Briefing Paper for Travellers to Tibet (1999)

TIBET
Briefing paper for Tourists
RESTRICTIONS IN THE "TAR"
WHY VISIT TIBET?
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
AT A GLANCE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A VISIT TO TIBET
THINGS TO LOOK FOR AND QUESTIONS TO ASK
Do’s and Dont’s
AFTER RETURNING HOME
SUGGESTED READING LIST
Important Web Sites

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy receives many requests for information from individuals planning to visit Tibet. In response to this need we have produced this briefing paper. This small guide, however, does not contain the usual tips on what to see and where to eat. It is designed to provide travellers with background information on the Tibetan situation and some recommendations so that they may assist the Tibetan cause.

Due to extraordinary difficulties in obtaining accurate information from Tibet, some details may be incomplete. Where possible, firsthand accounts from travellers and refugees have been used in order to provide an overview of the current situation. After reading this booklet, it is our hope that future travellers will ask questions and upon returning to their own countries share with us and the rest of the world what they experienced in Tibet.

When we refer to Tibet, we refer to all of traditional Tibet which includes the three provinces of U-Tsang, Kham and Amdo. After invading Tibet, China subdivided the country into the seven administrative divisions of the "Tibet Autonomous Region" and the remaining areas were subsumed by Chinese provinces. This was in order to break up the nation and facilitate effective control over the population. One province which comprises most of Amdo province, has been renamed Qinghai. Six others were annexed to the Chinese provinces of Gansu, Sichuan and Yunan. It is only the last, comprising of U-Tsang province and parts of the western Kham province (less than half the country), which is officially known as the Tibet Autonomous Region “TAR”. When the Chinese authorities refer to Tibet they only refer to the “TAR” region of Tibet. In this paper, the term Tibet is used in reference to the entire country as it is known and recognized by the Tibetan people.

Interest in Tibetan Buddhism
Spiritual sense
Religion
Holiday
Curiosity
Trekking
To witness the changes under Chinese rule

A holiday with a purpose. By visiting Tibet, you will of course experience a unique culture and landscape. But you will also have the opportunity to be a witness to what is happening to the Tibetans in their homeland under Chinese occupation.

We know that many people have misgivings about visiting Chinese-occupied Tibet, as tourism obviously benefits the Chinese government. However, we encourage people to visit, especially as the country rapidly changes under Chinese rule. We feel it is important to keep pressure on the Chinese government and eyewitness accounts of the true situation in Tibet are one of the most effective means to do this. It is true that the Chinese government benefits from tourism in Tibet. However, the Chinese will have an increasingly difficult time misleading the international community about incidents like the Drapchi Prison demonstrations in May 1998 if there are visitors in the area whose accounts contradict official reports. A traveller who is knowledgable before travelling to Tibet is a great asset to the Tibetan people and the rest of the world as independent information on the situation is difficult to acccess. Therefore, your visit to Tibet can make a difference.

Many travellers, especially those on official delegations, report that the Chinese authorities impose heavy restrictions on their movements within Tibet. The report of the EU Troika Human Rights Mission to Tibet (May 1998) stated that all programme items were closely supervised and all formal interviews were conducted in the company of Chinese and Tibetan officials. The delegation stated that it felt it was being closely watched throughout the mission.

Independent tourism is the most effective challenge to the Chinese monopoly on objective information. Any increase in the number of individual tourists entering Tibet makes it more difficult for the Chinese to restrict their movements and inhibit their contact with local Tibetans.The uninformed tourist can be deceived into believing that the Chinese have only done positive things in the region since their occupation. The prepared and inquisitive traveller can gather valuable information about the present situation in Tibet, even while part of a tour group. For many travellers, contact with a Tibetan can provide a powerful insight into the Tibetan world beyond the Chinese facade.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama now travels around the world appealing for international assistance and is supported by numerous Tibet support groups, politicians, Buddhist centres and an increasing number of individuals concerned by the ongoing human rights violations in Tibet. However, the international policy on Tibet remains heavily guarded so your support and the information you acquire as a traveller in Tibet is invaluable.

Please take some time to read the following information and recommendations before your visit. Thank you for your support.

ENTRY FORMALITIES

The political climate in Tibet is constantly changing. And information pertaining to required travel documents also changes regularly. It is advisable to contact the nearest Chinese Embassy or consulate for updated requirements.

It is important to distinguish between the Tibet Autonomous Region ("TAR") and the nation of Tibet (see introduction) as the Chinese government has restrictions on visiting the different areas. As of November 1997 there were four permitted ways to visit the "TAR" as a tourist:

Fly in from Kathmandu. If going this way, you can only enter with a one-month visa issued by the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu. Any other Chinese visa previously issued is likely to be cancelled and a new one issued. If you fly in, you are required to join a tour group for 3-7 days and then you can travel in the "TAR" (where permitted) until your visa expires.
Enter overland from Nepal. Visa restrictions are the same as above. If going overland, you must join a group. Individual travellers are not permitted over the border. The usual mode of transport is hired jeep. Chinese regulations require that the vehicle must have a Tibetan driver and a Chinese guide and you must stay with the jeep until Lhasa. Most travellers who enter the "TAR" this way suffer from altitude sickness for the first few days. You should not try to visit Everest base camp on your way into Tibet as its altitude is simply too high until you have adjusted.
Fly in from Chengdu, Sichuan Province. This is probably the least restricted way and costs around US $200 for a one-way flight. If you enter from within China, you are not subjected to the one-month visa restriction that visitors from Nepal face. In Chengdu, travel agents nominally put you in a group but this can mean as little as picking you up and taking you to the airport and then on arrival in the "TAR" dropping you at a hotel. You can not fly to the "TAR" without being a part of one of these groups. On arrival, there are no necessary group activities and you can spend the time remaining on your Chinese visa in the "TAR".
Enter overland from Golmud, Qinghai Province. This involves hiring a vehicle or taking a bus from Golmud. The cost is around the same as flying from Chengdu (US$ 200) although it is much cheaper to return this way. You must join a travel group to enter this way although this is not difficult to do once you are in Golmud. The trip takes 30-40 hours. The restrictions once in the "TAR" are the same as if you flew from Chengdu.

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RESTRICTIONS IN THE "TAR"

There are three categories of places that you may wish to visit in the "TAR". The first may be visited without a permit, the second require a permit (and payment for a related fee) and the third category may not be visited at all. It is advisable to check with the Public Security Bureau (PSB) on arrival as the rules applying to different places tend to change frequently.

Notices of other restrictions on tourist movements within the "TAR" have been posted in all major hotels throughout the region.

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WHY VISIT TIBET?

