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China insists Tibet open to tourists
Beijing (AFP) Feb 26, 2009 China insisted Thursday that Tibet had not been closed to foreign tourists as tensions built over Chinese rule in the Himalayan region, despite travel agencies reporting a government-ordered ban. "To my understanding, up to date, no agencies in Tibet have received instructions to restrict the entrance of foreign visitors to Tibet," foreign ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu told reporters. Four government-run travel agencies in China and other industry people in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, told AFP that Tibet had been closed to foreign tourists. The reported ban came ahead of the highly sensitive 50th anniversary of a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet on March 10, which led to the escape of the region's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. Next month also marks a year since peaceful protests that began on the 49th anniversary of the uprising escalated into violent rioting in Lhasa and across the Tibetan plateau. There has been a reported increase in security forces in the region ahead of the anniversaries, and the Dalai Lama warned Tuesday that harsh measures taken by Chinese authorities were designed to provoke Tibetans into remonstrating. "When this happens the authorities can then indulge in (an) unprecedented and unimaginable forceful clampdown," he said in a statement. He called for Tibetans to boycott celebrations for their New Year, which began on Wednesday, in protest against Chinese rule. But Ma said Tibet was stable and its people happy. "As you see on television, Tibetan people are jubilant and radiant with joy in celebrating their festival," he said. The information is difficult to verify as foreign journalists are barred from travelling to Tibet independently, and Chinese television is run by the state. Tourists were banned from the Himalayan region immediately after the unrest last year, and foreign travellers were only allowed back in at the end of June. China has ruled Tibet since 1951, a year after sending in troops to "liberate" the region. Tibet's government-in-exile said the government crackdown following last year's unrest left 200 Tibetans dead. China denies this, but has reported police killed one "insurgent" and blamed Tibetan "rioters" for 21 deaths. Share This Article With Planet Earth
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Dalai Lama says eager to visit Taiwan: report
Taipei (AFP) Feb 25, 2009Exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama has reiterated his wishes to visit Taiwan in an interview with a Taiwanese cable news channel broadcast here on Wednesday. |
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