First Hand Accounts Of Earthquake Aftermath

May 102010
 

Radio Free Asia has been contacted by listeners in China’s  Yushu Tibetan region of Qinghai on April 14 with first hand accounts of what has been happening in the aftermath.

“At least 10,000 people died in the earthquake. We cremated the bodies in groups of 1,400 and 1,500. Because there were so many bodies, the vultures could not consume them  [in the the traditional “sky burial” practice], so there was no choice but to throw many of the bodies into the river… About 10 to 15 trucks were filled with bodies to be thrown into the Drichu river. We said prayers, and then they were put into the water… Bodies that were claimed by relatives were taken to Sertha and Yarchen for formal religious funeral rites.”—A monk from Sertha monastery, who went to Gyegu to do relief work:

Continue reading »

From Sichuan to Qinghai (on the Chinese Web)

Apr 152010
 

One thing has become clear to me after monitoring microblogging services like Twitter in China this morning for news of the Qinghai earthquake: it’s a very long way to Yushu, even from Xining, the regional capital of Qinghai (800 kilometers or 500 miles, to be precise).

Another is that it’s hard to know who anyone is – or who is hiring them to ‘comment’ or ‘report’ – unless you have already made reciprocated contact with them or know of them personally or professionally.

“Yu Miao”, a “volunteer” tweeting from Xining airport on various microblogging platforms, tells us, using the hashtag #qhdz:

半夜的西宁机場异常忙碌 看到不斷有山東.重慶等省消防和 救援隊集結.一幅緊張的戰備狀態.此去玉树820公里，预计车程12小时。－ 于淼在西宁至玉树途中报道

Xining airport is thronging with people in the middle of the night. Continue reading »

Latest Video From China Earthquake

Apr 142010
 

At least 400 people are dead and tens of thousands injured following a series of strong earthquakes in western China’s Qinghai province.

The death toll is expected to rise.

The province, near Tibet, is mainly inhabited by poor farmers and herders. Authorities says they are having difficulties getting heavy rescue equipment to the remote area because of poor road access and damage to the region’s airport.

The latest video from the quake is available via Channel 4 in the UK and China’s CCTVwebsite.

Sichuan: Parents wait outside collapsed high school

May 132008
 
YouTube Preview Image

Video: Two students in a dormitory room at the University of Chengdu, the provincial capital of Sichuan, record their experience during the quake and post it to Tudou.com, a Chinese equivalent of YouTube. It is later reposted on YouTube.

A resident of Dujiangyan who helped to rescue people caught in the collapse of a secondary school building said. “The building is three storeys high, with 18 classrooms. All of the sudden the building collapsed. Many people have died. The People’s Liberation Army are rescuing those trapped under the rubble. Such a terrible tragedy. Many parents are having to wait here for news.” Continue reading »

China, Tibet: Tibetans cut off by quake

May 132008
 

From Mandarin service reporter Qiao Long:

The Tibetan government-in-exile completely lost contact with Tibetans living in Ngaba, Gansu (in Chinese, Aba) after the earthquake, without any news emerging about the situation in local monasteries and nunneries. Ge Sang, an officer with the exiled government said: “We completely lost contact with them. As communications have been paralyzed, there isn’t any information coming from there.”

The earthquake has captured the attention of Tibetan monks in China. Monks at the Drepung monastery in Lhasa are planning a prayer ritual on Wednesday to pray for peace for people in the tremor-hit areas. Continue reading »

Tibet, China: Dialogue is crucial, says lama

May 032008
 
YouTube Preview Image

This is a continuation of an RFA Mandarin service report from Wei Si:

The monks in the lamasery in Daofu county, Sichuan province, also tell us that a group of reporters arrived a few days ago, but were turned away by Chinese security forces who were guarding the gates. Such incidents have become commonplace since the Tibetan anti-Chinese protests which began on March the 14th in Lhasa, they say. Continue reading »

Bao Tong: On Beijing's decision to talk to the Dalai Lama

Apr 282008
 
YouTube Preview Image

On the decision by central government to have contact and discussions with the Dalai Lama

by Bao Tong

In the face of a major social upheaval, there are generally two roads to take. One is dialogue, and the other is opposition. Dialogue can lead to reconciliation, whereas opposition inevitably results in an exacerbation of the conflict. Whichever path we take depends on the ultimate aims of those making the decisions. Continue reading »

China, Tibet: Patriotism planned at Potala Palace torch rally

Apr 232008
 
YouTube Preview Image

From RFA’s Cantonese service. Reporter: Hai Nan. Translated by Shiny Li and Luisetta Mudie:

Authorities in Tibet are planning a mass rally of Han Chinese government supporters to support the arrival of the Olympic torch in Tibet’s iconic Potala Palace, former home of the exiled Dalai Lama.

Travel agencies in the Tibetan capital said they had received approval from the ruling Communist Party’s Youth League to organize a “patriotic activity” on the arrival of the torch at the palace, formerly the heart of Tibetan Buddhism. Continue reading »

China, Tibet: Interview with Grace Wang

Apr 182008
 
YouTube Preview Image

A Chinese student at Duke University in North Carolina who wrote “Free Tibet” on the back of an anti-Chinese protester during an attempt to mediate a campus dispute over Tibet is now hated by former classmates and teachers alike, a former teacher said. Continue reading »

China, Tibet: Updates from Qinghai and Sichuan

Apr 162008
 

From Mandarin service reporter Shen Hua:

There were Tibetan protests in Heka Township in Xinghai County of Qinghai Province on March 25. Around 15 or 16 participants have been detained, including some who surrendered themselves to police.

Gesang Jianzan, a member of the Tibetan Government in Exile told RFA that “As far as I know, around a thousand Tibetans took part in the protests, including monks and laymen. They carried banners such as ‘There is no freedom in Tibet!’ ‘Let Dalai Lama home!’” “Several dozens have been arrested, including several people of whom I know their names.”

Mr. Zhang in Heka Township told RFA that “I heard several dozens of Tibetan demonstrated on March 25. They were carrying white flags at the demonstration.” He said “Now the local situation is stable.” The white flags are in fact banners with slogans. Continue reading »

 Older Entries