TIBET INSIGHT NEWS

POLITICAL

Anti-Terrorism Drill held in Nagri

Ali News, June 5, 2014

Nagri (Ch: Ali) Regional Organizations and the counter-terrorism AnbaoWei, a military Unit) held an exercise to tackle “self-immolation, vehicle collision, arson attacks, and mob control. TAR Party Committee, Deputy Chairman, Deng Xiaogang took part in the drill.

Deng Xiaogang said he was very pleased that the military exercise and drill was planned carefully and scientifically and it showed that grassroots units were decisive and full of energy, high morale and excellent quality. He said the team will further strengthen people of all ethnic groups and win the people's confidence and determination to safeguard stability. Asserting that it is a war on terror, he expressed the hope that the people will continue to strengthen capabilities through drills, perfect plans and that a team will be forged to win the war in the end.

After the drill, Deng Xiaogang visited many monasteries and nunneries nearby and said he was pleased to see that the majority of monks and nuns cherish harmony and the stability of the current good situation. He asked them to believe the Party and Government and work together with them. During the inspection tour, Deng Xiaogang met police officers in Nagri and inspected logistical support troops. Vice-Chairmen of CPPCC of Ngari Kelsang Tsering, Dorje, Lobsang Jigme, Wan Hai, Liu Hanlin and other officials in Ngari comrades joined the inspection tour.

Tibet promotes 14th special employment aid campaign

Lhasa Evening News, June 11, 2014

To promote employment aid work to help college graduates in Tibet, the Beijing office and Shanghai and Hebei provinces jointly organized the "2014 Employment Tibet special recruitment" on June 14 at Old Campus Student Center Plaza at Tibet University. Beijing provided 64 271 jobs; Shanghai provided 62 271 jobs; and Hebei Province promised 99,120 jobs while CITIC Nagqu Hotel reserved 4 positions. In recent years, the Lhasa Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau have actively promoted the employment of graduates in Tibet and outside TAR as well. This is as per the Fifth Tibet Work Forum guidelines which state that “provinces and municipalities and enterprises are to absorb a certain amount of annual employment of college graduates in Tibet"

Central Tibet Work Coordination Group’s special investigation team in Shannan

Shannan Reuters June 14 to 15, 2014

A special research team led by Wang Xinhuai and comprising the Central Coordination Group for Tibet's economic and social development and the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) conducted research in Shannan Prefecture. The Research Group went to Sangri in the East and Gonggar County, inspected Huaxin Cement (Tibet) Co., and new rural village projects in Qusum County under the well-off village model. They also visited Naidong national cooperatives in Serge County, Regional stadium and experimental school. They checked housing rehabilitation centres and other areas under Tibet’s Mother and Child Health (MCH) project. The Party Secretary of  Shannan Chime Rinzen, Deputy Secretary of Shannan, Zhang Yongze, Director of Shannan People’s Congress Dang Zong Lian, General Secretary of Shannan Prefectural Committee Jiang Taiqiang, Deputy Commissioners of Shannan/Lhoka Prefectural Committee, Ke Donghai and Bu JianCai,  and Deputy Chairman of the Shannan Prefecture CPPCC Phurbu Dorje accompanied the inspection group.

He Wenhao attends launch of "Safety Month'

Lhasa News Paper June 16, 2014

June was this year’s “Safety Month" and the Tibetan Autonomous Region officially kicked-off “Safety Month" and "Safety Tibet line" campaigns across the districts in the region. Regional Vice Chairman He Wenhao announced the launch of the campaign.TAR Vice Chairman Ding Yin Xian attended the ceremony. The theme of this year's "Safety Month" and "safe production line in Tibet" campaign is "Enhance Red Awareness, Promote Security and Development" and it is mainly aimed at the business community, employees and general masses.

