http://www.dossiertibet.it
Mar, 08/10/2013 - 07:05

Chinese police fire on protesters and wounded at least 60 Tibetans

Chinese security forces shot and wounded at least 60 Tibetans as they fired into a crowd demanding the release of a villager who had led protests against orders to fly the Chinese flag from their homes.The incident Sunday in Driru prefecture was sparked when a crowd gathered to confront police attempting to search the home of Dorje Draktsel, who was detained last week after taking part in local protests.At least 60 were wounded when the Chinese troops opened fire, with many of those hurt suffering gunshots to their hands and legs and others knocked unconscious when police fired tear gas into the crowd, they said.Many of the injured have still not received medical care.

Draktsel, a resident of the township’s Yangthang village, had been tagged by authorities as one of the leaders of the protest by Driru-area Tibetans resisting orders to fly the Chinese flag from their homes.He had escaped from Dathang township and was going to Driru town when he was taken into custody.

After Draktsel was detained, Chinese armed police went to search his home, and when the villagers protested, more armed police arrived and fired into the crowd.At least two of the protesters were critically wounded.

Chinese authorities have dispatched more than 200 paramilitary and police vehicles to villages, setting up checkpoints on all the major roads.They have confiscated Tibetans’ cell phones and blocked communications by phone and the Internet. Now people have to bring their ID cards even when they go out to shop, and police are taking away all Tibetans who cannot show their ID.

Driru-area Tibetans now living in Lhasa have been forbidden to return to their hometowns.