» 08/16/2012 13:21 CHINA - TIBET A Tibetan killed, six arrested in protest against Chinese mines At least 1,000 Tibetans demonstrated against the reopening of a mine in Markham. Police fired live ammunition. Chinese companies show no respect for the sanctity of the area and do not care about the ecological impact of mining. Tashi, a young 21 year old who set himself on fire two days ago in Ngaba has died.
Beijing (AsiaNews
/ Agencies) - Chinese security forces
have killed a Tibetan and arrested six others as they tried to disperse a demonstration of 1000 people against the resumption of mining in the county of Markham.
According to the news released by Radio
Free Asia, the police fired tear gas and live
ammunition into the crowd that
had gathered and was marching towards the site of the mine.
In
the past there had been large demonstrations, but the police had always managed to disperse them without too much violence. The man killed was called Nyima, the names of only five of the six arrested are known: Dawa, Atsong, Phuntsog Nyima, Jamyang Wangmo and Kelsang Yudron.
Chinese mining has often led to clashes with the Tibetan population who denounce
the companies for failing to respect the sacredness of area
and the ecological impact of mining.
The Tibetan subsoil is rich in copper, chromium, iron,
gold, silver, potassium, and natural gas. Last year, the Chinese government increased in
mining investment in the region.
Meanwhile, one of the two young men who
set themselves on fire Aug. 13 in Ngaba is reported to have died. He is 21 year old layman Tashi, a former student at the Kirti monastery
(Sichuan).
On 14 August, the restaurants and shops of Tibetan Nagba closed
their doors in a sign of mourning. Following the two self-immolation, the leaders of the Kirti monastery were called by the government authorities
for questioning.
