Hundreds of monks protest in Tibet

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Hundreds of Tibetan monks have taken to the streets of Lhasa in the biggest protest against communist rule in almost two decades, it emerged today.

The show of defiance - which took place on the anniversary of a failed anti-Chinese uprising in 1959 - raised tensions in the Himalayan region, as the world spotlight shifts to Beijing's often harsh rule ahead of the Olympics.

Chinese police arrested 50 to 60 monks, according to Radio Free Asia. The government declined to confirm the figures, but a spokesman confirmed a demonstration had taken place.

"Yesterday afternoon in Lhasa city, there were monks from some temples who, under the instigation and encouragement of a small group of people, carried out an illegal activity that threatened social stability," a foreign ministry spokesman, Qin Gang, said. "We will continue to maintain social stability in accordance with the law and strike hard against all illegal, criminal activities."

Chinese authorities keep a tight grip on information from Tibet, but reports suggest the protest was the largest since 1989, when martial law was introduced by the then regional governor, Hu Jintao.

According to overseas Tibetan groups, the demonstration started when about 10 monks protested in front of the Jokhang, one of the holiest sites in Tibetan Buddhism. A large crowd gathered to protect them from armed police units, but they were detained.

Soon after, up to 300 monks from Drepung monastery, just outside Lhasa, marched in support. They were stopped at heavily guarded checkpoints, where dozens were detained. Hundreds of police then surrounded the main monastaries.

Champa Phuntsok, the chairman of the Tibetan government, said the monks were later released and the matter was resolved without incident. "It's really nothing," he told the Associated Press.

But Tibetan supporters overseas said the unrest indicated growing frustration at the lack of progress in talks between the Dalai Lama and Beijing.

"I think the fact that these protests happened at all must be disturbing to China, particularly after Burma. For the first time since 1989, Chinese authorities face the possibility of unrest in Sera and Drepung," said Kate Saunders of the US-based International Campaign for Tibet. "Feelings are running particularly high because it is Olympics year and the spotlight is on China. Tibetans are more willing to take risks."

Tibetan groups in several other countries staged demonstrations on Monday, the 49th anniversary of an uprising led by the Dalai Lama against Chinese rule. In India, about 100 refugees in Dharamsala - the home-in-exile of the Dalai Lama - vowed to defy a police order and continue their march to Tibet. In Nepal, police used batons to break up a march on the Chinese embassy.

Far bigger risks, however, are faced by protesters inside Tibet, where imprisoned monks and nuns are often tortured. Those who have experienced such ordeals said they were astonished that Tibetans were once again willing to risk such treatment in pursuit of their ideals.

"It was shocking and surprising," said Ngawang Sangdrol, a nun who spent years in Lhasa's notorious Drapchi prison before seeking refuge in the UK. "I did not expect Tibetans to be so brave, because I know what happens. I experienced severe treatment and torture for doing something like this."