Pro-Tibet Protesters Demonstrate Against Chinese PM At Davos

Thursday, January 29, 2009

AFP
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Supporters of Tibet are held back by police prior to the working visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in front of the federal palace in Bern, Switzerland on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2009. (AP / Lukas Lehmann)

DAVIS, Switzerland (AFP)--About 100 pro-Tibet activists staged a demonstration in Davos Wednesday to protest against the presence of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the World Economic Forum.

The protest was allowed at a railway station about one kilometer from the conference center where the annual forum of political and business leaders is held.
There was a heavy police presence around the demonstrators, followers of the four main pro-Tibetan groups in Switzerland, who carried banners saying "Change in Tibet - Wen?"

The Chinese prime minister, who is on a tour of Europe, was to give a speech at the forum Wednesday.
China is particularly sensitive about Tibet ahead of the 50th anniversary of the March 1959 uprising that led to the escape of Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, into exile.

After violence at rallies in previous years, demonstrations are now strictly controlled at the annual Davis meetings where about 5,000 police are on duty protecting the 2,500 conference participants.

Supporters of Tibet protest against the presence of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the opening day of the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009. (AP / Keystone, Laurent Gillieron)