th, 2008 256 GMT

Western opinions never change even there are clear evidences that violent protesters beat up and kill innocent citizen. Yes, in China there is communist ruling, and sure we the Han Chinese doesn’t feel happy about what the communist government do for its own people’s human right. But in matter of separatist, we all gang up against them and support the government to take action. Is it legit to crack down bloody violence only if China is democracy country and have Hilary Wang and Obama Lee are running for president?

Tibet is always part of China, don’t even listen to the year of 59 invasion BS. You may call it invasion when federal government sends riot control police to LA to stop the looter. Long before until Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet in 1959, his wonderland had below standard living condition and was a slavery society, let along lacking the human right and freedom. All sudden this liar becomes Nobel Prize human right fighter and wants freedom of this area? What the hell he and his exile government were doing when he was in crown? Although China today has limited human rights and freedom which can’t compare with the western level, but truly we have upgraded Tibet to better live since Dalai Lama gone.

Eddy Johnson   March 18th, 2008 256 GMT

I am an American, and I am not even Asian.

But, please, to all Chinese people: fight for your country… The United States and Europe is backing the people of Tibet against China. They want your country to be divided… it’s very simple.

Lilly Zhu   March 18th, 2008 318 GMT

I am ashamed to be a chinese !

chen   March 18th, 2008 323 GMT

FREE TIBET
FREE TIBET
FREE TIBET
FREE TIBET
FREE TIBET

Anonymous   March 18th, 2008 422 GMT

Anyone who has watched news on TV recently, CNN or other news sources, can see how these so called “peace-loving” people in Tibet destroying shops or human lives in Tibet. So many of these “peace-loving” people attacking Chinese embassies in the US & Europe. Some of these people blatantly wore theie monk costumes. I am at a loss how people blame the Chinese government for using violence but at the same time say nothing about all these destruction that these “peace-loving” people have demonstrated on TV. The reason why Martin Luther King & Ghandi have our hearts is because of its non-violent nature. Have the world forgotten these great leaders? No more double standards please.

wendy   March 18th, 2008 433 GMT

We cant keep always to tell them our history, we are not study history here with them!!! It is useless to them because they never look back their own blooding history: how to kill Asian, how to kill Indian……

leo   March 18th, 2008 441 GMT

http://bbs.top81.cn/top81bbs/uploads/2008/03/1205811700_36791.jpg

I highly recommend you to visit the site above, and you will have a better view and own judgment of the story.

Loy Jinn Min   March 18th, 2008 458 GMT

If the red indians start to kill the whiteman in USA in the name of protests, are American going to stand by and watch the killings?
Please do not be double standard in human rights.

If this happen in your own country, can your government tolerate this.

You have seen from the CNN news, how these protesters act? Do you call it a peacefull demonstration.

How much you know about the history of Tibets before you make your comment.

What were the living conditions in Tibet under Dalai Lama?

If he is a true buddhist, he may not involve in all this issue. Remember Guatama Buddha own country was destroyed. It is the karma. Karma created by all the Lama in for the last few hundred years.

Cultural Genocide? Let see who is doing the cultural genocide. Chinese government are now promoting Buddism and include Tibetan buddhism. Many Hans also practice Tibetan buddhism.

Do you mean that only the Tibetan can practice Tibetan buddhism? What kind of Buddhists are these Tibetan?

The first forbidden law in Buddhism is NO KILLING. How can these Tibetan burn people to death.

Tenzin   March 18th, 2008 511 GMT

China is a super power not because what china did in 50 years but because of Tibet. When china invaded Tibet in 1950’s China was very poor but yes they had the millitary and man power. When they invaded Tibet first thing they attacked was the monasteries and take away tons and tons of gold back to China. These gold had been ccumulated in these holy monastaries for centuries which had come from offerings of religious Tibetan people. When the Chinese came to Tibet they not have enough food to feed the own people, we Tibetans supplied the food.

Tenzin   March 18th, 2008 517 GMT

The communist party of China destroyed not only it culture and religion but also how the chinese live and behave. Anyone can go to China town find it yourself. China is trying to do the same to the Tibetans. Communist China is systematically destroying Tibets religion and culture.

Jigme Duntak   March 18th, 2008 626 GMT

I see so many Chinese outraged by Tibetans who attacked these Chinese migrants inside Lhasa, and rightfully so, I am angered by it as well, but where was this same anger by these people when Tibetan children were shot at and even killed (one as young as 17) at Nangpa la Pass? Weren’t those Tibetans Chinese nationals under the Chinese law? Where was the remorse or coverage for them in the Chinese media? It all seems like a lopsided outpouring of sympathy to me.

At least in this case, where Tibetans attacked innocent civilians, those perpetrators can be found and punished for their actions. However when the Chinese government attacks their own citizens do we see the same justice? At Nangpa la pass the soldiers, who shot and killed Tibetan Chinese nationals who were 500 yards away, were excused under the pretext that they “acted in defense”.

It all seems absurd to me.

Here’s something the Chinese government won’t show.

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd175/FreeTibetCampaignUK/6.jpg

halamala   March 18th, 2008 713 GMT

Free Basque!
Free Catalonie!
Free Québec!
Free Corsia!
Free Brittany!
Free Scotland!
Free Walse!

halamala   March 18th, 2008 715 GMT

“…the problem with Tibetan Buddhism resides in an obvious fact that many Western enthusiasts conveniently forget: the traditional political structure of Tibet is theocracy, with the Dalai Lama at the center. He unites religious and secular power — so when we are talking about the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, we are taking about choosing a head of state. It is strange to hear self-described democracy advocates who denounce Chinese persecution of followers of the Dalai Lama — a non-democratically elected leader if there ever was one. ”

Rinzin   March 18th, 2008 738 GMT

Whether the Chinese agree or not, there is a big problem and thats why the situation in Tibet to begin with!