RESTRICTIONS OUTSIDE THE "TAR"
As stated above, traditional Tibet consists of the "TAR" and parts of Sichuan province, Yunnan province, Gansu province and Qinghai province. In all these places, Tibetans are still living relatively traditional lives. Like in the "TAR", the PSB restricts access to some of these areas, while others may be freely visited. It is best to ask the PSB in a major town in one of these provinces as to which towns can be freely visited before travelling to small areas where you may not be allowed.

ALTITUDE SICKNESS
Altitude Sickness or ‘Acute Mountain Sickness’ occurs at altitudes above 3000m so most visitors are likely to experience it to some degree. Common symptoms are shortness of breath, rapid pulse, headache, insomnia, nausea, dizziness and loss of appetite. The most effective prevention is to ascend slowly. Treatment for mild symptoms is rest, painkillers and additional oxygen. If symptoms are severe or prolonged, descend to a lower altitude and reascend slowly.

A rare complication of Acute Mountain Sickness is acute pulmonary or cerebral oedema. Symptoms of pulmonary oedema include breathlessness, cough, blue lips and frothing at the mouth. Cerebral oedema begins with confusion, resulting in unconsciousness. If these symptoms appear, the patient must be taken to a lower altitude as soon as possible and medical attention must be sought.

THE LEGAL STATUS OF TIBET
Tibet existed as an independent state for almost two thousand years before Communist China invaded and occupied the country in 1949. China's violation of Tibet's territorial integrity was denounced as an aggression by virtually all states of the free world. Throughout its history, Tibet has possessed all the attributes of independent statehood recognised under international law. It has a defined territory, a population inhabiting that territory, a government and the ability to enter into international relations.

The territory of Tibet largely corresponds to the geological plateau, consisting of approximately 2.5 million square kilometres.

The population of Tibet at the time of the Chinese invasion was over 6 million.

The government of Tibet was located in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet. It consisted of a Head of State (His Holiness the Dalai Lama), a cabinet of ministers (the Kashag), a national assembly (the Tsongdu) and an extensive bureaucracy to administer the territory of Tibet.

The international relations of Tibet were focused on the country's neighbours. Tibet maintained diplomatic, economic and cultural relations with countries in the region such as Bhutan, China, India, Mongolia, Nepal and to a limited extent, with Russia and Japan.

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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Tibet has a recorded history since 127 BC. The Tibetan Empire reached its peak during the 7th and 10th centuries, extending into China and other Central Asian countries. Tibetan armies even siezed the Chinese capital at Ch'ang-an (Xian) but a peace treaty was concluded between the countries in 822. During this period Buddhism was introduced and became the state religion.

Between 842 and 1247, the whole Tibetan Empire collapsed following the assassination of King Wudum Tsen for his persecution of Buddhists. The Empire disintegrated into small principalities and its relations with neighbouring countries during this time was minimal.

In 1207, Tibet was invaded by Mongolia who then invaded China in 1280, forcing the countries into the same political grouping. China's insubstantial present day claims that 'Tibet has always been a part of China' derive from this period when they were both ruled by the Mongols.

In 1642, the 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, assumed both spiritual and political authority over Tibet. He established the present system of Tibetan government called Gaden Phodrang. After assuming power, the Dalai Lama visited China to gain Chinese recognition of his sovereignty and the Ming Emperor accepted the Dalai Lama as the leader of the independent state and acknowledged his Divinity. In return, the Dalai Lama used his influence to gain Mongolian recognition of the Ming Emperor's power in China.

In 1720, the Manchus who controlled China interfered in Tibetan affairs by sending troops to escort the young 7th Dalai Lama from Eastern Tibet to Lhasa. They left a resident to serve the Dalai Lama and during this period they gained nominal control over eastern Tibet but were able to maintain this only until 1865. The Manchus again took up residence in Lhasa in1790 but were finally expelled in 1912. The 13th Dalai Lama reasserted Tibet's independence through a special declaration in 1913.

From 1911 to 1949 there wasn't any foreign interference in Tibet. Tibetan independence was confirmed in 1914 at the Treaty of Simla which was concluded between Tibet and British India.

The turning point in Tibet's history came in 1949 when the People's Liberation Army of the People's Republic of China first crossed into Tibet. After defeating the small Tibetan army and occupying half the country, the Chinese government imposed the so-called '17 Point Agreement for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet' on the Tibetan government in May 1951. As it was signed under duress, the agreement lacked validity under international law.

As open resistance to the Chinese occupation escalated, particularly in eastern Tibet, the Chinese repression increased dramatically. This included the systematic destruction of religious buildings and the imprisonment of monks, nuns and other community leaders. By 1959, popular uprisings culminated in massive demonstrations in Lhasa. The demonstrations were quelled by the Chinese, killing 87 000 civilians in Lhasa and forcing His Holiness the Dalai Lama to flee Tibet. An estimated 1.2 milllion Tibetans have been killed as a result of the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1949.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama was granted asylum in India and established a democratic government in Dharamsala.

STANDARD OF LIVING

While the Chinese authorities repeatedly assert that they have made dramatic improvements to the general standard of living in Tibet, accounts from Tibetans reveal that the majority of these benefits are enjoyed by the estimated 7.5 million Chinese settlers residing in Tibet and not by the majority of Tibetans.

In contrast with claims made by the Chinese government, the accounts of 70 Tibetan refugees who have recently escaped to India from different parts of Tibet reveal a very poor standard of living in Tibet for Tibetans. Accounts of current conditions reveal that China’s economic policy in Tibet has severely affected the huge percentage of Tibetans who live in rural areas, mainly nomads and farmers. These Tibetans live on very meagre means and subsist from year to year on crop harvests and animal products. Forced to work hard in order to have enough to eat, their children are generally deprived of the opportunity to attend school because of the unaffordable fees and the need for them to work at home.

ECONOMIC REPRESSION

The Chinese Government claims that Tibetans practice a high degree of national regional autonomy in the "TAR". However, tax collection is administered by Chinese officials throughout Tibet and there is no evidence that those who are forced to pay the taxes benefit in any way from the revenue which has been collected since Chinese occupation began in 1949. An outstanding number of reports received in 1997 indicate an extremely harsh taxation policy, although the policy does not appear to be uniform in all regions.

