The Tibet Insight News

TIBET INSIGHT

Map: Administrative division of Tibet by CCP

Summary

• More instances of self-immolations in TAR in the month of May.
• Shigatse Municipal government holds conference on smart city construction
• 110 th meeting of Directors of the Standing Committee of the Tenth People's Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region
• 32 nd and 33 rd meeting of the Standing Committee of the Tenth TAR People's Congress

Two self-immolations in Tibet in the month of May

On May 2, 2017, Chagdor Kyab, a sixteen-year-old Tibetan student from Bora town in Amdo, set himself on fire near Bora monastery. Bora Monastery is a branch of Labrang Tashikyil monastery. Citing an unnamed local reporter Radio Free Asia said that as he burnt himself Chagdor Kyab shouted “Tibet wants freedom” and “let his Holiness the Dalai Lama return back to Tibet”. The local police took away his body after extinguishing the flames and there is no further information as to his well being as security has been tightened in the region following the self-immolation.

Another self-immolation in May

Another instance of self-immolation occurred on May 19, 2017, when a 22-year old Tibetan monk, Jamyang Losel, set himself on fire around 5 am near the People's Hospital in Kangtsa County in Tsojang (Amdo) Qinghai province. Jamyang Losel was a monk from Gyerteng Monastery in Nangra.

(Comment: So far 150 Tibetans have self-immolated since 2009.)

Tibet tourists can view the scenery from the skies.

Dawa Pungchung, Chairman of the Potala Tourism and Cultural Group announced in Lhasa on May 8, 2017, said that helicopter facilities would be available to tourists from August 2017. He said the first two helicopters will arrive in June and that the company has recruited 28 Tibetan Pilots and crew who are being trained in Nanjing. He added that there are plans to open a general aviation airport capable of hosting 30 helicopters and making it operational by July. Dawa Pungchung also said there are plans to establish emergency medical services and rescue.

China cleans waste from Mount Qomolangma

The Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) launched a 9-day campaign on May 6, 2017, to clean the waste that had composited on Mount Qomolangma, also known as Mount Everest. Nyima Tsering (Cering), Deputy Director of the Tibet Sports Administration said, “It was the first time that their administration had worked with Tingri county government of Xigaze prefecture on such a campaign”. He added that the approx. 60,000 visitors to the north face of Qomolangma each year had created a huge pile of garbage. Nyima Tsering (Cering) also said that the TAR planned to construct recycling and degradation stations at the camp.

Shigatse Municipal government holds conference on smart city construction

The Shigatse Municipal government held a conference on May 17, 2017, on the construction of a ‘smart city'. They exchanged ideas with the Beijing Yihua Record Information Technology Co. Ltd regarding building a ‘smart city'. Speaking at the conference Mayor Liu Hushan of the Shigatse Municipal Committee extended his gratitude to the Beijing Yihua Record Information Technology Company Ltd. for its constant support. He pointed out that Shigatse has an important strategic location in South Asia and stressed the wisdom and importance of promoting urban construction for security and stability. He also spoke on the importance of cooperation between the two sides in order to plan and construct Shigatse city. At the meeting, the person in charge of the Beijing Yihua Record Information Technology Company Ltd. briefly introduced the company and expressed its willingness to cooperate.

110 th meeting of Directors of the Standing Committee of the Tenth People's Congress of the Tibet Autonomous Region

On May 16, 2017, the 10 th TAR People's Congress held its 110th meeting of directors. Lobsang Gyaltsen (Lobsang Jiangtso), Deputy Secretary of the district party committee and Chairman of the autonomous region people's congress, spoke at the meeting.

The Deputy Directors of the autonomous region people's congress standing committee Duotuo (Duothuk), Karma, Danseng Langjie (Tenzin Namgyal), Weise (Woesei), Li Wenhan, Nima Tsering and Luguanxu attended the meeting.

The meeting emphasized the importance of the speech given by CCP CC General Secretary Xi Jinping at the Politburo Standing Committee (PBSC) on the economic situation. It also examined the agenda of the 32 nd and 33 rd meetings of the standing committee of the tenth people's congress held in Lhasa on May 17 and late May. The meetings discussed implementation of the water and soil conservation law introduced to the TAR and requested the concerned TAR department to supervise implementation of these laws.

Lobsang Gyaltsen presided over the meeting and emphasized the importance of establishing the “four consciousnesses”. He identified these as:

1. Firmly uphold the central authority and centralized leadership of the Party central committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as ‘the core'.
2. Strengthen the concept of rule of law.
3. Strengthen the spirit of hard work.
4. Must adhere to honesty and self-discipline.

He further stressed that Committee members must be loyal and of practical service to the ethnic groups of the TAR.