Younger generation Chinese who refuse to think beyond what they were taught in their history classes create more tension. Do they realize that there is a big big difference in being nationalistic and ignorant. Likewise, it doesn’t come to me as a suprise to read in here that some see the most historic event in the Chinese history i.e of the Tiananmen Square as ’stupid’! The CCP has really accomplished something here, they have mastered the art of controlling the power of thinking. Shame!

And then the question, why are monks involved in these demonstrations? Monks are involved because CCP has been, for almost 6 decades now, suppressing every bit of religious freedom in Tibet and of Tibetans in there. Take example of Serta Monastery. Without any explaination, CCP got up and bulldozed housing complexes and left many homeless.

If China is so great, why don’t they let the international media inside Tibet? What is there to hide? Oh wait, I think I can answer that. I know what they are hiding. They are hiding the truth, the truth that there is no geniune freedom in Tibet. Tibetans are not treated like the general Chinese public like the CCP say. Tibetans are treated like 2nd Class citizens in their own country.

Mountain Phoenix   March 18th, 2008 755 GMT

Right now, emotions are going especially high on both the Tibetan and the Chinese side. Each side has its arguments to put forward their stand: Be it independence or a part of China. Since half a century, however, China has been stronger and so its view of things in Tibet had to be accepted.

It reminds me of a forced marriage – sleeping with the enemy, so to speak – where the husband is convinced he is benevolent and good to the wife, but forgets that – if he asked her - she may not want to be married to him in the first place. If she hints at anything in this regard, he beats her up. Yes, she thinks it’s great to live in the beautiful house he built for her, and she knows she’s better off than ever before - but with the wrong partner? A partner that tells you whether you are allowed to leave the house, where you may go and how far you may go, a guy who turns violent every time you do something that makes him angry? How can anybody be possibly happy in such a marriage?

As long as the relationship between the Chinese government and the Tibetan people has this forced marriage character, Tibetans will continue to harbour resentment.

If the Chinese government was smart, they would take up the Dalai Lama’s offer for a peaceful settlement where the interest of the Tibetan side are also taken into account, but without questioning the overall framework. The Chinese government should come to their senses and realise that he is not the problem. He is the solution to the problem.

Henry   March 18th, 2008 758 GMT

I admire Abraham Lincoln’s effort preserving, protecting and defending the United States, I will support what ever that is needed by President Hu Jingtao to preserve, protect and defend China. –From China.

Jimloy   March 18th, 2008 814 GMT

A true Buddhist do not kill. Look at the monks in Burma, they rather let the police killed them and they did not kill the police.

What kind of buddhists are Tibetan. Buddha said “Lion die because of the worms in the Lion body”.

Buddhist image will be destroyed by these Tibetans. These are ‘wolves covered under a lamb sheets”

How can they killed innocence people? How can they burned people to death?

Rachel Yan   March 18th, 2008 820 GMT

I hope CNN would respect all opinions including us, Han Chinese.

As a Han, I never thought Tibetans are foreign to us. They are just like Hui, Manchurian, Miao and many other ethnic minorities, who live with us but eat different food. Ethnic minorities enjoy more benefit than us, Han Chinese. It is for sure because I once wished myself a ethnic minority when I was younger.

I have a few friends sent by government to work in hospital in Lhasa. These young people who never left the east part went to the highland and work there because it is the responsibility of Han Chinese to help them. Tibetan didn’t have their own schools or hospitals apart from monastries 50 years ago. Now they say Han people went to occupy their land.

As an overseas Chinese, I appreciate all culutures and I will try my best to keep my Chinese culture in a western country. Tibetans COULD do the same in Tibet. Isn’t Tibet a free land for Han to go there and work there??? Just as the rest of China to Tibetans.

Han never tried to suppress their culture. We are just us.

Tibetans could keep their culture by learning and conveying in a civilised way, just many culutres do in the U. S,, canada, australia and many other countries.

Jimloy   March 18th, 2008 821 GMT

Have anyone who made a lot of comments against China read the history of China?

Throughout the history of China, China nevers invade any country. China were invaded by Monggollian and invaded by the Ching but at the end of the days Monggol become part of China, Manchul becomes part of China.

If Japan were succesfull in conquered China, now Japan will be part of China.

