Conflicting reports over 100 Tibetan monks arrested for 'rioting'
Updated
Information is trickling out of China about almost 100 Tibetan monks who have apparently been detained for rioting. China's Xinhua news agency reports that hundreds of people attacked a police station, injuring several officers. But exiled Tibetans say it was supposed to be a peaceful gathering to mark the suicide of a monk who had earlier jumped into the Yellow River after escaping from police.
Presenter: Karon Snowdon
Speaker: Thuben Samphel, Information Secretary, central Tibet administration-in-exile
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SAMPHEL: The information we have is that a unit of seven to 10 monks in the monastery called Ragya raised the Tibetan flag and pulled down the Chinese flag. So those involved were arrested by the authorities in Golog, which is Qinghai and which we Tibetans call Amdo. So one of the monks he managed to escape and then he jumped into the Ma chu river, which is the Yellow River and drowned himself. So as a result based on the information we have about four-thousand Tibetans gathered around the police station to peacefully protest the monk's suicide.
SNOWDON: How confident are you of that figure of four-thousand protestors?
SAMPHEL: That is the information we have received and normally before we release any information out we cross-check. So we are very confident that the four-thousand figure is accurate.
SNOWDON: Well the Xinhua newsagency is reporting that several hundred Tibetans attacked a police station and called it a riot and therefore maybe a hundred people have been arrested?
SAMPHEL: This definition is wrong. They were there peacefully protesting the treatment of those arrested, especially this monk called Tashi Sangpo drowning himself. Anyway His Holiness to Dalai Lama is on report saying that Tibetans should exercise restraint. And all Tibetans in Tibet are absolutely devoted to His Holiness and give respect to his request.
SNOWDON: And do you take it that the man who escaped police custody did commit suicide?
SAMPHEL: Yes this has been confirmed.
SNOWDON: So given the security crackdown that's been in place in Tibet since the anniversary, since early March was this gathering a surprise, it would seem to be courting disaster to protest at a time like this?
SAMPHEL: Well we feel that events in Tibet have been forced unfortunately to do this. There is undeclared martial law still in place in Tibet. The treatment of those detained are really truly inhumane, and I don't think any person living under such a situation can live without expressing their very deep disappointment.
SNOWDON: And the news of course from South Africa is that the Dalai Lama has been refused a visa to travel there. What can you tell us of that?
SAMPHEL: This has been confirmed by the South African embassy in New Delhi, and we feel this is very unfortunate. In 1997 His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited South Africa for this first time and met with Nelson Mandela. So our feeling is that this is done under intense Chinese government pressure.
