On March 14, riots involving beating, smashing, looting and burning broke the peace in Lhasa. Many rioters were carrying backpacks filled with stones and bottles of inflammable liquids, some holding iron bars, wood sticks and long knifes. The mobs assaulted innocent passersby, sparing no women and children. They hit at things along their path, smashing windows, traffic lights, and automatic teller machines in front of a bank. Quite a few clothing shops, restaurants, and mobile phone stores were looted. Bikes, motorcycles and cars were burnt down. Rioters set fire at more than 300 locations including residences and 214 shops, smashed and burned 56 vehicles, and attacked schools, banks, hospitals, shops, government offices, utilities and state media offices. 13 innocent civilians were burned or slashed to death, including an 8 months old baby. Dozens of policemen on patrol and 61 armed policemen were injured. The perpetrators resorted to extremely brutal means in their killing spree. For example, they poured gasoline on one innocent civilian and burned the person to death, and after knocking out an armed policeman, they cut out a piece of flesh the size of a fist from his buttocks.

The riot not only caused heavy losses of life and property in the city, but also seriously disturbed social order. The rioters' criminal actions were recorded live on video cameras which have been shown on the news. Iron-clad facts have given lies to what the rioters and their supporters claim that the incident was "peaceful demonstrations". The law breakers killed innocent people. Their actions are nothing but a violent crime. The riot infringed upon national sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and imperiled people's lives and property. No responsible government would sit by such kind of riot. The violence has aroused great indignation and condemnation from the people of all ethnic groups in Tibet. We strongly condemn it.

Those who engaged themselves in these violent activities came fully prepared. Their attempt is clear: create violent incidents to attract international attention, spread lies to vilify the Chinese government and call for boycotting the Beijing Olympic Games. Their whole plan is aimed at splitting the nation. We have ample evidence to prove that the Lhasa riot was organized, premeditated, masterminded and instigated by the Dalai Lama clique and perpetrated by the separatist forces for "Tibet Independence" both in and outside China acting in collusion. The riot, which seriously trampled on the fundamental human rights and freedom of the people in Tibet, exposed once again the secessionist nature of the Dalai Lama clique and the hypocritical and fraudulent nature of its so-called "peace" and "non-violence" allegations. Dalai claimed himself to be a religious figure, but he is in essence a political exile under the disguise of religion who has been engaged in separatist activities undermining China's national unity. Dalai's claims that he pursues no independence but peaceful dialogue and they would not engage in violent actions are nothing but a pack of lies.

The people of all ethnics groups in Tibet have expressed strong indignation at and condemnation of the incident.  After violence broke out, the Tibet Autonomous Region authorities promptly organized public security officers, armed police and other personnel to put out the fires, treat the injured, strengthen protection of schools, hospitals, banks and government offices, and deal with the criminal act in accordance with the law.  The measures we have taken are intended to maintain public order, uphold the sanctity of laws and protect the fundamental interests of the people of all ethnic groups in Tibet. It must be emphasized that in responding to the incident, our public security officers and armed policemen showed great restraint and performed their duty strictly in accordance with the law and in a civilized manner. None of them carried or used any lethal weapon in the whole process.

Through these efforts, the situation in Lhasa has calmed down and stability has returned to the city.

It needs to be pointed that the Dalai clique and some westerners have deliberately confused black and white and called the violent crimes "peaceful protest". Some western media carried outrageously distorted reports to mislead the international public. They showed no sympathy in the death of innocent people and showed no interest in the human rights of the people who suffered injuries and losses during the riot. Instead they act as defenders of arsonists, looters and killers. Their distorted and biased reports violate the fundamental journalistic principle of 'truth'. These people need to answer some basic questions: would any democratic government under the rule of law tolerate such violence as seen in Lhasa? Would any responsible government sit by such cruelty against its people and society? Those who turn a blind eye to the facts and truth and deliberately spread rumors concerning the riot, do they not feel the whip of their own conscience?

The Dalai clique's attempt to split China is firmly opposed by the Chinese people of all ethnicities including the Tibetan people. The people of all ethnic groups in Tibet have the firm resolve to oppose any separatist move, safeguard national unity and maintain law and order.  Any attempt to destabilize Tibet and split it from China runs counter to the will of the people and is doomed to failure.