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Video: Documentary "The past of Tibet" sheds new light on Tibet .
Video: Tibetan tell how life has changed .
Video: Tibet museum; History tells the truth .
Video: Documentary: The Dalai Lama .
Facts and Figures of Tibetan development
www.chinaview.cn 2008-03-27 13:44:50
Special report: Dalai clique's separatist activities condemned
LHASA, March 27 (Xinhua) -- The Tibet Autonomous Region, covering one-eighth of China's territory with a population of 2.8 million, has developed rapidly in recent years. Here are a group of key facts and figures about Tibet:
Economy: The economy of Tibet has been growing at an annual rate of 12 percent or more over the past seven years. In 2007, the region's gross domestic product (GDP) was 34.2 billion yuan (about4.88 billion U.S. dollars), which was 12,000 yuan per capita -- double the 2002 figure. The per capita net income of farmers and herdsmen posted double-digit growth for a fifth consecutive year and reached 2,788 yuan in 2007.
Education: Over the past five years, 8.22 billion yuan in government funding has been invested in education to improve school facilities and raise literacy rates and the quality of education. The special annual educational subsidies for the children of Tibetan farmers and herders have been increased from 353 yuan 22 years ago to an average of 1,450 yuan in 2007.
Housing: In 2006, the Tibetan regional government launched a program to build homes for 220,000 local farming and herding households by 2010. More than 570,000 people have since moved into new residences and regional government spending has totaled 1.3 billion yuan. The per capita housing area for Tibetan herders has reached 36.4 square meters, 16.8 sq m more than before the project.
Environment: During the 10th five-year plan (2001-2005), more than 120 million yuan was spent to protect wetlands and grasslands in Tibet. The regional authorities have restricted the mining of gold and other minerals to preserve resources and protect the environment. Thirty-eight nature reserves have been established, covering 408,300 square kilometers, which represents 34 percent of the region's land area. Sources with the Tibetan regional environmental protection bureau said that another 10 billion yuan would be used to implement 14 environment-related projects before 2030.
Health: According to the provincial health department, 100 percent of farmers and herders, who account for 80 percent of the region's population, are covered by the medicare system and receive free medical care. The average life expectancy has risen from 35.5 years in the 1950s to 67.
Ethnicity and religion: According to the last census in 2000, the population of Tibetans has surged from 1.2 million in 1964 to more than 2.41 million in 2000, 92 percent of the region's total population. Among the newly elected deputies to local people's congresses in 2008, more than 80 percent are Tibetans or from other ethnic minorities at the regional, prefectural and city levels and 90 percent at the county and village levels. The central government has allocated more than 700 million yuan since 1980 to maintain 1,400 monasteries and cultural relics. Tibet has more than 1,700 religious sites for Tibetan Buddhism that accommodate 460,000 monks and nuns, four mosques with 3,000 Muslims, as well as a Catholic church for 700 believers.
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Tibet's economy grows 14.7 pct in first half year
by: 2007-07-25 13:20:21
Tibet's economy posted a 14.7-percent growth in the first half of this year, the highest over the past decade, government statistics showed Tuesday.
The gross domestic product (GDP) reached 14 billion yuan (US$1.84 billion) in the first six months, and the growth rate was 2.2 percentage points higher than the same period of last year, according to the Tibet Regional Statistics Bureau.
The figure breaks down into about 2.2 billion yuan for agriculture, 2.9 billion yuan for industry, and 8.9 billion yuan for the tertiary industry, indicating an annual growth of 4.9 percent, 20.5 percent and 15.6 percent, respectively.
Tibet's economic growth was mostly driven by the tertiary industry, which contributed 66.4 percent to the increase, the bureau said.
Thanks to the opening of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway since July 1 last year, the tertiary industry, which features the consumption market and service industry, has developed fast in the past year, it said.
The 1,956-km-long railway, running from Xining, capital of northwestern Qinghai Province, and the Tibet's regional capital Lhasa, has linked Tibet with the rest of China by train for the first time.
Due to more convenient transport, more tourists, or over 1.1 million in number, traveled to Tibet in the first six months of the year, up 86.3 percent over the same period last year, according to the regional tourism bureau.
The booming influx of tourists brought 990.3 million yuan (US$130 million) in revenue to the Himalayan region, an increase of 92.1 percent, statistics show.
The annual GDP growth of Tibet reached 13.4 percent last year, bringing the region's total GDP to a record 29 billion yuan (US$3.74 billion) with the per-capita GDP above US$1,000.
http://en.tibet.cn/news/tin/t20070725_272687.htm
Tibetans against Dalai Lama's return
by: 2007-06-21 09:10:33
Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the regional government of Tibet Autonomous Region, speaks at a press conference in Beijing June 20, 2007. [china.org.cn]
( Qiangba Puncog is a native Tibetan, born and raised in Tibet )
The chairman of the regional government of Tibet Autonomous Region has said that the majority of Tibetan people do not want the Dalai Lama to return to the region.
Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the regional government, was asked to comment, at a press conference in Beijing, on two letters written by Puncog Wanggyai, a member of the Communist Party in Tibet, to Chinese President Hu Jintao in 2004 and 2005 asking for permission to let the Dalai Lama come back to Tibet. He was asked if the letters represented the view of the majority of the Tibetan people.
"I have not seen the letters but I have heard about the content. The content I know about differs greatly from the common opinions held by the majority of the Tibetan people," he said.
"His (Puncog Wanggyai) opinion does not represent the view of the majority of Tibetan people, nor does it represent views of the majority of officials in Tibet. It only represents a handful of people," said Puncog.
"The Dalai Lama travels around the world in Buddhist robes not for religious matters but to make Tibet issue an international one and to realize his own political purposes," he said.
He said the Dalai Lama's pursuit of autonomy or establishment of the greater Tibetan area actually disguised his pursuit of independence.
"People from the Dalai Lama side believe, 'once this succeeds, independence is not far away', and this reveals what they really want to do," he said.
Puncog said the channel of communication with the Dalai Lama and his personal representative has always been open. "I think the key question lies in the Dalai Lama giving up the claims of independence and separatist activities," he said, "we all expect him to show his sincerity and truly do some good deeds for the Tibetan people and the country during his lifetime."
http://en.tibet.cn/news/tin/t20070621_256885.htm
Tibet: Former serfs live well
2008-04-25 11:16:00
Migmar Dondrup in front of the former Parlha Manor, photo from Xinhua, April 19.
Migmar Dondrup in his new home, photo from Xinhua, April 19.
The place where Migmar Dondrup and his family members slept before, photo from Xinhua, April 19.
The Tibetan children, offspring of former serfs, enjoy compulsory education free of charge, photo from Xinhua, April 19.
The former Nangsan (house slave) house of Parlha Manor, photo from Xinhua, April 19.
The 74-year-old Migmar Dondrup had been a serf for 11 years before the peaceful liberation in 1959 and nowadays he lives happily with his children in a two-story building of 400 square meters.
http://eng.tibet.cn/index/photo/200804/t20080425_377369.htm
On the 14th Dalai Lama's betrayal of Buddhism
+ - 13:28, October 11, 2007
Thursday's People's Daily (overseas edition) carried a signed article titled "Why does the "Buddhist leader" frequently violate dharma and break faith: on the 14th Dalai Lama's betrayal of Buddhism".
The basic criterion to distinguish pious Buddhists from bogus ones is "taking precepts as masters" and "abiding by precepts to practice Buddhadharma". dGe-lugs-pa Sect, the Yellow Sect of Lamaism, of the Tibetan Buddhism is even better known for its strict observance of those commandments. Master Tsongkha-pa wrote in his book, the Great Exposition on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, that "the great achievers will be so only in name if they fail to fully follow Buddhist precepts and teachings". Though the commandments followed by Tibetan Buddhists vary, they are all based on the common ground of four precepts, namely no killing, stealing, adultery and lying. Monks would be seen as committing serious offenses if they betrayed one of the four precepts. However, the 14th Dalai Lama, a self-claimed "Buddhist leader", repeatedly broke the commandments and betrayed his faith by violating the precepts of no killing and lying.
Firstly, let's look at how he betrayed the precept of no killing. In the late 1950s, Tibetan reactionary leaders launched an armed rebellion in an attempt to permanently maintain the feudal serfdom and their autocratic rule. The 14th Dalai Lama was the chief representative of the feudal serfdom. The armed rebels set houses on fire, looted Tibetan people and raped women. What happened then still lingers in Tibetan people's minds today. In the late 1980s, the Dalai Lama clique stirred up unrest in Lhasa, which seriously harmed people's lives and damaged their property. Moreover, who was behind the mid 1970s assassination of Gung-thangTshul-khrims, one of the leaders of the Group 13, who failed to obey Dalai's orders? Who nodded to plot and implement the assassination of Li-thang A-thar? Who, in the late 1990s, sent killers to the home of Rin-po-che Kun-bde-gling and seriously wounded him? Who threatened to exterminate the "life and activities" of two young Rin-po-ches, Chi-jang and Sun-po? Vjigs-med Tshe-ring, who once was one of the key members of the Dalai Lama clique, said that at least ten Tibetans, who disagreed with the Dalai Lama, had been assassinated.
Secondly, let's have a look at how the 14th Dalai Lama violated the precept of no lying. The Dalai Lama sent a telegram in 1951 after the signing of the agreement on the peaceful liberation of Tibet, in which he said that the agreement, signed on May 23, 1951,was based on friendship and thus won unanimous support from the local government of Tibet, Tibetan monks and the people. But on March 10, 1961, the 14th Dalai Lama said in a speech that the agreement was written fully in the will of the "Red Han" and was signed by his representative, who was put under house arrest. In 1953, the 14th Dalai Lama wrote an article, saying that Tibetans were one of the ethnic communities in China, which enjoyed long and rich history and Tibetan people enjoyed freedom and equality as all the other ethnic groups did in China after they returned to the great family of the motherland. But on March 10, 1960, he said in another speech that Tibet has been "a completely independent country" with its own political system and government ever since the Tibetan people created their own written language.
