UK NEWS

99 DEAD AS CHINA SENDS IN ARMOURED DIVISION

Tanks are on the streets

Saturday March 22,2008

By Tony Bonnici

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FEARS that China is set for a major crackdown on Tibetan protesters rose last night as the death toll was put at 99.

Thousands of soldiers, backed by armoured vehicles, were heading towards the worst-hit areas after officials admitted trouble was spreading.

There were growing concerns that tanks could be sent into action if the latest measures fail to control the demonstrations breaking out across the province.

Any such move would have huge political implications ahead of this summer’s Olympics, evoking memories of the massacre of several hundred democracy protesters in Tiananmen Square in 1989.

The clampdown was being tightened amid claims by Tibetan exiles that at least 99 people have so far died, including 80 in the Tibetan capital Lhasa.

They say that some of the victims died after troops opened fire on crowds, claims denied by official sources who maintain only four people were wounded.

They added that 24 people had been arrested and a further 170 had surrendered. Chinese authorities have become increasingly alarmed by how the rioting has spread since it began on March 10. Even the official news agency reported huge damage to government buildings and shops after riots in Sichuan province.

Meanwhile, Tibet’s spiritual leader, the 72-year-old exiled Dalai Lama, repeated his offer of talks with the Chinese president after he met Nancy Pelosi, the Democrat speaker of the US House of Representatives, who challenged Chinese leaders over claims that he had encouraged the revolt.

Tibetan exiles may try to disrupt the Olympic torch being carried through London to the Games if China continues its crackdown, a campaigner warned yesterday.

Hundreds of Tibetans living in Europe are expected to travel to London to demonstrate against Beijing hosting the Games.