One eye witness recently reported:

"There's a good reason that foreigners aren't allowed in these places. It looks like a war zone. I've never seen so many police and military in one town in my life. Nor have I experienced this kind of heart pounding fear before."

£500 could help us get evidence o torture and abuse out of Tibet and into the hands of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture when he reviews China in November. £100 could help bring a Tibetan speaker to the UK to speak about China’s planned ‘cultural revolution’-style re-education campaigns at the monasteries involved in protests earlier this year.  £50 could print thousands of action postcards calling for substantive progress in China’s next round of talks with Tibet in November.

“Here in Eastern Tibet, fear and paranoia linger in the air to a palpable degree. 

I've never seen so many police and military personnel in one town in my life.  The police are in the middle of the sidewalks. They're sitting in helmets holding their guns and riot shields in rows of 10 or 15. They are outside convenience stores under blue tarps every half a block, on both sides of the road - watching.

A Tibetan friend here told me that military presence has stepped up, from minimal to extensive after the protests in March and as the Olympics approach.

I counted today, and there are at least 7 police/public security stations within a 1km radius, all with camouflaged rifle-clutching, guards at the gates.

In mainland China, it's estimated that there are 1 police to every 14,000 people. In Tibet, it's about 1 police to every 20 people.”

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