China: Tibetan Students in Beijing Take Part in a Candlelit Vigil

Around 100 Tibetan students in Beijing have taken part in a candlelit vigil in a rare public show of protest in the Chinese capital, Al Jazeera has confirmed. The students from Beijing’s Central University for Nationalities prayed for three hours on Monday evening for Tibetans they say were killed in a Chinese crackdown.
Alert - China

China
Date: 20 Mar 2008
Source: Al Jazeera
Source classification: Media Article
Violation(s): Supression of Protests
Many students held their vigil late into the evening in front of security guards who prevented people from taking pictures. In the days that followed, one of the students told Al Jazeera the official count of 13 dead was a massive underestimation - she said that it was even more than the 100 claimed by exiled Tibetan groups. She also said on the day after the vigil, the students were issued warnings that there was no point in protesting again. It seemed that any further action may prevent participants from graduating. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Tibet and much of the surrounding area has been put under security lockdown, after peaceful protests that began on 10 March, turned into riots. The Chinese authorities have made it almost impossible for journalists to obtain accurate numbers of those arrested, injured and killed. There have been several reports of Chinese police gunning down ethnic Tibetans and monks being held under house arrest in monasteries. Exile groups believe the eruption of anger and resentment is due to decades of oppressive Chinese rule, while the authorities in Beijing are accusing the Dalai Lama of instigating the violence - allegations that are vehemently denied by the exiled spiritual leader. Today, China has admitted for the first time that anti-Beijing protests have spread outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region, according to the BBC – further security measures are expected.   URGENT NEAR cannot continue without your support. NEAR depends on the generosity of people like you. To make a contribution, please: - Send us a cheque payable to NEAR - Or make a donation by visiting www.paypal.com. Please make your donation payable to:   NEAR London South Bank University Technopark 90 London Road SE1 9LN, London, UK Email address: jonathan.travis@nearinternational.org -END-
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