The Secret Tibet (The Forbidden world)

International Campaign for Tibet
March 11th, 2008

Two Chinese officials photographed observing the Kathmandu police. One of the officials spat on the American who took this photo and the camera. The Chinese officials yelled in English to the Nepalese police to apprehend the American and take the camera away, which the Nepalese police did not act upon. (Photo: ICT)

There was unprecedented intervention by Chinese embassy officials in Kathmandu yesterday with the handling of clashes between Nepalese police and Tibetans carrying out demonstrations for an important Tibetan anniversary, March 10 National Uprising Day.

In Greece, too, Chinese officials filmed Tibetan activists yesterday and were caught on camera attempting to impede a peaceful protest by Tibetans linked to the Olympics in Olympia, ancient site of the first Olympics.

Images published today on ICT's website show Chinese Embassy officials working behind police lines in Kathmandu, and attempting to prevent their photograph being taken by an American observer, who reported to ICT that they spat at him.

It has been well known in Nepal that due to strong Chinese influence on the multi-party government, the Chinese embassy issues instructions to the Nepalese Home Ministry to direct the police on various important Tibetan anniversaries. But yesterday the Chinese embassy was visible on the streets with the Nepalese police, and according to one experienced observer, Chinese officials were "directing them, positioning them, [and] telling them to remove people".

An estimated several thousand Tibetans gathered at the Buddhist stupa in the Boudha neighborhood of Kathmandu yesterday (March 10), waving the Tibetan national flag and shouting pro-Tibet slogans to commemorate the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising in Lhasa in 1959. Police used batons to forcibly halt attempts by protestors to move the demonstration to the Chinese embassy, reportedly injuring more than 20 protestors and detaining at least 100 more.

An eyewitness in Kathmandu told ICT that there was a confrontation between the peaceful demonstrators and police at the bridge below Batpatini (pictured). The observer said: "In five police vans and two trucks, they were able to apprehend about 50 Tibetans, while another 20 or so ran in various directions. During the attempt to apprehend all of them, many Tibetan demonstrators were beaten with sticks and billy clubs, kicked, and punched. This was in the street and visible to the many residents around the bridge. The altercation took less than 15 minutes before they cleared the area."

At least 100 Tibetans were detained temporarily yesterday following the protests, and most of them were held in the courtyard at Gosala police post near Pashupati. Around a dozen Tibetans were detained in Boudha police station, and most of them were hit with lathis and punched. Family members of the detained and supporters gathered around the police station, where they were being held, urging officials to release those who were arrested. Most of the detained are believed to have been released without charge at 5:45 pm local time yesterday.

An experienced observer in Kathmandu told ICT: "The number of [Nepalese] police in full riot gear, fanned out across the city, counting at least ten intersections with over 25 policemen, and 450 policemen posted in front of the Chinese embassy alone (along with three police dogs), was a show of planning and coordination that has not been seen before."

Five Chinese and one Tibetan staff at the embassy, in plain clothes were positioned in front the Chinese embassy. When an American man photographing the demonstrations was was taking pictures of the two embassy Chinese officials telling the policeman where to stand to block the intersection, the two Chinese men tried to stop him, and upon walking up to the observer, one spat on him and the camera. While the American left, Chinese officials yelled in English to the Nepalese police man to apprehend the American and take the camera away, which the Nepalese police did not act upon.

In another example of China's interference in the due process of other countries, Chinese embassy officials were caught on film yesterday by the BBC at Olympia, Greece, objecting to a peaceful protest by Tibetan activists at the ancient site that is the birthplace of the Olympic Games. The Chinese embassy officials filmed Tibet protestors who symbolically lit a torch as part of a Tibetan Freedom Torch Relay in the buildup to the summer Olympics in Beijing. Tendon Dahortsang, of the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe, said: "Greek authorities told us we were not allowed to go in because of our big bags, as Chinese embassy officials stood nearby and watched us." (The Guardian, UK, March 11, 2008). When a BBC reporter challenged the Chinese officials for their involvement in impeding a peaceful protest in a free country, the Chinese officials became angry and shouted at the camera that Tibet is part of China, before telling the reporter that he was 'stupid' and walking away.

Mary Beth Markey, Vice President of the International Campaign for Tibet, said today: "In both these instances China has attempted to orchestrate the bullying of peaceful protestors in democratic countries where -- unlike in China -- free speech and assembly are protected in law. This manifestation of China's influence is certainly not the peaceful rise on the international stage of which China so often boasts in its Olympics year."

