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RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 2929

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CHENGDU 000077 
 
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DEPT FOR EAP/CM, DRL AND G/STC 
BANGKOK FOR USAID/MSTIEVATER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  3/22/2027 
TAGS: PHUM EAID SOCI SCUL CH
SUBJECT: URGING TAR FAO DIRECTOR GENERAL TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON 
SEPTEMBER SHOOTING DEATH OF TIBETAN NUN 
 
REF: 06 BEIJING 21638 
 
CHENGDU 00000077  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: James Boughner, Consul General, United States 
Consulate, Chengdu. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  The Consul General and Beijing Polmincouns 
urged Director General of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) 
Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) Ju Jianhua to provide information 
on the Chinese investigation of the September 30, 2006 shooting 
(reftel) of border crossers by Chinese border guards at Nangpa 
La that resulted in the death of at least one young Tibetan nun. 
 Ju said the matter was an issue of illegal border crossers.  He 
asserted the Dalai Lama is "no longer" a religious figure, but 
that there is an "open door" for negotiations with his 
representatives if he admits Tibet is a part of China.  Ju said 
that pursuant to new regulations in the run-up to the Olympics, 
foreign journalists are free to travel and conduct interviews in 
the TAR without permission of the FAO.  Dramatic increases of 
tourism in the TAR have led to pressure on food, lodging and 
transportation resources, and still necessitate the entry permit 
system for foreign travelers.  Ju stuck to his script of strong 
anti-Dalai Lama rhetoric and cold response to our human rights 
concerns, but stressed he would try to foster good relations 
with the United States Government, facilitate travel into the 
TAR, and consider creative ways to increase cultural and other 
exchanges.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (C) During a March 12-17 reporting trip to the Tibetan 
Autonomous Region (TAR), CG, Beijing Polmincouns and Congenoff 
met with TAR Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) Director Ju Jianhua. 
Ju, a Han Chinese who was born and raised in the TAR, was 
recently promoted from his position as Deputy Director of the 
FAO.  (Note:  Ju commented that Sonam, who he replaced as 
Director, was still senior to him in age and rank, and that he 
considered her an "equal."  Sonam was appointed as a member of 
the TAR People's Political Consultative Conference.  End Note.) 
 
Human Rights Cases 
------------------- 
¶3.  (C) The CG and Beijing Polmincouns urged that China provide 
information on the Chinese investigation of the September 30 
shooting (reftel) of border crossers by Chinese border guards at 
Nangpa La that resulted in the death of at least one young 
Tibetan nun.  Ju stated that the Tibetans were illegal border 
crossers.  He said the central government published an official 
statement on the incident and that he would provide us with a 
copy.  Beijing Polmincouns added that numerous Embassy Beijing 
and other diplomatic missions in Beijing have asked for the 
results of the investigation, but that no information had been 
provided. 
 
¶4.  (C) The CG also asked about the reported prohibition on 
attendance of government, students and workers at the Gadan 
Ngacho festival in December 2006 to celebrate the birth of Tsong 
Ka Pa, the founder of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism.  Ju 
claimed the government didn't stop "ordinary people" from 
attending, but that Party members were told not to attend 
according to the rule that government officials may not practice 
religion.  He asserted there were "religious religions" for the 
"lack of success" of the festival, but didn't provide a further 
explanation. 
 
Anti-Dalai Lama Rhetoric 
------------------------ 
¶5.  (C) Turning to the recent spate of anti-Dalai Lama rhetoric 
from TAR authorities, the CG advocated for continued 
negotiations between representatives of the Dalai Lama and the 
Chinese Government.  Beijing Polmincouns added that the Dalai 
Lama is a religious figure respected in China and around the 
world and that government criticism of him damages China's 
international image.  Ju asserted the Dalai Lama was "no longer" 
a religious figure.  On negotiations, he said the door is open 
if the Dalai Lama admits Tibet is a part of China.  Ju opined 
that as a monk, the Dalai Lama should focus on meditation, but 
instead he engages in international separatist activity.  Ju 
went on to refer to the Dalai Lama as a "politician in Buddhist 
robes" who uses religion to interfere in Tibet and disturb peace 
and stability.  He called on "everyone to rethink the Dalai 
Lama's 'real' nature." 
 
¶6.  (C) Ju affirmed his own membership in the Communist Party, 
but admitted he does "research" on Buddhism because it is very 
important for Tibetan people. If one wants to research Tibet, 
one cannot focus solely on the Dalai Lama, Ju opined.  He 
claimed that many Western missionaries have in the past come to 
Tibet to try to convert Tibetan people, but were unsuccessful 
 
CHENGDU 00000077  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
because of the importance of Buddhism in people's lives.  Ju 
said that the Dalai Lama should develop Buddhism rather than 
working to destroy China.  If he hopes return to China promote 
Buddhism, that is fine, but he cannot resume the "old system." 
Finally, Ju added that the international community does not 
understand Tibet's past or present. 
 