In 1954, I accompanied the 14th Dalai Lama and the 10th Panchen Lama to Beijing. Till now, the zealous and respectful manner that the Dalai Lama demonstrated during that visit is still vivid in my mind. In the eulogy he presented to Chairman Mao Zedong in both Tibetan and Chinese, he extolled Chairman Mao as the "red sun", which "glorifies the whole nation, drives away invaders, and brings peace and blessing to people of all ethnic groups". However, when he fled abroad, he went back on his words and broke the precept of no lying by wantonly attacking and defaming his home country and calling on the so-called free world to unite to block the development of his own people and motherland.
It is known to all that in the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the Fifth Dalai Lama paid respects to Emperor Shunzhi and was conferred by the Emperor with honorific title. The title and position of Dalai Lama was also legalized by the central authorities during the visit. The move not only helped maintain the unification of China, but also boosted the social stability and economic development in Tibet. The Tibetan people, who were profoundly grateful to the Fifth Dalai Lama, commended him as "theGreat Fifth". It was shocking to many people that as a descendent of the Fifth Dalai Lama, the 14th Dalai Lama unabashedly attacked the Fifth Dalai Lama in May 1986 at a gathering of Tibetan people in the Netherlands, saying that it was shameful for the Fifth Dalai Lama to have "joyously accepted the mandarin jacket conferred by the Qing emperor." He also derided the Fifth Dalai Lama for paying respects to the central authorities, saying he had" lost face by setting up the relations." Those sayings were Dalai Lama's real thoughts, which also proved that he had totally betrayed his ancestors and his religion.
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, the 14th Dalai Lama believed that the dramatic changes in the former Soviet Union and east Europe brought new opportunities for "Tibet independence". In August 1991, he said in France and Switzerland that it would take no more than five or ten years for Tibet to be separated from China. In January 1992, he said again that Tibet would achieve independence in five or ten years. In 1995, it seemed that Dalai Lama gained more "magic power" even though his clique was low in morale. In March of the same year, he formally issued a prophecy, proclaiming that great changes would take place in China that year or in the following year. In August, he said in public that the "upcoming changes in 1995 or 1996" would benefit his group. As a matter of fact, Tibet did witness "great changes" in 1995. During that year, Tibetan people celebrated the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and most of the 62 key construction projects in Tibet financially supported by the whole nation were completed. Also in 1995, the divine reincarnation of Panchen Lama was successfully completed. The development of Tibet played a joke with the "magic power" of the 14th Dalai Lama, which, perhaps, is the judgment on Dalai Lama for his betrayal of the precept of no lying.
The spiritual essence of the tenets and canons of the Tibetan Buddhism include the basic essentials of observing the rules, sincerity, equilibrium, even share of wealth, altruism and harmony, which are also the basics of the healthy practice of Buddhism over the past 2,000 years and grounds for Buddhists to cultivate themselves through meditation and encourage people to do good. All Buddhists should follow the tenets to distinguish right from wrong on cardinal issues and make further progress in their religious accomplishment. However, the 14th Dalai Lama has been playing with the divine Buddhism to achieve political goals and purposely mislead the public, which fully demonstrates his hypocrisy in faith.
By Shi Shan, the author is a research fellow in Tibetan Buddhism, who used to work in Tibet for a long time.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90780/91342/6280976.html
The New Face of Tibet
www.chinaview.cn 2006-08-03 16:07:14
by: Sunita Dwivedi, India
Tibet has undergone mind-boggling changes and her mesmerizing beauty defines the Roof of the World.
For centuries few people could lay eyes on the mysterious kingdom of Tibet, called the "land of the snow and the roof of the world". But with the Chinese policy of "opening up", this landlocked Autonomous Province of China is no longer the hidden kingdom that so charmed and mesmerized the early western travelers that they risked their lives to reach Lhasa and have a glimpse of the famous Potala.
India is naturally gifted with a long border with this enchanting "Shangri-la" -- the paradise on earth that even surpasses the beauty of Switzerland.
One of the most fascinating places to visit in Asia, Tibet offers fabulous monasteries with their beautiful wall paintings, stunning views of the high snow-clad mountains, gushing milky streams and the famous rivers and lakes of the world. But for nearly four decades this "Shangri-la" in the aftermath of the 1962 war and the border dispute that ravaged the 2000 year old friendship shared by China.
A testimony to the deep cultural integration between the two countries is the "Journey to the West", the travelogue of the famous Hieun Tsiang in the seventh century AD.
Focus on friendship
Notwithstanding the setback of the 1960s in the bilateral relations and the acrimony expressed by some Indian leaders, for example George Fernandez stating that China was our enemy number one, the recent open and frank exchanges on trade and border issues between the two countries and realization that both need each other is the biggest change in the five decades of Indo-China relations. There is more understanding now than ever.
The two countries have been able to put the past behind them and revive the deep ties they shared historically. After nearly five decades both India and China have expressed deep feelings for each other and the recognition of the need for mutual cooperation in building a conductive environment for growth and prosperity through the principles of peaceful co-existence.
Both agree that the border question has mutually acceptable solutions and that peace in the border area is the imperative for progress.
In this regard Wu Dawei, vice minister of China pointed out recently during a meeting with the Indian press delegation that the border between India and China must become an asset and not a stumbling block and must benefit the people of the two countries. With strong focus on friendship India can hope that in future, apart from trade Nathu la, more points could be opened along the Indo-China border for trade and tourism.
For example, India's border areas in Ladakh and in the North-East states could provide the shortest route for both trade and tourism in China. Taking a positive attitude on border trade between the two countries Wu Dawei said that the long border between India and China should be the lifeline not the death line for the people of the two countries.
Growth in economy
It is for every visitor to see that the Chinese economy has been growing rapidly in the past years.
The impact of this can be best observed in Tibet, which just a few decades ago was undeveloped and completely shut off from the world.
Now the Tibetans are shrugging off their past and redefining their world. They have worked hard to raise their GDP to ten percent. In recent times the province is changing faster than anyone can dream of.
One can now travel anywhere in Tibet through the wide network of national highways and provincial roads connecting every major town and almost every village, communicate using the internet from the remotest destination, and eat the best of meals even in small wayside restaurant.
It was a pleasant surprise to see land tractors being used for ploughing the fields instead of the traditional ploughs. Traveling on the Tibet-Sichuan highway 318 one can see power cables all along the mighty mountains. Not even for a second does the mobile phone service go off on the long high way that passes through some of the most difficult terrains of Tibet and Sichuan provinces.
Tibet has experienced a remarkable progress during the autonomy. Since Tibet was less developed economically and socially and was a minority region, China took steps for its development and allocated a huge budget for it. The constructions of railways, airways and road networks in Tibet are an exemplary task that China has accomplished.
Major progress has been made in agriculture and animal husbandry. There has been rapid headway in education. The people's living standards have improved. Key prestigious construction projects include comprehensive development of 65,700 square kilometers of the middle reaches of the "three rivers" -- Yarlung Zangbu and its tributaries --Lhasa River and Neyang Qu River. The Gonggar Airport at Lhasa and the Bamda Airport in Qamdo have been expanded --Nepal, Nagqu-Qamdo and Zetang-Gonggar Airport Highways have been built connecting all parts of Tibet with the neighboring provinces.
The most challenging and prestigious of the projects undertaken so far has been the Qinghai-Tibet railways extending 1,118 kilometers from Golmud in the east to Lhasa in the west having an elevation of 4,000 meters for 960 kilometers rail line.
The mobile telecom business has developed at a rapid pace. For the first time on the roof of the world optical fiber telecommunication cable has been installed from Lhasa to Xigaze, which extends for 340 kilometers through the mountain peaks through an elevation of 4,000 meters.
Modernity mixes with tradition
There is a heady mix of modernity and tradition. And the Jokhang monastery, in the main bazaar area, one can see every morning thousands of devotees prostrating before the Buddha and turning the huge prayer wheels for good fortune. Monks and nuns can be seen circumambulating. Ordinary men and women move around with the rotating prayer wheel in their hands.
At Barkhor Street, Tibetans play the traditional Tibetan music. Modern buildings still follow the basic structure of the traditional style. Cultural and historical monuments are being protected throughout Tibet and being opened to the public. Nearly all Tibetans follow Tibetan Buddhism with the expectation of a miniscule minority who follow Islam and Catholicism.
Respecting and protecting the religious belief is a basic policy of the Chinese government. The citizens have the right to believe or not to believe in any religion or to follow any sect within a religion. Normal religious activities can be seen anywhere in Tibet.
Religious institutions are being restored. At present there are about 1700 monasteries in Tibet. In this regard China has allocated more than 380 million yuan for the repair and restoration of monasteries including the Potala Palace, Jokhang, Samye, Sera, Tashilhunpo, Gandain monasteries, to name a few.
The government-funded Institute of Buddhism is the place where Living Buddhas and Buddhist scholars teach sutras and religious history. Major monasteries hold classes for studying sutras and arrange debates on Buddhist doctrines.
Tibetology
Tibetology has become a special area of study in China and there are more than 50 institutions specializing in Tibetology. The China National Centre for Tibetan Studies was set up in Beijing in 1986.
These institutions have undertaken many research projects on a wide variety of topics including regional economic and social development strategies, editing and studying and researching Sanskrit sutras written in pattra palm leaves and conducting research on Tantric Buddhism.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-08/03/content_4915058.htm
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Lhasa city area grows by 60%
www.chinaview.cn 2007-11-19 20:49:58
LHASA, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, will see its city area expand by more than 60 percent with the establishment of an urban district which the regional government says will help house the city's growing population, mostly Tibetans.
¡¡¡¡The 42-square-km Liuwu New District on the southeastern bank of the Lhasa River that flows across the city center will enlarge Lhasa's city proper to about 100 square km from the current 60 square km when the district takes shape in 2009.
"Lhasa will look much bigger on the map," Lhasa Mayor Doje Cezhug.
