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Foreign Tibetan living in India or Nepal
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Difference between Genuine and Foreign Tibetans
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Dalai Lama does not represent all Tibetan or Tibetan Buddhism and he has lots of enemies, even within Tibetan Buddhism. Enclosed photo showing a demonstration against Dalai Lama by Tibetan Buddhism Monks in Germany. In this photo many Germans(like many of us) were very much surprised.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/newscenter/2008-06/23/content_8424644.htm
"Nonviolence" in the mouth of "Dalai Lama"
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Information About Your Train Soft-Sleeper
Compartment
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to foster people-to-people relations between China and USA
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U.K. <<Guardian>>: Down with the Dalai Lama
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Qinghai-Tibet railway marks anniversary
www.chinaview.cn 2007-07-01 21:01:06
LHASA, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Tibetan people have celebrated the first year of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, recalling the changes brought by the rail link that connects the landlocked region to the rest of the country.
"When the rails rattle, the money comes in" was how Losang Cering, 40, of Liuwu Village, near the Lhasa railway terminal, described the railway's benefits.
"Before, we depended on the land for a living, but my people are working in construction, running home-style hotels, and some are driving cabs. They can earn about 2,000 yuan a month now, an unimaginable sum before," he said.
A year after its inauguration, the railway has transported 1.5 million people into Tibet, nearly half of the total tourist arrivals. The regional tourism administration says Tibet will receive more than three million tourists this year.
"The railway is like a colorful hada (ceremonial silk scarf regarded as a token of respect) that brings us good fortune," Losang said.
"The railway has facilitated access for pilgrims and believers in and outside Tibet, and we are seeing a major increase rather than decline in the number of pilgrims," said Chilai Qoisang, deputy director of the regional Buddhism association.
Statistics from the regional government show 328,000 pilgrims visited the Potala Palace, Norbuglinkha and Johkang Monastery, the top three religious sites in Lhasa, last year up by 62,000 from the previous year.
The 1,956-km railway, runs from Xining, capital of the northwestern Qinghai Province, to Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-07/01/content_6317397.htm
On July 1, 2006 Qinghai-Tibet Railway put into operation
which changed the History of Tibet forever !!
For the Train, a member of our 2006 Hiking Group has the following to say :
Mary : Hi Tony - Hope you're doing well. I think the web page has a lot of good information. The building of this railway was truly an engineering marvel. There was a small article about the railway in our local paper but it didn't have nearly as much information. I was particularly glad to read about the efforts that the Chinese made to protect the environment. After reading your web page, it made me really see that the Tibetan people deserve the technological advances that a railway like this will bring despite what some westerners think. I don't think that anyone in the west would want to go back to the days before modern utilities and transportation.
Qinghai-Tibet railway transports 5.95 mln tourists since its operation
2008-02-09 09:03:00
More than 5.95 million people had traveled on the Qinghai-Tibet railway by the end of 2007 since the highest rail route in the world opened in July, 2006.
The passenger flow accounted for 43 percent of all tourists visiting Tibet Autonomous Region in southwest China during the period, according to the autonomous regional tourism bureau.
The operation of the railway line has greatly boosted tourist growth in this landlocked plateau, which registered a record of 4.02 million tourists from other places in China and overseas last year, an annual increase of 60.4 percent, official statistics show.
Tourist revenue surged 75.1 percent year-on-year to 4.8 billion yuan (658 million U.S. dollars) in 2007, accounting for about 14.2 percent of the gross domestic product in Tibet, which was 4.6 percentage points higher than the previous year.
The number of visitors to Tibet is expected to hit 5 million this year, up 25 percent from a year earlier, and tourism revenue is predicted to reach 6 billion yuan (822 million U.S. dollars), up 24 percent.
More than 1,000 companies are involved in tourist businesses with total assets of more than 4 billion yuan. More than 1,600 registered tour guides and 858 hotels are ready to host the booming tourist trade.
The 1,956-kilometer railway, built at a cost of 33 billion yuan, was the first railway to connect Tibet with the outside world. It now transports about 75 percent of the goods between Tibet and other parts of the country.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200802/t20080209_367881.htm
Religious autocracy under the cover of democracy
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Qinghai-Tibet Railway aids farmers, herdsmen
2008-01-10 11:21:00
About 30,000 farmers and herdsman have benefited from higher income with the tourism brought by the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.
Official statistics showed that, after the railway started operations in the past year, Tibet received more than 4 million tourists, rising 60 percent. Total income from tourism hit 220 million yuan ($30 million), an increase of 43.8 percent from before.
Farmers and herdsmen who worked in the tourism industry had an average annual income of 6,383 yuan each, 20 percent more than that in the previous year.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200801/t20080116_339015.htm
The letter below was written by a member of 2006 Tibet Hiking Group in response to this Editorial :
2(husband & wife) of 2006 Tibet-Hiking Group wrote essay below.
Can you tell which two? Please send your comment to:
"The train from hell-Viewpoint: Winnipeg Free Press"
I have sat looking at this editorial, along with the Spectator's recent articles on the Bejing-Lhasa train, for that past few days. I found the Spectator's articles interesting, but this editorial requires commenting on.
The tone of the editorial is consistent with that of several small 'Western' groups who would rather totally acquiesce to those with their own political agendas rather than look into the situation for themselves and risk becoming labeled politically incorrect.
I have just come back from Tibet. I spent just over 2 weeks hiking and traveling there, staying in three Tibetan cities and hiking through two mountain passes and numerous villages. I also visited several monasteries (no, the monasteries are not closed).
The land dispute between Tibet and China has been going on for centuries. Possession of land has gone back and forth between the two-depending upon who had the bigger army at the time. At one time, due to the size and power of the Tibetan army the land mass occupied by the Tibetan people extended well into China. Now the shoe appears to be on the other foot.
From the moment we got off the airplane in Lhasa it was visibly apparent that there are a lot of resources being poured into Tibet. The airport is new and ultra modern, as are the surrounding buildings. The road from the airport is new. The signs on the highways and roads are in Chinese, Tibetan and occasionally English. I guess that they are wiping out the Tibetan language like we are wiping out the French language, by putting it all over public signs!
Driving from the airport to Lhasa the land on the sides of the road is littered with new irrigation technology and greenhouses. The fields are full of produce. The locals tell me they are trying to become self sufficient in producing food, using the finances of the government. Even in the outlying villages we visited there is significant manpower and resources being put into reclaiming the desert by creating modern irrigation ditches, ditches that are decorated in a manner consistent with Tibetan culture and beliefs, in the belief that such decoration will encourage prosperity. It is a marvelous sight to see, in the middle of the desert, fields of green and yellow surrounded by sand.
While one of the tenents of Chinese political policy has been their intolerance of religion, I can assure you the monasteries are not closed. The Tibetan Buddhist religion and philosophy is alive and well in Tibet. In fact, the monasteries are being rebuilt and refurbished. They are open to local Tibetans and foreigners. The devout locals journey every day to perform their rituals, be it donating money, yak butter for the candles or prostrating themselves as they perform their prayers either inside the monasteries or as they circle them outside. They do this unhindered and with the respect of all who observe them.
Not once did we see any Chinese military or have anyone prevent us from going anywhere.
The pilgrims to the monasteries, for the most part, appear to be the poorest of the poor. They give all they have to a belief system that represents classic feudal serfdom. They wander from room to room in the monasteries, taking great care not to miss a room, pasting money on the religious icons or in the jars placed in front of the icons by the monks. If they do not have money they bring thermos jars of yak butter to add to the constantly burning flames ever present in most of the rooms and chambers. Despite this, the money that the monasteries spend on yak butter in a year is apparently enough to build 3 hospitals. At one point we entered a large room with dozens of monks apparently chanting prayers, or so we thought. Our Tibetan guide informed us that this was the time of day that they actually gathered to count their money from the donations! .
On one occasion there was a rather noticeable disturbance outside one of the monasteries involving a young child. The young child was apparently voicing a rather vocal objection to what was happening around him. It appeared that the local village 'council' had decided to 'give' this child to the monks in the monastery, and the child was rather loudly voicing his objections, to no avail.
In another monastery we saw, off to one side, a small room occupied by a lone child of no more than 10 years of age. The room was big enough to accommodate him and the tools he was working with. He was covered with ink, using blocks and paper to hand print prayer sheets. He would do this 10-12 hours day, for no pay, simply because he was told it was his duty to the monastery.
The reward for their subjugation to the feudal system is simply the promise of a better life in their reincarnation. Fortunately, many of the younger generation are now finding that they have a choice. They can preserve their heritage, philosophy and culture and yet at the same time avail themselves of education and an expanding future. At the airports in Lhasa and China we saw several groups of Tibetan teenagers in their equivalent of school uniforms (we would call them track suits). When we asked what kind of sports teams they were we were told that they wearing school uniforms and they were traveling back and forth in class exchange programs.
It appears to be the objective of certain politically orientated minority groups to dwell on the past. China, under Mao and even Deng, did commit many atrocities. China in many ways is trying to drag itself out of the quagmire these atrocities created, sometimes by trying to deny many things in order to 'save face' as part of their culture requires. But they are also trying to enter the 21st century. They have a lot to make up for, if you believe that they are responsible for the sins of past rulers. On the ground, from someone who has been there, they are making progress.
How much progress are we making after taking Native culture, language and religion and packing them off onto reservations in the isolated far reaches of most of our provinces? Ask not for whom the bell tolls
The above letter was sent by email to me on July 21, 2006.
Difference between Genuine and Foreign Tibetans
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Genuine Tibetans against Dalai Lama's return
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Why Tibetans do not want Dalai Lama to return Tibet?
Please study carefully the follwoing webpages:
Tibet Before 1951 Peaceful Liberation
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Tibet After 1951 Peaceful Liberation
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Young Foreign Tibetans stop being used by USA
You deserve high standard free-of-charge Education
Say NO! to Dalai Lama and Tibetan Youth Congress
Destiny of Dalai Lama is desperate hopelessness
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No one knows about Tibet better than the people from India
<<The Hindu>> Journalist first-hand Tibet visit experience:
Social well-being a striking aspect of life in modern Tibet
| by: Parvathi Menon | From: The Hindu
2008-08-28 14:16:00
Life has changed beyond recognition since 1959, when the system of monastic feudalism presided over by the Dalai Lama was overthrown and over a million serfs were set free.
In what used to be the dungeons of the Potala Palace, once the winter palace of the Dalai Lamas in Lhasa and now a religious and tourist site, is an unusual museum. The Zhol jail, a place where disobedient or rebellious serfs and labourers were subject to horrific forms of torture, was once located here. Today, photographs, paintings, models, and sound effects are used to recreate the brutality of the ancien regime against those classes whose labour created and sustained the splendid monument that soars above.
The squalor, poverty and social hierarchies of Lhasa, captured vividly in black and white photographs of the 1940s and 1950s, belong to a historical phase now squarely in the past.
Today the Potala Palace overlooks a city of modern infrastructure and conveniences. It has attractive tree-lined avenues, a busy business district, hotels, cultural centres and open spaces like the 12.2 square km Lhalu wetlands, a protected marsh that acts as what our hosts refer to as the kidneys of the Lhasa urban area. The modernity of the capital bears the impress of a strong Tibetan stamp in architecture, dress, and cultural practice.
Apart from warm clothes and altitude sickness pills, a foreign visitor to Tibet usually carries baggage of another kind. This is a belief that the 'real' Tibet lies hidden somewhere beneath what the eye sees and the mind registers; that the well being and modernisation evident in contemporary Tibetan society is a sort of maya. This perspective has been shaped by a vast literature and propaganda offensive that has emanated over the years from within the support base of the 14th Dalai Lama. It comes in large part from people who have not set foot in Tibet, and has, unfortunately, many well-meaning adherents.
A report published this year by the Dalai Lama's Dharamsala-based Government-in-Exile and titled Environment and Development in Tibet: A Crucial Issue has this to say: China claims that Tibet is experiencing growth and prosperity, but the reality is that, under Chinese rule, Tibetans are impoverished, marginalised and excluded; the sensitive and globally important ecology of Tibet is deteriorating; and many plant and animal species face extinction.
In fact, the fatal flaw of the report is that it has been written by people who have not visited their research area, for it is evident to any visitor's eye that the allegations of the impoverishment, marginalisation, and exclusion of Tibetans are unsubstantiated.
I was part of a journalists' delegation invited by the Chinese government to Tibet in July this year. To a visitor, the relatively high levels of living standards of people in the Tibet Autonomous Regions (TAR) are a striking feature of observable social life. In Lhasa, small towns and the villages of Tibet, there are no crowds of people ill, destitute, and unemployed - on the contrary, the overwhelming visual impression is of a population healthy and gainfully employed. Schools and universities hum with activity, and cultural assets like museums and ancient monasteries are treasured - these are but some marks of a society that is on the move.
Older Tibetans emphasise that life has changed beyond recognition since 1959, when the system of monastic feudalism presided over by the Dalai Lama was overthrown and over a million serfs were set free.
I consider myself middling-prosperous, says Zhuoga, the head of an eight-member farming family in Gapa, a village of 60 households, 10 km from Lhasa. She and her family members offer fruit, biscuits and Tibetan tea to her visitors in her warm and colourful sitting room decorated with Tibetan thangkas (religious scroll paintings) and carpets.
The Zhuoga household's annual income of 20,000 yuan (roughly Rs. 140,000) comes from her oilseed and corn harvest, from the rent paid by vegetable farmers for land they lease from her, from a 500 yuan annual subsidy given by the Government, and from collective work she and the family put in on village projects. School education and health care are free. Although a Buddhist, she thinks the Dalai Lama is not a good man as he masterminded the disturbances of March 14th 2008. We could not go to the city for work, she said. I was angry and scared.
Life now is like this, says Pingtso Tashi giving a thumbs-up sign. And before 1959 it was like this. He holds up his little finger. This 58-year old dam inspector and farmer is the son of former serfs. Today, hard work pays, he said. Every village family owns land and the average individual land holding of the village is 3.8 mu (15 mu = 1 hectare)
A range of special preferential policies and measures for social and economic development apply to Tibet. There is a preferential taxation policy by which income tax in Tibet is three percentage points lower than elsewhere, and farmers and herdsmen are completely exempt from taxes and administrative charges. There is a preferential interest rate on bank loans, the rate being two percentage points lower in the TAR than in the rest of China.
Yang Chen and Deji, microbiologists working for a bio-pharmaceutical company in Lhasa, and their office colleagues, are part of a cheerful and spirited group of women dressed in formal western office wear who have come to see a photographic exhibition on Tibetan women at the Tibet museum in Lhasa. Asked about the exhibition and whether it reflects the progress of women in Tibet, Yang Chen says, Yes it does. Today we are equal to men in every way. She and Ms Deji have two daughters each, and hope that the girls will one day become doctors. The one-child norm does not apply to Tibetans and other ethnic minorities as it does to Han Chinese.
http://eng.tibet.cn/index/news/200808/t20080828_422961.htm
Modern education a key to Tibet's social and economic progress
2008-09-04 10:01:00
| by: Parvathi Menon | From: The Hindu
Before 1951, 92 per cent of the population of Tibet was illiterate. That proportion is now 44 per cent.
A report published this year by the Dalai Lama's Dharamsala-based "Government-in-Exile" and titled Environment and Development in Tibet: A Crucial Issue (available on their website) seeks to perpetuate the myth that Tibetans are fast becoming a minority in their homeland as a result of a state-sponsored policy of Han settlement in Tibet. In fact, of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) population of 2.8 million, Tibetans account for 92 per cent, other ethnic minorities for around 2 per cent, and Han Chinese a little under 6 per cent.
Government officials in Tibet emphasise that the accusation that Han Chinese control the administration of Tibet is wrong. Tibetans constitute a majority of the cadre within government and the Communist Party. According to Duo Ji Ciren, Vice-Commissioner of the Administrative office of Nyingchi prefecture, 70 per cent of civil servants in Nyingchi prefecture are either Tibetans or from other ethnic minorities, and key prefectural posts are held by Tibetans.
Education has been key to social and economic progress in Tibet. Modern education only began after 1951. In 2007, enrolment in primary schools reached 98.2 per cent, in middle schools 90.97 per cent, in high school 42.96 per cent, and in colleges 17.4 per cent. Before 1951, 92 per cent of the population of Tibet was illiterate. That proportion is now 44 per cent, although the illiterate are now concentrated in the older age groups.
"You had to be a monk if you wanted education in the old society," said Dr. Losang Yundeng, 51, Director of the 210-bed County Peoples Hospital in Nyingchi. An ethnic Tibetan from a poor family of labourers in a remote village in Nyingchi prefecture, he was sent to one of the first schools to be opened in his village. When a medical team visited the village in 1972, the 15-year-old boy was chosen by his village to train as a barefoot doctor. After the Cultural Revolution, Dr. Yundeng trained at the Nanjing Medical College and later at the famous Norman Bethune Medical Academy to become a doctor.
Dr. Wangmo, 44, a brilliant Tibetan plant pathologist and professor in the Department of Plant Technology at the Tibetan Agriculture and Animal Husbandry College, Nyingchi, speaks of how education transformed life in her village. "I studied in a village which you could only get to by horse," she said. "But education gave us ability and confidence. In my school, 80 per cent of the children were Tibetan and our Tibetan education was very good." In the college where she teaches, half of the 3,000 students are girls and 80 per cent of all students are Tibetan.
