Tibet peace vigil

Several hundred people - including Tibetan exiles - took part in a candlelight vigil Monday night to show their support for the people of Tibet, following several days of violence, in which at least 80 people are feared dead.
Tibetan peace prayers were chanted as the crowd, holding candles, gathered in a circle. In the middle, more candles, grouped to spell out the words: Free Tibet.
Tibetan monks, Taiwanese Buddhist monks and Christian religious leaders, together with several politicans - including the DPP's presidential candidate, Frank Hsieh, were among those who had gathered to show their support and concern for the people of Tibet.
"We want the world to know that Taiwan supports the freedom of Tibet..and we are also threatened by communists,; we have common feelings with Tibetans in Tibet", said Mei Li Chow, one of the organisers, who heads the group, Friends of Tibet in Taiwan. Addressing the crowd, Khedroob Thondup - a nephew of the Dalai Lama - said the Chinese were wrong to blame outside forces for the violence.

" Beijing blames the Dalai Lama for the events that took place. I want to clarify all of you, that the Tibetan people are fed up with 49 years of suppression and repression… this is a people's movement inside Tibet."

The unrest in Tibet is also becoming an issue in Taiwan's presidential election.

Both candidates have condemned the violence and called for restraint. But the DPP's candidate, Frank Hsieh, goes further: warning Taiwan could be the next target - and alleging that his rival, Ma Ying-jeou, of the opposition KMT, who has said he wants to negotiate a peace treaty with China and establish closer trade links - would sell out Taiwan's interests .

At a news conference earlier in the day, Mr Ma said he disagreed with Mr Hsieh's view that Taiwan would be China's next target. "Taiwan is not Tibet", he said.

"I have always maintained that China is a threat but is also an opportunity to Taiwan. What we should do is maximise the opportunity and minimise the risk. That is why we propose we should engage the mainland."