The prayers of Buddhists here in Syracuse have been with the brave Tibetans who staged anti-Chinese government protests in 2008. Each year as the anniversary for these protests comes around on March 14 there are hopes here in Syracuse that the Chinese authorities will lessen restrictions on the freedoms of Tibetans. However, the situation for the Tibetans now looks even worse with deep anxieties being shared among Buddhists in Syracuse upon learning that China is closing the doors of Tibet to foreign visitors for the anniversary of the 2008 uprising.
Kalsang Rinchen has reported for Phayul.com "China slams door to Tibet on foreigners ahead of uprising anniversary", http://bit.ly/gyBmcr. This report has fueled concerns by Buddhists here in Syracuse regarding the situation in Chinese occupied Tibet. And now Chinese travel agents who organize trips to Tibet have said they have been ordered not to receive foreign visitors around the March 14 anniversary of bloody anti-government protests in March 2008.
The anti-government protests by Tibetans in Lhasa in 2008 spread to many parts of the Himalayan region including several places outside of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. China has claimed only 22 people have died in the "riots" after March 14, 2008. But, the Tibetan government says that over 200 people have died as a result of Chinese government's crackdown on Tibetan protesters and that many others have been sentenced to prison terms.
Zhang Qingli, who is the Communist Party Secretary of the “Tibet Autonomous Region has told reporters that the regional government "had taken some control measures this year" in order to limit the number of visitors into Tibet. Zhang has commented "Except for a few cases and locations, the restrictions on foreign tourists to Tibet have been imposed according to government regulations, and Tibet's capacity to receive tourists, and other factors such as climate and security."
Zhang insists that the situation since March 2008 has been quite stable in Tibet and has said "It's not that the anti-Chinese forces and the Dalai clique haven't thought of it, but the fact is they haven't been able to stir up any unrest since the March 14, 2008 incident." However, foreign journalists who were part of Chinese government conducted media tour to Tibetan capital Lhasa just three months after the bloody protests in March 2008 have reported that the city still remained tense amid tight security and presence of armed forces.
China has been strictly limiting access by foreigners to Tibet by requiring them to obtain special permits in addition to their Chinese visas and to travel in tour groups. Still, Tibetan supporters here in Syracuse and worldwide will
commemorate on March 14 the 52nd anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising day. The main official function for this ceremony will be held in Dharamsala, India which is the exiled home of the Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama and headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile.
Mandel News Service: http://www.mandelnews.com
