Two monks shouted pro-independence slogans in the Barkhor, the market and Buddhist pilgrimage route that surrounds the 7th century Jokhang, Tibet's oldest temple, but they were soon detained, Ao Wan, a local official said.

Mr Ao confirmed reports by overseas monitoring groups that police stepped up patrols of the area to deter further protests, saying ''of course they did''. But he declined to provide details.

The London-based Free Tibet Campaign, said security personnel equipped with binoculars were stationed on rooftops and monks were prevented from leaving several major monasteries in the city on Wednesday.

Reports of another show of defiance, a demonstration by several monks at Lhasa's Sera Monastery, could not be independently confirmed. ''Don't believe such nonsense,'' said a monk inside the monastery who said his name was Dada.

The Tibet Information Network, a independent monitoring group, meanwhile, reported Tibetan authorities ordered police to carry out token arrests over thepast few weeks to deter anniversary-related protests.

Local state-run television had also carried reports highlighting the police readiness for demonstrations, showing top local leaders inspecting an arsenal of weapons, police dogs, water cannons, and other riot gear.

Meanwhile, delegates to Chinese People's Consultative Conference in Beijing, on Thursday accused the Dalai Lama of working for Tibetan independence and urged him to ''do something for the good of Tibetans during the rest of his lifetime'', Xinhua (the New China News Agency) reported.

The Dalai Lama says he supports genuine autonomy, not independence, for Tibet. But Chinese authorities accuse him of engaging in ''splittist activities''.

''The Dalai Lama should stop engaging in activities aimed at splitting the motherland by playing on ethnic and religious issues right now,'' Xinhua quoted Galsang Toinzhub, administrator of the Tibetan district of Shannan as saying.

''The development of Tibet is inseparable from that of the whole country and it is impossible to severe Tibet from the motherland,'' said You Dexin, member of the CPPCC's National Committee.

[ Homepage ] [ NewsRoom ]



This site is maintained and updated by The Office of Tibet, the official agency of His Holiness His Holiness the Dalai Lama in London. This Web page may be linked to any other Web sites. Contents may not be altered.
Last updated: 10-Mar-99