TIBET UNREST SPREADS

Brushing aside calls for dialogue with the Dalai Lama, China on Saturday vowed to ''crush'' the ''Tibet independence forces'' as it raised to 19 the death toll in riots that rocked Lhasa last week during the most virulent anti-China protests in two decades.
'China must resolutely crush the Tibet independence forces' conspiracy and sabotaging activities,'' The People's Daily, the official mouthpiece of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), said in its commentary today, effectively rejecting growing calls from the West for China to hold dialogue with the Dalai Lama to end the crackdown on agitators.

''We must see through the secessionist forces' evil intentions'' and maintain stability and protect people's ''fundamental interests'', the commentary said.

As it intensified its manhunt for the ''most wanted'' suspects and rushed more troops to the restive areas in Tibet, Sichuan and Gansu provinces, the government today said 18 civilians and a police officer were killed in the recent mob violence.

China had earlier said 13 civilians were either burned or hacked to death while the Tibetan government in exile based at Dharamsala has disputed the official casualties figure and put the toll at 99.

The People's Daily said the violent incidents were created by the ''Tibet independence forces'' and masterminded by the ''Dalai Lama clique'', with the ''vicious intention'' of undermining the Olympics and splitting Tibet from China.

''They exposed the Dalai clique's hypocrisy in proclaiming non-violence, peaceful dialogue, not seeking independence and caring for the Tibetan people,'' the paper said.

Talking tough:

With the Tibet issue coming under global spotlight and pressure piling up ahead of the Olympics, which it wants to use to showcase itself to the world, China asserted that nearly 100 countries had demonstrated their support to its action to quell the unrest.

''It is a clear proof that the international community is on the side of China,'' Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang was quoted as saying by a Chinese news agency.

China's response came a day after US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi met the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala and demanded an ''independent, outside'' investigation into Beijing's allegation that the Tibetan spiritual leader was the instigator of the unrest.

She also asked all ''freedom loving'' people to speak out against China's ''oppression'' in Tibet.

Dismissing the Dalai Lama as a ''chief representative of the surf system'' and a political refugee engaged in activities of splitting China, Qin said China opposed any ''encouragement or support'' for the secessionist attempts of the ''Dalai clique'' which violated the basic principles of international relations.

The Dalai Lama, who fled to India after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959, has repeatedly denied charges of inciting the Lhasa riots and said he was ready to meet the Chinese leadership for a dialogue.

China has insisted that the Dalai Lama must recognise Tibet and Taiwan as parts of China and undergo a ''thorough review of himself'' to create conditions for talks.

The Tibet government said on Friday that 241 police officers were injured, 23 critically, in the Lhasa riots and updated the number of civilians injured from 325 to 382, including 58 seriously. The economic losses were estimated at USD 34.59 million.

Police said 183 ''perpetrators'' of the riots had surrendered so far. Stepping up its clampdown, authorities on Friday released the pictures of 21 ''most wanted'' suspects.

Troops have moved into the restive Tibetan areas to bolster the government crackdown on the simmering unrest.

For the first time since the volcanic eruption of violence during monks-led protests Friday last that jolted the Communist leadership, China on Friday admitted that the police opened fire and wounded four protesters at Aba county in southwestern Sichuan province on Sunday.

Pressure on China

Germany has now asked Beijing not to block channels to Tibet. The German foreign minister said, ''We want to know exactly what has happened in Tibet.

He also said that China's policy of expelling journalists was harming China. In any case, the Olympics in August would bring thousands of journalists to China and then nothing could be swept under the carpet.

Relations between Beijing and Berlin have been strained after Chancellor Angela Merkel received the Dalai Lama in her office last September.

Protests in Tokyo

Tibetan protesters also demonstrated in Tokyo. About 80 of them marched to the Chinese embassy and wanted to hand over a letter to the authorities. After the police prevented them, they stood outside and shouted slogans.

The letter said that China should not hold the Olympics.

(With PTI inputs)

Suicide rallies on Vidharbha Farmers

Even as the nation revels in Holi festivities, there is no colour for debt-ridden farmers in Vidharbha in Maharashtra.

Three farmers — Gorakh Nikam, Atmaram Patil and Gokul Pawar — took their lives for not being able to pay back moneylenders.

Nikam is from Nashik while the others are from Dhule. All three had reportedly borrowed from moneylenders. According to Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, 216 farmers committed suicide in 2008 alone.

One suicide is reported every eight hours from the suicide belt of Vidharbha, and this despite the government’s Rs 60,0000-crore farm loan waiver.

According to experts the loan waiver is of little help as less than half of the marginal and small farmers, owning up to two hectares, are expected to benefit. Reports say more than 22 farmers who have taken their lives in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region had over five acres of land.

In Vidarbha, of the 63 families, only 13 qualify for the government's loan waiver.

The rest have more than five acres of land and debt ranging from Rs 15,000 to 20,000.