Washington, November 2. On October 7, China announced that it is building a railway to Tibet and that the first phase is now underway. The announcement shocked many Tibetans and Tibet watchers, who fear that a railway line is akin to a final assault on Tibet and that it will lead to a much more rapid pace of Sinocization and demographic takeover by Chinese. The Chinese government said that the project will promote economic development in Tibet and "strengthen its connection with other provinces in the country." No estimated date for final completion was given. The announcement was made by Wang Dianhuan, a mid-level Chinese government official in the Planning Commission of the Tibet Autonomous Region. High-level members of the Tibetan government in exile convened a special meeting in New York on October 28 to discuss the implications of the announcement. Tenzin Tethong, Minister for International Relations, said in a release issued after the meeting that "the need for the railway is closely related to the mai

ntenance of the growing Chinese population in Tibet." The release also said that the railway will enhanc China's growing military muscle in South Asia and its ability to extract Tibet's natural resource wealth. The prospect for a railway to Tibet is likely to create some divisions within Tibetan society. The Chinese in Tibet will undoubtedly unanimously support the idea, and are known to have been lobbying for the extension of the railway. Merchants, the construction industry and producers of raw materials will be prime beneficiaries. While those sectors of the economy are dominated by Chinese, Tibetans engaged in exporting wool, cashmere and leather would also benefit. However, "the main beneficiaries are those people with market connections in China - and they are Chinese," said Jason Clay, former Director of Research for Cultural Survival, and currently a Senior Fellow at World Wildlife Fund. "In the context of the Chinese government's record in Tibet, a train would be another nail in the coffin," said Cl

ay. However, "it is not clear which segments of Tibetan society will be co-opted by the train," Clay warned. (EuroTibet News N·4)