Tibetans calls for independence from Chinese control through peaceful protests have resulted in violent riots, followed by a military crackdown, and media suppression. Around 600 Buddhist monks marched in the streets of Lhasa last March 10, 2008 to mark the 49th anniversary of calling for Tibetan independence. But the Chinese government fielded thousands of police to disperse the monks using tear gas and electric prods as reported by the Reuters news agency. A few days later on March 14, riots broke around the city and resulted in business establishments being burned down where at least 18 people died. Included among the victims were five women trapped and burned inside a Chinese-owned shop. The military arrested hundreds of people suspected of participating in the riots and accused the Tibetans' exiled political and spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, as having instigated the protests and riots.

International groups are calling for peaceful resolutions to the situation amid fears that the Chinese government will use more violent means to suppress the Tibetans' rejection of Chinese control and assertion of a Tibetan identity and right to autonomy. The Chinese government also strictly controlled media coverage and only few foreign journalists have been allowed to report from Tibet.

The Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM-Asia) and 68 other organisations posted a petition calling on “the UN Human Rights Council to hold a Special Session on the current human rights situation in the People’s Republic of China....”

They also ask the (UNHCR) High Commissioner “to send a fact-finding mission equipped with full access to all the Tibetan areas where there had been extrajudicial or summary killings, arbitrary detention, and enforced disappearances since 10 March, when the current wave of demonstrations began.”

They highlighted reports of human rights violations committed against the Tibetan people as a result of these riots which included the deaths of 80 Tibetans.

Meanwhile, Focus on the Global South is requesting organisations from Asia to sign their statement of concern on the situation in Tibet.

Here are excerpts from their statement:
“We believe that violence offers no solution and we call for restraint from both sides: the Chinese government should not arrest innocent people and should give fair trial to those who allegedly committed crimes during the riots. We also advise Tibetans to avoid attacking or destroying properties of civilian ethnic Chinese and Muslims as this could result to more militarization.

We urge the authorities to allow foreign and independent press to enter the region to ensure that events are reported and for arrests of protesters or suspected rioters to be known.

Finally, we ask the governments of India and Nepal to desist from using force to disperse demonstrations by exiled Tibetans in support of their compatriots and to allow them freedom of speech and assembly.”


Sources:
Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development. (2008, March 17). Special Session on Tibet NOW! Retrieved on March 30, 2008, from http://www.forumasia.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view& id=1605&Itemid=32


Beck, L. & Kang Lim, B. (2008, March 12). China fires tear gas on monks protesting in Tibet. Reuters. Retrieved on March 30, 2008, from http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSSP307806.


Parajuli, K. (2008, March 25). Nepali monks protest against oppression and for freedom in Tibet. AsiaNews.it. Retrieved on March 30, 2008, from http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=11842&size=A