A recent refugee from Tibet reported that in August 1995, three tax officials came to collect tax at the home of Gonpo Tsering, a Tibetan living in Kamoche county, Kanlho “TAP”, Gansu Province. First the family gave the required 50 gyama (25 Kg ) of barley per individual so as there were eight people in the family, a total of 200 kg of barley was paid. In the same month, the officials came for a second time and took an additional 50 kg of barley. Later in the same month, 12 Public Security Bureau officials came to the house for the third time. Despite the family’s repeated appeals that they no longer had enough barley for their own consumption, the officials continued to demand additional payment. In the confrontation that ensued, one of the officials hit Gonpo Tsering over the head with the stick. In retaliation, Gonpo took a knife from the kitchen and slashed the head of an official. Gonpo was arrested on the spot and taken to an unknown destination. Two days later, Gonpo’s family was notified to collect his dead body for cremation.

A variety of taxes have been imposed in the "TAR": on land, animals, wool and fur, fur hides, meat, grains, butter, milk, cheese, hay, fertilizer, and medicinal plants. “Old age” and “education” taxes are also charged, even if the person receives no schooling or social security. In some cases “human tax” was reported. One 15-year-old girl from Lhoka, said that each member of her family has to pay 160 yuan to Chinese authorities a total of 1440 yuan (US $175) and if the tax is not paid on time a further fine of up to 300 yuan is imposed. “Milk tax” may be imposed, not just on milk bearing animals but also on male animals. A "I saw many impoverished Tibetans. [...] I saw a lot of disease and disfigurement.

Although I know it is on a global upsurge, it seemed that TB was a significant problem. One day we were eating at Sera Monastery. We were surrounded by shoeless children in tattered clothes who were begging for our food before we even began to eat. I will never forget the little girl whose nose was running down her dirty little face as she scooped our leftover food with her grubby hands from our plates into a tiny metal cup and ran away. I asked my Tibetan friend about all of the children begging. He shook his head and said that the Chinese came in and took all of the jobs so many Tibetans have no source of income. I never saw a Chinese person asking for handouts. I usually saw them as shop owners or military officers."
(ANONYMOUS, U.S.A.,
AUGUST 1997)

Tax on non-residents who visit Lhasa has also been reported since the beginning of 1997. A new tax also introduced in 1997 by Chinese authorities is a tax on circumambulation. (Tibetan: Khorra - the Buddhist practice of circling a sacred object to collect good merit.) “Each individual is levied three yuan as a tax to acquire the rights to circumambulate the holy Mount Kailash,” reports 27-year-old Tsegye Phuntsok from Kyithang County in Ngari Region, "TAR".

DEVELOPMENT

Tibetans are not benefiting from Chinese developments as most of the projects in the "TAR" are designed to attract Chinese settlers into Tibet. An examination of current development projects and policies in Tibet reveals that the largest proportion of investment activities are focused on large-scale industrial and infrastructure projects, involving the exploitation of natural resources. China’s economic programme in Tibet is almost exclusively geared towards exploitation of Tibet’s natural resources and strengthening of China’s control in Tibet. The theory prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s that the benefits of top-down, large-scale development initiatives will eventually accrue to those in greatest need, particularly in rural areas, has been comprehensively discredited by bodies such as the UNDP. It has become evident that such practises only widen the gap between social groups and entrench the impoverishment of the poorest sections of society.

No substantial increase in the quality of life of Tibetans in rural areas has been achieved since the Chinese invasion. As one observer notes, “ most Tibetans continue to live poorly at the margins of the economic system, providing the expendable underbelly to the Chinese growth machine. There is increasing evidence to suggest that the economic rewards of China’s development policies in Tibet are not distributed equitably amongst the population of Tibet and that in fact the main beneficiaries of Tibet’s invigorated economy are Chinese settlers and China’s central government treasury. Tibet is being converted by Chinese into China’s bread basket and providers of primary resources”. A blind eye is turned to the long term destruction of traditional livelihoods and no compensation is offered to those affected. Large parts of the population are prevented from attaining a decent standard of living.

The primary catalyst for the transfer of Chinese civilians into Tibet is industrial development. By intitiating development projects in Tibet, China is creating a need for labour which is primarily being filled by Chinese. This is further marginalising the Tibetan population.

UNEMPLOYMENT

According to the 1997 US State Department Human Rights Report, discrimination against Tibetans is widespread, especially in the employment sector. The situation has become critical, with an increasing number of unemployed Tibetans in Tibet There are numerous reports of Chinese settlers in Tibet receiving preferential treatment with regard to employment opportunities, advancement and work benefits.

In the early part of 1997, Tibetans working as government tour guides in Lhasa lost their jobs, ostensibly on the grounds that they had made unauthorized trips to India. As of April 1997, between 69 and 72 such tour guides were made redundant. Chinese authorities admit that a disproportionate number of public officers in Tibet are Chinese.

"I think Tibetans are discriminated [against]. Chinese have the better jobs, but there are still some Tibetans working in the administration, police and post offices. The best places for shops along the mainroads are owned and ran by Chinese.
(ANETTE, GERMANY, DECEMBER1997)

“Jobs at all levels are given to new Chinese settlers. All road construction, engineering work and development projects are run by the Chinese which leaves the Tibetans jobless… The Lhasa Development Bureau is the main Chinese authority in Lhasa responsible for the many Chinese enterprises in Tibet. Tibetan workers have had their jobs taken away and their very livelihood threatened as a result of policies favoring Chinese employees. Older workers have had their benefits stopped while younger workers fail to receive their monthly salaries on time.”
(ANONYMOUS, DECEMBER 1996)

“Health care or lack thereof is another issue — the local dispensary/hospital in the village (of around 5000 people) has fewer medical supplies than what I had in my first-aid kit. It is the type of hospital where you go to catch diseases! A single needle is shared for the 40 or 50 patients who came in every day for injections. I am assuming that they do sterilise the needle once in a while by the black soot mark on the needle container! As I said the patients order their medicine through whoever is going to the nearest town (which is 12 hours by horse back or couple of days walk). It is not uncommon to see patients mix the injection drugs (mostly antibiotics) with arak (white local alcohol) and drink it to “heal” pains and aches.”
(ANONYMOUS)

Reports from refugees and tourists indicate that a growing number of Tibetans, including children, are forced to beg for survival because of the worsening economic situation in Tibet. One man who had been a beggar in Lhasa, reported that there are more than 3,000 beggars in Tibet’s capital and the rate is even higher in Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet. Foreign visitors to Tibet during 1997 were shocked by the number of Tibetan beggars they saw.

HEALTH CARE

Tibetans are discriminated against in medical facilities. Refugees report that Chinese receive free health care in Tibet while Tibetans must pay. Tashi, who fled Tibet in October 1997, spent more than one month in Shigatse People’s Hospital in 1995. He reported that the local Tibetans were required to pay full price to receive medical treatment while Chinese patients did not have to pay anything. Local Tibetans were required to pay high prices for their hospital expenses: 800 to 1000 yuan (aprox. US $ 100- 120) as a deposit; 20 yuan per night for a bed; 20 yuan for a bottle of glucose; and further payment for a check up. Tashi reported that during his short period in hospital, two Tibetans died after they were refused hospital care for not having the required deposit.

