"Eastern Express, Hong Kong, December 19, 1995"

People's Armed Police (PAP) forces used rubber bullets on a crowd in Lhasa

in mid-November, reports have said. The date of the shootings could not

immediately be confirmed. The incident was sparked by the apparent refusal

of Tibetans to move out of the way of a group of PAP soldiers, according to

witness. "They shot at the group with rubber bullets," taking particular

aim at the women, he said. The incident occurred close to the Johkang

temple where the government's candidate for Panchen Lama, the second

-highest position in Tibet's religious hierarchy, was officially selected

shortly afterwards.

The account is the first confirmation of rumoured disturbances in downtown

Lhasa in November. The authorities appeared to believe slow-moving crowds

were a sign of defiance. There were more reports of rioting in downtown

Lhasa shortly after the announcement of the Beijing's candidate for Panchen

Lama.