China calls escaping Tibetans law-breakers

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

BEIJING, Feb 1 (Reuters) China today said Tibetans who were reportedly tortured for trying to escape to Nepal belonged to an illegal migration scheme and faced punishment.

The International Campaign for Tibet, a group that supports autonomy for the disputed mountain region, said yesterday that Chinese police had used electric cattle prods to torture a group of Tibetans detained when trying to flee to Nepal last September.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu would not discuss the specific claims but she told reporters that the people involved in the escape were law-breakers.

''From what I understand, this was a case of organised large-scale illegal emigration,'' Jiang said at a news briefing.

''They violated Chinese law. The relevant departments are now dealing with the case according to the law.'' The September 30 incident, captured by tourists' video cameras, sparked international concern after Chinese border guards apparently shot dead two of the fleeing party.

Police took at least 25 Tibetans into custody, including children as young as eight, the International Campaign said.

Some children who were not collected by their parents were held for up to three months and only released upon payment of a fine, while the older members of the group had to take part in construction work, it said.

Chinese spokeswoman Jiang merely said that children had been returned to their parents.

Predominately Buddhist Tibet has been ruled by China since Communist troops occupied the region in 1950 and critics accuse Beijing of dealing harshly with those who press for greater political and religious freedom.

China has said the border guards warned the group and then fired in self-defence when members of the group attacked them.

The tourists' footage did not show any attack.

Advocates of Tibetan autonomy say around 2,500 Tibetans flee China every year for India, mainly to seek the blessings of the Dalai Lama -- Tibet's spiritual leader who fled into exile in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule -- and pursue education.

REUTERS AKJ HS1534

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