Free Tibet-monks disrupt press conference
The topic of Tibet was the topic of conversation among my friends today. Many of them are concerned about the latest developments there. A few monks who had the courage to interrupt a press conference has given a human face to this Tibetan problem.
A video clip of monks interrupting a carefully staged tour for foreign journalists in Llasa apparently is on the net. The Tibetan monks shouted that Chinese authorities were lying about unrest in the Himalayan region.
The group of young monks burst into the official briefing shouting, ” Don’t believe them. They are tricking you. They are telling lies.. ” The monks were in crimson robes and some were weeping. It was an emotional scene as they knew there would be a reaction away from the cameras from the Chinese government.
The monks told the foreign media present that the believers in the temple were actually communist party members and part of the show put on for the benefit of the foreign guests. The monks had been unable to leave the temple since March 10 when demonstarations started in Tibet on the 49th anniversary of an abortive uprising.
One monk said, ” They just don’t believe us. They think we will come out and cause havoc-smash, destroy, rob and burn. We didn’t do anything like that.-they’re falsely accusing us. We want freedom. They have detained lamas and ordinary people.”
The incident lasted 15 minutes after which unarmed police took the monks away from the journalists. Repercussions are likely and the fate of the monks is still unclear at the moment.
China is on defensive mode with the focus on the fast approaching Beijing Olympic Games. It has warned EU to steer clear of the Tibet issue. China refuses to budge on Dalai Lama talks.
President Bush had called for talks to reopen between China and the Dalai lama representatives. French president Nicolas Sarkozy left open the option of not attending the Olympics opening ceremony. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also expressed concerns over the latest developments.
China sent in troops to ‘liberate’ Tibet from feudal rule in 1950 and officially annexed the devoutly Buddhist land the following year.
I watched it on Buletin Utama! Gosh…someone have to stop all this from worsening! =(
it is difficult for an ant to fight against an elephant
The meaning of “monk” (和尚) totally holds a different meaning when they put politics and world views into the equation.
Come on! In principle, monks must not care or bother about worldly issues!
monks are human beings too. I wouldnt be too harsh on them.