Dr. Wangmo's current research is on understanding the structure of a fungus called Cordyceps Sinensis, which grows wild in certain high-altitude counties. Called "yatsagompo" in Tibetan, the fungus, which looks like an innocuous dry twig, has been the reason for a sudden increase in incomes among certain communities living in these regions. Used in traditional medicine and valued for its healing properties, the fungus is highly priced. "I have seen people earn 80,000 yuan a year from this," Dr. Wangmo explained. Her research team is also working on how to undertake the sustainable cultivation of this precious resource.
Indeed, the issue of ecological sustainability and protection of the natural habitat is one over which demonstrable measures have been taken. The Tibetan plateau is a cradle of the planet's natural wealth. It has the world's highest peaks and lakes, gives birth to Asia¡¯s mighty rivers, and has vast deposits of mineral and forest wealth.
The 10-hour drive from Lhasa to the Nyingchi prefecture, one of TAR's ecological treasure houses, is as remarkable for its stunning landscapes as it is for the absence of heavy motor traffic, roadside hoardings, the defacement of rock surfaces with advertisements or writing, and litter. The Nyingchi Prefecture has a forest cover of 46 per cent, the largest virgin forest in China. The preservation of the ecology is central to government policy here. "Our slogan is 'Build Nyingchi as the largest district in western Tibet with the best preserved ecology,'" said Mr. Ciren, its administrative head. The beautiful Environmental Museum in Nyingchi offers a stunning display of its plant and animal wealth.
China's Tibet policy was defined to us by Dong Yunhu, Director General of the State Council Information Office, as "the continuous improvement in the living standards of Tibetans," By this criterion, the implementation of China's Tibet policy is marked by measurable and visible success.
http://eng.tibet.cn/index/news/200809/t20080904_424239.htm
China issues white paper, refutes charge of "cultural genocide" in Tibet
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Religious autocracy under the cover of democracy
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Compulsory and Free-of-Charge Education
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What to negotiate with Dalai Lama?
2008-07-01 16:41:00
To most people, no matter in the old Tibet or in Dharmsala today, where Tibetan government-in-exile locates, Dalai Lama is both a political and a religious figure. Although Dalai himself frequently refers to the "government-in-exile" as a "democratic government", he has never denied he is the political leader. But it does not make any sense at all to compare theocracy to a democratic system. If it did, people would assume he either lacks or ignore common sense.
Theocracy was abolished in Tibet. This is the reason why Dalai left Lhasa in 1959(click here), and it is also the result of his absence.
Tibet is an autonomous region, so the Tibetan autonomous government is the only legal government to represent Tibet, not that government-in-exile.
Therefore, to negotiate with China is actually to negotiate Dalai's future. Because he is not able to represent neither Tibet nor Tibetan on any legal grounds, and China will never consent to negotiate with him when he claims himself as the political figure of the "government-in-exile". I am not sure whether Dalai is clear about this or not.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200807/t20080701_410293.htm
What to talk with Dalai Lama?
2008-07-01 16:39:00
Seems a new round of talks between the Beijing central government and the Dalai Lama will start soon. Then, what are the topics on the table? Is it the current situation of Tibet, position of Tibet, future of Tibet, or the destiny of the Tibetan people, of course NOT.
The reason is simple. Dalai is a Buddhist lama, his past political status was based on the system of theocracy. The system, in which a society is ruled by a priest or monk who represent a god, has been abolished in Tibet long before. So if one is going to discuss with a monk the position and future of Tibet, and destiny of Tibetan people, doesn't that give an impression that China will allow theocracy to resume in Tibet?
Tibet is an autonomous region of China, and representing it is the government of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. The 14th Dalai Lama has set up an "exile regime" in Dharmsala, India, and he claims to be the leader of the exile regime. The fact is that not a single state in the world today admits the legitimacy of Dalai Lama's exile government in Dharmsala. If the central government is going to discuss the position, future of Tibet, and destiny of Tibetan people, doesn't that give an impression that Dharmasala exile regime is legitimate?
Tibet has achieved a lot in the past 50-odd years, but Tibet's success and progress has nothing to do with the Dalai Lama(click here). He by no means can represent Tibet or the Tibetan people now. So, China's central government is not going to discuss with Dalai Lama the current situation of Tibet, position of Tibet, future of Tibet, or the destiny of the Tibetan people, but only the future and destiny of Dalai Lama himself.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200807/t20080701_410290.htm
Last opportunity for Dalai Lama
2008-07-01 16:41:00
The 14th Dalai Lama is running out of opportunities. And that's why he is using the Beijing Olympics as his last straw. But could he really make the best use of this opportunity? Some Westerners are providing Dalai Lama with badly-needed guidance and support, which shed light on why he frequented Western countries in a rush. However, there are vast differences in the interest of those Westerners' and Dalai's, which can be seen through the fact that Dalai has been given a cold shoulder by the West from time to time in the past decades.
Therefore Dalai should tell the difference in interests and stop binding himself to certain political forces, which will lead to his loss of opportunities. Judging from the current situation, Dalai Lama is losing his most important opportunities on mending ties with the Chinese central government.
Of course, it remained to be seen whether Dalai Lama still has any power and influence to muster, without the support of some political forces in the West.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200807/t20080701_410291.htm
Chinese central government officials meet with Dalai Lama's private representatives
www.chinaview.cn 2008-07-03 15:37:37
BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Du Qinglin, head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with private representatives of the 14th Dalai Lama in Beijing recently, the department said on Thursday.
Du, also the vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), told the two representatives, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, the central government's policy towards the Dalai Lama is consistent and explicit. The door for dialogue is always open.
The Dalai Lama should openly and explicitly promise and prove it in his actions not to support activities to disturb the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games, not to support plots to fan violent criminal activities, not to support and concretely curb the violent terrorist activities of the "Tibetan Youth Congress" and not to support any argument and activity to seek "Tibet independence" and split the region from the country, he said.
While the country is welcoming the 30th anniversary of its reform and opening up, Tibet, together with the rest of the country, has progressed to realize economic development and improve people's living standards while protecting the environment and effectively using resources, he said.
In Tibet, the adherence to the CPC leadership, the socialist system and the regional autonomy of ethnic minorities will not be altered, he said.
The central government will apply its policies in Tibet, support the region's economic and social development and work to improve living standards of people in Tibet as it did before.
Du also briefed them about the Wenchuan earthquake on May 12 and the relief work.
He said at time of difficulty, the Chinese nation has shown strong cohesiveness and profound love among its people. The relief work serves as vivid illustrations of China's protection of human rights.
The CPC implemented its principle of putting people first and ruling the country for the people, while the advantages of socialist system are also manifested in the quake relief, as indicated in the policy of saving lives first, nationwide mobilization for quake relief and timely and smooth flow of information, he said.
Zhu Weiqun and Sitar, two deputy heads of the department, also met with the Dalai Lama's representatives and exchanged ideas on detailed issues.
If the Dalai Lama makes positive moves, the next round of contact may be held before the end of this year, according to the officials of the department.
The Dalai Lama's representatives also expressed their ideas on several relevant issues and said they would report the results to the Dalai Lama.
During their stay in Beijing, the two toured the Olympic stadiums and talked with some Tibetologists.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/03/content_8483444.htm
Dalai Lama's 'new olive branch'
2008-08-22 09:51:00
A "new olive branch" from the Dalai Lama has staggered to the public by a western guy through a piece of western newspaper.
Nicholas D. Kristop has published an article on New York Times on August 7, the day before the opening of 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and for the first time, the Dalai Lama is willing to state that he can accept the socialist system in Tibet under Communist Party rule while "the main thing is to preserve our culture, to preserve the character of Tibet, That is what is most important, not politics", according to that article.
What's the matter with Tibet and what crisis Tibetan characteristic is facing? What kind of problem makes the Dalai Lama sacrifice so much, even to compromise a lot to be willing to accept the socialist system to "preserve them"?
This topic is too gigantic and Tibet is also too far away. Let's just come to the details. A few days ago, I went to Dongdan and near the Xiehe Hospital I found a small shop with a lot of Tibetan Buddhism figures in its shop window and lots of Thangka and monks pictures on its wall. At that time, I really wanted to take some photos just for my western friends to tell them how the Tibetan culture is in today's Beijing. It's a pity that the shopkeeper refused me. So for as I know, there are many other kinds of such shops in Beijing run by Tibetans or local residents. Whether it can be run for long or not, it only depends on the business. Can this phenomenon reflect an aspect of current Tibetan culture?
Yesterday, I went to China Tibetology Research Center for some work. Two kilometers east away from the Bird's Nest where the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games opening ceremony was just held, the Tibetan-style building is next to some other Tibetan-style buildings, such as Tibet Mansion, Tibet Middle School, Tibetan Medicine Mansion and also the newly-finished Tibet Folk Custom Museum. Painted in deep purple, a kind of characteristic color for the top of Potala Palace and some Tibetan Buddhism monasteries as well as the color of Tibetan monks' robe, those Tibetan-style buildings gather together just like a Tibetan village in Beijing. In deed, the Tibetan culture has special characteristics and we can touch the characteristics only from the Tibetan buildings which we can easily find on street. We can definitely say that the Tibetan culture has never boomed in today's Beijing as there are so many Tibetan books and newspaper, literature and art, music and etc. What is the problem with protection and development of Tibetan culture? If there is, there is only one problem, that is after so many distort words from the Dalai Lama and some western media, how can the Chinese Government make more and more westerners believe that the Chinese Government has no genocidal policy for Tibetan culture.
As for the Tibetan characteristics, there are some Tibetan characteristics in the long history including elite and draff. There are some uncultured and outdated "characteristics", such as the feudal serf system under the combination institution of politics and religion and the feudal dictatorship of Tibetan Buddhism monasteries and large numbers of monks. Yes, all those dictatorship have disappeared and of course there is no measure to keep such "characteristics". Once there was such characteristic in the history of different ethnic groups and different countries, why should Tibet keep such "characteristics" while most of the westerners weren't keen on the medieval inquisition, the tithe and the indulgence.
The "olive branch" also mentions the disquieting future:" much of Tibet is likely to have been drowned in a sea of Chinese migration" and also delivers some "prescription":" to restrict migration into all Tibetan areas, inside and outside the "autonomous region," through China's existing system of residence permits. The Chinese authorities would stop issuing resident permits, known as hukou, to non-Tibetans for any Tibetan area..."
The fact is that the Chinese Government has no policy that the Dalai Lama said to encourage large numbers of immigration to Tibet, but with the economic development and social life progress of China, it is an indisputable fact that the population flow between western and eastern China is increasing. There is other ethnic people in Tibet while there is also some other ethnic people including Tibetan in eastern China. Many countries have experienced or are experiencing the nationalities flow. All the ethnic people are equal in China and if we don't allow other ethnic people to enter Tibet, will we allow Tibetans to go to the inland cities? If the restriction is only effective to some ethnic people, does it mean that there is one or some nationalities has or have special rights? And how about the others? While if we set some restriction to all the nationalities, will there be some so-called "Human Rights Issue"? In fact, we can find paper material recording that 1,300 years ago in the beginning of Tang Dynasty, there was Han-Tibetan intermarriage and intermarriage with other nationalities is an important characteristic of Tibetan culture. If there is some restriction for population flow, don't you be afraid of losing this "Tibetan characteristic"? Can all the different ethnic young people in Tibetan-populated areas fall in love according to their will? Or they can only enjoy their separation life? How about those "Tuanjie Zu", second generation or third generation with half, a quarter even eighth blood of Tibetan? In my opinion, there is no capable leader in China can solve such complicated problem and I'm afraid that we should hire some advisors from western countries.
There are some words confusing me in that article and I can't distinguish it is from the Dalai Lama or just from Nicholas. But it mentioned so-and-so institution won't take part in the talk with the representative of the Dalai Lama or such and such secretary in Tibet transfers to some other post, I believe he has put his foot in it.
Yes, the Dalai Lama expressed his will of returning home again, so please admit your fault and see clearly of the situation to drop your bargaining with the Central Government. In last half century, you have done too many things to distort the history of Tibet, spoil the image of our country, harm Chinese people's feeling and demolish the unification of our country and keep such situation is really not the best choice.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200808/t20080822_421710.htm
What kind of olive branch from the Dalai Lama?
2008-08-21 11:23:00
Just on the former day of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games, "New York Times", an American newspaper, published an article titled "An Olive Branch from the Dalai Lama" by Nicholas D. Kristof, a journalist who once worked in China. The article introduces the Dalai Lama's new opinions about Tibet.
Before analyzing the Dalai Lama's new ideas, I would like to share two points which puzzle me most.
Firstly, the Chinese government always opens doors to the Dalai Lama for talks. As a matter of fact, from 2002 to the beginning of this year, the departments concerned have conducted six rounds of talk with the Dalai Lama. In addition, after the March 14 Riots the United Front Work Department (UFWD) of the Communist Party of China (CPC) had dialogues with the Dalai Lama twice although local people in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) were very angry with separatists due to great damages caused by riots. If the Dalai Lama has any new ideas indeed, he should communicate with the central government directly instead of conveying his comments by western media. The proposition from a western journalist not only makes people disbelieve its authenticity but also doubts the Dalai Lama's sincerity. Does he wish to solve the issue or just to strengthen public relations among the western world for another time?
Secondly, one point of the Dalai Lama's new allegation is that the object of the dialogue should be changed to the supreme leader from the United Front Work Department of CPC, which is out of all reason. That would do no good to the following dialogue. On the contrary, it will set new blocks to the progress. So I have to suspect the Dalai Lama's sincerity of resolving issues.
The first point of the Dalai Lama's new ideas is that "the Dalai Lama is willing to state that he can accept the socialist system in Tibet under Communist Party rule", which he regards as an important compromise. Actually, this is what the Dalai Lama should do according to the dialogue. It is really wise enough to interpret an inevitable thing as a big compromise, in terms of negotiation skills. It is a popular tactic in western public relations to put forward a fake topic and then gain virtual profit by making compromises. With the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region in 1965 after the democratic reform in 1959, the socialist system has become the foundation of Tibet's society today. The result of changing the reality is unimaginable. On the foundation of current social system, TAR has made great progress on the way to modernization. Further promoting the autonomous region is millions of Tibetan people's requirement and rights. It is selfish that some few people hope to change the progress of the history, which is impossible as well.
The second point of view is about the Dalai Lama's so-called "greater Tibet". He can accept the current boundary between TAR and other provinces but calls for "greater Tibet" "to be placed under one administration" and demanded "to create a Regional Authority for Tibetan Affairs that would administer key aspects of life" in greater Tibet. That is to say, he would like to gain the practical domination over greater Tibet by superficially giving up greater Tibet. Here we can learn the negotiation tactics of "moving forward two steps by moving back one step". In history, there has never been "all Tibetan areas" with an effective and consolidate administration. In the rule of law, his claiming greater Tibet disregards other nationalities' rights completely. As for politics and real life, if the plan of greater Tibet takes effect, a race launder with unprecedented scale will happen. Thus the plan of greater Tibet itself is ridiculous and persisting this plan is one of the greatest barriers for the dialogue between the central government and the Tibet separatist group. The Dalai Lama changed the expression way of the issue of greater Tibet without giving up the preposition actually, which is the essence of the problem of the so-called new ideas.
After recommending the new policy of his highly-praised Dalai Lama, Kristof raised a series of detailed requests on behalf of the Dalai Lama, such as allowing the Dalai Lama to arrive in or depart from China according to his will; restricting other ethnic people's migration; stopping the patriotism education in monasteries; permitting pre-school age children to go to school; promoting the status of Tibetan language and boosting the occupancy of Tibetan cadres. In my opinion, it is the Dalai Lama's rights to raise requests, but all those requests should be based upon rationality and reality.
Let's have a simple discussion at some topics. Firstly, the so-called migration problem. In terms of the modern nomology, except the well-organized and large scale migration to some areas based upon governmental public power and resources, it is the basic rights under the guarantee of constitution for citizens to migrate according to one's own interest demand within the frontier. It is wrong to restrict individual free migration according to the nomology and according to the modern human rights view, it is also improper. Now the fact is that there is no issue for government to organize migration to Tibet or some other Tibetan-inhabited areas while the government should respect and protect the behavior of individual migration according to market economy demand.
Secondly, permitting pre-school age children to go to school. The key problem is the balance of rights claim. China respects citizens' religion freedom according to the law and in opposite, the citizen must respect the law to fulfill the legal obligation and this is a kind of balanced contract relationship. It is the rights for children to enjoy education and the duty of parents and the government to help children to finish compulsory education. The reasonable claim is to help those children finish education and allow them to choose their religion belief after they have ability to fulfill their rights to perform their rights according to the constitution.
Thirdly, about the Tibetan language. With the development of modernization, any nationality will meet the challenge of adjusting to the modernization and protecting the traditional culture. A clear fact is that since the Reform and Opening-up, the Chinese Government has done a lot to popularize Tibetan language, protect and develop the Tibetan culture and has also made a lot of progress. In stead of criticism without any fact basis, the Chinese Government deserves affirmation and encouragement for its efforts on Tibetan language and Tibetan culture.