Gyalpo, a 47-year-old man, from Shalu, Shigatse Region, was suffering from critical lung and liver problems. He died after treatment was refused. Another man from Tsongdu, Shigatse Region, also died after he was refused treatment because he was unable to meet the doctor’s demand for 1000 yuan. Tashi confirmed other reports of Tibetan doctors being expelled from hospitals and replaced with Chinese doctors.

One Tibetan exile who recently visited Tibet estimated the state allocation for health care as a little over three yuan (US$0.35) per person per month and contrasted this with the drug cost of his cousin who suffers from partial paralysis — requiring expenses of over 6000 yuan (US$750) per year. This source also says that, despite Beijing’s claim of a policy of free medical facilities for Tibetans, without a deposit of 5,000 yuan (US$625), the "TAR"’s First People’s Hospital will not admit a patient even in the most critical condition.

According to a TCHRD source, during late 1995 and early 1996, the Health Department of the “TAR” conducted an inspection of all the private hospitals and clinics in and around Lhasa. The inspection team confiscated the practising licence of Lodoe Choedak, former Director of Lhasa’s Zhigong (Chinese) Hospital. After his retirement, 50 year-old Lodoe Choedak had opened a private clinic. Along with Lodoe, the practising licences of nine of his colleagues, all Tibetans, were confiscated. The inspection team claimed that Lodoe’s clinic did not fulfill certain criteria and thus forced the closure of the clinic. Some of Lodoe’s colleagues who had good connections with the Chinese officials and some Chinese doctors, despite being recent graduates and lacking experience, were allowed to retain their licence.

Hospitals in the city, such as Lhasa People's Hospital, are medically well equipped with qualified and professional doctors attending patients. However, the situation in villages is poor due to severe shortages of medical centres and inadequate distribution of equipment and qualified medical staff.

EDUCATION

The survival of the indigenous Tibetan culture is severely jeopardised by the Chinese control of education in Tibet. The majority of schools constructed in the "TAR" are located in large towns and cities, there are few schools in the countryside where Tibetans principally reside. This denies many Tibetan children the right to adequate education. Discrimination within the schooling system also alienates the Tibetan children. In a survey of 350 Tibetan school children who have arrived in exile during the last three years, 29 reported that they had felt discriminated against in relation to Chinese students. Various methods of discrimination were described including higher fees, second rate equipment and auxiliary charges for chairs, desks, books and any damages incurred by the institution. Tibetan students reported that teachers gave much more attention to the Chinese students.

The students also reported tthat they rarely received any lessons in Tibetan culture or history. They were not allowed to honour any Tibetan holidays except for the Tibetan New Year and they were forced to celebrate Chinese holidays. The Tibetan students were forbidden from wearing traditional Tibetan clothing to school or consuming Tibetan style food. They were often compelled to renounce the Dalai Lama and Tibetan history, and they were told that they were stupid, dirty and inferior human beings.

Until recently, Tibetan children have been taught in their own language from the age of six until 13 and have learned Chinese from the age of nine. In April 1997 Chinese authorities in the "TAR" announed that Chinese would be introduced from the first year of schooling and suggested that in some primary classes Chinese would replace Tibetan as the sole language of instruction.

Similarly, in tertiary institutions Tibetans are taught and examined primarily in Chinese. In December 1996 it was decided that Tibetan history courses, taught by the University of Lhasa's Tibetan Language Department, would henceforth be conducted in Chinese rather than Tibetan. In the 1997- 1998 academic year, no new students were admitted to the university's Tibetan language Department.

Another significant breach of the right to education is the Chinese entrance examination for tertiary education. The exam is commonly held either wholly or partially in the Chinese language. Even if a Tibetan student has a satisfactory command of the language and secures an adequate result in the entrance examination, the student is not guaranteed a placement. Many students said that acceptance to educational institutions depended not on academic performance but on bribes. According to a report received in 1997, of the 1500 students enrolled in the Tibet University in Lhasa only 150 were Tibetan. This is further evidence of widespread discrimination against the Tibetans in the education sector.

Due to discrimination and lack of educational opportunities in Tibet, many parents send their children to receive education from the Tibetan government-in-exile. However, the Chinese govrnment has prohibited this.On October 22 1997, "TAR"'s Disciplinary Action Committee issued an order which stated that "the party members and cadres must not send their children to a school run by the deserters' administration. Those who have already sent them must bring back within the specified period. Those who fail to bring back must be castigated depending on their mistake through the code of the Communist Party and through political process." Till date, TCHRD knows of 40 children returned to Tibet from schools in exile..

For further detail, refer to TCHRD report:
"The Next Generation: The State of Education in Tibet".

LANGUAGE PROBLEMS

With the influx of Chinese settlers into Tibet, the native Tibetan language is becoming a minority language which further alienates the indigenous population in all sectors of life. For example, language barriers in occupied Tibet are greatly minimising the opportunities for Tibetans to engage in business. Most manufactured goods are imported from China and since the Chinese now constitute a large proportion of the population (especially in Lhasa and Shigatse) it has become necessary to be able to communicate effectively in Chinese. Without this skill, it is virtually impossible for a Tibetan to maintain any type of business.

POPULATION TRANSFER

"...the PRC has undertaken a program of mass infusion of Chinese people who probably now outnumber Tibetans in their own country. There are no valid census data, but some estimate that in the capital of Lhasa there are about 160 000 Chinese and only about 100 000 Tibetans. The difference in numbers may be less startling in remote areas but the inescapable conclusion is that China is swallowing Tibet. Stores, hotels, bazaars, businesses and tradesmen are largely Chinese. Storefront signs bear large Chinese writing beneath much smaller Tibetan inscriptions. Driving out from Lhasa, one encounters as many Chinese villagers, shepherds, farmers and construction workers and travellers as Tibetan. In short, Tibet is disappearing."
("TIBET; A FIRSTHAND LOOK", STATEMENT BY U.S. REP. FRANK R. WOLF, AUG 9- 13, 1997).

The preservation of the Tibetan cultural identity is perhaps the most critical and immediate threat faced by the Tibetan people today. The active policy of population transfer implemented by the Chinese government will effectively marginalise the Tibetan population by forcing their cultural attributes into minority status and by further threatening their positions in the employment sector.