16th meeting of Tenth CPPCC of Tibetan Autonomous Region

 Lhasa Newspaper June 17, 2014

CPPCC Deputy Chairman and Deputy Party Secretary of Shannan Prefectural Committee Phurbu Dorjee chaired the 16th meeting of chairpersons of the Tenth CPPCC of Shannan Administrative District.

The meeting discussed how CPPCC members should inspect pre-school bilingual (Tibetan and Chinese) education in Shannan and prepare a report on development of education. A research group recently visited a few sites in Shannan, and discussed and carefully examined the status of pre-school bilingual education in Shannan. Especially since 2011, Shannan has carefully organized and implemented national education reform projects and explored effective ways to develop pastoral areas before bilingual education is implemented. There is a high possibility that bilingual pre-school education in pastoral areas can be improved and become a model for strengthening organizational leadership, building institutional base and enhancing capital investment. 

Central Tibet Work Coordination Group marks the 20^th Anniversary of Central Aid work

Lhasa Newspaper June 17, 2014

A special working group of the Central Tibet Work Coordination Group for Economic and Social Development held talks with counterparts in Autonomous Prefectures and Provinces and Business representatives from Tibet.

This meeting marked the 20th anniversary of the Central aid work and16th anniversary of the Research Group of the Central Tibet Work Coordination Group for Economic and Social Development. The Chairman of Central Tibet Work Coordination Working Group and Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Yu Zhengsheng attended the forum.  Vice Chairman of the TAR Party Committee, Ding Yexian also attended the meeting.

Ding Yexian appreciated the 20 years of outstanding contributions to TAR from the Central Business Aid Work He said that the next step for aid work is to gather constructive and strong opinions and suggestions. Research group should carefully combine a detailed analysis and look for areas of importance.  He further mentioned that the work of Tibet is not only related to the vital interests of the masses of all ethnic groups in Tibet, but the overall situation of national development and stability.

Jiangsu Province's Tibet Front Command held discussion with media representatives

Tibet Daily, June 18, 2014

Jiangsu Province’s Tibet Front Command held a discussion, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Jiangsu Tibet front support work which was initiated in 1994, with representatives of the media in Lhasa and appreciated the in-depth coverage of the good work done by jointly by Jiangsu and Tibet in the last 20 years. The Deputy Mayor of Lhasa Municipal Committee Wang Huiyong chaired the meeting. Wang Huiyong is also the Tibet Front Deputy Commander. At this forum, he introduced the various works carried out in Tibet for 20 years under this scheme. The main purpose of this joint effort is to send aid-work teams to assist in terms of capital, technology and projects and all round development. Participants at this meeting included the Tibet Branch of the People’s Daily, Tibet Branch of Xinhua News Agency, Tibet Daily, and reporters of the Central People's Radio Station in Tibet, CCTV Tibet Reporters station, Tibet Television Station, Lhasa Evening News and other media central and regional media in Tibet.

Party activists training classes

Lhasa Evening News, June 18, 2014

The TAR Organization Department and Municipal Organs held formal Party Activists training classes in Lhasa on 17^th June. Representatives of the Lhasa City Party Committee, state-owned enterprises, private enterprises and social organizations attended the training. They numbered 215. .

The classes are aimed at ensuring the quality of new members.  The training course includes the history of the Communist Party of China, basic constitution, theoretical work and general knowledge. Some Professors from outside the Party Schools are invited to give some lectures. .

Wu Yingjie meets CDIC team

Tibet daily, June 19, 2014

On June 18, Wu Yingjie, Deputy Secretary of the TAR Party Committee met Hu Yuesheng, the Deputy Minister of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CDIC). Wu Yingjie welcomed the group led by Hu Yuesheng on behalf of the TAR Party Secretary Chen Quanguo and TAR People’s Government Chairman Lobsang Gyaltsen thanked the CDIC for its many years of support for the development and stability of Tibet.  He said that TAR has always attached great importance to the development of leaders at all levels in team building, party building and grassroots organizations.  Wu Yingjie said that the Autonomous Discipline Inspection and Supervision Systems are firm on combating corruption in Tibet and providing a clean Government. He stated that cadres in Tibet conscientiously perform their duties, and strengthen supervision and inspection in order to promote reform and innovation.