In Kristof's quotation cited from the Dalai Lama, a marked paragraph shows that he pays much attention to those words: "The main thing is to preserve our culture, to preserve the character of Tibet, That is what is most important, not politics." It sounds really good, but if you read carefully, you will still feel that culture is just used as an excuse as what the Dalai Lama cares most is the politics.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200808/t20080821_421558.htm
Friendly Feudalism: The Tibet Myth
click here
Olympic torch relay COMPLETED in Lhasa, Tibet
Gonpo (L), 75-year-old Tibetan mountaineering hero and the first torchbearer, receives the torch from Qin Yizhi, secretary of the Lhasa city committee of the Communist Party of China, during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on June 21, 2008.
Gonpo (front), 75-year-old Tibetan mountaineering hero and the first torchbearer, runs with the torch during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on June 21, 2008.
Torchbearer Li Suzhi runs with the torch during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on June 21, 2008.
Tibetan people welcome the Olympic flame during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on June 21, 2008.
Tibetan people welcome the Olympic flame during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on June 21, 2008.
Dancers perform Tibetan ethnic dance to welcome the Olympic flame in front of the Potala Palace during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on June 21, 2008.
A torchbearer passing through a historical site, during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on June 21, 2008.
Merging flame from torchbearers with the Olympic flame passed atop the earth's summit(in Tibet) on May 8, 2008, during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on June 21, 2008.
The last torchbearer(a famous Tibetan artist) arrived Potala Palace, during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, on June 21, 2008.
http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90783/91323/6434427.html
Dalai Lama's olive branch isn't fresh
2008-08-22 13:37:00
As the 29th Beijing Olympic Games opened on August 8th and made a great achievement, some anti-China forces feel enormous lonely, they can't accept such smooth and successful games nor the host country is highly praised by media from all over the world. Some of them therefore wrote an article titled "An Olive Branch from the Dalai Lama" on New York Times on the day the games opened. It's about the so called "Tibet issue" and a series of approaches of concession is also included. The solution which makes both sides feel uncomfortable to certain conditions is an olive branch from the Dalai Lama to Chinese government. However, after carefully interpreting the solution, it's not another solution at all and it's absolutely an old trick.
One of the main discussions in the article is the "Greater Tibetan Area". That is usually interpreted to mean a huge expansion of the political boundaries of the Tibet Autonomous Region to encompass about one-fourth of China, taking in parts of Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces. The Chinese government stands fast on this point.
The article states that one way to bridge that gulf would be "to create a Regional Authority for Tibetan Affairs that would administer key aspects of life in all Tibetan areas, particularly education, culture and religion. Already, for example, Tibetan-language school textbooks are harmonized in different provinces, and this regional authority would likewise oversee practical aspects of life in areas with Tibetan populations, all under Chinese law." The result is "This would allow Tibetan areas to be placed under a single administration without changing political boundaries."
The solution is no doubt the last version of seeking Tibet independence on the "Greater Tibetan Area". The words "key aspects of life in all Tibetan areas" is so ambitious with too much meanings. So it explains and states "particularly education, culture and religion." However, it again emphasizes "This regional authority would oversee practical aspects of life in areas with Tibetan populations", which also means too much, not only cultural and religious affairs.
In fact, making an administration authority for Tibetan affairs haven't existed in China's history nor accord to China's current political system. The political boundaries in China are made in consideration of historic tradition and administration convenience. It's not simply made by nationalities. Besides, China is home of 56 nationalities who live in mixture in large areas and in groups with small population. This is the same in Tibet Autonomous Region and other Tibetan autonomous prefectures and the situation has last for thousands of years.
To sum up, the compromise solution, or the olive branch is not fresh at all. The reason to write such article is to sully China's international image at the time the Olympic Games open and all the people from all over the world thank to Chinese government and people who have made great contributions to the Olympic big families and share the spirit of Olympics beyond political differences under the Olympic Flag.
http://eng.tibet.cn/index/news/200808/t20080822_421835.htm
United States has to respect that today
Local Tibetan born and raised in Tibet
DO NOT WANT click here Dalai Lama to return Tibet
A train chugs on the railway bridge across Lhasa River with the Potala Palace in the background in Lhasa.
The 928.85-meter-long railway bridge, with the main span of 108 meters, is a landmark on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.
Map of Qinghai-Tibet Railway
( sourse Tibet.cn )
Map of Tibet Autonomous Region
( sourse Tibet.cn )
China opens the world's most elevated railroad, the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, on July 1, 2006. Below are some facts about the Qinghai-Tibet Railway:
-- Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the first railroad linking Tibet with the rest of China.
-- China has solved three major difficulties, namely frozen tundra, high altitude and plateau environmental protection, to rewrite the world's history of railway construction with the completion of Qinghai-Tibet Railway.
-- None of the hundreds of thousands of railway builders died of altitude sickness in the past five years.
-- Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the world's highest railway. Some 960 kilometers of its tracks are located 4,000 meters above sea level and the highest point is 5,072 meters, at least 200 meters higher than the Peruvian railway in the Andes, which was formerly the world's most elevated rail.
-- The railway is the world's longest plateau railroad, extending 1,956 kilometers from Qinghai's provincial capital Xining to Lhasa in Tibet. The newly completed Golmud-Lhasa section zigzags 1,142 kilometers across the Kunlun and Tanggula mountain ranges.
-- About 550 kilometers of the tracks run on frozen earth, the longest in any of the world's plateau railways.
-- Tanggula Railway Station, 5,068 meters above sea level, is the highest railway station in the world.
-- Fenghuoshan Tunnel, 4,905 meters above sea level, is the world's most elevated tunnel on frozen earth.
-- Kunlun Mountain Tunnel, running 1,686 meters, is the world's longest plateau tunnel built on frozen earth.
-- Upon its completion, the maximum train speed is designed to reach 100 kilometers per hour in the frozen earth areas and 120 kilometers per hour on non-frozen earth.
-- Construction of the Golmud-Lhasa section of the landmark railway commenced on June 29, 2001.
-- About 29.46 billion yuan (3.68 billion U.S. dollars) had been spent on the Golmud-Lhasa section which runs 1,142 kilometers.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200607/02/eng20060702_279247.html
The first passenger train coded T27 from China's capital Beijing rolls into the Lhasa Railway Station in Lhasa,
capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 3, 2006. (Xinhua Photo)
China made history on July 1, 2006 by sending the first pair of passenger trains to the "roof of the world" along a miracle rail link between Tibet and the rest of the country.
The world was watching as two inaugural trains, coded "Qing 1" and "Tibet 2", pulled out of their stations in Golmud and Lhasa, two start-off points of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the world's highest.
Thousands of people dressed in festive costumes and speaking different dialects witnessed the historic moment at the two stations, shouting "Tashi Delek", a Tibetan expression meaning good fortune.
'Qing 1' and 'Tibet 2' met on the way
Before the trains started, Chinese President Hu Jintao cut ribbons to mark the launching of the railway, which he praised as a "miracle".
"The project is not only a magnificent feat in China's history of railway construction, but is also a great miracle of the world's railroad history," Hu, also general-secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, told an audience of 2,600 on a square in front of the Golmud railway station.
Saturday coincides the 85th founding anniversary of the CPC, and three more trains left for Lhasa from Beijing, Chengdu and Xining in the evening.
A dream comes true
By inaugurating the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, China has realized a centennial dream of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the forerunner of China's democratic revolution, and has broken American train traveler Paul Theroux's prophesy that the Kunlun Range was "a guarantee that therailway will never get to Lhasa".
The Qinghai-Tibet railway stretches 1,956 km from Xining, capital of Qinghai Province, to Lhasa. The section of 814 km from Xining to Golmud began operation in 1984 and the Golmud-Lhasa section started construction on June 29, 2001.
The project is dubbed an "engineering marvel" because people used to think the perennial ice and slush along the route could never support tracks and trains.
"I never expected I could ever get on a train in my life," said Tibetan herder Tubdain Daqog, one of the 700 passengers on board the maiden train from Lhasa to Lanzhou, northwest China's Gansu Province, Saturday.
His hair is done into plaits with red ribbons, a festive hairdo for the Tibetans, "because today is a red-letter day," he told Xinhua in an interview.
"Now that trains are so available, I'll take my sons to the big cities for work," said the father of five children, the eldest of whom is 27.
Lama Cering from Jokhang Temple in Lhasa enjoyed every bit of scenery along the route and refused even to sit down. "I'd be happy to pay a pilgrim to the Ta'er Monastery when I arrive in Qinghai," he said.
Ta'er Monastery is one of the largest monasteries of the Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism in memory of Tzongkaba (1357-1419), the founder of the Yellow Sect.
Rewriting history
History was rewritten when "Tibet 2", the first train to leave Lhasa, passed the Tanggula Mountain Pass, 5,072 meters above sea level, at 5:38 p.m..
Located at the highest point of the railway, the Tanggula Mountain Pass has replaced Peru's Lima-Huancayo line, which reaches 4,800 meters, to hold the record of the world's highest railway.
Trains traveling across the roof of the world have extra oxygen pumped into the cabins to prevent passengers from suffering altitude sickness.
They cover hundreds of kilometers of permanently frozen ground, with state-of-the-art cooling methods used to ensure the rail line remains stable.
At a cost of 33 billion yuan (4.1 billion U.S. dollars), Chinese President Hu Jintao said the railway was an important part of China's historic efforts to modernize the country and further confirmation that the fast-developing nation was indisputably one of the world's great powers.
"This success again shows the hard working and wise people of China have the courage, confidence and ability to continue to create miracles," Hu said.
"We also have the courage, confidence and ability to stand among the advanced peoples of the world."
More than 1,300 years ago, ruler of ancient Tibet Songzan Gambohad to wait for three years for his bride, Princess Wencheng, to travel all the way from the inland areas. Today, Beijing is only 48 hours away.
More than an economic boom
Ministry of Railways said the Qinghai-Tibet railway will carry 75 percent of all the inbound cargo into Tibet, cutting transportation costs and help double tourism revenues by 2010.
But experts say the railway means more than an economic boom in the region.
Refuting international concerns over a "cultural genocide" by an influx of the Han people, China's largest ethnic group, An Caidan, a Beijing-based expert on Tibetan studies, said the newly opened railway has in fact made room for the development of Tibetan culture.
"The Tibetans enjoy the right to seek development," he said. "The railway will lead Tibet to prosperity and present Tibetan culture to the world."
Huang Fukai, head of a Tibetan culture preservation society, believed the railway will change the locals' way of life. "They will keep to their traditional diet but will tuck into Western food and put on jeans, too."
But such changes, he said, are the irreversible trend of development of the human civilization, said Huang.
Besides the cultural concerns, environmentalists worry the railway might undermine the ecology on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
Addressing such concerns, the central government spent 1.5 billion yuan (about 180 million U.S. dollars) on environment conservation along the route, the largest amount in any single railway project in China.
"I do admire the Chinese government for that," said Italian sinologist Aldo Mignucci who is in Lhasa for a visit.
Before the train left Golmud, Chinese President Hu Jintao emphasized the importance of environmental protection on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in a speech to mark the opening of the landmark railway.
"Railway workers and passengers traveling on the Qinghai-Tibet railway should consciously treasure waters and mountains as well as grass and woods on the Plateau, and they should help conserve the eco system and environment along the railway," Hu said.
The Chinese government is to build three more railway lines in Tibet as extensions of the newly-completed railway, which would link the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, with Nyingchi to the east, and Xigaze to the west, while the third will link Xigaze with Yadong, a major trading town on the China-India border.
The new lines would be built in 10 years, and increase Tibet's total railway length to more than 2,000 kilometers, says the Ministry of Railways.
Performers greet the train coded "Zang (Tibet) 2" as it runs past the railway station in Nagqu after starting from Lhasa,
the capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 1, 2006. [Xinhua Photo]
A Tibetan girl waves a hada, a white silk scarf symbolizing respect and blessing, as the train coded "Zang (Tibet) 2" runs past railway station
in Nagqu after starting from Lhasa, the capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 1, 2006. [Xinhua Photo]
A Tibetan waves a hada, a white silk scarf symbolizing respect and blessing, as the train coded "Zang (Tibet) 2" runs past the railway station
in Amdo after starting from Lhasa, the capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, July 1, 2006. [Xinhua Photo]
The train coded "Zang (Tibet) 2" from Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, runs past the railway station
on the Tanggula Mountain Pass of 5,068 meters above sea level, the highest of world's railway, at 17:38 July 1, 2006. [Xinhua Photo]
The train coded "Zang (Tibet) 2" from Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, runs past the railway station
on the Tanggula Mountain Pass of 5,068 meters above sea level, the highest of world's railway, at 17:38 July 1, 2006. [Xinhua Photo]
The train coded "Zang (Tibet) 2" from Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, runs past the Bridge of Tuotuo River,
known as the source of the Yangtze River, in northwest China's Qinghai Province July 1, 2006. [Xinhua Photo]
The train coded "Zang (Tibet) 2" from Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, runs past the Bridge of Tuotuo River,
known as the source of the Yangtze River, in northwest China's Qinghai Province July 1, 2006. [Xinhua Photo]
The train coded "Zang (Tibet) 2" from Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, runs out of the 1,686-meter tunnel
of the Kunlun Mountains, a legendary range that was widely seen as unsurmountable, at around 12:43 on July 1, 2006. [Xinhua Photo]
The train coded "Zang (Tibet) 2" from Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, runs out of the 1,686-meter tunnel
of the Kunlun Mountains, a legendary range that was widely seen as unsurmountable, at around 12:43 on July 1, 2006. [Xinhua Photo]
The train coded "Zang (Tibet) 2" from Lhasa of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region to Golmud arrives at the railway station
in Golmud in northwest China's Qinghai Province, at about 00:13 a.m. on July 2, 2006. [Xinhua Photo]
Fifty-four year old Jampa has her meal on the train coded "Zang (Tibet) 2" from Lhasa
of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region to Golmud of northwest China's Qinghai Province,
July 1, 2006. "Zang 2" arrived at Golmud railway station at about 00:13 a.m. on July 2. [Xinhua Photo]
A passenger points to his hometown Amdo while the train runs past this county of southwest China¡¯s Tibet Autonomous Region
on the train coded "Zang (Tibet) 2" from Lhasa of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region
to Golmud of northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 1, 2006. "Zang 2" arrived at
Golmud railway station at about 00:13 a.m. on July 2. [Xinhua Photo]
Tibetan passengers appreciate the scenery outside the window on the train coded "Zang (Tibet) 2" from Lhasa
of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region to Golmud of northwest China's Qinghai Province,
July 1, 2006. "Zang 2" arrived at Golmud railway station at about 00:13 a.m. on July 2. [Xinhua Photo]
An attendant (R1) introduces the usage of train facilities to passengers on the train coded "Zang (Tibet) 2" from Lhasa
of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region to Golmud of northwest China's Qinghai Province,
July 1, 2006. "Zang 2" arrived at Golmud railway station at about 00:13 a.m. on July 2. [Xinhua Photo]
Eight-year-old Zhang Ziyan (R), the youngest passenger in the train, listens to the story told by an elder passenger
on the train coded "Zang (Tibet) 2" from Lhasa of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region
to Golmud of northwest China's Qinghai Province, July 1, 2006. "Zang 2" arrived at
Golmud railway station at about 00:13 a.m. on July 2. [Xinhua Photo]
A train stewardess demonstrates the usage of train facilities to passengers on the train coded "Zang (Tibet) 2"
from Lhasa of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region to Golmud of northwest China's Qinghai Province,
July 1, 2006. "Zang 2" arrived at Golmud railway station at about 00:13 a.m. on July 2. [Xinhua Photo]
Advanced technology
UPDATED: 07:45, July 03, 2006
The trains riding on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are themselves showcases of cutting edge technology.
Two oxygen supply systems have been installed on the train. One is a "dispersion-mode" oxygen supply system, with oxygen spreading in the railway car through the air-conditioning system.
The other system, like that of an airplane, offers each passenger individual access to oxygen, and passengers who experience breathing difficulties at high altitudes can use a pipe to suck up more oxygen.
Meanwhile, all railway cars are equipped with double-layer glass, which is covered with anti-ultraviolet radiation film.
The trains running on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway are driven by engines made by US-based General Electric, which show great traction and brake power, low power cost and high reliability, said Zhu Zhensheng, vice-director of the Ministry of Railways office in charge of the new line.
The government will spend 13 million yuan (US$1.6 million) on an earthquake warning system along the southern section of the railway.
Two comprehensive seismic monitoring stations and a global positioning system observation centre would be constructed along the Golmud-Lhasa section to form an alarm network with the existing monitoring station at Nagqu Township, said Peng Fengshan, head of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Seismological Bureau.
"The Golmud-Lhasa section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway passes through a region where moderate quakes measuring up to six on the Richter scale occur annually," said Peng.
Source: China Daily
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200607/03/eng20060703_279406.html
*******************
China overcomes three major obstacles to build most elevated railway
UPDATED: 10:09, July 02, 2006
China has solved three major difficulties to rewrite the world's history of railway construction with the completion of Qinghai-Tibet Railway, a railway official said Friday.
