By Tenzin Monlam

A Tibetan protestor in Nepal. File Photo (For representative purpose only)

DHARAMSHALA, February 13: Chinese officials of so-called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) have released a memo detailing how public can help the authorities by reporting about activities of ‘criminal gangs’ connected to the ‘separatist forces of the Dalai Lama’, Chinese state-run daily, the Global Times, reported.

The circular released by the Public Security Bureau (PSB) of TAR also warned the local Tibetans of ‘evil forces’ of Dalai clique fearing they might use local temples and religion control to ‘confuse and incite’ people against the communist party and the government.

The circular that lists 22 illegal activities the bureau wants people to report, three activities have mentioned the ‘Dalai Lama and his group’. People have been asked to report on activities of ‘foreign hostile forces’ that may seek financial assistance from the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, whom Beijing calls ‘separatist’.

Wang Xiaobin, a scholar at the Beijing-based China Tibetology Research Center said, “The Dalai group always interferes in national affairs by controlling temples, including lamas and living Buddhas, and by spreading a kind of ‘middle way’ to the world, which actually advocates separatism and emphasizes the separation of sovereignty and governing rights.”

The directive from the bureau comes after the announcement made by party’s Central Committee and the State Council in January to tackle ‘organized crimes’ and officials who shelter criminal organizations.

With an aim to counter ‘ethnic extremism’, the authorities are targeting those who in their view are threatening China’s political stability or driving people against the government under the disguise of religion.

“Hostile forces and some intellectuals who advocate ‘protecting the local language’ are attempting to spread the false notion that the Chinese language is destroying Tibetan culture,” Wang said, “Ethnic extremism is an ideology that has unfathomable consequences.”

The circular issued by the bureau has assured that the informers’ identity and safety will be guaranteed.