VZCZCXRO5198
RR RUEHGH RUEHVC
DE RUEHCN #0013/01 0110759
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 110759Z JAN 07
FM AMCONSUL CHENGDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2355
INFO RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 2838
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 000013 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
DEPT FOR EAP/CM AND S/STC 
DEPT ALSO FOR DRL/IRF AND TIBET COORDINATOR 
BANGKOK FOR USAID/MSTIEVATER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  1/11/2027 
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI CH
SUBJECT: HOW "HARMONIOUS" ARE SICHUAN'S TIBETAN AREAS? 
 
REF: 05 CHENGDU 322 
 
CHENGDU 00000013  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: James A. Boughner, Consul General, United States 
Consulate, Chengdu. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
¶1.  (C) Summary: Social unrest in Tibetan areas of Sichuan 
Province was serious in the first half of 2006, according to an 
ethnic Tibetan researcher from the Tibet Study Institute of 
Sichuan University.  Ten "mass incidents" involving over 800 
people principally stemmed from conflicts in caterpillar 
fungus-growing areas, distribution of grassland, and migration 
and relocation due to development of hydropower resources.  The 
economically focused conflicts generally occurred seasonally in 
rural areas.  Speaking frankly at a local conference in Chengdu, 
the researcher opined that public security authorities were 
ineffective mediators for political and historical reasons and 
that religious figures should play more of a role in resolving 
disputes.  Such mass incidents will likely continue, and be 
quickly quashed by authorities, with the continued resettlement 
of Tibetan nomads into areas in which there will realistically 
be few jobs or other economic opportunities.  End Summary. 
 
Background 
------------ 
¶2.  (SBU) Consulate recently attended a December 9-11 conference 
in Chengdu on "Social Changes and Development in the Tibetan 
Autonomous Region (TAR) and other Tibetan Areas," co-organized 
by the Social Economic Research Institute of the China Center 
for Tibet Study and the Tibet Study Institute of Sichuan 
University.  Over 100 people from the TAR and other Tibetan 
areas attended the conference.  Approximately 70 scholars, 8-10 
of whom were ethnic Tibetans, presented academic papers.  The 
main themes of the conference were the construction of a 
"harmonious society," economic development, poverty alleviation, 
NGO involvement in Tibetan areas, health care and environmental 
protection.  This cable will focus on economic and social issues 
relating to the implementation of harmonious society in Tibetan 
areas of Sichuan.  The issues of health care and 
non-governmental organizations are reported septel. 
 
Economic and Social Pressures Lead to Unrest 
-------------------------------------------- 
¶3.  (SBU) According to Tashi Dhundrup, an Associate Researcher 
of the Sichuan Provincial Tibetan Study Institute, under the 
Sichuan United Front Work Department, the principle causes of 
social unrest in Tibetan areas of Sichuan Province stem from 
conflicts in caterpillar fungus and mushroom-growing areas, 
distribution of grassland, and disputes in the lumber industry. 
Additionally, migration and relocation resulting from 
construction of hydropower stations and tourism planning are 
also creating economic pressure and social disturbances. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The population of Tibetan areas of Sichuan Province 
(Ganzi and Aba Prefectures) is approximately 1.9 million, 1.35 
million of whom are ethnic Tibetans.  Tahsi Dhundrup reported 
statistics from the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Public 
Security Bureau (PSB) showing ten cases of "mass incidents" 
between January and June 2006.  According to data he cited, 
approximately 880 people participated in the ten recent 
incidents, 3 died and 4 were wounded.  Nine of the incidents 
were categorized as economic disputes. 
 
