Published by: World Tibet Network News,Wednesday,December 20, 1995

BBC SWB 18 December 1995

Text of report by Chinese regional TV from Tibet

On 23rd November, Xizang Ribao' published a theoretical article entitled: "Hold high the banner of patriotism; firmly oppose splittism" .

The article has three parts: "Splittism does not have popular support" ; "History shall not be altered" ; and "The struggle between splittism and antisplittism surrounding the Panchen Lama's reincarnation" .

The article says: The Dalai Lama's involvement in the Panchen Lama reincarnation issue appears to be a religious issue, but it is essentially really a political issue about safeguarding our motherland's unification and maintaining Tibet's long-standing political stability. This is a major issue of principle concerning our motherland's unification and the central government's authority. Although the Dalai Lama maintains that this is a religious, not a political, issue, why did he rush to announce the so-called reincarnated boy without waiting for the search group to announce its the facts related to its search or for the religious rituals to be completed? His move shows that he also considered the issue a political one - and not simply a religious issue as he claimed - that he would use as a new trick to confront the central government and promote Tibetan independence. It shows that he was trying to use the Panchen Lama reincarnation issue to split our motherland, sabotage national solidarity, upset Tibet's p

olitical stability and unity, and obstruct people from all ethnic groups in Tibet from proceeding with their modernization drive. The Dalai clique was trying to test its strength with us in the political area under the camouflage of religion.

The article concludes: We Chinese people have learned from our painful experiences in the last century or so that the unity of our motherland and our nation is strength. To counter imperialists' aggression and interference, we must have a unified country and be united. Likewise, we must also have a unified country and be united in order to build a modern, powerful country. We must never let imperialists realize their scheme of disintegrating China, and we must never let anyone create trouble or discord by exploiting ethnic or religious issues. Chinese people of 56 ethnic groups must be united as one. We Chinese people who have stood up must hold high the great banner of patriotism from generation to generation.

Source: Tibet TV, Lhasa, in Standard Chinese 1200 gmt 23 Nov 95