Security forces step up surveillance in Lhasa on Jasmine protest day

At least 50 uniformed police officers and paramilitary police, along with plain-clothed officers holding walkie-talkies, were scattered across Bakhor Square yesterday as a constant flow of worshippers circled Jokhang Monastery.

More police were on standby in a bus parked at the end of the square.
Police asked people who stopped or lingered in the square to move on, preventing any gatherings.

Nobody was seen protesting or carrying any sort of flowers, let alone jasmines, around the set time of 2 pm.

The heavy security presence is also believed to be related to today's third anniversary of the March 14, 2008, bloody ethnic riots that left at least 22 people dead and shocked Beijing.

Police officers were carrying pistols, pepper spray and batons while paramilitary police in groups of five carried rifles and wore helmets.

Security measures have been stepped up since March, but the heavier presence of police near the square and a ban on taking photographs at the temple was put into effect only Sunday.

Ethnic Tibetans were seen having their identity papers checked by police in the square and on nearby Bakhor Street, which circles the Jokhang temple. Worshipers stroll along that street while spinning their handheld prayer wheels.

Stalls and shops along the street were open for business although most patrons appeared to be locals as foreigners were barred from traveling in the region in March.
Some retailers said with the heavy police presence, they are not worried about the violence during the anniversary.

Three years ago, protesters, mostly Tibetans and monks, turned a demonstration against Chinese rule into a large-scale riot in numerous Tibetan regions in the country including Lhasa.