Dharamsala, April 24 – Students of a Tibetan school in Labrang, Sangchu County, left their school compound and marched into streets to protest the Chinese government early this morning.

Dolkar Kyap, head of the Norbulingka’s Academy of Tibetan culture, told Voice of Tibet radio service that the Tibetan students were expressing their disappointment over the rise in number of Chinese students in college level institutes.

The Tibetan students of Sangchu middle school say their college seats are being given to Chinese students, according to Kyap who added that the protest did not last long as security forces immediately surrounded them.

No arrest however has been reported. Kyab said that it is difficult to get in touch with people in the area which is cordoned off by Chinese troops.

Another independent source told Phayul that over one thousand students studying in the Sangchu Tibetan Middle School, which is located near the Labrang Monastery, took part in the protest.

A report on the official website of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, said students, carrying banners reading “Peace and Freedom”, protested during their morning physical exercise at around 7 a.m. (local time).

The protesting students expressed their strong dislike as they have been asked to study articles written by Yidor denouncing His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the report cited sources as saying.