Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CHENGDU213
2009-09-30 09:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Chengdu
Cable title:  

TIBET: TIGHT SECURITY IN LHASA IN OCTOBER 1 LEAD UP

Tags:  PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHCN #0213/01 2730931
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O P 300931Z SEP 09
FM AMCONSUL CHENGDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3435
INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 4127
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENGDU 000213 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/CM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/30/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI CH
SUBJECT: TIBET: TIGHT SECURITY IN LHASA IN OCTOBER 1 LEAD UP

REF: A) CHENGDU 170; B) 2008 CHENGDU 183; C) 2008 BEIJING 4279

CHENGDU 00000213 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: David E. Brown, Consul General.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENGDU 000213

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/CM

E.O. 12958: DECL: 9/30/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI CH
SUBJECT: TIBET: TIGHT SECURITY IN LHASA IN OCTOBER 1 LEAD UP

REF: A) CHENGDU 170; B) 2008 CHENGDU 183; C) 2008 BEIJING 4279

CHENGDU 00000213 001.2 OF 002


CLASSIFIED BY: David E. Brown, Consul General.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)

1. (C) Summary: An elderly Tibetan couple visiting Chengdu
described to PolEconOff the environment in and around Lhasa in
the weeks leading up to Chinese National Day on October 1 as
"very tense" with "soldiers everywhere." The environment they
described tracks closely with observations by ConOff and
PolEconOff during recent visits to Lhasa, in which the People's
Armed Police (PAP) were observed to be maintaining a heavy
presence in Lhasa's Tibetan quarter. A breakdown of the types
and numbers of security forces observed in late August is
provided in paragraph 8. End summary.

Lhasa residents: City "Very Tense" in Run-up to October 1
-------------- --------------

2. (C) An elderly Tibetan couple, who came to the Consulate in
late September to apply for visas to visit relatives in the U.S.
concurrent with the upcoming visit of the Dalai Lama, described
the environment in Lhasa as "very tense" with "soldiers
everywhere." Acknowledging that the high level of security
force presence has been in place through the last year, the
couple nonetheless stressed that there has been an additional
increase over recent weeks in preparation for the 60th
anniversary of the founding of the PRC on October 1. In
addition, September 27 remains a highly sensitive date they
noted, marking the anniversary of the start, in 1987, of several
years of unrest and crackdown. They reported that soldiers now
regularly stop Tibetan residents of Lhasa and demand to see
their ID cards. Individuals presenting non-Tibet Autonomous
Region (TAR) ID cards are immediately "sent home." (Note:
There are a number of Tibetans from Qinghai, Gansu and Sichuan
in the TAR. End note.)


3. (C) "Visits" by soldiers to private homes are now a common
occurrence, the couple told us. In addition, they described an
increased presence of soldiers in villages in the Lhasa area.
Their description of "soldiers" is most likely in reference to

the People's Armed Police (PAP),who have established and
maintained a heavy presence in Lhasa since the March 2008
unrest.

ConGenOffs Also Observed
Heavy Security Presence in Lhasa, Dominated by PAP
-------------- --------------


4. (C) The environment described by the Tibetan couple tracks
with Consular Officers' observations of security arrangements in
Lhasa during July (Ref A)and PolEconOff's August 2009 travel to
Lhasa. In many ways they also appear to be similar to the
arrangements noted by U.S. and other diplomats traveling in
Lhasa a year ago (Refs B and C). PolEconOff observed in late
August a particularly heavy security presence in and around the
Barkhor, the historic and religious heart of Lhasa, where
numerous five-man PAP teams were observed patrolling regularly,
supplemented by standing two-man PAP posts on the ground and at
various rooftop locations. Occasional groups of young Han men
in black and yellow track suits, described by one local as
"Chinese soldiers" were also noted during both July and August
trips.


5. (C)Local police from the Public Security Bureau were also on
hand, but presented a much less intimidating presence than the
PAP -- PolEconOff on several occasions observed ethnic Tibetan
police casually sitting and chatting in Tibetan with local
sellers around the Barkhor. Although PolEconOff observed both
PAP and People's Liberation Army (PLA) vehicles and soldiers on
several occasions while passing through the western, Han
Chinese-dominated area of Lhasa, they did not appear to be in
patrol mode while there, but either in transit or, in some
cases, shopping during their non-duty hours. (Note: the PLA has
a large headquarters office in this part of town. End note.)