When the Tibet Autonomous Region was officially founded in 1965, Lhasa's city proper was only five square km.
Today, nearly four-fifths of Lhasa's 600,000 residents live downtown, though greater Lhasa has seven counties and one district covering about 30,000 square km. At least 80 percent of Lhasa's population are Tibetans.
The new district will accommodate 110,000 residents and has welcomed 17 businesses with a total investment of 800 million yuan(102.5 million U.S. dollars), said Doje Cezhug.
The planned residential buildings in the new district are two-storey, quake resistant structures in traditional Tibetan style, said Jiang Feng, an urban planning official from Beijing who is working in Tibet on a one-year term.
He said the Liuwu New District will become a major hub for financial, real estate and tourism industries.
Lhasa's urbanization rate reached 39 percent last year, with the city proper growing on the east and west.
Yet Dawa Tsering, head of WWF China's Program Office in Lhasa, worried the city would be "losing its unique character" as investors from other provinces may well ignore the traditional culture and alter the Tibetan styles in buildings.
Jiang tried to dispel such concerns, saying the planned buildings in the new district will carry "Tibetan icons".
The Lhasa River Bridge completed this year, for example, resembles a white lotus, a Tibetan symbol of good luck, and its main pier and the supportive piers are like the muscular legs of yaks, one of the most popular plateau species.
"Many stations along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, which opened last year, are white, red or yellow, all colors featured in Tibetan Buddhism," he said.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-11/19/content_7107477.htm
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Regional national autonomy
by: 2005-03-09 14:48:20
In accordance with the Chinese Constitution, Tibet follows the system of regional national autonomy. This is a system under which certain ethnic minority areas, under the unified leadership of the Central Government, set up organs of self-government to handle their own affairs. The said government organs of the Tibet Autonomous Region are the People's Congress and the People's Government of the Tibet Autonomous Region, their chief leaders being Tibetan.
Acting in accordance with the local political, economic and cultural situation, the Tibet Autonomous Region has the power to formulate its own rules and regulations; make independent arrangement for the development of local economic and construction undertakings, and for exploitation of local natural resources; independently arrange and use local financial revenues and financial allocations from the Central Government; and independently decide on the development of ethnic education, and literary endeavors, art, press, publication, radio broadcasting, TV and other cultural undertakings with salient ethnic characteristics.
The First People's Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region was convened from September 1-9, 1965 in Lhasa with the approval of the Central Government. Among the 301 deputies were 226 Tibetans and 16 of the Moinba, Lhoba, Hui, Naxi, Nu and other ethnic groups, making up upwards of 80 percent of the total number. The founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region was officially declared during the congress, and Ngapoi Ngawang Jigmei was elected its chairman.
The Chinese Constitution promulgated in 1982 reaffirms some of the major principles on the enforcement of regional national autonomy laid down in the 1954 Constitution, and stipulates in explicit terms: "Among the chairman and vice-chairmen of the standing committee of the people's congress of an autonomous region, prefecture or county there shall be one or more citizens of the ethnic minority or minorities exercising regional autonomy in the area concerned? "the chairman of an autonomous region, the prefect of an autonomous prefecture or the head of an autonomous county shall be a citizen of the ethnic minority exercising regional autonomy in the area concerned."
Also, according to the Chinese Constitution, among the deputies to the people's congress of an autonomous region, prefecture or county, in addition to those of the ethnic minority or minorities exercising regional autonomy, there should also be a certain number of deputies of other ethnic groups who live in the area concerned.
The Chinese Constitution also stipulates that the State will assist, financially, materially and technologically, various ethnic minorities in developing economic and cultural undertakings, and energetically cultivate cadres, especially various kinds of professionals and technical workers. With regard to the autonomous rights due to the organs of self-government, the Chinese Constitution has stipulations regarding economic construction, finance, education, science, culture, health, sports, and use of ethnic languages.
The Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional National Autonomy promulgated in 1984 is a national law next only to the Constitution in terms of importance in the exercise of regional national autonomy. It provides ethnic minorities concerned with legal guarantees in the exercise of regional national autonomy.
Leaders of the village committees work in the interest of farmers and herders.
Tibet exercises regional national autonomy in accordance with the Chinese Constitution and the Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional National Autonomy. Organs of self-government are set up to manage their own affairs, and for serfs and slaves in Tibet, who used to live at the bottom of society, to gain emancipation and become masters of their own fate, enjoying full democratic rights. A great number of ex-serfs and ex-slaves have become leading cadres at various levels.
Implementation of the system of regional national autonomy guarantees the political rights for the Tibetan people. Tibetan residents aged 18 begin to enjoy the right to vote and the right to stand for vote, irrespective of ethnic group, race, sex, occupation, family background, religious belief, education, property and term of residence. They elect their own deputies, and, through these deputies, elect the people's congresses at various levels to exercise the power to manage the State and local affairs.
At present, deputies of the Tibetan and other ethnic groups to the People's Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region and people's congresses at the prefectural and municipal levels in Tibet make up 99.92 percent of the total number; 92.6 percent of the deputies to the people's congresses at the county level; 82.44 percent of the total number of the 7th People's Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Female judge at work in Lhasa.
Cadres of the Tibetan and other ethnic minorities make up 75.3 percent of the total in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Leaders of the Tibetan and other ethnic minorities make up 67.2 percent of the total at the regional level, 60.9 percent at the county level, 65.3 percent at the prefectural or municipal level, and 77.82 percent at the provincial level. The most important leaders of the government of the Tibet Autonomous Region have since the peaceful liberation of Tibet in 1951 been held by Tibetans.
One of the rights enjoyed by the local organs of self-government is to enact local laws. The Chinese Constitution stipulates that "the people's congresses of national autonomous areas have the power to enact regulations on the exercise of autonomy and other separate regulations in the light of the political, economic and cultural characteristics of the ethnic minority or minorities in the areas concerned. China's Marriage Law, Law of Succession, Criminal Law, General Principles of the Civil Law, Civil Law, Forest Law and Adoption Law all empower the people's congress and its standing committee in area exercising regional national autonomy to enact moderate regulations or amendments according to the basic principles of these laws and in the light of local conditions. This means the Tibet Autonomous Region enjoys the power to enact local administrative rules and regulations and, at the same time, rules and regulations on self-government. Clauses of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional National Autonomy that empower local organs of self-government to enact moderate laws show that the law is next to the Constitution in terms of legal power, being higher than local rules and regulations.
The People's Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region and its Standing Committee have, since 1965 when the Tibet Autonomous Region was founded, formulated and promulgated more than 150 rules and regulations, and decisions with legal effect. They are related to the construction of political power, economic development, cultural education, language, judiciary affairs, and protection of cultural relics, wildlife and natural resources. While enjoying holidays determined by the Central Government, the Tibet Autonomous Region makes "the Tibetan New Year? "the Shoton (Sour Milk Drinking) Festival and some other festivals unique to the Tibetans as official holidays enjoyed in the autonomous region. Given the special geographical conditions, the Tibet Autonomous Region decides that people in the region work 35 hours a week, which means they work five hours less than their counterparts in other parts of China. The Central Government also decides that, on the premise of observing the Chinese Constitution and defending unification of the motherland and national unity, the Tibet Autonomous Region has the power to modify State laws concerned in the light of local conditions. This is a power not enjoyed by other provinces, municipalities directly under the Central Government and autonomous regions.
On April 18, 1981, the fifth session of the Standing Committee of the Third People's Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region adopted the Modified Regulations of the Tibet Autonomous Region for the Implementation of the Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China. Taking into consideration the fact that the Tibetans had developed the polyandry and polygamy systems in marriage, which, moreover, still enjoys certain popularity in the region, the Modified Regulations couples upholding the Marriage Law with encouragement of free marriage, stipulating that the old system of polyandry and polygamy be abolished. However, proceeding from the actual conditions, the Modified Regulations stipulate that those who have already had more than one wife or one husband before the Modified Regulations went into effect are allowed to maintain their status quo in marriage so long as they do not volunteer to seek changes; for those who seek the old system, efforts will be made to persuade them not to do so and to follow the monogamous system. People, who marry more than one woman or one man despite efforts made to persuade them not to do that, will not be sentenced bigamy. Herein lies another difference from other parts of China. Such a stipulation has defended the Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China and, at the same time, upheld the basic principles of free marriage and monogamy. While the backward, feudal form of marriage has been abolished, historically shaped factors and demand of some Tibetans are considered.
In order that the broad masses of the Tibetan women enjoy equal rights and interests with men, the Tibet Autonomous Region have worked out more than 10 kinds of rules and regulations geared to protecting the legal rights and interests of women according to the law. Women in the Tibet Autonomous Region, like women in other parts of China, enjoy the same democratic rights with men. These rights include political rights, the right to cultural education, the right to work, the right to own wealth, personal right, and the rights in marriage and family.
