China calls on overseas Tibet report to be 'objective'

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-26 21:54

BEIJING - China hoped overseas media could carry out reports on Tibet in an objective, comprehensive and truthful way, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said here Thursday.

He made the remarks at a regular press conference when responding to a question related to a video clip appeared on the Internet in recent days that allegedly showed Chinese police brutality in the March 14 Lhasa riot of last year.

Qin said the video clip had been edited and intentionally misrepresented.

"Maybe the Dalai Lama and his followers got some tips of image-editing from some western media," he said. "The intention of the Dalai Lama and his backers' hammering out the video clip is obvious."

He said though some journalists were concerned about relevant details they were missing other points.

"Have you ever cared about the innocent civilians who were burnt or hacked to death in the event? Do you remember the five young girls who were burnt to death in the event? Do you remember the sad look of the parents who lost their children?" Qin said, adding the March 14 Lhasa riot was a violent crime.

"We hope media can make objective, comprehensive and truthful observation of criminal nature of the event," Qin said.

The riot seriously undermined local social order, and caused direct economic losses amounting to nearly 300 million yuan, Qin said, noting the riot killed 18 innocent civilians, and injured more than 380 innocent civilians and 242 servicemen.

When dealing with the riot, local policemen and armed police force didn't carry or use lethal weapons, Qin said, adding that they performed their duties with great restraint according to law.

"The crimes committed by the Dalai Clique are irrefutable and pinned down by ironclad evidence," which "cannot be denied by the Dalai Lama and his backers," said Qin, adding the Dalai Lama group is still intensifying secessionist activities.

"The Dalai Lama group's secessionist plot hasn't succeeded, and will be doomed to failure in the future, "Qin said.

Concluding his remarks, Qin gave a book and a disc published by China reviewing the facts of the March 14 Lhasa riot to the journalist who raised the question.