Dozens injured after police use explosives, fire tear gas on protesting Tibetans/ENG

2012. március 19./Phayul.com/TibetPress

DHARAMSHALA, March 19: Dozens of unarmed Tibetans were injured after Chinese security forces fired tear gas and used explosives to disperse a crowd of peaceful protesters.

The incidence occurred near the local judicial complex in Ba county, eastern Tibet, where a number of Tibetans had gathered Sunday demanding the release of monks who were detained days earlier, according to sources in exile with contacts in the region.

“The police fired tear gas and used explosives to disperse the mass protests,” sources said. “Dozens of Tibetans sustained injuries, while six of them are believed to be in a critical condition.”

The Tibetans were demanding the release of 50 monks of the Shingtri monastery, who were arrested on Friday, a day after they carried out a protest march to the district headquarters.

“Shingtri monastery monks had set out at 3 am (local time) on March 15, to carry out a protest at the district headquarters,” sources said. “Upon reaching the district early in the morning, the monks led a march, raising slogans demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and freedom in Tibet.”

The monks later stopped their protest march after local leaders and the head the monastery intervened, the same sources said.

However, the next day, Chinese security forces arrived at the monastery and arrested 50 monks on suspicion of their involvement in the protest march.

Few of the protesters were reportedly arrested, while the 50 monks have been whisked away to another location.

Security in the region has been tightened following warnings of more severe protests.

The same day, more than two thousand Tibetans, led by monks from the Tsang monastery took out a protest march in Malho town.

Tibetans filled the streets raising slogans for the Dalai Lama’s return and freedom in Tibet, exile sources said citing eyewitnesses in the region.

A day earlier on March 17, around 8000 Tibetans had taken part in the biggest ever protests in Rebkong.

The Tibetans had gathered to offer prayers and show their solidarity with Sonam Dhargey, 44, who passed away in a fiery protest earlier that day.

Sonam Dhargey, a father of three, became the 30th Tibetan since 2009 to set self on fire protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

Earlier today, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, which is currently holding its budget session in Dharamshala, suspended house proceedings to take up the urgent situation inside Tibet.

Since March 14, when the parliament began its current session, three Tibetans have torched their bodies and thousands have carried out bold protests in Tibet.