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Western Media Fabrications regarding the Tibet Riots

The images of the violent riots in Lhasa, in which a criminal mob set fire to shops, homes and schools, burning several people alive, and stabbing innocent civilians with knives were not shown on network TV in the US and Western Europe. Small segments of the riots in Lhasa were shown out of context and with a view to accusing the Chinese authorities of repressing a "peaceful protest".

*Western Media Fabrications regarding the Tibet Riots *
*Fake Videotape used by CNN *

Michel Chossudovsky, Global Research, 16 April 2008

[Image {1}]

On the day of the Lhasa Riots (March 14, 2008), there is evidence of media
fabrication by CNN.

The videotape presented by CNN in its News Report on the 14th of March
(1.00pm EST) was manipulated.

*VIDEO: *Tibet monks protest against Chinese rulers (CNN, March 14, 2008)

[8] The report presented by CNN's Beijing Correspondent John Vause focussed
on the Tibet protests in Gansu province and in the Tibetan capital Lhasa.

What was shown, however, was a videotape of the Tibet protest movement in
India.

Viewers were led to believe that the protests were in China and that the
Indian police shown in the videotape were Chinese cops.

At the outset of the report, a few still pictures were presented followed
by a videotape showing police repressing and arresting demonstrators in
what appeared to be a peaceful protest:

_JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT_

_[CNN Vause reports on the protest movement in Gansu province. (starts at
1'.00")]_

_CNN received these photographs from Gansu province, where there is a large
Tibetan population. [still photographs followed by video footage] According
to Students for a Free Tibet, about 2,000 protestors took to the streets
earlier today. They were there for about three hours. They flew the Tibetan
flag and called for an independent Tibet. All of this comes after days of
unrest in Tibet after monks, who were marking the 49th anniversary of a
failed uprising against Chinese rule._ (CNN News, 1.00pm EST, March 14,
2008)

The voice over of John Vause then shifts into reporting on violence in
Lhasa. The videotape however depicts the Tibetan protest in Himashal
Pradesh, India.

_[JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT]_

_And what could be worrying here to Beijing is that these demonstrations
are being joined by ordinary Tibetan civilians, lay Tibetans. The targets
here are ethnic Chinese. We've been told by one Chinese woman that she was
attacked by Tibetan rioters. Her injuries sent her to hospital._

_Also under fire here, Chinese-owned businesses, as well as government
offices, and also the security forces._

_According to U.S.-based human rights groups, the three main monasteries on
the outskirts of Lhasa have now been surrounded by Chinese troops, and
they've been sealed off._

_We've also heard over the last couple of days, according to human rights
groups, that more than a dozen monks have been rounded up and arrested. And
there are reports, unconfirmed, that at least two people have been
killed._

The video footage, which accompanied CNN's John Vause's report, had nothing
to do with China. The police were not Chinese, but Indian cops in khaki
uniforms from the Northeastern State of Himachal Pradesh, India.

[8] Viewers were led to believe that demonstrations inside China were
peaceful and that people were being arrested by Chinese cops.

*Chinese Cops in Khaki Uniforms **

1'.27-1'.44" video footage of "Chinese cops" and demonstrators including
Buddhist monks. Chinese cops are shown next to Tibetan monks

Are these Chinese Cops from Gansu Province or Lhasa, the Tibetan capital,
as suggested by CNN's John Vause's Report?

*REPORT ON CHINA, MARCH 14**

[Image {2}]
*Alleged Chinese cops repressing Tibet demonstrators in China, CNN, March
14, 2008 1'.36''

[Image {3}]
Alleged Chinese cops in khaki uniforms repressing Tibet demonstrators in
China, CNN, March 14, 2008 1'40"

Their khaki uniforms with berets seem to bear the imprint of the British
colonial period.

Khaki colored uniforms were first introduced in the British cavalry in
India in 1846.

Khaki means "dust" in Hindi and Persian.

Moreover, the cops with khaki uniforms and mustache do not look Chinese.

Look carefully.

They are Indian cops.

The videotape shown on March 14 by CNN is not from China (Gansu Province or
Lhasa, Tibet's Capital). The video was taken in the State of Himachal
Pradesh, India. The videotape of the Tibet protest movement in India was
used in the CNN report on the Tibet protest movement within China.

In a March 13 Report by CNN, demonstrators are being arrested by Indian
police in khaki uniforms during a protest march at Dehra, about 50 km from
Dharamsala in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh.

*VIDEO: *Tibet Protest movement in India, CNN, March 13, 2008 [9]

_"Indian police arrested around 100 Tibetans on Thursday, dragging them
into waiting police vans, as they tried to march to the Chinese border to
press claims for independence and protest the Beijing Olympics."_
(REUTERS/Abhishek Madhukar (INDIA))

*Below are images from the CNN's report on March 13, on the protest
movement in Himachal Pradesh, India:*

*Compare these images to those in the March 14 CNN report. Same cops, same
uniforms, same Indian style mustache *

*CNN MARCH 13 REPORT ON INDIA*

[Image {4}]
Indian cops repressing Tibet demonstrators in Himachal Pradesh, India CNN,
March 13, 2008 0'.53"

[Image {5}]
Indian cops repressing Tibet demonstrators in Himachal Pradesh, India CNN,
March 13, 2008 1'.02"

[Image {6}]
Indian cops repressing Tibet demonstrators in Himachal Pradesh, India CNN,
March 13, 2008, 1'.18"

[Image {7}]
Indian cops repressing Tibet demonstrators in Himachal Pradesh, India CNN,
March 13, 2008 2.04"

We invite our readers to examine these two reports as well as the
Transcript of the March 14 CNN program.

