WASHINGTON, Jan. 3--A fire has destroyed a local government building in a
traditionally Tibetan area of southwest China, and sources say arsonists
may have set the blaze to protest Chinese rule in the region, Radio Free
Asia (RFA) reports.

"On Dec. 23 between 1 and 2 a.m., the Karze Prefecture People's Congress
Hall was completely burnt down," said one of the sources who asked not to
be named. "Some posters and fliers in support of Tibetan independence had
been strewn around the area," the source said.

The fire occurred during periodic meetings of the People's Congress of
Karze Prefecture in Sichuan Province, although no one appears to have been
inside the building at the time of the blaze, sources said.

"Posters and fliers were pasted even on the Buddhist stupas [prayer sites]
located near the hall. The local Karze officials suspected separatist
elements but so far no arrests have been made," one person said.

During their December meeting, Karze Prefecture People's Congress
delegates were said to have been discussing ways to crack down on
separatists opposed to Chinese rule.

Police confirmed the incident to RFA's Tibetan service but declined to
discuss details of the investigation. No casualties were reported.