Chinese envoy to India: Be cautious on Tibet devp

New Delhi, Mar 17: China's Ambassador to India, Zhang Yang, today cautioned the Indian Government to avoid making or taking "irresponsible words and acts" on the evolving situation in Tibetan capital Lhasa and adjoining areas.

Addressing a press conference at the Chinese Embassy here on Monday evening, Ambassador Yang said: "We hope that the Indian friends can see clearly the nature of those instigating and a conspiring activities of the Dalai clique, which aim at splitting China and disrupting the Beijing Olympic Games." He was responding to reports appearing in the Indian media that indicated New Delhi's distress over China's aggressive moves to quell Tibetan demonstrators from highlighting their right to freedom from Chinese rule on the 49th anniversary of their Uprising Day.

Emphatically stating that Beijing had acted as per law and no such thing as a "crackdown" on Tibetans had taken place, Ambassador Zhang that there was ample evidence to indicate that the protests were "organised, premeditated and elaborately planned by the Dalai clique."

He said that as far as Beijing was concerned, there was a wilful damage to property. At least 30 buildings in Lhasa, including schools, hospitals, banks, shops and over 100 houses were set on fire.

Ten innocent people were either burnt alive or chopped to death by the rioters and 12 policemen sustained injuries.

In view of this alarming development, authorities of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) of China took measures to bring the situation under control, he claimed.

He also rebutted claims of an uprising having taken place in 1949-50, saying that Tibetans were enjoying freedom of religion, education, healthcare, sanitation and culture.

He concluded his interaction with the press by saying that China 'is fully capable of maintaining the social stability of the Tibetans and safeguarding the safety of life and property of the Tibetan people of all ethnic groups."

ANI