PASANG THUNDU SHERPA   March 18th, 2008 823 GMT

IN THIS 21 CENTURY COMMUNIST IS ABOUT TO VANISH FROM THE WORLD BUT CHINESE GOVERNMENT IS FORCING THE CHINESE PEOPLE TO FOLLOW THEIR RULE WHICH MEAN EVEN CHINESE PEOPLE DONT HAVE ANY RIGHT TO EXPRESS THEIR FEELING AND THEY DONT HAVE ANY HUMAN RIGHT IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. SO IT IS NOT ONLY MATTER OF TIBETAAN PEOPLE TO STAND AGAINST CHINESE GOVERNMENT.ALL THE WORLD SHOULD REACT AGAINST THEM.THE WAY THEY KILLED PEOPLE THE WAY THEY ATTACK THE TIBETAN CULTURE AND PEOPLE ,THEY BANNED BUDDHISM ETC IN TIBET .TIBET WHICH IS KNOWN AS THE LAND OF BUDDHISM IS NOW NO MORE LIKE IT DUE TO THE CHINESE .TIBETAN PEOPLE NEVER GIVE UP FOR THEIR RIGHT .TIBET IS A FREE COUNTRY ANG IT WILL BE FREE SOON .LONG LIVE HIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA AND LONG LIVE TIBETAN PEOPLE ANG I WOULD LIKE TO SALUTE ALL THE TIBETAN HERO WHO ARE PROTESTING AGAINST CHINESE GOVERNMENT IN TIBET

yeshi   March 18th, 2008 835 GMT

I thinks some of many peoples are dont know about of history , culture and religion of tibet which is shows and profed that tibet is only belongs to tibetan not a china COMMUNIST or else.if you was studie in china it very normal to you say tibet is part of china because of you have no right to learn real and ture history of tibet in chinses COMMUNIST,I adviceing to todays youngs chinses.get out of little world of COMMUNIST and look around over the great world today with human right and much morethings and learn deeply about tibet and tibetans specially the youngs chinese who grown and studie in china in COMMUNIST,

nineducks   March 18th, 2008 838 GMT

this was waiting to happen for past few decades. and i am happy that it happened now.
and whoever enjoys FREEDOM, i request you to value the right to freedom of life of all tibetans also.

FREE TIBET
FREE TIBET
FREE TIBET

Bruce   March 18th, 2008 858 GMT

There has been a lot of discussion as to whether or not Tibet has or has not “always” been a part of China. The answer seems to depend on how far back the observer is willing to look. Suffice to say that Tibet is not behind China’s Great Wall….but, perhaps that’s taking too long of a political view….One would have to ask the common people of Tibet and of China if that is a fair comment. But, of course, one is precluded from talking to the common people in the “People’s Republic”.

It is hard for anyone to obtain an informed position as to what the current state of affairs is in Tibet when the Chinese government appears intent on keeping the world press out of Tibet, no matter the cost to its international reputation (of which it seems oblivious). Can anyone be surprised when such a controversial policy stirs controversy?

Free and democratic nations will, in all likelihood, sit back and not press the issue of true autonomy for the political and religious choices of Tibet’s people in the suposedlu “Autonomous Region”. This is, of course, likely due to economic self-interest on the part of western nations who are willing to turn a blind eye to this and other controversial issues with respect to China in order they retain access to and benefit from the unprecedented size of China’s “market share”.

Perhaps, it is time not to look back in history to determine whether or not Tibet belongs to China, but let history decide for itself. Just as Ghandi almost singlehandedly shamed the British into leaving India by his famous “walk to the sea” in defiance of British Law, maybe it is time for the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet. The Chnese leaders would be unable resist or stand up to world scrutiny of the events which then transpire.

JBK   March 18th, 2008 1034 GMT

Western-centric and Euro-centric, the ‘ liberal and democratic ‘
West love China bashing, the West can’t face the fact that China
is recovering from her recent humilation by foreign imperialism !!
I appreciate good and umbiased journalism, unfortunately,
the West do love China bashing at this moment of time ….

Eric   March 18th, 2008 1104 GMT

What Tibetan culture? Serfs, slaves, fearful of the supernatural?

The elite lamas and feudal lords in Tibet have been brainwashing and repressing their people for years, through religion, on how the common Tibetan should completely obey them with no reservation. Under Tibetan law, the Dalai Lama (through inheritance!) legally owns the entire country and all the people living in it! What kind of a ‘free’ Tibet is this?

Politics and religion should never mix. If Tibet were to be independent, (I’m not saying it should at this stage) it should be governed by public servants chosen by the common freethinking citizen, and certainly not by the religious dictators.

It is fashionable to praise the Dalai Lama because of his western influence, but just because these lamas had unchallenged power in Tibet in the past doesn’t mean they are the best leaders for the people at the moment.

My view on the Chinese occupation is that while it was a questionable move in the 50s, they have actually liberated the common Tibetan from religious tyranny improving the people’s quality of life. Is it necessarily a bad thing for the average Tibetans to be educated, and to learn to make a living in the society, instead of blindly serving the elite lamas and lords as slaves, selling their children to work in the monasteries?

Using religion to rule the people is the ugliest form of governing. Lamas, monks, nuns, priests should all get out of politics.

Molly   March 18th, 2008 1145 GMT

Tenzin - Take a visit to China yourself and find in first hand what you said is all misinformation or complete lies. Don’t forget to study the slavery serf systems and torture praticed in pre 1959 Tibet also.

