Global hack hits Tibet, China blamed

Per the Associated Press, Tibet's exiled leaders rebuked a cyber spy network Monday for hacking into their government computers.

The Tibetan officials were commenting on results from a Canadian research group that a network, based mainly in China, hacked into classified files from government and private organizations in 103 countries, including the computers of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan exiles, reported by AP.

The Canadian research group said they have not conclusively been able to detect the identity or motivation of the hackers, according to the article.

Twitter users comment and express concern about a growing Chinese cyber spying problem:

1. 
   JJ_Idaho (Ketchum, Idaho) Wag of the finger to CHINA! For hacking the Dalai Lama's computer! Thanks to the... Read More: http://is.gd/pwSq 29 Mar 2009 from Tweetie
2. 
   ronaldjackson (New York) China is responsible for so much crap: Bad food, tainted toys, etc. And now global hacking: http://tinyurl.com/d3e6qg 29 Mar 2009 from TwitterFox
3. 
   samnzed (Christchurch, New Zealand) Surely this thin about China spying on nations and companies using hacking is going to get more serious? 29 Mar 2009 from web
4. 
   lesanto (Lincoln, U.K.) It seems the Chinese are hacking us!Cue the next James Bond movie where 007 does it all from his PC 'To China With IP' http://bit.ly/Sy3we 30 Mar 2009 from TweetDeck
5. JustFoul (Washington, D.C.) I'm amazed how Much china is trying to hack into everything. I have been blocking IPs for the last few days. All of them have been fromChina 24 Mar 2009 from Tweetie
6. subversion (Kansas City, Mo.) This GhostNet stuff is creepy and disturbing. I hope China's latest attack on the Tibetan government in exile backfires in a big way.

Global hack hits Tibet, China blamed

Tibetan monks arrested in China

Per the Times of India, Chinese government arrested nearly 100 Tibetan monks for rioting and allegedly attacking a police station. Government sources said the monks from the Ragya Monastery assaulted police officers and government staff.

Twitterers who commented on the story mostly saw irony in the violence among the Tibetan monks.

battleajah: I'm always horrifyingly amused for each time I read about Tibetan monks getting violent: http://tinyurl.com/cc2hxr.



reqa930: Wait...I thought Tibetan monks are supposed to be nonviolent and peaceful...why are they being arrested for attacking cops??



LindaDeLuca (Huntsville, Alabama): RT "@teedubya: http://is.gd/ooK8 You KNOW the world is getting crazy when:: 93 Tibetan monks are arrested for attacking a police station.

Tibetan monks arrested in China

Dalai Lama speaks out against China

Per the Associated Press, the Dalai Lama stated today in a speech in Dharmsala, India that Chinese rule in Tibet has led to a "hell on earth" and the only way to solve the issue is through peace.

The address came in front of thousands of supporters and commemorated the 50th anniversary of the failed Tibetan uprising that sent him into exile, according to the article.

Stephanie Nolen (@snolen), a South Asia correspondent for Canada's Globe and Mail based in New Delhi, attended the Dalai Lama's speech and live tweeted from it. Here's a sample of her tweets:

@snolen: #Dalai Lama - "Very few Chinese people have a true understanding about Tibet" due to deliberate misinformation by authorities

@snolen: #Dalai Lama - "I have no doubt that justice of #Tibet's cause will prevail iif we continue path of truth & non-violence."

@snolen: #Dalai Lama: "We must prepare ourselves in case #Tibetan struggle goes on for a long time."

@snolen: #Dalai Lama concludes by asking for peace for all beings

@snolen: the #Dalai Lama has left the temple in a swirl of monks and pipers and drummers and Tibetan flags

Someone watching coverage of the event by CNN in a nation that borders both India and China made this observation:

@sidne (Kathmandu, Nepal): CNN kept getting scrambled every time they mentioned Dalai Lama. Then cable went out completely. Coincidence?


Others in the Twitterserve noted the significance of today's date.

@Bin_Li (Beijing, China): 50 years ago, Chinese army invaded Tibet and force Dalai Lama to exile. Remember this date March 10. www.freetibet.org



@cireynolds (Chicago, Ill.): I find it odd that the exile of the Dalai Lama and Barbie have the same 50th anniversary date.



@sameetkumar (Florida): is sending thoughts and prayers for 50 years of sorrow, tears, and blood in Tibet.



@amp6 (Undisclosed): Happy(?) 50th anniversary of the Dalai Lama's exile (or "Serf Liberation Day," a title sure to win the hearts and minds of all Tibetans)

Dalai Lama speaks out against China

Tibetan new year ushered in quietly

Per The International Herald Tribune, today, Feb. 25, 2009, ushers in the Tibetan new year, but many see this new year (Losar) as a time of mourning, not celebration. Some Tibetans are holding vigils instead of parties, as a statement against the Chinese government's denouncement of spiritual leader the Dalai Lama among other complaints.

Some people in and around Tibet have started a No Losar movement, an official boycott of new year celebrations.

@action1106 ( 聲援No Losar 燭光晚會：悼念受難圖博人民: 博巴不過新年 Say No to Losar[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for.. http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/action1106/~3/546533488/no-losar.html

(No Losar candlelit vigil solidarity: in memory of the people suffering Pinatubo: Carabobo But New Year's Say No to Losar)

Some Twitterers reacted to the protests:

@lhadon (Hong Kong): It's late here. No news from Tibet. All is quiet. Too quiet. Here's OUR NATION for Losar 2136 http://is.gd/kMbb

@malcolmmoore: (Shanghai, China) : The first day of Losar, Tibetan New Year, apparently passed by calmly in Lhasa. We hear there were no explosions or violence.

Here are some others reactions from the Twitterverse.

@seastarerrin (Toronto, Canada) : happy losar to all those who take part. One day the Tibetans will free tibet.

@GrassRoutesTrav (Oakland, CA) : Wishing everyone a happy Tibetan New Year! Losar Tashidelek! Welcome in the year of Earth Cow!

@Dagriffin: Today is the Tibetan NewYear (Losar). As today goes, so goes the year. Good luck!

@tashiest: (Boise, ID) : Today is Losar, the Tibetan New Year. It's the most important holiday in Tibet, but nobody there is celebrating... http://bit.ly/xqL9j

@nickdjones (Mumbai, India): http://bit.ly/teg7T Tibetans forgo Losar in protest at human rights abuses

Tibetan new year ushered in quietly

Dalai Lama account fake

His Holiness is not on Twitter after all. Just two hours ago, Twitter employee @caroline offered the following statement: "everyone who's wondering why @ohhdl was suspended. the official ohhdl in dharamsala, india informed us that @ohhdl is an impersonator. sorry"

The Dalai Lama account had amassed thousands of followers and plenty of buzz prior to its takedown, including a number of articles internationally about it such as this one by AFP.

The suspension of the account generated a significant response today.

@mikedunn (Bristol, U.K.): Can't even begin to imagine the terrible karma that'll befall whoever was impersonating the Dalai Lama.


@heartbreakingal (Pune, India): @RaviKapoor That's hardly surprising. The Dalai Lama is a monk; probably never used a computer let alone Twitter!


@sarahlane (San Francisco, Calif.): That Dalai Lama (@OHHDL) Twitter account was fake? Come on people, you do not impersonate His Holiness! Ever! What's wrong w you?


@shres (Mumbai, India): The Dalai Lama appears on Twitter, gets 15000+ followers in a day and vanishes the next day. @ohhdl seems to be an impersonator account.

Dalai Lama account fake