Tibetan protesters clashed with Kathmandu police when they attempted to demonstrate in front of the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu on March 10, 2008. (Photo: ICT)

A Tibetan protester with visible wounds after being beaten by Kathmandu police during demonstrations, March 10, 2008. (Photo: ICT)

Chinese Embassy officials working behind police lines in Kathmandu. It has been well known in Nepal that due to strong Chinese influence on the multi-party government, the Chinese embassy issues instructions to the Nepalese Home Ministry to direct the police on various important Tibetan anniversaries. (Photo: ICT)

Kathmandu police drag a Tibetan protester during demonstrations in Kathmandu, March 10, 2008. (Photo: ICT)

A Tibetan protester with a head wound suffered when police beat demonstrators who attempted to protest at the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu. (Photo: ICT)

The Chinese embassy was visible on the streets with the Nepalese police, and according to one experienced observer, Chinese officials were "directing them, positioning them, [and] telling them to remove people". (Photo: ICT)

This bunch of harmless looking policemen where just a distraction. The undercovers were the hard men, who were also watching us closely, so taking pictures of them was no option.




Lelf a woman who obviously was watching us, tourists.


Everybody is watching and nobody can do anything...

Press release by Press of Tibet

Dharamsala: March 10^th 2008. Press of Tibet has launches the first independent trilingual website (English and Chinese and Tibetan) for Tibet at Dharamsala, H.P, India. The website www.thetibetpost.com or The Tibet Post International is updating mainly the daily news for Tibet issues and also including world news from abroad. The website is developing and publishing by the Press of Tibet and officially launched on 10th December 2007.

Press of Tibet (POT), an independent and non-profit media organization newly established in Dharamsala, H.P, India on 10th March 2007 by a group of Tibetan journalists in exile. Press of Tibet has been tested it's trilingual website in the weeks of December and the English and Chinese version are running well, but Press of Tibet has experienced that the Tibetan font for Tibetan version still need further development, however, it is working in internet explore 7.

The Tibet Post International's weekly online news-paper (TPI)) 

Every week The Tibet Post International publishes Tibet and international news in the English language. The Tibet Post International mainly focuses on Tibet related issues, following the development inside Tibet closely as well as reporting on the activities and working of Exile democratic institutions. The weekly issue is divided into two parts; news of the week and a feature story, which is including Tibet and exile news, editorial, world news, essays, fiction and non-fiction write-ups, personal thoughts, opinions and more. The Tibet Post International is the first independent weekly in English in Tibetan community. Following topics will be covered in the Newspaper:

1. Articles and interviews on Tibetan issues, media statues and Tibetan freedom of expression;
2. Response to Chinese press articles, presenting a distorted version of Tibetan history etc. Comparative studies on the constitution of China, highlighting the contradiction between what it promises and the actual thing existing on the ground.
3. Report on the state of media freedom in Tibet to international community, including the arbitrary arrest and detention, and harassment of the Tibetan writers and journalist in Tibet.
4. Updates and publishes HH the Dalai Lama's latest public speeches in serialized form
5. Developments in the Tibetan Government In-Exile and International affairs
6. Guest columns and letters to the editor
7. Principles and theories of freedom of expression.

Hence the readership is restricted within the Tibetan community and this naturally reduces the scope of conveying the messages and any information related to Tibet and Tibetans in the international community.

Added by Tibet Correspondent for Reporters Without Borders, Mr. Yeshe Choesang.

The Tibet Post International {Monday, 10th March 2008}

On the occasion of the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan people's peaceful uprising in Lhasa on 10 March 1959, I offer my prayers and pay tribute to those brave men and women of Tibet who have endured untold hardships and sacrificed their lives for the cause of the Tibetan people and express my solidarity with those Tibetans presently undergoing repression and ill-treatment.-I also extend my-greetings to Tibetans in and outside Tibet, supporters of the Tibetan cause and-all who cherish justice.

Many governments, non-governmental organisations and individuals across the world, because of their interest in peace and justice, have consistently supported the cause of Tibet. Particularly during the past year, governments and peoples of many countries made important gestures that clearly expressed their support to us. I would like to express my gratitude to every one of them.

