Tibetan exiles protest at violence

12 April 2012

Tibetan exiles in Britain vented their anger against China amid escalating violence in their homeland.

Protesters banged on the doors of the Chinese embassy in London before holding a prayer vigil as unrest threatened to spiral out of control on the streets of Tibet.

The British Government was urged to "end its silence" over human rights abuses in the autonomous region and was criticised for double standards in view of its condemnation of Burmese repression.

The Tibetan government in exile said that as many as 100 civilians have been killed by security forces in recent days.

Buddhist monks clashed with troops in the ancient capital of Lhasa on Friday in what have been described as the largest demonstrations in Tibet for 20 years.

Witnesses reported crowds hurling rocks at security forces and retaliatory violence.

The Tibetan government in exile, based in the north Indian town of Dharamsala, said there had been "30 confirmed deaths and over 100 unconfirmed deaths".

The protests began on Monday to coincide with the 49th anniversary of the 1959 uprising against Chinese rule.

The authorities in Tibet have given demonstrators until Monday to end their protest and turn themselves in. Pro-Tibet demonstrators in cities around the world protested against Beijing's stance.

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg called on the Prime Minister to meet the Dalai Lama during his forthcoming visit to the UK. Downing Street said no decision had been made over the possibility of a meeting between the two men.

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