A series of riots happened in Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture,  southwest China's Sichuan Province recently.

It is not uncommon for some Western governments and the so-called Tibetan government-in-exile to play up and distort these incidents. The London-based Free Tibet Advocacy Group claimed that "police opened fire on Tibetans peacefully protesting against religious repression in Luhuo and Seda County of the southwestern province of Sichuan" on January 30, 2012.

However, Palden, 48, who is an ethnic Tibetan and Chief of Seda County for four years said "Some people involved in the violence are not locals," he said. "They traveled all the way from Tibet Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province, so it is obvious that the riot was planned. It's also the reason why the violence in both Luhuo and Seda was only one day apart."

What is the fact?

The police station in Seda County was attacked on Jan. 24, one day after the violence broke out in Luhuo.

About 200 people, mostly in their 20s and 30s, started to gather at Jinma Square in Seda Town around 2 pm, according to Palden, the county chief.

Around 2:40 pm, Palden said, they began to attack a police box near the square using Tibetan knives, rocks and flaming gas bottles. Gunshots were heard.

One participant died, and another was injured when the police fought back, Palden said. The riot lasted about 20 minutes before the mob was dispersed. Thirteen people were arrested.

The riot frightened people. Yeshe Lhamo, 28, a nun at a local Buddhism academy, said she didn't feel comfortable going into the county until several days had passed. "People are scared, and the atmosphere in the temples is tense," she said. "Violence is against monastic order. No one wants to see such things happen."

Daklha, 30, owns a women's accessory shop beside Jinma Square, closed her shop for several days after the violence. "My business is seriously affected. 
"I don't want to see the violence. Any blood-shedding is bad," she said. "We want a peaceful life."

How did the Dalai Lama help?

A chain of self-immolations happened at monasteries in the Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province in 2011.

Some self-immolated monks confessed that they had been incited by the separatist forces of the Dalai Lama. The self-immolation happened on March 16, 2011 and the monk who burned himself to death was only 19 years old. The other three monks who instigated him were arrested. They confessed in court that they had been incited by the separatist forces. When the self-immolation happened, they not only stood aside but also prevented local cadres from helping the injured. They filmed the self-immolation, and sent it to Dharamsala quickly.

What's more? According to the article released by the "Dalai Lama Tibet Religious Foundation" in Taiwan, the self-immolations were regarded as "Buddha practice", and they declared that those who burned themselves to death would be reincarnated into Buddha immediately. They definitely forgot that Tibetan Buddhism is a religion of compassion, which values life.

What did the Chinese authority say?

Liu Qibao, secretary of Sichuan Provincial Party Committee has claimed the municipal government will remain committed to enhancing the development, stability and people's livelihood in Tibetan-inhabited area of Sichuan by safeguarding their fundamental interests and serving the people of all nationalities.

He points out the religious tasks are arduous and complex. In-depth study has been conducted for the persistence of the Party and the country's religious policy. People in China enjoy solid freedom in religion and religious beliefs protected by law.

In particular, Tibetan Buddhism studies and administration should shoulder heavy responsibilities, not only ensuring the freedom of religious belief but also guide religion in accordance with the socialism system, leading Tibetan people and monks of all nationalities to cherish the hard-earned development and stability, said Liu Qibao.

What did the netizens say?

One blog post talking about "What is your opinion towards the mob incident in Sichuan recently?" on BBC China Website shows netizens' opinions towards this issue:

Netizen from the United States named "yiji he": "I doubt 'the peaceful demonstration' in Garzi. For as far as I know, Khampa people are always aggressive. I spent six months there and have experienced a large-scale fights in Garzi only for valuable herbs."

Netizen Wellington: "The statement 'There is no freedom in Tibet’ does not hold water. Tibet probably holds the highest proportion of people living as monks and nuns, which is a solid proof that Tibetans have freedom in faith."

Netizen BsBTsb: "When breaking down the old system, the former power always prevents the process from going forward. I asked some of my friends why some Tibetans are not satisfied with what the government has done for them. I get the answers that some conflicts between local Tibetans in Sichuan and the local government are inevitable. For example, Tibetans enjoy 15-year compulsory education with no fees; therefore, most children from herders' families are capable of mastering two languages - Chinese and Tibetan. Instead of chanting in temples as lamas, young people in Tibet could go to big cities for more opportunities. Some lamas argue this has undermined the tradition, which is not convincing."

 Tibetans dance at the Shangjiu Festival in Baoxing County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jan. 31, 2012. The residents of Tibetan ethnic group in Baoxing celebrated the annual Shangjiu Festival, which means the 9th day of Chinese Lunar New Year, to express the respect to the heaven. [Photo/NewSSC]

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