The 11th Panchen Lama, Gyaincain Norbu, said on Sunday that the violence in Lhasa ran counter to Buddhist tenets.
Ngawang Daindzin, a living Buddha, said that "the rioters who wore cassocks were no real monks at all. What they did is completely against Buddhist codes."
"In Tibet, development is the priority of all work and maintaining a stable society is our responsibility. I hold that stability comes first," said Ragdi.
As the riot burst out last Friday, the regional government immediately organized task forces to put out the fires and rescue the injured and strengthened protection of hospitals, schools, banks and government offices.
"Throughout the process, security forces did not carry or use any destructive weapons, but tear gas and water cannons were employed," said Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Government. Reportedly, 61 police were injured, six seriously.
Tibetan law enforcement authorities issued a notice last Saturday, urging lawbreakers in the Friday riot to stop criminal activities and offering leniency to those who surrendered. The Tibet regional government said that 170 people had surrendered to police by 10 p.m. on Wednesday.
Doje Cering, a 25-year-old villager, stoned a red sedan and a white van. He said he was drunk at home that day when he heard someone shouting "get out, or we will burn down your house." Then he just blindly followed them.
Gyaincain, 53, said he came out when he heard people shouting "all people out, or be burned by fire." He said: "I just followed them. I was very disturbed by what I did. My family has persuaded me to turn myself in to the police," he said.
"These people will not go unpunished by law in any country," said Qiangba, chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Government. "For those who committed minor offenses and showed repentance, we will educate them; for those who initiated and committed serious crimes in the riot, they will be sternly punished in accordance with the law."
The government's measures have borne fruit. As of Monday, traffic on the main Lhasa streets had resumed. Government bodies, businesses, schools and major farm produce markets are operating normally, said Doje Cezhug, the mayor of Lhasa.
Local residents, who remained at home for two days, started to come out and get some fresh air in parks and streets.
After shutting the door for three days, a shopowner surnamed Xie re-opened his spacious hair salon on North Duosenge Road on Tuesday. "It is too boring to hide for days on end. I also have to make money to maintain the salon. It is a pity we have too few customers today," said Xie.
Not far from Xie's salon, three lads were unloading milk from a truck to re-stock the Sifang Supermarket, a place frequented by local housewives.
To the side of the supermarket gate, a peddler surnamed Li hawked a pedicab of withered bananas at half-price. "I stocked these bananas last week. I used to sell bananas for eight yuan per kilogram. Now I have to clear them as I was stranded at home these past few days."
At the Sifang, Hongyan and Baiyi supermarkets in downtown Lhasa, residents took their time buying fruit, vegetables, oils and other daily necessities, showing no signs of panic buying.
"No one seems to have come here to stock up," said Li Yan, administration manager of Baiyi supermarket, which resumed operations on Monday. "Customers and sales are a little under our average level."
Despite the fright and losses, damaged businesses have largely set out to rebuild.
"I have been in Tibet for 25 years, and Lhasa has become my second home," said Jia Fuqing, a business coming from east China's Zhejiang Province. Jia has sold children's clothing and toys in Lhasa for 23 years. Step by step, he has expanded his business into a four-story kids' supermarket, known as the Blue Shield, at the North Duosengge Road.
His market was burned last Friday. Garments and shoes were destroyed by fire on the first and second floors; goods on the third and fourth floors were damaged beyond use by smoke.
"I have lost about eight million yuan from ruined goods and the expenses to rebuild the supermarket," said Jia, counting on his fingers. "Anyway, I will not leave my second home; I believe in the government."
Tuesday morning, Jia bought six sets of roller doors and had them installed.
"My whole family is living in Lhasa. My child was born and raised here. I will continue business here. I do not have much money on hand to rebuild my market, but I will re-open it even if to borrow money," said Jia.
(Xinhua News Agency, March 21, 2008)