Most of the Tibetan living Buddhas and lamas are against secessionism and have opposed and checked the riots in various forms, said a top living Buddha in the northwestern Gansu Province.

"It is only a very few people who were engaged in the sabotage activities. Most living Buddhas and lamas are patriotic," said Jamyang Losang Jigme Tubdain Qoigyi Nyima, a living Buddha and vice-president of the Tibetan Chapter of the Buddhist Association of China.

Stability, unity, development and progress are the common wishes and basic interests of all Tibetan people, including those from the religious sector, he said, noting that the beating, smashing, looting and arson in the riots brought great harm to both Tibetan people and Tibetan Buddhism.

"The violence has disturbed normal order in lamaseries. The violence has been proven as having been masterminded by the Dalai clique. Ethnicity and religion were only deceitful camouflage. Their real motive was to disturb the stability in the Tibetan areas and undermine the order in lamaseries," said Jamyang.

The turmoil in Tibet last Friday was repeated in the counties of Xiahe, Maqu, Luqu and Jone and Hezuo City in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, where rioters shouting slogans of "Tibet Independence", carrying rocks and self-made petrol bombs or waving flags of "Tibetan-government-in-exile" stormed government offices, police stations, hospitals, schools, banks, shops and markets, among others.

Dewacang Jayangtudain Gyaincog, a living Buddha at the famed Labrang Lamasery in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, called on "Buddhism followers to draw a clear line with the criminals, not to be deceived or spread rumors, and not participate in the riots of the secessionists," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency, March 23, 2008)