DHARAMSHALA: The Chinese government has deployed a large number of security forces in Yushul region in eastern Tibet following a massive protests by local Tibetans against diamond exploration by Chinese miners, media reports say.
Hundreds of Chinese miners arrived to explore white diamonds at three areas in Gedrong region of Zatoe in Yushul (incorporated into China’s Qinghai province) on Tuesday.
Deeply worried about the repercussions of mining activities on their health and ecology, hundreds of local Tibetans blocked the mining operations.
The Chinese government immediately deployed hundreds of security forces after tense standoff ensued between the local Tibetans and Chinese miners.
The local Tibetans refuse to end their protest, saying that the mining operations in the region are being run illegally.
The authorities have threatened to arrest some Tibetans for allegedly leading the protests.
China’s large-scale exploitation of mineral resources in Tibet, carried out without environmental impact assessment, have led to sustained socio-economic and environmental problems. Large influx of Chinese migrants into Tibetan areas leave Tibetans with no employment opportunities.
In March this year, over 83 miners were killed due to a devastating landslide at Gyama mine in Medrogungkar near Tibet’s capital Lhasa. (Massive Exploitation of Mineral Resources Caused Mining Disaster in Tibet: CTA report)
The Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala has repeatedly urged the Chinese government to ensure active participation of Tibetan people in all decision making process in Tibet; social, environmental (Environmental Impact Assessment) and cultural impacts are fully investigated; natural resources are not depleted; migration and settlement of non-Tibetans into Tibet are not facilitated; ownership of Tibetan land and resources are not transferred to non-Tibetans.
