World terrorist organizations like Al-Qaida are notorious for criminal activities including bombing and hijacking to achieve their ugly aims. The terror groups often target and victimize innocent lives. Few people in the world have ever heard of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC). It is not until the Lhasa Riot on March 14 that people in the world began to know this terrorist group.

Several rioters, with knives and sticks, chase an innocent man in Lhasa during the March 14 riots. [Tibet Daily]

The wanton beating, stabbing, arsoning and killing, in which 18 innocent lives including an infant and five ethnic Chinese and Tibetan girls working at a clothing store in central Lhasa, have shed a light on the terrorist nature of the organization, which planned and carried out the rampage and carnage.

The TV footage of a businessman whose one ear was cut away reveals the barbarity of penetrators.

Founded in 1970, with about 30,000 members and up to 70 branches worldwide, Tibetan Youth Congress is made up of descendents of the 14th Dalai Lama and other Tibetan aristocrats in exile. It laid allegiance to the lama, and advocated complete independence of Tibet on the first day of its establishment.

TYC has regarded violence and terrorist activity as its primary means to secede Tibetan Autonomous Region from the People's Republic of China.

Gaisang Puncog, former TYC chairman, said: "We will use any methods to serve our cause, be it violent or non-violent." Tendzin Choegyal, the 14th Dalai Lama's younger brother and follower, once claimed: "Terrorist activities could attain the biggest effect at the lowest cost."

Ma Gubei is treated in a hospital in Lhasa in this March 16, 2008 photo. Ma was delivering food to hospital patients on March 14 when he was attacked by rioters and his motorbike was burnt. [Xinhua]

These remarks clearly manifest this group is no different from other terrorist groups in the world.

In a meeting of its central executive committee in Dharamsala, northern India, the Tibetan Youth Congress approved a decision to "fund a guerrilla movement as soon as possible to enter China secretly and carry out armed struggles."

It's not strange for a terrorist organization to plan massive slaughtering, as the "September 11" 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States has shown the world.

In January 2008, the Tibetan Youth Congress announced it would implement "Tibetan People's Uprising Movement" and established an organizing committee, with Tsewang Rinzin, TYC president, sitting at the top of the committee. It has also run secret raining courses to teach guerilla warfare and explosives usage.

In February, the terror organization held campaigns in Dharamsala to recruit youth members for the so-called Tibetan People's Uprising Movement and trained key members for the following grisly attack on Lhasa.

Local police in Lhasa have seized more than 170 guns, tens of thousands of bullets, several thousand kilograms of explosives and detonators, acting on clues from some lamas and local residents.

Under Chinese law, terrorist organizations are those which use violence to threaten national security, sabotage stability, harm people and damage property. What happened on March 14 in Lhasa is nothing but a terrorist attack against innocent people and lawful businesses and people's properties.

Terrorists never take people's lives seriously. The day after March 14 riot, instead of mourning for victims, Tibetan Youth Congress couldn't wait to hold a meeting in India and later approved a decision on continued armed struggles. The head of the group claimed they were ready to sacrifice at least 100 member lives in order to succeed.

If this proved to be true, Chinese police must get prepared for another round of possible suicide attacks by the TYC anywhere in this country.

(China Daily April 15, 2008)