The three difficulties are frozen tundra, high altitude and plateau environmental protection, said Zhu Zhensheng, vice director of the Ministry of Railways office in charge of the new line.
About 550 kilometers of the tracks run on frozen earth, the longest in the world's plateau railways, posing great challenges for designing and construction, he said.
The oxygen content along the railway is only 50-60 percent of that at sea level as 960 km of tracks are located at more than 4, 000 meters above sea level, Zhu said.
The annual average temperature on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is below zero degree Celsius with the minimum temperature at 45 degree Celsius below zero.
None of the hundreds of thousands of workers died of altitude sickness in the past five years, making a medical miracle, said Professor John West with the School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego.
More than 600 doctors and nurses served for the construction project and there was one clinic every 10 kilometers along the line, making sure that any sick worker could get medical treatment within 30 minutes.
However, when the country built a highway between Qinghai Province and Tibet in early 1950s, almost the construction of every one kilometer of the road would claim one death.
Thanks to the high altitude and harsh climate, the environment is very fragile along the railway. China has put environmental protection on the top of its agenda in the construction of the altiplano railway and workers built 33 passages for migrating animals.
Endangered Tibetan antelopes are getting used to the railroad, said officials with the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve Administration.
A first batch of 67 pregnant antelopes from the eastern part of the reserve crossed Wubei bridge of the railway on May 16 to give birth in the hinterland, according to Gelai, head of Wudaoliang station in the Hoh Xil reserve.
About 1,000 antelopes have crossed the railway via the special passages so far, Gelai said.
"Tibetan antelopes started migrating earlier this year than the past few years. They no longer hesitate and cross the railway with ease," said Cega, director of the reserve administration in Qinghai Province.
Rangers and volunteers in the Hoh Xil reserve also stopped vehicles on highways when they found antelopes were crossing.
The 1,956-kilometer-long Qinghai-Tibet railway is the world's highest and longest plateau railroad and also the first railway connecting the Tibet Autonomous Region with other parts of China.
The Chinese government is to build three more railway lines in Tibet as extensions of the newly-completed Qinghai-Tibet Railway, which would link the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, with Nyingchi to the east, and Xigaze to the west, while the third will link Xigaze with Yadong, a major trading town on the China-India border.
The new lines would be built in 10 years, and increase Tibet's total railway length to more than 2,000 kilometers.
Source: Xinhua
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200607/02/eng20060702_279248.html
Photo taken on June 27, 2006 shows the train track on a bridge in Damxung County in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The Qinghai-Tibet railway, stretching 1,956 km from Xining to Lhasa, capitals of China's Qinghai Province and Tibet Autonomous Region, is the first railway across the world's highest Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The railway is ready for operation on July 1.
Tibetan legislator calls railway "road to heaven" for Tibetans
www.chinaview.cn 2006-07-06 22:55:58
BEIJING, July 6 (Xinhua) -- A senior Tibetan legislator said the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is a "road to heaven" that brings Tibetans harmony, happiness and economic prosperity.
"It is a railway that people of various ethnic groups in Tibet have expected for more than half a century," said Raidi, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) ** .
"It is bound to have a profound and far-reaching historical significance," he said.
Opened on July 1, the 1,956-km-long railway is the first to reach the Tibet Autonomous Region, on a route that averages more than 4,000 meters above sea level.
Slow mail to Beijing
"There was not even a single highway in old Tibet, not to mention air transport or railway transport," said Raidi, a native Tibetan who has been a leading provincial official for many years.
In the distant past, he said, Tibetans relied totally on people and livestock to transport materials to and from other parts of China. A round trip usually took seven to eight months.
"The transport capacity was extremely limited. This seriously influenced exchanges between Tibet and other areas, restricted economic and social development and hampered social progress in Tibet," said Raidi.
He said it took a central government official more than a month to make a trip from Beijing to Tibet in June 1951.
He also recalled that during his four years of study in Beijing more than 40 years ago, he received only one letter from his mother, which arrived six months after it was sent.
"After the peaceful liberation of Tibet, the Communist Party of China Central Committee made the construction of transport facilities in Tibet a top priority," said Raidi.
In the half century since the liberation, communications in Tibet had taken great strides forward.
The train trip from Beijing to Lhasa takes less than 48 hours.
Keeping up the call of the people
Nearly every year for 50 years, Tibetan deputies to the NPC submitted motions to NPC annual sessions on building a railway to Tibet. Leaders of Tibet kept up the call for the railway.
He said the CPC Central Committee and State Council made the decision to build the railway at the beginning of this century.
"Building the Qinghai-Tibet railway is a great event that the three leaderships of the CPC and the CPC Central Committee with Hu Jintao as the General Secretary care about very much," said Raidi.
The 1,956-km-long railway is regarded as a landmark project in implementation of China's western development strategy.
An epoch-making event
"The completion and opening of the Qinghai-Tibet railway is of epoch-making significance to social development in Qinghai and Tibet," said Raidi.
He said the railway was important to improving the lives of people in Qinghai and Tibet, lifting the level of reform and opening up, increasing exchanges, cooperation and unity and realizing common prosperity and development of different ethnic groups.
The railway, linking Xining in Qinghai with Lhasa in Tibet, is hailed as an "engineering marvel" because people used to think the permafrost and slush along the route could never support tracks and trains.
Builders also overcame low oxygen levels on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, known as the "roof of the world", and took great care not to damage the fragile ecosystem. Enditem
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-07/06/content_4803030.htm
** National People's Congress (NPC) is equivalent to a Parliament of other nations. In fact, there is a Liaison Committee between NPC and USA House of Congress/Senate.
Raidi, being Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of NPC, is one of the major players in top national structure of China politics.
Raidi was born in August 1938 as a ' serf ' during the era of 14th Dalai Lama ( who left Tibet in 1959 after cooperating for almost nine years with the present China Central Government formed in 1949). As a serf Raidi grew up with great hardship, until Tibet was peacefully liberated. During the period between 1959 to 1962 Raidi received his college education in Beijing and in 1979 Raidi became the Chief Leader of Tibet Autonomous Region. In March 2003 Raidi was elected Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of NPC and as a Tibetan Raidi is now one of the most powerful leaders in the highest hierarchy of the China national politics.
China Government Official website :
http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/58562.htm
http://www.china.org.cn/english/features/58360.htm
On Aug. 12, 2006 Ted Stevens ( president pro tempore of the United States Senate ) heading a senate delegation to China for the third annual meeting with the National People's Congress (NPC, China's top legislative body ) was received by Chinese President Hu Jintao. The NPC and the U.S. Senate set up a regular meeting mechanism in 2004 and have already held meetings in Beijing and Washington D.C. for the last three years.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-08/12/content_4953234.htm
Photo taken on June 28, 2006 shows the train track near a snow-capped mountain in northern Tibet Autonomous Region, southwest China.
Commentary: People should have a more worldly eye on Tibet railway
UPDATED: 09:58, July 02, 2006
While the common Tibetans cherish the Qinghai-Tibet Railway as a "passage to heavenly bliss", a group of overseas people including some westerners have been caviling at the world's most elevated rail link since before it was on the sketch.
The rail link, which opened Saturday between Tibet's regional capital Lhasa and several other Chinese cities, they said, could lead to "cultural genocide" by an influx of the Han people, China's majority ethnic group.
Right as their claims to preserve the Tibetan culture may sound, the hidden intention behind their calls is for Tibet to maintain its status quo and remain a stereotyped cultural specimen for them to enjoy.
The Tibetans won't buy any of this. Why shouldn't Tibet progress like the rest of the world?
It is not geographical distance but rather stereotyped mentality or political bias that leads to such prejudice.
These people are set to be opposed to any development project the Chinese government maps in Tibet, and their pretexts are always high sounding: under the excuse of protecting the Tibetans' interest, their culture and environment.
Actually, modern civilization has never been rejected in Tibet. Even when Lhasa was a thing of two or three square kilometers' stretch of houses, modern Western utensils such as flush toilets had been installed in the Norbu Linkag, the Dalai Lama's summer palace.
Today, those people who wrathfully criticized the Qinghai-Tibet railway would like to chose to shuttle around the world by air in Gucci shoes and any other designer outfits, preaching the "art of happiness".
Their pretext to deny the Tibetans access to modern civilization apparently proves hypocritical.
Despite all their irresponsible words, the fact is as clear as the azure sky above the snow-covered plateau that the railroad will benefit the Tibetans, who make up 95 percent of the local population.
Tibet makes up one eighth of the Chinese territory, but without a railway, passengers and goods had to be shipped by buses, trucks and planes, which are either slow or expensive.
Little access to traffic and high transportation costs have long hindered the region's economic development, locked many Tibetans in the Himalayas and limited their access to health care, education or pilgrims.
In Tibet, a ton of coal or cement now sells for almost four times the national average price and transportation costs account for 75 percent of the price.
Now at last, here come the first trains to link the roof of the world with the rest of China, to steer Tibet toward modern civilization while presenting the essence of its own culture to the world.
Once the new rail link becomes fully operational, Tibet's total capacity to move products and resources in and out is expected to increase 45 times its current level.
Despite worries over the railway's environmental destruction, the import of coal alone is able to alleviate the ecological pressure caused by the region's logging for fuel.
To build an eco-friendly railway, the Chinese government spent 1.5 billion yuan (some 180 million US dollars) on environmental conservation along the route, about five percent of the project's total spending and the largest amount in any single railway project in China.
The railway has 33 special passageways for rare animals, including the critically-endangered Tibetan antelopes. It has also bypassed celestial burial ground and lamaseries to preserve Tibetan religious sites.
Development is a common choice of the human race, and no one should, or can, slam on a brake on a train to modern civilization. Now that Beijing is only 48 hours away, the roar of the locomotives is sure to mute all the irresponsible clamors.
Historian Basang Wangdu's words may serve as an indisputable reply to cultural and environmental worriers: "A Tibet without economic and social development never deserves the honor of Shangri-La."
Source: Xinhua
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200607/02/eng20060702_279273.html
Photo taken on June 17, 2006 shows a Tibetan mother and her daughter watching a train passing by in Damxung County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
What are the tangible benefits for locals?
UPDATED: 11:26, July 08, 2006
At 8.55 pm on July 3rd, the T27, the first ever passenger train from Beijing, pulled into Lhasa Station. History shows the construction of a railway line often changes the economic and social life of a region. In what way will the full operation of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway alter and influence the daily life of local people?
100 Yuan increase in annual income for farmers and herdsmen
Farmers and herdsmen on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau often suffer badly from a low slaughter rate when livestock including yak die in great numbers from heavy snow and drought in winter and spring, as the region is mostly cut off from outside markets.
The construction and operation of the railway will bring Qianghai and Tibet closer to other regions and help them merge into markets nationwide, said professor Zhu Guoren with the China National School of Administration. Better conditions in transport and information will help decrease the number of risks and disasters. Every 1 percent rise in the slaughter rate alone would increase the per capita annual income by more than 100 Yuan. The rail will also boost road transportation, benefiting farmers and herdsmen on this vast stretch of land.
Tibet residents to have great purchasing power
Commodity prices in Tibet have been much higher than in other provinces and autonomous regions because of the high costs of transportation. In Lhasa markets, for example, coal and cement are priced at 700 to 800 Yuan a ton, including a 600 Yuan transit cost. Nearly half of the annual national fund for local construction is spent on transportation. Their purchasing power is only half that of the eastern coastal areas.
The railway is expected to carry 75 percent of the entire region's cargo. It boasts a single-way capacity 40 times that of auto transport and can reduce the cost by half. It would completely break the transportation bottleneck and ease the tension significantly. As more and more low-price and high-quality goods enter Tibet via the line, the purchasing power of local residents will be greatly enhanced, said officials with the Ministry of Commerce.
Traveling to and from Tibet more affordable
Restricted by transportation options, the huge tourism potential of Tibet is yet to be tapped. Traveling as part of an agency group, a Beijing-Lhasa return ticket would cost more than 4,000 Yuan after discount. When other costs and expenditure are considered, an organized tour to Tibet may be even more costly than an overseas trip.
Happily, the railway line has made it possible to travel 4,064 kilometers from Beijing to Lhasa in 47 hours. A hard seat ticket costs 389 Yuan, and a hard or soft sleeper is only around 1,000 Yuan. This is an enchanting line that passes such mysterious scenic spots such as the Qinghai Lake, Kunlun Mountain, Hoh Xil and the Northern Tibet Prairie.
According to a study done by the Tibetan Academy of Social Sciences and the Institute of Industrial Economies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the railway is likely to boost annual tourist arrivals by 30 percent. By 2010, the number may reach 5.28 million, leading to a direct tourism income of 5.8 billion Yuan.
More Tibetan people to come to the outside world
Tibet has had an enormous imbalance in personnel entry and exit. In 2005, 1.8 million tourist arrivals were registered, but the number of people going out was below 1/10 of that figure during the same period.
Local residents will have more opportunities to leave home for study, business and work, therefore enjoying closer ties with other parts of the country, said Professor Zhou Tianyong with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee.
More farmers and herdsmen to enjoy benefits of urbanization
The urbanization level of Tibet is only 40 percent of the national average. Many farmers and herdsmen cannot enjoy the conveniences of urbanized life, production and education.
The railway presents a golden opportunity for towns to be constructed along it, said experts from the Ministry of Construction. It would link up various towns of rich resources and unique features.
It is predicted that passengers transferring in Xining will exceed 600,000 each year. Authorities of both Qinghai and Tibet have vowed to build more towns with a larger population and on a bigger economic scale.
Keep the blue sky and white clouds forever
Currently, household fuel at the plateau comes chiefly from cow manure and a kind of short pine, the latter usually having a growth period of decades. Another threat to the vulnerable ecology is the tail gas discharged by the huge motorcade running on the Qinghai-Tibet road.
The 1.54 billion Yuan of additional funds have made the line a huge green project. Now rich coal and oil resources in northwestern areas will be transferred into Tibet economically and conveniently to meet the local demand for energy. This will help preserve ecology by reducing damage to forest and grassland.
The railway will serve as the major means of transportation for passengers and cargo which will reduce the amount of road traffic and therefore improve air quality. As China's first eco-friendly plateau railway, officials with the State Environmental Protection Administration said it serves as an example for environment efforts in the construction of future infrastructure.
By People's Daily Online
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200607/08/eng20060708_281252.html
Photo taken on September 13, 2005 shows a railway bridge in the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve in west China's Qinghai Province.
Tibet's economy welcomes new railway era
UPDATED: 11:25, July 08, 2006
In Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, commodity prices have been very high due to lack of transportation with inland. After the Qinghai-Tibet railway went into operation, the transportation cost was expected to be reduced by half. Tourism and special local products will face new opportunities.
Qinghai-Tibet railway will be the lifeline of happiness
Every morning, when Qiangbapuqiong opens his door, he will subconsciously peer at the other side of the road at the new railway platform there. Qiangbapuqiong's home is adjacent to Qinghai-Tibet highway which is also alongside the new railway.
"Lhasa railway station is only 40 kilometers away; this is the last station before Lhasa," he says excitely.
In fact, Qiangbapuqiong is not the only one who feels excited. In the neighboring village, 20 year old Ciwadanzeng agreed to go out to work with his friend. Learning that the train would pass through his village, he decided to wait and have a look at the train.
Many more feel excited about the railway
Why are people looking forward to the railway? What can the railway bring to them?
In Tangga village in Duilongdeqing County, there is a two storey building which is very special. In a courtyard in Tibet, 65 year old Qiangbapuqiong is washing a type of barley called Qingke in with his daughter-in-law. Never in his life has been outside of Tibet. Only when the railway was built near his home, could he have a look at the real train.
When the cargo train went into operation in March, he was shocked to hear the whistling. The light shake of the house also made him uneasy. But after a few months, he had already grown used to it. He is able to sleep through the noise of the train when it passes during the night.
In the past, Qiangbapuqiong sold cigarettes, wine and instant noodles at the bus station. Since the beginning of the railway project, he has started to think of opening some small business.
Wangdui in Liuwu village in Duilongdeqing County has also begun thinking about how to make some money with the railway. He is very smart, hearing the news that the railway would be built by his village; he immediately invested his money into a large truck to transport sand and stone for the construction project. The money he earned over the past two years exceeded his total earnings over the previous 8 or 9 years put together. Speaking of his next plan, he said he would like to open a restaurant near the railway station.
Qinghai-Tibet railway has created a lot of job opportunities for Tibetan people. It is estimated that the investment in the railway has brought 4 billion Yuan or US$ 500 million of direct or indirect economic revenue to the local people.
To Tibetans, the railway is just their lifeline for happiness. They hope the railway will bring them good luck and improve their living conditions and bring prosperity.
Last year, herdsmen's income reached 2,075 Yuan whilst urban citizens' income reached 8,411 Yuan. According to the 11th development plan, the herdsmen's income will increase by 13% every year. The reason for such a high goal is greatly linked to the railway believes an official from the Tibet reform and development committee.
Tibet's tourism will develop quickly due to the break of transportation bottleneck
Qiangbapuqiong only has one wish, that is to take the train back and forth several times between Maxiang near his home and Lhasa railway station to enjoy the experience as he feels he is getting old and has no plan to travel outside Tibet.
