by H. Asher Bolande

BEIJING, Jan 24 (AFP) - China's media on Friday renewed pressure on exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, accusing him of lying about its rule in the Himalayan region during his travels last year.

An official news report from Tibet seen here Friday said authorities had made "resolute" struggle against separatism and religious disorder top policy priorities for 1997.

A commentary in the official China Daily not only targeted the Dalai Lama but a chorus of "biased" Western media, which it said had promoted false information originating from him.

In his 1996 travels, the Dalai Lama "showed up in Denmark, Germany, Australia and South Africa under all kinds of excuses, trying to convince the world with his groundless 'bad news' about Tibet and win sympathy," it said.

"Some biased Western media have joined the anti-China chorus by promoting the 'bad news' ... But those people who have some basic knowledge about Tibet will not be fooled by lies and fabrications," said the commentary, which was also published by the official Xinhua news agency.

"Prejudiced Western media" have supported the Dalai Lama's allegations of cultural genocide in Tibet by reporting that Chinese were pulling down buildings in Lhasa's historic old city, it said.

The article said the Beijing-backed Tibetan authorities had in fact been paying "great attention" to the protection of the area's culture and architectural heritage and had invested in the region.

"The (Chinese) central government has allocated 216 million yuan (26 million dollars) to repair the Potala Palace, the Jokhang Monastery and many other religious buildings in recent years, winning wide acclaim from cultural and religious leaders in Tibet," it said.

The commentary also defended the financial administration of the region, saying the Chinese government had not demanded tax or revenue from Tibet but had invested 35 billion yuan (4.2 billion dollars) since 1952 in a bid to "encourage" the region's development.

Meanwhile, a report from the official Tibet Daily seen in Beijing on Friday indicated that authorities in the region had set as their top priorities this year "struggling resolutely against separatism and ... suppression of criminal activity."

Citing a recent working party meeting, the January 16 report said: "Leading cadres must effectively take responsibility for struggle against the Dalai Lama to safeguard social stability, as well as for return order to the monasteries."

The leaders urged the implementation of "patriotic education" among Buddhist monks and nuns.

China seized control of Tibet in 1951. The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after a failed anti-Chinese uprising in his homeland.

His government-in-exile is not recognised by any country, but his campaign for self-determination in Tibet has received international recognition, including the Nobel peace prize.

Tensions have been mounting between the Dalai Lama's followers and Beijing since 1995 when the Dalai Lama unilaterally named the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, Tibetan Buddhism's second highest figure.

Beijing swiftly imposed its own choice, but was seriously disturbed at the level of popular support for the Dalai Lama and banned all pictures of the spiritual leader in May, launching "re-education" campaigns in monasteries.

The latest media attack came ahead of reported plans by the spiritual leader to visit Taiwan in March for the first time.

On Wednesday, a spokesman for the Dalai Lama said no dates had been set for the visit, at the invitation of a Taiwanese Buddhist group, but added that Taiwan's government had pledged it would not interfere if the cleric chose to make the trip.

Although Taiwan authorities, like those on the mainland, view Tibet as a part of China, the visit is seen as rubbing China's top two separatist threats simultaneously.

Beijing views Taiwan which has been ruled since 1949 by defeated nationalists who fled China at the end of a civil war as a renegade province.