China ridicules Dalai Lama, attacks US
A ban on foreigners travelling to Tibetan areas was widened to include the remote Jiuzhaigou valley this month, 50 years after a failed uprising against Beijing’s rule and a year since violent protests across a quarter of China’s territory. Paramilitary police, a constant presence in Tibet and surrounding provinces since last year’s protests, have poured into the area in larger numbers, ringing it with checkpoints.
In the Tibetan regional capital of Lhasa, paramilitary police in riot gear and with automatic rifles stood at the entrances to alleys leading to the Jokhang temple, a frequent focal point for protests. “There seem to be more paramilitary police, but overall I still feel safe,” said tour guide Tudan Danzeng.
China’s determined show of force apparently squelched any large-scale protests in the region on Tuesday, the start of the anniversary period.
A day after the Dalai Lama likened life under Chinese in Tibet to “hell on earth”, Beijing testily dismissed his remarks. A commentary by the official Xinhua News Agency said he was “like a kid trying to draw attention from other people by crying”. The commentary and other remarks in state media said the Dalai Lama ignored the economic growth Beijing had brought to a chronically poor region.
The foreign ministry lodged a protest with the US Embassy after a spokesman for President Barack Obama voiced concern for religious repression in Tibet and appealed for renewed dialogue between Beijing and the Dalai Lama.
“The US side has confused the facts and wrongly accused China for no reason with its gross interference in Chinese internal affairs,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said in a statement.
The 1959 revolt ended with the Dalai Lama’s flight into exile and with Beijing bringing Tibetunder its direct control.
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