Published by: World Tibet Network News, Tuesday, May 28 1996

Source: `Xizang Ribao', Lhasa, in Chinese 10 May 96 p1

A Tibet newspaper commentator has said that the Dalai Lama constitutes the greatest threat and "hidden peril" to Tibet's stability. By "sabotage" his followers are undermining Tibet's economic progress and stability. "Serious incidents" have occured in Tibet and the struggle is "intense" . The following are excerpts from the Chinese regional newspaper from Tibet `Xizang Ribao' commentator' s article entitled: "`Stern crackdown' gladdens people's hearts" :

A "stern crackdown," which aims to quash serious criminal activities and vigorously improve public order, swept through China recently. On 9th May, a mobilization meeting in connection with the "stern crackdown" was held in Lhasa City...

In our region, the biggest hidden peril affecting social stability and public order comes from disturbances and sabotage wrought by the Dalai separatist clique. As Tibet grows prosperous in the large family of the Chinese nation, members of the clique, embarrassed by their own failure, are vainly trying to stop Tibet's progress through various activities of sabotage and are creating disturbances in a desperate effort to intimidate their opponents. Serious political incidents of a separatist nature and some criminal cases with serious effects on public order that occurred recently in our region have fully unmasked their hideous features. The occurrence of these incidents clearly shows that, hidden in some areas, are a few reactionaries who have doggedly followed the Dalai over the years and who have vainly attempted to split the motherland and oppose socialism and the CCP's leadership. The antiseparatist struggle facing us remains grim. The struggle is protracted, arduous and complex; it is even intense at ti

mes. We must firmly strike at those reactionaries and saboteurs who have come to the fore and should by no means show mercy towards them. We should completely deflate their arrogance. All localities should combine the handling of these political incidents with the "stern crackdown" ; track down the core members of all separatist forces and smash-and-grabbers; and bring them to justice by meting out stiff and swift punishment. In dealing with incidents of this nature, we must adopt a firm attitude and firm measures, and there should be no compromise or accommodation whatsoever. To deter them from acting recklessly, we should strike a relentless blow at all reactionaries who carry out sabotage activities and jeopardize social stability. This represents a general trend towards stability and development in our region, as well as the common wish of monks and lay people of all ethnic groups in our region. More importantly, it is the primary criterion by which party organizations and cadres at all levels are judged

whether or not they have a mass viewpoint and pay attention to politics.

We are engaged in the great undertaking of bringing a new, prosperous socialist Tibet into a glorious 21st century... A modernization blueprint of unequalled magnificence will unfold before 2.3 million people of all ethnic groups. Translating this blueprint into reality requires the unremitting efforts of cadres and people across the region; it also requires a stable social environment. This means we should not stress material civilization and economic development to the neglect of spiritual civilization, public order and stability. It also means our leading cadres should regard - both in the way they think and act - the maintenance of public order and stability as a political duty that should be carried out throughout the year and should not be neglected even slightly...

Sternly cracking down on separatism, sabotage and serious criminal activities is a struggle that conforms to popular wishes and enjoys popular support. While judicial and public security organs need to make their might felt, the active participation and support of the broad masses of people is indispensable if we want to build up a strong momentum and achieve results in this struggle, strike terror into criminals'hearts and ferret out criminals. Every citizen, party member and cadre should dutifully plunge into the struggle to combat crime and safeguard stability and the motherland's unity. Through the struggle, they should enhance their patriotic and civic sense, their sense of belonging to the large family of the Chinese nation, and their sense of mission and responsibility in safeguarding the motherland's unity, social stability and Tibet's long-term peace and stability, so as to make joint efforts to build a new, socialist Tibet that is prosperous and full of promise.