Deng Xiaogang visits border and inspect the work of border policemen

Tibet Daily, June 19, 2014

Deputy Chairman of TAR Party Committee, Deng Xiaogang inspected the border Counties in Ngari and expressed his gratitude to the border guards and policemen. Rutong County in Ngari prefecture is one of the “strategic” District Border Counties, which has the highest elevation where “sailors troops” are stationed.

He said that troops and officers stationed in this borderland of Rutong County have earned the trust of the majority of Party members and the people. Despite difficulties like cold weather, oxygen shortage and harsh environmental conditions, they always do their work and fulfil their duties to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity and maintain stability in the southwest border of the motherland. The harmony, peace and economic development of the region at present totally depend upon local leaders and troops stationed there. Deng Xiaogang stressed that Tibet is a very special strategic location, is an important barrier to national security and in the development and stability in the border areas.

(Comment: Pangong Tso (Pangong Lake) is in Rutog County as the site of intrusion for PLA personnel in patrol craft)

DEVELOPMENT/INFRASTRUCTURE NEWS

Advice on how to achieve economic development in Village

Lhasa Newspaper June 16, 2014

Recently, a team from the Tibet Armed Police Corps training base in Toelung Dechen (Ch: Doilungdeqen) County Township went to Lhasa Nagin rural dairy production base, Niangre Township and Toelung Dechen County and the Gang Delin fruit and vegetable cultivation base  to study and teach herdsmen how to work effectively to get rich. The Tibet Armed Police Corps training group invited local cultivation and breeding experts to explain modern farming, livestock disease control, greenhouse vegetable cultivation, management and other farmhouse knowledge and skills to villagers to help them increase their knowledge, broaden their horizons, and acquire new skills.

In pursuance of the Party's ‘mass line’ educational practice activities, the Tibet Armed Police Corps training base and the East Village area are to establish a point of contact and build positive ideas for the economic and social development of the East Village. They would try to develop the village under the scheme “Village Economic and Social Development Five-Year Plan,”  which is a  plan for promoting  economic restructuring and sustainable development.

Launch of County Websites in TAR for better management.

Lhasa Newspaper, June 20, 2014

The TAR’s first County-level Government news website was launched on 19th June in Lhasa. TAR Party Committee Standing member and Propaganda Minister, Dong Yunhu attended the ceremony.

Dong Yunhu said that the launch of County Government News sitehas been  done as per Party Secretary Xi Jinping and Lhasa Party Secretary Chen Quanguo’s ‘important instructions’ and ‘guiding speeches’. The TAR requires a major initiative to strengthen network and security management. The ceremony marked the completion of nine County Government News websites as a part of TAR’s intensive construction and centralised management and control.

Lobsang Gyaltsen visits Ni Mu county copper mine.

Xizang.gov.cn June 20, 2014

TAR People’s Government Chairman Lobsang Gyaltsen inspected the Ni Mu County Mine of the Nimu County Copper Development Co., Ltd. on June 20...

He stressed that the whole region should concentrate unswervingly on safe production, ecological protection, harmony and stability in the region’s prosperity and progress. He also asked miners to be highly vigilant to ensure safety.

TAR Party Secretary and TAR People’s Government Chairman visit railway construction sites

CCTV Lhasa, June 20, 2014

On June 19, TAR Party Secretary Chen Quanguo and TAR People’s Government Chairman Lobsang Gyaltsen went on a day’s field trip to railway construction sites.  Accompanying them were Ding Yexian Vice Chairman of TAR Party Committee, Secretary-General Wang Ruilian, and officials of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway Corporation. They stressed the need for strengthening organizational standards and scientific planning to ensure smooth and free railway traffic and security and orderly operation of Tibet's development and stability. They listed six important measures that railway construction authorities need to follow.

