The rioting in Lhasa is a sabotage plotted by the Dalai Lama clique aimed at seceding Tibet from China, said Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai, a top political adviser.

Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai, vice-chairman of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks in a signed article published on Thursday.

"The unrest has a profound political backdrop and complicated social scenario, and through organizing, premeditating and carefully planning the unrest, the Dalai clique has an evil purpose of stirring up troubles at a sensitive period and attempting to [cause] bloodshed so as to disturb political stability and harmony of this country," he said.

"As far as the issue of fighting secession and safeguarding the unification of the nation is concerned, it is necessary for us to have a good understanding of the matter, to have a clear-cut attitude and be steadfast and firm with the struggle," said Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai, who promised to remain a leader in the cause against all secessionists and their activities.

The riot in Lhasa Friday has led to the death of 13 innocent civilians and the injury of 325 others. Damage caused by the unrest has increased to more than 200 million yuan (about 28 million U.S. dollars).

"I am very much indignant toward and sternly condemn the Lhasa unrest organized, premeditated and masterminded by the Dalai clique, which involved beating, smashing, ransacking and arson," said the top Tibetan advisor.

"Last Friday's unrest has harmed the social order. It is violence planned and incited by domestic and overseas secessionist forces who collaborated closely in pursuit of 'Tibet independence'," said Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai, who also serves as honorary president of the Buddhist Association of China and chairman of the CPPCC Tibet Autonomous Regional Committee.

The unrest was a political plot calculated to negate the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), subvert the socialist system and the system of the regional national autonomy and separate Tibet from China.

Under the leadership of the central government, the Tibet autonomous regional Party and government authorities were quick to clamp down on the riot last Friday and restore the normal social order in Lhasa, he said.

"Fighting secession and safeguarding stability not only involves the fundamental benefits of the people of all ethnic groups in Tibet but also matters much to the cause of building a comparatively affluent, peaceful and harmonious Tibet," said Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai.

He called on people in Tibet to better understand the evil nature of the Dalai Lama, to form a united force toward fighting secession and safeguarding stability and to help the government bring lawless rioters and secessionists to justice.

(Xinhua News Agency, March 21, 2008)