31/08/2010: Tibetan Shot Dead by Chinese Police |
Chinese media confirm Tibetan shot dead "accidentally" by Chinese police
Unconfirmed and conflicting reports began to come in last Wednesday of between one and four Tibetans shot dead by Chinese police in Palyul county (Chinese: Baiyu), eastern Tibet (Sichuan) on or around 17-18 August.
Free Tibet can confirm the death of one person. According to Free Tibet sources a petition against the activities of a local mining company was delivered to the local government building by villagers led by a local man, Tashi Sangpo. The petition was rejected and it has been reported that the petitioners were beaten. Subsequently dozens of fellow-villagers joined the original petitioners and camped outside the building for several days before a stand-off between the police and the protesters ensued when at least one person was shot and killed.
Protests and acts of civil disobedience in Tibet are almost always non-violent and in this case Free Tibet sources have reported nothing other than a sit-down protest. It is unlikely that claims by Chinese state media that the Tibetans “attacked police with knives, clubs and stones” are true.
Sadly it is not unusual for Chinese security forces to use disproportionate force against peaceful Tibetan protesters. In 2008 Chinese armed troops fired on peaceful Tibetan protesters in Ngaba, Sichuan, killing thirteen people.
Free Tibet Director Stephanie Brigden said:
“I am outraged by the use of disproportionate force to disperse civilians. We have received no information that any of the Tibetans at the gathering were carrying any of the weapons alleged by the Chinese state media.
There must be an inquiry that holds both the individual who fired the fatal shot and the chain of command accountable.”
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For further information please contact Stephanie Brigden
T: +44 (0)20 7324 4605
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