(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-27 16:38

LHASA - The Dalai clique is racking its brains to sabotage the unity and solidarity of the Han and Tibetan ethnic groups as seen in the recent Lhasa riot, a living Buddha says.

Chubakang Tubdain Kaizhub, head of the Tibetan chapter of the Buddhist Association of China, said on Wednesday that the Dalai clique did not want to see and therefore tried every means possible to sabotage the family-like unity and solidarity between the Han and Tibetan ethnic groups.

In the March 14 rioting in Lhasa, vandals roared about the Tibetan capital, smashing and looting shops and setting fires on a day that left 19 people dead.

Rioters shouted "those who eat tsamba (a staple food of ethnic Tibetans) all come out," the living Buddha said. "The slogan is just the same as in the 1959 armed uprising launched by the clique. Their intention is very obvious, just to break the solidarity among ethnic groups."

The Han and Tibetan ethnic groups have had friendly relations through history, said Tubdain Kaizhub, also a member of the country's top political advisory body.

He cited the examples of intermarriage and religious exchange of the two ethnic groups in ancient times.

"After the founding of New China, the two ethnic groups are more like children of the same mother."

The living Buddha added it was a great satire for the Nobel Peace Prize title given to Dalai, a person with "peace" in his mouth who orchestrated the Lhasa riot that involved beating, smashing, looting and arson.

During the Lhasa riot, mobs set fire to shops, schools, hospitals and residences and attacked some office buildings. At least 18 civilians and one police officer were killed.