Special report: Dalai clique's separatist activities condemned

    BEIJING, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Tibetan students who took part in the March 17 sit-in at the Central University for Nationalities in Beijing were worshipping peace for their families and the region, according to a school authority here on Wednesday.

    "Those students were very reasonable and returned to their dormitories by midnight after talks with teachers," said Xerab Nyi'ma, the university's vice president and a Tibetan himself, during a press conference.

    "The sit-in did not disturb the normal order of the school and the teaching went on as usual," he added.

    "Both the Tibetan teachers and students are indignant about the March 14 Lhasa riot," the scholar said.

    "The Tibetan language is now well-preserved as all higher institutions for ethnic groups have Tibetan studies department."

    "The percentage for school-age children to enter school has soared from less than 2 percent five decades ago to 96 percent."

    "I myself am a very good example. Born in a remote county in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, I was able to pursue the language study and became a doctoral advisor on this subject and the vice-president of a prestigious university," he said.

    "My five brothers and sisters are all college students and they all studied Tibetan language in school," he said.

    "Chinese law stipulates that all ethnic groups including Tibetans have freedom to use and develop their language," he noted.

    The students of the Central University for Nationalities staged a sit-in at the school on the night of March 17 after the Lhasa riot. The silent gathering started at 7:30 p.m. at the Haidian District institution in northwestern Beijing. Students earlier told Xinhua they were holding a "candlelit vigil".

    No clashes between the participants and school authorities were reported.