2008 Lhasa riots

Riot during the 2008 Tibetan unrest The 2008 Lhasa riots, also referred to as the March 14 riots or March 14 incident (三·一四事件) in Chinese media,Xiaobing Li, Civil Liberties in China, ABC-CLIO, 2010, 165 p., p. xlvii: "March 14: Buddhist riots – the '3/14 Riots' – occur in Lhasa."As long as there are separists, there will be 3-14 event again https://web.archive.org/web/20171006162042/http://hk.crntt.com/doc/1010/0/1/8/101001887.html?coluid=0&kindid=0&docid=101001887 October 6, 2017 (Trad Chinese) China Review News Agency, 22 June 2008 was one of a number of violent protests that took place during the 2008 Tibetan unrest. Riots thumb|right|200px|Tibet Autonomous Region Tibetan rioters appeared to be targeting shops and vehicles owned by Han Chinese, the predominant ethnic group in China, and Hui, who are a Muslim minority. According to the BBC and The Wall Street Journal, rioters focused on setting fire to and looting businesses owned by them; The Wall Street Journal stated that first-hand accounts of their stories have been relatively rare in Western news reports, in part because it is difficult to reach people by phone in Lhasa."Chinese Dismayed by Tales of Tibet ViolenceJune 2023 InternetArchiveBot yes , The Wall Street Journal Tibetans face similar problems due to the strict controls on media reporting of events in Tibetan areas of China. Tibetans March For Talks With Dalai Lama http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2008/03/25/tibetans_protest/ Radio Free Asia 25 March 2008 2008-03-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20080329234000/http://www.rfa.org/english/news/2008/03/25/tibetans_protest/ 29 March 2008 live James Miles, in an interview with CNN, made the following assessment, "What I saw was calculated targeted violence against an ethnic group, or I should say two ethnic groups, primarily ethnic Han Chinese living in Lhasa, but also members of the Muslim Hui minority in Lhasa."http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/20/tibet.miles.interview/ Transcript: James Miles interview on Tibet CNN.com 2008-03-20 2008-03-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20080411130317/http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/20/tibet.miles.interview/ 2008-04-11 live A crowd tried to storm the Lhasa Great Mosque and set fire to the front gate. Shops and restaurants in the Muslim quarter were destroyed.Barbara Demick, Tibetan-Muslim tensions roil China, Los Angeles Times, June 23, 2008. Also according to The Economist, "The mobs, ranging from small groups of youths (some armed with traditional Tibetan swords) to crowds of many dozens, including women and children, rampaged through the narrow alleys of the Tibetan quarter. They battered the shutters of shops, broke in and seized whatever they could, from hunks of meat to gas canisters and clothing. Some goods they carried away, while other goods were thrown into large fires lit on the street." Little children could also be seen looting a toy shop as well and mobs were attempting to ram the defenses of banks. The mobs also attacked any ethnic Chinese on the streets. James Miles reported seeing a Han Chinese teenage boy plead to a monk to help him hide because of the violence around the city. Fire on the roof of the world http://www.economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10870258&top_story=1 The Economist 14 March 2008 2008-03-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20090526061019/http://www.economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10870258&top_story=1 26 May 2009 live The Guardian reported that according to a foreign eyewitness account, rioters attacked Han, Muslim Hui and other ethnic minorities. Foreigners were not attacked. Oh my God, someone has a gun ... https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/mar/15/tibet.china2 The Guardian London 15 March 2008 2008-03-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20160826122807/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/mar/15/tibet.china2 26 August 2016 live With the exception of Tibetan-owned hotels, many other hotels were vandalized and smashed. The foreign eyewitness also reported seeing three rioters repeatedly stabbing an unconscious man. After the Monday deadline, Chinese police announced on loudspeakers that anyone who took part in the violence and gave themselves up would be treated with leniency. Jane MacArtney Tibetan prisoners are paraded on trucks as China tightens its grip http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3566647.ece The Times London 18 March 2008 2008-03-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20080513120936/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3566647.ece 13 May 2008 dead According to the London-based Free Tibet Campaign, an eyewitness in Lhasa saw rioters set a mosque on fire late on Friday night and throw stones at people who appeared to be Hui.Turmoil in Tibet after deadly violence https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080315/ts_afp/chinatibetreligionprotestrights_080315011805 Yahoo! News 14 March 2008 2008-03-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20080320102206/http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080315/ts_afp/chinatibetreligionprotestrights_080315011805 2008-03-20 live Uneasy calm follows Tibet rampage https://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20080315/wl_mcclatchy/2880440_1 Yahoo! News 15 March 2008 2008-03-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20080330012920/http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20080315/wl_mcclatchy/2880440_1 2008-03-30 live Other Western tourists emerged from Tibet with graphic descriptions of the level of violence that had occurred. Some claimed that they had seen non-Tibetan Chinese, including the elderly, being beaten and stoned to death by groups of Tibetans, supported by the crowd.http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23401794-25837,00.html The Australian Tourists tell of Tibetans' violence 2008-03-19 2008-03-23 Jeremy Page https://web.archive.org/web/20080324044017/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23401794-25837,00.html 2008-03-24 deadhttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/18/wtibet718.xml Tibetans attacked Chinese, say Lhasa tourists The Telegraph 2008-03-19 2008-03-23 London