Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the Tibet autonomous regional government, vowed Wednesday that Olympic torch relay in Tibet will be safe and successful.

He said at a press conference that the Beijing Olympic Games will be successful, and that the actions of a handful of secessionists could not change that.

"I have noticed that recently some secessionists made some activities in London and Paris," he said.

Their activities cannot affect the situation, but only expose their "true face" to the world, he said.

He said the battle against secessionist activities and the Dalai Lama clique will be long, complicated and intense. The secessionists regard the Beijing Olympic Games as an opportunity to make trouble. "Therefore, I don't doubt they will create trouble during the torch relay in Tibet."

However, holding the Olympic Games is the 100-year expectation of the Chinese nation and the torch relay in Tibet is the honor and responsibility of the Tibetan people. All ethnic groups in the Tibet Autonomous Region will support the torch relay, he said.

"We will fully prepare for it and the Olympic torch relay in Tibet will be peaceful and successful," he added.

Qiangba Puncog said if someone dared to sabotage the torch relay in Tibet, they will be severely punished.

(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2008)