Demosthenes (political analyst)   March 18th, 2008 1200 GMT

In addition, to say that “Tibet is, and always has been a part of China”, is not only incorrect, but completely irrelevant to the argument for Tibetan independence or meaningful autonomy. Firstly, it is incorrect because Tibet was a sovereign kingdom and had no political relations with China until 1279 when the Mongol king Kublai Khan conquered China, founding the Yuan Dynasty. Likewise, the Mongols conquered Tibet, and this is when China first claims Tibet as part of China. However, this is disputed because technically, Tibet was conquered by the Mongols and not the Han Chinese, and China itself was under the rule of a foreign empire based in China. Even then, the Mongols allowed Tibet to be autonomous, while establishing a “priest-patron” relationship where the empire defended Tibet from invaders in times of need, and Tibetan Buddhist lamas became tutors to the emperors by request. When the Yuan dynasty was overthrown by the ethnically Chinese Ming dynasty, Tibetan-Chinese relations continued, but no administrative power was exerted upon it. Later centuries saw China’s increased involvement in Tibetan affairs, especially during the Qing dynasty, up until the turn of the 20th century when the British invaded Tibet in 1904 in order to establish trade agreements with it (independent of China). The Qing dynasty, almost on the brink of collapse, then took an interest once again in Tibet, paid Britain to get out of the region and reestablished strong administrative ties there. However, all this stopped when the Manchurian Qing dynasty was overthrown in 1911 during the reign of the 13th Dalai Lama. The 13th Dalai Lama effectively declared Tibet independent upon his return from exile in 1912. In 1913, the British attempted to create a treaty establishing Tibet as an autonomous region only nominally under Chinese rule. Between 1913 and 1933, Tibet considered itself completely independent and dispelled all Chinese officials and troops from the region. The 14th Dalai Lama maintained this independence until the PLA attacked Tibet and forced Tibetan officials to sign the 17-Point Agreement, which the Dalai Lama later renounced. The US funded a short Tibetan resistance to the Chinese occupation, and later the Dalai Lama escaped and fled into exile in India in 1959. The rest of the history of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) is pretty well known, and characterized by suppression of religious freedoms and civil rights. Later on began the successful attempt to overwhelm the Tibetan majority in Tibet with a Han Chinese majority, now rendering the Tibetans a minority in their own country. There is a short history of the Tibet Question (thanks Melvyn Goldstein).

Now, when considering the right for Tibet to declare itself autonomous and fight for independence, all of the above is completely irrelevant. As far as universal human rights are concerned, if a group of people with a common will to unilaterally declare itself a separate nation and secede from another state, it firmly has the right to do so. The Tibet nation is united in this endeavor, as proven by numerous uprisings against Chinese occupation, unified support for the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government in Exile (TGIE), and the establishment of an international campaign for the world to support Tibetan independence. By now, the TGIE has even established boundaries of what it considers to be Tibet, and so the movement for independence has all the necessary underpinnings for the establishment of a separate nation-state of Tibet. History has very little to do with the right for a group of people to create a new nation-state. For example, did it diminish the right of the colonies established in America by the British to fight for independence, just because they had previously been administrated by Britain? Did the former Soviet satellite states have any less right to national sovereignty just because they had previously been overlorded by the USSR? Of course not, it is absurd to think so, but this is the official rationale of the PRC for keeping Tibet a Chinese-controlled region. We must get beyond the commonly quoted political rhetoric of both sides, and look into what we international humanitarians hold dear, and how an independent Tibet could better uphold Tibetans’ civil liberties than China can (and has in the past).

AG Westport, CT   March 18th, 2008 1204 GMT

Tenzin:
You need to stop daydreaming! China didn’t even move into Tibet, Tibet surrendered under terms of treaty!!! And what does this have to do with boycotting the Olympics? Do you seriouly think that Americans can go without buying products at Walmart? Your just shooting your mouth off here because there is nothing else you can do.
What if not everybody wants “freedom”? What if, Americans should stick to their own buisnesses?
Besides, not all Americans are free and have equal rights to “liberty, and the pursuit of happiness…” There is still plenty of racial discrimination and hate crimes.
China is not oppresing the Tibetan people. Most of them live their lives happily without making a fuss. But no, some people have to get vilolent. Like those so called peaceful monks who set fires and damaged property, and actually killed people.
CNN is so not biased.

Karina   March 18th, 2008 1216 GMT

FREE TIBET!!!!!!!!!

Karina   March 18th, 2008 1218 GMT

FREE TIBET!!!

Tenzin   March 18th, 2008 1221 GMT

We (Tibetans) had enough of Chinese brutal rule. Yes we are peaceloving people but how would you react if outsiders come into your country forcefully, destroy monesteries, kill people for speaking out for freedom, anyone would fight back in the end. Does the world expect us to smile when our very existence is in danger, we are a minority in Tibet…Cultural Genocide is taking place in Tibet!! Free Tibet, Chinese go out of Tibet. Peace…

dave   March 18th, 2008 1337 GMT

it occurred to me, this whole thing has been good thinking on the part of chinese government.

draw the separatists into the open. let them show the world their true color, that is, violence and terrorism, no different from those who your democratic american government is actively fighting against in afghanistan or mother russia in chechnya. it is easier to capture them on the street than in the mountain. this is a bargaining chip with western powers, just like the whole east turk separatism thing in xinjiang. ok, you wanna us help you in pakistan? now shut up. if you listen to missy candi, she is saying, dude, just don’t make it too bloody when you shoot the monks, you know we get caught at gitmo. and the chinese government replies, of course not, ma’am. those use-restraint rhetoric just make me laugh silly.

force the old monk to give up the separatists. of course, his holyness is gonna continue do what he does, but he is gonna have to dissociate from his supporters. in turn, his supporters are gonna get disappointed when he does that.

i say nice work.

tsering wangmo   March 18th, 2008 1345 GMT

what is the use of all this?
we should all go deeply into our mind, becoming aware of all this suffering, both for tibetan and chinese people, and stop it, working for the benefit of all. we are able to do so if we really want and can give up our own interest. we don’t have so much time anymore….