Shigatse accelerates transportation and community building,

Shigatse Daily, June 24, 2014

The District's Deputy Director and Party Secretary of Shigatse Prefectural Committee Tenzin Namgya led a regional working group in Shigatse to research and inspect work reports. The research group came to Shigatse for the first time to check railway terminals, roads and related projects which are in progress and check if there are illegal buildings. The group also checked if the construction is of a high standard and called for accelerated construction of the train terminal.

Tibet border import and export value grew 32.25%

Xinhua News Agency, June 26, 2014

Tibet border trade ??flourished in the first five months of this year, with import and export values totalling 3.844 billion Yuan, accounting for a 38% increase over the same period last year. Statistics show that from January to May, Tibet border trade exports included textiles, household merchandise and other traditional labour-intensive products. The top three exported goods were items like underwears, footwear and handbags. Goods imported from Nepal are tradition based products. The top three products were copper sculpture (bronze), various types of drugs and carpets.

Tibet border trade is mainly conducted through Zhangmu port. The trade value between Nepal and Tibet is 3.862 billion Yuan.

Tibet's foreign trade in 2013 totalled $ 3.319 billion. Data shows that Tibet's major trading partners are Nepal, Malaysia and the United States.

Party Secretary of Shigatse Prefectural Committee’s inspection tour

Shigatse Daily, June 2014

District Deputy Director and Party Secretary of the Communist Party of Shigatse (Ch: Xigaze) Tenzin Namgyal went to Dromo county (Ch: Yadong) to inspect the Dongga temple and Kagyu Monastery Restoration projects under construction.

It is reported that about 490 square metres of Donggar temple in Dromo County will be reconstructed and renovated with a total investment of 5,429,600 Yuan while an area of about 870 square metres of Kagyu Monastery is to be reconstructed with a total investment of 4.775 million Yuan. Reconstruction of these projects is to finish in 120 days.

Lhasa invests huge money in water plants

China Tibet News, June 24, 2014

Lhasa will invest 1 million Yuan RMB in building the Ngchen water plant, the largest surface water plant in a high altitude area, which is considered to be a key city-level project with construction scale of 500,000 cubic metres per day.

It is reported that four water plants and five pump stations have been built in Lhasa so far. With a total daily supplying capacity of over 300,000 tons, the water supply rate in Lhasa can reach 90% with urban water supply reaching 55 square kilometers. The population using tap water is about 450,000.

Lhasa plans to build two new water plants in Newu New District and Donggar Town to meet the increasing demand for water from urban areas.

The Newu water plant will cover an area of 1.6 hectares with a daily water supply capacity of 40,000 cubic meters. Meanwhile, Donggar water plant will cover an area of 2 hectares with daily water supply capacity of 50,000 cubic meters. The two plants are expected to be completed by 2020.

Lhasa-Lijiang-Kunming air route to open next month

China Tibet News, June 25, 2014

According to the Lhasa Business Department of Sichuan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines will open the Lhasa-Lijiang-Kunming new round-trip route from July 1. An Airbus A319 will ply this route.

The Lhasa-Lijiang-Kunming air service will stop over at Lijiang which is located in the north-western portion of Yunnan and borders Sichuan. 

Tibet to build 65,000 social security houses this year

China Tibet News, June 23, 2014

According to Housing and Urban-Rural Construction Department of the Tibet Autonomous Region, Tibet plans to build 65,000 social security houses this year. Construction of more than 40% of the project has begun. Xu Xianghong, Deputy Director of TAR’s Housing and Urban-Rural Construction Department said Tibet will mainly build social security houses in counties and towns this year.  By the end of this year, social security houses will cover all counties and most of the towns in Tibet. Tibet will also begin to construct 5,126 houses for cadres this year. By January this year, Tibet built 20,000 low-rent houses, 28,200 public rental houses and renovated 22,900 shanty houses. In the first three years of the 12th Five-Year Plan period, Tibet invested 3.6 billion Yuan RMB on social security housing construction.

