A German social advisor has challenged the Dalai Lama's accusation of alleged "cultural genocide" in Tibet, in an article published Monday in the German daily Neues Deutschland.
Dorit Lehrack, who worked as a consultant for the development of Chinese non-governmental organizations for several years, elaborated her own experience in Tibet and how modern civilization has changed daily life there.
"More than 85 percent of Tibetans are now living in the countryside. Neither their culture nor their religious identity is threatened," said Lehrack, who worked in China from 1999 to 2006.
These Tibetans, most of them farmers or yak breeders, still maintain their religious traditions and do not worry about politics, Lehrack wrote in her article.
The central government in Beijing has issued decrees to offer free education in Tibet and the Tibetan language has enjoyed equal status with Putonghua as the official language in Tibet since 2002,she said.
The traditional Tibetan way of life has changed remarkably in the cities as a result of the opening of the region to both domestic and foreign tourists, and of external investment, which most Tibetans applaud, said Lehrack.
Local Tibetans welcome modernization, which has brought Lhasa better heating systems, various shops and decent toilets, she said.
"It is true that older people in Tibet sometimes find it difficult to follow the rapid development with all its good and bad sides, but this is also the case in Beijing and Shanghai," she pointed out.
According to Lehrack, about 30 large monasteries in Tibet are frequently visited by prospective monks and nuns, as well as worshippers.
"Under Chinese law, the practice of religion is guaranteed for Tibetans as for all other ethnic minorities and the Han-Chinese --as long as it is not abused for political purposes," Lehrack said.
(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2008) |