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China says Tibet still closed for foreign reporters
Beijing (AFP) April 1, 2008 China said Tuesday that Tibet remained closed for foreign journalists, nearly three weeks after deadly riots broke out in the Himalayan region. China's foreign ministry made the remark after the return from Tibet's capital, Lhasa, of a group of foreign reporters on a government-arranged visit that nonetheless showed some resentment there against Chinese rule. "For the reporting activities of foreign journalists, we recently arranged a visit," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said. "Other reporters raised their request to visit to Lhasa. If we have any arrangement, we will inform the journalists." Tibetan demonstrations to mark the 49th anniversary of an uprising against Chinese rule of the Himalayan region descended into lethal violence on March 14 in Lhasa. The unrest swiftly spread to other parts of China inhabited by Tibetans, and according to Chinese records, 18 civilians and two police officers have died. The Tibetan government-in-exile says 135-140 people were killed in the Chinese crackdown. China has largely sealed off Lhasa and the other hotspot areas off from foreign journalists amid a massive security clampdown, making it extremely difficult to determine the real situation. China allowed 26 foreign journalists into Lhasa last Wednesday for the three-day trip, and they reported on deep resentment among Buddhist monks there against Chinese rule of Tibet. In one incident, monks from the Jokhang temple, one of Tibetan Buddhism's most sacred places, staged a protest in front of the journalists, calling for freedom for Tibet and denouncing a Chinese official as a liar. Jiang said Tuesday that China would like to re-open Tibet, but gave no specifics. "The measures in Lhasa now are a special arrangement under special conditions. The reason is not caused by us. We don't want to see that. We hope the situation can return to normal at an early date," Jiang said. "Before the incident, Lhasa and Tibet were open. If you went through certain procedures, you could go there for visit and reporting... We hope Tibet can go back to tranquility and normal life as before." Related Links China News from SinoDaily.com
Nepal to put troops on Everest to block Tibet demos
Kathmandu (AFP) March 28, 2008Nepal is to deploy soldiers on its side of Mount Everest to prevent pro-Tibet protests when China carries the Olympic torch to the summit in early May, officials told AFP Friday. |
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