Beijing, 4th September: At 1600 this afternoon, Cering Zhuoga [regional government vice-chairwoman], honorary chairwoman of the Tibet Autonomous Region Women's Federation, told Chinese and foreign reporters at a press briefing held by the Chinese Organization Committee of the NGO [Non Government Organization] that the 1.2 million Tibetan women fully enjoy human rights. The state encourages the Tibetan nationality to develop its population in a planned manner so the question of forced abortion simply does not exist.

Prior to 1959, Cering Zhuoga said, 5 per cent of Tibet's population accounted for all the wealth including land, livestock and resources while 95 per cent of the Tibetan people had no personal freedoms. Subject to humiliation and leading inhuman lives, they were transferred and traded at will by their serf owners and they did not have the right to participate in government and political affairs.

After the democratic reform in 1959, the Tibetan people truly enjoyed their human rights. They became masters of themselves politically and were able to be independent economically. I was born in the rural areas and no one in my family was literate. I was able to go to school and graduate from the Beijing Medical University only after Tibet's liberation. There are large numbers of Tibetan women like me who have received higher education. Thanks to the support and help of the fraternal nationalities from all parts of the country over the years, Tibet has witnessed tremendous changes in economic construction and social development. in addition, women have played the role of "propping up half the heaven". This is an indisputable fact.

When a Western reporter asked about restrictions imposed on foreign reporters' travel to Tibet to cover news and forced abortion, Cering Zhuoga replied that Tibet his never closed its gate to reporters. We welcome reporters to cover news. Naturally, you have to undergo certain formalities to enter Tibet. On the question of forced abortion, it simply does not exist in Tibet. The state encourages Tibet to develop its population in a planned manner. It is totally a decision for the women themselves on how they give birth to their babies and how many children they want. In my hometown, there are lots of families with seven, eight and even 12 children. You should personally go there to have a look when you have the opportunity.

Another reporter asked: "That means someone is lying?"

Cering Zhuoga replied definitely: "Yes, those spreading such news have never been to Tibet. They are lying." She cited an example: Some people said on 2nd September that some NGO tents had collapsed, but it turned out that they were merely stained with mud after the rain. With ulterior motives, these people are lying.

At this moment, a Tibetan writer Dejicuomu took the microphone, saying that she had something to add on child bearing in Tibet. In Tibet now, it is not a problem of the government imposing restrictions on birth, but the people are asking the government to make birth control facilities available. For the skae of their health and to improve their living standards, many Tibetan women do not want too many children.

Source.' 'Renmin Ribao', Beijing, overseas edition in Chinese 6Sep 95