Editor's note: In Saturday's "Today's Focus" on China Central Television, three Tibetan scholars: Dradul, director of the Religious Studies Institute of China Tibetology Research Center; Tashi Wangdu, a professor at the Central University for Nationalities; and Tenzin Chepa, former deputy director-general of the China Tibetology Research Center; gave their views on the unrest in Lhasa and counties of Gansu and Sichuan provinces:
What was your first reaction to the riots?
Dradul: The riots were incited by the Dalai clique, and they were not a peaceful demonstration but acts of violence. The nature of the incident is not to seek peace but to attain the political goal of "Tibet independence".
Can we say that the incident is an extension of the Dalai Lama's statement?
Tashi Wangdu: His statement was: "Controlling a living Buddha is controlling a temple, which means occupying an area under the control of the Communist Party." The violent incidents inside and outside the Tibet autonomous region have shown that the acts were organized, premeditated and instigated by the Dalai clique. It is not a religious or ethnic issue but a series of criminal activities aiming to separate Tibet from China.
Is there any connection between the riots in Tibet on March 14 and incidents outside Tibet?
Dradul: The riots were not just started by some domestic separatists but were organized and instigated. The Dalai Lama denied he incited the violence. But if that was true, the riots wouldn't have been on such a large scale.
Some Tibetans in India have launched a "March into Tibet" movement. Can you tell us anything about that?
Tenzin Chepa: Since the Dalai Lama fled to India and established a "government-in-exile" in 1959, the "Tibet independence" forces have organized a series of conspiracies and sabotage activities over the years. In various forms and under various guises, they have never stopped their infiltration and sabotage.
What is purpose behind the series of violent acts including the riots in Tibet and assaults on Chinese embassies and consulates overseas?
Dradul: The Dalai clique has long been fantasizing about "Tibet independence". They frequently change their means for "independence" under different guises. The separatist move has a vicious intent and its political conspiracy is clear.
Is the plot also aimed at disrupting the Olympics?
Dradul: No one wants to politicize the Olympic Games. The Dalai clique is using the Olympics as an occasion to conduct sabotage while the international community is looking at China.
Tenzin Chepa: The future of "Tibet independence" is getting increasingly dim, while our country is becoming more influential internationally and Tibet has developed dramatically in recent decades. This organized plot is intentional: To sabotage the Olympics and increase their own (the Tibetan separatists) influence. They don't want China to be successful in hosting such a worldwide sports event.
How about the development of Tibetan culture and religion in recent years?
Dradul: Tibet has a strong religious atmosphere that is free and harmonious viewing from the religious angle. This is sufficient to reflect that the Tibetan people are enjoying religious freedom. You can see monks reading and studying Buddhist scripts, and prostrating themselves in Tibetan monasteries. Local publishing houses in Tibet have produced many books, journals and magazines on Tibetology. All these show that Tibetan cultural is developing dynamically.
(China Daily March 25, 2008)