Tibetan protesters descended on the Chinese Consulate in Longsight today where ugly scenes broke out last October at another demonstration.
In the aftermath of those scenes, in which police investigated allegations of assault, six diplomatic officials left the UK. Among them was Chinese consul general, Zheng Xiyuan, who was accused of attacking protester Bob Chan, from Hong Kong, following a pro-democracy demonstration.
Today (March 10) protest was similar in nature to the Hong Kong rally in October, but focused on Tibet this time. Protesters marched from the city centre to the consulate, on Denison Road, at lunchtime.
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When the group of activists — thought to be ‘30 to 40’ in size by cops — arrived, they chanted ‘Free Tibet’ slogans, sang the national anthem of Tibet, and explained why the demonstration took place.
"Today we have gathered here to mark the 64th Tibetan uprising day," Kunchock Dawa, who led the marchers, said. "Tibet has been under the Chinese regime since 1949 and taken over by them in 1959, and today, March 10, is the day that happened.
"Since then we have been fighting all over the world for freedom. Let us be free and we can go back home. We are not going to be quiet, we are going to raise our voices for our brothers and sisters and future generations."
There appeared to be no reaction from inside the Consulate buildings and grounds, and the protest ended peacefully shortly before 2pm. Roughly 10 GMP officers, and three police vehicles, were deployed to the site, but their presence was a watching brief as the demonstration went by without incident.
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