China Opens 24 Police Stations in Monasteries in Labrang

ICT, June 20, 2014

China has established more than twenty police stations in monasteries in Labrang in Gansu province recently. An official report called it a part of “recent focus on policing monasteries” in the region that has seen several self-immolations by Tibetans since 2009.

It is a part of Chinese government policy of placing almost every monastery in Tibet under direct government rule and intensifying Party presence in both rural and urban Tibetan areas.

 MILITARY RELATED NEWS

The Regional Party Secretary Chen Quanguo met Armed Forces Commander, Wang Jianping in Lhasa

Lhasa Newspaper June 26, 2014

TAR People’s Goverment Chairman Lobsang Gyaltsen, Deputy Secretary of TAR Party Committee Wu Yingjie,  Political Commissar of Tibet Military District and TAR Party Committee Standing member Diao Guoxin, Secretary of TAR Party Committee and Deputy Secretary of Politics and Law Committee Wang Ruilian, Vic-Chairman of TAR People’s Government He Wenhao, Vice Minister of Armed Forces Logistics, Chen Jinlun, Transportation Command Commander Liuzhan Qi, Tibet Armed Police Corps Commander, Song Baoshan, Political commissar,  Tang Xiao,  and TAR Party Secretary Chen Quanguo warmly welcomed Wang Jianping and his entourage and expressed gratitude for the work of the armed forces in Tibet.  He said that in recent years, the Regional Party Committee, Government cadres and masses of all ethnic groups are united in thoroughly implementing the party's guidelines and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s series of important speeches. Chen Quanguo said that Tibet Armed Police Corps and all the officers and men of the armed forces are working under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission and Chairman Xi Jinping, serving in accordance with the requirements of the Armed Police Force. He said that the Tibet Armed Police Corps and the Armed Police Force were able to assist during crucial moments and the Party and cadres can totally rely on them. He said he sincerely hopes that the armed forces continue to support the work of Tibet's development and stability.

Wang Jianping thanked the Regional Party Committee and TAR People’s Government for supporting the construction of the Armed Police Force and appreciated the economic development and social stability of Tibet. He said the TAR Party Committee’s and Government's policy of resolutely practicing strong central governance in Tibet is productive and creative and promotes stable development. He said that for the Party and for the country, Tibet occupies an important position, and the armed forces will continue to support the work of Tibet's development and stability and also support a good Tibet Armed Police Corps and the Armed Police Force. Officers of the TAR Public Security Bureau, Border Defense Corps Tibet, Tibet Public Security Fire Department and Forest Tibet Armed Police Corps officers attended the meeting.

RELIGION AND CULTURAL NEWS

Regional Party Secretary Chen Quanguo chairs ethnic intermarriage family forum.

Lhasa Newspaper June 18, 2014

At this forum TAR Party Secretary Chen Quanguo stressed the need to conscientiously implement CCP CC General Secretary Xi Jinping’s guiding speech in Xinjiang on the second working conference to promote mutual understanding among ethnic groups, mutual respect, mutual tolerance, mutual appreciation, mutual learning and mutual help to promote fraternal ethnic intermarriage as an important starting point to promote the great unity of all ethnic groups in Tibet as a part of the large fusion. Regional leaders TAR Party Committee Deputy Secretaries like Wu Yingjie and Qizha La, Head of TAR Propaganda Department and TAR Party Committee Standing member Dong Yunhu, TAR Party Committee Standing member Liang Geng Tian, TAR Party Committee Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary of Politics and Law Committee Rui Lian, TAR People’s Congress Vice-Chairman Zhou Chunlai, TAR People’s Government Vice-Chairman Lobsang Tenzin, CPPCC TAR Vice-Chairman Lobsang Dorje attended the forum. There were 19 families’ representatives who had inter-married among Tibetan, Han, Miao, Mogolian and Hui. Chen Quanguo said that intermarriage is the lifeline of National Unity and Mutual understanding.

