From: World Tibet Network News, Sunday, July 16, 1995

Forwarded by: Dan Hodel

BEIJING, July 15 (Kyodo) -- Tibetan authorities began tightening regulations on the entry of foreign visitors to the region in May to forestall any independence moves ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Chinese takeover of Tibet, Beijing sources reported Saturday. The sources said municipal authorities in Xigaze imposed a ban on the stay of foreign visitors in the city, home of the Panchen Lama, the second most senior leader of Tibetan Buddhists.

Reports from the city showed signs of a rising independence movement among citizens since May when the Tibetans' spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, from his exile in India declared a 6-year-old boy as the reincarnation of the last Panchen Lama, who died in 1989. Tibetan authorities took the action under instructions from the Chinese Communist Party which is worried about possible support for the independence movement by external forces, the sources said.

The instructions issued to domestic organizations concerned called for all foreigners to obtain in advance entry permits from the government of the Tibet Autonomous Region, the sources said. Foreign travelers are now required in principle to register their passport numbers and their occupations with the Tibetan authorities, the sources said. Free travel to the region is no longer allowed, they said.

Security will be tightened during a special alert period from Aug. 15 to Sept. 15 when a series of ceremonies will be held to mark the 30th anniversary of China's takeover of the region, the sources said.

During the period, no foreigners will be allowed to visit the region, except those who were invited to attend the ceremonies, they said. A Tibetan daily reported July 2 that a political leader made an inspection tour of Xigaze and urged citizens to keep vigilance in their struggle against separatist elements, the sources said.