Most of the shops near the temple were also closed.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang told a news conference Thursday that he had no specific information on the latest protest.

“I would like to stress that, including the monks, the people of various ethnic groups in Tibet are resolutely safeguarding the national unity and oppose separatist activities,” he said.

“Tibet is developing. The monks and other ethnic people in Tibet enjoy their lawful rights and freedoms, they can enjoy their lives. Tibet today is not like medieval Europe,” Qin said.

Meanwhile, the Dalai Lama, speaking in New Delhi, said he was in touch with “friends” to get a dialogue going with Chinese officials.

“I think this is time the Chinese government and Chinese officials, I think, must accept the reality. I think that’s important. Now in any case we are (in the) 21st century, pretending or lies cannot work,” he said.

The reporters were kept away from any potential hotspots, including the Ramoche monastery. Down a lane north of the Jokhang, Ramoche is where the violence started on March 14. The narrow lanes leading to it were sealed off by riot police in dark blue uniforms.

The government handlers also told the reporters they would not be able to see Drepung and Sera monasteries, where initial protests were launched March 10.

Reporters who tried to break away from the group were followed on foot and by car.

Only furtive conversations with Tibetans were possible. “Ethnic unity? This war is an ethnic conflict,” said one middle-aged Tibetan in a shop selling yak butter in the Old City of Lhasa.

The reporters were taken to places that had been well publicized on state television as places the rioters had attacked.

That included the Lhasa No. 2 Middle School near Ramoche. Protesters had hurled burning objects that set fire to one two-story building. Nobody was hurt at the school.

The principal, Deji Zhuoge, said he did not know why the school was attacked. “We don’t know what happened it was very chaotic that morning.”

He said 85 percent of the schools 620 students were Tibetan. “We’re like one big family,” he said.

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