'Tibet torch relay reckless'

2008-06-17 09:31

Beijing - A leading human rights group on Tuesday slammed plans to take the Beijing Olympics torch through Tibet's riot-torn capital as "irresponsible" and "reckless."

New York-based Human Rights Watch said Lhasa, which will host the torch on Saturday, remains under a security and media lockdown after protests against Chinese rule in March.

"The situation in Lhasa is anything but normal," Sophie Richardson, HRW's Asia advocacy director, said in a statement.

"The authorities continue to fear that Tibetans may try to stage further protests, and Tibetans continue to fear that they can be arrested at any time for any reason.

"Using Tibet for a propaganda opportunity such as the Olympic torch relay - while sealing it to independent investigators - is both unconscionable and reckless."

Exiled Tibetan leaders say 203 people died in China's crackdown on the unrest, which spread to other Tibetan areas in the country. Beijing has reported killing one "insurgent" and says rioters caused 21 deaths.

HRW said China has curtailed media access to Tibet and used state security laws to stop reports of human rights violations. Authorities have also carried out arbitrary arrests to stop residents talking about the protests, it said.

The statement also said China has threatened to "severely punish" any Tibetan anti-torch protesters, adding that the International Olympic Committee had prepared what comments to make in the event of casualties in Lhasa.

"That the IOC is privately preparing for such an outcome indicates just how provocative the Lhasa torch relay could be," said Richardson.

"It is irresponsible for the Chinese government to deliberately send a torch into a powder keg, and the IOC and Olympic sponsors should ask Beijing to cancel this part of the relay."

The Tibet issue was one of the major rallying cries for protesters who dogged the torch's month-long global journey in April before it came to China.

- AFP