Tibetologists reportedly made further condemnations against the violence in Lhasa on Monday and echoed some religious leaders and local residents in criticizing the riot that rocked the holy city.

Cering Doje, deputy director of the religion research institute of the Tibetan Academy of Social Sciences (TASS), said that he questioned the Dalai Lama's humanity and mercy, according to Tibetan Daily reports on Monday.

"Religion advocates care and mercy, but the reckless rioters attacked hospitals and child-entertainment centers," Doje said, "They seemed to have lost basic humanity, and there was no mercy at all."

Other Tibetologists said that they were outraged by the Dalai Lama's silence in condemning the riot.

In the Lhasa unrest, rioters sliced off people's ears, gored children, clubbed young Tibetans into a coma and tried to block nurses from saving an injured 5-year-old.

Tibet regional chairman Qiangba Puncog told a news briefing in Beijing on Monday that 13 innocent civilians were burned or stabbed to death in Friday's riots.

On Saturday, the Dalai Lama dissociated himself from the violence by charging that Tibet was being ruled by terror, which Tibetan officials rejected as "downright nonsense".

Basang Wangdu, another Tibetologist and a council member of the International Society of Tibetology, said that people can see clearly from Friday's riots that Dalai Lama never stops engaging secessional activities. His attempts will not succeed.

While condemning the riots, others called for solidarity among all ethnic groups at what they said was a critical time.

"Tibetans and Hans share a common cultural background. We have links that cannot be severed," said Cering Gyaibo, the head of TASS' religion research institute.

"At this critical time, we need to cherish ethnic solidarity and muster courage to protect territorial integrity and ethnic harmony," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency, March 17, 2008)