http://en.tibet.cn/history/nra/t20050309_14773.htm
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Democratic Reform
by: Chen Qingying 2007-03-29 14:44:05
On May 20 1957, with the tacit consent of the Gaxag Government, a group of rebellious elements moved from the eastern bank of the Jinshajiang River to Lhasa and built an organization called "four rivers and six mountain ranges" under the leadership of Anzhugcang Gongbo Zhaxi. In July the organization presented a "golden seat" to the Dalai Lama, while the latter gave hada to over 500 representatives of reactionary elements from Gansu, Qinghai and Yunnan provinces. In March 1958, the representatives of the "four rivers and six mountain ranges", the three leading monasteries of the Gelug Sect and Tibetan troops gathered at the house of Anzhugcang in Lhasa, plotting to stage a large-scale uprising. In June, Anzhugcang took spies for an airdrop and the setting up of radio stations in Zhegu Zong (County) of the Shannan area, where he established the foundations for the armed rebellion. In July, Anzhugcang announced the setting up of the "four rivers and six mountain ranges religion protecting arm" in Shannan, followed by rapid, widespread rebellion through most areas of Tibet. In Angust, nearly l000 rebels led by Anzhugcang rushed to the Qingkesi Munitions Depot of Namling Zong (County) in the Xigaze area, where they took away huge amounts of arms and munitions to be stored by the Gaxag Government. The "religion protecting army" further expanded their activities thereafter. In October, over 700 rebellious elements went to besiege the Zedang Station of the Shannan Working Committee of the CPC, but they were defeated after a fierce combat. Then, the leading officials of every Daiboin of the Tibetan army gathered to hold a meeting in Lobolin, which permitted Tibetan troops to join the rebellion, which many did. The rebellious elements launched large-scale attacks against the PLA. Under the direction and persuasion of the Central Government, the Dalai Lama gathered all Galoons of the Gaxag Government, Kampus of the leading three monasteries of the Gelug Sect, Commanders of Tibetan troops and assistant Kampus to hold a meeting, requiring them to accept responsibility for putting down the rebellion. Some reactionary elements, however, erroneously estimated the situation and held that the Central Government dared not to suppress their uprising due to the lack of PLA forces in Tibet. At the plenary officials meeting of the Gaxag Government held on November 5, under the pretence of discussing how to suppress the rebellion, officials of the Gaxag Government actually talked about how to support and launch an even bigger rebellion, and they made the decision that "the Dalai Lama had better not to attend the second National People's Congress" (NPC). The American CIA airdropped huge amounts of arms and munitions to the rebels in Shannan to support the reactionary activities. In December, the rebel army in Shannan ambushed the PLA trucks twice, killing around l0 soldiers each time. In January 1959, Anzhugcang, at the head of 2,000 rebels besieged the Zedang Station of the Shannan Working Committee of the CPC once again. The bitter fighting continued for more than 70 days and staff members were not rescued until the Lhasa rebellion had been put down. As the rebel elements fought in Shannan, more and more rebel groups gathered in the Lhasa area ready to launch a full- scale uprising. As the reactionary forces grew ever more violent, the Central Government and the Tibetan Working Committee repeatedly urged the Gaxag Government to take the responsibility to safeguard the peaceful order in Tibet and take effective measures to suppress the rebellion. But the reactionary forces of the Gaxag Government always adopted a double-dealing approach, conniving at and supporting the rebel forces, resulting in the Lhasa Incident in March l959.
During the Democratic Reform, the emancipated serfs wrathfully burning usury bonds, land leases and debentures that the three leading manor serfs depended on to oppress and exploit them.
On February 7 l959, at the ceremony of dispelling demons and evils on the first day of the first month of the Tibetan calendar held in the Potala Palace, the Dalai Lama met with Deng Shaodong and Guo Xilan, respectively deputy commander of the Tibetan Military Areas and Secretary-Gen-era of the Tibetan Working Committee. The Dalai Lama said he had heard that a military cultural troupe had come from the hinterland with many new programs and he would like to enjoy its performance. Deng Shaodong and Guo Xilan agreed immediately and allowed the Dalai Lama to establish the timetable. The Grand Summons Ceremony, when he would attend an examination for a Buddhist degree, was in Progress, so he suggested that he watch the program afterwards in the hall located in the military area. However, during the time of the Grand Summons Ceremony, the reactionary elements sent Tibetan forces to arrest two Han Chinese workers in the Lhasa Office of the Qinghai-Tibet Road Operations Company, spreading rumors that "the Han Chinese intended to assassinate the Dalai Lama but the murderers had been captured in the spot',. They continued to stir up trouble by spreading a rumor that a gun in the Trade Company Building was targeted on the sutra table of the Jokhang Temple. The Dalai Lama canceled his preaching on the fifth day of the first month of the Tibetan Calendar but this was due to his physical condition. The reactionary elements distributed leaflets, and openly opposed to the l7-Article Agreement and clamored for "Tibetan Independence", creating a climate of public opinion for their rebellion. On March l, the responsible person of the Tibetan Working Committee went to Norbu Lingka to fix the time and place for the Dalai Lama to watch the culture troupe performance. The Dalai Lama set the first to third day of the second month of the Tibetan calendar, namely March l0-13, and said the United Front Work Department should directly contact acting Kampus Jicho Garzhang Lobsang Renzen about it. The United Front Work Department and Garzhang Lobsang Renzen agreed the Dalai Lama would go to the military area to watch the performance at 3pm.on March l0.
Serfs holding a rally, demonstrating to totally overthrow the vicious feudal serfdom system.
In the meantime, the most of the Galoons and other reactionary
elements of the Gaxag Government, taking advantage of the fact that
the Dalai Lama would watch the performance, stepped up their
activities to launch armed rebellion and plotted to spirit the Dalai
Lama out of Tibet On March 9th, according to the instructions of the
Gaxag Government, Loka Waze Wangren Zengen, Miboin (Mayor) of Lhasa
City, spread rumors among the populace that, "The Dalai Lama would be
poisoned to death by the Han while watching the performance in the
military area. Hence, one person in every household was required to
present a petition to the Norbu Lingka, pleading with the Dalai Lama
not go to the military area". Lhasa citizens were misled by these
rumors and became panic-stricken. On the morning of March l0th, over
200 Lhasa citizens and hundreds of rebels from the Kam area rushed to
the Norbu Lingka to prevent the Dalai Lama from going to the military
area to watch the cultural performance. The rebels required that all
shopping centers and stores should be closed and all people should go
to the Norbu Lingka. At noon, the rebels smashed the cars of Sanpo
Cewang Renzen, the deputy commander of the Tibetan Military Area
injuring him. Later, the rebels killed Kainqung Pagbalha, a patriotic
member of the ruling class, and dragged his body through the center
of Lhasa City to terrify the locals. In the afternoon of that day,
the rebels and the most of the Galoons of the Gaxag Government
convened the "People's Conference" in Norbu Lingka, deciding to split
the Central Government and openly launch the "Tibetan Independence
Movement". According to the decision of the conference, Galoon
Soikang Wangqin Gele, Shekuba, Gadriang Lobsang Renzen and others
were in charge of the rebellion and Galoon Lhalu Cewang Dorje assumed
the position of Commander-in-Chief. As for the Tibetan officials
working in the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibetan
Autonomous Region, they were not allowed to continue work and were
required to give themselves lip and repent of their errors against
the "Tibetan Independent Country". The conference also decided to
dispatch armed monks of the Sera and Zhaibung monasteries to Norbu
Lingka to protect the Dalai Lama. Hereafter, in the name of "Tibetan
monks and secular people", the rebels posted notices in Lhasa,
announcing that Tibet was an independent country . They also sent
representatives to the Indian Consulate General in Lhasa seeking
protection from the Indian Government. They proclaimed that Tibet had
always been an independent country and they had formally launched the
"Independence Movement" today. On the evening of March 10th, about a
thousand monks of the leading three monasteries rushed into Lhasa and
the Tibetan troops in Lhasa made every preparation for a war. At the
same time, the rebels spread around Lhasa. The Gaxag Government
opened the munitions depot and distributed arms and munitions to the
rebels. The latter also cabled to Xagabba, who was in Kalimpong,
through the Indian Consulate General in Lhasa, authorizing Xagabba to
proclaim to the world that "Independent Tibet" had been established.
He was also instructed to deliver a report to the United Nations,
asking it to sent delegates to survey the situation in
Tibet.
People in Lhasa from all circles celebrating success to suppress the rebellion.
Emancipated serfs receiving domestic animals.
In order to continue to win over the Dalai Lama, Tan Guansan,
Commissar of the Tibetan Political and Military Committee and acting
representative in Tibet of the Central People's Government, wrote
letters respectively on March 10th, 11th and 15th, expressing his
understanding and sympathy of the condition of the Dalai Lama, who
was being controlled by the rebels. Tan Guansan pointed out that the
anti-China activities the reactionary elements had launched had
developed to such a degree that the Central Government could no
longer to stand idly by. The Central Government now hoped the local
government of Tibet would change its erroneous attitude, otherwise
the Central Government would be forced to maintain the integration
and unity of the motherland. Dalai Lama replied that his life was
threatened by the rebels who were using the excuse of protecting his
life, and once he had a certain quantity of reliable forces, he would
go to the military area secretly. However, on the night of March
17th, arranged by Soikang, Liu Xia and Xia Su, three Galoons, as well
as Phala and Chegyam, the Dalai Lama, together with his family
members and guards, totaling over 60 people, fled from the Norbu
Lingka in disguise and headed for Shannan, crossing the Lhasa River.
As Chairman Mao Zedong had instructed on March l2th: "lf the Dalai
Lama and his retinue flee, our army should not obstruct their way. No
matter if they go to Shannan or India, let them go." So, during the
course of a two-week trek, they were not pursued or obstructed by the
PLA.
Emancipated serfs cheerfully welcoming the first bumper year.
