(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-17 20:29

Overseas Chinese, scholars in U.S. condemn plot to sabotage Tibet's stability

NEW YORK  -- Leaders of some overseas Chinese groups in eastern United States and some scholars on Sunday sharply condemned the plot by supporters of the Dalai Lama to attempt to sabotage the stability of Tibet, an autonomous region of China, and praised the restraint of the Chinese government in dealing with the issue.

During the meeting organized by the Council for the Peaceful Reunion of China in New York, all participants agreed that separatists in Tibet chose this sensitive period during which China is holding the annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, to instigate some Tibetans to engage in "premeditated, planned and organized violence" including beatings, vandalism, looting and burning on the streets of Lhasa, in a bid to disturb the coming Olympic Games in Beijing "through sabotaging the stability and prosperity of Tibet."

Several representatives made speeches during the meeting, saying that the violence in Tibet came at a sensitive time, and that "we must remain on high alert."

They sharply criticized the plot by supporters of the Dalai Lama to instigate violence in Lhasa, saying that any attempt at independence would fail.