Young Tibetans, Tired of Calls for Nonviolence, Want More Action

Young Tibetans, Tired of Calls for Nonviolence, Want More Action
The recent unrest in Lhasa turns up the heat on China as it prepares for the Beijing Olympics in August. Transcript of radio broadcast:
28 March 2008

This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.

March tenth was the anniversary of a failed nineteen fifty-nine uprising led by the Dalai Lama against Chinese rule in Tibet. It was also the start of the recent unrest in Lhasa, the capital.

On March fourteenth, largely peaceful protests turned into in the worst violence in Tibet in almost twenty years. Rioters burned buildings and attacked ethnic Han Chinese and Chinese Muslims, known as Hui. The unrest spread to other Tibetan areas of western China.

Tibetan exile groups say the situation turned violent after Chinese police used force against the demonstrators. They say at least one hundred forty people have been killed. Chinese officials put the number at about twenty.

The Chinese government blames the violence on supporters of the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists. He denies the accusations.

The Dalai Lama is seeking more political independence for Tibet. But the large Tibetan exile community based in India is increasingly restless with his calls for nonviolence.

Many exiles are unhappy that in two thousand one, he changed the aim of his campaign from independence for Tibet to autonomy under Chinese rule. Younger activists call for a "Free Tibet."

China has controlled Tibet since nineteen fifty-one.

On Thursday, about thirty Tibetan monks protested in front of a group of foreign reporters on a government-led visit in Lhasa. It happened in the Jokhang Temple.

Many of the monks were crying as they told the reporters that they were not involved in the recent violence. They said there is no religious freedom in Tibet. And they said the Chinese government's version of events is not true.

On Friday, official Chinese media reported that a government official in Tibet said the monks were trying to mislead world opinion. He said the monks would not be punished. But he also said Jokhang's one hundred seventeen monks could not leave the temple. Some are under investigation in the recent violence in Lhasa.

Chinese officials have said the unrest was especially aimed at the Beijing Olympics in August. The situation in Tibet has drawn international criticism and talk of boycotts at the opening ceremonies.

President Bush has expressed concern about the situation in Tibet, but is planning to attend the Olympics. On Friday, President Bush and Australia's new prime minister, Kevin Rudd, urged restraint in Tibet. They met at the White House.

Mister Rudd said there are clearly human rights abuses in Tibet. He urged the Chinese government to hold talks with the Dalai Lama or his representatives.

Mister Bush noted his telephone call Wednesday to China's President Hu Jintao. Mister Bush said he told him that it was in his country's interest to "sit down again" with representatives of the Dalai Lama.

The months ahead could be very important. Many young Tibetans feel that the Beijing Olympics may offer their last chance to bring more attention to their cause.

And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English, written by Brianna Blake. I’m Steve Ember.

----------------------------Google Translate

年轻的西藏人，厌倦呼吁非暴力，要采取更多的行动
最近的动乱，在拉萨转了热对中国，因为它准备为北京奥运会的8月。全文电台广播：
2008年3月28日

这是在新闻报道中，在美国之音特别英语。

三月十五，是为纪念一个失败的1959年起义的领导下，达赖喇嘛对中国在西藏的统治。这也是一开始的最近的动乱，在拉萨，资本。

三月第十四，基本上是和平的抗议活动变成了在最恶劣的暴力行为，在西藏几乎是二十年。暴徒焚烧建筑物，并攻击了汉族和中国穆斯林，被称为仁。骚乱蔓延到其他藏族地区的中国西部。

西藏流亡政府的团体说，局势演变成暴力后，中国警察使用武力对付示威者。他们说，至少有140人被打死。中国官员的增派士兵数量为约20个。

中国政府暴乱归咎于对支持者的达赖喇嘛，流亡精神领袖的藏传佛教。他否认指控。

达赖喇嘛正在谋求更多的政治西藏独立。但大型西藏流亡政府以社区为基础的，在印度是越来越焦躁不安，他呼吁非暴力。

许多流亡人士深感不满，在2000一，一改目的是他的运动，由西藏独立自治的中国统治下。年轻活动家呼吁成立一个"自由西藏" 。

中国一直控制西藏自1951年。

上周四，约有三十藏族僧人抗议，在前面的一群外国记者，对政府主导的访问拉萨。它发生在大昭寺。

许多僧众哭泣，因为他们告诉记者，他们并没有参与最近发生的暴力。他们说，不存在宗教自由在西藏。他们说，中国政府对事件的说法是不正确的。

上周五，中国官方媒体报道说，一名政府官员说，西藏僧人试图误导世界舆论。他说，僧侣，将不会受到惩罚。但他也说，大昭寺的117僧人不能离开寺庙。一些正在接受调查，在最近发生的暴力拉萨。

中国官员说，骚乱是特别针对北京奥运会在8月。西藏的情况，引起国际社会的批评和对话的抵制行为在开幕仪式。

布什总统已表示关心西藏的情况，但正计划参加奥运会。上周五，美国总统布什和澳大利亚的新总理，凯文拉德，呼吁克制，在西藏。他们在白宫会晤。

拉德先生说，有明显的侵犯人权行为，在西藏。他呼吁中国政府举行会谈，与达赖喇嘛或其代表。

先生布什指出，他的电话，周三，以中国国家主席胡锦涛。先生布什说，他对他说，这是在他的国家的利益" ，坐下来慢慢"与达赖喇嘛的代表。

在未来几个月可能会非常重要。许多年轻的西藏人认为北京举办奥运可以提供他们的最后一次机会，使更多地关注残疾人事业。

这是在新闻报道中，在美国之音特别英语，写brianna布雷克。我史蒂夫Ember公司。