VZCZCXRO4716
RR RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHCN #1256/01 3480642
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 140641Z DEC 06
FM AMCONSUL CHENGDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2332
INFO RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 2805
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1192
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CHENGDU 001256 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
EPT FOR EAP/CM AND S/STC 
DEPT ALSO FOR DRL/IRF AND TIBET COORDINATOR 
BANGKOK FOR USAID/MSTIEVATER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  12/14/2026 
TAGS: PHUM EAID ECON PGOV CH
SUBJECT: TAR PARTY SECRETARY TRIES TO PRESSURE NGOS 
 
REF: A) CHENGDU 904; B) CHENGDU 464; C) CHENGDU 410; D) CHENGDU 230; E) 05 CHENGDU 614 
 
CHENGDU 00001256  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: James A. Boughner, Consul General, United States 
Consulate, Chengdu. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary:  Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the 
Tibetan Autonomous Regions (TAR) could be facing increasing 
difficulties, according to a scholar from the Tibet Academy of 
Social Science.  The scholar described an internal document 
authored by TAR Party Secretary Zhang Qingli which dismissed the 
importance of international NGO (INGO) aid, cautioned about 
INGOs' "hidden agendas" and mandated increased scrutiny by local 
officials.  Most INGOs, including some that receive United 
States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding, 
have so far been unable to renew contracts with existing 
partners, although they are allowed to continue to operate. 
Contradictions between statements by local officials of support 
for USG aid in the TAR and policies centered on internal control 
that treat such assistance with suspicion will certainly 
continue; however the ability of INGOs to find new partners or 
renew existing agreements will be an important indicator of 
continued tacit official tolerance for their operation in the 
region.  End Summary. 
 
A More Restrictive Atmosphere 
------------------------------ 
¶2.  (C) Congenoff met recently in Chengdu with a long-time 
contact from the Tibet Academy of Social Science (TASS) (Ref. 
B).  The scholar, who requested the meeting when he was in town 
for a visa interview, was eager to give Congenoff an update on 
the status of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the 
Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR).  He said that in general, 
international NGOs (INGOs) are having difficulties in the TAR. 
The atmosphere has become more restrictive under the governance 
of TAR Party Secretary Zhang Qingli, who officially took office 
in May 2006.  The contact said Zhang is trying to put his own 
stamp on the TAR, and increased restrictions on NGOs are one 
facet of that policy. 
 
TAR Internal Document Dismisses Value of INGO Aid 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
¶3.  (C) The TASS scholar claimed to have recently seen an 
internal document authored by Zhang dismissing the importance 
and impact of INGO aid in the TAR.  He referred to a specific 
passage in the document that read, "Why are there so many INGOs 
with so little money in the TAR?  Compare that aid with the 
support the TAR receives from other provinces and municipalities 
from inland China. . . the aid from those INGOs is nothing." 
The scholar added the document also mentioned two specific INGOs 
by name and concluded that they, as well as other INGOs in the 
TAR, had "hidden agendas."  The document reportedly concluded 
with a mandate by Zhang that all local officials "carefully 
study" the work of INGOs in the region.  (Note:  this mandate 
tracks with what Congen has heard in recent months from contacts 
in the TAR.  In October, an INGO representative in Lhasa 
reported that officials from the TAR Foreign Affairs Office 
(FAO), unaccompanied by project officers from the INGO, had 
visited their project sites in distant reaches of the region. 
End Note). 
 
INGOs Stymied in Renewal of Agreements 
-------------------------------------- 
¶4.  (C) The scholar said that with the exception of a few INGOs 
in the TAR, most remain stymied in their attempts to renew 
contracts and partnership agreements.  He discussed two 
well-established INGOs that receive aid from the U.S. Agency for 
International Development (USAID) as some of those that have had 
difficulties.  When a director of one of the INGOs asked the 
scholar for his advice on how to resolve the impasse, the 
scholar said he suggested the INGO 1) hold a high-level meeting 
with the government; 2) present a comprehensive report on the 
INGOs' work; 3) look for new partners; and 4) restructure the 
office.  He added that the INGO employed too many local staff of 
poor quality, some of whom used to study in India.  The contact 
claimed this staff profile was a red flag for the government 
because people who have previous experience in India are 
automatically suspect. 
 
... But Still Have Business as Usual 
------------------------------------ 
¶5.  (C) Although many INGOs have not yet been able to renew 
their agreements, they have not been asked to modify programs, 
dismiss staff or close offices.  Most are operating as usual, 
continuing cooperation with local project partners and planning 
for 2007 and beyond.  While the Party Secretary and certain high 
 
CHENGDU 00001256  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
level cadres in the TAR may view INGOs with deep suspicion, the 
response from most local level bureaucrats has been very 
supportive of cooperative projects.  Local bureaus realize work 
being done by INGOs is filling gaps in government provision of 
services, and may times, local officials even take credit for 
the work. 
 
New NGO in the TAR 
------------------ 
¶6.  (C) The scholar said he was heartened by the registration of 
a new NGO with the Bureau of Civil Affairs in the TAR.  The 
Tibet International NGO Organization (TINGO) is a 
government-organized NGO (GONGO), the scholar admitted, but he 
hoped it would lend credibility to the work of NGOs in general. 
He was asked to consult for the organization, but declined to do 
so because he is too busy working with another INGO in the TAR. 
 
Comment 
-------- 
¶7.  (C) Over the past 13 months, post has reported on the 
continued contradictions between statements by local officials 
of support for USG aid to INGOs in the TAR and internal 
control-oriented policies which view such aid with suspicion 
(Reftels).  Such contradictions will certainly continue.  The 
ability of INGOs to find new partners or renew existing 
agreements, however, will be an important indicator of continued 
tacit official tolerance for their operation in the region. 
Even though the Party Secretary and certain high level cadres in 
the TAR may be deeply suspicious of INGOs, they have not chosen 
to shutter their operations, and response from most local level 
bureaucrats continues to be supportive. 
 
¶8.  (C) The representatives of INGOs funded by the USG 
frequently stress to us that, as part of a policy of full 
transparency, they regularly submit thorough project and 
financial reports to the TAR FAO and their substantive partners. 
 They also feel strongly that any attempt to conceal such 
details would be both futile and inherently counterproductive. 
BOUGHNER