Published by: World Tibet Network News, Sunday, October 6, 1996

BEIJING, Oct 5 (Reuter) - China's military presence in Tibet has spurred economic growth in the volatile Himalayan region, according to the Tibet Daily newspaper.

Tibetans could attest that Chinese troops garrisoned in the remote and backward region had brought social and economic progress, the paper said in its September 27 edition seen in Beijing on Saturday.

"Without the troops stationed in Tibet, there would be no economic development or ethnic unity... there would be no beautiful future for Tibet," it said.

"To sum up, if there was no people's armed forces, the people would have nothing," it added.

China has maintained a large military presence in Tibet since its troops marched into the Himalayan region in 1950.

Chinese troops have been used to crush rioting by pro-independence activists.

The newspaper said the army had made great strides in preserving Tibet's stability and in smashing attempts by supporters of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, to split China.

Tibet had become a battlefield for China's war against separatist sentiment, it said.

"Tibet's stability affects the stability of the nation, Tibet's security affects the security of the nation, Tibet's development affects the development of the nation," it said.

Last month, senior Tibetan officials praised the army for its role in crushing pro-independence campaigns and defending the unity of the motherland.

Beijing has accused the Dalai Lama, who fled into exile in India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule, of masterminding the campaigns.

Chinese authorities have met anti-Chinese protests with the arrests of activists and increased controls on religion.