SWB
FE/0073 B2/3
In addition, people have aired great complaints over the untruthful news reports about the riots. Last year, Comrade Ngapoi and I put forward a proposal to study and spread the Tibetan language, which was adopted by the regional people's congress as a resolution. However, no actual results have been achieved as regards this so far. What problem existed in the newspapers then, especially newspapers in the Tibetan language? According to my understanding the problem was mainly that few reporters were able to talk directly with the masses in the Tibetan language or to write directly in the Tibetan language. I do not mean that no one can do this, but as a matter of fact, very few people are able to do it. Some reporters had incompetent interpreters to carry out the coverage, and through poor interpretation some 50%-60% of the words were not the original words nor exact ideas of the people being interviewed. The reporters then wrote their reports in Chinese according to these inaccurate interpretations, and the editors or editors-in-chief revised the reports according to the requirements for such reports. Finally, little of the actual ideas of the interviewed people remained in the reports. Afte all this such reports in Chinese were translated into the Tibetan language in accordance with Chinese sentence structure and Chinese-style expression. As a result, the words of the interviewees in the Tibetan language newspaper were completely different from the original. This gave rise to many problems in the news reports. Therefore, I think that a major reason for the inaccuracy of the reports was that we lacked reporters capable of writing in the Tibetan language and doing coverage work directly in the Tibetan language. It seems that all our cadres, including those engaged in journalistic work, must master the Tibetan language. This is of great importance. However, some people told me that the resolution about studying, using and developing the Tibetan language, which was adopted when Comrade Ngapoi and I came here last year, had returned to Peking with us when we went to Gongga airport and flew to Peking. Now it seems that this issue must be seriously solved.
According to the central instructions and principles for pursuing more relaxed policies in Tibet and for handling the Lhasa riots, we recently discussed this on many occasions and in a serious way with the leading comrades of the regional party committee, and decided to release most of the people who were detained during the Lhasa riots. At the same time, we also decided to further implement the policies towards the three major temples. Today, the regional authorities will immediately solve those problems in Tibet's work that can be solved immediately, and create necessary conditions for solving the problems which cannot be solved immediately. In short, we are ready to quicken the pace of, and advance, our work in Tibet.
OTHER REPORT ON TIBET
Lamas earn profits from monastery-run corporations (Text) For the first time in recent history, some Tibetan Lamas have drawn living subsidies not from the government, but from the profits earned by monastery-run businesses. Earlier this year, 691 Lamas at the Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery in Xigaze each received 100 yuan (about US$30) in living subsidies drawn
12 Feb 88
from business profits. During a recent inspection of Xigaze, the Bainqen Lama who is Vice-Chairman of the standing committee of the NPC said that the running of businesses by monasteries is a good way to reduce the government's financial burden in the region and improve Lamas' living standards.
The Zhaxi Lhunbo Lamasery launched the Gangjian Development Corp. last May at the suggestion of the Bainqen Lama. The corporation runs factories, a truck transport company and several stores. The corporation currently employs 320 people, and the Zaqia Living Buddha serves as its general manager. It has opened offices in Peking and neighbouring Qinghai Province. In 1987, the corporation exported 5m yuan worth of goods, and spent 1m yuan building pagodas for mourning the deaths of the fifth through the ninth Bainqens. It also contributed 150,000 yuan to major monasteries in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
Tibet has, to date, renovated 236 monasteries, according to a regional official. The monasteries continue to run short of money, however, in spite of yearly government subsidies, and therefore new efforts such as these to raise their own funds are a hopeful sign. (Xinhua in English 0855 gmt 9 Feb 88)
Tibet to be "further opened" to tourists from March (Excerpts) From March, Tibet will be further opened up to tourists from abroad. As arranged by travel agencies approved by the Tibet tourist authorities, tourists may join groups and sightsee in Lhasa city. Deng Keping, deputy managing director of the Chinese Mount Qomolangma Travel Company in Tibet, revealed the news when he was interviewed by this reporter...(Zhongguo Xinwen She in Chinese 1221 gmt 8 Feb 88).
(Text) A travel service run by the Tibet regional federation of trade unions has started operation in Lhasa, capital of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. The travel service is mainly engaged in conducting sight-seeing tours for workers from foreign countries and from Hongkong and Macao, which often include meetings with ordinary Tibetan families. The travel service also built a holiday village. The village has 50 beds, a gymnasium and necessary medical facilities. (Xinhua in English 1220 gmt 8 Feb 88)
ELECTORATE PRESSING FOR GREATER SAY IN
ELECTORAL PROCESS
Xinhua in English 1445 gmt 8 Feb 88
Text of report
Political reforms in north-east China's Liaoning Province are giving the electorate much greater power in deciding who should hold office in the province's constituencies. And the message candidates are getting is loud and clear: Either perform or you'll lose out.
Losing out is what happened to Xu Dengqi, who had led his township for 30 years until the elections late last year. The same happened to 291 county and township leaders who failed to get re-elected because the voters felt they were incompetent or did nothing during their terms of office.
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