China denies using deadly force in Tibet amid mounting pressure

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

BEIJING (AFP) - China faced mounting global pressure over Tibet on Monday amid exiles' claims that hundreds of people may have died in a crackdown on protesters, even though Beijing denied using deadly force.

In its first official account of the unrest in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, China blamed protesters who rose up against Chinese rule in what has turned into a public relations nightmare for Beijing ahead of the Olympic Games.

"They either burned or hacked to death 13 innocent civilians," Tibet government chairman Qiangba Puncog told reporters in Beijing, adding Chinese forces had not fired weapons at protesters.

"Throughout the process, (security forces) did not carry or use any lethal weapons."



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080317/wl_afp/chinaunresttibetrights_080317123807

[MethuenProgressive]

1. BBC: China 'holds Tibetan dissidents' FreeTibet "More than 100 dead"

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7299965.stm

Dozens are feared dead after days of rioting in Lhasa, with each side accusing the other of excessive force.
Other parts of China also saw rallies on the weekend, while Tibetans in Nepal and India are continuing to protest.
Qiangba Puncog, the Tibetan regional governor, said 13 "innocent civilians" had been killed by mobs in Lhasa.
He blamed the unrest on outside forces including Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who heads the Tibetan government-in-exile from India.

http://www.freetibet.org/

[Javaman]

2. Those people tripped and fell on those bullets!! nt

[ohio2007]

3. India to close border with China

India may be forced to seal China border

BEIJING: It has become a do-or-die situation for many of the monks and ordinary Tibetans who have participated in both the peaceful demonstrations and violence that rocked Lhasa over the past few days.( Watch )

Some of them may try to escape to neighbouring provinces with large Tibetan population and possibly sneak into India, a source said.

The Indian government may come under greater pressure from Beijing to ensure that none of the protesters cross the mountain border from Tibet. At present, the Chinese pressure on New Delhi is restricted to ensuring that the Dharmasala-based Tibetans don't cross over to Tibet. Many of the protesters in Lhasa would ignore the Monday midnight deadline for surrendering to the authorities, who have sweetened the offer by promising leniency to those who surrender.

"The Communist Party has infiltrated most of the major monasteries. It knows almost everything about the lives of the monks. Surrendering would not save them from future reprisal by the authorities," a human rights activist told TOI.
snip


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India_may_be_forced_to_seal_China_border/articleshow/2872687.cms

Escape is futile

Surrender is futile