Front Page

Lhasa returns to normality

LHASA: Many shops reopened and private cars and taxi cabs were back on the streets here on Sunday, as the city returned to calm after Friday’s violence.

Reporters at the Xinhua office saw many stores along the western Beijing Road, western Jinzhu Road and southern Lingor Road open. Yangzom, a woman of Tibetan ethnicity, who lives on western Jinzhu Road, said her life remained largely unaffected. “Grocery stalls and shops in my neighbourhood are still open,” she said.

On the western Beijing Road, a private gas station was in business. “Shop opens for the day now, and closes during the night,” its owner Wang said.

Most shops in the Old Town area were, however, still closed. Several shops were partially burnt. Cleaners were seen removing garbage, overturned cars, burnt motorcycles and bicycles from the street.

In the worst-hit downtown areas, both civil servants and local residents took to the streets to clean up.

“The social order of the once riot site will be gradually restored,” said an official with the regional government.

Lhasa Mayor Doje Cezhug, who was in Beijing for the annual session of China’s top legislature, told reporters that, to his knowledge, the city was now calm. “We didn’t enforce martial law there.” He added the unrest was provoked by a handful of monks and lawless persons bent on sabotage.

“These acts are completely targeted at disturbing the happy and stable life of people in Tibet.”

Spontaneous demonstrations continued elsewhere in China with at least three Tibetan protesters killed in clashes in a Tibetan-populated district of Sichuan province in southwest China, rights groups said.

Officials claimed at least 10 civilians had died, mostly of burns, and 12 security personnel were injured in the violence two days ago.

The Dalai Lama told a press conference in Dharamsala that there should be an investigation into the recent incidents. He accused China of relying on force to achieve peace.

He said the international community had the “moral responsibility” to remind China to be a good host for the Olympic Games, but added that China deserved to host the Games.

“The Tibet nation is facing serious danger. Whether China’s government admits or not, there is a problem.”

“The Olympics should not be called off,” he said.

There was no immediate comment from China’s Foreign Ministry. — Agencies

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu