Chief criminals fanning riot to be treated according to law: veteran Tibetan official

Source: Xinhua | 03-19-2008 11:27

BEIJING, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The chief criminals who fanned last Friday's Lhasa riot involving beating, smashing, looting and arson will be dealt with according to law, said a veteran Tibetan official here on Wednesday.

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

A violent riot erupted in Tibet's capital Lhasa on the afternoon of last Friday. Lawless people set fires at more than 300 locations and attacked schools, banks, hospitals, shops, government offices, utilities and state media offices. Thirteen civilians were burnt or stabbed to death in the incident.

There are plenty of evidence to prove that the incident was organized, premeditated, masterminded and incited by the Dalai clique, said Ragdi, also former top legislator of the autonomous region.

Tibetan law enforcement authorities issued a notice on Saturday, urging lawbreakers in last Friday's riot to stop criminal activities and offering leniency to those who surrender themselves.

Tibet regional government said by 11 p.m. on Tuesday, 105 people had surrendered to police for their involvement in the riot.

Editor:Zhang Ning