permaculture

["Lawrence F. London, Jr." <lflj@intrex.net>]

The Chinese are in denial about their invasion and occupation of Tibet during 
which they killed over a million Tibetans,
just as the Turks are about the Armenian genocide, but they are fooling noone. Their contention that Tibet is part of 
China belongs exactly here: See MOST BIZARRE photomicrograph at:  http://www.zyvexlabs.com/EIPBNuG/2005MicroGraph.html?
<>
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7302021.stm>
Last Updated: Tuesday, 18 March 2008, 04:58 GMT

Mr Wen says the protesters are trying to sabotage the Olympics
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has accused the Dalai Lama of masterminding recent 
violence in Tibet's main city, Lhasa.

Speaking at the close of parliament, Mr Wen also said that the exiled Tibetan leader's 
claim of "cultural genocide" in
Tibet was nothing but lies.

China's response to the violence had been restrained, the premier said.

China says 13 people were killed by rioters in Lhasa. Tibetan exiles say at 
least 80 protesters were killed in a
crackdown by Chinese security forces.

        
There is ample fact and plenty of evidence proving this incident was 
organised, premeditated, masterminded and incited
by the Dalai clique
Wen Jiabao
The Dalai Lama, who in 1989 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his 
consistent opposition to the use of violence in
the quest for Tibetan self-rule, has repeatedly called for dialogue with 
China.

The protests began on 10 March - the anniversary of a Tibetan uprising 
against Chinese rule - and gradually escalated,
culminating in a day of violence late last week.

The demonstrations have also spread to Tibetan communities in Gansu and 
Sichuan provinces.

'Seeking independence'

Mr Wen's comments - his first since the violence broke out - came in response 
to a question by a Western journalist at a
press conference following the close of parliament.

He defended China's handling of the violence, accusing protesters of robbery, 
arson and violence, and said Tibetan
exiles had instigated the violence.
        
Chinese riot police patrol Tongren in Qinghai, a province bordering Tibet

Eyewitness: Lhasa 'in cinders'
"There is ample fact and plenty of evidence proving this incident was 
organised, premeditated, masterminded and incited
by the Dalai clique," he said.

"This has all the more revealed the consistent claims by the Dalai clique 
that they pursue not independence, but
peaceful dialogue, are nothing but lies."

In recent years, Tibetan exiles have accused the Chinese government of trying 
to eradicate Tibetan culture.

As Tibet has developed, Han Chinese have poured in and now dominate the 
economy, while the authorities continue to
control aspects of Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetans are now a minority in Lhasa.

Olympic 'sabotage'

But Mr Wen insisted China was helping to improve the livelihoods of Tibetans.

"These claims that the Chinese government is involved in so-called cultural 
genocide are nothing but lies," he said.

        
TIBET DIVIDE
The Dalai Lama (file image)
China says Tibet was always part of its territory
Tibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before 20th century
1950: China launched a military assault
Opposition to Chinese rule led to a bloody uprising in 1959
Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fled to India

Q&A: China and Tibet
International reaction
Tibet adds to Olympic woes

The Chinese premier accused the protesters of trying to sabotage the Beijing 
Olympic Games, which begin on 8 August.

On Monday, European Union ministers ruled out a boycott over Tibet, saying it 
would only punish athletes.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on both Chinese forces and 
demonstrators to show restraint.

In Tibet, large numbers of police are patrolling the streets of the regional 
capital, Lhasa, and at midnight on Monday
(1600 GMT) a Chinese deadline for protesters to surrender passed.

But the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Beijing says that people outside of 
China have been placing far more emphasis on
the deadline than is the case inside the country.

In effect there has not been a deadline, our correspondent says, but instead 
a rolling crackdown with Chinese security
forces moving through the city, going door to door, to root out and detain 
the instigators of the unrest.

China says Tibet has always been part of its territory but Tibet enjoyed long 
periods of autonomy before the 20th
Century and many Tibetans remain loyal to the Dalai Lama, who fled in 1959.

TIBET TENSIONS

KEY STORIES

China premier attacks Dalai Lama
UN calls for restraint in Tibet
Tibet protester deadline passes
In quotes: International reaction
Dalai Lama voices concern
Tibet poses dilemma for Beijing

FEATURES AND ANALYSIS

Tibetan students holding vigil in Lanzhou Escalation?
Protests against Chinese rule in Tibet spread to other provinces

In Pictures: Lhasa tense
Tibet: Old and new
Squeezed religious freedoms
Railway brings a new era

VIDEO ON DEMAND
Violence in Tibet Footage of Tibet clashes emerges
watch
watch Dalai Lama

BACKGROUND

Guide: Inside Tibet
Q&A: China and Tibet
Profile: The Dalai Lama
Regions and territories: Tibet

EYEWITNESS

Tibetans describe unrest
Lhasa now 'in cinders'
Monk 'kicked to floor'