Posted: Mar 14, 2008 01:07 am EDT
(MountEverest.net) An ExWeb representative traveling in Tibet and returning to Lhasa at the time of the uprising reports to ExplorersWeb today that there were lots of checkpoints on the way in to the city and much patrolling army and police surrounded the Potala square when he arrived, but that Lhasa was dead calm last night.

The demonstrations at Drepung had involved teargas and "mild interference" by the police according to a Japanese tourist who was there when it happened. People were carried away and rounded up. The Japanese had to sit on the ground for some time and was then released, put in a mini bus to central Lhasa and was finally told "it was not safe to be outdoor."

ExWeb's source says that there is some sort of a travel curfew in Lhasa right now. "No one, not even Chinese can travel anywhere at the moment."

Lots of frustrated tourists are reportedly waiting for a go ahead to visit Everest BC, the usual monasteries etc while rumors abound. The most prevalent is that all foreigners will be kicked out if more unrest occurs, said ExWeb's correspondent in Lhasa.

Communist Chinese spit on American photographer in Kathmandu

Save Tibet reports that Chinese embassy officials in Kathmandu actively intervened with the handling of clashes between Nepalese police and Tibetans carrying out demonstrations outside the Chinese embassy on March 10. The officials reportedly were directing and positioning the Nepalese police and spat on an American who took photos.

An estimated several thousand Tibetans reportedly gathered at the Buddhist stupa in the Boudha neighborhood of Kathmandu, waving the Tibetan national flag and shouting pro-Tibet slogans to commemorate the 49th anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising in Lhasa in 1959.

Police used batons to forcibly halt attempts by protestors to move the demonstration to the Chinese embassy, reportedly injuring more than 20 protestors and detaining at least 100 more.

According to the organization, in Greece, too, Chinese officials filmed Tibetan activists this week and were caught on camera attempting to impede a peaceful protest by Tibetans linked to the Olympics in Olympia, ancient site of the first Olympics.

Lhasa monasteries under siege

International media reported Thursday that the Ganden monastery in Lhasa has been surrounded by armed paramilitary police. Soldiers were also reported to have been stationed around the Sera and Drepung monasteries.

Drepung, in particular, was surrounded by "three layers" of army personnel, a witness told the AP news agency. Monks are reportedly trapped with dwindling food supplies, and on a hunger strike.

The demonstrations reportedly also spread to the Jokhang temple in the heart of the city. Enroute to Shisha Pangma last year, American climber Alan Arnette wrote about the difference between a Lhasa Monastery and Temple, "a Monastery teaches all subjects from religion to geography to science where a Temple focuses on mostly religion."

"In the Sera Monastery, the Debating Monks daily session is part of the education," wrote Alan. According to media, the Sera monastery is now surrounded by more than 2,000 police.

Check in on Alan's website (links section) for monastery/temple pictures and other updates - the climber is among the mountaineers who hopes to climb Everest north side this year.

Built in 647AD, the Jokhang is the oldest temple and spiritual center in Tibet. Some Pilgrims (often old) from all over the country virtually crawl there from their home villages - no matter how far away. Today, Tibetan people still follow this custom, moving clockwise around Jokhang Temple every dawn and dusk.

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