Nirmala Carvalho

Numerous peaceful protests greet the "torch of shame". The route is reduced from 9 kilometres to 2.3. Tibetan exiles: if the torch passes through Tibet, there is the risk of greater repression and more deaths, and the International Olympic Committee will be responsible.

In a single ceremony Dalits take on oath for Hinduism and sign an affidavit. Caste discrimination is affecting the local Church.

The third-ranking religious authority for Tibetan Buddhists, he has for years been "controlled" by the Chinese police in Tibet, and has experienced the "cultural genocide" underway. In the winter of 2000, at the age of 14, he fled to the mountains and found asylum in India.

The march had been stopped by Indian police who held marchers for days. In the Indian capital they are now waiting for the Olympic torch scheduled to arrive on 17 April so that they can take the world’s conscience by storm with their peaceful protests.

Chinese police searches monasteries one by one, arresting hundreds of monks, parading them in the streets as a warning. Two monks commit suicide, “guilty” of taking part in “peaceful protests.” Tibetan exiles say what is happening now has been happening for years.

A Tibetan leader defends the choice of non-violence, and claims that Chinese soldiers dressed as monks in order to instigate violence. "We are not terrorists", he says, expressing the view that "Chinese propaganda" is behind attacks meant to justify accusations against the Tibetans. In Lhasa, the army is also harassing the Chinese.

More than 1.35 million signatures gathered in seven days. Demonstrations are being held all over the world today. China is asking India for help against Tibet, and is threatening Europe. But it has to keep up the repression, and something is beginning to change.

Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil denounces to AsiaNews the uselessness of the decree. According to the text, those who convert by "use of force, allurement or fraudulent means" risk five years in prison.

All Tibetan groups say that more than 100 people have died in recent incidents; thousands more have been hurt and arrested. They denounce torture and continued brutality, making pressing appeals to the international community to push Beijing to stop its repression, calling for an enquiry. The peaceful march from Dharamsala (India) to Tibet is suspended.

In response to accusations launched by premier Wen Jiabao – who accuses “the Dalai Lama’s clique” for recent clashes in Tibet- the director of the Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre recalls Beijing’s decade’s long hate campaign against Tibet and warns: the situation is worsening by the day, police shoot on sight.

This is how the Dalai Lama describes himself and his people. At midnight tonight (Lhasa time), Beijing’s ultimatum expires. A pro-Tibet activist talks about the grave situation. He appeals to the international community. India shows excessive prudence.

Police cordons around at least three monasteries in Lhasa, no one can enter or exit. Shots are heard, fired against monks in revolt who are believed to have burned a police car. The Tibetan government in exile repeats that it did not participate in the protest march that left from Dharamsala. Meanwhile, protests are growing over the arrest of peaceful demonstrators in China, but also in India and Nepal.