UPDATE (4:09 p.m. March 20)
New York-based Human Rights Watch has condemned the Nepali government for using excessive force against Tibetan exiles. Nepal government's response was that they have no choice but to prevent anti-Chinese protests in Kathmandu. Note that the interim Nepali government (which is using this excessive force) came to power following a massive protests against King Gyanendra in April 2006. Read the full report here.
UPDATE (3:22 p.m. March 20)
The Chinese government has admitted opening fire and wounding protesters during a protest in Sichuan protest last Sunday, according to Xinhua.
UPDATE (4:20 a.m.)
According to BBC, Chinese state media has reported that over 100 protesters in Lhasa have surrendered to secure leniency.
***Original Post***
When most westerners think of Tibet, they think of an exotic place, the Dalai Lama, monks in saffron robes, incense sticks, Buddhist art and what not. But this time, Tibet has become the most talked about international story in the media for a slightly different issue.
Violence continues to grow in Tibet and in India and Nepal (home to a large Tibetan refugee population) after thousands of Tibetans rallied around protesting against the Chinese government.
Read our earlier post about crackdown on Tibetan protesters in Kathmandu.
It has reached a point where the Dalai Lama has threatened to resign (from his role as political leader of the exiles, not his role as spiritual leader) if the violence goes out of control. Read Thomas Bell's report from Kathmandu. The BBC News has an article on if the Dalai Lama can resign from a position he was actually born into.
As Tibetans around the world continue to protest against the Chinese government, here is how some of the media around the world covering the news:
The Hindustan Times reports on how Indian MPs in Lok Sabha reacted to the Chinese crackdown;
The Telegraph, UK on tourists blaming Tibetans for attacking the Chinese;
Time magazine on a Tibetan refugee's tale;
Newsweek magazine on how the Chinese reaction to Lhasa protests could spill over into the Olympics;
The Washington Post on how Tibetans outside Lhasa are joining the protests;
Reuters on if the West is toning down on criticism of China over Tibet;
The Age on pro-Tibetan protesters hanging placards around the necks of Chinese Terracota Army at the British museum; Also, the Australian prime minister vows to talk to China about Tibet;
Xinhua on Chinese government's expectations from India to handle the Tibet issue;
I am seeing a variant of posts on the Tibet issue. Not quite sure about this one, but look how The Shanghai Daily published a couple of sentences calling Dalai Lama "a fake buddhist."
Also, here is a list of reactions to Tibet protests from leaders around the world.
Meanwhile, Dalai Lama is supposed to speak at Colgate University on April 22.
Please post your comments and links on the Tibetan issue.
Here's a screen grab of the Drudge Report on March 18, 2008, 11 p.m, with the Arthur C. Clarke story at on the top left. The Olympics "mini-boycott" story is here, via the AP. Click to magnify.
Here's a cartoon by SAJA member Thommy Kodenkandath - see his newsy cartoon blog, Drawn Opinions, and e-mail him at tkodenkandath[at]gmail (click on the image to magnify).
