Three Days In and Out of Tibet

Protests against Chinese rule in Tibet that erupted in Lhasa on March 14 spread to China and farflung cities over the weekend


A Bleak Anniversary
Protesters throw stones at military trucks during riots that erupted in Tibet's capital city, Lhasa, on March 14, marking the 49th anniversary of Tibetans' failed 1959 uprising against China.



Incensed
An overturned car burns after protesters set shops and vehicles on fire. Rallies began on March 10 and slowly intensified over last week.



Pent Up
Dozens are reportedly dead after days of protests in the streets of Lhasa. The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader in exile, called the protests "a manifestation of the deep-rooted resentment of the Tibetan people under the present governance" of China.



Smoke Signal
People gather around burning debris during the Lhasa protests, which have since spread outside Tibet into neighboring Chinese provinces. The riots came amid a growing international campaign by Tibetans to challenge Beijing's rule of the region ahead of the Olympic Games in August.



The Party Line
Chinese security personnel shield themselves in against protestors' stones. The banner above the line of shields reads, "Enhancing public safety management, safeguarding political stability."



Showing Solidarity
Tibetan Buddhist monks lead protesters carrying the Tibetan national flag in China's Gansu Province, home to many ethnic Tibetans, as protests erupted in Lhasa on March 14.



Chaos
Residents walk past overturned cars and shops burning in front of the 1400-year-old Jokhand Temple, a world heritage site in Lhasa.



A Show of Force
Chinese police in riot gear drive down a road in Lhasa. Security forces used gunfire to quell the biggest protests in two decades against Chinese rule



Barricaded
Chinese military patrol the streets in Lhasa on March 15. China said 10 people had been burned to death during the unrest; the Tibetan government in exile claims at least 80 were killed.



Moving In
Chinese military in full riot gear are transported in the back of army trucks in Lhasa on March 16.



State of Emergency
The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, at a press conference on March 16 in Dharamsala, India, where he called for an international investigation into China’s crackdown against protesters in Tibet, which he said is facing a "cultural genocide."



Holding Vigil
Tibetan monks in Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile, attend a candlelight vigil of more than 1500 people on March 14.



The World Spotlight
Tibetan activists in exile shout slogans after being arrested during a protest in front of the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi on March 14. Indian police detained nearly 30 Tibetan protesters.




Getting Heard
Tibetan activists shout slogans during a march in in Dharamsala on March 16.



An International Cry
A demonstrator waves the Tibetan flag in front of the Chinese Embassy in Paris on March 16, where hundreds of demonstrators gathered to protest against China's crackdown on Tibetan nationals.