Tudan who is 4 years younger than Qiangbapuqiong vows to go wherever the train goes. Tudan has been head of Changmu village in Maxiang for 23 years.
Changmu village lies in a slope. Tudan's house is at the end of the village. There is a river between Tudan's home and the railway. But he can see that a black line comes from far away and then disappears. "That is Qinghai-Tibet railway, as long as I hear the whistle of the train, I will come out and have a look." said Tudan.
Tudan has a big building with 24 rooms on the first floor and 21 rooms on the second floor. He also has a big courtyard where there are ancient trees.
The second floor rooms are also decorated in ancient style. Tudan said that since the beginning of the railway project, he is determined to open a farmer's hotel. "When people from big cities come to Tibet, I will provide them with original Tibetan specialties. I am sure the family hotel will be prosperous". According to his plan, Tudan will try with his own home first and set a good example for other villagers. "My aim is to turn the whole village into a family hotel village with our special characteristics."
The direct benefit that the railway will bring to Tibet is a tourism industry. The beautiful natural environment and mysterious culture in the snow mountain will attract people all over the world. In 2004, the number of tourists in Tibet surpassed one million for the first time. Last year, it surpassed the record of 1.8 million with revenue of 1.93 billion Yuan.
"The opening of the Qinghai-Tibet railway will make Tibet transportation complete with airways and highways. The bottleneck of the railway will be completely broken and the tourism industry will develop by leaps and bounces," said Liao Lisheng, director of the Office of Tibetan Tourism Bureau.
It is estimated that by 2010, the number of tourists going to Tibet will reach 5.28 million every year from next year and the direct economic income will be 5.81 billion Yuan or US$ 730 million.
Commodity price will be lower, local resource advantage will be made apparent
Tudan has six daughters and one son. He is very proud of his 24 year old son Luosangzhaxi who graduated from Tibet University in 2004. Luosangzhaxi voluntarily went to be a teacher to support teaching in a middle school in Chaya County in Changdu region. He happened to be home for holiday. He complained that the price in Tibet is too high.
"Why is the price high? Because the transportation is bad," said Luosangzhaxi.
In Lhasa, coal and cement can be sold as high as 800 Yuan a ton which is much higher than that in inland areas. A roll of film can be sold at a price of 80 Yuan and a chicken at 110 Yuan while in inland cities it is only 20 Yuan and 10 Yuan. It is estimated that the 100 Yuan purchase power in Tibet in fact equals to 54 Yuan in coastal regions. The commodities in Tibet are mostly transported by airplane from inland areas because the cost is too high, thus the price is even higher even though the product quality is not good.
People believe the railway will substantially increase the quantity of import from inland areas. It is predicted that 75% of the cargo will be transported by train between Tibet and inland areas. With the reductions in the cost of transportation, the retail price will hopefully be lowered too. Citizens' consumption expenditure will fall but their living standards could be increased.
Wang Taifu, an expert in Tibetan social science academy said Tibetan people will directly benefit from the railway because not only will it help lower the price, but also promote tourism, reduce transportation cost, expand economic exchange with inland areas and regional mineral resources exploration.
Due to special natural environment in Tibet, there are special natural resources there. For example, Tibetan medicine and yak products will be exported to inland market.
Renqing is a villager in Shannan region in Southern Tibet. He cannot see the railway or hear the train. But he also cares about the railway because he wants to export his wool product to other provinces. "If one uses trucks or airplane, the cost will be very high, but the train will be faster and cheaper," Renqing said.
It is expected that the opening of the railway will decrease the cost of transportation in general from 0.38 Yuan to 0.12 Yuan. Tibetan resource advantage will soon be turned into economic advantage.
Of course, with the economic opportunities, Tibet didn't neglect environment protection either. They are taking active and effective measures to deal with the environment impact brought by the railway. The region also strictly prevents the enterprise which use coal from moving to Tibet. They are going to build waste water disposal factories and garbage landfills along the railway line.
By People's Daily Online
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200607/08/eng20060708_281250.html
38.7 bln yuan put in Tibet Plateau ecological protection
UPDATED: 16:30, June 06, 2006
Tibet will implement four environmental protection projects in the coming five years, which includes state ecological safety barrier construction project on Tibet Plateau with investment of 3.87 billion yuan.
The project will mainly establish natural protection area; construct protective zones for key ecological function and set up natural forest grass protection, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Tibet will carry out four ecology projects during the period of the 11th Five-Year period. The four projects are the buildup of environmental protection capability, the state ecological safety barrier on Tibet Plateau, pollution preventing and controlling project and the project to boost farmland and pasture well-off and environmental protection. The implementation of key projects will impetus environmental protection, said Zhang Tianhua, deputy director of Environmental Protection Administration of Tibet.
By People's Daily Online
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200606/06/eng20060606_271510.html
Photo taken on July 5, 2005 shows a railway bridge in Nagqu, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
Railway makes room for Tibetan culture: experts
UPDATED: 10:18, July 02, 2006
When China opened the first railway linking Tibet with the rest of the country on Saturday, a group of Tibetologists cheered for an extended "living space" the " engineering marvel" will bring to the splendid, unique Tibetan culture.
"The influx of tourists will not only bring revenue into the region but will also lead to more cultural exchanges between Tibet and other parts of China," said research fellow An Caidan with China Tibetology Research Center (CTRC), the country's largest academic institution for Tibetan studies.
The development of the traffic network in Tibet means more opportunities for cultural exchanges between different ethnic groups in China, making it possible for Tibetan culture to be better inherited and enriched, said Dazhag, curator of the Museum of Tibet Autonomous Region.
Tibetan culture's full bloom between the seventh and ninth centuries was partly a result of extensive cultural exchanges between the ethnic group and others, An said.
According to the expert, the traditional Tibetan calendar combined calendar systems of India and other ethnic groups of China, its forging technologies absorbed Nepalese technics, and its medicine took in traditional Chinese medical science.
Tibetan's life style will inevitably change after the railway begins operation, said Huang Fukai, a member of the Chinese Association of Protection and Development on Tibetan Culture.
"They may have coffee and bread in addition to the traditional buttered tea and zanba," he said. Zanba is roasted highland barley flour.
Jeans and suits might also be welcomed by Tibetans, he added.
However, An Caidan said, such changes are a matter of course in the development of civilization. "Some people may criticize that Tibetan culture will be killed, but this is rather biased, as Tibetan people have the right to share modern civilization."
Ye Xingsheng, a CTRC research fellow who lived in Tibet for 42 years, said he is satisfied that the central and regional governments have invested heavily in cultural relics protection in Tibet and placed environmental protection on the top of its agenda in building the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.
He called for more efforts to protect Tibetan culture as "it is hard to have traditions again when you lose them."
China started to build the 1,142-km Golmud-Lhasa section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway on June 29, 2001.
Source: Xinhua
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200607/02/eng20060702_279269.html
Photo taken on June 8, 2006, shows a train running on a bridge across the Lhasa River in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
Nature reserve relieved as antelopes adapt
UPDATED: 07:46, July 03, 2006
Tibetan antelopes found their exit to cross the railway
XINING: When he first heard of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway project, Tsega, chief of the Hoh Xil (Kekexili) wildlife reserve watchdog, was worried the project would have a negative impact on his animals,
That was in late 2000, when Tsega and his patrol team were engaged in a war chasing poachers of the endangered Tibetan antelope out of the Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve.
"I had always thought construction of the railway would cause inconvenience to the migration of animals and affect our protection work," Tsega, director of the reserve's management bureau, told China Daily. "I thought I would have to deal with the builders."
An uninhabited haven that spans 45,000 square kilometres, Hoh Xil reserve is approved by the State Council to protect animals including the antelope, their wool a target for poachers who make it into shahttosh shawls that sell dearly in fashion centres.
As the strategic railroad must traverse Hoh Xil to link Xining, capital of Qinghai Province and Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Tsega said he and his colleagues participated in the design of the line prior to the construction.
"We told the railway authorities our concerns, and shared information regarding the migratory patterns and paths of the animals," Tsega said.
It turned out that railway constructors already had terms in their contracts requiring them to put environmental and wildlife protection above everything, according to Tsega.
As a result, the railway was designed to run along the eastern edge of the reserve for 200 kilometres, with specially built passages mostly bridges with large openings at key points along the route where the antelopes are believed to cross during their seasonal migration to their traditional birth-giving grounds, he said.
This rail route, according to Tsega, has deliberately avoided passing through wetlands or grasslands where animals concentrate.
Tsega and his colleagues supervised how the workers implemented their contracts when construction started in June 2001.
"At the beginning, I quarrelled with some workers who dumped waste arbitrarily, or pitched their makeshift tents just anywhere on the grassland," Tsega said.
One of Tsega's worries was that builders would quarry for gravel on the vast Hoh Xil, making holes here and there on the reserve and destroying the grassy cover.
Soothingly, sands and stones for the rail bed and road slopes were usually trucked from grounds as far as 90 kilometres away from the site, beyond the reserve.
"I don't think I'm waxing lyrical about what they did, but I saw they were environment-conscious," he said.
But antelopes would not wait for the completion of all the work.
For thousands of years, female antelopes have been migrating, usually between June and July, from all directions to the Zhuonai and Taiyang lakes in the northern part of the reserve to give birth, and two months later, making a return trip with their offspring.
"We've reached a consensus that construction must give way to migration," he said.
According to Tsega, two years ago workers at the Wudaoliang North Bridge halted their work for 15 days to allow migratory antelopes to cross the site.
Not only were the workers evacuated, marker flags were removed and machines silenced so as not to scare away the skittish creatures, he said.
"I was really grateful for the arrangement," Tsega said.
In the following months, Tsega and some workers worked together to "get the animals accustomed to the bridge openings" by "herding" them through the special passages.
Based on the reserve bureau's observations over the past three years, the antelopes and other animals seem to have been getting increasingly accustomed to the special underpasses, Tsega said.
But now comes the ultimate test: What will happen when the regular train service starts?
Tsega found cause for optimism.
First, Tibetan antelopes can adapt to a situation very fast. For one thing, they can now pass through an underpass without human intervention.
Just as they have got accustomed to the vehicles on the Qinghai-Tibet Highway, it will just be a matter of time before they get used to the noise and vibration of trains.
Second, trains do not pass the reserve all day long. They come and go, often at regular hours.
Tsega said his reserve management bureau would send volunteers aboard the trains to educate passengers about environmental and wildlife protection.
Asked if the train will facilitate poaching, Tsega said it was impossible for anyone to take advantage of it that way.
Poachers usually have to use cars that are laden with the materials in order to hunt.
The biggest threat to the antelopes, Tsega said, remains the demands for shahttosh in the international market, even though sale of the wool is illegal under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
Source: China Daily
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200607/03/eng20060703_279401.html
Photo taken on May 23, 2006, shows a train running on a bridge across the Lhasa River in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
Garbage train to run on Qinghai-Tibet railway
UPDATED: 11:00, June 17, 2006
A special train will collect garbage along the Qinghai-Tibet railway every week to protect the plateau environment.
Other measures have also been set in place to allay fears Hoh Xil, a nature reserve for endangered Tibetan antelopes, is under threat from the 1,142-kilometer railway which begins trial operation on July 1.
"Waste water discharge is banned along the railway," said Liu Xinduo, a senior engineer with the environment control and labor sanitation institute of the Academy of Railway Sciences.
Currently, disposing facilities have been built at 15 sites along the railway to treat waste water through means of bio-chemistry, electrochemistry and oxidation, Liu said.
The carriages are equipped with garbage collecting systems, which can compact refuse, said Ma Baocheng, deputy general manager of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway Company. "All the garbage collected in train cars will be carried to Golmud or Lhasa for disposal," he said.
"We have installed vacuum equipment to gather excrement in toilets and special facilities for gathering all kinds of waste on the train," Ma said.
Ma said his company has designated a special protection belt along the railway to reduce the contamination of the environment to a minimum.
China began constructing the railway in 2001 with cost of 26.2 billion yuan (3.16 billion U.S. dollars). The Chinese government expects the project to boost Tibet's social and economic development, helping local residents to improve their living standards.
Source: Xinhua
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200606/17/eng20060617_274925.html
Photo taken on June 29, 2006 shows a train running in a valley near Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.
'Tibetans should hold on to yak dung'
UPDATED: 08:16, June 30, 2006
The world's highest railway, linking Tibet with the rest of China, may bring many changes to the region, but environmental experts suggest Tibetans keep one tradition intact: burning yak dung for fuel.
Stacks of dried yak dung can be found near houses in many Tibetan villages.
Together with firewood and scrub, it is a major source of fuel for herdsmen in the autonomous region.
"Some people claim that with the completion of the railway, Tibetan people can dispense with yak dung and use coal. But this isn't a rational view," said Tanzen Lhundup, of the China Tibetology Research Centre, yesterday.
Tomorrow the maiden journey will be made along the railway line, which stretches 1,142 kilometres, linking Golmud in Northwest China's Qinghai Province to Tibetan capital Lhasa.
"What we should advocate using is clean and environmentally-friendly energies, such as hydroelectricity, solar and wind power," Tanzen told a press conference in Beijing.
There may be some disadvantages to yak dung, but it is better for the environment than other fuels, said Tanzen, vice-director of the Tibetology centre's Social and Economic Department. Burning coal, on the other hand, is detrimental to the environment, and linked with global warming, he added.
An Caidan, another expert with the centre, said it was misleading for some media reports to claim Tibetans could now discard dried yak dung forever.
"Simply from the perspective of a lack of distribution network, it is unfeasible to use coal to replace traditional fuels," said An. "It is easier said than done to set up a sales and distribution web in such a vast, sparsely-populated region."
Zhu Zhensheng, vice-director of the railway project office under the Ministry of Railways, said yesterday railway authorities had earmarked at least 1.54 billion yuan (US$190 million) to protect the environment along the route, including setting aside funds for sewage treatment facilities in Golmud and other major stations to handle waste from the train and station staff.
Zhu also said the newly-opened railway will serve as an "all-weather, large-capacity and convenient route" to transport goods including clean energy to Tibet. He said two freight trains a day will provide service for Tibet, bringing more commodities into the region than they ferry out.
The trains will mostly bring food, construction materials and other living necessities in from the rest of China, while carrying out handicrafts, agricultural and sideline products, which will boost the income of Tibetans.
He gave no specific figures for estimated cargo tonnage, but said the train was likely to help border trade with India.
Nyima Tsering, vice-chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region, told China Daily earlier that clean energy which is expected to come with the operation of the railway would help Tibetan herdsmen reduce their use of firewood and scrub, which threatens the fragile environment.
Source: China Daily
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200606/30/eng20060630_278672.html
A passenger train is going through the Lhasa Hete Bridge in the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.
Qinghai-Tibet Railway builds harmonious link between wildlife, human
UPDATED: 09:21, July 02, 2006
Tibetan antelopes
Thanks to China's environment protection efforts, endangered Tibetan antelopes and other wildlife species can live in harmony amid booming tourism with the operation of Qinghai-Tibet Railway.
The wild animals in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau are getting used to the railway, on which a pair of trains ran on Saturday to their destinations of Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region and Golmud in Qinghai Province.
The trains started out from Lhasa and Golmud Saturday morning and are expected to arrive in the terminals on early Sunday morning.
Some lucky travelers witnessed herds of Tibetan antelopes browsing or leisurely roaming in the Hoh Xil preserve in Qinghai thanks to special passageways established for their smooth migration.
The Tibetan antelope, an endangered species at the top of China 's protection list, native to the grasslands of northwestern Qinghai Province, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Tibet, will no longer face the Qinghai-Tibet Railway as an obstacle on their migration route, said an official with the Hoh Xil Nature Reserve Administration.
The 33 passageways built for migrating animals will enable antelopes and other animals pass the Qinghai-Tibet railway freely. According to officials with Wudaoliang station in the Hoh Xil preserve, thousands of pregnant antelopes have been seen crossing the railway via special passages before the railway's operation.
Source: Xinhua
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200607/02/eng20060702_279194.html
A freight train is passing through the frozen tundra in the Qinghai-Tibet Railway.
Train to Tibet passes China's largest uninhabited land, home to Tibetan antelopes
UPDATED: 10:07, July 02, 2006
Agile Tibetan antelopes and stocky wild horses in a vast expanse of "home on the range" offered one of the most spectacular scenes to passengers on the first train to Tibet Saturday.
"Wow, what a lovely sight," the crowd exclaimed as they swarmed to the nearest windows to take a closer look at the critically- endangered species.
The train, coded "Qing 1" that left Golmud in Qinghai Province for Lhasa at 11:05 a.m., was driving through the Hoh Xil, China's largest area of uninhabited land but a natural habitat for 230 species of wild animals, Tibetan antelope in particular.
The population of Tibetan antelopes has dropped from several million to below 100,000 in the past two decades, a result of excessive poaching and human encroachment of their habitat.
International traffickers hunt the antelopes to make shahtoosh shawls, a luxury item that requires three to five pieces of antelope fur to make just one shawl.
Since 1979, the Tibetan antelope has been recognized as an endangered species and protected under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species. Since 1989, the species has been listed as Class-A protected animal in China's Wildlife Protection Law.