On May 12 1993 at a high-level secret meeting of Chinese officials, the decision was made to further flood Tibet with Chinese nationals. The intention was to make it demographically "impossible for Tibetans to rise as is the case of Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang (East Turkistan)" (Tibetan Bulletin, Sept-Oct 1993, p.14). Current figures of the Tibetan government-in-exile estimate the population inside Tibet to consist of 6 million Tibetans and 7.5 million Chinese, so already the Tibetans are being marginalised. In Manchuria in 1994, Manchus numbered 3 million to 75 million Chinese. In Inner Mongolia, Mongols were outnumbered by the Chinese by at least five to one. If the policy of population transfer continues in Tibet, the longevity of the Tibetan culture will also be severely jeopardised.

To encourage Chinese settlement in Tibet, the Chinese government offers an array of benefits to the whole of the Chinese population. The following statement is indicative of China’s rationale for providing conditions and services which are significantly better than those available to Tibetans: “The personnel brought in from developed regions (China) can not be expected to live on the local fare of tsampa (roasted barley flour) and raw meat. They need good housing, hospitals, cinemas and schools for their children” (The Poverty of Plenty, Wang and Bai, London p.148).

Housing, health care, cultural and educational facilities are all part of an enormously expensive undertaking to provide incentives for the Chinese to work in Tibet. Other costly subsidies include a high-altitude allowance and additional work leave. Annual wages for Chinese migrants are 87 per cent higher in Tibet than in China. The longer the stay in Tibet, the higher the benefits. For every 18 months of work in Tibet, they receive a three-month leave back to China with all the expenses paid by the Government. Chinese entrepreneurs receive special tax exemptions and loans at low interest rates in Tibet. Whereas for Tibetans starting an enterprise in their own homeland, even obtaining a license is difficult.

RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND

Tibet’s earlier religion is Bön, founded by Shenrab Miwo of Shangshung in Western Tibet. With the introduction of Buddhism, the Bön religion diminished in influence but it continues to thrive today with an active community of Tibetans still practising their faith. The Bön religion has imbibed many characteristics of Buddhism over the course of its historical development and Tibetan Buddhism has also taken much from Bön, but Buddhism is unquestionably the primary religion of Tibet.

Tibetan Buddhism is not a mere system of beliefs. It encompasses the entirety of Tibetan life, from the political and economic spheres to the social and cultural. Practised in Tibet for more than a thousand years, nearly all Tibetans are now Buddhist and their faith forms the foundation of their cultural identity. However, since the Chinese occupation the Tibetans have suffered a harsh repression of their religion. Of the 6259 monasteries and nunneries in existence prior to the 1949 invasion, only eight remained in 1976. Although this number has once again increased, the denial of the Tibetans right to freedom of religion continues today.

CURRENT VIOLATIONS OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

China's ruthless repression of religion in Tibet has been recently incorporated in their "Strike Hard" campaign (or "Crack Down Severely on Crimes"). This campaign was launched in April 1996 throughout China and Tibet with an official aim in China to reduce general crime and corruption. In Tibet, Tibetans loyal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and those who advocate Tibetan independence are targetted. The campaign is still being forcefully implemented in various monasteries and nunneries throughout the country. Monks and nuns have endured endless "patriotic re-education"sessions run by Chinese work teams in which they are compelled to denounce the Dalai Lama and any notions of Tibetan nationalism. Those who refuse suffer severe repercussions. By February 1998, 3993 expulsions, 294 arrests and 14 deaths as a result of the campaign were reported. To date, 1780 of the 1787 monasteries and temples now in Tibet have been covered by the "Strike Hard" campaign.

For further detail read TCHRD's report:
"Closing the Doors: Religious Repression in Tibet".

CHINESE LEGAL PROCEDURES

The Chinese legal system is very different to that of many other countries. According to Amnesty International, "the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty is a fundamental principle of international law. Countries are free to develop their own trial procedures, provided they fulfil minimum standards for fair trial as set out in international law. International standards require a trial without too much delay that is open to the public except in very limited circumstances, adequate time and facilities for the accused to prepare a defence and to consult a lwayer of the defendant's choice." (China, No one is Safe. Political Repression and Abuse of Power in the 1990s" Amnesty International 1996). Despite such international standards, Tibetans are routinely arrested, held and interrogated for months without any contact with the outside world. They are not entitled to see their families or seek legal representation until the procurator puts a case to the court with a suggested verdict that the court rubber stamps. It is only relatively recently that political prisoners report that they have had a trial at all.

Despite modifications to the PRC’s Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) which were put into effect in 1997, arbitrary arrest without warrant or charge, prolonged detention without trial and denial of access to legal counsel are still commonplace for Tibetan prisoners. Closed trials involving “state secrets” are still permitted under the revised law. Many prisoners report being tortured during interrogation to confess to their crimes. Torture and ill-treatment of detainees and prisoners remains widespread, sometimes resulting in death. According to official sources, from January to July 1997, between 300 and 400 cases of torture and ill-treatment were investigated by the procuracies throughout China. The real incidence of torture is believed to be much higher.

In May 1998, the Chinese authorities reported that there were 200 prisoners who were held for what are now called “crimes against state security” (formerly known as “counter-revolutionary” crimes before legislative changes in 1997). In contrast, TCHRD estimates the current number of political prisoners detained in Tibet to be approximately 1,200.

"The only recognisable school children in Tibet were all wearing Chinese tracksuits for uniforms. We saw this in Lhasa and in some of the villages. The uniform of one of the schools in Lhasa even had the word "Beijing" printed across the back. The schools all had a Chinese flag raised in a prominent position; there was nothing to suggest that the schools were Tibetan."
(RIAN, AUSTRALIA, NOVEMBER 1998)

PRISONS

During their visit to Tibet in May 1998,the EU Troika Ambassadors were informed by a Justice Bureau representative that there were three prisons in Tibet: Drapchi, Lhasa Municipal Prison (which probably refers to Outridu) and Pomi in Linzhi Prefecture (or Powo Tramo, in Kongpo, Nyingtri). The EU Troika was informed that approximately 1,800 offenders were held in the prisons. Only prisoners who have received sentences imposed by a court are kept in these prisons. Drapchi is officially only for judicially sentenced prisoners who are serving sentences of more than five years, although the reality is that prisoners with lesser sentences are also held there. Drapchi Prison used to be the only officially acknowledged prison in the “TAR” but in 1994 the National People’s Congress promulgated a “Prison Law” which replaced the term “Laogai” with “Prison”. Thus former laogai ('reform-through-labour' camps), such as Powo Tramo, are now referred to as prisons although the conditions have not changed in the institutions. The official PRC government publication commented:

"Henceforth, ‘Laogai’ as a word will no longer appear, but the function, character and tasks of our prison administration will remain unaltered."