dave   March 18th, 2008 1352 GMT

there will be a war between china and the united states, and very likely her allies, in particular, the japan empire, down the road. it is inevitable. it is gonna be a conventional war. it will be a wrestle for power and influence in the western pacific. all those separatist movements, whether in xinjiang, tibet, or taiwan, are getting support from the united states because she wishes to weaken china from many fronts, forcing china to spend her attention from building an ever stronger economy. there is no way china is gonna give up tibet so that india (and the united states) can move in there. i truly believe many of you westerners, regular joes and johns, are concerned about human rights in china. let me assure you, as much as we, regular chinese citizens, wish there was more improvement, we will not hesitate and stand behind our government on our national defense, even if that means shooting a few monks.

lois   March 18th, 2008 1436 GMT

Chinese never burn Tibetans! you always say report the real Tibet, but do you think your media tell u the real situation in Tibet? all photoes and videos what i saw on the CNN and BBC just told me the same story that protestors commit violence to civilians!
do u really the history about China and Tibet? if u know a little, u will know you media tell u too much with prejudice! i feel sorry for u who believe they know the truth from their media.

evonne   March 18th, 2008 1458 GMT

all rubbishes! the people who said “free tibet” , do you know you don’t have any rights to talk about the internal affairs of our country. you don’t know anything,just echoed what other says!!! are you parrot?do you know Chinese history?why United States free Texas republic or just all pack up and go back to Europe??????

Elena   March 18th, 2008 1517 GMT

It’s clear that those who think China did nothing wrong in Tibet (or even to it’s own people) has never experienced living under the Communist regime - may be you should try it, there are still a couple of countries that can provide such an opportunity.
And the only reason the rest of the world does not support Tibet is because there’s no financial interest involved - so what that if they killed a couple of monks!
We in the West know our rights so well, but that’s us, right? WE deserve it but who are THEY to want the same? It’s very sad and it’s a shame on all who can make a difference.

chinesepeople   March 18th, 2008 1526 GMT

lilly zhu, i think you are not chinese. the true chinese people can’t any the same as waht you said!you are a swindler!!!!

Rinzin to kill HANS   March 18th, 2008 1529 GMT

This is for the first time i join and write blogs. the issue is very clear that Tibetan people do not want to live anymore under the chinese rules, whether tibet was free state or not in History. And this right to fight for their rights are guaranteed under Chinese own law. This is known by all free loving people that Tibetan is totally different from Culturally, Ethnically and Geographically from mainland China.

Hence it is wise of China if they respect Rights of Tibetan and give rightful genuine Self Rule to TIBETAN

Blessed   March 18th, 2008 1538 GMT

It’s true CNN=Politics. It’s NOT true CNN=Facts.

We like to say “God bless America”. Folks, we understand that many of our Americans have no knowledge about history at all. Many of us don’t even know our own 300 year history. Sad isn’t it? That’s ok. We do know China has more than 5000 years of history even we don’t know much about it. A country survived before Moses came along and before Jesus came along. If a country survived those many years for better for worse, she is blessed.

This riot is not all negative. Before it happened, no one paid any attention to the true history. Now it brings up people’s curiosity to search for the true story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOhDBo6×2ZY&feature=related
http://www.michaelparenti.org/Tibet.html

Aeldas   March 18th, 2008 1601 GMT

I hear all these comment for Free Tibet and yet when you read the articles and view the pictures you wonder if they knew the term peaceful protest? Why would China want to engaged in this kinda news when it it near the Olympic? So, please read the article and view some of the pictures before you pass the blame to China. I’m don’t agree with China’s policy..but this time the Tibetian are out to make China look bad before the Olympic it’s a shame to use this tactics. Peaceful protest doesn’t include rock throwing and burning cars and what not.

Monlam   March 18th, 2008 1603 GMT

Photographic evidence of the bloody crackdown on peaceful protesting Tibetans at Ngaba County, Sichuan Province, on 16 March 2008

WARNING: EXTREMELY DISTURBING PICTURES.

Viewer discretion is advised.

http://meyul.com/2008/03/18/photographic-evidence-of-the-bloody-crackdown/

I hope the world sees it..

For Freedom! For Justice!

http://www.MeYul.com

kalsang   March 18th, 2008 1700 GMT

Monks are supposed to be peaceful. When they are seen doing violent acts then one should wonder what has caused them so much anger. It is time for world to find out what really goes on in Tibet.

Oh! sorry, they can’t find out cos the doors have been closed now by the benevolent Communist thugs in Biejing.

John   March 18th, 2008 1710 GMT

Shame on you CNN. You moderated on my post for a whole day and deleted it. I was watching it.

Tibet is a part of China. Like Texas is a part of US.

China has a lot of problems. We are a developing country like most of the countries in the world. We have a painful history in the past 150 years. Chinese people will fight for our own democracy and own freedom. However, Chinese people will fight for the integrity of their motherland with the same passion, if not more.

No single country in the world would give up its land without a fight. No country in the world would tolerate such brutal violence without exerting force. My heart goes to those police officers and soldiers who fought the rioters with batons and shields. From our experience in China, in such kind of situations, they will not be allowed to carry guns. Even if they do, they are not given bullets.

