On Sunday a Hong Kong newspaper reported four days of clashes between police and monks celebrating the Dalai Lama’s Congressional Award at Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.

UPDATE: ‘Terror and Celebration’ in Lhasa as Dalai Lama Receives Gold Medal Award

Chinese authorities, enraged by the Congressional Medal and warning of ‘serious damage to US-China relations’, had instructed Lhasa residents not to celebrate the award. An independent witness has corroborated reports of unrest at Drepung, confirming a heavy police presence and a lock-down of the monastery. Internet services in Lhasa were cut on October 17th, the day of the award ceremony.

According to the Hong Kong newspaper, confrontation at Drepung began after police questioned monks who were ceremoniously whitewashing the monastery walls on the morning of the 17th. The monks left peacefully to take part in morning prayers but were confronted again when they returned to resume work, resulting in violent scuffles. Local sources suggest that hundreds of monks may have been arrested and several injured. Similar clashes were reported at the nearby smaller Nechung Monastery.

Following the clashes, up to 3,000 armed police surrounded the monastery, with 1,100 monks and several dozen visitors prohibited from leaving. Police also set up checkpoints on the main roads in the area.

The clashes coincided with the concluding day of the Chinese Communist Party’s 17th National Congress in Beijing.