New Tibet protests reported as diplomats finish Chinese trip

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Fresh protests broke out in the Tibetan capital Lhasa as foreign diplomats wrapped up a tightly controlled visit organized by Beijing, a radio broadcaster and Tibetan activists reported. A demonstration began Saturday afternoon at the Ramoche monastery and grew to involve "many people," said Kate Saunders of the Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet. Citing unnamed witnesses in the city, she said the situation calmed down after a few hours. People also protested at the Jokhang Temple, a major Buddhist site, the government-in-exile of the Tibetan Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama, said on its Web site. The India-based government gave no other details. Several hundred people took part in the protests, the US-funded broadcaster Radio Free Asia reported. Ramoche was the original site of monk-led demonstrations that began peacefully on March 10, the anniversary of a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule, but erupted in violence days later. The Chinese government says 22 people died, while Tibetans abroad put the toll at 140.