The problem of Tibet is very complicated. It is intrinsically linked with many issues: politics, the nature of society, law, human rights, religion, culture, the identity of a people, the economy and the state of the natural environment. Consequently, a comprehensive approach must be adopted to resolve this problem that takes into account the benefits to all parties involved, rather than one party alone. Therefore, we have been firm in our commitment to a mutually beneficial policy, the Middle-Way approach, and have made sincere and persistent efforts towards achieving this for many years. Since 2002, my envoys have conducted six rounds of talks with concerned officials of the People's Republic of China to discuss relevant issues. These extensive discussions have helped to clear away some of their doubts and enabled us to explain our aspirations to them. However, on the fundamental issue, there has been no concrete result at all. And during the past few years, Tibet has witnessed increased repression and brutality. In spite of these unfortunate developments, my stand and determination to pursue the Middle-Way policy and to continue our dialogue with the Chinese government remain unchanged.

A major concern of the People's Republic of China is its lack of legitimacy in Tibet. The principal way to lend weight to their position is for the Chinese government to pursue a policy that satisfies the Tibetan people and gains their confidence. If we are able to achieve reconciliation by treading a path of mutual consent, then, as I have already stated many times, I will make every effort to win the support of the Tibetan people.

In Tibet today, due to the Chinese government’s numerous actions, driven as they are by a lack of foresight, the natural environment has been severely damaged. And, as a result of their policy of population transfer the non-Tibetan population has increased many times, reducing native Tibetans to an insignificant minority in their own country. Moreover, the language, customs and traditions of Tibet, which reflect the true nature and identity of the Tibetan people are gradually fading away. As a consequence, Tibetans are increasingly being assimilated into the larger Chinese population. In Tibet, repression continues to increase with numerous, unimaginable and gross violations of human rights, denial of religious freedom and the politicisation of religious issues. All these take place as a result of the Chinese government’s lack of respect for the Tibetan people. These are major obstacles the Chinese government deliberately puts in the way of its policy of unifying nationalities which discriminate between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples. Therefore, I urge the Chinese government to bring an immediate halt to such policies.

Although the areas inhabited by Tibetan people are referred to by such different names as autonomous region, autonomous prefectures and autonomous counties, they are autonomous in name only; they actually have no real autonomy. Instead, they are governed by people who are oblivious of the regional situation, and driven by what Mao Zedong called "Han chauvinism". As a result, this so-called autonomy has not brought the concerned nationalities any tangible benefit. Disingenuous policies that are not in tune with reality are causing enormous harm not only to the respective nationalities, but also to the unity and stability of the Chinese nation. It is important for the Chinese government, as advised by Deng Xiaoping, to "seek truth from facts" in the real sense of the term.

The Chinese government severely criticises me when I raise questions about the welfare of the Tibetan people before the international community. Until we reach a mutually beneficial solution, I have a historical and moral responsibility to continue to speak out freely on their behalf. However, it is common knowledge that I have been in semi-retirement since the political leadership of the Tibetan Diaspora has been directly elected by the general Tibetan populace.

China is emerging as a powerful country due to her great economic progress. This is to be welcomed, but it has also provided China an opportunity to play an important role on the global stage. The world is eagerly waiting to see how the present Chinese leadership will put into effect its avowed concepts of "harmonious society" and "peaceful rise". For the realisation of these concepts, economic progress alone will not suffice. There must be improvements in observance of the rule of law, transparency, and right to information, as well as freedom of speech. Since China is a country of many nationalities, they must all be given equality and freedom to protect their respective unique identities if the country is to remain stable.

On 6 March 2008, President Hu Jintao stated: "The stability in Tibet concerns the stability of the country, and the safety in Tibet concerns the safety of the country." He added that the Chinese leadership must ensure the well-being of Tibetans, improve the work related to religions and ethnic groups, and maintain social harmony and stability. President Hu’s statement conforms to reality and we look forward to its implementation.

This year, the Chinese people are proudly and eagerly awaiting the opening of the Olympic Games. I have, from the very beginning, supported the idea that China should be granted the opportunity to host the Olympic Games. Since such international sporting events, and especially the Olympics, uphold the principles of freedom of speech, freedom of expression, equality and friendship, China should prove herself a good host by providing these freedoms. Therefore, besides sending their athletes, the international community should remind the Chinese government of these issues. I have come to know that many parliaments, individuals and non-governmental organisations around the globe are undertaking a number of activities in view of the opportunity that exists for China to make a positive change. I admire their sincerity. I would like to state emphatically that it will be very important to observe the period following the conclusion of the Games. The Olympic Games no doubt will greatly impact the minds of the Chinese people. The world should, therefore, explore ways of investing their collective energies in producing a continuous positive change inside China even after the Olympics have come to an end.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my pride in and appreciation for the sincerity, courage and determination of the Tibetan people inside Tibet. I urge them to continue to work peacefully and within the law to ensure that all the minority nationalities of the People's Republic of China, including the Tibetan people, enjoy their legitimate rights and benefits.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Government and people of India, in particular, for their continuing and unparalleled support for Tibetan refugees and the cause of Tibet, as well as express my gratitude to all those governments and peoples for their continued concern for the Tibetan cause.

