A senior Communist Party official vowed Beijing would continue its 'vigorous struggle' against the Dalai Lama, state media said yesterday.
It is the first time a senior official in charge of Tibetan affairs issued such a strongly-worded statement after a spate of self-immolations by Tibetans in protest against Chinese rule.
Zhu Weiqun, a vice-minister of the party's United Front Work Department responsible for managing relations with Tibetans and other minorities, issued the warning in Lhasa at a recent meeting with Tibet Autonomous Region government officials, the Tibet Daily reported yesterday, without giving a date.
The United Front Work Department reports directly to the Central Committee, the highest authority in the Communist Party. Zhu's comments are significant as they are a clear message from the leadership that dissent will not be tolerated.
'The central government's stance towards the Dalai clique remains unchanged; its struggle against that clique remains unchanged,' Zhu was quoted as saying. 'Our struggle is long-term, vigorous, complex and even intense.'
The 'Dalai clique' is a term often used by government officials to refer to the 76-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate and his followers.
Zhu warned against complacency, saying local officials in Tibet must maintain 'a clear head' and be mindful of national security, the crisis they face and their responsibilities, as well as being constantly vigilant about social stability.