Qiangba Puncog said he believes that some secessionists will continue to use the torch relay to publicize their illegal cause. "We will fully prepare for it."

He said the autonomous region will take some security measures but will not impose a curfew or suspend classes during the relay in Tibet.

In response to a question about the monks who spoke to foreign reporters in Johkang Temple during their recent Lhasa visit, Qiangba Puncog said none of the monks have been, or would be, penalized.

"It is natural for some lamas to have their own opinions," he said.

"The monks are still in Johkang Temple and will continue to be there if they do not participate in any law-breaking activities," he added.

A group of monks disrupted the media trip to Johkang Temple on March 27 when reporters from 19 foreign and Chinese media organizations paid a three-day visit to Lhasa after the March 14 violence.

But Qiangba Puncog made it clear that what the monks said is untrue.

Citing a monk who claimed that the authorities killed more than 100 people in Lhasa, he said that the monk later admitted he learned this from the Voice of America.

Foreign reporters can still visit Tibet after going through prescribed procedures, he said.

"But for safety reasons, foreigners and foreign media need to follow relevant regulations. We neither want to restrict media coverage nor have anything to cover up," he said.

(China Daily April 10, 2008)