BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the Tibet autonomous regional government, vowed here Wednesday that Olympic torch relay in Tibet will be safe and successful.

    He said at a press conference that the Beijing Olympic Games will be successful, and that the actions of a handful of secessionists could not change that.

    "I have noticed that recently some secessionists made some activities in London and Paris," he said.

    Their activities cannot affect the situation, but only expose their "true face" to the world, he said.

    He said the battle against secessionist activities and the Dalai Lama clique will be long, complicated and intense. The secessionists regard the Beijing Olympic Games as an opportunity to make trouble. "Therefore, I don't doubt they will create trouble during the torch relay in Tibet."

    However, holding the Olympic Games is the 100-year expectation of the Chinese nation and the torch relay in Tibet is the honor and responsibility of the Tibetan people. All ethnic groups in the Tibet Autonomous Region will support the torch relay, he said.

    "We will fully prepare for it and the Olympic torch relay in Tibet will be peaceful and successful," he added.

    Qiangba Puncog said if someone dared to sabotage the torch relay in Tibet, they will be severely punished.

Tibet people real beneficiaries of reform, development: Tibet regional chairman

    BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- People of various nationalities living in Tibet have benefited from reform and development, said Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the Tibet autonomous regional government, here on Wednesday.

    "They are real beneficiaries," he stressed, citing figures of Tibet's development to refute the Dalai Lama's claim that the benefits of Tibet's development have been taken away by the Han nationality and "cultural genocide". Full story

Dalai Lama "appeals" aim to fan unrest in Tibet, says local official

    BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The "appeals" and "statements" the Dalai Lama made after the Lhasa violence were aimed to trigger more unrest in Tibet, said Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the Tibet autonomous regional government, here Wednesday.

    "The Dalai Lama tries to stir up more unrest in Tibet by his 'appeals' and 'statements' because he is unwilling to see the situation calmed and normal life in Lhasa restored," said Qiangba Puncog at a press conference. Full story

953 suspects in Lhasa riots detained

    BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Police in Tibet have detained 953 people who were suspected of participating in the March 14 violence in Lhasa, Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the Tibet autonomous regional government said here Wednesday.

    Among all the detained, 403 were formally arrested, Qiangba Puncog said at a press briefing of the State Council Information Office. Full story  

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