EDITORIAL: Violence in Tibet

Unrest in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa left many people killed and injured following clashes between Buddhist monks, local citizens and Chinese troops. Details of the situation remain sketchy, but we urge the Chinese government to refrain from using military force so as to prevent an escalation of bloodshed.

The violence in Lhasa stemmed from protests recently staged by monks over Chinese rule.

Information from the area is limited, but China's official Xinhua News Agency reported that 10 civilians were killed. There are also unconfirmed reports of a much higher death toll.

Images that have come out of Lhasa show an overturned police car on fire in the city center and citizens throwing rocks. The situation is extremely tense.

The 14th Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader who lives in exile in India, issued a statement saying, "These protests are a manifestation of the deep-rooted resentment of the Tibetan people under the present governance."

At the same time, he urged Tibetan citizens to exercise nonviolence.

Chinese authorities said they had "ample proof that the riots were organized, pre-meditated and masterminded by those close to the Dalai Lama." A spokesperson for the Dalai Lama denied this was so.

Tibet has witnessed numerous protests by Buddhist monks, as well as clashes with Chinese troops. The unrest dates back to 1951, not long after the founding of the People's Republic of China, when the Chinese People's Liberation Army occupied Lhasa.

In 1959, the Chinese army used force to suppress a Tibetan uprising. The Dalai Lama fled. In 1965, the Chinese government declared Tibet as an autonomous region. In 1989, independence protests turned into rioting, and China enforced martial law. The latest clashes are said to be the largest since then.

Foreign media access is restricted in Tibet, so much about the situation leading up to the riots is unclear. But on the surface, things had been calm. It was against this backdrop that monks and citizens started protesting against the Chinese government several days ago.

With the Beijing Olympics just months away, the international community is paying attention to the human rights situation in China even more closely than ever.

The fact that the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize attests to the international community's awareness of the situation in Tibet.

Chinese authorities must refrain from using military force and accept that the only way to pacify the situation is through dialogue with the people. They should accept the fact that more civilian casualties will have a serious impact on the Olympics.

Throwing barbs at each other will only exacerbate the conflict with the Dalai Lama. It will only make the possibility of a peaceful resolution slimmer.

The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is another region in China that is a hotbed of a secession movement and terror attacks. There are also reports of a Chinese government crackdown on a Qigong group as well as the imprisonment of human rights activists.

It is possible that in the lead-up to the Olympics in August, Beijing may strengthen its security measures, making success of the Games its main priority.

However, heavy-handed measures will only harm China's reputation. The Japanese government must use every opportunity to urge China to use restraint.

--The Asahi Shimbun March 16(IHT/Asahi: March 18,2008)