China detains protesting Tibetan monks: Report
China has detained a group of Tibetan monks who protested in Tibet's capital Lhasa, according to a report by a U.S. government-funded radio station, as Tibetan refugees around the world held marches to mark a past uprising.
Radio Free Asia cited a source as saying at least 300 monks marched from a monastery outside Lhasa to demand the release of monks detained last year after the Dalai Lama was awarded a Congressional medal in the United States.
"Authorities at a checkpoint along the way stopped and detained between 50 and 60 monks," the report paraphrased the source as saying.
"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," it added.
"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," the report said.
Calls to the Tibetan government went unanswered.
Tibetans all over the world on Monday took to the streets to commemorate the 49th anniversary of an uprising against Chinese rule and to press their demand for independence ahead of the Beijing Olympics.
In Nepal, many people were hurt when police used batons to break up a march on the Chinese embassy, while in neighboring India 101 refugees set off on a five-month march to Tibet accompanied by thousands of well-wishers.
As the Olympics approach, Tibetans are trying to reinvigorate their freedom movement and protest against what they see as China's illegal occupation of their homeland.
The protests marked the anniversary of a 1959 uprising in Tibet against Chinese rule, which was crushed by the People's Liberation Army, driving the Dalai Lama into exile.
- 1 "iPhone killer" Nokia 5800 XpressMusic launched in India
- 2 Human remains found near Fossetts plane wreckage, sent for DNA match
- 3 Jolies first outing after childbirth: at the premiere of "Changeling
- 4 O.J. Simpson convicted of kidnapping and armed robbery, faces life in prison
- 5 Hindustan Motors launches Mitsubishi Outlander in India, looks to lift up flagging sales
- 6 Mamata Banerjee "has pulled the trigger," says Ratan Tata, announces pullout of Nano project from Singur
- 7 No hamsters or "exotic pets" for kids: more dangerous than cat and dog
- 1 Citigroup, Wells Fargo call temporary truce, to negotiate a settlement of Wachovia's future
- 2 Orissa police nab Maoist suspects in connection with Hindu seer's murder, Christians continue to live in fear
- 3 Post Singur exit, states vie to welcome Tata Motors, announce incentives
- 4 India joins global effort to prevent recession; SEBI eases P-note curbs, RBI cuts CRR after Sensex sinks 725 points
- 5 Sensex plunges 5.78 percent to 2-year low, global financial outlook bleak
- 6 Indians head UK's super-rich losers list: Report
- 7 "iPhone killer" Nokia 5800 XpressMusic launched in India
- 1 Thai unrest: Police fire tear gas against crowd; 118 hurt
- 2 Orissa police nab Maoist suspects in connection with Hindu seer's murder, Christians continue to live in fear
- 3 "We murdered VHP Swami Laxmananda" says top Maoist leader
- 4 From farm to table: China vows overhaul of "chaotic" milk industry
- 5 Panic again: Dow finishes below 10,000, biggest loss ever
- 6 Taliban said to be furious over US missile strike
- 7 Human remains found near Fossett's plane wreckage, sent for DNA match
|
|
