'140 killed' since Tibet protests started

Nearly 140 people have been killed in demonstrations and a crackdown by China’s government since protests against Chinese rule started in Tibet on March 10, the main Tibetan exile group said.

The Tibetan government-in-exile in the northern Indian city of Dharmsala released a statement giving the names and details of 40 Tibetans killed since the protests started in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa.

It said about 100 others also have been killed. The group’s previous overall toll was 99 killed.

Beijing’s official death toll from the protests in Lhasa is 22, including civilians killed in rioting and three Tibetan suspects who jumped to their deaths to avoid arrest.

Protests started March 10 in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa on the 49th anniversary of a failed uprising against Chinese rule.

They turned violent four days later, touching off demonstrations among Tibetans in three neighbouring Chinese provinces.

“While we have confirmed information on the death toll from the demonstrations so far, it has been extremely difficult to get the details due to all the restrictions that have been imposed by Chinese authorities,” the statement from the Tibetan government-in-exile said.

“As the demonstrations continue to spread vastly to many areas in Tibet, the number of people who have died from the brutal military and police suppression during the peaceful demonstrations is astounding,” the statement said.

The riots and protests, the largest and most sustained in almost 20 years, have embarrassed and angered Beijing. They have also drawn attention to the country’s human rights record ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August.