Tibet monks disrupt media visit

A GROUP of monks shouting “Tibet is not free! disrupted a carefully orchestrated visit for foreign reporters to Tibet’s capital yesterday. The disruption was an embarrassment for China as it tried to showcase a calm Lhasa, following anti-government riots.

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.