Detainees freed as Olympic torch arrives in Tibet

Big news from China's state media over the weekend, authorities have released 1,157 people who had been detained in connection with the protests in Tibet in March.

The announcement came on the eve of the Olympic torch's arrival in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, on Saturday, and a day after we here at Amnesty International published a update of the situation in Tibet.

Our report, out last Thursday, called on the Chinese Government to release information about more than 1,000 people who have been detained ever since the protests three months ago. It said hundreds, possibly thousands, of Tibetans languish in detention "without the government publicly acknowledging their whereabouts or formally charging them with a criminal offence".

Australia's SBS reported the Chinese Government denied our claims that more than 1,000 people had gone missing since the riots.

But the day after our report the vice-governor of Tibet's China-appointed administration, Palma Trily, was reported saying 1,157 people had been released over minor offences related to protests – he also said 12 more people had been sentenced for taking part in the riots, bringing the total sentenced to 42.

One news organisation reckoned the release of the detainees was seen as an attempt to defuse tension ahead of the relay.

Hand-picked spectators

Our spokesperson said they were encouraged by the release of the 1,157 detainees. "And we look forward to receiving information about the trials of the 116 people in custody announced by the Tibetan authorities".

As I said, news of the detainees release came the day before the Olympic torch made its way through the streets of Lhasa, under tight security. Since the March protest this leg of relay has been cut from three days to just one.

Specially selected journalists were allowed into Lhasa – journalists are still banned from Tibet - to watch the relay along with a small, hand-picked crowd as well as police and paramilitary troops.

No one's watching

The Times Online's correspondent said the relay "went off without incident and virtually without an audience".

Bar the start and end of the relay, the event wasn't even televised:

" … Lhasa residents said that the level of security in the streets and the absence of an audience along the route made it too embarrassing to show the event …"

However, in neighbouring Nepal the relay's Tibet leg was marked in a far less low-key fashion. A report from AFP says that 500 Tibetans were denied by police in Kathmandu on Saturday, after demonstrating outside the Chinese embassy against the torch's visit to Tibet. Though a police officer said they would all be released later that evening.

Deprived and beaten

Meanwhile, Amnesty International's new Tibet report it looks at the continuing violent crackdown against protesters and the situation of those detained, including those reportedly beaten and deprived of proper healthcare and adequate food. It also looks at the severe censorship faced by journalists and Tibetans.

" … "There is very little information coming out of Tibet, but the information we have paints a dire picture of arbitrary detentions and abuse of detainees," said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty International’s Asia-Pacific director ..."

Official reports out of Tibet only give information on a small number of those sentenced after what are questionable trials. There are claims that police and security forces have confiscated mobile phones, computers and other communications equipment in hundreds of raids on monasteries, nunneries and private homes.

Back in March, the initial protests in Tibet turned violent and targeted ethnic Han Chinese. However, protesters, often led by monks and nuns, are believed to have been mainly peaceful since March 14, when the Dalai Lama exhorted demonstrators to avoid violence.

Sam Zarifi described the situation in Tibet as a complete lockdown.