14 March 2008:  Despite an information blackout, photos of the demonstrations in Lhasa which have left numerous monks dead still manage to make it through.  Photo courtesy of France 24.

Update on a series of previous posts here on BB about pro-Tibetan-independence protests in Lhasa: violence grew dramatically today. Snip from report issued today by the US-government-funded news agency RFA, which has correspondents on the ground in Tibet:
 

March 8th, protests begin near Labrang Monestary as monks begin to march.  
Photo credit: Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy

March 2008 - Buddhist monks and local people revolt to Chinese occupation and abuses of human rights.

IOC: Speak Up About the Tibet Crisis!
The crackdown by Chinese authorities this week on peaceful protests by hundreds of Tibetan monks and nuns has demonstrated China's complete disregard for international human rights norms. After years of repressive policies and repeated denunciations of the Dalai Lama, China's violent response has triggered the desperation felt by Tibetans and led to widespread protests in Lhasa and throughout Amdo province (present-day Qinghai and Gansu provinces). In Lhasa on Friday, police fired live ammunition into the crowd of protesters and unconfirmed reports place the number of dead at at least 100.

These are not the actions of a responsible Olympic host country.

The International Olympic Committee's continued silence about Tibet will only embolden China to crack down harder on Tibetans. Urge the IOC to remove Tibet from the Olympic Torch Relay route now and to speak up publicly about the situation in Tibet.

http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/tibet_IOC