Chinese police shoot dead two as Tibetan New Year approaches Mr Chen also warned those officials who fail to crush any signs of mass rebellion face severe punishment for dereliction of duty in protecting their country. "For those irresponsible officials who walk away from their duties, fail to implement policies or are found guilty of dereliction of duty in maintaining stability, they shall be immediately removed from their posts, pending punishment, regardless of how great the contributions they made in the past or what kind of position they held," Mr Chen warned. The emotive language and assiduous rhetoric reflects Mr Chen's growing unease that his government's modernisation policies are failing to win over Tibetans. Despite improved living conditions and economic empowerment in what China has long viewed as feudal and poverty stricken society, Tibetans remain resentful and volatile. They cite a cultural genocide because of the influx of Han Chinese, the country's dominant ethnic community, who in their tens of thousands, are being encouraged to settle in Tibet and other once remote regions in the western provinces. Tibet and regions with Tibetan communities in western China are in lock-down with armed police and paramilitary officers on the streets of the Sichaun capital, Chengdu, with scores of garrisons in the area on high alert. All foreigners are banned from travelling to the region - especially international journalists, who have yet to confirm most of the reports of shootings, riots and self immolations, the last of which took place yesterday. If confirmed, the incident would bring to at least 18 the number of monks, nuns and lay Tibetans who have set themselves on fire over the last year.