Monday, March 10th marked the anniversary of the 1959 uprising against the Chinese rule of Tibet. Peaceful protests by monks and lay people were reported in areas of large Tibetan populations throughout the Tibetan capital of Lhasa and neighboring cities of Tibet which escalated into riots and violence.

China reacted forcefully with armed police patrols and restricted media reporting. Internet users in China were blocked from accessing YouTube.com, the popular U.S. video website. China reported 16 people were killed, denying Tibetan exile groups' claims that 80 died. Despite an expanding police crackdown, Tibet protests continue to spread and Tibetans have continued to take to the streets to call for Tibet's independence and the return of H.H. the Dalai Lama, their exiled spiritual leader.

By putting world attention on China's human rights record, the unrest has prompted discussion of a possible boycott of the August 8th opening ceremony at the Beijing Olympics and calls for China to address Tibetans' grievances and engage in direct talks with His Holiness.

A Chinese Olympic official said the violence would not interrupt the games or plans to take the Olympic torch into Tibet and up Mount Everest. Many Olympic committees have spoken out against a boycott of the games, while some athletes have voiced concern about safety in a country that has massive rioting and death going on.

Sources:
His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Website
apnews.myway.com/article/20080316/D8VEOBD00.html
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7297911.stm

For information on Tibet and Tibetans:
www.tibet.com
www.phayul.com
Tibet Online - Home page: www.tibet.org/index.html
Tibet Online - Tibet Web Sites page: www.tibet.org/siteseeing.html

For information on Tibetan Protests in China:
www.drudgereport.com
www.YouTube.com
www.savetibet.org
apnews.myway.com/article/20080320/D8VGRPD00.html

Chinese official news agency: www.chinaview.cn