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China Readies for Protests During Olympic Torch Relay Eugene Tang Chinese authorities are preparing for protests during the Tibetan stage of the Olympic torch relay and will deal with demonstrators ``severely,'' the chairman of the region's provincial government said. ``We are taking ample measures and we will deal with troublemakers severely according to the law,'' Qiangba Puncog told reporters in Beijing today. ``Measures do not include curfews, shutting of roads or shutting of schools.'' Protesters demanding independence for Tibet disrupted the Paris and London stages of the international relay and demonstrations are expected when the flame passes through San Francisco today. The relay, which started April 1, is scheduled to arrive back in mainland China on May 4 and journey through Tibet June 19 to 21.
China blames the Dalai Lama for instigating the biggest protests in Tibet in almost 20 years and says his supporters are trying to sabotage the Beijing Games. ``I am sure the Dalai clique will plan something to try to disrupt the torch relay in Lhasa,'' said Qiangba. ``Life will proceed as normal'' in the Tibetan capital. He declined to say how many extra Chinese soldiers have been deployed to the region since the protests began last month. Tibetan Uprising The unrest began March 10 when hundreds of monks marched in Lhasa calling for an end to religious restrictions and the release of imprisoned colleagues. The date marked the anniversary of a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule in 1959, after which the Dalai Lama fled to India. Riots broke out in Lhasa March 14 and spread to Tibetan- inhabited provinces of western China, including Gansu and Sichuan. The protests were the largest since pro-independence demonstrations in 1989 prompted President Hu Jintao, then the Communist Party head in Tibet, to impose martial law.
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