BEIJING: China stepped up its pressure on Tibetan protesters on Friday, releasing photos of wanted suspects who were captured on film in the worst rioting against Chinese rule in Tibet in nearly 20 years.
But with security forces having been poured into Tibet and other Tibetan-populated areas of China, rights groups and activists warned of mass arrests and the possible torture of those taken into custody.
China has responded with a massive clampdown on the affected areas, releasing a most-wanted list of 19 people caught on film taking part in the Lhasa riots, amid warnings by activist groups of harsh reprisals.
The photos, which appeared on top websites, were taken from grainy footage taken during the unrest.
The state-controlled Tibet Daily later said two of the 19 alleged perpetrators had already been taken into custody. It also provided a hotline number for information fr 
om the public on those still at large.
"Lhasa police authorities are going all out to arrest the main suspects," the newspaper said.
The unrest has come at a sensitive time for China's rulers, with the Beijing Olympics fewer than five months away, and they have made huge efforts to stop the world from getting an independent view of their crackdown.
China has sealed off Tibet from foreign reporters and tourists, while releasing images and television footage of violent Tibetans.
Authorities have also sought to stop the foreign press from travelling to areas in Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces where protests have broken out.
However, foreign journalists, as well as Tibetan exiles and activist groups, have reported a huge military build-up in Lhasa and the other hotspot areas in recent days.
18 'innocent' civilians killed in Lhasa unrest: China
China said on Saturday that Tibetan rioters killed 18 "innocent" civilians during violent protests against Chinese rule in the region's capital Lhasa, updating a previous official toll.
"Eighteen civilians and one police officer were confirmed dead by Friday night in the unrest that rocked Lhasa last week," reported Xinhua , the state news agency, citing the Tibet regional government.
"Previously, the official death toll for the innocent was 13," it said. The report added that 241 police officers were injured, 23 seriously, and 382 civilians were injured, 58 seriously.
"Rioters set fire to seven schools, five hospitals and 120 residences," the Xinhua report said. "Eighty-four vehicles were burnt down and 908 shops were looted."
The protests began last week to mark the anniversary of a 1959 uprising against Beijing's rule of the vast Himalayan region, amid widespread anger over what Tibetans say have been brutal and repressive policies.
But with security forces having been poured into Tibet and other Tibetan-populated areas of China, rights groups and activists warned of mass arrests and the possible torture of those taken into custody.
China has responded with a massive clampdown on the affected areas, releasing a most-wanted list of 19 people caught on film taking part in the Lhasa riots, amid warnings by activist groups of harsh reprisals.
The photos, which appeared on top websites, were taken from grainy footage taken during the unrest.
The state-controlled Tibet Daily later said two of the 19 alleged perpetrators had already been taken into custody. It also provided a hotline number for information fr
"Lhasa police authorities are going all out to arrest the main suspects," the newspaper said.
The unrest has come at a sensitive time for China's rulers, with the Beijing Olympics fewer than five months away, and they have made huge efforts to stop the world from getting an independent view of their crackdown.
China has sealed off Tibet from foreign reporters and tourists, while releasing images and television footage of violent Tibetans.
Authorities have also sought to stop the foreign press from travelling to areas in Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai provinces where protests have broken out.
However, foreign journalists, as well as Tibetan exiles and activist groups, have reported a huge military build-up in Lhasa and the other hotspot areas in recent days.
18 'innocent' civilians killed in Lhasa unrest: China
China said on Saturday that Tibetan rioters killed 18 "innocent" civilians during violent protests against Chinese rule in the region's capital Lhasa, updating a previous official toll.
"Eighteen civilians and one police officer were confirmed dead by Friday night in the unrest that rocked Lhasa last week," reported Xinhua , the state news agency, citing the Tibet regional government.
"Previously, the official death toll for the innocent was 13," it said. The report added that 241 police officers were injured, 23 seriously, and 382 civilians were injured, 58 seriously.
"Rioters set fire to seven schools, five hospitals and 120 residences," the Xinhua report said. "Eighty-four vehicles were burnt down and 908 shops were looted."
The protests began last week to mark the anniversary of a 1959 uprising against Beijing's rule of the vast Himalayan region, amid widespread anger over what Tibetans say have been brutal and repressive policies.
No comments:
Post a Comment