BEIJING – China hit back Tuesday at US criticism of its handling of unrest at a major Tibetan Buddhist monastery that prompted the Dalai Lama to warn of “catastrophic consequences” if the situation worsened. The United States last week criticised the use of force by Chinese authorities to put down demonstrations by monks at Kirti monastery in a Tibetan region of the southwestern province of Sichuan. The unrest at the monastery was triggered by the self-immolation of a monk last month, an act apparently meant as an anti-China protest.
“We ask the US side to respect facts and stop making irresponsible remarks,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters. “According to our knowledge, the monks in the Kirti monastery enjoy a normal life and normal Buddhist activities, and the local social order is also normal.” The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) and local residents say the monastery has been sealed off by authorities. The New York-based ICT said police have unleashed attack dogs on residents outside the monastery and beat people when they tried to prevent authorities from entering the compound.
China rejects US criticism over Tibet monastery