Wu Yingjie chaired a meeting to strengthen the management of religious affairs.

Lhasa Evening News, June 21, 2014

Wu Yingjie, Deputy Secretary of the TAR Party Committee held a meeting of the leading religious groups. The meeting was attended by many heads of religious as well as political group especially so-called socialists. Wu Yingjie stressed that monks and nuns must follow and obey the Party's religious guidelines and relevant laws and regulations. He said that strengthening the management of religious affairs according to law, is to strengthen temple management, which will bring stability in Tibet. He concluded his speech by calling on "religions to adapt to socialist society".  The main purpose of the meeting was to influence and impart a sense of patriotism to the religious heads.

MISCELLANIOUS NEWS

China expresses concern for overseas Tibetans

China Tibet Online, June 23, 2014

Qiu Yuanping, Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council of China, expressed concern for the 200,000 overseas Tibetans' life and their living conditions.

Qiu Yuanping visited TAR on June 21 and was received by TAR Party Secretary Chen Quanguo in Lhasa.

Qiu said the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office coordinated donations valued at  4.2 billion Yuan (672 million US dollars) from overseas Chinese for Tibet in 2013, which has been used to improve people’s living conditions in Tibet, such as free medical treatment to people living in agricultural and pastoral lands and donating over 20 ambulances to the health-centres at township level.

Chen Quanguo explained the developments in Tibet over the years including improvement of living conditions, national unity, religious activities and social stability. Qiu Yuanping appreciated the achievements.

In future, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council will send portable televisions to all families living in remote pastoral areas in Tibet and set scholarships to needy children.

Meanwhile, Qiu Yuanping claimed to care about the welfare of overseas Tibetans and said he hope to organize trips for overseas Tibetans to visit their hometowns and establish scholarships for their children to come back for education.

Tibetan Official Shot Dead While Monitoring ‘Caterpillar Fungus’ Trade

Chine Tibet Online, June 20, 2014

A Tibetan official in charge of maintaining social stability  among local communities competing to gather  ‘caterpillar fungus’ was shot dead in southwest China’s Sichuan province.

Zhang Wei, of Tibetan ethnicity, a Deputy Director of the Security Maintenance Office of Xinglong county (Tib: Nyagrong) in Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture was murdered on his way back from a mission on June 14th. Police said their investigation has indicated that the crime was premeditated and motivated by revenge, although the reasons for the killer seeking revenge were not specified. A Tibetan was named as a suspect and is sought by police.

(Comments: Tibet’s caterpillar fungus used for medicine is a major source of income in impoverished Tibetan areas, and clashes frequently occur among Tibetans over access to areas where the fungus grows. The price for half a kilogram of the fungus is about 250,000 Yuan (US $ 40,132) per kilogram and price might go up.)

Tibetan high school teachers teaching contest

Shigatse Daily, June 20, 2014

The Tibet Autonomous Region organised the first high school teachers’ teaching contest in Lhasa. There were 92 teachers from various areas participating in this contest. Regional Education Department Deputy Director, Zhu Yun explained reason for contest saying that for the majority of high school teachers, this would provide a learning platform, practice platform and discussion platform so as to get a new level of achievement in high school education in Tibet. He mentioned the need for curriculum reforms in secondary education to make it more proactive and more interesting for students to learn.

“On the Plateau,” by Shen Haobo

A Han Poet and publisher Shen Haobo who was born in 1976 in Taixing, Jiangsu Province and is a leading figure in the “Lower Body Poets” contemporary poetry movement, wrote a poem entitled “On the Plateau” which explores the themes of religion and self-immolation on the Tibetan plateau.