Determined to put down unrest, officials in the Tibet Autonomous Region have been ordered to recognize the "grave situation" in maintaining stability and to ready themselves for "a war against secessionist sabotage," months ahead of a major plenary session of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
The fight against the Dalai Lama clique is a "long-term, complicated and sometimes even acute" one, Tibet regional party chief Chen Quanguo was quoted by China's official media as saying on Thursday.
"For those irresponsible officials who walk away from their duties, fail to implement policies or are found guilty of dereliction of duty in maintaining stability, they shall be immediately removed from their posts, pending punishment, regardless of how great the contributions they made in the past or what kind of position they held," Chen warned in a strongly worded speech.
He asked local officials to "improve the precautionary and emergency management mechanism," and ensure the government's ability to immediately and resolutely handle any emergency. "We should make every effort to win the tough battle to maintain stability, and seize the initiative in our fight against separatism," he said.
Xu Zhitao, an official with the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, told the Global Times that "secessionists led by the Dalai Lama appeared more determined to plot conspiracies this year." The Dalai Lama clique had claimed that they might carry out some schemes to wreck the upcoming Tibetan New Year falling on February 22, according to Xu.
It has become routine to strengthen work to maintain stability in March, but the situation is particularly tense this year, Xu said, referring to the anniversary of the deadly riots in the region on March 14, 2008.
Unrest broke out in the regional capital Lhasa and later spilled into other Tibetan regions, leaving 19 people dead and many businesses, houses, and vehicles damaged or looted.
Xiong Kunxin, a professor with the Minzu University of China, said further tightening of security could be related to a string of recent self-immolations in Sichuan and Qinghai provinces bordering Tibet.
"There are five regions that are inhabited by Tibetan people in China. Turbulence in one area can affect others," said Xiong, referring to Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan provinces where Tibetan communities are located as well as Tibet itself.
A Tibetan monk set himself on fire in Aba Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous prefecture in Sichuan on Wednesday. The man was allegedly taken away by police and his current condition is unknown.
At least two mob attacks on police stations were reported late January in Tibetan areas of Sichuan, leaving at least two people dead and more than a dozen injured.
"Such tragic incidents in Sichuan's Tibetan area have to do with geographic and historical factors, which made Tibetan people there more aggressive. Less strict management in this area also led to this problem," Xiong said, adding that such violence and self-immolation cases have violated the creeds of Tibetan Buddhism.
"To politicize Buddhism is the way for the Dalai Lama to cause a sensation, which would help them win support from the West. Such knockout incidents could boost their campaign and win them bigger chances to fulfill their political purpose, Xiong said.
Separately, during a meeting with Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna in Beijing on Wednesday, senior CPC leader Zhou Yongkang said the question concerned China's national interests and that the Chinese government would crack down on secessionists and safeguard its territorial integrity, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
Krishna reiterated that India recognizes Tibet as a part of China and will not tolerate "anti-China activities" on Indian territory.
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