indianexpress.com :: Calm returns to Lhasa, says Mayor

Calm returns to Lhasa, says Mayor

Agencies

Posted online: Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 1019 hrs IST

Beijing, March 16:
Accusing ‘a handful of monks and lawless persons’ of provoking the recent unrest in the Tibetan capital Lhasa, its Mayor has said that calm has returned to the remote Himalayan region.

"Lhasa is calm," Mayor Doje Cezhug as quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.

"We didn't enforce the martial law there, and the situation in Tibet as a whole is good at present," he said in the Chinese capital.

At least 10 people were killed and many injured in riots on Friday during the fiercest pro-independence protests in two decades in the Tibetan capital.

The Lhasa Mayor charged that the unrest was provoked by a handful of monks and lawless persons engaged in beating, smashing, looting and burning.

They burnt down schools, hospitals, stores and other public utilities, he claimed.

"These acts are completely targeted at disturbing the happy and stable life of people in Tibet," he said. "The government is able to maintain stability for the people."

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Calm returns to Lhasa, says Mayor Agencies Posted online: Sunday, March 16, 2008 at 1019 hrs IST Beijing, March 16: Accusing ‘a handful of monks and lawless persons’ of provoking the recent unrest in the Tibetan capital Lhasa, its Mayor has said that calm has returned to the remote Himalayan region. "Lhasa is calm," Mayor Doje Cezhug as quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency. "We didn't enforce the martial law there, and the situation in Tibet as a whole is good at present," he said in the Chinese capital. At least 10 people were killed and many injured in riots on Friday during the fiercest pro-independence protests in two decades in the Tibetan capital. The Lhasa Mayor charged that the unrest was provoked by a handful of monks and lawless persons engaged in beating, smashing, looting and burning. They burnt down schools, hospitals, stores and other public utilities, he claimed. "These acts are completely targeted at disturbing the happy and stable life of people in Tibet," he said. "The government is able to maintain stability for the people."