Source: `Xizang Ribao', Lhasa, in Chinese 21 Nov 96 p1

The Dalai Lama's influence over Tibet is still strong, according to the Tibetan newspaper. Even some party members are not fighting a sufficiently fierce struggle against that influence. A profound ideological struggle must be waged to finally eliminate the Dalai Lama's influence on all fronts. The following is the text of the Chinese regional newspaper from Tibet `Xizang Ribao' first commentary by unidentified commentator on "Earnestly studying and implementing the guidelines of the second (enlarged) plenary session of the Fifth Tibet Regional Party Committee" , entitled: "Safeguarding the motherland's reunification is a dominant task in building spiritual civilization in Tibet" :

Along with the mighty East Wind, an enthusiastic movement to study, publicize and implement the guidelines of the sixth plenary session of the 14th CCP Central Committee and the second (enlarged) plenary session of the Fifth Tibet Regional Party Committee has been sweeping across the Tibet Plateau.

Before we can properly study and implement the guidelines of the two sessions and enhance Tibet's spiritual civilization construction to a higher level, we have to fulfil an important requirement: We have to understand what are the tasks facing Tibet's spiritual civilization construction and what acute problems need to be resolved. As far as Tibet is concerned, to eliminate the Dalai's spiritual influence, to foil the Dalai clique's plot for "Tibet independence" completely and to safeguard the reunification of the motherland are important political tasks facing the masses of cadres and people of various nationalities; are dominant tasks in Tibet's spiritual civilization construction; and are the most sacred missions shouldered by the 2.3 million people of various nationalities across Tibet.

After failing in his armed rebellion and fleeing Tibet in 1959, the Dalai has always upheld his reactionary stance of betraying and splitting the motherland. Particularly in recent years, he has intensified his efforts to split the motherland: While scheming and instigating riots within Tibet, he has collaborated with international anti-China forces, futilely attempting to internationalize Tibet issues. Many facts show that the Dalai has been the leader of the splittist political group that schemes for Tibet's independence, has been a loyal stooge of the international anti-China forces, has been the principal source that creates social disturbances in Tibet, and has been the biggest obstacle to the establishment of a normal order in Tibetan Buddhism. If we let the Dalai's plot for "Tibet independence" succeed, economic progress, social stability and the earnest expectations of Tibet's people of various nationalities that "we expeditiously transform the backward image and establish a new united, wealthy and c

ivilized Tibet" will all vanish. Therefore, our struggles against the Dalai clique absolutely do not involve issues of religion and autonomy, but political issues of safeguarding the reunification of the motherland and opposing splittism. People regard the motherland as their mothers. All of us, as her children safeguarding her dignity, should regard the task of safeguarding the motherland's reunification as our unshakable sacred duties.

In recent years, under the correct leadership of the party Central Committee and the regional party committee and government, we have achieved a series of victories in fighting the splittist struggles. However, the splittist forces led by the Dalai will definitely not give up easily. They will only change their formats and continually carry out criminal and evil activities to split the motherland and to disrupt Tibet. The Dalai clique is unable and unqualified to compete with us in other fields. Therefore, the main battlefield of our struggles against the Dalai clique lies in spiritual aspects. We definitely cannot ignore the Dalai clique's ideological influence in the spiritual field. Exactly as the "Suggestion of the Tibet Autonomous Regional CCP Committee on Implementing the Guidelines of the Sixth Plenary Session of the 14th CCP Central Committee" pointed out: Western hostile forces will not change their schemes to " Westernize" and "split" us; the Dalai clique's ideological infiltration in Tibet are sti

ll very rampant; the struggles between ourselves and the splittist forces to compete for fronts, for the masses, for young people and for the leadership over temples are still very fierce; and the Dalai's spiritual influence over the masses still prevails. While carrying out these activities, they will use religion as their disguise to poison the broad masses of people, thereby exerting very deceptive and inciting effects. The serious problems facing us are: Failing to understand the seriousness of the Dalai clique's ideological infiltration, some of our comrades do not stage effective struggles against such activities; are unable justly and forcefully to publicize the fact that only socialism can save and develop Tibet; are unable to criticize and expose the brutality and darkness of the feudal serf system; and are unable justly and forcefully to publicize materialism (including atheism). We should pay close attention to such inadequacies. We must be bold, boldly stage resolute struggles against the Dalai c

lique and religious idealism, and boldly hold high the glorious banner of patriotism in various fields.

The people of various nationalities in Tibet have the glorious tradition of safeguarding national unity and the reunification of the motherland. In light of the protracted, arduous and glorious historic mission whereby we safeguard the motherland's reunification and oppose splittism, and so that we thoroughly crush the Dalai clique's plot for "Tibetan independence" , we should further promote and enhance this tradition. Consequently, we must persistently carry out patriotic education, regard patriotic education as an important part of spiritual civilization construction and give priority to patriotic education while launching ideological education programmes. For some time, Tibet has generally paid attention to patriotic education, launching various educational activities, including national flag-raising and national anthem-singing ceremonies. It has played very effective roles in promoting patriotic spirit, in enhancing patriotic enthusiasm and in firmly establishing the concept of motherland of which Tibet

is an inalienable part. Meanwhile, we should also understand: Patriotic education is a primary project that aims to upgrade the overall qualities of the whole nation. We should lay firm foundations, refrain from expecting to attain accomplishments overnight and unwaveringly uphold it for a long time.

Meanwhile, we should also pay attention to its contents and forms, formulate realistic programmes, and conduct patriotic education while doing actual work. Furthermore, we should mobilize the whole of society jointly to participate and administer, form rallying forces and jointly shoulder the responsibilities of conducting patriotic education among the cadres and masses. We need to point out: While conducting patriotic education among the broad masses of people, we should pay particular attention to conducting patriotic education among the broad masses of youngsters, resolutely eliminate the poison left in youngsters by splittist and religious idealist ideologies, make youngsters accept patriotism as their spiritual pillar and as a sharp weapon to beat the Dalai clique's ideological infiltration and enable them to form the concepts of cherishing the motherland and socialism when they are very young, so that they will become the Chinese nation's new generation of young people "who have revolutionary ideals, s

ound morals, good education and a strong sense of discipline" .

We believe: While launching patriotic education through abundant and colourful activities under the glorious banner of patriotism, people of various nationalities in Tibet will further enhance their invincible rallying forces and centripetal forces; build an indestructible steel bulwark while launching the great struggles of safeguarding the motherland's reunification and opposing splittism; further strengthen the propelling forces for reform and development; and attain more splendid accomplishments in facilitating material and spiritual civilization constructions.