Olympic Torch Relays Through Tibet Capital

(AP)  The Olympic torch relay began amid tight security Saturday in Tibet's capital, site of a March crackdown on rioting that helped fuel demonstrations at some of the flame's international stops.

The torch began winding it was through Lhasa's streets at 9 a.m., a day after officials announced additional sentences handed down over the anti-government riots.

The 6.8-mile run began at Norbulingka, the Dalai Lama's former summer palace from where Tibet's traditional Buddhist leader fled into exile in 1959. The relay will end at the hilltop Potala Palace, the traditional seat of Tibetan rulers.

Police and soldiers lined the route, keeping a close eye on flag-waving onlookers arrayed on either side.

On Friday, Palma Trily, the vice-governor of Tibet's Chinese-appointed administration, said he was confident that Saturday's relay would pass through the city without incident.

Palma Trily also used the briefing to announce that 12 more people had been sentenced for taking part in a March 14 riot in the city that spawned further protests throughout Tibetan-inhabited regions of western China. He gave no details about their offenses or the punishments meted out.

Palma Trily said another 1,157 people had been released from detention over minor offenses related to the violent anti-government protests, in which Beijing says 22 people died.

Chinese officials say the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled Buddhist leader, was behind the March unrest. They also accuse the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate of trying to sabotage the Beijing Olympics and preparing "suicide squads" to carry out attacks. The Dalai Lama has denied the charges.

Tibet has been under a security clampdown since March and is still closed to foreign tourists. Foreign journalists have been allowed to visit only as part of closely monitored government tours.

Activist groups say the torch relay leg in Tibet and a separate relay to the peak of Mount Everest are an attempt by Chinese leaders to symbolize their control over the Himalayan region.

China says it has ruled Tibet for centuries, although many Tibetans say their homeland was essentially independent for much of that time.

During the Lhasa leg, the Olympic flame will be reunited with the one that was carried to the summit of Everest last month.

The torch was originally supposed to go through Tibet earlier this week. It was unclear why organizers changed the date.

Organizers also said last month that the Tibetan leg, originally set for three days, would be cut to one day to make way for a switch in the visit to Sichuan province, the center of a May 12 earthquake that killed nearly 70,000 people.

The torch has thus far had a smooth run in China, undisturbed by the protests over Tibet and human rights that hounded its appearance in London, Paris, San Francisco and elsewhere.

New York-based Human Rights in China called the Lhasa relay a "provocative decision" that harmed efforts to "find a peaceful long-term solution for Tibet and the region."

"The government's insistence on parading the torch through Lhasa can only undermine the respect and trust required for a genuine dialogue process with the Dalai Lama," the group's Executive Director Sharon Hom was quoted as saying in a news release.

Amnesty International, which earlier this year expressed concern over the fate of those detained after the spring protests, said it was heartened by word of the released detainees.

"We are encouraged by the news of the release of 1,157 people and we look forward to receiving information about the trials of the 116 people in custody announced by the Tibetan authorities," the group said.

[wcreader]

Glad to see the Olympic torch relaying through all part of the ancient country, China, as well as, relaying around the world. The importance is that this world event of Olympic Game enables all athletes and the people of from all nations, regardless of political believe, regardless of poor or rich, to come together participating in peaceful athletic competition and in celebration of the top skill and achievement in athletics. The key is really Participating. It is a symbol of the world and mankind come together to do something regardless of their difference. The Game itself is the victor of mankind. It is sad and unfortunate to see some western mixed up politic with the Games. Trying linking Tibet extreme special-interest group''s attack and demond toward China everytime when it is reporting on 2008 Olympic event. That is, in my opinion, very unforturnate.

[feisnik]

""The government''s insistence on parading the torch through Lhasa can only undermine the respect and trust required for a genuine dialogue process with the Dalai Lama," the group''s Executive Director Sharon Hom was quoted as saying in a news release."

Lhasa and Tibet are part of China, so why shouldn''t the Olympic torch go through this Autonomous Region of China along with all the other Provinces? Sharon Hom makes no sense with this statement at all.

[joechristine]

In this photo released by China''s Xinhua news agency, Chinese climbers display the Olympic torch, left, and flags at the top of the Mount Everest, reaching the 29,035-foot peak of the world''s tallest mountain Thursday, May 8, 2008. (AP Photo/Xinhua)
As a matter of fact,among those Chinese climbers,there are 22 ethnic Tibetan climbers,1 ethnic Tujia climber and 8 Han climbers.
And now in Olympic Torch Relays Through Tibet Capital,among those torchers,there is one CNN American journalist who is chief journalist in China from CNN .