Recently, a foreign so-called pro-Tibet organization released a report on the "Tibet question", making irresponsible and slanderous remarks that China is launching a "new crackdown on Buddhism" and a "second Cultural Revolution" in Tibet. That is a total distortion of the true situation of religion in Tibet, said Champa Phuntsok, chairman of the People's Government of China's Tibet Autonomous Region in an interview with Canada-based The Global and Mail on July 26.

The chairman pointed out that the report even attacks the inculcation of patriotism in the Buddhist monks and nuns in monasteries. Buddhist monks and nuns are also citizens of the country. "What is so wrong with educating our citizens to be patriotic? I was exasperated upon reading the report, which is full of lies and totally groundless."

In today's Tibet, religion and the freedom of religious belief are fully respected and protected through the sound implementation of the religious policy of the government. People there make their own independent decision on whether to believe in a religion or not, and the religion to follow. The government gives equal treatment and equal status to all religions, all religious sects, and to believers and non-believers.

At present, we have in our region more than 1,700 places of various kinds for religious services and more than 46,000 Buddhist monks and nuns. Religious believers can independently choose to go to monasteries or stay at home for Buddhist activities completely free from government intervention, he added.

Religious groups and places for religious services enjoy freedom in running religious activities and independence in managing their internal affairs as long as they abide by the Constitution and laws. Now, all the 40 and more traditional religious festivals in Tibet are well observed and celebrated.

He said that from 1980 to 2000, the Chinese government disbursed 310 million RMB Yuan for the renovation and protection of the monasteries in Tibet. In 2001, another 300 million RMB Yuan was allocated for the renovation of the cultural relics such as Potala Palace, Norbuglinkha and Sakya Monasteries.

The government has sorted out and published the Kangyur (Tibetan canonical collection of Buddhist scriptures) and is proceeding with a 6-year wood block itching project of the Tangyur (explanation of the Buddhist Sutras and Commandments). The project will produce more than 250 volumes, of which more than 100 volumes have been completed.

The religious policy of the government is supported and welcomed by the Tibetan people with religious faith in general and Buddhist monks and nuns in particular. In China, a country under the rule of law, anyone seeking to endanger state security or split the motherland will be brought justice.

What is really going on in Tibet? Only those who have been to Tibet are in a position to speak. We encourage you to come to Tibet to see for yourselves. We believe that after your visit, you will draw correct conclusions about who is telling the truth and who is spreading lies about Tibet of China, the chairman concluded.

By Chen Te'an, People's Daily Online