Wen: 'Cultural genocide' in Tibet nothing but lie
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-18 11:42

BEIJING -- The claim by the Dalai clique that the Chinese government is engaged in "cultural genocide" in Tibet is nothing but a lie, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Beijing on Tuesday.

"Since the peaceful liberation and especially the democratic reform, Tibet has moved forward and become more developed," said Wen at a press conference at the end of the annual session of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature.

On the recent beating, smashing property and ransacking taking place in Lhasa, Wen said that violent rioters killed innocent people and used extremely cruel means, and seriously undermined the normal social order of Lhasa.

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There are ample facts and plenty of evidence to prove that the riot in Lhasa was organized, premeditated, masterminded and incited by the Dalai Lama clique, Wen said.

"Local government and competent departments have been strict keeping with the Constitution and laws, and excised extreme restraint," he said, adding that the local government have taken proper measures to quiet down the incident and protected the interests of the people in Lhasa and in Tibet.

The consistent claims made by the Dalai clique that they pursue not independence but peaceful dialogue is "nothing but lies", said Wen.

Their claim of the "cultural genocide" in Tibet is also nothing but a lie, Wen said.

"This has all the more revealed the consistent claims by the Dalai clique that they pursue not independence but peaceful dialogue are nothing but lies."

Wen said that the door of dialogue still opens to Dalai, so long as he gives up the position for "Tibet Independence", so long as he recognizes Tibet and Taiwan as inalienable parts of the Chinese territory.

China will consider the possibility of organizing foreign media to Lhasa and see on the ground what happened there, Premier Wen Jiabao said at the press conference.

"I fully appreciate the reason why international media organizations would like to go there at this moment," he said.

"The situation is basically returning to normal...Lhasa will be reopened to the rest of the world," he said. On March 14, violence involving beating, smashing property, looting and arson broke out in Lhasa, arousing worldwide attention.