Chinese official warns Tibetans to 'oppose separatism, obey country's law'

Beijing, Feb 25 (ANI): A Chinese Communist Party official has warned Tibetans to oppose separatism and obey the law, as he visited an area in the country that has been at the center of many recent self-immolation protests.

Sichuan Communist Party chief Liu Qibao visited a monastery and villages in Aba and Ganzi Counties, and told its residents to support the Communist Party.

"We should resolutely crack down on separatist activities and crimes of all kinds, uphold state unification, ethnic unity and the normal legal order. This upholds the basic interests of the people and upholds their religious freedom," the state-run Sichuan Daily quoted Qibao, as saying.

According to The BBC, Qibao, who reportedly visited the Buddhist Kirti monastery in Aba, said that 'there should be no reason to destroy an innocent life'.

"Everyone is equal before the law. No matter whether you are a monk or a nun, you are a citizen first. There are no monasteries outside the law, nor are there individuals outside the law," he added.

A spate of recent self-immolations and other anti-China protests have occurred in the western province.

At least 21 Tibetan monks and nuns have set themselves on fire over the past year to protest at Chinese rule in Tibet. (ANI)