After the Dalai Lama left Lhasa, the rebels thought that they could go all out to launch attacks on the PLA and the Party and government organizations in Lhasa to drive them out. On March l9th, some 7,000 armed rebels were assembled in Lhasa equipped with artillery, machine guns and other heavy weapons. They occupied every major building of the Potala Palace, the Medicine King Mountain, Norbu Lingka and Lhasa City, besieging the military area and the Tibet Working Committee. At 3:40 a.m. on March 20th, the rebels staged attacked every organization, enterprise and institutional unit and the People's Liberation Army At 10 a.m., the military authorities decided to counterattack using no more than two regiments with artillery backing. At 6 p.m., the PLA seized the Medicine King Mountains, thus cutting the connection of the rebels between Norbu Lingka and Lhasa City. Then, the PLA, with artillery support, attacked Norbu Lingk from several directions. After a brief but fierce fight, the PLA soldiers destroyed the rebel headquarters. They then joined forces to besiege the downtown areas, and by the morning of March 21st, the PLA had occupied all the rebel positions apart from the Jokhang Temple and Potala Palace. On the morning of March 22nd, the rebels stationed in the Potala Palace and the Jokhang Temple raised the white flag and surrendered, marking the end of the rebellion. In the two day fight, 545 rebels were killed and 4,800 wounded or captured. The dream of the reactionary elements who had attempted to drive the PLA out of Tibet at one stroke was totally shattered, but they refused to give up their efforts. On March 26th, the Dalai Lama and his retinue fled to Longzi Zong (County) of the Shannan area, where Galoon Soiking in the name of the Dalai Lama proclaimed establishment of the "Provisional Government of Tibet" at a conference attended by the headmen and reactionary elements of the Shannan area. The Longzi Zong (County) was set as provisional capital. Galoon Soikang also issued an order in the name of the "provisional Government of Tibet" that Tibet had been "an independent country characterized by political and religious administration many years ago." On the 28th, Premier Zhou Enlai issued an order of the State Council, urging the military authorities in Tibet to totally suppress the rebellion, and proclaimed that the local government of Tibet was dismissed and the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibetan Autonomous Region would assume its powers. The order issued by the State Council also stated: During the time that the Dalai Lama remained kidnapped, the Panchen Erdeni was appointed to serve in the position of Chairman of the Preparatory Committee, Phabala Gele Namjer was Vice-Chairman, while Ngapoi Ngawang Jigmei would act as Vice-Chairman and Secretary General of the Preparatory Committee; Soikang, Liu Xia, Xia Su and 15 other reactionary elements were dismissed from all their posts and would be punished according to relevant State laws. On March 31st, the Dalai Lama and his retinue crossed into India and sought "political asylum". As the Dalai Lama participated in activities to separate Tibet from the motherland, on December 19 1964, the State Council issued a decision stripping him of all his titles, removing him as Chairman and a member of the Preparatory Commission for the Founding of the Tibetan Autonomous Region and other positions.
New tents and domestic animals received by the Jamzong's an emancipated family in the Damxung County.
Emancipated serf Ngawang elected as the first head of the Kaisong village of Naidong County, the first village to carry out democratic reform.
With the assistance of the broad masses of Tibetan people, the PLA tried to mop up the remnants of the rebellious elements in the following two years in accordance with the instructions of the Central Government, adopting a combination of military attacks and political disintegration. By the end of October l961, all had been eliminated. In the meantime, according to the policies of suppressing rebellion while launching reform created by the Central Government, the Tibetan Working Committee and the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region led the Tibetan people to launch a democratic reform movement, totally destroying feudal serfdom and overthrowing the rule of the feudal serf owner classes. All serfs were emancipated. The lands and herds that serf owners had held were redistributed to peasants and herdsmen. The feudal serfdom characteristic of the political and religious administration and the dictatorship of monks in the upper class and feudal nobles was destroyed. With regard to those serf owners who were not involved in the rebellion, they were allowed to keep one lot of land and other means of production before being bought out of the rest, reducing resistance to the reform. The Tibetan Working Committee and the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region stuck to the policies of peaceful reform as instructed by the Central Government, which guaranteed the successful completion of the democratic reform.
Emancipated serfs receiving land certificates.
Cerenlamo (first left), the emancipated serf with Naidong County, elected as Agriculture Model Worker.
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Tibetans live with democracy for half century
by: 2005-03-10 11:14:08
Gyai'ra Losang Dainzin, a Tibetan with no political affiliation, was recently elected as a vice-chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
His father Lhalu Cewangdoje, a hereditary aristocrat in Old Tibet, had been appointed by the Dalai Lama to be one of the four principal ministers in the then Tibetan local government.
"There was no election of any kind in Old Tibet," Lhalu Cewangdoje said.
Though the term "democracy" originated in ancient Greece some 2,000 years ago, it was not introduced to Tibet until 1959, when a democratic reform was launched in the region.
Since the Tibet Autonomous Region was established in 1965, the systems of Tibet Regional People's Congress and Tibet Regional Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference also came into being.
Later, terms related to democracy, such as single-candidate election, scrutineer, autonomy and human rights, gradually appeared in Tibet.
Consequently, more and more Tibetans have become familiar with these political terms.
"I have turned from an ordinary citizen into a senior official with the emergence of such political terms. I have learned something new in the process of getting in touch with each new term," Gyai'ra Losang Dainzin said.
Qabai Cedain Puncog, a noted Tibetan linguist, said "each new word appears on the basis of social realities. They can't be concocted out of nothing".
The Tibetan language excluded these political terms in the past because democracy and election did not exist in the feudal serf society, Qabai Cedain Puncog added.
In the past, the linguist said, Tibetans were classified into three classes with nine levels. Slaves, who made up 95 percent of the region's total population, had no right to profiting from their production, let alone rights of electing and being elected.
Even for the remaining 5 percent of Tibetans, many of whom were noble lords and Buddhist monks in the upper strata, few were endowed with democracy of any kind, he added.
All the officials of Kasha, or the former Tibetan local government, were appointed by the Dalai Lama. The most wide-ranging meeting held in Old Tibet was attended only by the Dalai with his four principal ministers and heads of three leading lamaseries, he said.
Nowadays, Tibet has more than 70,000 officials, all of whom took up their posts through elections. Citizens of all ethnic groups aged 18 and above in Tibet have rights of electing and being elected, according to the Law Committee of the Tibet Regional People's Congress.
"Villagers in Tibet began direct election of village committee heads last year, which indicates that the political and democratic system in the region is steadily improving," said Zha Si, an official with the Tibet Regional Civil Affairs Department. "Democracy is spreading to every corner of Tibet," he said.
http://en.tibet.cn/history/der/t20050310_15558.htm
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Tibet After 1951 Peaceful Liberation
From peaceful liberation to founding of Tibet Autonomous Region
by: 2005-09-02 09:30:31
The central government of China adopted the principle of peaceful liberation of Tibet in light of historic and actual situation in the region after the founding of People's Republic of China in 1949.
In May 1951: representatives of the central and local governments signed the Agreement of the Central People's Government and the Tibetan Local Government on Measures for Peaceful Liberation of Tibet, widely known as the 17 Pacts.
On the 23rd May of 1951, Chinese central government and Tibet local government endorsed the agreement to liberate Tibet peacefully.
Representatives of the Tibetan government sign the agreement
Representatives of the Central Government sign the agreement
Chief Tibetan representative Ngapoi Ngawang Jigmei addressing the signing ceremony
The Tibetan-language version of the Agreement on Methods for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet.
The Chinese-language version of the Agreement on Methods for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet
On the 24th May of 1951, the chief of the delegates of Tibet local government Apeiawangjinmei made offering to Chairman Mao.
Chairman Mao addressed the banquet.
Mao Zedong, Chairman of the Central People's Government hosts a banquet to celebrate the Signing of the Agreement on Method for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet
The 10th Panchen Erdeni supports the Central Government efforts to bring the peaceful liberation of Tibet
Ngapoi Ngawang Jigmei bids farewell to Qamdo before starting out to meet with the Dalai Lama
At the Peace Dagoba in Gyangze, a ceremony is held to welcome the return of the Tibtan delegation
The People's Liberation Armymen enter Lhasa
In 1954: Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama went to Beijing to attend the first session of the National People's Congress (NPC), at which Dalai was elected vice chairman of the NPC standing committee, while Panchen was elected a member of the NPC standing committee.
Panchen Erdeni and Dalai Lama were interviewed by Chairman Mao in July 1954.
In 1956: The preparatory committee for the Tibet Autonomous Region was set up and Dalai served as head of the committee.
Preparation Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region was established on 22nd Apr. of 1956. Vice premier Chenyi addressed the meeting
In March 1959: Some officials of the former Tibet local government Kasha and some members in the upper class launched an armed rebellion, which attempted to safeguard the feudal serf system, split the country and oppose democratic reforms in Tibet. Acting on the order of the central government, the Chinese People's Liberation Army stationed in Tibet put it down.
In September 1965: The Tibet Autonomous Region was founded.
Celebration activities for the establishment of Preparation Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region were held in Norbu Lingka.
The office building of the Preparation Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
http://en.tibet.cn/history/pel/t20050902_52763.htm
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Vice-Premier Chen Yi in Tibet
by:WEI KE 2005-08-18 14:38:42
Editor's Note: On February 9, 1955, the State Council adopted the resolution on the Founding of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region. A founding ceremony was held in Lhasa on April 22 the following year attended by a delegation sent by the Central Government. It was led by Vice Premier Chen Yi, with Zhang Jingwu and Wang Feng as its deputy heads.
Vice-Premier Chen Yi led a Central Government Delegation to visit Lhasa in April 1956 to mark the creation of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region. While riding in a car speeding along the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, he wrote his Riding Past the Snow Peaks, a poem in which the last two lines read: "Meeting relatives and friends in Lhasa tomorrow, the same family composed of Han and Tibetan renews friendship."
Warm Welcome
On April 17, some 50,000 people from various walks of life in Lhasa went to welcome the delegation in western Lhasa, lining the road for 2.5 km. At one pm, the 14th Dalai Lama and the 10th Panchen Erdeni went to the Greeting Official Hall to meet the visitors. Others there included Zhang Guohua (Vice-Party Secretary of the CPC Tibet Work Committee and Commander of the PLA Tibet Military Commission), Tan Guansan (Vice-Party Secretary of the CPC Tibet Work Committee and Political Commissar of the PLA Tibet Military Commission), Fan Ming (Vice-Party Secretary of the CPC Tibet Work Committee and Vice-Political Commissar of the PLA Tibet Military Commission), as well as those who represented the local government of Tibet, the Gaxag: Galoons Soikang Wangqen Geleg, Dorgar Puncog Raogyi and Ngapoi Ngawang Jigmei, Assistant Galoon Garsog Jumei Cering Dorje, Acting Galoon Garzham Lobsang Renzin, Acting Chichog Kampus Dalha Lobsang Sandain, representatives of the Panchen Kampus Assembly Zamdong Jigmei, Lhamin Yexei Chuchen, Dainyou Cerin Banjor and Raoxi Gongbo Cedain, and Vice-Chairman Bamda Dorje of the Qamdo Liberation Committee.