Caterpillar Fungus 
------------------ 
¶5.  (SBU) Tashi Dhundrup said that on May 24, 2006, one person 
was shot to death and seven were wounded in a conflict about the 
allocation of caterpillar fungus growing-areas between Sade 
Township of Kangding County and Ba Yorong Township of Nyachu Ka 
County, in Ganzi Prefecture.  (Note:  the price of caterpillar 
fungus fluctuates widely.  In 2005, it reportedly sold for 
20,000 RMB (USD 2,400) per kg.  A recent Chinese press report 
stated the price had risen to 80,000 RMB (USD 9,600) per kg. 
Regardless of the price, it has always been viewed as a valuable 
economic commodity.  Reftel.  End Note) 
 
Grassland Distribution 
----------------------- 
¶6.  (SBU) On June 24, 1996, according to Tashi Dhundrup, a 
large-scale mass conflict occurred over grassland distribution 
between Medo Township of Hongyuan County and Sedi Township of 
Zungchu (Ch: Song Pan) County, in Aba Prefecture.  As a result, 
13 people were killed.  He said that according to local 
officials, between 2002 and 2005, 20 people were killed due to a 
continuing conflict over grassland rights. 
 
Hydropower Development 
---------------------- 
 
CHENGDU 00000013  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶7.  (SBU) Tibetan areas in Sichuan are extremely rich in water 
resources. Tashi Dhundrup said a great number of hydropower 
development projects are taking place in 12 counties of 
Sichuan's two Tibetan Autonomous Prefectures, leading to a 
series of conflicts between developers and local inhabitants. 
In Truchu County (Ch: Heishui) in Aba Prefecture, where seven 
hydropower stations are under construction, the issue of 
relocation compensation prompted unrest (septel). Local people 
have attacked construction workers and stopped projects.  Some 
dissatisfied residents have come to Chengdu to complain to the 
provincial government, but have not had their concerns 
addressed, according to Tashi Dhundrup. 
 
Seasonal Conflicts in Rural Areas 
---------------------------------- 
¶8.  (SBU) After analyzing the recent mass incidents, Tashi 
Dhundrup concluded the following: 
 
- Most of the incidents are seasonal conflicts.  May-June is 
caterpillar fungus-collecting season.  Conflicts over grassland 
distribution occur in July during the time when nomads move from 
winter to summer pasture.  August-September is the high season 
for mushroom harvesting. 
 
- Of the 30 counties in Tibetan areas of Sichuan Province, 73 
percent have had disputes over grassland distribution.  80 
percent have had conflicts over the collection of 
caterpillar-fungus.  60 percent have had disturbances over 
mushroom harvesting. 
 
- According to statistics from the Ganzi Prefecture PSB, the 
number of participants in mass incidents reached over 50 people 
in 80 percent of the cases. 
 
-  98 percent of the mass incidents in Ganzi Prefecture occurred 
in rural (nomadic and farming) areas rather than in urban areas. 
 
Public Security Officers Ineffective as Mediators 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
¶9.  (SBU) Tashi Dhundrup said all of these incidents appear to 
be related to economic, political and historical, as well as 
policy issues.  He stated that the majority of rural people are 
poorly educated, do not have legal knowledge and do not respect 
the police.  As a result, he concluded it is very hard for 
public security officers to act as mediators in addressing these 
conflicts. 
 
Religious Figures Should Play Role in Resolution 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
¶10.  (SBU) Tashi Dhundrup suggested that religious figures play 
a more active role in resolution of such disputes by using their 
position of respect from the masses.  He also hoped the 
authorities would confiscate weapons from the local population 
as firearms have frequently been used during mass incidents.  He 
indicated most guns come from Gansu, Qinghai and Yunnan 
Provinces, and that they have been increasing in Ganzi 
Prefecture in the last few years. 
 
¶11.  (C) Comment:  The public discussion of social unrest in 
Tibetan areas of Sichuan Province was unusually frank 
(especially in light of the invitation for the Consulate to 
attend) and quite telling of an unbalanced social and economic 
situation, the details of which rarely reach the press.  The 
openness was likely due to the almost entirely local composition 
of the audience -- principally ethnic Han academics.  Such mass 
incidents will likely continue with the resettlement of Tibetan 
nomads away from traditional pasturelands into areas where they 
will realistically have few jobs or other economic 
opportunities.  The Government will also continue to tightly 
clamp down on the disturbances in Tibetan areas in order to 
convey the appearance of social "harmony." 
BOUGHNER