Published by: World Tibet Network News Monday, December 22, 1997

[Xinhua is the official news agency of the PRC]

NEW YORK, 22 Dec 97 (Xinhua) -- Tibetans are enjoying total religious freedom, contrary to Western accusations of "religious destruction" and "monastery destruction" there, a group of visiting Chinese Tibetologists said here last week.

Under the reform and openness policy, China's central government has allocated more than 300 million yuan (US$36 million) in restoring and opening 1,700 monasteries in Tibet, said Li Guoqing, research fellow of the China Tibetology Centre.

There are 460,000 Buddhist monks in Tibet with a population of 2.4 million and religious festivals are held regularly, he added.

Rebutting the rumour the Tibetan population is declining, Dotar, another centre research fellow, said the ratio of 97:3 between Tibetans and other nationalities including Hans has always been maintained.

Tibet's image has dramatically changed since the democratic reform started in 1959, said Choejor, who is of Tibetan origin and has worked more than 30 years with media in Tibet.

Economic output in Tibet has grown nearly 10 times in the last four decades and 85 per cent of the population have got rid of poverty, he said.

A transport net with Lhasa as the centre and international communications facilities have been built up.

Life expectancy rose from 36 years in 1959 to 67 as a result of the improvement in living conditions.

The transformation should be attributed to the support of the central government and various provinces, Choejor said, adding the State government has channelled more than 40 billion yuan (US$5 billion) into Tibet's projects.

Li emphasized Tibet is an inalienable part of China, and that any separatist attempt will not be successful.