SMALL PRO-TIBETAN DEMONSTRATION AT AIT-TAIPEI

UNCLAS TAIPEI 001038 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR DS/DSS/IP, DS/IP/EAP, DS/DSS/ITA, DS/IP/FPO, DS/PSP/PSD AND EAP/TC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC TW SUBJECT: SMALL PRO-TIBETAN DEMONSTRATION AT AIT-TAIPEI ¶1. (U) On Thursday 10 March 2005, approximately ten members of the Tibetan Youth Congress gathered near the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT-Taipei) to stage a protest marking the forty-sixth anniversary of the Tibetan uprising against Chinese communist rule. The small band of protesters arrived on foot around 1000 hours local time waving Tibetan flags and signs that read "Release All Political Prisoners" and "No Human Rights in Tibet." After leading the protesters in chants of "We Want Freedom and Justice", the group's leader, Chimmey DORJEE delivered a protest letter to the AIT Foreign National Investigator. In the two-page statement, the Tibetan Youth Congress condemned the human rights situation in Tibet, and warned of the destruction of Tibetan's religious and cultural identity under Chinese rule. Once the statement was delivered, the protesters departed the area without incident at 1027 hours. ¶2. (U) The Da An police precinct commander provided advance notification about the protest and deployed additional uniformed officers in front of AIT to maintain order. Police kept the demonstrators in a pre-designated area away from the Consular entrance to ensure that AIT operations were not disrupted. Local Guard Force and SDT personnel were also put on alert, and no unusual incidents, arrests or injuries were reported. PAAL