The 14th Dalai Lama delivered a welcome speech, in which he made the following remarks:
"At the time when the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region is inaugurated, the CPC, the Central People's Government and Chairman Mao Zedong have sent a Central Government Delegation composed of representatives of various fraternal ethnic groups, offering the Tibetan people great honor and loving care. I herein express my sincere thanks and respect.
"Vice-Premier Chen Yi makes light of the long trip and arrives in Tibet safely. I myself express my boundless gratitude."
Vice-Premier Chen Yi also spoke:
"We are happy to be here in Lhasa, a beautiful city with a long culture and history. We are also glad to receive such a warm welcome.
"The Central Government Delegation sent by the CPC, the Central People's Government and Chairman Mao Zedong is composed of representatives of various Democratic Parties and peoples of various ethnic groups in China.
"The CPC Central Committee and the Central Government are very much satisfied with achievements made over the years to consolidate unity among various ethnic groups in the motherland and within Tibet, and the progress that has been made in various fields. We have come to offer congratulations on the founding of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region, to visit the PLA troops stationed on the border of China in Tibet, and to listen to the opinions of monks and lay people in Tibet. On behalf of Chairman Mao, Vice-Chairman Zhu, NPC Standing Committee Chairman Liu and Premier Zhou Enlai, I hereby express our thanks and greetings to the Tibetan people and the PLA troops in Tibet."
On the 19th, the Tibet Reception Committee held a grand banquet at Xoicha Lingka to honor the Central Government Delegation. The Jormolong Tibetan Opera Troupe performed segments of Soigyi Nyima, the dancing and singing troupe of the 14th Dalai Lama performed classical Tibetan music Garlhu, and the Xigaze Danba Troupe sang and danced. That same evening, the CPC Tibet Work Committee and the PLA Tibet Military Area organized a welcome party in the Military Area's auditorium.
The 14th Dalai Lama held a grand banquet at Norbu Lingka, his summer palace, on the 21st. On the same day, his mother Raoxi Gyieyun Qenmo and his sister Raoxi Cering Zholma met with the performers of the Mongolian, Boyi, Uygur, Korean and Han ethnic groups of the Central Government Delegation. All these activities were held in a friendly atmosphere.
Founding of the Preparatory Committee
On April 22, the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region was inaugurated in Lhasa at a meeting attended by 1,083 people. Vice-Premier Chen Yi read out the decree issued by the State Council and, on behalf of the State Council, entrusted the seal of the Preparatory Committee to the Dalai Lama. He also made an important speech:
"On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, the Central People's Government and Chairman Mao Zedong, I extend my warm congratulation to the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Erdeni and the Tibetan people!
"Tibet has made great progress in various fields since its peaceful liberation. The signing of the Agreement on Methods of the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet and the PLA entry into Tibet guaranteed the Tibetans rid themselves of the imperialist yoke for ever and returned to the big family of the motherland featuring equality and common development. From that moment on, the motherland is united and the national defense along southwestern border is guaranteed. This is an event of great significance in the history of the relationship between Tibet and the motherland, and is also a great contribution made by the Tibetan race to the cause of the unification of the motherland.
"Over the years, the relations between the Central government and the local government of Tibet have progressed greatly. In 1954, the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Erdeni went to Beijing for the First Session of the First NPC and the Second Session of the Second CPPCC, and were elected State leaders. This is something never seen before in history for leaders of the Tibetan people to participate in the political affairs of China. People sent by the CPC Central Committee and the Central People's Government are not able to do very much for the Tibetan people because of restrictive conditions. But they uphold the State policy for various ethnic groups; this is entirely different from other Han people who worked for Tibet in the past. This is why the people sent by the CPC Central Committee and the Central People's Government enjoy support from the Tibetans. The Tibetans have also gained a new understanding of the Han people from them. In the past few years, an increasing number of the people have been sent by the local government of Tibet to study in the hinterland; they have returned with better understanding of the great motherland. The opening of the Xikang-Tibet and Qinghai-Tibet highways has transformed the traffic conditions of Tibet, helped strengthen its ties with the hinterland and the unity among various ethnic groups, and created favorable conditions for the development of the Tibetan economy and culture. The past few years have seen the Central Government undertake various projects in Tibet. All these help clear up misunderstanding and develop close ties; this shows the gradual implementation of the agreement."
Cables and messages of congratulation from Chairman Mao Zedong, Chairman Liu Shaoqi, Premier Zhou Enlai, and the NPC Standing Committee and Civil Affairs Commission of the NPC were read out. The Central Government Delegation presented gifts to the conference, including a china statue of Chairman Mao, palace lanterns, flower pots and various seedlings.
During their stay, delegation members visited Zhaibung Monastery, Sera Monastery, Gandain Monastery, Upper and Lower Tantric Colleges, Naiqoin Monastery, Gendang Monastery, Yaowangshan, Gongdeling, Cemoiling, Xideling, Ceqoiling and Nganyizha Palace. There they distributed alms among monks who performed religious rituals, including recitation of sutras.
Delegation leaders Chen Yi, Zhang Jingwu and Wang Feng, as well as Luo Yi, delegation secretary-general and secretary of the Communist Youth League Central Committee, visited the Lhasa Primary School. Headmaster Dorje Caindain took the visitors to the Grade 6 classroom. Vice-Premier Chen Yi and others hugged pupils and presented them with badges of Chairman Mao and Tian'anmen.
On the 29th, Vice-Premier Chen Yi met monk and lay officials and Grand Living Buddha's of various Tibetan Buddhist sects. He first thanked the Dalai Lama, Panchen Erdeni and the local government of Tibet for their warm welcome and explained in detail government policies regarding protection of religious belief and unity among various ethnic groups.
The CPC Tibet Work Committee, the PLA Tibet Military Area, the local government of Tibet, the Panchen Kampus Assembly and the Qamdo Area Liberation Committee all held welcome feasts to honor the delegation and celebrate the founding of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
The delegation in turn held a banquet on April 30 to entertain the Dalai Lama, Panchen Erdeni and members of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Vice-Premier Chen Yi said at the banquet: "The Central Government Delegation feels the unity of Tibetan leaders and the Tibetan people. Such a unity will produce enormous strength."
The delegation also presented gifts to monk and lay officials in Tibet.
At the closing ceremony on May 1, the Dalai Lama, Panchen Erdeni and Palbha Geleg Namgyi presented gifts to the delegation, Chairman Mao, Vice-Chairman Zhu, NPC Chairman Liu and Premier Zhou. Vice-Premier Chen Yi, Zhang Jingwu and Wang Feng accepted the gifts, also including those presented to the Central Nationalities Song and Dance Troupe, the Wuhan Peking Opera Troupe and the Chongqing Acrobatics Troupe.
Vice-Premier Chen Yi, who was also PLA marshal, accompanied by Zhang Guohua, commander-in-chief of the PLA Tibet Military Area, reviewed the PLA troops and troops of Tibet. He advised all the troops to work harder for the happy life of peoples of various ethnic groups and for world peace.
Visiting the Potala Palace
On May 6, Vice-Premier Chen Yi, accompanied by the Dalai Lama, visited the Potala Palace. During the visit, he said: "The Potala Palace is a magnificent architecture of the motherland!:
The Dalai Lama told Vice-Premier Chen Yi that "the 5th Dalai Lama succeeded in unifying Tibet in history and the 7th Dalai Lama was very much accomplished in Buddhism."
Vice-Premier Chen Yi smiled and said to the Dalai Lama: "You, the 14th Dalai Lama , will lead whole Tibetan people to build your hometown into a socialist one. Both politics and religion of Tibet will develop further."
Vice-Premier Chen Yi presented hada scarves to the statue of Sakyamuni and stupas of various generations of the Dalai Lama.
On the afternoon of May 6, Vice-Premier Chen Yi held a banquet to entertain the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Erdeni, during which he said: "The successful founding of the Preparatory Committee unites the whole of Tibet thanks first of all to efforts made by the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Erdeni and their spirit of serving the people." He then proposed a toast: "I wish our unity will last forever just like Tanggulha and the Himalaya Mountains, and our friendship will last like the Tongtianhe and the Yarlung Zangbo Rivers."
From May 12-19, Vice-Premier Chen Yi and the Central Government Delegation visited Xigaze. As they arrived in the city, more than 20,000 people welcomed them. More than 1,000 citizens and some 4,000 monks formed some 30 singing and dancing teams spread for five km along the Nyang Qu River bank to perform.
In his welcome speech, the Panchen Erdeni said: "The presence of the Central Government Delegation will make Tibet more united with fraternal ethnic groups, and will stimulate the further development of Xigaze. It will also facilitate our reform geared to the founding of the united Tibet Autonomous Region and to Tibet's entry into socialism together with various fraternal ethnic groups."
The Panchen Erdeni also held a banquet to honor the Central Government Delegation. Lamas with the Tashilhungpo Monastery performed the longevity dance and crane dance. Artists presented Vice-Premier Chen Yi and others with auspicious hada and grass resembling longevity.
Vice-Premier Chen Yi also held a banquet to entertain people from all walks of life in Xigaze.
Delegation members visited the Xigaze Primary School, and Vice-Premier Chen Yi presented gifts and toys to the pupils.
Vice-Premier Chen Yi also reviewed PLA troops stationed in Xigaze, the troops of the Tibetan army, and the garrisons of the Panchen Erdeni.
Hard to Say Good-Bye
When the Central Government Delegation returned to Lhasa, the Dalai Lama held a banquet in his summer palace known as Norbu Lingka on the afternoon of May 26.
On the 27th, the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region held a farewell banquet for the Central Government Delegation. The Dalai Lama said in his speech: "We have been in close contact for over one month. During the period, we are always united and friendly to each other, and we learn from each other and help each other. We have worked successfully for the founding of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region. This opens up a broad road for our future work and powerfully smashes the discord sown by imperialist spies. I wish the Central Government Delegation will tell the CPC Central Committee, Chairman Mao and peoples of other fraternal ethnic groups that their Tibetan brothers in remote southwestern border are making unremitting efforts toward prosperous socialist society!"
