Text of report by Chinese regional newspaper from Tibet `Xizang Ribao' by 'Xizang Ribao' reporter Yixi Jiacuo (4135 6007 0502 2238; Tibetan: Yeshey Gyamtso) entitled: "'The education in patriotism warms the hearts of monks and the beneficence of saving the monastery and monks will last for one thousand years'; Zhebung [Drepung] monastery holds ceremony to inaugurate management committee; Basang, Lieque and other autonomous regional leaders present"

The ceremony for the establishment and inauguration of the Zhebung [Drepung; one of the three principal monasteries of the dominant Gyelug school of Buddhism] Monastery Management Committee was held at the Great Gandanpozhang [Ganden Phodrang] Hall in the Zhebung Monastery on 11th December.

Tibet party, government and military leaders, including Basang, Lieque, Pudoje, Gyamco, Gyibug Puncog Cedain, Luosang Toinzhub, Zhou Qishun and Duojia (1122 0857), attended the ceremony. The sun shone on and monks gathered at the Zhebung Monastery - a notable temple of Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet - on the morning of 11th December; an atmosphere of harmony and jubilation filled the hall. The monastery management committee and the monastery Buddhist affairs committee, long expected by Eminent Monk Dade and monks of the Zhebung Monastery, were officially established. At that moment, the feelings of hundreds of monks of the Zhebung Monastery were just like what was inscribed on the banner presented to the autonomous regional work group by the Zhebung Monastery Management Committee: "The education in patriotism warms the hearts of monks and the beneficence of saving the monastery and monks will last for one thousand years."

The ceremony for the establishment and inauguration of the Zhebung Monastery Management Committee was presided over by Lawang Ouzhu (2139 2489 2962 3796), executive vice-chairman of the committee. Regional party, government and military leaders attending the ceremony presented hadas [cermonial scarves of white silk] to the entire members of the Zhebung Monastery Management Committee on behalf of the autonomous regional party committee, people's congress, government, committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and Tibet Military District, respectively.

Under the direct guidance of the autonomous regional party committee and government as well as the coordination of the Zhebung Monastery Management Committee and monks, the work group has gone into the midst of the monks to conduct an investigation and learn about the basic conditions in the monastery over the past five months, with the understanding that regular religious activities should not be interrupted. In the meantime, they publicized the principles and policies of the party and government as well as organized the study of laws, policies towards religion, history of Tibet and the fight against splittism by monks. As a result, monks are clearly more aware of the aforementioned matters. The great majority of monks have grasped the state constitution, relevant legal knowledge, and the basic requirements of the party and governments on religious work, organizations, and personnel. They have learned to respect history, refute reactionary remarks and views of splittists with objective facts, and fight spli

ttism and criticize the Dalai with perfect assurance. The work group has also started formulating regulations on personnel and others and has stipulated 11 sets of regulations and rules, including the "Regulations on Zhebung Monastery Management Committee" and "Rules for Preserving and Managing Cultural Relics". With the cooperation of the monastery management committee, they have conducted a survey of the materials, financial conditions and cultural relics; set up accounts; improved the administration system; and solved long-standing problems. The work group has raised 500,000 yuan or more to build audio-visual classrooms, medical care rooms, broadcasting stations; renovated part of power supply lines; and changed the transformers. Comrades of the work group have made donations to help monks solve their difficulties in life and seek medical care and have donated 58 scrolls of sutra [religious texts] to Zhebung Monastery.

Basang Toinzhub, interim party committee member and secretariat chief of the Zhebung Monastery work group and deputy director of the organization department under the autonomous regional party committee, extended warm congratulations for the establishment and inauguration of the Zhebung Monastery Management Committee on behalf of all comrades of the work group. He said: The establishment of the Zhebung Monastery Management Committee is the result of the education in patriotism, as well as a new starting point of various work in the Zhebung Monastery. He asked the management committee and monks of the monastery to, first of all, unswervingly follow the leadership of the people's government, firmly implement the party's policies towards religion and other principles and policies. He urged them to take a firm and clear-cut stand in fighting splittism; resolutely resist the political infiltration of hostile forces from abroad; work for political stability, economic development and social progress in Tibet; make

sure the party and government's decrees are carried out without obstruction in the monastery; and complete all missions handed down by the people's government. Second, he called for conducting political education in patriotism, socialism, current events and policies, and state laws and regulations among monks on a regular basis, so as to enhance the awareness of the broad masses of monks in safeguarding the unification of the motherland and maintaining national unity. In the meantime, monks should be guided to actively participate in the building of socialist material civilization and spiritual civilization, so as to become law-abiding monks who love the country and religion. Third, he demanded that regular religious activities be conducted according to the party's policy towards religion and that efforts be exerted to train middle-aged and young religious professionals, who are politically progressive and are greatly learned in religion. Fourth, he demanded that the principle of supporting the monastery wit

h the monastery itself be adhered and that the undertaking of production and service be well run to improve Buddhist activities in the monastery and the living and studying conditions of monks. Fifth, he called for constantly strengthening the inner construction of the leading body and stressed unity in properly constructing and managing the monastery. Sixth, he called for vigorously directing religious reform and eliminating outdated practices that do not conform to socialism and the progress of the times, while carrying forward the fine traditions of the Tibetan Buddhism.

Laba Cering (2139 1572 2945 0088), director of Lhasa City Bureau of Nationalities and Religious Affairs; and Lusang Wangqiu (3157 2718 2489 4428), chairman of the Zhebung Monastery Management Committee, also spoke.