WEEPING MONKS, SPUTTERING DRAGON:

Crying monks disrupt China's Tibet media tour (Richard Spencer, 27/03/2008, DAILY TELEGRAPH)

In extraordinary scenes, monks from the Jokhang Temple, the spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism and among the most controlled places in the country, broke down in tears in front of reporters and government minders.

"Tibet is not free! Tibet is not free!" shouted one, as he beat his chest with his fists.

"We want the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet, we want to be free," said another.

Others gesticulated wildly as they crowded round a camera, talking in both Tibetan and Mandarin.

"They want us to crush the Dalai Lama and that is not right," they said.

The tour was arranged by the Chinese foreign ministry to show its it had restored order following protests across the country and violent rioting in Lhasa.

But what if the Potemkin villagers won't pretend?

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 27, 2008 9:51 AM