Published by World Tibet Network News - Wednesday, March 26, 1997

The Government issued a decree today 26.2.97 announcing that 72 tour guides who had gone for schooling in India and Nepal as not eligable to apply for the 1997 tour guide permit. The guides mostly between the ages of 18-32 were officially let go by supervisors early today. They were told they were no longer qualified for positions many had held for several years. To be a guide in Tibet every guide must pass a test and then buy the license. The 72 guides are banned from taking the test and receiving the license. In addition, the price for a license doubled this year from 100 yuan to 800 yuan. 800 yuan is apporx. equal to $100 American cash.

This decision is an incredible blow to the young professional population in Lhasa, Many of these Tibetans are tour guides because they can speak English, a skill they could only be taught in an exiled school. Many left because educationally there is little available for Tibetans.

(I got this from directly from Tibet. This is an EXACT translation of the letter I recieved. Evan Silverman )