BEIJING: Chinese police opened fire at a group of monks, injuring two of them, in Sichuan province on Saturday, according to delayed reports reaching here. The incident took place when a group of monks had gathered to offer prayers marking the 78th birthday of the Dalai Lama.
Tashi Sonam of Nyatso monastery, who received a head injury, is critical and is being treated in a local hospital. Another monk was hit in the leg by a bullet, sources said.
The firing incident came after speculation in some quarters that Chinese authorities were softening towards the Dalai Lama and even permitting Tibetans to worship him. This may be the first time that monks have been injured in police firing in recent years.
Human rights groups, including the US-based International Campaign for Tibet, said there was an argument between local officials and Tibetans making ritual offerings and burning incense sticks before a portrait of the Dalai Lama in the Ganzi areas of Sichuan.
"The security forces attempted to prevent Tibetans from making their offerings, but according to two Tibetan sources in exile, some Tibetans present argued that burning incense was not a crime," ICT said. "Without warning, according to several Tibetan sources, police opened fire on the unarmed crowd and used teargas," it said.
A senior Communist Party leader, Yu Zhengsheng has reacted to the situation asking Tibetan Buddhists to have no linkages with the Dalai Lama because he is engaged in secessionist activities and acting against the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
Tibetan areas in Chinese provinces like Qinghai and Sichuan have seen 119 cases of self-immolations against the government's religious policies. Victims of self-inflicted harm include monks, nuns, and ordinary Tibetans.
Two monks injured in police firing in China - The Times of India
Tashi Sonam of Nyatso monastery, who received a head injury, is critical and is being treated in a local hospital. Another monk was hit in the leg by a bullet, sources said.
The firing incident came after speculation in some quarters that Chinese authorities were softening towards the Dalai Lama and even permitting Tibetans to worship him. This may be the first time that monks have been injured in police firing in recent years.
Human rights groups, including the US-based International Campaign for Tibet, said there was an argument between local officials and Tibetans making ritual offerings and burning incense sticks before a portrait of the Dalai Lama in the Ganzi areas of Sichuan.
"The security forces attempted to prevent Tibetans from making their offerings, but according to two Tibetan sources in exile, some Tibetans present argued that burning incense was not a crime," ICT said. "Without warning, according to several Tibetan sources, police opened fire on the unarmed crowd and used teargas," it said.
A senior Communist Party leader, Yu Zhengsheng has reacted to the situation asking Tibetan Buddhists to have no linkages with the Dalai Lama because he is engaged in secessionist activities and acting against the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.
Tibetan areas in Chinese provinces like Qinghai and Sichuan have seen 119 cases of self-immolations against the government's religious policies. Victims of self-inflicted harm include monks, nuns, and ordinary Tibetans.
Two monks injured in police firing in China - The Times of India
