The major news is that there have been massive protests in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, throughout the week that have been met by a violent response by Chinese security forces. I’ve been watching CNN Europe and the BBC all morning and this has been the top story.

The protests are the largest Lhasa has seen since the 1989 uprising. Reports coming out are limited because China has refused entry to Tibet to major media outlets. CNN has repeatedly mentioned that their network has asked permission from China to enter Tibet to cover the protests and they have been refused. Think on that for a second – one of the largest media outlets in the world is being repeatedly refused entry to Tibet by the Chinese government.

From reports, peaceful protests were organized by monks and nuns in Lhasa since Monday, March 10th as part of remembrance of the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising. These protests by monks and nuns were met by a crackdown by the Chinese security forces. Drepung, Sera, and Ganden monasteries – the three largest in Lhasa – have been locked down and surrounded by Chinese forces.

The organized, peaceful protests by monks and nuns were joined by major unrest among Shops owned by Chinese settlers have been burned. The response by Chinese police has been to use violence, including tear gas, on the protestors. There have also been reports of shootings.

The the New York Times:

Violent protests erupted Friday in a busy market area of Lhasa, the Tibetan capital, as Buddhist monks and other ethnic Tibetans clashed with Chinese security forces. Witnesses say the protesters burned shops, cars, military vehicles and at least one tourist bus.

By Friday night, Chinese authorities had placed much of the central part of the city under a curfew[…]. Military police were blocking roads in some ethnic Tibetan neighborhoods, several Lhasa residents said.

[…] The [American] embassy said it had “received firsthand reports from American citizens in the city who report gunfire and other indications of violence.”

Xinhua, the Chinese government’s official news agency, issued a two-sentence bulletin, in English, confirming that shops in Lhasa had been set on fire and that other stores had closed because of violence on the streets. But the protests were otherwise censored in the Chinese press.

In India, the 100 return marchers and 2 organizers who were arrested earlier this week have been sentenced to 14 days in jail. They received this sentence because they refused to sign a bond that said they would not protest again for the next six months, ie, untli after the Beijing Olympics.

Thirty-one Tibetan protestors who were arrested in Delhi continue to be held in Indian jail. The protestors have gone on hunger strike to draw attention to India’s complete subordination to Chinese interests and crackdown on Tibetans on behalf of the Chinese government. Organizations representing the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement issued the following statement on the protests in Lhasa:

Last night, the 100 Core Marchers and 2 organizers of the March to Tibet were sentenced to 14 days in judicial custody after appearing before the Senior Divisional Magistrate in Dehra. As the heads of the Organizing Committee of the Tibetan People’s Uprising Movement and March to Tibet, we condemn this decision by the Indian authorities to treat these peaceful Tibetan marchers as criminals.

The March to Tibet illustrates the aspirations of Tibetans all over the world for human rights and freedom. This past March 10th, the 49th anniversary of the 1959 national uprising, we saw the largest and most widespread protests in and outside of Tibet. Most importantly, in the past 4 days, protests have been spreading like wildfire inside Tibet, the likes of which have not been seen since 1987. The actions taken by the courageous Tibetans inside Tibet, in the face of terrible consequences, are an inspiration to us all. At this critical time, when our brothers and sisters inside Tibet are fighting for freedom, we too must persevere with our efforts, no matter what the consequences.

The March to Tibet is a purely non-violent initiative of Tibetans living in exile who long to return to our homeland. While the Tibetan people are infinitely grateful for the hospitality of the Indian people and government, the time has come to take our exile struggle home to the land of our ancestors.

In light of the critical situation inside Tibet, and considering that the March to Tibet is a nonviolent campaign modeled after the actions of India’s own Mahatma Gandhi, we call on the Indian government to immediately and unconditionally release all of the marchers being held at Yatri Niwas and allow the March to Tibet to continue un-abetted. We call on the freedom-loving people of India to request the central government to remove all obstacles to the continued journey of these 100 determined and peaceful Tibetans. And finally, we call on the international community to support the brave Tibetans inside Tibet by bringing scrutiny and pressure on the Chinese government and, at the same time, help the Tibetan marchers being held in detention by contacting the Indian government and calling for the marchers to be released and allowed to continue on their courageous journey home.

Students for a Free Tibet has put together an action alert in support of the return marchers in India. You can take action here.

Quite simply, this is a momentous time for Tibet. Tibetans inside Tibet are speaking out for independence and freedom from Chinese oppresive rule. Tibetan exiles and refugees efforts to peacefully speak out for their country are being swiftly shut down by the pliant Indian government. The whole world is watching the most visible Tibetan protests in 20 years. There can be no doubt what Tibetans inside and outside Tibet want: freedom. Those that stand in the way are clearly standing in opposition to self-determination, human rights, and religious tolerance. China is, as always, revealing itself as a totalitarian country that cannot tolerate dissent, let alone Tibetans’aspirations for the freedom they so rightly deserve.

I’ll try to update again on this tomorrow, but Tibet Will Be Free is the best place for news coming in from Tibet and India.