A living Buddha in Gansu condemned the riots that rocked the Tibetan-inhabited areas in the northwest Chinese province on Thursday.

"The violence in southern Gansu involving beatings, smashing, looting and arson that was fanned by domestic and overseas secessionists has severely wrecked social stability and threatened people's lives and property safety," said Dewacang Jayangtudain Gyaincog, a living Buddha at the famous Tibetan Buddhist temple Labrang Lamasery in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

"Crime of a very few people not only runs against China's laws, but also violates the basic Buddhist principles," he said.

While Buddhism preaches peace, humanity and mercy, the counties of Xiahe, Maqu, Luqu and Jone and Hezuo City in Gannan experienced similar turmoil to that of last Friday in Lhasa when rioters shouting slogans of "Tibet Independence", carrying rocks and self-made petrol bombs or waving flags of "Tibetan-government-in-exile" stormed government offices, police stations, hospitals, schools, banks, shops and markets, among others.

The rock-flinging and club-wielding mobs smashed windows, set fire to vehicles and injured local citizens and police.

"Here I call on the Buddhists to draw a clear line with the criminals, not being deceived or spreading rumors, not watching or participating in riots of the secessionists," Dewacang said.

The Labrang monastery is one of the six most important lamaseries in the Yellow Sect of Tibetan Lamaism.

Peace is now being restored in Gannan.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2008)