Thomas Bell https://web.archive.org/web/20080324042524/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fnews%2F2008%2F03%2F18%2Fwtibet718.xml 2008-03-24 dead Other events An eyewitness stated that police cars, fire engines and other official vehicles were set on fire after anger erupted following the police's dispersal of a peaceful demonstration near a small temple in Lhasa. Fears of another Tiananmen as Tibet explodes in hatred http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3559355.ece The Times London 16 March 2008 2008-03-20 James Miles Michael Sheridan https://web.archive.org/web/20080513121334/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3559355.ece 13 May 2008 dead According to CNN, Police used gunfire and tear gas to break up the protest.Clashes leave 10 dead in Tibet http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/14/tibet.unrest/index.html CNN 15 March 2008 2008-03-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20080317170032/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/14/tibet.unrest/index.html 2008-03-17 dead "The monks are still protesting. Police and army cars were burned. There are people crying," she said. Tibetan protests turn violent http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/64E0E84F-1A67-4EFD-A5E0-F3D554C0A6DF.htm Al Jazeera 14 March 2008 2008-03-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20080316034516/http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/64E0E84F-1A67-4EFD-A5E0-F3D554C0A6DF.htm 16 March 2008 live Tensions in Lhasa increased as the city's three biggest monasteries were sealed off by thousands of soldiers and armed police amid the largest protests in nearly two decades. Chinese authorities reportedly fired warning shots and used tear gas and electric prods to disperse hundreds of protesters, in addition to detaining up to 50 monks. US embassy officials in Beijing told the Associated Press that U.S. citizens had reportedly seen gunfire and rioting in Lhasa. Shops on fire amid Tibet protests https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7296041.stm BBC News 14 March 2008 2008-03-19 https://web.archive.org/web/20080318002326/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7296041.stm 18 March 2008 live Tibetan exiles quoted in the Times of London report that at least five people had been killed in police firing by March 15. According to a Tibetan who fled Tibet after the demonstrations in Lhasa, knife-wielding Chinese troops attacked Tibetan demonstrators on March 14, and several demonstrators died from gunshot and knife wounds.http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jgFoChs62YTIGdwrR_tXC1H-5z7w Escaped Tibetan rioter tells of Chinese repression 2008-08-10 https://web.archive.org/web/20110520154349/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jgFoChs62YTIGdwrR_tXC1H-5z7w 2011-05-20 dead Aftermath In the aftermath of the riot, residents appeared to have mixed reactions to the violence. Some Tibetans celebrated by throwing toilet paper that resembled traditional Tibetan scarves over wires across the streets. However, "others appeared aghast at the violence." Casualties The official Chinese media source Xinhua has reported that on March 14 in Lhasa "rioters injured 623 people including 241 police and armed police and killed 18 others. They also set fire to more than 300 locations, mostly private houses, stores and schools, smashed vehicles and damaged public facilities." China urges int'l community to see true features of Dalai clique http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/26/content_7859382.htm Xinhua 26 March 2008 2008-03-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20080329212107/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-03/26/content_7859382.htm 29 March 2008 dead The official Chinese media has now published details including names and photographs of some of those they say were killed or injured during the rioting. Tibetans mourn five young women who died in riot http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/6378807.html People's Daily 21 March 2008 2008-03-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20080327232458/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/6378807.html 27 March 2008 live Facing riot, Tibetans, Hans side by side http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/6378730.html People's Daily 21 March 2008 2008-03-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20080327232449/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90776/90882/6378730.html 27 March 2008 live Documentary: Accusation of the victims of 3.14 Lhasa riots (2) http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/6379588.html People's Daily 24 March 2008 2008-03-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20080406065639/http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90776/6379588.html 6 April 2008 live According to Xinhua, local police have "confirmed" the identities of 14 out of the 18 "innocent civilians" killed in the riots, including one "eight-month-old infant" and one "ethnic Tibetan woman" in a fire, set by "arson". Police "confirm" identities of 14 civilians killed in Lhasa riots http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/01/content_7894023.htm Xinhua 1 April 2008 2008-04-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20121021074012/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/01/content_7894023.htm 21 October 2012 dead Radio Free Asia and the International Campaign for Tibet reported that fresh protests broke out at the Ramoche Temple, situated in the northwest of Lhasa, March 29, 2008, as a 15-member group of diplomats from the United States, Japan and Europe returned to Beijing after a two-day visit to the Tibetan capital. However, independent verification of the protest could not be obtained.Reports: New protests in Tibet as diplomats end visit http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/30/china.tibet.ap/index.html CNN 30 March 2008 2008-03-30 https://web.archive.org/web/20080331152729/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/30/china.tibet.ap/index.html 2008-03-31 dead References 2 China Asia Society Lhasa violence Category:Protests in China Category:Riots and civil disorder in China Category:2000s in Tibet Category:2008 in China Category:Tibetan independence movement Category:2000s in Lhasa