The CNN's March 14 report on the Tibet Protest movement in China shows
Chinese cops in khaki uniforms, yellow lapels and berets. While the
videotape is not identical to that of March 13, CNN's coverage of the
events in China on March 14 used a videotape taken from the coverage of the
Tibet Protest movement in India, with Indian cops in khaki uniforms.

The protest movement in India on March 13 was "peaceful". It was organised
by the Dalai Lama's "government in exile". It took place within 50 km of
the headquarters of the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala.

The Western media was invited in to film the event, and take pictures of
Buddhist monks involved in a peaceful, nonviolent march. These are the
pictures which circled the World.

*So what has occurred is that CNN has copied and pasted its own videotape
of the Tibet Protest movement in India and has fabricated a Gansu Province/
Lhasa, China "peaceful" protest movement with Chinese cops in khaki British
colonial style uniforms.*

The Chinese never adopted the British style khaki uniform and beret.

These uniforms do not correspond to those used by the police in China. (See
photograph below)

[Image {8}]
No khaki uniforms in China. These are the uniforms of China's "Armed
Police".

Meanwhile, the images of the violent riots in Lhasa, in which a criminal
mob set fire to shops, homes and schools, burning several people alive, and
stabbing innocent civilians with knives were not shown on network TV in the
US and Western Europe. Small segments of the riots in Lhasa were shown out
of context and with a view to accusing the Chinese authorities of
repressing a "peaceful protest". (See our report on the events, see
coverage of the Lhasa Riots by China's CC-TV [10] )

While the videotape used is not identical, both CNN reports, however, show
the same cops in khaki uniforms and the same Tibetan demonstrators in
India. *The footage used in support of CNN's March 14 coverage of the
protext movement in China has nothing to do with China. it happened in
India. **

*CNN has got its countries mixed up. *

*Sloppy journalism or media fraud? *

*VIDEO: *Tibet monks protest against Chinese rulers (CNN, March 14, 2008)

[8] *VIDEO: *Tibet Protest movement in India, (CNN, March 13, 2008) [9]

*COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT OF CNN NEWS* *COVERAGE ON TIBET (MARCH 14,
2008)*

*CNN NEWSROOM 1:00 PM EST*

*March 14, 2008 Friday*

[with Don Lemon and John Vause reporting from Beijing]

_LEMON: All right. So this place, we know, should be known for peace.
Right? But that is not what is happening here lately._

_Buddhist monks demonstrating for independence from China. Ethnic
Tibetans join in, and soon -- soon streets are filled with screams, with
gunfire, with rioting. And so far the Chinese government has refused to
allow CNN to even enter Tibet._

_Our John Vause brings us what he knows. He's in Beijing._

_(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)_

_JOHN VAUSE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The latest information from our sources
in Lhasa tell us that the streets are basically deserted, except for
patrols by police cars and armored military vehicles._

_We're told fires are still burning and phone lines are still down, but
electricity has been restored. And the situation there now is described
as relatively calm. But these protests do appear to be spreading to the
east of the country._

CNN received these photographs from Gansu province [still picture
followed by live video of Indian protest], where there is a large Tibetan
population. According to Students for a Free Tibet, about 2,000
protestors took to the streets earlier today. They were there for about
three hours. They flew the Tibetan flag and called for an independent
Tibet. All of this comes after days of unrest in Tibet after monks, who
were marking the 49th anniversary of a failed uprising against Chinese
rule.

_And what could be worrying here to Beijing is that these demonstrations
are being joined by ordinary Tibetan civilians, lay Tibetans. The targets
here are ethnic Chinese. We've been told by one Chinese woman that she
was attacked by Tibetan rioters. Her injuries sent her to hospital._

_Also under fire here, Chinese-owned businesses, as well as government
offices, and also the security forces._

_According to U.S.-based human rights groups, the three main monasteries
on the outskirts of Lhasa have now been surrounded by Chinese troops, and
they've been sealed off._

_We've also heard over the last couple of days, according to human rights
groups, that more than a dozen monks have been rounded up and arrested.
And there are reports, unconfirmed, that at least two people have been
killed._

_Beijing has now moved to seal off Tibet, banning foreigners and
journalists from traveling there. Flights and train services have also
been canceled._

_John Vause, CNN, Beijing._

_(END VIDEOTAPE)_

This is not the only example of media fabrication where video images and
photographs are manipulated.

What really happened.

Compare CNN's report using a fake videotape to the coverage of the Lhasa
riots on China State TV.

coverage of the Lhasa Riots by China State Television CC-TV [10]

*Who is Telling the Truth?*

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