During the celebrations of the founding of the Preparatory Committee for the Founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region, the first trial Beijing-Lhasa flight was accomplished. The first plane crossed the Kunlun, Bayankala and Tanggulha Mountains and landed at the Damxung Airport at 9:23 on May 26. On the 29th, another plane reached Lhasa by crossing the Henduan Mountains, a move that shortened the distance between Beijing and Lhasa.
The Central Government Delegation left Lhasa for Beijing on May 31. More than 30,000 monks and lay people went to say good-bye to them and officials with the local government of Tibet wished them a safe and happy trip back home.
The Dalai Lama was always with Vice-Premier Chen Yi and others until they had to say good-bye to each other. When Zhang Jingwu told the Dalai Lama if he needed anything from Beijing, the Dalai Lama replied: "Could you please send us some works of Chairman Mao?" He also told Zhang that he had sent a letter to Chairman Mao on work in Tibet and also for instructions.
Vice-Premier Chen Yi said to the Dalai Lama: "Take care of yourself for the sake of the motherland and Tibet as well."
http://en.tibet.cn/history/pel/t20050818_48564.htm
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Society variance
by: 2005-03-10 11:05:45
Before the 1959 Democratic Reform, the three chieftains local Tibetan government, the small and large lamaseries and the aristocratic class exploited and oppressed the serfs by confining them in manors, forcing the ula corvee on them and practicing usury. In accord with how the serfs relied on the chieftains, the serfs were divided into several ranks tralpa, who worked on assigned fields and bear the feudal corvee, duiqion, who worked on rented fields or relied on certain skills, and nangzes, who served the daily lives of the aristocrats. The level of productivity in past Tibet was very low, and farming and animal husbandry were at the mercy of Heaven. The frost-free period on the plateau was short and natural disasters hit frequently. There was only one crop in a year, and the fields were farmed every other year. The productive tools were primitive, and farming relied on human and animal labor more than machinery. An average yield per mu was about 50 kilograms, and the cattle relied on natural productivity.
The adverse natural condition, backward productivity standard, especially the feudal serf system, left farmers and herdsmen in Xigaze in dire poverty, like people in other parts of Tibet. Let's take an example of the Bangjor Lhunbo Village in Gyangze County, where the Palha Manor was situated. The annual grain ration for a nangzes was less than 100 kilograms and less than 160 kilograms for a tralpa. The serfs led a hard life all year round.
The 1959 Democratic Reform overthrew the dark feudal serf system, and the working class became predominant. Since then, the history of Xigaze has begun a new chapter. Under the guidance of and unremitting support from the central and local governments and through the hard work of Xigaze people, living standards have been increasing. Since the 1960s, the government has introduced new tools, chemical fertilizers and pesticides from other parts of China. The 1970s had witnessed a large-scale infrastructural construction of farmland and irrigation systems. Farming and animal husbandry technology centers were set up in counties and townships, in which great strides were made in spreading farming technology to improve scientific and technological standards, and to make progress in agriculture and animal husbandry.
In 1984, further reforms were carried out in the countryside of Xigaze, and two long-term no-change policies(the policy for herders to own and raise their own animals and the policy for farmers to own and manage their own lands will remain unchanged for a long period of time) were adopted. This, plus the tax exemption for farmers and herdsmen, greatly roused the initiatives of the masses and elevated the productivity of farming and animal industry to a new level with each passing year.
http://en.tibet.cn/history/der/t20050310_15554.htm
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Why can't Tibetan people enjoy modern civilization?
10:22, September 04, 2007
All kinds of cultures are exchanging and melting. Why can't Tibetan people enjoy modern civilization?
Some people enjoy the modern civilization including a higher living standard and various technological progresses themselves, but hope other people always live in closed and primitive status. They themselves sit in comfortable cars while hoping others still to ride donkeys; they live in modern houses but hope others to live in caves. This kind of psychology is not normal, nor healthy. Deng Xiaogang, Vice Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region made these arguments during a recent press conference on relations between Qinghai-Tibet Railway and the protection of Tibetan traditional culture.
Naqu Cargo Transportation Center will be built with an investment of 1.5 billion yuan (about 750 million US dollars). The project will be completed by October 2008. With a covering area of 8000 mu or 533 hectares, the center will include five functional areas including processing area, oil loading and unloading area and large amount raw material area.
Upon one year operation of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, Deng Xiaogang said the operation of the Railway has greatly improved the transport condition in Tibet and decreased cost, increased the capacity of goods supply and broken the bottleneck of transport which restricted the development in Tibet.
The goods transportation from and to Tibet has greatly increased and provided solid support for the fast development of Tibet.
It also provided a more secure and stable basis for sustainable development in Tibet. Since the beginning of the operation of the railway last July, a total of 2.6 million people and 13 million tons of goods have been transported and 660 thousand tons of goods have been transported into and out of Tibet, about 94 percent of it is into Tibet.
Being the largest operating geothermal power plant in China, Yangbajing geothermal power plant is situated in Dangxiong county, 90 kilometers northwestern Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region. With an altitude of 4300 meters above sea level and an area of geothermal area of 17 square kilometers, the plant is the largest geothermal steam field in China. Since the operation of the railway, tourists to visit the power plant increased by 60% from last year.
Deng Xiaogang said the operation of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway has accelerated the resource development and special industry's development in Tibet. It marks that Tibet has entered the era of "railway economy".
More people came to invest in Tibet and large number of people came to visit Tibet as tourists. From January to July this year, there have been 1.71 million tourists in Tibet, 74% more than the same period last year. Among them, about 94, 000 tourists are from abroad. The revenue from tourism has increased 78.1% from last year.
Deng Xiaogang said the operation of the railway also greatly promoted the opening up level in Tibet. A new pattern of opening up is being formed. The railway has strengthened the contacts between Tibet and surrounding countries and regions so that Tibet has become a front line of reform and opening up in southwestern China. During the first half of this year, the region's foreign trade volume increased by 60.4% from the same period of last year.
The railway has also promoted the exchange and melting between traditional Tibetan culture and other cultures as well as modern cultures so that Tibetan people have broaden their outlook and renewed their views. There are great changes in Tibet.
An actress with Niangre Folk Art Troupe, a self-organized non-professional art troupe performs. Its 66 artists are all herdsmen in the local area. With more and more tourists coming to Tibet after the railway's operation, the troupe has signed a lot of contracts of performance for various hotels, restaurants, recreational centers and tourist spots in Lhasa. They have performed 1200 times, twice as much as last year. In Tibet, there are 18 such kind of art troupes and 500 spare time performance teams and 160 Tibetan Opera Troupe.
From the present operation of the economy in Tibet, it has become obvious that the operation of the railway has promoted the sustained economic growth in Tibet. During the first half of this year, the total GDP growth reached 14.7%, 2.2% more than that of last year, 3.2 percentage point higher than the national average.
This also marks the highest growth over the past ten years. The past year experience proved that the railway line is the line of economy, unity, happiness and ecology for Tibetan people.
By People's Daily Online
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90783/6254282.html
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Unprecedented progress made in 13 years
by: 2005-03-10 09:42:13
China's human rights record has made tremendous progress in the past 13 years, reported an article in the magazine "Human Rights" launched by the China Society for Human Rights Studies.
Entitled "Development of China's Human Rights Cause in the Past 13 Years," the article cited a great number of statistics and facts in support of those achievements in the cause of advancing human rights.
China has achieved sustainable, rapid development in its national economy and a notable improvement in ensuring Chinese people's rights to subsistence and development, said the article.
China's gross domestic product (GDP) has been growing at an annual average rate of 9.3 per cent since 1989. In 2002, its GDP broke the 10 trillion yuan (US$1.21 trillion) mark for the first time, making China the sixth greatest economic power in the world. The figure was six times that of 1989.
Thanks to the development momentum of its national economy and the constant improvement in its investment environment, China has become increasingly attractive to investors from around the world.
China had an inflow of US$51 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2002, replacing the United States as the leading FDI recipient among all the countries of the world, said the article.
Big increases have also been registered in the incomes of China's urban and rural residents, resulting in significantly increased consumption and improved quality of life, it stated.
From 1990 to 2001, the per capita net incomes for rural residents increased by 62 per cent, and the disposable incomes for urban residents more than doubled.
Back in 1989, consumption primarily referred to meeting the basic needs of the people, whose spending priorities were food, followed by clothing and housing.
Since then people's expenditure on self-improvement and enjoyment of life has grown year after year. Computers and private cars have found their way into the lives of everyday people in increasing numbers.
While, for its part, the State has attached great importance to helping underdeveloped regions in their endeavours to shake off poverty through development and by assisting citizens living below the poverty line to improve their living standard.
In 2001, a total of 29 million rural residents, or 3.2 per cent of the country's total rural population, were classified as poverty stricken, 73 million less than in 1989.
China has made active efforts to promote political civilization, and the civil and political rights of citizens have been guaranteed effectively, said the article.
In China, all powers belong to the people. The Chinese people exercise the State power through the National People's Congress (NPC) and local people's congresses at different levels.
During the 10-year period for the terms of the Eighth and Ninth NPC, delegations and individual deputies forwarded 8,108 motions and 26,384 proposals, complaints and recommendations.
The NPC and local people's congresses have constantly intensified their supervision over implementation of laws and government work.
In striving to improve the system of democracy and legality, China has accelerated the process of law-making over the past 13 years. In line with the principle of running the country according to law, the NPC and the NPC Standing Committee have formulated 125 new laws, which account for 62.5 per cent of the total currently in force.
Importance has always been attached to the protection of citizens' rights in the process of law-making. A series of laws has been promulgated to this end, including the Organic Law of the Urban Residents' Committees, the Organic Law of the Villagers' Committees, the Trade Union Law, the law on Assemblies, Processions and Demonstrations, and the Copyright Law.
