China/Tibet

Jail terms for at least 17 over Tibet unrest

Article published on the 2008-04-29 Latest update 2008-04-29 12:39 TU

Tibetan monks protesting at a press conference in March.
(Photo : Reuters)

At least seventeen people were sentenced to jail terms of three years to life after being accused of taking part in the riots in Tibet's capital, Lhasa, on March 14, Chinese state media reported. State television footage of the sentencing showed 30 people given sentences. They were the first to be sentenced after Chinese police conducted a roundup of suspects. The verdicts are expected to be officially announced later Tuesday.

RFI correspondent Richard McGregor said the accused are "young, middle aged males," including at least one monk. They are "Tibetans who have a grievance with Chinese rule, or engaged with criminal acts," he said. "They have not been charged with murder, they have been charged with destruction of public property."

The Chinese government said that rioters had killed 18 innocent civilians and one policeman in Lhasa on 14 March. A second policeman was killed during a demonstration held in another part of China.

The exiled Tibetan government has reported that the number of dead is closer to 150, and that they were killed by the Chinese security forces.

The international community lashed out at China for its crackdown on the protesters. Beijing maintains that it acted with restraint, but has not released the total number of people across China who are facing prosecution for protesting. Police claimed to have arrested 400 people. Tibetan groups said that more than 2,000 people have been arrested in connection with the protests.

Tibetans have staged rallies in Lhasa and in other parts of China, protesting Chinese rule of their homeland.