111 th meeting of Directors of the Standing Committee of the 10 th People's Congress of the TAR

The Standing Committee of the 10 th People's Congress of the TAR held its 111 th meeting of Directors on May 19, 2017. Lobsang Gyaltsen, Deputy Secretary of the district party committee and Chairman of the autonomous regional people's congress, attended the meeting. Also present were the TAR People's Congress Standing Committee Deputy Director Karma (Gama), Zhou Chunlai, Danzeng Langjie (Tenzin Namgyal), Woesei, Li Wenhan, Nima Tsering and Secretary General Liu Guanxiu

The meeting reviewed the report on the 2017 budget adjustment plan of the TAR and agreed to submit the result of discussions of the 10 th standing committees to the 33 rd meeting. The meeting discussed the draft of the protection of people's rights and interest in TAR the People's Republic of China's regulations on women's rights and interest.

The meeting also stressed the importance of implementing laws on water and soil conservation, which was discussed in 110 th meeting as well.

32 nd meeting of the Standing Committee of the Tenth TAR People's Congress

The standing committee of the10th TAR People's Congress held its 32 nd meeting on May 17, 2017.

Lobsang Gyaltsen, Deputy Secretary of the district party committee and Chairman of the TAR People's Congress Standing Committee, spoke at the meeting. TAR People's Congress Standing Committee Deputy Director Karma (Gama), Zhou Chunlai, Danzeng Langjie (Tenzin Namgyal), Woesei, Li Wenhan, Nima Tsering and Secretary General Liu Guanxiu also attended the meeting.

Lobsang Gyaltsen emphasized the establishment of the ‘four consciousnesses', namely:

1. Firmly uphold the central authority and centralized leadership of the party central committee with comrade Xi Jinping as core.
2. Strengthen the concept of rule of law
3. Strengthen the spirit if hard work
4. Must adhere to honesty and self-discipline

The meeting additionally highlighted the importance of education, innovation and ideas for the better development and stability of the TAR. It also emphasized the ethics and responsibilities of party committees and the members for further strengthening the fundamental ideology and discipline of the Party.

33 rd meeting of the standing committee of 10 th TAR People's Congress

At the 33 rd meeting of the standing committee of the 10 th TAR Congress held on 24 th May, Lobsang Gyaltsen, Deputy Secretary of the district party committee and Chairman of the TAR People's Congress Standing Committee spoke on the establishment of the ‘four consciousnesses'. TAR People's Congress Standing Committee Deputy Director Karma (Gama), Zhou Chunlai, Danzeng Langjie(Tenzin Namgyal), Woesei, Li Wenhan, Nima Tsering and Secretary General Liu Guanxiu were among those present.

The meeting discussed the agenda of the meeting. District Party Committee Organization Department Deputy Minister Tang Mingying spoke about human affairs. The Vice Chairman of the Legal Committee of the TAR People's Congress, Zhao Zhanwen reported on the result of TAR's rules and protection of the rights and interest of the people.

This meeting also discussed the importance of the TAR ensuring that its regulations protect Tibetan medicine. Woesei spoke on the issues related to the development of Tibetan medicine and hygiene regulations. He emphasized the importance of promoting Tibetan medicine along with the development of other fields like health care, a scientific research culture, industrial development etc. The meeting also stressed the need to implement the laws of the People's Republic of China on the protection of the rights and interest of the ‘returned overseas Chinese' and overseas Chinese.

Shigatse District Commission for Discipline Inspection pays close attention to Party members and cadres gambling and drinking in public areas

The Shigatse District Commission of Discipline Inspection recently commenced active investigations of party members and cadres to detect those gambling and drinking in public services. The notice issued by the Commission stated the objective is to strengthen the management of party members and cadres and thereby ensure implementation of the eight regulations announced by People's Republic of China.

Identical notices prohibiting gambling and consumption of alcohol in public areas were issued by other counties like Sangzhuzi, Yadong, Renbu, Namuling, Kyirong, Nyalam, and Lazi (Lhatse) county.

Wu Yingjie: promote the party's work style and establishment of clean government

The TAR Regional Party Committee met on May 31, 2017, to discuss implementation of the work style of a ‘clean government responsibility system' in Lhasa. The meeting reviewed the implementation of the investigation and examined the responsibility system for the implementation of the party's work style in 2016. Results of the work inspections were examined as part of the struggle against corruption.

TAR Party Secretary Wu Yingjie attended the meeting and delivered a speech. In his speech, Wu Yingjie pointed out the significance of General Secretary Xi Jinping's speech at the 18 th National Congress on building a government, which is free from corruption. He issued a series of instructions to party committees and discipline inspection departments to achieve the government's plans.

Wu Yingjie stressed that their districts have to focus on the implementation of the Party's responsibility and strengthen party organizations at all levels. He emphasized the importance of comprehending Xi Jinping's ideas and implementing them throughout TAR. The main essence of Wu Yingjie's speech was to build a corruption-free and progressive government with sound education and defense.

Lobsang Namgyal (Lobsang Jiangtso), Deputy secretary of the district party committee and Chairman of the TAR People's Congress was also present. Other TAR leaders who attended were Wang Yongjun, Zeng Wanming, Jianjie and Woesei.