China has established three nature reserves to protect the rare creatures, covering a total of more than 600,000 sq km, an area 40 times the size of Beijing.
One of them is located in Hoh Xil, a 45,000-sq.km area that has an average altitude of 5,000 meters and an average temperature of minus four degrees Celsius, with the lowest reaching minus 40 degrees.
How to build the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the world's most elevated railway, through the Hoh Xil without encroaching on the animals' homes was one of the biggest challenges confronting the designers and builders of the railway.
For the first time in any railway project, the Chinese government spent heavily to build 33 green passageways for animals.
Construction work was suspended for several consecutive nights when female antelopes crossed the site while migrating to and from their breeding site in June and August of 2003, when the Hoh Xil section of the railway was being built.
To date, rare animals in the region have become used to the railway, said officials with the Hoh Xil nature reserve administration.
"They're no longer scared of the human work and cross the railway with ease," said Cega, director of the reserve administration in Qinghai Province.
A first group of 67 pregnant antelopes from the eastern part of the reserve crossed Wubei bridge of the Qinghai-Tibet railway on May 16 to give birth in the hinterland, according to Gelai, head of Wudaoliang station in the Hoh Xil reserve.
About 1,000 antelopes have crossed the railway via special passages so far, Gelai said. "Tibetan antelopes started migrating earlier this year than the past few years."
Throughout their maiden train ride across the "roof of the world", passengers are reminded of the environment issue and love for wild animals.
A guide for tourists along the "Heavenly Road", distributed to the passengers for free, says clearly the tourists should "cherish every single plant on the plateau" and must not disturb wild animals.
A miniature statue of a Tibetan antelope stands on every table in the train's dining car, reminding the diners to care for life.
Before the train left Golmud, Chinese President Hu Jintao emphasized the importance of environmental protection on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in a speech to mark the opening of the landmark railway.
"Railway workers and passengers traveling on the Qinghai-Tibet railway should consciously treasure waters and mountains as well as grass and woods on the Plateau, and they should help conserve the eco system and environment along the railway," Hu told an audience of 2,600 at the Golmud station.
After his speech, a train carrying officials and model workers on the project set out from Golmud for Lhasa where it was due to arrive on Saturday night. Another train set out from Lhasa.
Up to 1,000 Chinese journalists were dispatched to cover the events.
The central government spent 1.5 billion yuan (about 180 million US dollars) on environment conservation along the route, the largest amount in any single railway project in China.
"I do admire the Chinese government for that," said Italian sinologist Aldo Mignucci who is in Lhasa for a visit.
The 1,956-kilometer-long Qinghai-Tibet railway is the world's highest and longest plateau railroad and also the first railway connecting the Tibet Autonomous Region with other parts of China.
Environmentalists worry the railway and the influx of tourists into Tibet might threaten the local ecology.
Hoh Xil is also spelt as "Kekexili". Some say its name means " green hills" in Mongolian, while others say it means "pretty girls ".
The place has become famous since the showing around China of a film about the life-and-death fight between antelope poachers and vigilantes there.
The film, by Chinese director Lu Chuan, was based on the true story of a journalist who joined a Tibetan volunteer patrol chasing poachers trading in antelope wool. It was the first film shot on the Chinese mainland ever to win best feature film award at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards - the Asian version of the Oscars.
Source: Xinhua
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200607/02/eng20060702_279261.html
A passenger train is going through the grassland.
Qinghai-Tibet Railway to boost boarder trade in Tibet
UPDATED: 08:32, June 22, 2006
The Qinghai-Tibet railway which will undergo trial operations on July 1 will not only link Tibet with other parts of China but also boost border trade on this plateau, local government sources said wednesday.
According to the Trade Bureau of Tibet Autonomous Region, the newly-built railway will help step up trade with Nepal and India, and thus render Tibet as the frontier for Southern Asian economic communication.
Yadong is one of the major border ports in Tibet. Although it locates 460 kilometers away southwest from the autonomous regional capital Lhasa, the government sources said that the railway with the destination in Lhasa would bring more and better goods as well as opportunities to this region.
Lhasa is not the final end of the railway. Experts have draw a blueprint that in the future a railway network will be created with Lhasa as its center, which will extend to different regions including the border areas of Tibet.
"The railway will shorten Tibet's distance to the world," said Wei Houkai, a research fellow with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Yadong is 300 kilometers from Bhutan's capital city Thimbu, and 600 kilometers from Dacca, capital of Bengal. In addition to that, the connection point of a railway network in India is only dozens of kilometers from the port.
Among other border ports in Tibet as well as other provinces or autonomous regions in western region of China, Yadong is the nearest to the sea.
Avinash Datta, who works for Mahindra company, one of the top 10 biggest enterprises in India, said that he felt exciting when hearing the completion of the railway.
He said that the railway will help improve Tibet's agricultural production and create a bigger market for investors from India.
Another Indian business man whose surname is Singer said that a railway can impose widespread influence beyond certain areas. He said that the improvement of transportation conditions will help increase Tibetan people's income and boost comsuption power, and Indian business people thus will bring more commodities to Tibet.
"I have heard that the railway will continue to be built and finally connected with a railway in India. That will bring more opportunities for us," he said.
The 1,956-kilometer-long Qinghai-Tibet railway runs across the frozen tundra of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau from Lhasa to Xining, capital of Qinghai Province.
When completed, it will be the highest and longest highlands railroad in the world and the first railway connecting the Tibet Autonomous Region with other parts of China.
The current highways linking Tibet and outside regions transport passengers and carry mainly foodstuff, wood, energy materials,industrial products, and mining items in and out Tibet.
The railway will help promote local economy and border trade in the region by stimulating more profitable sectors such as tourism, mining industry, vegetable processing and Tibetan medicine.
The preparation for July 1 trial operation of passenger train service on Qinghai-Tibet Railway is underway.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200606/22/eng20060622_276196.html
A passenger train is passing near the Holy Lake of Tibet.
Qinghai-Tibet railway facilitates local tourism
UPDATED: 08:47, June 14, 2006
The launching of Qinghai-Tibet railway will promote local tourism development, said an official with China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).
The tourism resources along the railway are very rich, with different geography, biology and ethnic culture. There are world famous canyon, snow mountains, lakes and plateau, with 35 percent of rare wild animal species of the nation. Its unique history, culture, and scene attracted tourists from home and abroad.
While due to the lack of transportation methods, the tourism growth were restricted. Currently, there are only two ways traveling into Tibet, by highway or by air. Aviation transportation were affected by the frequency and capacity of the aircraft, with high cost for travelers. Highways were comparatively dangerous for travelers.
When the railway is finished, the bottleneck of infrastructure will be improved, providing new opportunities for tourism industry.
Official with the CNTA said railway is convenient, fast, safe, comfortable, with low cost. When railway joins in competing for travelers, the other transportation methods will also lower cost.
Source: Xinhua
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200606/14/eng20060614_273917.html
A passenger train is passing over the Qinghai-Tibet Highway.
The same railways, but different psychologies
UPDATED: 15:24, July 12, 2006
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway becomes a major event of world focus, and some Western media have sent reporters to take trains along the new rail route for field coverage.
However, we feel quite soured and saddened after reading some of these reports and commentaries from the Western media colleagues. The wheel of history has run into the 21st century, but the mentality of these people remained in those days over a century ago, still with doubts and some hostilities against China.
Why the railways, which had "worked wonders for industrialization in United States and brought "benefits for the people in India", would sabotage the "ethnical culture of Tibet."
More than a century ago, American President Ibrahim Lincoln signed the "Pacific Railroad Act", so that a railway linking coasts of the Pacific and the Atlantic became a reality. Even today, we can still read such high evaluations from textbooks and history books as the one that "railway has written down a new chapter in American history."
Last year, the "Guardian" newspaper from Britain spoke highly of Indian railways, noting that "in India, nothing can link up the whole country but rail route?- From a broader sense, railways gives India a sense of unity."
But in their eyes, nothing seems worthwhile for a new railway is built in China. A recent article in the New York Times is entitled "Last Stop Lhasa: Rail Links Ties Remote Tibet to China". But Tibetan and foreign critics say that "the railway benefits Han Chinese, China's dominant ethnic group, at the expense of Tibetan natives."
Likewise, the British Broadcast Company on its website said in the words of critics that the Qinghai-Tibet Railway built at a cost of 4.2 billion US dollars constituted part of Beijing's destruction of Tibetan culture.
As a mater of fact, railroads all over the globe are more or less the same, and they are featured by a line with two tracks. But the psychologies and eyesight of the people who look at these railways are different.
Some personages from the West have passed themselves off as those who are very much concerned with the development of Tibet for a long period of time. But, in fact, they only care for their own ideas politically and how to use the political ideology to appraise China's development, whereas the interest of the Tibetan people is merely the tool they use to realize the political aim.
In so doing, they have enabled us to see what is on their mind as well as the "objectivity" and "fairness" preached by the Western media.
By People's Daily Online
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200607/12/eng20060712_282373.html
To clarify: Dalai Lama and his so called "Tibetan independence"
click here
"Nonviolence" in the mouth of "Dalai Lama"
16:29, June 24, 2008
Buddhists always preach that no living things are to be killed and all violent actions have to be opposed. "I say that 21st century should be one of dialogue," the Dalai Lama told his audience on May 19 when he delivered a speech in Berlin, and he said repeatedly that he only wants autonomy for Tibetans. "This (21st century) should be the century of peace and dialogue," he noted.
Can his remarks hold true for the whole 21st century? Only three days latter, on May 22, he alleged in Paris that if the talks between his personal envoys and China broke down, grave violence may occur in Tibet again.
So, it is quite possible for "nonviolence" and "grave violence" to slip back and forth in the mouth of the same person.
Dalai Lama has passed himself off as "a disciple of the Gandhi school" and so he adheres to the nonviolence. He, nevertheless, has hardly expected what Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948), the leader of the Indian nationalist movement against British rule, had explicitly said, "Nonviolence is not a garment to be put on and put off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be an inseparable part of our very being."
But the Dalai Lama has indeed taken nonviolence as a garment to hide his shame and so he has put on and put off at will. Why does he need to put on such a garment? He could be overjoyed if "stayed naked and then he would have nothing to worry about," as a popular Chinese saying goes. It is not because he is not willing but he won't able to do so. As he had said explicitly in an address in Oslo in 1989: If Tibetans took up arms, Communist troops in China would have the excuse for the suppression of them and they would be possibly be extinct.
The Dalai Lama claimed that he advocates "nonviolence"but he is not able to stop the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) and other radical forces from going in for violence, as he said that some of the Tibetans in exile listened to him while others did not. As is known to all, 80 percent of the staff of the government in exile were TYC members, and the so-called "the charter (or constitution) of Tibetans in Exile" specifies that these Tibetans must obey the "supreme political and religious leader Dalai Lama."
Since the Dalai Lama is the "supreme leader" who controls and governs all the supreme power in politics and religion, how he is not able to check TYC and curb violence?
In numerous journals owned by TYC, there are often articles concerning the use of violence or to spouse armed struggle to materialize their dream of "Tibetan independence". There are also agitating articles in recent years to urge Tibetans to follow suit of Palestinians to carry out suicide bombing, and openly alleged that they had a lot to draw on from the terrorism of the September 11 attacks of 2001 in the U.S. The Dalai Lama, however, has turned a deaf ear and blind eye to all this.
While parroting "nonviolence", the Dalai Lama has often instigatted and voiced his support to violence both in public or in private. Sufficient evidence has showed that the March 14 Lhasa violence was part of the "Tibetan People's Uprising Movement," a schemed plotted by the Dalai clique. So, he was so elated that day and repeatedly exhorted that he appreciated with all his heart the Tibetans inside the border for their absolute loyalty, courage and determination.
What the Dalai Lama has"appreciated" is the unrest erupted in Lhasa on March 14 when rioters set fire to and looted public facilities, residential houses and shops. On the same day, he told American reports that he would not stop Tibetans because they had the right to do whatever they desired.
To date, the dust has been settled in Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet autonomous region, and the splendid, towering snow mountains around remain holy. The Dalai Lama, however, has turned somewhat impatient, anxious and restless, and he even predicted that grave violence could possibly recur in Tibet. Was it something not more plain and definite that what he had "appreciated" days before the "March 14th" riot'? And what he was really hinting, inciting and expecting?
With a too fast replacement of the "nonviolence" garment by the garment of "violence", it seems that flaws or burst seams are apt to be exposed. No wonder some personality in the West have referred to the Dalai Lama as the "Drama" Lama and often found what he said or preached joining in the fun or playing the game merely on the occasion.
In order to retain the Dalai Lama's "Buddhist" compassionate face and rope in the kind-heated people, the Dalai clique have all along brandished the "nonviolence" as their banner. Whenever following in their footprints, these people can see the stripes of "violence" on their buttocks, and then roar with laughters and disperse helter-skelter.
By People's Daily Online and its author is Zong Yiwen, a council member of the China Religious Culture Communication Association
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90780/91342/6436017.html
Dalai clique is chief criminal of violent crimes
16:54, June 07, 2008
The three bombing cases that took place in eastern Tibet's Qamdo prefecture in April have recently been cracked. All suspects are Buddhist monks who have been instigated by the Dalai Cliques' separatist thought. Plots of the attacks echo the 3.14 unrest. The Dalai clique is the chief criminal of the three bomb attacks.
"Buddhists should believe in clemency. True Buddhists should learn Buddhist scriptures by heart; love their country and their religion; abide by the law; and bring happiness to people. They should not involve themselves in cruel murders and sabotage," said Dainzin Chilai, vice-chairman of the China Buddhist Association and vice-chairman of the People's Political Consultative Conference of the Tibet Autonomous Region. His words are a reminder of the essence of Buddhism, and criticism to the Dalai clique and the few monks who are keen on violent attacks.
People's actions are inseparable from their thoughts. The bomb attack suspects are inspired and instigated by the Dalai clique's propaganda. Having listened to overseas radio broadcasts for a long time, they have accepted the Dalai Lama's separatist thoughts. Once know the happening of the Lhasa incident and the contents of "Tibet Uprising" planned by the Dalai Lama, they actively cooperated with the Dalai clique. The three bomb attacks indicate how dangerous the Dalai Lama's separatism is and therefore demands our attention.
Facts prove again that "Tibet Independence" is unpopular and violent acts are intolerable. Those who try to undermine social stability come to no good end; and the separatist activities will never succeed.
By People's Daily Online
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90001/90780/91342/6426375.html
Indian editor: Improvement in Tibetan livelihood is progress in human rights
2008-04-23 09:26:00
Tibet's all-round development in the past years has raised local people's living standards, which was in itself a progress in human rights, an Indian editor said here Tuesday.
Welfare and quality of life are indices to measure human rights was welfare and life quality, Narasimhan Ram, editor-in-chief of The Hindu Newspaper Group, told the ongoing Beijing Forum on Human Rights.
Ram, who has twice visited Tibet in the past seven years, said the villages they visited gave vivid proof of the region's economic development.
He said the per capita net income of Tibetan people had maintained a double-digital growth in each of the past five years, and stood at 2,788 yuan (398 U.S. dollars) last year.
Ram said he was deeply impressed by the farmers who became rich through hard work, central government subsidies and new opportunities provided by the construction boom.
In addition, the central government's preferential policy has enabled some 14,000 Tibetan students to get better education in high schools and colleges throughout the country. Ram said that was also a good example for India to follow.
With the aid of the newly-opened Qinghai-Tibet railway, Tibet's foreign trade volume last year hit 393 million U.S. dollars, and revenues from tourism reached 4.8 billion yuan, he said.
The expert admitted the railway had a negative impact on the region's environment and wildlife, but believed it was exaggerated.
Besides, the Chinese central government was working for the region's environmental protection with an input of 1.5 billion yuan, he said. The money would be used in rubbish and sewage treatment and building 33 special passages for Tibetan antelopes and other wild animals, he said.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200804/t20080423_377078.htm
What's the matter with Tibet?
2008-04-25 08:18:00
Canadian writer Lisa Carducci wrote an article entitled "What's the matter with Tibet?" for China Daily, a Beijing-based English newspaper, explaining why people outside China usually have a prejudice against Tibet. Here is the full text of the article, which was published on April 22:
It is one thing to be interested in Tibet, as most of my acquaintances are. It is another to have totally prejudiced views, which unfortunately is the case with most of them.
Only a handful are honest enough to hold their opinions until they visit Tibet and see things with their own eyes. Some others hear only what they want to hear and what doesn't disturb their "Tibetan imagination".
Here is an example. A Canadian friend of mine, a university professor, went to Tibet in May 1997. He later told me that his group had been sent away from a Tibetan restaurant by the police and directed to a Han establishment.
The reason, according to him, was racism, an attempt to "break" the "Tibetan nation". His immediate analysis - before he understood a word of what was going on - was obviously based on prejudice.
I was not there and didn't see what happened. But after discussing the fact with Han and Tibetan people who knew better, we all concluded that the real cause might have been one or more of the following: the owner of the Tibetan restaurant had no permit; he had not paid his taxes; the place was not hygienic enough for foreigners; the owner and the policeman had a personal dispute; or the owner was trafficking ancient tangka, a kind of Tibetan painting.