In addition, there are also a number of administrative detention centres, known as laojiao, or 're-education-through-labour' centres. People held in these centres are sentenced without trial by quasi-judicial government committees and held for up to three years without any form of legal proceeding or right of appeal. This term is extendible to four years. There are three such places of confinement in the Lhasa municipality, known as Yitridu, Outridu, and Trisam. Yitridu and Outridu are both part of the Sangyip complex. There are also six prefectural administrative centres outside the municipality of Lhasa which serve as laojiao. According to information given to the EU Troika in May 1998, there was one re-education institution in Lhasa with about 100 inmates, another in Ngari Prefecture and the authorities intended to build a third in Chamdo Prefecture. The EU Troika were told that re-education through labour involved a much freer regime: doors were not locked and the inmates performed labour without supervision.
For further details read TCHRD's report:
"Behind Bars: Prison Conditions in Tibet."

MILITARISATION OF TIBET

China has turned the once-peaceful buffer state between China and India into a vast military zone. China's occupation forces serve to maintain Beijing's control over the Tibetan people and to further China's strategic aims in the region. The militarisation of the Tibetan plateau profoundly affects the geopolitical balance of the region and causes serious international tension.

Chinese military presence in the whole of Tibet in 1996 was estimated to include 500 000 uniformed personnel, 250 000 of these operating within the "TAR." In the same year, it was reported that Tibet was also being used as a base for much of China's military activity. There are allegedly 17 secret radar stations in Tibet, 14 military airfields, 5 missile bases and eight intercontinental ballsitic missiles among others.

China is also believed to have nuclear bases and nuclear weapons manufacturing centres in Tibet. There are also reports that nuclear tests have been conducted in various parts of Tibet to determine radiation levels.

ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

Tibet's ecological balance is seriously threatened by the continual exploitation of its natural resources since Chinese occupation. Environmental conservation in Tibet is an international concern as it directly affects the environmental status of many neighbouring countries and, consequently, almost half of the world's population. Asia's major river systems are source in Tibet, which is also the home of the world's highest mountains and the largest, highest plateau. The Tibetan landscape also incorporates ancient forests and extensive grasslands. Further exploitation of these resources will have an irreversible impact on the land and the livelihood of millions of people.

By 1985, China had supervised the felling of almost half of the 221 800 square kilometres of ancient forests which had stood in Tibet in 1949. This unchecked deforestation results in irreversible soil erosion and increased silt deposit in the rivers, which in turn causes landslides and threatens farming land. This is a significant threat to South and South East Asian countries as continued deforestation will result in serious flooding throughout the region.

The manipulation of Tibet's grasslands is also threatening the ecological balance. The influx of Chinese settlers has led to the extension of agriculture onto marginal terrain. Barley crops have been replaced by the Chinese-preferred wheat crops, and the introduction of hybrid seeds, pesticides and chemical fertilisers places further pressure on the land.

Large-scale mining operations in Tibet are resulting in significant land degradation. Tibet has deposits of 126 minerals and China is rapidly increasing its rate of mineral extraction there as its own resources reach exhaustion.

Indiscriminate hunting combined with massive environmental disruption is threatening the existence of much of Tibet's native bird and wildlife. By 1990, 30 Tibetan animals were classified as endangered. Limited access to the area means that many species face extinction before they have been adequately studied.

Approximately 12 per cent of Tibet was declared to be a protected area by the end of 1991 but it is unclear how effective this protection has been.

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AT A GLANCE

THE CHINESE RULE IN TIBET

More than 1.2 million Tibetans have been killed.
More than 6,000 monasteries have been destroyed.
Thousands of Tibetans are still imprisoned.
Tibet's natural resources and fragile ecology are being irreversibly exploited.
There is evidence suggesting that Tibet is being used for dumping of nuclear wastes.
6 million Tibetans have been outnumbered by an estimated 7.5 million Chinese in Tibet
Tibet has been transformed into a vast military base.

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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A VISIT TO TIBET

Keep your eyes and ears open.
In order to get a realistic picture of the current conditions in Tibet, we rely on first hand reports from returning travellers and recent refugees. While visiting Tibet, try to observe the conditions around you. Take photos wherever you can, even photos of everyday things like conditions of the Tibetans in Barkhor are valuable. Be discreet in talking with Tibetans! They sometimes take great risks in approaching foreigners in order to pass on information—do not underestimate these risks.

Try to get Tibetan guides if possible.
The Chinese government revoked the licenses of Tibetan guides about two years ago. Many of these guides had gone to school in exile and returned to Tibet to work after completing their studies. At all stops during your visit, request a Tibetan guide or ask why there are no Tibetan guides available. Tourist demand will bring attention to this problem.

Respect Religious Customs.
At all times, observe and honour the Tibetans commitment to their religion. Dress appropriately and remove hats when visiting any religious site, including natural holy places like Mt. Kailash. Do not smoke or leave litter in these places. Always walk clockwise around temples, statues and other religious sites. Use discretion when photographing ceremonies. Never touch the head of monks or novices or try to climb over them while they are sitting. The head is holy in Tibet!

Donations placed in collection boxes at larger monasteries and famous religious sites are collected by Chinese authorities who then distribute them according to guidelines by a committee. If you wish to make a donation, it may be better to give to individual monks. Donations of warm clothing (dark solid colors only), English or Tibetan books, food, blankets or film and small cameras are appreciated. At the smaller monasteries, donations to the abbot of the monastery will most likely be used in a proper way.

Be cautious if distributing photographs of the Dalai Lama. Although small photographs are greatly appreciated by the Tibetans, they have been banned by the Chinese government

Support Tibetan Businesses
Buy from Tibetan shops. In the Barkhor area, there are still many Tibetans selling goods. Other shops have Tibetan sales people, but are not Tibetan-owned. If making a large purchase find out who actually will benefit from your purchase. Chinese “settlers” have now taken over jobs and businesses that had been owned and run by Tibetans. Ask where products are produced or where the food is grown.