Foreign Journalists 
------------------- 
¶7.  (SBU) Ju commented on the issue of press freedom in China, 
referring to the new regulations that allow journalists to 
travel and interview freely anywhere in China in the run-up to 
the Olympics.  He said the FAO recently held a meeting for all 
TAR bureau heads to inform them it was their decision whether to 
accept interviews and that there was no longer need for the FAO 
to approve or arrange meetings with reporters.  Ju said many 
bureaus are still hesitant and scared to accept interviews under 
this new set of rules.  Ju stressed the rule definitely extended 
to the TAR, citing the visit of a journalist in late 2006 who 
came to interview different bureaus about economic development 
after the opening of the Qinghai - TAR railroad.  He said he 
didn't hear about the interviews until after the journalist 
departed. 
 
Tourism in Tibet 
---------------- 
¶8.  (SBU) When asked about the prospect for removal of the 
permit system for foreign tourists in the TAR, Ju said the 
system was still in place and launched into an explanation of 
the dramatic rise in tourism the region has experienced since 
the opening of the railroad in July 2006.  Between July and 
December 2006, 250,000 people traveled in and out of the TAR by 
train.  In a recent statement before the National People's 
Congress, TAR Chairman Zhang Qingli said the region was 
expecting 3 million tourists in 2007.  Ju said he told Zhang 
this was not feasible because of a shortage of hotel rooms and 
restaurants.  Ju referred to the "three big problems" of food, 
lodging, and transportation, saying the region could not support 
such great numbers of tourists until all three areas were 
improved or increased. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Ju also discussed pressure on the region's cultural 
sites, especially the limits on ticket sales for the Potala 
Palace.  He noted that the government had received numerous 
complaints from inland Chinese tourists that they were unable to 
access many sites due to tourist density.  Ju added that a new 
"cultural site" is being developed in the Shul Village at base 
of the Potala to deal with the overflow of tourists who cannot 
obtain tickets to see the Potala. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) Ju said that foreign and domestic investors, 
including U.S. companies, have already begun to consider 
investing in five-star hotels in Lhasa.  There are different 
views of how to best support the development of the region. 
According to Ju, some Americans think investors from mainland 
China should not invest in Tibet and others have the opposite 
view. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) The CG suggested a change in the handling of diplomat 
tourists would relieve some of the pressure on the FAO.  He said 
there was no need for FAO "assistance" and scheduling for groups 
of diplomatic passport holders who come to the region as 
tourists.  Ju did not offer a concrete response to this 
suggestion. 
 
NGOs 
---- 
¶12. (SBU) Congenoff asked Ju to comment on the status of foreign 
NGOs working in the region, asking specifically about NGOs in 
the process of renewing agreements.  Ju complained he felt he 
was in a press conference and did not directly answer the 
question.  He stated that since 1996, NGOs from 40 countries had 
carried out 600 projects in the TAR.  Eighteen of those NGOs are 
from the United States.  Ju said there are approximately 60 
long-term and 400 short-term expatriate personnel of foreign 
NGOs currently living and working in the region. 
 
Public Diplomacy 
---------------- 
¶13.  (U) The CG thanked the FAO for the successful cultural 
visit of bluegrass banjo player Abby Washburn in late 2006.  He 
also mentioned the recent inclusion by the Ministry of Education 
of Tibet University as an institution that can accept Fulbright 
scholars.  Ju noted that cultural and educational exchange were 
important, adding that "Good Morning America" had been given 
permission to broadcast from the Potala Palace last October. 
 
Comment 
 
CHENGDU 00000077  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
------ 
¶14.  (C) Ju's comments on the Dalai Lama are similar to those 
expressed by TAR Chairman Shamba Phuntsog, the Ethnic and 
Religious Affairs Bureau, and United Front Work Department 
during our last visit to Lhasa in August 2006.  They also mirror 
the heavy-handed public statements by TAR Party Chairman Zhang 
Qingli since he took office in May 2006.  As expected, Ju stuck 
to his script of strong anti-Dalai Lama rhetoric and cold 
response to our human rights concerns.  He stressed to the CG 
privately after the meeting, however, that while it is necessary 
for him to be fierce in his rhetoric at official meetings, he 
will do whatever he can to foster good relations with the United 
States Government, facilitate travel into the TAR, and consider 
creative ways to increase cultural and other exchanges. 
BOUGHNER