We also tend to assume that all Tibetans are the same and feel and act the same way. Far from it. Those I met in Tibet or in Xiahe county of Gansu province seem not interested in politics. They live happily and quietly, and have no complaints about the central government as long as their lives continue to prosper year after year.
At the village of Tashiling in Nepal, instead, the Tibetan women I chatted with for two hours at the market had different stories to tell.
The major difference between them and the Tibetans living in China is that the Tibetans in Nepal think that "the Hans invaded Tibet and forced them to flee the country".
The woman who spoke better Chinese and served as an interpreter for the group said: "When our country is free, we'll go back immediately and get good jobs! Do you think this is a life, what we do here? Commerce!"
I took pity on her because she seemed to have been completely swayed by anti-China propaganda. I told her that all the Tibetans I had met earlier knew very well what the central government of China had done for them and appreciated it.
"I'm sorry to tell you," I said, "that you fool yourself if you think that your Tibetan fellows inside the country think the same way you do and support your efforts for independence."
She stared at me, her eyes wide open. "Have you ever been to Tibet?"
"Of course! If not, how could I speak like this?" She remained silent a moment, then said: "Every year on March 10, the Tibetans of the world march for independence. If you go to Tibet on that day, you'll see the Chinese army killing so many people in the streets."
If there was any truth in her words, I thought, I must have been transported to another planet.
"We have seen photos, and videos," she continued. "Every year we see them."
"Who took these photos?"
"Foreigners. From other places."
I calmed down, before asking: "Are you sure these photos and films were taken recently? They may be from the 'cultural revolution' period when Tibetans just as other Chinese suffered and were treated badly. Or during the civil rebellion in 1959? Might you not have been deceived? Maybe they show you the same pictures year after year? Maybe the photos were altered?"
As a spokesperson of her group, she turned around, and said: "It's possible, but we have no means of checking."
"Might these activist friends of the Dalai Lama," I continued, "be the authors of the photocopied letters on the board at the village entrance, issued by 'His Holiness Dalai Lama's office'? And the inscription 'Chinese, leave', who do you think wrote it?"
I explained to them all the changes that had happened in Tibet and talked about all the money invested by the central government into reconstruction and development, the progress in education, the religious freedom, the improvement of health, society, life, and they were astonished. Apparently, no one had ever spoken to them like this.
"Do you believe me?" I asked.
"I believe you because you are a foreigner," said the woman, "not a member of the communist party. Are you?"
"You can trust me. I tell you only what I have seen. Tibet is a beautiful and peaceful place where people sing while they work, where people smile and enjoy life."
The younger ones among them were born in Nepal; others had fled Tibet to go to Nepal in the 1950s and never returned to Tibet. They have no passports; of course they cannot enter China.
I then visited a temple where a young 17-year-old monk said that his greatest aspiration was to see Tibet. He thought monks were arrested, jailed or even killed in China, his thought based on the fact that his friend went there and never returned.
"I'll tell you something, young man. Your friend may have been arrested because he entered a country illegally. But if you never heard from him after that, don't you think he might have accomplished his great desire: to see Tibet. He may be living in a monastery there!"
He bowed his head and said, "I wish I had such a chance!"
Finally, I realized that the Tibetans outside Tibet are the victims not only of ignorance but of a well-organized campaign of misinformation. And it struck me that it may be the same for the Dalai Lama.
The Dalai Lama, who left the country when he was still very young and under the influence of a group, and never saw Tibet with his own eyes later in life to be able to judge things for himself, is also a poor victim - much like the woman at the village market.
http://eng.tibet.cn/index/news/200804/t20080425_377356.htm
'I see different Tibet': French hotel tycoon tours region by bike
2008-04-20 09:36:00 |
An eight-month bicycle ride from France to Cambodia has given 74-year-old Paul Dubrule a chance to see a different Tibet from what he had learnt in France.
I spent three months riding through Tibet during that trip. This experience completely changed my perspective about the region, Dubrule, chairman and founder of the leading multinational hotel group Accor Group, told Xinhua here on Friday.
Compared with those talking about Tibet in the French media but never setting foot in the region, I think I have more things to tell, he said.
In 2002, Dubrule, then 68, made a 15,000-kilometer journey by bicycle from his home at Fontainebleau to Siem Reap, Cambodia, during which he rode from Ngari in west Tibet to Qamdo in its east.
Before arriving in Tibet, I thought local people were under repression of the central government as many other Westerners (thought), he said.
But, during the tour, he saw schools, hospitals, power plants, airports, and especially highways.
I saw many roads under construction, he said. Along my way, I met many local people. Their life was not as good as in France but I found they were benefiting from the economic development.
Dubrule had read books about Tibet since the 1990s and many of them portrayed the Dalai Lama as a saint and victim. But he later learnt in Tibet that under the Dalai Lama's rule there was no medical service in an area between Ngari and Lhasa. The former is about 1,000 km away from the latter.
In Tibet, I found that people would like to have the region modernized rather than maintaining old lifestyles simply for tourists, he said.
He did not agree with the Dalai Lama who said economic development in Tibet was causing a disappearance of traditional culture. If a culture can not move forwards with economic and social development, it will end up in the museum instead of blessing its people.
Should anyone refuse development, schools and hospitals in the name of protecting culture and religion
In his 50,000-word travel book, Le Test du Cocotier, he wrote about what he saw in Tibet and was criticized by some back home for his stance to support present policies in the autonomous region.
I am not surprised. Because many French had not been to Tibet, most of the information they got about the region was biased or confused. The real Tibetan history is unknown to many, he said. I believe that they will change once they have the access to more positive information and exchanges with Tibet.
His travel book was published in Chinese in 2005. On the book's cover, Dubrule, on his bike, passed several Tibetans worshipping local mountain spirits.
Although I have never met the Dalai Lama, I would like to tell him that a country should protect the religious belief of its people but religions should not be a tool for people to turn against their country, he said.
http://eng.tibet.cn/Features2008/314sj/today/200804/t20080421_376907.htm
German scholar refutes Dalai's claim of "cultural genocide" in Tibet
2008-04-25 08:12:00 |
A German sinologist and ethnologist on Wednesday refuted the Dalai Lama's claim that the Chinese government has conducted "cultural genocide" in Tibet and criticized some Western media for not letting the voices of ordinary Tibetans be heard.
CULTURAL GENOCIDE? COMPLETELY WRONG
"The concept of 'cultural genocide' is completely wrong," said Ingo Nentwig, who chairs the research department of the Museum of Ethnology in Leipzig, in a written interview with Xinhua.
"The Tibetan culture flourishes and prospers in China," including "language, literature, study of oral literature, everyday life and traditional architecture," he said.
Nentwig said that China has published a vast collection of books, newspapers and magazines in Tibetan language, and "there are a lot of Tibetan publishing houses, not only in Tibet but also in the neighboring provinces and even in Beijing."
Tibetan authors write in the Tibetan language and Chinese, Tibetan translation of foreign books are also available in China, and "there is an academy for traditional Tibetan medicine in Lhasa," he cited the example to illustrate his point.
The scholar said that unlike "some representatives of the clerical elite demanding independence for Tibet or just wanting to exert political power" who describe the modernization of the Tibetan society as "cultural genocide," "most Tibetans recognize the opportunities in a modern Tibet, which is part of China and open to the modern world."
SYSTEMATIC ASSIMILATION? OUT OF THE QUESTION
Nentwig said a systematic immigration and assimilation of Tibet "through a Han-Chinese (China's majority ethnic group) settlement invasion is just out of the question."
"If you come to Lhasa, you actually have the impression that there are many Han-Chinese who account for more than 50 percent of the population in Lhasa for sure," he said, but noting the bulk of them, however, stay there only temporarily.
Soldiers, for example, are to leave after demobilization, many construction workers are just there for road or railway projects, some officials are assigned to work in Tibet on a rotation basis and then leave. While some business people operate stores or restaurants there, but they seldom intend for a long-term stay, he said.
"But once you leave Lhasa, you hardly meet any Han-Chinese," said Nentwig, who spent a month in Tibet for a field research on yak shepherds in the summer of 2002.
"I did my field research in a county where just 20 or 30 Han-Chinese live among 50,000 to 60,000 Tibetans," he said.
The scholar said the overall proportion of long-term Han residents in Tibet is about just 7 percent, while ethnic Tibetans account for over 90 percent.
Even taking the short-term residents into account, the Han people account for an estimated 20 to 25 percent of entire population in Tibet, while ethnic Tibetans are still the "overwhelming majority of about 75 to 80 percent," he said.
Areas inhabited by ethnic Tibetans in the neighboring provinces of Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan and Yunnan, however, are ethically and culturally more diversified, where Tibetans have coexisted peacefully with Han and other ethnic groups such as Hui, Mongolian, Qiang, Tu and Salar for many centuries, Nentwig said.
If exiled Tibetans, under the "anti-assimilation" or "anti-sinicization" slogans, want to fight for Tibetans' cultural or political dominance, this would go against the historical truth and would be unfair for all other residents there, he said.
OLD RULING CLASS' ACCUSATION? DIFFERENT STORY TO TELL
The scholar listed some historical and geographical reasons for Tibet's relatively slow development compared with other Chinese regions.
Tibet is "unsuitable for a comprehensive industrialization and its agriculture is also handicapped by natural conditions" as large grazing areas there have "such thin topsoil that virtually nothing can be cultivated," he said.
He also called attention to the fact that before 1950, there were no hospitals and no schools except the monastic education.
While acknowledging such huge gap "can not be narrowed overnight," Nentwig noted with delight that the average life expectancy in Tibet has raised from 35 years in the 1950s to the present 67 years.
He hailed the liberation of the vast majority of the Tibetan people from the bondage of serfdom as a "great progress," adding most Tibetans are in much better conditions now than 50 years ago.
He said the Chinese government's ethnic policy is "enormously generous" and there are many examples to illustrate that China's ethnic minorities are given preferential treatments.
"The Tibetans, for example, may basically have two children ... (and) Tibetans in the countryside may have three or even more children" while the one-child policy is applied to the Han.
"The latest census showed that in the past 20 to 30 years, the population growth rate of Tibetans was much higher than that of the Han," he said.
Nentwig criticized some Western media for only reporting the voices of the former ruling class, namely, representatives of the old theocracy, the clerical and feudal aristocrats, who lost their power and can "no longer exploit the people at will," while ignoring the voices of the ordinary Tibetan people who "have a totally different story to tell."
Admitting that China's approach to ethnic minorities still has much room for improvement, he said if anyone wants to criticize China, such criticism should be concrete, constructive and based on expertise.
"It helps nobody if unqualified nonsense is disseminated as many Western media unfortunately have done and are still doing," he said.
http://eng.tibet.cn/index/news/200804/t20080425_377394.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 Government of China invested a huge sum of money to re-build this school from ruins in 1986, so that the children of the nomads can receive an education.
This school covers an area of 8400 square meters and the building provides a useful area of 1221 square meters. The children are too far away from their nomadic families and are all staying in this boarding school for the entire school term.
Every morning the whole school will be singing the China national anthem.
The windows of this school are installed with double layers(rarely seen in China) due to winter fourty below temperature.
This school uses the latest technology, i.e. teaching Fine Art with computerized CD equipment.
The six teachers in this school and some of their students.
There are 141 students and all stay in this boarding school. It is too far from their nomadic camps. Students will learn how to take care of their bedding.
The school principal (also a teacher) is teaching his student how to read/write Tibetan.
The school principal's wife decided to move to such high altitude location, just to help out cooking tasks at the school.
Teaching Biology and practice it with a micropscope.
Students using computer aided equipments and internet access receive long distance educational training.
The cracks on a young face of every student review the hardship of the sun at high-altitude and lack of oxygen. It takes a very dedicated teaching staff to remain working long term in this special school.
The students automatically line up for their meals during lunch hours. This is a very well organized school.
Older students are serving rice (the main dish) to the students.
A study of the food being served, it reviews that students receive a very well-balanced diet.
After lunch being served, students are having fun at the school play ground.
During the Dalai Lama era there was no school or university, a child had to join one of the Monasteries to receive an education and that was the reason why many Tibetan mothers were forced by their own clans to give up their love ones to the Monasteries. Today, no Tibetan mother has to make such a decision.
The truth is that during the Dalai Lama era most Tibetan women were second class citizens and very seldom had any chance of an education. Today, all Tibetan children, both boys and girls, have equal chances of a free-of-charge and compulsory education. Tibetan women today provide a major and essential workforce in the government of Tibet Autonomous Region.
Without Lhamo Toinzhub(14th Dalai Lama), Tibet is better off today!
In 1951 Lhamo Toinzhub signed widely known as 'the 17 Pacts'
to run Tibet for Chairman Mao until he sneaked out in 1959.
For almost 9 years Lhamo Toinzhub had worked for Chairman Mao.
Tibet Today still fighting her Biggest Enemy...
Click below:
Secret CIA Sponsorship of Tibetan Rebels against China Exposed---
How A Ground-breaking Book Unveiled History as It Was
http://www.china-hiking.com/tibet/invasion.htm
In 1959 conned by then Ambassador in India(Henderson) at his own free will,
Lhamo Toinzhub left Tibet and thus had given up his right to run Tibet.
As an early version of Iranian Czar or Filipino Marcos, he was tricked to leave Tibet.
Since 1959 for 49 years Tibet Autonomous Region has been run by capable
native Tibetans, most of whom were a SERF during Dalai Lama era.
These Tibetan leaders should be the only people who can make decisions
for the future of Tibet Autonomous Region, NOT Lhamo Toinzhub.
He has neither Tibetans' Trust nor experience to run Democratic and Modern Tibet.
Tibetans do not want someone both a Political and Religious leader to head Tibet.
Why do nations want to have Tibet returned to a SERF system under Dalai Lama?
It is because they want to control Tibet with a puppet like Dalai Lama.
This will lead Tibet into neither Democratic nor 'Freedom of Choice'.
Our World is enough to have only one Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini !
Lhamo Toinzhub has to realize Tibet today is a well established society,
and stop allow himself being used as a puppy by nations against China.
It is sincerely hope before his approaching death Lhamo Toinzhub
(14th Dalai Lama) will give up his so called 'Tibet Independence'
and for once in entire life doing something good for people of Tibet.
The only way to avoid ending up in history like Iranian Czar or Filipino Marcos!
http://pic.people.com.cn/GB/31655/6543727.html
What to negotiate with Dalai Lama?
2008-07-01 16:41:00
To most people, no matter in the old Tibet or in Dharmsala today, where Tibetan government-in-exile locates, Dalai Lama is both a political and a religious figure. Although Dalai himself frequently refers to the "government-in-exile" as a "democratic government", he has never denied he is the political leader. But it does not make any sense at all to compare theocracy to a democratic system. If it did, people would assume he either lacks or ignore common sense.
Theocracy was abolished in Tibet. This is the reason why Dalai left Lhasa in 1959(click here), and it is also the result of his absence.
Tibet is an autonomous region, so the Tibetan autonomous government is the only legal government to represent Tibet, not that government-in-exile.
Therefore, to negotiate with China is actually to negotiate Dalai's future. Because he is not able to represent neither Tibet nor Tibetan on any legal grounds, and China will never consent to negotiate with him when he claims himself as the political figure of the "government-in-exile". I am not sure whether Dalai is clear about this or not.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200807/t20080701_410293.htm
What to talk with Dalai Lama?
2008-07-01 16:39:00
Seems a new round of talks between the Beijing central government and the Dalai Lama will start soon. Then, what are the topics on the table? Is it the current situation of Tibet, position of Tibet, future of Tibet, or the destiny of the Tibetan people, of course NOT.
The reason is simple. Dalai is a Buddhist lama, his past political status was based on the system of theocracy. The system, in which a society is ruled by a priest or monk who represent a god, has been abolished in Tibet long before. So if one is going to discuss with a monk the position and future of Tibet, and destiny of Tibetan people, doesn't that give an impression that China will allow theocracy to resume in Tibet?
Tibet is an autonomous region of China, and representing it is the government of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. The 14th Dalai Lama has set up an "exile regime" in Dharmsala, India, and he claims to be the leader of the exile regime. The fact is that not a single state in the world today admits the legitimacy of Dalai Lama's exile government in Dharmsala. If the central government is going to discuss the position, future of Tibet, and destiny of Tibetan people, doesn't that give an impression that Dharmasala exile regime is legitimate?
Tibet has achieved a lot in the past 50-odd years, but Tibet's success and progress has nothing to do with the Dalai Lama(click here). He by no means can represent Tibet or the Tibetan people now. So, China's central government is not going to discuss with Dalai Lama the current situation of Tibet, position of Tibet, future of Tibet, or the destiny of the Tibetan people, but only the future and destiny of Dalai Lama himself.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200807/t20080701_410290.htm
Last opportunity for Dalai Lama
2008-07-01 16:41:00
The 14th Dalai Lama is running out of opportunities. And that's why he is using the Beijing Olympics as his last straw. But could he really make the best use of this opportunity? Some Westerners are providing Dalai Lama with badly-needed guidance and support, which shed light on why he frequented Western countries in a rush. However, there are vast differences in the interest of those Westerners' and Dalai's, which can be seen through the fact that Dalai has been given a cold shoulder by the West from time to time in the past decades.
