Troubles in Tibet 2008 (15 images)

Slideshow
In March 2008, Tibetan monks in Lhasa protested Chinese ruling of Tibet since 1949. To repress the troubles, the Chinese army shut down the Tibetan plateau, forbidding access to reporters, closing down monasteries. The monks that I met were maintained prisoners in their own monastery, to prevent them to join the protests. Because I met them, having passed check-points illegally, I was arrested by the Chinese police.
  • Soldiers in riot gear walk through the main square in the city of Kangding, located around 400 kilometres (250 miles) west of Chengdu in Sichuan Province, China, on March 21, 2008. China has been grappling to quell unrest in several Tibetan towns and villages in the country's west, after Buddhist monk-led demonstrations in Tibet's capital Lhasa turned violent last week. Photo by Lucas Schifres/Pictobank

  • Chinese soldiers have set up a temporary camp on their way West to repress Tibetan protests, in Tibetan region, China, on March 22, 2008. China has been grappling to quell unrest in several Tibetan towns and villages in the country's west, after Buddhist monk-led demonstrations in Tibet's capital Lhasa turned violent last week. Photo by Lucas Schifres/Pictobank

  • Chinese troops are sent West to repress Tibetan protests, in Tibetan region, China, on March 22, 2008. China has been grappling to quell unrest in several Tibetan towns and villages in the country's west, after Buddhist monk-led demonstrations in Tibet's capital Lhasa turned violent last week. Photo by Lucas Schifres/Pictobank

  • Chinese troops sent West to repress Tibetan protests are seen through a windshield, in Tibetan region , China, on March 21, 2008. China has been grappling to quell unrest in several Tibetan towns and villages in the country's west, after Buddhist monk-led demonstrations in Tibet's capital Lhasa turned violent last week. Photo by Lucas Schifres/Pictobank

  • Young monks get ready for prayer in Kunghua monastery, in Tibetan region, China, on March 22, 2008. Kunghua monastery has been surrounded by Chinese police and its monks forced to stay inside in order to prevent them to join the Tibetan protesting movement that started on March 10. Photo by Lucas Schifres/Pictobank

  • The Dalai Lama picture is being adored in Kunghua monastery, in Tibetan region, China, on March 22, 2008. Kunghua monastery has been surrounded by Chinese police and its monks forced to stay inside in order to prevent them to join the Tibetan protesting movement that started on March 10. Photo by Lucas Schifres/Pictobank

  • Red pillars stand in a prayer room of Kunghua monastery, in Tibetan region, China, on March 22, 2008. Kunghua monastery has been surrounded by Chinese police and its monks forced to stay inside in order to prevent them to join the Tibetan protesting movement that started on March 10. Photo by Lucas Schifres/Pictobank

  • Monks stand on the walls of Kunghua monastery, in Tibetan region, China, on March 22, 2008. Kunghua monastery has been surrounded by Chinese police and its monks forced to stay inside in order to prevent them to join the Tibetan protesting movement that started on March 10. Photo by Lucas Schifres/Pictobank

  • A police camera has been installed in a prayer room to watch Buddhist monks and prevent any political meeting, in a monastery, in Tibetan region of Sichuan province, China, on March 21, 2008. Photo by Lucas Schifres/Pictobank

  • Tibetan monk Jo Pala poses for a photograph in Kunghua monastery, in Tibetan region, China, on March 22, 2008. Kunghua monastery has been surrounded by Chinese police and its monks forced to stay inside in order to prevent them to join the Tibetan protesting movement that started on March 10. Pala said: "We don't have freedom. Our life is not easy". Photo by Lucas Schifres/Pictobank

  • Tibetan monk Tenzing Andrugstshang poses for a photograph in Kunghua monastery, in Tibetan region, China, on March 22, 2008. Kunghua monastery has been surrounded by Chinese police and its monks forced to stay inside in order to prevent them to join the Tibetan protesting movement that started on March 10. Andrugstshang said: "We don't have freedom. We suffer a lot. We want the Dalai Lama to come back to its home and that this day, us Tibetans, have our own country". Photo by Lucas Schifres/Pictobank

  • Tibetan monk Chodak poses for a photograph in Kunghua monastery, in Tibetan region, China, on March 22, 2008. Kunghua monastery has been surrounded by Chinese police and its monks forced to stay inside in order to prevent them to join the Tibetan protesting movement that started on March 10. Chodak said: "We don't have freedom, we don't have power". Photo by Lucas Schifres/Pictobank

  • A police woman orders our photographer to sit at a police station after he has been arrested in Kunghua monastery, in Kunghua, Tibetan region, China, on March 22, 2008. Kunghua monastery has been surrounded by Chinese police and its monks forced to stay inside in order to prevent them to join the Tibetan protesting movement that started on March 10. Photo by Lucas Schifres/Pictobank

  • 8 pages in weekly magazine Suomen Kuvalehti (Finland), on April 4, 2008. Photo by Lucas Schifres/Pictobank

  • 8 pages in weekly magazine Suomen Kuvalehti (Finland), on April 4, 2008. Photo by Lucas Schifres/Pictobank

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