Tibet monks disrupt media visit
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman later insisted that Tibetans had full rights and warned Europe not to interfere. Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama, the region’s exiled spiritual leader, said he was in touch with “friends” about pursuing dialogue with China, adding that Chinese authorities “must accept reality”.
Officials arranged the trip for the reporters to show that Lhasa was at peace after the mid-March violence and a subsequent government crackdown shattered China’s plans for a smooth run-up to the Beijing Olympics.
The outburst by a group of 30 monks came as the journalists were being shown around the Jokhang Temple by government handlers in Lhasa. “Tibet is not free! Tibet is not free!” yelled one young Buddhist monk, who started to cry.
The monks also said the Dalai Lama had nothing to do with the riots by Tibetans in which buildings were torched and looted and ethnic Han Chinese were attacked.
The government has said the March 14 riots were masterminded by “the Dalai clique”, Beijing’s term for the Dalai Lama and his supporters.
The monks said they knew they would probably be arrested for their actions but were willing to accept that.
