Date:18/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/18/stories/2008031860791200.htm

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Tibetan protests were abetted by forces outside China: envoy

Special Correspondent

Beijing appreciates New Delhi’s stand in controlling protests in India

NEW DELHI: China has appreciated India’s stance in controlling protests by Tibetans and providing adequate security to its diplomatic mission here. At the same time, Beijing urged New Delhi to “see clearly the nature of those instigating and conspiring activities of the Dalai [Lama] clique” and maintain an “object and correct stand, and avoid any irresponsible words and acts.”

Maintaining that the aim of the protests was to divide China and disrupt the coming Beijing Olympic Games, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Yan denied there was any crackdown in Lhasa. “There was no such thing as crackdown. It is the duty of the government to protect its citizens. These measures are totally in line with the law and truly supported by the people at the grass roots,” he read from a prepared statement at a press meet.

Four points

Mr. Zhang listed out four points to buttress his view that the protests were violent and abetted by forces outside China, that the steps taken by the authorities were in accordance with the law and that Tibet had seen much progress which did not justify the protests.

First, the protests were not non-violent, as claimed by its supporters. “Over 30 buildings and 100 houses were set on fire. Ten persons were burned or chopped to death. This proves they were not at all staging ‘non-violent’ protests,” he said.

Second, the law and order machinery stepped in to curb violence and exercised “high restraint.” It did not use weapons. Such measures were “totally in line” with the law.

Third, China had “enough evidence” to show that this was an “organised, premeditated and elaborately planned” scheme by the Dalai [Lama] clique to create incidents so as to pressure the Chinese government, disrupt the Olympics and undermine social and political stability in China, the Ambassador said. Fourth, there has been a “remarkable” improvement in the lives of the Tibetans, he claimed.

“The Chinese government is fully capable of maintaining the social stability of Tibet and safeguarding the life and property of the Tibetan people of all ethnic groups. The schemes conspired by the Dalai [Lama] clique to undermine the stability and harmony of Tibet are going against the will of the people and doomed to failure.”