We recommend that you stay in Tibetan owned hotels where possible. In Lhasa, some options are Hotel, Snow Lion Hotel, Tashi Dargay Guesthouse and the Yak Hotel. Use your money wisely and conscientiously.
Banak "An exiled Tibetan [I met] who visited Tibet in 1995 calculated that in Shigatse 50 to 60% of the shops are Chinese, in Gyantse 40 to 50%, while in Nyitri in Konpo he counted 550 Chinese shops and 14 or 15 Tibetan shops."
(JOHN, USA, 1998)

“Lhasa has become unrecognisable - it had been 10 years since my last visit. Taking the bus into Lhasa, it looked like any other non-descript Chinese city with roasted pignose and chicken feet vendors. Unemployment among the young Tibetans 16-24 appear to be close to 70%, yet Chinese settlers continue coming into Lhasa and the rest of Tibet. Most young Tibetan females are employed in the service industry — hotels and restaurants. The crime rate is very high! I saw robbery and pickpockets all over Lhasa (by young Tibetan males). There are a few streets a few kilometers long of Chinese brothels.”
(ANONYMOUS, 1997)

"The Chinese seemed miserable and lost. We understood from our Chinese guide that they only came to Tibet with the incentive of higher incomes, being allowed more children and that they return to China as soon as they can."
(MEGAN, AUSTRALIA, 1994)

"Not all Chinese seem to be voluntarily in Tibet: an elderly woman from the east cost came to Lhasa in 1959 together with her husband, who joined the Chinese army. Their daughters were born in Lhasa. If they go back, the daughters will have no right to live at the family’s place of origin."
(ANONYMOUS, GERMANY,
APRIL 1997)

Be Discreet
The Chinese maintain tight security in Lhasa and at other tourist sites such as Gaden Monastery. Security cameras are now in place at the Potala Palace and police, both in uniform and in plain clothes, are in the major monasteries. Policemen may even be dressed as monks, so be forewarned about who you speak to about political issues. Also cameras have been placed on rooftops around Lhasa to look for “disturbances in public security”. As mentioned above, it may be very dangerous for Tibetans if visitors actively seek information on human rights abuses or thoughts on the independence movement in the West, even if Tibetans volunteer such information.

If staying in a Tibetan-run guest house or hotel, there should be opportunities to communicate with Tibetans about their lives in general. A few words of Tibetan, even if just a morning greeting of “Tashi Delek” is very much appreciated by local people. If you have contact with Chinese residents, engage them in friendly conversation about their view on living in Tibet and what they think of the local Tibetan population.

If travelling to Tibet from Kathmandu, consider going via Dharamsala in northern India, home of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Government-in-exile and several thousand Tibetan refugees. There you can learn from the exiled Tibetans why they chose to flee their homeland.

Use the Tibetan Language
Visitors could emphasize the importance of the Tibetan language by attempting to communicate in the Tibetan language with the Chinese shopkeepers and the business entrepreneurs while making business transactions with them. This is to make the Tibetan language an indispensable language for the Chinese if they are to stay in Tibet. This will gradually harbour interest in the importance he Tibetan language by the Chinese migrants in Tibet since it may directly affect their business and their livelihood. Travellers should attempt to use Tibetan with the local Tibetan population as a way of encouraging its use.

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THINGS TO LOOK FOR AND QUESTIONS TO ASK

Chinese influence

What are the living conditions like for the Chinese settlers?
Are the shopkeepers and hotel staff Tibetan or Chinese? Who owns the businesses?
How prolific are signs in Chinese?
How common are other businesses that cater to mostly Chinese customers, like Karaoke bars?

Tibetans

What are the living conditions like for the Tibetans?
Enquire about taxes and unemployment are there many Tibetan beggars.
Ask about healthcare and education facilities.

Religion

How many monks and nuns did you see in the monasteries?
How many novices are admitted each year? What is the selection process?
Try to find out the monks and nuns knowledge of Buddhism.
Enquire about the re-education program.

Language

Do most shopkeepers and restaurant owners speak Chinese or Tibetan?
Are there many Chinese who can communicate in Tibetan?
Are there many Tibetans who can communicate in Chinese? How many Chinese speak English?
How many Tibetans speak English? Do Tibetans know about the radio services of Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA) and Voice of Tibet (VOT)?

Chinese Military Presence

How many soldiers are in the streets and inside the religious sites?
How many military vehicles did you see and what were they transporting?
What kind of checkposts did you encounter?
Were Tibetans and Chinese also stopped at these checkpoints?
How do the Tibetans feel about the security forces?

Environment

What type of environmental damage did you see?
Did you see evidence of logging or stripmining? Where? Is pollution a significant problem?

"I did see environmental problems. There was a lot of garbage littered everywhere. I especially noticed outside some of the monasteries, Drepung for example, there was a ring of garbage surrounding them. I heard about other things, like draining of Lake Namtso for hydroelectricity. I did not witness any deforestation or mining (although I heard sounds that sounded like explosions for mining when I was at Sera). I was quite worried about the lack of any public health and sanitation systems or education, coupled with the increase in population and sudden construction and development."
(ANONYMOUS, U.S.A.,
AUGUST 1997)

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Do's and Dont's

Do not take this briefing paper with you into Tibet.
Travel individually or in a small group if possible.
Leave donations on altars or give them directly to nuns or monks rather than to official collection points.
Give donations to pilgrims.
Consider donating to Tibetan exile groups around the world.
Use knowledgeable Tibetan guides or Tibettan-staffed tour operators, if not available, ask why?
Be descreet when taking or giving things to Tibetans.
Patronise Tibetan-run hotels, restaurants, and stalls.
Seek out local Tibetans.
Visit more than the "famous" sights and try to get off the beaten track.
Take photographs of the bad as well as the good.
Avoid buying antiques as they may have been stolen from temples, try to buy handicrafts made by Tibetans exclusively.
Don't touch the heads of monks and nuns. The head is holy in Tibet.
Respect religious custom.
Don't smoke or leave litter in holy places.
Be cautious when discussing political issues.

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AFTER RETURNING HOME

Your information can make a great difference. As soon as you reach home send us your information either by mail, fax or email. If you witness important incidents or hear first-hand accounts of severe atrocities, please contact us urgently. Photographs are also very helpful in monitoring the situation in Tibet.

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy
Narthang Building, Top Floor
Gangchen Kyishong
Dharamsala 176215
H.P. (India)

ph: +91 1892 23363 / 22510 / 22457
fax: +91 1892 23363 / 24957
Email:
Contact form: http://www.tchrd.org/contact/

POINTS

Write to your MPs about Tibet and ask them to raise the issue of Tibet in the parliament.
Ask to your MPs and government to support His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s peace initiatives for Tibet.
Urge your government to review its policy on Tibet.
Urge your government to support a resolution on Tibet in the UN.
Join a Tibet support group or set up your own to inform the local people in your region about the Tibetan issue.