Glen from Oly   March 18th, 2008 1756 GMT

I am outraged by the statements made by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. He is spreading unmitigated lies to the entire world. Do people know how untrue his words are? Do the Chinese people give this man credibility? How more obviously false can the Chinese government be? They violently repress a peaceful demonstration, then they seal off the area and toss out all foreigners so that the truth cannot be known. Then they make telling the truth a crime subject to harsh punishment further ensuring the truth will not be revealed.
The Premiers claim that the Dalai Lama is lying about his position on the violence in Tibet is ludicrous. The Premiers assertion that the Dalai Lama seeks to separate Tibet from China is further evidence of his delusion. To top it off he blatantly calls the Nobel Peace Laureate a liar.
I wonder if Wen Jiabao tells these fabrications for the benefit of his flock who will cling to his every word as gospel, or does he honestly believe that the international community will give him credence?
What is the best action that the international community can take to send a message to Wen Jiabao that we are on to his campaign of dissembling and lies.

Wangmo   March 18th, 2008 1817 GMT

“A lie repeated a hundred times becomes the truth.”
-Chairman Mao

http://www.studentsforafreetibet.org/article.php?id=425

ellen mesich   March 18th, 2008 1819 GMT

far to long has the communist chinise goverment been occuping Tibet!!!!!!!!!!!! Let Tibet be filled in all directions with Tibetans!!!!!!!!!!
Let His Holyness the 14th Dalai Lama return home, as well as all his Tibetan brothers and sisters!!!!!!!!!!!
FREE TIBET-TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shameless   March 18th, 2008 1825 GMT

All you guys still call it peaceful protest?

Shame on you and you shameless Tibetans

young   March 18th, 2008 1839 GMT

Why do Americans always like everything and anything trendy and rightious for the moment. Do the readers on this blog related or ever born in Tibet, better yet, have you studied the history of CHina?

I oftern find it amusing the Free Tibet people often have no idea what Tibet means to them. Its like i call the USA—USI–United Staes of Indians, how about that? should you give the land back you took and let them for a sepearte state?

dont know   March 18th, 2008 1854 GMT

To Monan and Tazin:

Can you upload some pictures of Chinese store been burned into ashs, Chinese people were beaten, Chinese people were burned to death?Those are also EXTREMELY DISTURBING PICTURES , I hope the whole world will see it too. Where is Justice for Chinese?

dont know   March 18th, 2008 1928 GMT

“When the Chinese came to Tibet they not have enough food to feed the own people, we Tibetans supplied the food.” Tenzin, can you tell me where this from? You guys supplied food? then where were you when 3 years starvation began in 50’s in China. Thousands of people died in those terrible years. My mum still would not want to recall it everytime we talked about this. Where was Tibet food supply? What did you supply? When did you supply? How much did you supply?

Have you ever been to Tibet? Next time, if you travel to Tibet. Remember not to talk flight, because the airport was Chinese built to culture genocide you Tibetans. Dont take drive roads either, cause all roads are CPC built to dentroy your culture and religion. One more thing, dont take the railway too, thats corruption to your beautiful home. REMEMBER, if you want to be a REAL PATRIOTIC TIBETAN, WALK to TIBET, doesnt matter where you start.

David   March 18th, 2008 1952 GMT

interesting and knowledgeable comment from Demosthenes (political analyst), but seems the right can apply to the colonies of amercican but not native America. haaaaa

Karan   March 18th, 2008 2008 GMT

I am not surprised of the recent events unfolding in Tibet. Tibetans are marginalised in their own country, there is no freedom of expression, schools and clinics over Tibet are in deplorable state. Thousands of han Chinese are immigrating to Tibet every day and the new railway line made it much much easier for the Chinese. Chinese should get the hell out of Tibet and give it back to who it belongs.

DavidL   March 18th, 2008 2049 GMT

There’s a fine line between protesting peacefully and rioting. The Dalai Lama has only called his people to stop violence but not denying the very existence of violence of Tibetans against both the Han Chinese and Muslim Chinese. This has elevated to the level of TERRORISM. Killing innocent people does not solve the problem, and if the Han Chinese is causing the problems, killing innocent Muslims is only making it worse. No government in their right mind tolerates terrorism. To those with the pictures, have you seen pictures of people killed in other parts of the world? Does the FBI and CIA reveal them? Does the FSB allow everyone in the world see them?

tete   March 18th, 2008 2054 GMT

Facts are:

- In 1653, Qing Emperor offically gave the title Dalai to the head of Gelug Schools of Buddhism in Tibet. Since then any reincarnation aka successor of Dalai has to be approved and confirmed by Chinese central government.

In 1940 XIV Dalai Lama was officiated by then Chinese central government.

- In 1954 current Dalai Lama became Deputy Chairman of the Standing Committe of the National People’s Congress aka the parliment of PRC.

SO, if Tibet had been an independent country then, how came a “foreigner” like Dalai could hold such an important position in the parliment of PRC?

tete   March 18th, 2008 2056 GMT

Why does Spain NOT allow Basque and Catalonia to become independent countries while both regions have their unique culture, languages, music, flags?

