When someone shares with you something of value, you have an obligation to share it with others.
Friday, 20 February 2009
Foreign visitors barred from areas with big Tibetan populations
Western areas of the country with large Tibetan populations have been declared off limits to foreign visitors, local officials confirmed yesterday, ahead of the politically sensitive 50th anniversary of the failed Tibetan uprising.
Foreign visitors barred from areas with big Tibetan populations
Associated Press in Beijing 13 February 2009
Western areas of the country with large Tibetan populations have been declared off limits to foreign visitors, local officials confirmed yesterday, ahead of the politically sensitive 50th anniversary of the failed Tibetan uprising.
An official at the tourism office of Gansu province’s Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, which is home to a major monastery and large Tibetan communities, said the region was again closed to foreigners and would not be open until late next month. The official did not say when the restrictions were put in place.
March 10 marks the 50th anniversary of the failed rebellion in Tibet against Beijing’s rule. The Dalai Lama was forced to flee into exile in India after the uprising was crushed.
Last year, Tibetan protests spun out of control, with deadly riots breaking out in Lhasa - quickly spreading to neighbouring provinces Gansu, Sichuan and Qinghai, which all have large ethnic Tibetan communities. Beijing says 22 people died, but Tibetan advocates say many times that number were killed.
The riots were quelled by a huge military presence installed in the area.
Tibet has always been off limits to the international media unless special permits are obtained. But Beijing did put on a rare and tightly controlled tour of Tibet this week for foreign reporters.
Yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu described the situation in Tibet as stable, but acknowledged that foreign reporters had difficulty accessing the area.
Several journalists have reported being expelled from Tibetan-populated areas on the mainland in the past week.
1 comment:
Foreign visitors barred from areas with big Tibetan populations
Associated Press in Beijing
13 February 2009
Western areas of the country with large Tibetan populations have been declared off limits to foreign visitors, local officials confirmed yesterday, ahead of the politically sensitive 50th anniversary of the failed Tibetan uprising.
An official at the tourism office of Gansu province’s Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, which is home to a major monastery and large Tibetan communities, said the region was again closed to foreigners and would not be open until late next month. The official did not say when the restrictions were put in place.
March 10 marks the 50th anniversary of the failed rebellion in Tibet against Beijing’s rule. The Dalai Lama was forced to flee into exile in India after the uprising was crushed.
Last year, Tibetan protests spun out of control, with deadly riots breaking out in Lhasa - quickly spreading to neighbouring provinces Gansu, Sichuan and Qinghai, which all have large ethnic Tibetan communities. Beijing says 22 people died, but Tibetan advocates say many times that number were killed.
The riots were quelled by a huge military presence installed in the area.
Tibet has always been off limits to the international media unless special permits are obtained. But Beijing did put on a rare and tightly controlled tour of Tibet this week for foreign reporters.
Yesterday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu described the situation in Tibet as stable, but acknowledged that foreign reporters had difficulty accessing the area.
Several journalists have reported being expelled from Tibetan-populated areas on the mainland in the past week.
Post a Comment