Monks caring for protesters hurt by police

About 30 Tibetans injured after Chinese police fired into a crowd of protesters sought shelter yesterday in a monastery while military forces surrounded the building, a Tibetan monk said.

Chinese authorities said Monday’s unrest was caused by a “mob” and that overseas advocacy groups were twisting the truth about what happened so as to undermine the government.

The violence in Luhuo county in Sichuan province comes amid high tensions after at least 16 Buddhist monks, nuns and other Tibetans set themselves on fire in the past year. Most have chanted for Tibetan freedom.

A monk from Shouling monastery said 33 wounded people were being cared for in a clinic within the religious compound.

At least 50 military vehicles were parked outside, he said, adding: “They want to take the injured people away but we won’t let them because we don’t trust them, we don’t know what will happen to them.”