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