If the logic of someone above holds to be true, then we should all agree the followings:

Free Basque!
Free Catalonie!
Free Québec!
Free Corsia!
Free Brittany!
Free Scotland!
Free Walse!
Free Abkhazia!
Free South Ossetia!
Free Pridnestrovie!
Free Serb-dominated Northern Part of Kosovo!

tete   March 18th, 2008 2100 GMT

Anyone who are really interested in Tibet and Dalai Lama should read:

- “Friendly Feudalism: The Tibet Myth” by Michael Parenti

- The Shadow of the Dalai Lama – Contents
By Victor & Victoria Trimondi

- An Interview with Victor and Victoria Trimondi (Germany)[/B]
By James C. Stephens

-Behind Dalai Lama’s holy cloak
By Michael Backman

So many tibetan   March 18th, 2008 2145 GMT

it is always easy for this so-called spiritual leader in-exile, safely and comfortablly seated in India, to call for peace,non-violence, humanity, love, blah-blah-blah; while secretly instigate and worsen turmoil in Lhasa, leaving his dear people protesting, bleeding and dieing.
God bless all the people hurt and died in Tibet and involved elsewhere.

zly   March 18th, 2008 2214 GMT

Tibetan people are not being treated as second-class citizen in china. Dalai lama’s saying is rootless. in fact Tibetian people have been enjoying lots of priorities together with other ethnic minorities in china. For example, China’s one child policy is only effect for majority han ethnic, Tibetan people can have more children as they want. Tibeten childern can go to university with much lower graduation exam score than other Han ethnic children. They have been granted special treatment to do business. Dalai lama should not blame that the chinese government don’t want have dialogue with him as he is not a sincere person, I always wonder why he was awarded Noble peace price.

Jason Zhang   March 18th, 2008 2236 GMT

I have posted this comment in other CNN articles, this is my view on the Tibetan situation:

First, I have make it clear that I am 100% Chinese and I fully support any decisions / actions of theTibetan people as pertain to their indepenence. I am disgusted by the actions of the Chinese government in their treatment of my Tibetan neighbors whom I consider cousins. However, I also condemn unjust violence towards my Chinese brothers and sisters.
Having lived in the U.S., I deal with it everyday and I know to a much lesser degree of how it feels to be view as second class citizen, to be view as different and treated differently. Now to live in your own country and treated this way must be a hundred time worst.
At no point am I shock by the actions of the Chinese government. Basic freedoms of speech and religion have been all but abolished in China until recently. During the cultural revolution, my grandparents land and property were seized and my father force to reformation work camps where estimated millions had died and suffered.
I believed a majority of the Chinese community is in full support of the Tibet. Wheather Tibet wishes to annex or be separate from China should absolutely be the decision of its own people. I believe we have to within all our power to avoid another tragedy such that which bestowed upon Native Indian; on this very land in which Americans reside on.
In order to have kind of success / progress to be made in Tibet; we need the support from everyone. To start off, the UN have to sanction the Chinese Communist Government for their treatment of Tibetans. I was born and lived the first decade of my life in China. China have a very strong hold on the media and most people in China are unaware of any “negative” news happening elsewhere outside their own regions.
I am interested in hearing from all on how we can resolve this. Feel free to write to me at jayzhangpronto@yahoo.com.
FREE TIBET !!!

Claro   March 18th, 2008 2309 GMT

The legacy of Mao and his successors also includes Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, the Maoists in Nepal, northern India, and affiliated infiltrators in independent Bhutan trying to destabilize the region, along with the New People’s Army in the Philippines- each and all falsely promoting a “people’s liberation.” The facts reveal the truth of Chinese communist/Maoist propagandastic lies and the kind of brutality of action ordered by these leaders. If there ever will be purging to be done- may the purging begin with Chinese leaders, and restore the independence of Tibetan people, Uighur people, and other peoples in China, like what happened when the USSR finally collapsed under the weight of its own denial and arrogance.

Jon   March 19th, 2008 002 GMT

If you want to see the result of communist controlled government, education & media, read the many comments under this CNN story. It is amazing the immediate knee-jerk reaction you get out of people that were raised under the current Chinese government: comparison of Tibet to the US & Native Americans; blame Western support, including many European countries, on the US; claim “Tibet always belonged to China”, when in fact China was formed by many separate people groups being conquered by another; compare the Hawaii to Tibet, when Hawaii native people groups are not being bred out of existence and having their culture destoyed. Finally, think about this: there are posts on this web site that both support the Chinese government, and those that do not. Try doing the same thing on sina.com and see what happens to your comment.

Anynomous   March 19th, 2008 105 GMT

Why isn’t the chinese Govt. letting the foreign media get into Tibet and see what is happening rather than filtering everything that is appropriate for them. Isn’t that something to be questioned if they think that they are not lying to the world. Why don’t they show everything rather than censoring the International press and showing their own media coverage which is going to cover all the misdeeds done by the Govt. Saddens me that this world doesn’t glorify humanity and stand for the truth.

Anynomous   March 19th, 2008 204 GMT

I love Tibet and CNN!

david   March 19th, 2008 206 GMT

No worries.

California was invaded by US Army about 150 years ago. The US flooded California with immigrants from allover the world with predominately white folks. The US is the world leading power and economic 150 years later. The Californians are happy today and Mexicans all want to move to California across the border.

Tibet was invaded by the Moguls and Hans, whatever you want to call it. 100 years from now, China will be the leading power and economic in the world. The Tibetans will be happy then. All the people from the neigboring countries all want to move to Tibet.

Crystal   March 19th, 2008 221 GMT

In the United States of America, you know what these “protesters” are called? They’re called TERRORISTS. Here, millions of tax dollars are put into tailing these people, bugging their homes, throwing them in jails, and DECLARING WARS ON THEIR COUNTRIES TO FIND THEIR CRIMINAL MASTERMIND IN CAVES IN AFGHANISTAN. Did you see the Chinese government telling Bush to NEGOTIATE with Osama Bin Laden?! Did you see Chinese Premier Hu raise international fervor when Iraq ignored the U.S.’s Ultimatum and the United States declared WAR?! So far the protesters ignored the Chinese deadline, and what. bloody. business does the U.S. State Department and Condoleeza Rice recommend “restraint” when they themselves went on to an invasion of a foreign country without the approval of the United Nations?!