6. (C) Inside the Jokhang, Tibetan Buddhism's most important
temple, and located at the center of the Barkhor district,
PolEconoff observed relatively little overt security force
presence in late August, but noted at least one undercover
security personnel, wearing one of the tell-tale black and
yellow tracksuits described above. In addition, along with its
view of the Potala Palace, the Jokhang's rooftop afforded views
of one of the PAP's rooftop posts atop a neighboring building
and a PAP patrol marching through Barkhor square. Inside the
Potala Palace, CongenOffs in July and August observed PAP
soldiers remaining in charge of security, with individual
soldiers posted throughout the inner chambers -- an arrangement
apparently in place for at least the last year (ref C). The PAP
posture within the Potala was comparatively relaxed during the
August visit, arguably explained by the fact that Han tourists
were by far the dominant group within the palace walls.
PolEconOff observed one ethnic Tibetan PAP officer (the only
Tibetan PAP soldier encountered on this trip),apparently in
casual conversation with one of the monks.

CHENGDU 00000213 002.2 OF 002



A Kind of Normality:
Adjusting to Life under Unrelenting PAP Presence
-------------- ---


7. (C) Despite the continuing heavy security presence, many of
Lhasa's Tibetan residents appeared, in August, to be out and
engaging in both their day-today activities and religious
observation. Pilgrims were out in large numbers completing the
Barkhor kora (circumambulating the Jokhang) and studiously
ignoring the regular PAP patrols marching in the opposite
direction. In late August, the annual religious ceremony at
Drepung Monastery, which traditionally starts the Shotun Yoghurt
Festival and in which monks carry a giant religious painting
(thangka) up to be unfurled on the neighboring mountainside, was
well attended by mostly local Tibetans. PolEconOff and somewhat
reluctant FAO minders were carried along by a
shoulder-to-shoulder crowd making its way clockwise around the
thangka. The festival's official opening ceremony, held in
front of the Potala Palace, was in contrast to an overtly Han
Chinese affair replete with official speeches in Mandarin,
advertising balloons highlighting corporate sponsorship, and a
pop star flown in from Hong Kong. The high volume of tourist
traffic noted in Ref A was also evident in August, with Han
tourists from all over China dominating, but also including a
number of foreigners. (Note: Most locals declined to attend the
festival last year, reportedly supporting the Drepung Monastery
monks' refusal to participate in the thangka ceremony. End
note.)


8. (C) However, a couple of brief and tense conversations with
locals pointed to the continued underlying tensions. A
middle-aged Tibetan woman selling jewelry and souvenirs at a
stand on one of the Barkhor side streets, immediately choked up
when PolEconOff identified as an American, then expressed, with
a strong shake of her head while miming the action of shooting,
her feelings regarding the PAP soldiers who marched by seconds
later. When asked about preparations for October 1, a local
international NGO employee sarcastically noted "There are lots
of soldiers around. There's your preparation."

Breakdown of Security Personnel Observed Around Barkhor
-------------- --------------


9. (C) The following is a breakdown of the different types and
numbers of security personnel observed in and around the Barkhor
by PolEconOff in the August 18-21 timeframe, at various times of
the day:

A) PAP patrols. These groups of five soldiers, each carrying an
automatic weapon, were seen at all times in the Barkhor area, in
fluctuating numbers, typically with no more than a few minutes
interval between them. Each group appeared to be assigned to a
set area, which they either circled or marched back and forth
within. Areas where these patrols were observed included: the
Barkhor circuit, which they patrolled counterclockwise against
the flow of the pilgrims' route; around and through Barkhor
square; the approximately 200 meters between the entrance into
Barkhor from Beijing Donglu and the edge of the square; and
streets throughout the Barkhor. (During one 15 minute walk
around the Barkhor circuit at about 9:00pm, PolEconOff counted
six patrol groups passing in the opposite direction.)
B) PAP standing posts. At least four soldiers were always seen
standing guard at the gate into the Barkhor, occasionally
augmented by the presence of one or two of the five-man PAP
patrols. In addition, posts of two men each were seen at
various locations around the Barkhor at any given time. The
total number of the two-man posts fluctuated from one to four
and locations changed regularly.
C) PAP rooftop posts. These posts appeared to all be groups of
two, with the same uniforms and weapons as the PAP patrols and
standing posts, as well as radios and binoculars. There was
usually at least one post visible from the ground, and on one
occasion three were seen within the space of a few minutes' walk
in the Barkhor square area. Their numbers appeared to increase
when fewer soldiers were patrolling on the ground.
D) Undercover soldiers. Groups of five-six young Han Chinese
men wearing black and yellow tracksuits were observed on two
occasions and described by a local as "Chinese soldiers". In
addition, one pair was seen using radio and binoculars on the
rooftop at the Barkhor area entrance from Beijing Donglu, and
one track-suit wearing youth was also noted inside the Jokhang
temple.
E) Local police/PSB. Several police posts were observed
throughout the Barkhor area at all times. However, in contrast
with the other security forces present, these appeared to be
comprised of local Tibetans, and were heard conversing in
Tibetan with local merchants on several occasions.
BROWN