Stores under attack proved in legal operation

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-15-2008 08:36

Some merchants in Lhasa suffered great losses during the violent riots on March the 14th, as mobs burnt or looted their stores. But the Dalai Lama told media recently that most of these stores were brothels. We have this report to investigate what these stores really did before they were targeted by rioters.

In the 300 year old Chomsigkang market, mobs burned down 21 homes and 4 stores owned by ethnic Tibetan people.

On Beijing East Road in downtown Lhasa, the worst-hit area on March 14th, dozens of stores were burned down or looted. This store lost almost everything.

This store run by Han people is among almost 1400 commercial stores that became the targets of the attacks. Even ethnic Tibetans couldn't avoid the violence. In the 300 year old Chomsigkang market, mobs burned down 21 homes and 4 stores owned by ethnic Tibetan people.

Tibetan business owner Cizhen runs a pearl store on the famous tourist site Barkhor Street. She suffered losses of almost three million US dollars, as the mobs stole everything.

Businessman Cizhen said, "300 people with knives and stones broke in, smashed the counter, and looted everything."

A month after the riot, the owners of the ravaged stores have come to the local Industrial and Commercial Bureau to register their losses, and apply for a new operation certificate.

A month after the riot, the owners of the ravaged stores have come to the local Industrial and Commercial Bureau to register their losses, and apply for a new operation certificate. Records show none of them run illegal business.

Shang Guiying, official of Local Industrial and Commercial Bureau, said, "We haven't found any cases of illegal businesses so far. And our strict supervision of the market prevents the operation any illegal business."

The nearly 1400 targeted commercial businesses include various fields of the service industry from retailing, catering to medical service. None of them have shown any illegal activity as claimed by the Dalai Lama.

Editor:Zhang Ning