Chinese army, police warned of long fight against Tibet separatists (4)

LHASA, Sept. 7 -- Senior Chinese official Yu Zhengsheng on Monday urged army, police and judicial staff in Tibet to crack down on separatist forces and be ready to fight a protracted battle against the 14th Dalai clique.

Speaking to a rally of representatives from the People's Liberation Army, People's Armed Police Force and the judicial organs in Tibet, Yu urged them to improve the abilities of "governing Tibet according to law", specifically cracking down on the separatist forces, strengthening social management and protecting the people's rights.

They should uphold the correct "political direction" and exert a bigger role in safeguarding border stability and ethnic solidarity, said Yu, who is leading a central government delegation in Lhasa to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, also greeted staff at the stability-maintaining command centers in seven places across the plateau region.

Tibet affairs matter in the national strategy and play a special, significant role in consolidating national unity, ethnic solidarity and the Communist Party of China's (CPC's) governing status, said Yu, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

Yu praised the army, police and judicial staff's contribution to Tibet's stability and development, calling them a strong team that the Party can trust in and the people can rely on.

He told them to regard the people's interests as top priority and promote a closer relationship with the people.

He also conveyed greetings from State President and Central Military Commission Chairman Xi Jinping and presented them with gifts, including a plaque on which Xi inscribes "enhancing ethnic unity, building a beautiful Tibet."