January 24th, 2012
04:13 AM ET

China attacks rights groups' accounts of Tibetan violence

China on Tuesday criticized human rights groups' accounts of a violent clash between Tibetan protesters and the Chinese police, accusing them of trying to "distort the truth."

The dispute over what took place in a remote area of Sichuan Province comes at a sensitive time in China's relationship with its Tibetan population after a string of self-immolations by Tibetan protesters in recent months.

The International Campaign for Tibet, which promotes human rights for Tibetan people, reported Monday that thousands of Tibetans had marched on government offices before the police opened fire into the crowd, killing at least three protesters and wounding nine.

Free Tibet, a London-based group that campaigns for Tibetan independence, said that one person was killed and as many as 30 others wounded by gunfire from the Chinese security forces.

The rights groups said the protesters had been motivated by a recent security crackdown on Tibetans in the region following the circulation of pamphlets raising the prospect of more self-immolations.

The reports, which could not be independently verified, contrasted with the account given by Xinhua, the official Chinese news agency. It reported that "dozens of people, including some monks, stormed and smashed some stores along a main street and a police station" in the autonomous Tibetan prefecture of Ganzi in Sichuan.

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Filed under: World
soundoff (3 Responses)
  1. citizen2000

    There are some foreigners who have nothing better to do, than to criticize China’s affairs. Now, China firstly does not export revolution, secondly does not export poverty and hunger, or make trouble with you, so why do you still want to complain?” said Xi. I know we must meet with China's future leader but we need to understand who we are dealing with. Essentially Xi is saying, as long as we are only oppressing our own people, America should butt out.
    This shows that China will continue to be ruled by an authoritarian regime for the next generation of leaders. Why then do American universities who treasure academic freedom make deal after deal with China? The University of Michigan has a joint campus in Shanghai that was the source of the cyber attacks on Google last year. There are many other American universities that have similar deals with China. Read more at http://www.china-threat.com

    January 24, 2012 at 7:21 am | Report abuse |
  2. Bouna Sera' Wine Bar

    The second largest economy, T.A.P.I pipeline full of cheap NG by yours truly the Carlyle Group, a recognized Nuclear state, 80 million members of the ruling communist party being groomed to carry on their political Ideology, Xinhua offical news agency; all the while being violently attacked by self-emmoting Tabetans!

    No wonder China won't negotiate with the Tabetan people who seek more freedoms and their spiritual leaders return, the Dalai Lama.

    January 24, 2012 at 8:19 am | Report abuse |
    • Alex20012

      The so-called rights group is just a tool of the western society. What they report about China they deliberately exaggerate and distort the truth, that's why they are not welcome in China.

      February 1, 2012 at 8:57 am | Report abuse |
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