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China steps up efforts to show it is in control

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Associated Press

Posted online: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 05:40:59
Updated: Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 06:03:48


Beijing, March 26: China stepped up a campaign Wednesday to show it has regained control of Tibet and other areas after recent violence, while facing increased international pressure over its crackdown on demonstrators ahead of the Beijing Olympics.

State-run media announced that more than 600 people had turned themselves in to police in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa – where protesters rampaged on March 14, setting buildings on fire and attacking ethnic Chinese - and in Sichuan province, where unrest broke out days later.

Police also had published a list of 53 people wanted in connection with the riots, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

The uprising was the broadest and most sustained against Chinese rule in almost two decades, embarrassing and frustrating the communist leadership, which hoped for a smooth run-up to the Beijing Olympics in August. Thousands of troops and police have been deployed to contain the unrest.

The government says at least 22 people have died in Lhasa; Tibetan rights groups say nearly 140 Tibetans were killed, including 19 in Gansu province.

So far, the United States, Britain and Germany have all condemned China for its response to the protests, but stopped short of threatening to boycott the games or the Aug. 8 opening ceremony.

But French President Nicolas Sarkozy has suggested he could boycott the opening ceremony.

Sarkozy, who had faced criticism in France for his relative silence on the issue, couched his comments late Tuesday cautiously: He made it clear that skipping the ceremony was one of several possible French responses to the violence in Tibet.

"Our Chinese friends must understand the worldwide concern that there is about the question of Tibet, and I will adapt my response to the evolutions in the situation that will come, I hope, as rapidly as possible," he told reporters in southwest France.

Asked whether he supported a boycott, Sarkozy said he could "not close the door to any possibility."

His aides confirmed that Sarkozy was talking only about the opening ceremony. His ministers have repeatedly said that France does not support a boycott of the entire games.

U.S. President George W. Bush has long planned to attend the Beijing Olympics, and the White House has said the crackdown in Tibet is not cause for him to cancel.

China has banned foreign journalists from traveling to the protest areas, making it extremely difficult to verify any information. But the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to take a small group of foreign reporters to Lhasa on Wednesday, though it is unclear how much freedom they will be given.

The government said hundreds of people have surrendered to police in recent days.

Xinhua said more than 280 turned themselves in for involvement in the Lhasa riots - a figure confirmed by the Tibet Public Security Bureau.

Another 381 surrendered in Aba county in Sichuan, the official China Daily reported. It quoted Shu Tao, a Communist Party boss of Luoerda village in the county, as saying most were "ordinary people and monks who were deceived or coerced."

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china and tibet by megh on 26 Mar 2008

china has enforced its rule by violence. china understands only violence, be it against its own people or its colonies such as tibet or its neighbors such as India, Vietnam, Taiwan. China is a greedy, power hungry nation with indian commies acting as their puppies. i wonder what do the indian commies have to say on this issue of rights in tibet and absolute anarchy brought about by the chinese govt on tibetans... i'm sure for the "puppies" its all fine as long as we as a nation donot condemn china.

Ban Communist Parties in India by ANonymous on 27 Mar 2008

Well, friend, the puppies have already clarified their stand that Tibet is Chinese and Not Tibetan!! Only they have not spoken their word on Arunachal, they are silent, but we know the meaning of that unbearable Silence! Communism and Communist parties should be banned in India.

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