In the past the monasteries were controlled by lamas of the top ranks of the religious hierarchy who came from families of the nobility and tribal chieftains and enjoyed feudal privileges. Not a few of these lamas used the monasteries to plot and carry out rebellion and counter-revolutionary activities. Profound political and economic contradictions existed between them and the mass of labouring people. In the course of putting down the rebellion and carrying out democratic reform, the Communist Party on the one hand adopted a policy of religious freedom towards those lamas of the top ranks of the hierarchy in the monasteries and people in religious circles who did not take part in the rebellion, protected the monasteries under patriotic and law-abiding lamas, also patriotic and law-abiding people in religious circles, protected legitimate religious activities, and made appropriate arrangements for them both politically and economically. On the other hand, a campaign was launched in the monasteries against rebellion, feudal privileges and the system of feudal exploitation and oppression; a system of democratic administration was introduced in the monasteries. Since democratic reform in the monasteries was firmly carried out according to the principle of political unification and religious freedom, it was supported by the broad masses of the people as well as by patriotic individuals in religious circles.

During the course of democratic reform, Panchen Erdeni put forward five points for the work of the monasteries. They are: 1. the monasteries must give up exploitation; 2. the monasteries must implement democratic administration; 3. the monasteries must observe government laws and statutes and the Constitution of the People's Republic of China; 4. the monasteries must engage in production; 5. the Government will guarantee the livelihood of the old and young lamas and professional reciters of the scriptures. These five points are excellent and have been carried out step by step in the work of the monasteries. Also upon the suggestion of Panchen Erdeni, a group of learned lamas has been organized for research and profound study of the Buddhist scriptures.

National Regional Autonomy

The aim of introducing democratic reform in Tibet is to liberate its productive forces, develop Tibet's political, economic and cultural undertakings and raise the living standards of the Tibetan labouring people so that the Tibetans in Tibet may prosper in socialist China and join the ranks of the more advanced nationalities.

The Communist Party's basic policy on the national question is to bring about equality and unity among the nationalities. National regional autonomy is an essential sign of the realization of equality and unity among the nationalities. It means that a national minority administers its own internal affairs. This can be carried out in China only under the leadership of the working class and its vanguard, the Communist Party. The Party's policy of national regional autonomy has been written into the Constitution of China.

It is explicitly stipulated in the Agreement on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet that national regional autonomy will be carried out in Tibet. The Preparatory Committee for the Tibet Autonomous Region was established in 1956. In spite of obstruction and sabotage by the reactionary clique of the Tibetan upper strata, working personnel and the People's Liberation Army in Tibet have firmly upheld the policy of national equality and unity, treated the Tibetans as equals, respected their customs and habits, helped them build highways, set up schools, hospitals, develop trade and granted them agricultural loans, thereby strengthening the unity between Hans and Tibetans and among the Tibetans themselves. As a result of the armed rebellion in March 1959, the State Council dissolved the former Tibetan local government and the Preparatory Committee for the Tibet Autonomous Region took over the functions and power of the local government.

In order to implement national regional autonomy, large numbers of minority cadres must be trained. Only when this has been done can the people of the nationality concerned exercise their rights as masters in their own house.

The preparatory work to set up the Tibet Autonomous Region is being stepped up. Among the 11 chairman and vice-chairmen of the Preparatory Committee nine are of Tibetan nationality. The administrative organs for the seven special administrative regions, one municipality and 72 counties of the Tibet region have been set up. In addition, 283 district and 1,009 township administrative organs have been established. In all there are today in Tibet over 6,000 cadres of Tibetan nationality, among whom over 300 hold leading posts as heads of special administrative regions, counties and districts. More than 1,000 of them have joined the Communist Party and over 2,000 have joined the Communist Youth League. When conditions are ripe, general elections will be held in Tibet to establish the people's congresses and the Tibet Autonomous Region itself.

While continuing to train large numbers of cadres of Tibetan nationality, it is also necessary to have a certain number of cadres of Han and other nationalities to help build a prosperous and happy new Tibet. Tibetan and Han cadres co-operate closely, respecting, confiding in, learning from and helping each other.

Tasks Ahead

The task that lies ahead in Tibet is to complete democratic reform thoroughly and prepare the conditions for socialist transformation. In order to fulfil this task, efforts are, first of all, being concentrated on leading the masses to develop production, bring about economic prosperity, improve the people's livelihood and rid the region of poverty and backwardness, the legacy of feudal serfdom, Among other things, efforts are also being made to educate the masses ideologically and politically in the democratic revolution, to educate them in patriotism as well as in the prospects of socialism, to strengthen united front work, to bring about unity with and to educate the people of the upper social strata, to expand Communist Party and Communist Youth League organizations, and to prepare actively for general elections and for the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

(This article appears on page 5, No. 23, 1962)