Multi-political party co-operation and political consultation under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party is a basic political system in China. It entered the Constitution in 1993 to represent the will of the State.
Grass roots democracy in China has experienced an unprecedented development during the period. By 2002, four re-elections of villagers' committees had taken place in most Chinese provinces, with a voter turnout exceeding 80 per cent in general.
This kind of self-government features democratic election of village leaders, decision-making through a democratic process, democratic management of public affairs and democratic supervision of the work of village leaders and public budgets. It has filled the rural population with a soaring political enthusiasm and protected the democratic rights of farmers.
Also thriving is urban grass roots democracy. Self-government by communities in Chinese cities and urban towns has become especially popular since 1998.
Residents in a given urban community are able, not only to select their own leaders through direct election, but also comment on the work of civil servants and government departments in general.
In short, community autonomy has enriched urban grass roots democracy and made it diverse in form.
To sum up, Chinese citizens in both town and countryside are enjoying broad democratic rights.
China is a multi-faith country, with a total of 100 million religious adherents. It pursues the policy, or principle, that calls for respect for religious beliefs and the autonomy of believers to run their religious affairs.
The various religions are equal in status and their respective adherents are able to join hands to strive for mutual development, and little religious strife has occurred. Believers and non-believers subscribe to the philosophy of mutual respect, and by so doing have been able to live side by side in harmony.
The article also said China has been rigorous with law enforcement, and its judicial bodies have conducted their duties according to the principle of fairness, leading to breakthroughs in the judicial protection of human rights.
In the past 13 years, public security and judicial departments have, in accordance with the law, dealt severe blows to those perpetrating crimes, and a nationwide campaign has been launched to consolidate market order, and the people's procuratorates at different levels have improved their practices relating to criminal prosecution.
China has persisted in placing equal emphasis on cracking down on lawbreakers and safeguarding human rights, and has scored notable achievements in judicial reforms under the principle of "justice and fairness." Efforts have been made to ensure that administrative law enforcement is carried out as an institutional practice, by following procedures prescribed in relevant laws and in accordance with laws applicable to specific cases. Improvement and development has also taken place with its system of lawyers and legal assistance.
The article said in the past 13 years, the Chinese Government has regarded employment as vital to the people's livelihood and has consistently held that the issue of ensuring employment and social insurance is a task of strategic importance to be accomplished through national economic and social development. To this end, it has adopted a series of measures and achieved a remarkable series of successes.
Employment has increased rapidly. China's employment reform has progressed smoothly, coupled with the formation of a new kind of labour relations in the country.
Some 650 million people were employed in 1990 and by 2001, the figure had grown to 730 million, a net increase of 83 million.
The rate of registered urban unemployment was around 3 per cent for most of these years. In 2002, the government was able to limit the rate of registered urban unemployment to 4 per cent.
The State follows a proactive employment policy under which work has been done to appropriately readjust the employment structure. As a result, a market-orientated employment system is now, by and large, in place.
The state has intensified the reform of the social security system to make it conform to the requirements of the market economic system, strengthened the management of social security funds and encouraged supervision by society over their use. It has also introduced a wide range of measures to increase the source of social security funds, along with the establishment of a social security system featuring distinct Chinese characteristics.
To date, the minimum subsistence guarantee system for urban residents has been implemented in all cities and major towns in the country, which has benefited 19.85 million people.
The article went on to say China has witnessed a rapid development of educational and cultural understanding and Chinese citizens have made obvious improvements in raising their educational and cultural levels.
In 2001, China had 1.35 million schools of different levels, with a combined enrolment of 320 million pupils and students. To put it another way, 26.6 per cent of Chinese were studying during that year, up from 22.2 per cent in 1990.
In 2001, the length of schooling averaged 7.7 years for Chinese citizens aged six and older, which was 2.4 years longer than in 1990.
For every 100,000 Chinese citizens, 4,087 had by 2001 received junior college education or education at even higher levels, nearly three times the figure for 1990.
The state has increased its input for education by large margins. The 2001 expenditure on education came to 463.766 billion yuan (US$55.88 billion), six times the 1990 figure.
The past 13 years have also witnessed enormous progress by China in developing the mass media and cultural undertakings. Cultural products have increased in quantity and kept improving in quality.
Conditions at major cultural venues have improved greatly over the past 13 years. While literature, artistic and theatrical creations and performances have thrived, and China's physical culture and sports have been full of vigour. To sum up, China's people, both urban and rural, have been able to enjoy an increasingly rich cultural life.
The article said China has made particularly spectacular improvements in the protection of women and children's rights. China has established a complete legal system for the protection of women's rights and the promotion of women's development, which takes the Constitution as its basis and the Law on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Women as its core.
Progress has been made in work to ensure women's participation in discussion and management of State affairs. Of the delegates to the 16th CPC National Congress, 382 were women, accounting for 18 per cent.
In addition, women represent a not insignificant presence in leading bodies of the Party and government in all the 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities of the Chinese mainland.
At the end of 2001, women officials in the Party and government numbered 14.88 million, accounting for 36.7 per cent of the national total. This figure is up 4.06 million on 1990, representing a proportional increase of 5.8 percentage points.
The State attaches great importance to protecting women's equal rights in employment and access to resources. Women's rights and interests in work are effectively protected.
The average length of schooling for Chinese women has increased at a faster rate than for men, and the illiteracy rate for women has dropped faster than for men.
Chinese women's health, in general, has seen a continuous improvement.
The article said China has entered a new period of honouring the rights and interests of the disabled, and has founded a social environment in which the disabled enjoy understanding, respect, attention and help.
In the past 13 years, China has introduced a host of major measures so that an improvement has been made in the system for protecting the legitimate rights of the disabled.
Significant results have been achieved in rehabilitation of the disabled, while special education has developed rapidly.
Before 1990, less than 10 per cent of physically or mentally handicapped children were able to go to school; by 2000, the figure had shot up to 77.2 per cent.
The State has take positive steps in helping the disabled obtain employment as part of the effort to protect their right to work.
Assistance for the disabled is included in all government plans for poverty alleviation. Disabled citizens, in fact, are taken as constituting a priority group under such plans.
With assistance from the government and society, an aggregate total of 11.11 million disabled rural residents had, by the end of 2001, shaken off poverty. Disabled people in cities who live below the poverty line are entitled to a subsistence allowance provided by the State.
Some 2.01 million disabled people in cities and urban towns were in receipt of a subsistence allowance, while 530,000 others were able to benefit from the social insurance programmes.
The article went on to note that the Chinese Government has always attached great importance to protecting the rights of the country's ethnic minority groups, and they enjoy preferential policies as compared to the majority Han people.
Ethnic minority groups and the ethnic majority Han group share equal rights in participating in the management of State affairs.
The State fully respects and protects the freedom of ethnic minority groups to hold religious beliefs, and protects all legitimate religious activities undertaken by their people.
Protection of the rights of ethnic minority groups has become an even more enshrined principle under an even more complete legal system which has been developed in the past 13 years.
What merits special mention is the revision in February 2001 to the Law of the People's Republic of China on Regional Ethnic Autonomy.
The revised law, upgrading the system of regional ethnic autonomy as part of the basic political system of China, has provisions on increasing capital input to accelerate the development of regional autonomy by people of ethnic minority groups.
The State policy calls for aid and assistance in areas such as capital, technology and professional talent in autonomous regions to promote their development and improve the living standards of their people.
Education in the five autonomous regions has also developed rapidly. In 1990 the State set up a fund to subsidize the development of education in these regions.
In 2001, a total of 560,000 ethnic minority students were studying at universities and colleges, 189 per cent more than in 1991. All the 55 ethnic minority groups, including those with a tiny population, now have their own young people studying at universities and colleges, and some of them even have people taking higher degrees, including doctorates.
Ethnic minority groups have been able to carry forward their cultural traditions. Since 1990, special funds have been allocated from both central and local government budgets for construction of libraries, cultural centres, ethnic art centres, museums, theatres and cinemas. Radio and TV programmes are aired, films dubbed, books, newspapers and magazines published in numerous ethnic minority languages, in addition to Internet websites in the Tibetan and Mongolian languages.
Central government has earmarked huge sums for restoration and repairs of sites of ethnic minority cultural heritage. Included are the Potala Palace in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, and the Ta'er (Kumbum) Monastery in Qinghai Province, which is the holiest shrine of the Yellow Sect of the Tibetan School of Buddhism. The three ethnic epics, the King of Gesar, Tsangg'er and Manas have been translated into Chinese and many foreign languages.
The State has been at pains to organize the collection, compilation, translation and research of these and other intangible cultural heritages.
In the most recent years, traditional ethnic cultures have developed even more greatly in step with the implementation of the State strategy for developing the western regions and the development of tourism there.
The article said that theoretical research on human rights undertaken in China over the past 13 years has experienced the fastest development in Chinese history and been the most fruitful.
Through work over the past decade, Chinese researchers have built up a theoretical system on human rights, which is complete in nature and has distinct Chinese characteristics, said the article.
These years have also witnessed the most significant results through dialogue and exchange between China and foreign countries on human rights.
China has attended and organized numerous international human rights symposiums and meetings.
For better understanding and greater co-operation, Chinese leaders have, on numerous occasions, discussed human rights issues with leaders and other VIPs from overseas.
Since 1999, dialogue on human rights, either bilateral or multilateral, have been conducted, either on a government or non-governmental basis by China with countries including Britain, France, Australia, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Brazil, Japan and the United States, the European Union, and some international organizations.
Positive results were achieved through such dialogues. China initiated the establishment of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization, and has contributed to the strengthening of co-operation between the member countries in fighting terrorism and protecting human rights.
http://en.tibet.cn/history/pel/t20050310_15394.htm
Primary School on Roof-of-the-World
http://pic.people.com.cn/GB/31655/6543727.html
This unique Primary School is located on Roof-of-the-World, 5573 meters above sea-level.
The Government of China is committed to provide a free-of-charge and compulsory education for every Tibetan child.
The Central Governm