With my prayers for the well-being of all sentient beings.

The Dalai Lama
10 March 2008

N.B. Translated from the Tibetan

Source tibet.net

More news aboutTibet and Tibet issues: please visit: www.thetibetpost.com

The Tibet Post International {Sunday, 09 March 2008}

Mr. Tsering Wangchuk, one of the famous former reporter and presenter of Radio Broadcast of Lhasa which in so called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), with discussing about his works from 1988 to 1993 and about the Lhasa Radio Broadcast in Tibet.

He told me about his concerning of the difficulties he faced by accesses news services on Lhasa Tibetan radio broadcast in a communist state, the discussion followed his un-success media carries under restrictions of the Chinese authorities. He also tells to the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) that the Chinese authorities have always attempted to jam and block all the foreign broadcasts into China, particularly in Lhasa, (the capital of Tibet) and other main Tibetan cities which they determine to “unfriendly”.

What he was tried to show up with his crying soul and he also tells that he was experiencing various aspect of difficulties journalism, the unbiased and alternative news services focusing on Tibetan and Chinese issues are deemed to Chinese authorities “Most powerful Enemies” One of Mr. Tsering Wangchuk’s most difficult is restriction on broadcast services in Tibet since 1993, that he couldn’t provides the reality story and situation of Tibet and Tibetan people under the occupation.

In 1994, He became first Tibetan journalist refugee in India and joined the Tibetan government in exile as reporter of Tibetan freedom, the only official weekly newspaper publishing by Department of information and international relationship (DIIR), now he is the additional secretary of Kashag (The executive cabinet). as a former Tibetan journalist, he also criticizes the French government that its company's helping the jamming and blocking foreign broadcasts.

 "The French company Thales has been the main foreign company providing equipment, technology and engineers assisting the Chinese authorities’ quest to silence and every time maintained to disturb the foreign short wave broadcasting services from Norway and USA etc" he said. 

Tibet Post (TPI): You were a reporter and presenter of Lhasa Radio broadcast of TAR. How was that worked? 

Tsering Wangchuk: First, you must understand how mass media system in a communist state is organized. The policy of the whole category of media—programming, its rules and regulations have been created in tidied restrictions, Lhasa and TAR radio broadcasting itself-is in the hands of the TAR authorities, it is to be focused and reported only positive events in the broadcasts and newspapers. More practically, you can say, it is in the hands of one man, the party secretary of TAR. At its worst, these results in all Medias works produced being of the type his decisions, but allowed to broadcasting some world news.

Tibetans usually used a word, “the whole news in world is always reporting disaster, while it in regional and national always reporting success and good” you have an idea of these situations. Because of this, we have no rights to search for a media system that would guarantee freedom of aspirations and a determination of freedom in media role, if we do this search, that concept of media units immediately crackdown or replaced.  Many Tibetan writers and journalists arrested since 2006, include Tibetan writer Mr. Dolma Kyab. Now China became the main enemy of international media; particularly to the 2445 Tibetan refugees escaped into exile and reached Dharamsala this year for a better right to speak up.

TPI: As a former Tibetan reporter from Tibet, what would you say? 

Tsering Wangchuk: you have no idea that we always had fears in our safety life, we worked under the constant threat of censorship and sanctions, each media unit consists of an editor, a literary writer, researcher and an executive director, these are just acting on their carrier. Around this trio are clustered with others, usually older editors who have been re-educated in communism or Chinese laws.

The people in each media unit work together each news regarding the articles of viewpoint which adapted by the party committee. We broadcast or publish news, write stories, discuss one another’s work, so much dependent each others, you can not setup your own talents with all units, we can not propose various media ideas to the director or editor, accept some positive or negative news of other countries, for example; the crisis Iraq, middle east and US war on terror, the director or editor who always control the all functions with comments by party committee.

