(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-05-15 07:26

To provide its real support to building a harmonious society, the Dalai group has to stop resorting to violence immediately, says an article in People's Daily. The following is an excerpt:

Recently, the 14th Dalai Lama expressed his support to building a harmonious society in China as a member of the big family of China.

As the Dalai group also agrees, a harmonious society cannot do without freedom and the rule of law, but neither of them tolerates violence.

Violence is the source of fear for the common people. Hurting prosperity in physical terms, violence also challenges the law and modern civilization. A society conniving at violence has no hope of reaching harmony.

The riots in Lhasa on March 14 have destroyed the peaceful life of the Tibetan people, brought fear and disaster to the innocent, damaged freedom and the rule of law in Tibet and hurt the social harmony in Lhasa as well as in Tibet.

If such violence is called a "peaceful protest", as the Dalai group claimed in its statement, how can they prove their sincerity in their support to building a harmonious society as well as in promoting the Tibetan people's welfare?

It is not the first time that the Dalai group confuses people with its claim to peace and their indulgence in violence.

Its members said they were trying to build a beautiful future for Tibet, but they have never ceased planning and inciting violence in Tibet, which destroyed the life of the Tibetan people. They said they were striving for the freedom and human rights of the Tibetans, but what they did has infringed on the local people's, including the Tibetans', rights of survival and progress.

Seeing all these contradictions, people cannot help doubting the sincerity of their words. Violence is contradictory to harmony and it would never win the heartfelt support of the people.

Peace and development are the theme of our modern world, so violence is the common foe of all people loving peace. Unleashed under the cover of "human rights", "religion" or "ethnic groups", violence is never going to win the common people's alliance for the Dalai group.

Since its peaceful liberation in 1951, Tibet has seen a relationship between different ethnic groups based upon fairness and harmony. People from all ethnic groups live happily and in unity.

It is against the current of history and the will of all Tibetan people if someone plans and incites violent activities, destroys the peaceful life of the local people and ruins the unity of people from different ethnic groups.

If the Dalai group really wants to support the national efforts of building a harmonious society, it should stop immediately all activities aimed at planning and inciting violence in Tibet.

(China Daily 05/15/2008 page8)