(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-20 20:09

The 11th Panchen Lama, Gyaincain Norbu, said on Sunday that the violence in Lhasa ran counter to Buddhist tenets.

Ngawang Daindzin, a living Buddha, said that "the rioters who wore cassocks were no real monks at all. What they did is completely against Buddhist codes."

"In Tibet, development is the priority of all work and maintaining a stable society is our responsibility. I hold that stability comes first," said Ragdi.

As the riot burst out last Friday, the regional government immediately organized task forces to put out the fires and rescue the injured and strengthened protection of hospitals, schools, banks and government offices.

"Throughout the process, security forces did not carry or use any destructive weapons, but tear gas and water cannons were employed," said Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Government. Reportedly, 61 police were injured, six seriously.

Tibetan law enforcement authorities issued a notice last Saturday, urging lawbreakers in the Friday riot to stop criminal activities and offering leniency to those who surrendered. The Tibet regional government said that 170 people had surrendered to police by 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

Doje Cering, a 25-year-old villager, stoned a red sedan and a white van. He said he was drunk at home that day when he heard someone shouting "get out, or we will burn down your house." Then he just blindly followed them.

Gyaincain, 53, said he came out when he heard people shouting "all people out, or be burned by fire." He said: "I just followed them. I was very disturbed by what I did. My family has persuaded me to turn myself in to the police," he said.

"These people will not go unpunished by law in any country," said Qiangba, chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Government. "For those who committed minor offenses and showed repentance, we will educate them; for those who initiated and committed serious crimes in the riot, they will be sternly punished in accordance with the law."

The government's measures have borne fruit. As of Monday, traffic on the main Lhasa streets had resumed. Government bodies, businesses, schools and major farm produce markets are operating normally, said Doje Cezhug, the mayor of Lhasa.

Local residents, who remained at home for two days, started to come out and get some fresh air in parks and streets.

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