In last four decades, many Tibetan writers and journalists forced to preventions and lost their jobs; also there are many reason for widespread self-censorship and the relatively journalists in prison, a Chinese reporter, He recalled the case of a Chinese reporter from Beijing who was dismissed by Radio Lhasa and forced to leave Tibet after investigating allegations that at least eight Chinese people had been murdered by the police. The serial killings, which took place at a Tibetan Town near Lhasa {Gonjar Zong) in the early 1990s, were never covered by media published in Tibet.

The most of reporters who normally would be unable to discuss their reports with their editors, any news reports of crisis which related Chinese officials must published after permitted by secretary general of TAR, that is my purpose and main duty as a former journalist to carried out the realities about media in Tibet and there are reasons to become a refugee for free asses of any reality news, this time it is more worse than 1990s. 

TPI: The party authorities control official Media in TAR, is there any independent agency?

 Wangchuk: No. There is no any independent agency both in print and broadcast media in TAR, only official news media allowed. Until the start of 1980s, very few publications were available in Tibet; include Tibet youth weekly, the Communist youth wing's newspaper, launched in 1985, to Radio and TV, a weekly guide to the programs of radio and television stations, launched in 1989.

A report issued by the official Chinese news agency Xinhua, July 1995, said that 55 publications were available in the autonomous region: 23 in Tibetan, 30 in Chinese and two in English. Four years later, in February 1999, the agency reported that the region had 16 newspapers, 34 magazines, 67 bookshops and four printing works since 1993, most are in Chinese language when I was in Tibet. In Tibet, where much of population is illiterate and poor, the power of foreign Radio, TV and Newspaper is particularly obvious.

The Radio broadcasting and TV programs are the main medium for mass information and education, and the Chinese communist government in Tibet has monopoly control over the mass media and with the lack of independent information sources, the general public has no access to free information and lacks a medium to its concerns. The leading newspaper is Tibet Daily in TAR, later published Lhasa Evening Newspaper, the newspapers states its purpose and main objectives, for example; it said “it is mouthpiece of the party committee” it never published a single unbiased and alternative news issue of Tibet and its people.

Other issue in most of the areas populated Tibetans is the fact that very few Tibetan officials are employed in the Radio, TV and News-paper departments. In Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan provinces heavily populated by Tibetans, most of these positions are occupied by Chinese officials; they always quoted the news of Xinhua news agency, biggest official news agency of China. 

TPI: Chinese authorities have numerous monitoring and jamming stations outfitted with the most sophisticated equipments after 1997, what do you think?

 Wangchuk: The French company Thales has been the main foreign company providing equipment, technology and engineers assisting the Chinese authorities’ quest to silence and make unclear foreign short wave broadcasts, every issues of the world dependence to Chinese economy policy, we don’t have the power to stop the foreigners to make money. In Tibet, the reporters have to subscribe to when writing reports; we can not write about situations of Tibet or its history and can not write anything in contravention of government’s policy.

The reporters must have to write about how the government was helping the people. The jamming and blocking the foreign radios so much increased and it is increasing, it is very difficult to buy a digital radio in Tibet, and the normal radio always gets jamming and blocking news from Radio Broadcasting services.

The Chinese authorities in Tibet did not show any significant sign of let-up. Throughout the year, various human rights abuses in Tibet were documented affecting both the civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights of the Tibetan people. Arbitrary arrest, detention and imprisonment continue to be appalling as ever in Tibet.  During the year, two events of concern, start of Gormo-Lhasa railway and the Nangpa La Pass tragedy, gripped international attention intensifying concerns over cultural genocide in Tibet and the plight of Tibetans escaping human rights abuses in Chinese occupied Tibet. 

TPI: End of 2006, China promised the free access of information for the foreign journalists it will begins from beginning of 2007, do you think that will bring any good changes in China, particularly in Tibet?

 Wangchuk: No, not exactly. I think, there is another dirty game started behind the 2008 international Olympic Game in China, Chinese authorities have invited some internationally related journalists into China recently and they officially declared that the foreign journalists are allowed to access their reports independently from 2007. But on the waves of their recent political agenda and events, I think, there are no any significant changes taking place in China and Tibet, so far, it will not.

Actually, the foreign journalists are demanding complete independent to access the information and report during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Game only, they might visit in TAR and other provinces where Tibetans most populated, but, they will can not access and focus any reality issues of the Tibet and Tibetan people under Chinese machine guns, even they managed some reality issues, no one will give a grantee to safety of the Tibetans after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Game. Another example, Chinese media Xinhua reported the railway carried 272,700 passengers and 37,400 tons of freight between July September 2006, I think 60 percents of 272,700 passengers remand settled in Tibet.

