"These widely occurring events did create a sense of public panic," Mao Shengwu, head of Gannan prefecture, which includes Machu, told reporters on Wednesday.
Fears would be calmed by "better public propaganda to the world about what happened and government policies", by strengthening security and bringing perpetrators to justice, Mao said.
FEAR FOR FUTURE
Two hours away by dirt road, monks at the Xiaxiu monastery in Manrima township said three of their colleagues, who had gone to Machu "just to see", had been detained. Two were released after paying heavy fines.
"We are very afraid. The army is all around and they come and check on us regularly. We are afraid for what these events mean for us, for the future," one monk said.
Burly men in sunglasses and Tibetan robes squatting on doorsteps at the monastery were undercover government security agents, people at the monastery said.
Tibetan shopkeepers in Machu said they were repeatedly interrogated by police, adding that three young Tibetans had been severely beaten while in custody this week.
Mao told reporters that 432 people, including 170 monks, were still in custody, and eight civilians had been formally arrested for demonstrations in most of Gannan's counties in mid-March.
Although the Chinese and foreign journalists were invited to interview people on the street in Machu, most conversations quickly ceased as government officials accompanying the tour approached. Many Tibetans said they did not speak Chinese, or answered simply "We don't know what happened here either."
"I'll wait and see. I am a bit afraid, but we'll see how it goes," said Ma Zhe, a Hui Muslim who said his fabric shop in Machu was protected because it is in a market owned by a Tibetan.
Most of the Han and Hui interviewed said they had moved to Machu within the last decade, usually from other towns in southern Gansu.
"I'm Tibetan, and I think it's really a shame for this place. We've lived through a lot here... and I never could have imagined we'd have all these buildings," said Lamajyep, a man in his 60s who spoke fluent Chinese.
"Look at this police station. It's not easy to build a strong building like this, and in a few hours it can be burnt. Isn't it a shame? But I won't discuss ethnic relations because I am not an educated man."
