Protests Against China’s Rampant Mining in Shigatse Continue[Friday, 11 February 2011, 5:13 p.m.]
The
Chinese government has deployed a large number of riot police and
security forces to clampdown on Tibetans who are protesting against its
rampant exploitation of mineral resources in Shethongmon county in
Shigatse.
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| A column of Chinese security forces and riot police block Tibetans protesting against rampant mining in Shethongmon in Shigatse, Tibet |
DHARAMSHALA:
The monks from Lingka Monastery and general public in Tamo township
protested as officials and workers from a government-owned mining
department approach a rich mining site near Lingka Monastery on 22
November 2010. As the protesters tried to stop the mining
work, the officials of the mining department and local government
attempted to cajole them to continue the extraction work.But
the general public did not give into the cunning tricks and they
continued to express their opposition to the mining work from 22
November till 18 December. The local government of Shethongmon
sent riot police to disrupt the demonstrations, which led to verbal
confrontation between the police and the protesters. The police, who
were outnumbered by the protesters, tried in vain to be gentle to
disperse them. Later, a large contingent of public security
bureau and armed personnel were sent from Shigatse to crackdown on the
protesters. As a result, many Tibetans were severely beaten up and
arrested. Khenpo Kelsang, aged 49; Jamyang Tsering, 38;
Tsewang Dorje, 37; Rigzin Pema, 35 and Jamyang Rigsang, 34, were among
the monks of Lingka Monastery arrested following the crackdown. Around
12 Tibetans from the lay community were also arrested, out of which two
were released. The rest are still in detention centres near Shigatse
and in Shethongmon county. Such cases of forcible mineral
extraction by the Chinese government against the will of the Tibetan
people is not new in Shigatse. On 5 June 2010, Tibetan residents of
Sogchen village in Namling county strongly protested the exploitation
of their region’s rich mineral resources. The police and army used
force to crush the peaceful protest of Tibetans, many were severely
beaten up and around 30 detained. The whereabouts of the detainees
still remain unknown.
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| A Chinese security man holding an electric baton intimidate Tibetans protesting against the government’s rampant mining in Shethongmon in Shigatse |
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| A contingent of Chinese riot police lay siege on Shethongmon in Shigatse, Tibet, where Tibetan residents protest against the government’s rampant mining |
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| Chinese riot police lay siege on Shethongmon in Shigatse, Tibet, where Tibetan residents protest against the government’s rampant mining |
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| Columns of Chinese military trucks in Shethongmon in Shigatse, TIbet, where Tibetan residents protest against the government’s rampant mining |
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| Chinese military trucks in Shethongmon in Shigatse, TIbet, where Tibetan residents protest against the government’s rampant mining |
