"Threat to Tibetans and the water supplies of Asian countries:" More than 1,000 Tibetans arrested as China cracks down on protests over government plans to demolish villages to construct a dam ( www.telegraph.co.uk )

Cross-posted from: https://feddit.de/post/9320464

Such public demonstrations are very rare in China – strict government surveillance both physically and digitally makes it difficult for groups to organise, and doing so carries a great risk of torture, arrest, and possibly death.

Chinese police responded to protesters with tasers, water cannon and pepper spray, arresting at least 100 people on Thursday, rights groups said.

Chinese government censors, however, have quickly scrubbed mentions of the protests and ensuing crackdown within China itself.

Local residents have reportedly had their phones confiscated, and key search terms such as “Derge dam protests” have been blocked on Chinese internet search engines.

“Beijing’s development and infrastructure projects are not only a threat to Tibetans, but also to regional security, especially when it comes to water supplies to affected Asian countries," said Kai Müller, managing director of the International Campaign for Tibet.