(TibetanReview.net, Dec 13) — Tibet’s capital Lhasa resembled a war zone on Dec 10, the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with both heavy military fortifications and covert security operations, reported the exile Tibetan government’s online information service Tibet.net Dec 12, citing “reliable sources”. It said armed personnel built up 6 barricades on the street in front of the Potala palace. Normal life in the Tibetan area of the Bharkor square was severely disrupted with people’s movements being restricted amid intimidating security operations.
The report said armed personnel frisked people coming from the city’s western regions of Chushul and Toelung. Additional arms and ammunition were brought in while Chinese police dressed as monks, street-cleaners, etc., as part of security operation.
The report put the tally of known Tibetan deaths in the Chinese crackdown on protests across the Tibetan Plateau since Mar 10, 2008 at 219, as of Oct 30, 2008, with 1,294 Tibetans being injured. It added that around 5,600 Tibetans were still under arrest or detention while over 1000 were missing.