Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
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March 27, 2008

Tibetan Monks Defy Beijing, Protest During Visit by Foreign
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Journalists
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1BAD9F0:A6F02AD83191E160D00344A9F0657005F47489ACC27D21EE& Monks shout, others
weep as they tell reporters that Chinese authorities are lying about
recent unrest A group of Tibetan monks has defied Beijing by
protesting during a government-controlled visit by foreign journalists
to Tibet. A group of about 30 monks interrupted an official briefing
in the Tibetan capital Thursday to accuse the Chinese government of
lying about recent unrest. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.







A Tibetan Buddhist monk, center, cries while he saw foreign
journalists visit to the Jokhang Temple, 27 Mar 2008The monks burst
into a government briefing being held inside Lhasa's Jokhang Temple,
one of the most sacred in Tibet.

The young monks told foreign journalists on a government-controlled
tour that Beijing is lying about who was responsible for deadly
violence that broke out earlier this month.

The monks, dressed in traditional gold robes, were distraught. They
wept as they told the journalists China's government has been lying.

This monk says Chinese officials have accused them of widespread
destruction they were not responsible for. He says they are being
treated unjustly and locked inside the temple.

The monks denied Beijing's claims that the Tibetan spiritual leader,
the Dalai Lama, orchestrated the rioting and violence in Tibetan
areas.

After some minutes, Chinese security arrived and took the protesting
monks away.







Qin Gang talks to reporters in Beijing, 27 Mar 2008China's foreign
ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Thursday he had no information on the
protest.  He said he could not confirm whether monks are being locked
up in monasteries.

Qin says the tour for foreign journalists was arranged so the outside
world would have an objective understanding of recent incidents in
Tibet.

On March 10, Tibetan monks launched peaceful protests in Lhasa to mark
the anniversary of the Dalai Lama's failed uprising against Chinese
rule.

Ordinary Tibetans joined them but the protests turned violent a few
days later. The protests and clashes spread to neighboring provinces.

China's government says rioting Tibetans killed at least 20 people and
injured hundreds of others. Shops, buildings, and vehicles were also
torched and destroyed.

Exiled Tibetan groups say dozens more Tibetans were killed.  They say
Chinese security forces shot and killed peaceful protesters.  Beijing
denies that police used lethal force.








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