(TibetanReview.net, Feb15, 2015) – There are probably more fire extinguishers per capita in Tibet’s capital Lhasa than anywhere else in the world these days, with the Chinese government there being on high alert to put out the flames before any news about yet another self-immolation protest by a Tibet protester could get reported in the outside world, according to an eye-witness commentary posted on Countercurrents.org Feb12.
The commentator, independent Australian journalist Tim Robinson, saw soldiers and security guards marching in formation around Barkhor Square with foam-filled red canisters strapped to their backs. He found these fire extinguishers in every room of every temple as well, besides being in abundance at every checkpoint, every street corner and every restaurant.
There had reportedly been 136 self-immolations by protesting Tibetans since Feb 2009 and the Chinese authorities are eager to ensure these acts of protest remain largely unseen and Lhasa – well visited by national and international tourists, all armed with smartphones and cameras – is the place that poses the greatest threat to this strategy, the commentary said.