Episode like Lhasa riot would have occurred sooner or later: veteran Tibetan official

Source: Xinhua | 03-19-2008 11:25

BEIJING, March 19 (Xinhua) -- A riot would have occurred in China's Tibet Autonomous Region sooner or later, if not in Lhasa, since repeated episodes of violence happened from the 1959 failed rebellion to secede Tibet from the motherland, said a veteran Tibetan official here on Wednesday.

Ragdi, former vice-chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, spoke on the Lhasa incident at a meeting of the Counseling Committee on Development of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

He said the regional government has been on the alert for secessionist activities.

"Since repeated violence occurred in Tibet between 1987 and 1988, Tibet has been experiencing peaceful development for nearly two decades. However, a secessionist event would have occurred sooner or later. It is just a matter of time and place," said Ragdi.

The latest riot erupted in the plateau city on last Friday afternoon. Rioters killed 13 civilians, set fires at more than 300 locations and attacked schools, banks, hospitals, shops, government offices, utilities and state media offices.

Editor:Zhang Ning