CRI听力： Social Order Reinstated in Lhasa

Officials in Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region say social order is returning to normal in the region after riots rocked the capital city Lhasa ten days ago. Eighteen civilians and one police officer have been confirmed dead in the unrest. In Lhasa, electric power, communications and other infrastructure facilities have gradually been restored to meet the daily needs of residents.

CRI Reporter Chen Xi has the details.

Reporter:

Dorje Tsedrup, the mayor of Lhasa, says the local government is confident that it can maintain social order with the support of the central government. He adds that day-to-day life has already returned to normal.

"The lawless criminals who engaged in the beating, smashing, looting and burning that occurred in Lhasa will undoubtedly receive severe punishment. We are determined to keep social stability in Lhasa."

Local people and tourists in the city say that they have already experienced changes in Lhasa, commending the government's efforts to protect their basic rights and interests.

An Italian tourist, who gave his name as Guzman, said he was initially fearful about the riots, and feels relieved that the situation is under control.

"We were planning to leave to meet some friends. This morning, we went to the markets to buy some vegetables. We had lunch in the restaurants and we went for a walk."

Local officials say that restaurants, hotels and grocery stores were reopened about a week after the riots. Compared with the past few days, more private cars and cabs have also returned to the streets.

A local shopper surnamed Xiong in a supermarket says that nothing around her has changed.

"My workplace is around here, and I always do some shopping at this supermarket. I think the commodities are as plentiful as before and the prices have not changed at all. Nothing has changed here."

The Haicheng Primary School closed for three days due to the riots. Its headmaster, Nyima Tsering, says students and teachers are all back in school now.

"In our school, most of the students have resumed their normal classes and all the teaching staff have come back to their positions, as well."

According to the local government, power and water have been restored in Lhasa. Most of the damaged power facilities had been repaired by mid-March, and the grid is in stable operation.

The unrest began on March 14th. A group of rioters shouting slogans for Tibetan independence, with rocks and homemade bombs, attacked government buildings, police stations, hospitals, schools, and markets.

The local government and relevant departments took action shortly thereafter to end the riots in accordance with the law.