The reporters, including 11 from foreign media organizations such as the American Broadcasting Company, The Reuters, the Russian News and Information Agency and the TV Asashi Corporation of Japan are on their four-day trip in the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture after the riots on March 14.

They are scheduled to visit Xiahe, Hezuo, Maqu and Luqu, the worst hit areas in the riots and interview local residents, living Buddhas, and government officials.

They interviewed Jamyang Losang Jigme Tubdain Qoigyi Nyima, vice president of the Tibetan Chapter of the Buddhist Association of China, in the morning before arriving at the Labrang monastery.

Jamyang, one of the most revered religious leaders in the country, told reporters that the destruction in Gansu was nothing but blatant exposure of separatism and insanity.

Jamyang said Labrang would not expel any of the disciples who were engaged in the riots. "But a few lawbreakers will have to be dealt with according to the law," he said. "Like anyone else, they have to abide by the law."

The religious leader added that he was also annoyed by the Tibetan separatists who disrupted the Olympic torch relay outside China.

Mao Shengwu, acting chief of the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, briefed the journalists in the afternoon on the recent riots.

A total of 2,204 people, including 519 monks, have surrendered to police in connection with Gannan riots. Police had released 1,870 of those people, including 413 monks, who were guilty of minor offenses.

Police had formally arrested eight people suspected of participating in the riots and put another 432, including 170 monks, in temporary custody, according to Mao.

The situation in the prefecture had been brought under control and normal public life had resumed, Mao said. However, he said the prefecture would open to foreign tourists and journalists only when it was considered safe to do so as a handful of rioters were still at large.

From March 14 to 19, assaults, vandalism, looting and arson occurred in the Xiahe, Maqu, Luqu, Jone, Hezuo and Diebu areas of Gannan, leaving 94 people injured and incurring 230 million yuan (32.8 million U.S. dollars) in damages.

A group of monks disrupted a media briefing at the Johkang Temple on March 27 when reporters from 19 media organizations including foreign ones paid a three-day visit to Lhasa after the violence on March 14.

Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region government, told press Wednesday in Beijing that the lamas were not punished.

"I think it is natural for some lamas to have their own opinions and talk to the media," said Qiangba Puncog. "But what they said is not true."

"They are still in Johkang Temple and will be if they do not participate in any law-breaking activities such as beating, smashing, robbing and burning," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency April 10, 2008)