When a region is under civil unrest, the government’s’ responsibilities are to ensure the safety and well-being of her citizens and STOP the violence through force, if needed. The rant continues: http://tinyurl.com/2juavj

Eric   March 19th, 2008 228 GMT

No to monks in politics. No to inherited dictatorship. No to mixing religion with politics.

Soon   March 19th, 2008 235 GMT

What’s happenning there is sad and does not look good for the Tibetans, but on the other hand - the Soviet empire fell, ROME fell… My heart goes to all the peple who live in Tibet, regardless of thier ethnicity - after all their government is not the one you disagree with, regardless of who you are.
Just wish i could contribute more than writing and praying - any ideas anyone?

lily   March 19th, 2008 237 GMT

Do not comment with prejudice and arrogance before knowing the truth. I do not think it’s “protest” while so many innocent people were being beaten and even killed, so many shops were destroyed and burned, by the so called “monks”! It’s not just “protest”, it was truly violence!

Tony Olivas   March 19th, 2008 251 GMT

Violent crimes against non-Tibetan Chinese
==================================
The world should know the Tibetan rioters commit violent crimes against non-Tibetan Chinese, and should condemn these crimes. I saw the videos on youtube. These YouTube videos intentionally do not show the violent attack on non-Tibetan Chinese on motorcycle, the Tibetans setting fires and looting shops. I saw these videos on other websites. These are criminals !

China, U.S.A. etc do not condone independent or separatist moves by their citizens. Chinese reaction to these moves are
=============================
similar to those taken by U.S.A. against Puerto Ricans,
===========================================
Hawaiians and Indians, by United Kingdom against Irish etc..
=============================================
Only difference is the non-Chinese governments do it more covertly.

Many Tibetans do not learn how to read and write Chinese. You can not usually get good jobs without those skills unless
you have technical skills etc..
People who live in the United States of America who do not read and write English usually work in low paying menial jobs like washing dishes, landscaping, fast food restaurant cooks etc. This is the same in Europe.

China should send all the Tibetan criminals to the USA or Europe. Let these countries have the “freedom fighters” much like Fidel Castro send all the Cuban criminals to U.S.A.

The Dalai Lama opposes violence. The violence against non-Tibetan Chinese shows he has very little influence over the rioters.

Sha   March 19th, 2008 315 GMT

Free America, Free scotland, Free Northern Ireland, Free Hawaii, Free Quebec!

Asian   March 19th, 2008 337 GMT

Tibetans!!
Never forgive your dream!!

Chinese should give Tibetans what they want.
And freedom-loving nations in the world should support Tibetans.
If we stay in silence in this Tibetan’s Independence and Freedom Movement, sometime our freedom also could be in danger.

This Tibetan’s Movement reminds me of korea’s 3.1independence movement in 1919.
At that time(when Japan had been conquerring Korea), there was no hope, but Korea’s Independence was finally achieved.

So Tibetans!!
Never forgive your dream!!
We who love Independence and Freedom are always with you.
And your dream will finally come true like us.

chinaeagles   March 19th, 2008 341 GMT

As far as I know Tibetans are very nice people. China is consists of multple races while the tibetans are the most peaceful people becaseu they believe in Buddhism. However, this turmoil changed this idea totally in China. People are so surprised that some tibetans are so violent. Most people known to be killed so far are han people, victims of the turmoil. Although there are reports that some tibetans got killed by the goverment, no proof so far. I would not be surprised if some tibetans got killed because they attack stores, set fires, rob banks. However, I am do surprised that so far no such evidence revealed to support the death of tibetans. Except that, a new turmoil unknow to the outside world is occurring inside the han society of china. Extreme believers of nationalism are becomeing more and more active in the internet mediated virtual society. Relative to the more and more violent tibetans, this change indicates a more dangerous conflict is merging. Although most chinese still believes in the Chairman Mao’s policy: we must unite all the minority nations of the country, and we are all sisters and brothers, this policy is thought as out of time by lots of extreme nationalists. Although most of these extreme nationalists are simply orally nationalists, they have no ball to put their nazi screams into action, they are spreading these nazi ideas on the internet, causing a severe conflict among chinese. The international society should notice that, a bloody confict between tibetans and chinese is a huge tragedy to chinese, to tibetan, to dalai lama, to the chinese goverment, and to the world. Please make all the effort to calm down the situation other than make it more hot. Please report the turmoil in tibet with a more impartial style, other than the picture shown in this post, which only displays the army vehicle buth hide out the stone throwing tibetans on the right side of the picture. This picture makes chinese very angry about the position of CNN, which have been believed to be professional and impartial, which is highly doubed by lots of chinese.

Jason Zhang   March 19th, 2008 347 GMT

Second Attempt in posting this blog.

First, I have make it clear that I am 100% Chinese and I fully support any decisions / actions of theTibetan people as pertain to their indepenence. I am disgusted by the actions of the Chinese government in their treatment of my Tibetan neighbors whom I consider cousins. However, I also condemn unjust violence towards my Chinese brothers and sisters.
Having lived in the U.S. , I deal with it everyday and I know to a much lesser degree of how it feels to be view as second class citizen, to be view as different and treated differently. Now to