Tibet regional government said 105 people have surrendered themselves to police by 11 PM on Tuesday for involvement in the Lhasa riot that killed 13 innocent civilians. [Video: 105 rioters surrender to police]
Vice-chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Regional government, Baema Chilain, says that as of 11 p.m. on Tuesday, 105 rioters have turned themselves in.
Tibetan law enforcement authorities issued a notice on Saturday, urging lawbreakers in Friday's riot to stop criminal activities and offering leniency to those who surrender themselves.
Doje Cering, a 25-year-old villager, smashed a red sedan and a white van with stones during the riot. He explained to Xinhua he was drunk at home that day when he heard someone shouting "get out, or we will burn down your house." Then he just blindly followed them.
Gyaincain, 53, said he came out when he heard people shouting "all people out, or burnt by fire." "I just followed them," he said.
"I was very disturbed by what I did. My family has persuaded me to give in to police," he said.
Baema Chilain, vice-chairman of the regional government, said the people who gave themselves to police had been directly involved in the beating, smashing, looting and arson last Friday.
"Some have turned in the money they looted," said Baema.
The riots erupted in the plateau city on Friday afternoon. Rioters killed 13 civilians and set fires to more than 300 locations and attacked schools, banks, hospitals, shops, government offices, utilities and state media offices. [Video: Countries urged to distinguish right and wrong concerning Lhasa riot]
A preliminary investigation showed at least 373 business people and 32 enterprises had reported damages from the riot, with losses exceeding 99.1 million yuan (about 14 million U.S. dollars) as of Tuesday night, according to the regional department of commerce.
(Xinhua News Agency March 19, 2008)