CHINA RAMPS UP "PATRIOTIC EDUCATION" OF TIBETANS IN WESTERN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENGDU 000247 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP/CM, DRL, AND G E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2032 TAGS: PGOV PHUM CH SUBJECT: CHINA RAMPS UP "PATRIOTIC EDUCATION" OF TIBETANS IN WESTERN SICHUAN REF: CHENGDU 231 AND PREVIOUS CHENGDU 00000247 001.2 OF 002 CLASSIFIED BY: James A. Boughner, Consul General, U.S. Consulate General, Chengdu. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Local contacts confirm Ganzi Prefecture government authorities in China's western Sichuan Province are making an all-out effort to implement a political cleanup of the majority Tibetan area in the wake of public disturbances that occurred during August. "Patriotic education" sessions for government and religious officials end in the mandatory signing of anti-Dalai Lama statements. Official press bulletins have been stridently anti-Dalai Lama -- and sometimes anti-U.S.-- in tone. End Summary ¶2. (C) It remains difficult to get precise information on what is happening in western Sichuan's Ganzi (Tib: Kardze) Prefecture following tightened political and security controls implemented in response to the "August 1 Litang Incident" when a Tibetan nomad called for the return of the Dalai Lama at a major public gathering (ref). Local contacts confirmed to us, however, that Liu Daoping, the prefecture's new Party Secretary, has implemented under strict instructions from both provincial and central government higher-ups a widespread program of "patriotic education" for ethnic Tibetan officials as well as Buddhist monks and nuns. ¶3. (C) We have not been able to get a sample copy, but understand that local Tibetan political and religious figures are being required to attend long political meetings conducted by Party officials after which they are required to sign statements pledging their opposition to the "Dalai Clique." Such statements are always written in Chinese, resulting in the need for ad hoc and informal translations for those who cannot read Chinese. Some individuals required to attend the "patriotic education" sessions complain of the significant amount of time they are "wasting" in political lectures. ¶4. (SBU) Congen translations of September official reports from the "Ganzi Daily" are also indicative of the sharp ratcheting up of anti-Dalai Lama rhetoric and sometimes include either explicit or veiled attacks on the United States. A sampling of such reports follows: -- 9/28 editorial entitled "The Reason the International Anti-China Forces have decided on the `Dalai Clique:'" ~First of all, there is a natural connection between the "Dalai Clique" and imperialism. Most members of the "Dalai Clique" are very hostile to the Socialist System; they are rebels against the people and betrayed their own country. Therefore, the members of the "Dalai Clique" have survived with the support of the international anti-China forces. Second, the Dalai (Lama) is able to influence religious believers in the TAR and other Tibetan areas through radio and TV in order to reach his political goal of splitting China. Third, the Dalai (Lama) was the head of the old feudal serf system in Tibet and he is NOW reviving his old dream. Therefore, the international anti-China forces headed by America think that it is worthwhile to use the "Dalai Clique" to destroy China's sovereignty~.They also use the "Dalai Clique" to meddle in China's ethnic and religious policies and damage China's international image~ -- 9/28 news article: On September 27, a 10-day training course for all township party secretaries in Ganzi Prefecture ended in Kangding. Liu Daoping, the General Party Secretary of Ganzi Prefecture and other senior officials attended the closing ceremony. According to China's official media reports, the training course greatly helped the rural party secretaries to understand the importance of the program "Enriching People and Stabilizing Kham," -- (Congen note: Kham is an eastern Tibetan region - including today's Ganzi-- inhabited by the traditionally fierce Khampa people. End note) -- ; anti-separatism, patriotic education, and the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. It is reported that 59 district directors and 325 rural township party secretaries fully participated in the training course. -- 9/28 news article: All schools in Litang County have been conducting a series of patriotic education since September. According to Lotse Ring, Litang County Education Bureau General Director, the goal of all these activities on patriotic education is to further strengthen political education among all teachers and let them understand the political sensitivities. -- 9/28 news article: The Traffic Bureau of Ganzi Prefecture is conducting patriotic education, and all participants have been required to adhere to five principles. It is reported that the CHENGDU 00000247 002.2 OF 002 first principle is respecting history, for example, using historical facts to prove Taiwan, Tibet, and "Uygur," as well as Inner Mongolia have been inseparable parts of China since ancient times~The fourth principle is "all-people participation." All people must participate in criticizing the "Dalai Clique"~ -- 9/20 news article: On September 19, Sichuan Provincial United Front Work Department Deputy Director Zhou Jialin made a special report on anti-separatism and patriotic education in Ganzi Prefecture. According to official media reports, Zhou said that the cadres are the key, the masses are the foundation, and monks and nuns are a major target in effectively fighting separatism. -- 9/17 editorial: There is no way to improve peoples livelihood in the prefecture without criticizing the "Dalai Clique" and fighting separatism~There is no way to develop the economy and stabilize society in the prefecture without fighting the "Dalai Clique"~.There is no way to build a normal order for Tibetan Buddhism in the prefecture without fighting the "Dalai Clique." -- 9/13 news article: On September 11, patriotic education for all cadres above sub-section level began in Litang County. Liu Daoping, the General Party Secretary of Ganzi Prefecture attended the event and made a number of important speeches. Liu said, "Litang County has always been an important strategic location for China, particularly southern Kham Tibetan areas~.This patriotic education must deeply criticize and expose the Dalai's reactionary nature that brings calamity to Tibetan people and religion~.The Dalai (Lama) is absolutely not the `spokesman' for Tibetans, he is just a loyal instrument of international anti-China forces and an ethnic separatist who just wears religious robes~ Liu said that patriotic education is not an indication of the government's distrust in the people or cadres of Litang County, but added that the government is not `making a mountain out of a molehill' and the activity is not a mere formality. It is reported that important instructions from Du Qinglin, the General Party Secretary of Sichuan Province, and Jiang Jufeng, the Governor of Sichuan Province, were passed on to participants during the patriotic education. -- 9/05 news article: With instructions from Sichuan Party Secretary Du Qinglin and Governor Jiang Jufeng, Sichuan Deputy SIPDIS Party Li Chongxi noted~..The "August 1 Litang Incident" is not merely an issue of some reactionary leaflets and slogans, it is a splittist and destructive activity created by some separatists with a certain international background. The "Incident" has provided a good opportunity for us to fight the "Dalai Clique" and separatists~.As to monastic management, there are a lot of religious believers, monasteries, `exit-people' and `returned-people' in Ganzi Prefecture. The problems in monastic management are extremely complicated; the "Dalai Clique" and western hostile forces are attempting to infiltrate and control monastic affairs; monastic management is very weak and monasteries are developing without any plan. End text of Congen translations. BOUGHNER