During an interview, the director of the Lhasa Bureau of Justice noted that the region is under autonomous rule and that the law must integrate the unique Tibetan customs and traditions with the laws made by the central government. Thus, the Tibetan government must articulate the theories of Marxism as a legal base while ensuring the sanctity of local jurisdiction, and factors such as military troops and restrictions on mobility seriously limit the region's autonomy. People have the right to demonstrate, but illegal demonstrations are punished. Tibetan officials emphasize the need to maintain good relations with Western countries. They readily acknowledge the existence of crime in Tibet, while noting how low the crime rates are compared to those in major Western countries. They attribute the low rates to the superiority of socialism over capitalism. They also appear to have an abiding respect for the ability of written law to produce harmony and economic advantage through its regulatory capacities within a consensual rather than coercive context, although unofficial indicators sometimes contradict the official statements on a subject. Photographs and 23 references