Chockstone Forum

      Sponsored By
      ROCK
   HARDWARE

Chockstone Photography

Australian Landscape Prints

Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

Topic Date User

gee this could compromise climbing in the area 2-Mar-2009 At 4:36:45 PM billk

Message

Tibetan monastery 'surrounded' in ChinaMarch 2, 2009 - 4:24PM

Security forces have surrounded a Tibetan monastery in a tense region of southwest China after monks protested against Chinese repression, activist groups say.

They said that Sunday's demonstration occurred in the same area of Sichuan province's Aba prefecture where a monk set himself alight last week to protest against Chinese rule.

Tensions are high in Tibetan-populated areas ahead of the 50th anniversary on March 10 of a failed uprising against Chinese rule that led to revered spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fleeing into exile.

Several hundred monks at the Sey monastery in Aba staged the protest after Chinese officials banned prayers during a traditional Buddhist festival, the US-based International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) said on Monday, citing sources there.

"Several hundred monks marched from the monastery after officials banned them from praying, calling to be allowed to celebrate the Monlam prayer festival and for authorities to release all Tibetan prisoners," the group said.

It said armed police had surrounded the monastery after the monks returned there, and it was now likely to be under a lockdown, although it had no more information.

The New York-based Students for a Free Tibet also reported Sunday's rally, and that the military had sealed the monastery.

The Dalai Lama, other exiles and activist groups have reported a massive security build-up in Tibet and the neighbouring areas of western China with Tibetan populations, such as Aba, ahead of the uprising anniversary.

Getting independent information from the areas is extremely difficult.

Travel agencies have told AFP that foreign tourists have been banned from visiting Tibet during March, while the international media remain barred from travelling to the Himalayan region independently.

Government officials and police in Abe contacted by AFP on Monday said they did not know of Sunday's reported protest.

On Friday, a monk set himself on fire near the Kirti monastery, which is several kilometres from the Sey monastery.

Chinese authorities on Saturday confirmed a man had set himself alight but did not acknowledge claims by activist groups that police shot the monk.

- The Age, Melbourne
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Also, check out the photos recently smuggled out of Eastern Tibet

http://www.freetibet.org/newsmedia/photos-labrang-12-february-2009