More news about Tibet and Tibet issues, please visit: www.thetibetpost.com

2008.03.10

May 26, 2005: Tibetan monks gather at the main prayer hall of the Drepung monastery in Lhasa for their afternoon milk tea. Photo: AFP/Goh Chai Hin.

KATHMANDU—Chinese authorities in Tibet today detained dozens of Tibetan monks staging a rare protest march into the regional capital, Lhasa, on a key anniversary.

An authoritative source who declined to be identified told RFA’s Tibetan service as many as 300 monks set out from Drepung monastery outside Lhasa on the roughly 10-km (5-mile) walk into the city center.

Sources said the monks were marching to the Potala Palace in the heart of Lhasa to demand the release of monks detained last October shortly after the exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama, received a Congressional Gold Medal in Washington.

Police, ambulances summoned

Authorities at a checkpoint along the way stopped and detained between 50 and 60 monks, the source said. Witnesses reported seeing about 10 military vehicles, 10 police vehicles, and several ambulances at the checkpoint.

No information was immediately available on where the monks were taken or why ambulances were summoned.

Another witness reported that official vehicles then blocked off access by road to Drepung monastery, and that many monasteries in and around Lhasa were surrounded by members of the paramilitary People's Armed Police.

A source at a nunnery in the area, who asked not to be identified, said authorities had told the nunnery to lock its gates at 9 p.m. to keep all of the nuns inside.

Separately, witnesses reported that nine monks from another major monastery, Sera, and two laypeople staged a loud protest in front of the Tsuklakhang cathedral in central Lhasa, waving banners and shouting slogans.

Onlookers surrounded the 11 protesters, keeping security officers at a distance. People's Armed Police officers later pushed through the crowd and detained them, the witnesses said.

Officials decline to comment

Officials contacted by telephone at the Lhasa Public Security Bureau command center declined to comment. Officials at the Lhasa municipal government and Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) government said they were unaware of any unrest.

March 10, 2008, marks the 49th anniversary of an uprising crushed by the Chinese People's Liberation Army. The Dalai Lama, now 72, subsequently fled into exile in northern India. Drepung, founded in the 15th century, is one of largest monasteries in Tibet and ranks as one of the most important in the Gelukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism.

In his own statement marking the anniversary, the Dalai Lama called on the world to press China to allow freedom of expression during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

“The language, customs and traditions of Tibet...are gradually fading away,” the 1989 Nobel laureate said.

Tibetans “have had to live in a state of constant fear, intimidation, and suspicion under Chinese repression…Repression continues to increase with numerous, unimaginable, and gross violations of human rights, denial of religious freedom, and the politicization of religious issues."

The Chinese government defends its presence in Tibet as liberation from “feudalism,” noting that it has spent billions of dollars to modernize the region and raise standards of living.

Tensions have been escalating in recent years in traditionally Tibetan areas of what is now western China, with Chinese authorities taking a tougher line against what they regard as ethnic “splittism,” or resistance to Chinese rule.

The Dalai Lama is regarded by China as a dangerous figure seeking independence for his homeland, although he says he wants only autonomy and for Chinese repression of Tibetans to end.

Original reporting by RFA's Tibetan service. Additional reporting by RFA's Mandarin service. Tibetan service director: Jigme Ngapo. Mandarin service director: Jennifer Chou. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written and produced in English by Sarah Jackson-Han. Edited by Richard Finney.

Dharamsala, March 10 2008: Indian police late Monday issued restraint order barring 100 Tibetan exiles from going ahead with their plan to reach Tibet after their first day halt at Tibetan College for Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah near Kangra, H.p India.

Tibet freedom fighter Mr. Tenzin Tsondue is leaving Dharamsala

The Tibetan marchers have been issued a restraint order not to leave the Kangra district with warnings to take “all necessary actions” if they violate the order.

District Police superintendent  Atul Phuljile had reportedly said the order followed an ”advisory” that he received from New Delhi to prevent the marchers from trying to reach the border.

Tenzin Choeying, Director of the SFT, India, one of the five Tibetan non-governmental organizations that initiated the march, however, says the marchers will not step back.

“We want to continue our non-violent march peacefully tomorrow”, Tenzin says and further insists that the Government and people of India have the moral obligation to support the non-violent and peaceful march.

Indian Police have also stopped similar protest march to Tibet in the past.

Source phayul