TIBETAN REFORM

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28938, 4 July 1959, Page 13

TIBETAN REFORM

Peking’s Plans

(Rec. 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 3. * Communist China last night revealed that it was still fleeting resistance in Tibet, the American Associated Press reported. It called for a “thorough suppression of the rebellion” as a first step in a programme of drastic reform.

Peking Radio said the reforms were outlined at a meeting in Lhasa of the Preparatory Committee, through which the Chinese Communist Army ruled Tibet The reforms meant the end of the religious rule which had governed Tibet for centuries.

Land and cattle owner* who supported the Tibetan revolt would be dispossessed and their land redistributed, the radio said. Those who did not support the revolt would be “bought out” and guaranteed a livelihood. The main speaker at the meeting was the Panchen Lama, installed by the Communists as Tibet’s puppet ruler after the Dalai Lama fled to India, said the American Associated Press.

According to Peking. he announced that “feudal oppression and exploitation in the monasteries will be abolished” but emphasised that this meant no infringement of religious belief. He said that the Chinese Army, with Tibetan help, bad **in the main** put down the rebellion and now controlled remote areas which were held by the rebels. The Preparatory Committee’s vice-chairman. Mr Chang Kuohua, said, however, that the flrs\ stage of reform must be to suppress the rebellion thoroughly and then wipe out serf labour.

“OM BagfaM** To Ge This, he said, would be followed by the land distribution and abolition of the old regime in the villages.

“Temples and monasteries will inevitably be involved in the reform*, since the temple* and monasteries and some of the highranking lamas in them possess manorial estates and own serfs," he said.

Mr Chang added a hint*that some of Tibet** thousand* of lamas might be eased out of the monasteries and put to work. “The lama* should be given freedom of the individual and recognised as citizen*. Like all other people they should enjoy th? rights and duties of citizen* a* stipulated ingthe Constitution,” he