Therefore Dalai should tell the difference in interests and stop binding himself to certain political forces, which will lead to his loss of opportunities. Judging from the current situation, Dalai Lama is losing his most important opportunities on mending ties with the Chinese central government.
Of course, it remained to be seen whether Dalai Lama still has any power and influence to muster, without the support of some political forces in the West.
http://eng.tibet.cn/news/today/200807/t20080701_410291.htm
Chinese central government officials meet with Dalai Lama's private representatives
www.chinaview.cn 2008-07-03 15:37:37
BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Du Qinglin, head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with private representatives of the 14th Dalai Lama in Beijing recently, the department said on Thursday.
Du, also the vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), told the two representatives, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, the central government's policy towards the Dalai Lama is consistent and explicit. The door for dialogue is always open.
The Dalai Lama should openly and explicitly promise and prove it in his actions not to support activities to disturb the upcoming Beijing Olympic Games, not to support plots to fan violent criminal activities, not to support and concretely curb the violent terrorist activities of the "Tibetan Youth Congress" and not to support any argument and activity to seek "Tibet independence" and split the region from the country, he said.
While the country is welcoming the 30th anniversary of its reform and opening up, Tibet, together with the rest of the country, has progressed to realize economic development and improve people's living standards while protecting the environment and effectively using resources, he said.
In Tibet, the adherence to the CPC leadership, the socialist system and the regional autonomy of ethnic minorities will not be altered, he said.
The central government will apply its policies in Tibet, support the region's economic and social development and work to improve living standards of people in Tibet as it did before.
Du also briefed them about the Wenchuan earthquake on May 12 and the relief work.
He said at time of difficulty, the Chinese nation has shown strong cohesiveness and profound love among its people. The relief work serves as vivid illustrations of China's protection of human rights.
The CPC implemented its principle of putting people first and ruling the country for the people, while the advantages of socialist system are also manifested in the quake relief, as indicated in the policy of saving lives first, nationwide mobilization for quake relief and timely and smooth flow of information, he said.
Zhu Weiqun and Sitar, two deputy heads of the department, also met with the Dalai Lama's representatives and exchanged ideas on detailed issues.
If the Dalai Lama makes positive moves, the next round of contact may be held before the end of this year, according to the officials of the department.
The Dalai Lama's representatives also expressed their ideas on several relevant issues and said they would report the results to the Dalai Lama.
During their stay in Beijing, the two toured the Olympic stadiums and talked with some Tibetologists.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/03/content_8483444.htm
Click the following to view the White Papers on Tibet issues:
Tibet -- Its Ownership And Human Rights Situation
New Progress in Human Rights in the Tibet Autonomous Region
Tibet's March Toward Modernization
White Paper on Tibetan Culture
White Paper on Ecological Improvement and Environmental Protection in Tibet
Tibet's Compulsory and Free-of-Charge Education
White Paper: Regional Ethnic Autonomy in Tibet
Click the above for full text of White Papers on various Tibet Issues
Potala Palace is the symbol of Tibet, China
The Following History was written by a USA citizen and Professor of Purdue University after in-depth study at Tibet.
click here
The letter below was written by a member of 2006 Tibet Hiking Group in response to this Editorial :
' The train from hell' (Editorial, July 17)
http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=1014656316146&c=Article&cid=1153087815966
"The train from hell-Viewpoint: Winnipeg Free Press"
I have sat looking at this editorial, along with the Spectator's recent articles on the Bejing-Lhasa train, for that past few days. I found the Spectator's articles interesting, but this editorial requires commenting on.
The tone of the editorial is consistent with that of several small 'Western' groups who would rather totally acquiesce to those with their own political agendas rather than look into the situation for themselves and risk becoming labeled politically incorrect.
I have just come back from Tibet. I spent just over 2 weeks hiking and traveling there, staying in three Tibetan cities and hiking through two mountain passes and numerous villages. I also visited several monasteries (no, the monasteries are not closed).
The land dispute between Tibet and China has been going on for centuries. Possession of land has gone back and forth between the two-depending upon who had the bigger army at the time. At one time, due to the size and power of the Tibetan army the land mass occupied by the Tibetan people extended well into China. Now the shoe appears to be on the other foot.
From the moment we got off the airplane in Lhasa it was visibly apparent that there are a lot of resources being poured into Tibet. The airport is new and ultra modern, as are the surrounding buildings. The road from the airport is new. The signs on the highways and roads are in Chinese, Tibetan and occasionally English. I guess that they are wiping out the Tibetan language like we are wiping out the French language, by putting it all over public signs!
Driving from the airport to Lhasa the land on the sides of the road is littered with new irrigation technology and greenhouses. The fields are full of produce. The locals tell me they are trying to become self sufficient in producing food, using the finances of the government. Even in the outlying villages we visited there is significant manpower and resources being put into reclaiming the desert by creating modern irrigation ditches, ditches that are decorated in a manner consistent with Tibetan culture and beliefs, in the belief that such decoration will encourage prosperity. It is a marvelous sight to see, in the middle of the desert, fields of green and yellow surrounded by sand.
While one of the tenents of Chinese political policy has been their intolerance of religion, I can assure you the monasteries are not closed. The Tibetan Buddhist religion and philosophy is alive and well in Tibet. In fact, the monasteries are being rebuilt and refurbished. They are open to local Tibetans and foreigners. The devout locals journey every day to perform their rituals, be it donating money, yak butter for the candles or prostrating themselves as they perform their prayers either inside the monasteries or as they circle them outside. They do this unhindered and with the respect of all who observe them.
Not once did we see any Chinese military or have anyone prevent us from going anywhere.
The pilgrims to the monasteries, for the most part, appear to be the poorest of the poor. They give all they have to a belief system that represents classic feudal serfdom. They wander from room to room in the monasteries, taking great care not to miss a room, pasting money on the religious icons or in the jars placed in front of the icons by the monks. If they do not have money they bring thermos jars of yak butter to add to the constantly burning flames ever present in most of the rooms and chambers. Despite this, the money that the monasteries spend on yak butter in a year is apparently enough to build 3 hospitals. At one point we entered a large room with dozens of monks apparently chanting prayers, or so we thought. Our Tibetan guide informed us that this was the time of day that they actually gathered to count their money from the donations! .
On one occasion there was a rather noticeable disturbance outside one of the monasteries involving a young child. The young child was apparently voicing a rather vocal objection to what was happening around him. It appeared that the local village 'council' had decided to 'give' this child to the monks in the monastery, and the child was rather loudly voicing his objections, to no avail.
In another monastery we saw, off to one side, a small room occupied by a lone child of no more than 10 years of age. The room was big enough to accommodate him and the tools he was working with. He was covered with ink, using blocks and paper to hand print prayer sheets. He would do this 10-12 hours day, for no pay, simply because he was told it was his duty to the monastery.
The reward for their subjugation to the feudal system is simply the promise of a better life in their reincarnation. Fortunately, many of the younger generation are now finding that they have a choice. They can preserve their heritage, philosophy and culture and yet at the same time avail themselves of education and an expanding future. At the airports in Lhasa and China we saw several groups of Tibetan teenagers in their equivalent of school uniforms (we would call them track suits). When we asked what kind of sports teams they were we were told that they wearing school uniforms and they were traveling back and forth in class exchange programs.
It appears to be the objective of certain politically orientated minority groups to dwell on the past. China, under Mao and even Deng, did commit many atrocities. China in many ways is trying to drag itself out of the quagmire these atrocities created, sometimes by trying to deny many things in order to 'save face' as part of their culture requires. But they are also trying to enter the 21st century. They have a lot to make up for, if you believe that they are responsible for the sins of past rulers. On the ground, from someone who has been there, they are making progress.
How much progress are we making after taking Native culture, language and religion and packing them off onto reservations in the isolated far reaches of most of our provinces? Ask not for whom the bell tolls¡&endash;¡&endash;
The above letter was sent by email to me on July 21, 2006.
On July 27, 2006 an Editorial was published by <<Spectator>> of Hamilton.
"In this traveller's tale, Tibetans can pray unhindered, and a younger generation has choices" ( Editorial, July 27)
http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layout/Article_Type1&call_pageid=1014656316146&c=Article&cid=1153950612363
Letter from Sandra, a 2006 Hiking group member
1."...I wanted to ask you more on the topic of religious freedom in China. What about the Falun Gong movement? I realize that the government probably considers them a cult rather than a religious or spiritual movement but is its practice sufficient justification for imprisonment?..."
Sandra, please view this video, from a professional in California :
http://news.xinhuanet.com/video/2006-07/06/content_4801509.htm
Dr. Margaret T Singer
Dr. Margaret Singer has been recognized as "the foremost authority on brainwashing in the entire world." She was the author of "Cults in Our Midst,'' the authoritative 1995 study on cults that she revised in 2003 with analysis of the connection between cults and terrorism. She was the winner of the Hofheimer Prize and the Dean Award from the American College of Psychiatrists and of achievement awards from the Mental Health Association of the United States and the American Family Therapy Association. She was a past president of the American Psychosomatic Society and a board member of the Kaiser Foundation Research Institute Review Board and the American Family Foundation. In the latest version of her book "Cults in Our Midst, '' she discussed in details that Falun Gong is a cult. Many families in USA were destroyed by Falun Gong. Former members of Falun Gong or the anguished families of members, like some of the people who lost relatives among the Branch Davidians in the Waco, Tex., in 1993, would often seek her advice. She died on November 23, 2003.
If USA can have cults and sometimes resulted as a disaster at Waco, Texas, can cults happen in China ?
If China has cults, can China deal with them ? without being labeled with ' no freedom of religion ' ?
The Dalai Lama supports the Aum Shinrikyo Sect in Japan that attacked Tokyo's subways with poison gas in 1995. (see below)
2."... Also, although I saw much evidence of religious freedom in Tibet, and the Chinese Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and freedom of speech, why is the mention of the Dalai Lama or the display of his photograph not permitted in Tibet? I would appreciate if you could help clear these points up with me..."
There was a period of time in the seventies when Dalai Lama photos were allowed to be displayed freely and his followers could enter/leave China at will but he took advantages of that situation and created a lot of sabotages and riots in Lhasa. Since then, there was a restriction.
But, the situation has changed recently and you should not be surprised that this retriction will be lifted someday.
When you have enemy who tries to split your country, you would most likely do the same thing as China had done.
Please remember, during the Civil War of USA many of the soldiers in the north, Union, did not fight to liberate the Negroes. They fought to keep the Federation in the south from splitting from United States. Tibetans inside Tibet do not want to separate from the family of ethnic minorities in China.
Dalai Lama and his people still create a lot of physical damages in Tibet everyday.
Tibetans know who is doing things good for Tibet, China government or Dalai Lama.
You have seen it in Tibet, for yourself !!!
In 1959 14th Dalai Lama left Tibet on his own free will, leaving behind a feudal serfdom. "There was not even a single highway in old Tibet, not to mention air transport or railway transport," said Raidi, a native Tibetan who has been a leading provincial official for many years. In the distant past, he said, Tibetans relied totally on people and livestock to transport materials to and from other parts of China. A round trip usually took seven to eight months. "The transport capacity was extremely limited. This seriously influenced exchanges between Tibet and other areas, restricted economic and social development and hampered social progress in Tibet," said Raidi.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-07/06/content_4803030.htm
Since 1959, Tibetans inside Tibet knows how to build a modern Tibet and without the 14th Dalai Lama. Tibetans inside Tibet do not need 14th Dalai Lama in Tibet, in fact his presence can be a problem.
Tibetans like most decent human beings reject feudal serfdom, which is represented by 14th Dalai Lama.
Tibetans inside Tibet want to tell the whole World that Dainzin Gyamco ( real name for 14th Dalai Lama ) is not a 'Solution', he is the 'Problem'. For the last forty years everything in Tibet has been working just fine and there is no space left for 14th Dalai Lama in the Tibetan Religious or Political arena. Due to the 'lack of spare spaces' Tibetans inside Tibet do not want Dainzin Gyamco to return to Tibet.
Please note that the USA Government does not officially recognize the government in exile of 14th Dalai Lama.
In this feudal system, all versions of Dalai Lama were born to be the political and religious leaders in Tibet for life. History tells us that it is dangerous to have a person being the authority of both political and religious leader. No one in his/her right mind should support to superimpose this neither 'democratic' nor 'freedom of choice' system in Tibet. It is especially true in USA whose people sincerely believe in a democratic nation with freedom of choice. This is why Tibetans in Tibet do not want this guy to return to Tibet
For your information :
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-07/28/content_4889206.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-08/09/content_4937478.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-07/28/content_4889859.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-07/28/content_4889500.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-07/28/content_4889309_1.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-07/28/content_4889286.htm
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-07/28/content_4889149.htm
more.....
In summary, three reasons why Tibetans in Tibet do not want 14th Dalai Lama to return to Tibet :
1. Since 1959, Tibetans inside Tibet know how to build a modern Tibet and without the 14th Dalai Lama. Today, Tibet is a Autonomous Region (like a province) with a blooming economic growth. Tibetan Buddhism is flourishing and "...it permeated almost every aspect of life in Tibet even among the younger, more modern Tibetans..." written by a member of 2006 Hiking Group. " ...I definitely saw freedom of religion in Tibet and I saw good highways, medical care, and no signs of crime..." written by another member of 2006 Hiking Group. Tibetans inside Tibet do not need 14th Dalai Lama in Tibet, in fact his presence can be problem. He is out of touch with the modern Tibet, after forty six years being away from Tibet.
2. For the last forty six years, everything in Tibet has been working just fine and there is no space left for 14th Dalai Lama in the Tibetan Religious or Political arena. Due to 'lack of rooms', Tibetans inside Tibet do not want Dainzin Gyamco (real name of 14th Dalai Lama) to return to Tibet.
3. The 14th Dalai Lama wants to be the political and religious leader in Tibet for life again. Because Tibetans inside Tibet believe in 'Democracy' and 'Freedom', there is no place for 14th Dalai Lama and his feudal serfdom. No one in his/her right mind should support to superimpose this neither 'democratic' nor 'freedom of choice' system in Tibet. This is why Tibetans in Tibet do not want this guy to return to Tibet.
Thank you for your interest in Tibet !
----- Original Message -----
From: Sandra
To: China Hiking
Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2006 12:32 PM
Subject: Dalai Lama Book
Hi Tony,
Hope you are doing well. I finally got around to finishing the book I picked up on the 14th Dalai Lama at the airport in Lhasa. It was pretty interesting. It really tries to make the Dalai Lama look like a terrible person. The basic points of the book (**) were:
1. The Dalai Lama supports the Aum Shinrikyo Sect in Japan that attacked Tokyo's subways with poison gas in 1995.
2. The Dalai Lama exploits the time wheel abhiseka ceremony by performing it much too frequently for Tibetans living abroad, thus promoting Tibetan independence.
3. The Dalai Lama has prohibited the worship of the Buddhist Guardian Gyaiqen Xudain, whom he himself once worshipped, saying that it is harmful to the fundamental cause of Tibet.
4. The Dalai Lama goes against religious rituals and historical precedence in the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama.
5. The Dalai Lama has defended feudal serfdom.
6. The Dalai Lama claims that the Tibetan culture has been destroyed and what little remains will be destroyed by the infiltration of the Chinese Han.
7. The Dalai clique tore up the 17-point agreement and launched an armed rebellion in Lhasa.
( ** <<THE 14TH DALAI LAMA >> published by CHINA INTERNATIONAL PRESS ISBN 7-80113-299-8/K.55)
The author backs up these points pretty well. But then the Dalai Lama also has his own counterpoints, many of which I disagree with. There is no doubt that he has disregarded the 17 point agreement and after being in Tibet, I don't see where the Tibetan culture has been destroyed (at least not any more than what the rest of China had destroyed during the Cultural Revolution) and I don't think that there is a planned migration of Han Chinese in order to culturally wipe out what remains of Tibetan culture. Everything I saw made me believe that the Chinese have helped Tibet build a great infrastructure and improved education and utilities.
However, I don't believe that the Dalai Lama is quite as bad as he is made out to be in the book. For example, the book says "The 14th Dalai Lama worked hand-in-glove with the scum of Tibetan Buddhism to practice fraud with a view to hoodwinking the broad masses of Tibetans. His real purpose is to split the motherland and wreck Tibet and Tibetan Buddhism as well." and "He hates to see progress made in Tibet and improvement in the people's life, because the more developed Tibet becomes, the more stability society enjoys, and the more difficulty he has in stirring up trouble.". The only thing I believe in the above two sentences is that he wants to split China by creating an independent Tibet so he can once again be both political and religious leader.
I wanted to ask you more on the topic of religious freedom in China. What about the Falun Gong movement? I realize that the government probably considers them a cult rather than a religious or spiritual movement but is its practice sufficient justification for imprisonment? Also, although I saw much evidence of religious freedom in Tibet, and the Chinese Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and freedom of speech, why is the mention of the Dalai Lama or the display of his photograph not permitted in Tibet? I would appreciate if you could help clear these points up with me. Look forward to hearing from you.
Sandra
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