Agencies
Beijing, Mar 16:
China on Sunday declared a "people's war" to crush the most virulent monk-led protests against its rule in Tibet in two decades that has brought Beijing under scanner ahead of the Olympics here as troops kept a tight vigil in the riot-scarred capital city of Lhasa. No fresh outbreak of violence was reported by authorities in Lhasa which came under the vice-like grip of security forces after Friday's orgy of violence saw marauding mobs torching buildings and police and private vehicles and loot banks and shops.
However, 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.
A day after setting a Monday deadline for rioters to surrender or face punishment, Tibetan political and security chiefs vowed to "expose" the Dalai Lama group. "We must wage a people's war to beat splittism and expose and condemn the malicious acts of these hostile forces and expose the hideous face of the Dalai Lama group to the light of day," they were quoted as saying by media after an emergency meeting.
Charred wreckages were strewn around in some streets in the Old Town, where most shops still remained closed, bearing testimony to the unrest that is reverberating world wide. Authorities have mobilised troops and officials in steps to clear the roads.
"The social order of the once riot site will be gradually restored," a regional government official said. Xinhua said the rioters had torched buildings for civilian use at 160 places. As tension simmered, the city Mayor Doje Cezhug proclaimed, "Lhasa is calm".
`Exercise restraint'; US tells China
Washington, Mar 16:
The United States has urged China to 'exercise restraint' in dealing with the protests by Buddhist monks against the communist rule, also asking it to address its 'policies' in Tibetan areas 'that have created tensions'. In a statement, US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice urged Chinese Government to release monks "detained solely for the peaceful expression of their views."
"I am deeply saddened to learn that the turmoil that erupted yesterday in Lhasa following what began as peaceful protests has resulted in the loss of lives, and I am concerned that the violence appears to be continuing," Rice said.
"I also am concerned by reports of a sharply-increased police and military presence in and around Lhasa. We call on the Chinese Government to exercise restraint in dealing with these protests, and we strongly urge all sides to refrain from violence," she said.
"We urge China to respect the fundamental and universally recognized right of all of its citizens to peacefully express their political and religious views, and we call on China to release monks and others who have been detained solely for the peaceful expression of their views", the Secretary of State said.
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