China experienced a new wave of protests yesterday, this time conducted by a group of Buddhist monks who disturbed a government-managed news media tour in Xiahe, a city in Gansu Province, western China.

The monks waved a Tibetan flag and objected on being deprived of their human rights. This is their second effort after last month’s appeal to the foreign journalists in the Jokhang Monastery, in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital.

During yesterday’s event, the monks had their heads covered to avoid getting recognized and possibly getting punished.  After about ten minutes of protests, claiming that they are not asking for Tibetan independence but only for the human rights so badly needed, the protest was dissolved and the media tour picked up from where it was left off.

According to Reuters, President George W. Bush invited China to open discussions with the Dalai Lama as soon as possible, saying: "If they ever were to reach out to the Dalai Lama, they'd find him to be a really fine man, a peaceful man, a man who is anti-violence, a man who is not for independence but for the cultural identity of the Tibetans being maintained."

Over the past few weeks Bush has been urged by several Democrats, including presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, to boycott the opening ceremonies for the Olympics in order to protest against the Chinese actions in Tibet.

The Tibet related issues keep developing into a larger and larger international public relations disaster for China. The anti-Chinese riots and demonstrations are getting organized at an alarming pace increasing the criticism on China’s human rights take and also escalating tensions in a moment when efforts are mostly focused on the upcoming Olympic Games.