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World Tibet Network News Tuesday, October 3, 1995

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2. A Tourist's account of visit to Central Tibet

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DHARAMSALA, October 2, 1995 (DIIR) -- An Australian tourist,
who does not wish to be named, travelled
to Tibet between May 28th 1995 to June 26, 1995. She entered
Tibet as a regular tourist with no formal knowledge of the
prevailing situation in Tibet. The following is a random account
of her observations received by the Human Rights Desk.

* I arrived in Tibet on May 28, 1995. From Lhasa, I travelled
to Shigatse and Mt. Kailash. To travel to Mt. Kailash, we [the
tourists] were required to get three different permits and had to
pass through three check points to reach there. We learned that
western tourists who hitch hiked instead of going through Chinese
approved travel agencies were being fined by the authorities. Two
Canadian men, whom I met at the bank told me that they had been
fined 500 Yuan for hitch hiking without permits.

* Along the Friendship Highway, I noticed hundreds of Chinese
in green uniforms, perhaps military personnel, digging long
trenches. They seemed to be installing telephone and electricity
lines. Also, along the way we came across a Chinese driver whose
truck was being confiscated for he had given a ride to three
westerners. At one point we witnessed western tourists being
harassed by the Chinese Police for travelling without permits
whereby the Chinese police were getting quite abusive, asking the
tourists to pay heavy fines. I discovered later that the tourists
were able to bargain down the amount of their fines with their
student cards.

* While in Mt. Kailash, we watched the Tibetans performing
religious rites in celebration of the Saka Dawa festival. The
presence of police here was conspicuous and seemed incongruent,
with the sacredness of the celebrations. There were at least six
plain clothes policemen patrolling the area where the festival
was being held.

* On our way to Lhasa from Shigatse, we were not allowed to
travel by those private mini buses which were cheaper than the
government owned coaches.

* While in Lhasa, I did not go inside the Potala Palace. It
just did not feel right having to pay the 45 yuan entrance fee as
if the palace were a museum and what with all the Chinese
tourists from Chengdu and Chinese shops at the foot of the
palace.

* In the border area of Zhangmu, I noticed half a dozen
Chinese officials in green uniforms poised with machine guns in
their hands. We were told that they were training, although they
presented a very unconvincing picture of being trained.

* I left Tibet on June 26, 1995.


THE HUMAN RIGHTS UPDATE
The Department of Information &
International Relations,
Central Tibetan Administration
Dharamsala, HP 176 215
INDIA.

Please Contact the above address for more information on Tibet.
We would also like to have any information on China's policy in
Tibet and the human rights situation in Tibet.

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Articles in this Issue:

1. Thirty Years "Celebration" in Lhasa : A REPORT FROM TIBET.
2. A Tourist's account of visit to Central Tibet
3. China and US disagree on visits by Taiwan's leaders to the US.
4. China ``acid rain'' city losses equal budget income

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