What was your overall impression of conditions in Tibet?
The atmosphere was dreary, there were only a few smiling people. The Tibetans sometimes seemed to be resigned to live under the Chinese oppression.
Pilgrims are modest, very religious, have a great wish for freedom and are weary of living without His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
(CHRISTINE, AUSTRIA, SEPTEMBER 1997)

"When I taught at Barkhor evening school together with a Tibetan man, suddenly Chinese police came in and asked my friend, who is a tantric monk, about his personal dates, why he was learning English, if many monks were doing this, etc. Then they came to me and asked why I came to Tibet, what I thought about it, if I wanted to come again and he wrote down all my personal dates. We all were very afraid. Now I know the feeling of being controlled everywhere. It is terrible."
(ANETTE, GERMANY, DECEMBER 1997)

Tibetans seemed strong in spirit although they are “outsiders”.
(MEGAN, AUSTRALIA, 1994)

My impression overall was of an ancient town (Lhasa) being swallowed up by a modern city. There was massive development, poverty, disease, political oppression, environmental degradation, etc. but at the same time it was the most beautiful place I have ever been. I do not think the Chinese can take away the personality of Tibet. I was amazed at how happy the Tibetan people seemed. Everywhere I went people smiled and laughed. They were kind and compassionate despite their situation.
(ANONYMOUS, U.S.A., AUGUST 1997)

Were you able to have contact with Tibetans?
Are people afraid to talk openly?

When Tibetans knew me, they spoke openly about their situation. Many young Tibetans told me that they wanted to go to India, America or Europe. If Tibetans are alone and feel safe they often talk about their situation.
(ANETTE, GERMANY, DECEMBER 1997)

Yes, it is possible to establish contact with Tibetans. Nobody seemed to be afraid to talk to us. Even a Tibetan guard had a long talk with us, although he admitted that it was forbidden.
(HANNA, AUSTRIA, JULY 1997)

Tibetans are anxious and wish to become free. Some people said that they could not take any more, others were determined not to give up hope.
(CHRISTINE, AUSTRIA, SEPTEMBER 1997)

How did you find the Tibetans' standard of living?

It is difficult for us to evaluate the standard of living of the Tibetans. Poor in general. They seemed to have a hard life, but when they collaborated with the Chinese, they had a higher standard of living. We were told that the Chinese in Tibet got the best jobs and earned more money.
(HANNA, AUSTRIA, JULY 1997)

In Lhasa there were many youth, often young Khampas, hanging around with nothing to do and already had alcohol in the daytime. In the old part of Lhasa new houses for about 20 families were built. They had no heating, just a common toilet (spoilt, dirty, urine centimeters high on the ground) and a single water pipe in the courtyard. Washing and cooking has to be done in the courtyard at any weather. The flats are very small, e.g. two rooms for around six people.
(ANONYMOUS, GERMANY, APRIL 1997)

How do Tibetans and Chinese interact?

I did not see much interaction between Tibetans and Chinese. When I saw my Tibetan friend buy something at a Chinese shop they did not seem very helpful but they did not seem very nice to anybody. I did not see any outward disrimination but there was definitely a difference in economic status.
(ANONYMOUS, U.S.A., AUGUST 1997)

At first glance, people seem to be confident, but under this surface you can feel a tension everywhere, especially in Shigatse.
(ANETTE, GERMANY, DECEMBER 1997)

Was there a noticeable Chinese military presence?

It wasn't the military presence that overwhelmed us but the general, insidious Chinese influence on all aspects of the Tibetans lives. The military were present but not in extraordinary numbers, and apart from a few on the streets they were restricted mainly to significant Chinese buildings and tourist venues. The most shocking thing I encountered was the use of megaphones in a small village to broadcast something in Chinese for almost half an hour. The megaphones were placed on Tibetan buildings and even in trees in the fields behind the village. I'm not sure what the broadcast was but nobody responded and I suspect it was some kind of propaganda.
(RIAN, AUSTRALIA, NOVEMBER 1998)

On July 12th, 1997 we saw about 63 military trucks with soldiers going towards Lhasa. Two days later we saw about 50 empty trucks in the opposite direction.
(HANNA, AUSTRIA, JULY 1997)

There was a loudspeaker on the top of a door in Norbulinka and on a hill in Gyantse. I saw two video cameras on the roof near the Jokhang. Three or four cameras or microphones in each room of the Potala Palace.
(ANONYMOUS, GERMANY, APRIL 1997)

There was military everywhere. They followed tourists to see what we were saying to Tibetans. The Chinese presence was very tense and unsettling.
(ANONYMOUS, U.S.A., APRIL 1997)

During a festival in Samye we saw “Chinese tourists” filming everything. There were uniformed and civilian security officers, who carried weapons and gave orders. We were told, that the influence of the Chinese “re-education” could be seen and felt everywhere in the monasteries.
(HANNA, AUSTRIA, JULY 1997)

What style of housing and buildings did you see?

There were many Chinese shops in the cities and very often even Chinese commercial districts. On the main streets, around the airport and on famous crossroads there are lots of Chinese (fast-food) restaurants.
(HANNA, AUSTRIA, JULY 1997)

In the Tibetan part of Lhasa there still are old Tibetan houses left, also in the area south of Sera Monastery. Mostly there are ugly Chinese styled houses, public buildings, places with big monuments and Chinese flags everywhere.
(ANETTE, GERMANY, DECEMBER 1997)

The distinctly Tibetans areas of Lhasa are being subsumed by Chinese construction. You have to actually look for Tibetan style architecture in the city.
(ANONYMOUS, AUSTRALIA, NOVEMBER 1998)

Did you witness environmental damage?

We could see the construction of a power station and a goldmine. We also noticed that the surface of the Yamdrok-Tso has sunk.
(HANNA, AUSTRIA, JULY 1997)

In the village of Toelung, we heard a lot of explosives. Our Tibetan guide told us that it was part of a mining operation. None of the locals reacted so I presume it is a normal occurence.
(ANONYMOUS, AUSTRALIA, NOVEMBER 1998)

On the road from Chengdu to Zhungchu (Ch: Songpan), leading through Maowen Qiang autonomous county, with the Minjiang river, I counted 35 trucks with wood, mostly trunks, driving in the direction of Chengdu on one day, 14 July 1998... In the whole of this valley there is hardly any forest left. Here and there one can see some patches of forest high on the mountains inside the valleys, especially around Zungchu.
(JOHN, USA, AUGUST 1998)

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WEB PAGES

www.tchrd.org
This is the home page of the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, offering Human Rights Updates and information from all our other publications.
www.tibet.ca
Run by the Canada Tibet Committee, this site is designed to create increased Tibet awareness.
www.tibet.com
This site is maintained and updated by the Office of Tibet, the official agency of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in London.
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This site is operated by the International Support Group community providing information on the plight of Tibet and serving as a virtual community space for the movement.
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This is the official site of the Tibet Information Network providing information on the Tibetan situation and regular news updates.

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