CHINESE police were just doing their job to preserve order and peace in Lhasa, an American man who witnessed the Tibet riots last month told Xinhua.

"I cannot use the word 'crackdown' to comment on the Chinese government's dispersal of the riots in Lhasa," said Jim Kreston, 60, an engineer from the state of Wisconsin.

Kreston's family arrived in Lhasa on March 14, the day the riots started, after visiting several other Chinese cities and scenic spots such as Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Wuhan and the Three Gorges Dam.

"We were to stay at the Dhood Gu Hotel, but since that was at the center of the Tibet riots, we were transferred to Xin Ding Hotel. We had a wonderful view of the Portola Palace from our bedroom. But we saw some smoke coming from the area of the riots."

"We were not kept from leaving the hotel except that our tour guide said that she would really appreciate it if we would not leave. The shops and repair places were open across the street and there was a fair amount of pedestrian traffic around the hotel including many monks," Kreston said.

"Most of us went to the roof of the hotel for a better look at the situation. No one kept us from going up there. Everything seemed calm — I wondered about some of the news reports stating that the entire city was in turmoil," he said.

"In many American newspapers there were pictures of Chinese soldiers beating some demonstrators with sticks. They said they were Chinese soldiers, but I know how Chinese soldiers dress. In fact they were Nepalese soldiers," he said.

"We saw no military and no one carrying weapons. Even at the checkpoints the guards had no weapons," he added.

Commenting on the disruption caused by the Tibetan separatists during the Olympic torch relay, Kreston said, "The Olympic Games has nothing to do with the issue of Tibet. And I will be so disappointed with President (George W.) Bush if he doesn't attend the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games."

(Xinhua)