The Tibetan Government-in-exile has in the past made its view known to foreign governments, international organizations and others wanting to help develop Tibet. The concept is that in principle any assistance given to Tibetans in Tibet will be welcomed provided it does not support Chinese government's policies of population transfer and colonisation of Tibet. This view comes from the belief that the Tibetan Government-in-exile has a responsibility for the welfare of all Tibetans, both in and outside Tibet.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama also affirms his support to international assistance in Tibet under the condition that the benefits accrue to the Tibetan people. Development projects should be within the framework of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Five Point Peace Plan. Projects should lead to economic, social, cultural and environmentally sustainable development as also envisaged in the "Guidelines for Tibet's Future Polite,' and the Basic Features of its Constitution". His Holiness The Dalai Lama said, "Future Tibet shall be a peace-loving nation, adhering to the principle of Ahimsa. It shall have a democratic system of government committed to preserving a clean, healthy and beautiful environment. Tibet shall be a completely demilitarised nation." Sustainable development of Tibet's extensive fragile resource base and the protection of its environment will be the foundation on which Tibet's future economic policy shall be based.

In May 1992, the Chinese government announced the creation of a "special economic zone" in the so called Tibet Autonomous Region. We believe that their objective is to stimulate foreign investment in the region to encourage settlement of Chinese in Tibet and to further consolidate Chinese political control in Tibet. It could also lead to further environmental degradation, depletion of Tibet's resources and result in further human rights abuses.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his 10th March, 1993 statement stated, "If the best interests of the Tibetan people are not kept in the forefront, there is a real danger that this policy will only promote and intensify the transfer of more Chinese into Tibet. This will further reduce the Tibetans to an insignificant minority in their own country, thus completing the thorough colonization of Tibet which will have serious consequences for its fragile environment."

Concerns with respect to the needs of the Tibetan people

How should governmental, non-governmental, business corporations and individuals be involved in the development of Tibet? The Tibetan Government-in-exile urge all those interested in development projects in Tibet to ensure that the projects and plans are clearly designed to improve the welfare of ordinary Tibetans and respond to local Tibetan needs and aspirations. Tibetans inside Tibet are in need of economic, education and health facilities. However, it must be for the Tibetan people themselves to decide what kind of assistance they need and how it is to be used.

There should be meaningful Tibetan participation in all decision-making and implementation phases of the projects. Projects should take into consideration local conditions and needs as perceived by the local Tibetan people. Land use varies with the diversity of terrain, although 70 percent of Tibet's area is under grassland. Further, the implementation of projects should not lead to environmental degradation or abuse of human and political rights. The underlying principle in the development of Tibet should be for and by the people of Tibet.

Development should refer not only to material and economic well-being for the Tibetans, but should also cover social, political and cultural development. The Tibetan government-in-exile's concept of sustainable development, takes into consideration not only the needs and requirements of the present Tibetan generation but also the needs of future generations.

In accordance with these objectives, development projects in Tibet should be in conformity with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP):

"The basic objective of human development is to enlarge the range of people's choices to make development more democratic and participatory. These choices should include access to income and employment opportunities, education, health, and a clean and safe environment. Each individual should also have the opportunity to participate fully in community decisions and to enjoy human, economic and political freedoms." (UNDP, Human Development Report 1991)

The Term 'Tibet'

What the Chinese now call "Tibet" or Xizang in Chinese, refers exclusively to the so-called 'Tibet Autonomous Region' (TAR) founded in 1965, consisting of U-tsang (Central and South Tibet) and a small part of Kham (south eastern Tibet). The major portion of Kham and Amdo (north eastern Tibet) is incorporated into the Chinese provinces of Sichuan, Gansu, Qinghai and Yunnan. The term 'Tibet' here will mean the whole of Tibet including the regions of Amdo, Kham and U-tsang, Cholka-sum in Tibetan.

The long-term goals of development policy and projects should be:

1. to transform the whole of Tibet into a zone of peace and non-violence. This would be in keeping with Tibet's historical role as a peaceful neutral nation, promoting stability and peace on the Asian continent;
2. to transform Tibet into a country based on democratic principles where every individual irrespective of birth, sex or religion can freely practice his/her religion, culture, and economic activities;
3. to restore and preserve Tibet's fragile natural environment; and
4. to reverse the process of marginalisation of Tibetans in Tibet and restore to Tibetans free control over their own destiny.

The short-term goals of development policy and projects should be:

1 To provide basic amenities like health and education to all Tibetans. Priority should be given to health and education in rural areas;
2. to provide opportunities for traditional and modern education, basic as well as vocational training;
3. to improve the standard of living of Tibetans;
4. to encourage projects aimed at providing employment to Tibetans in both urban and rural areas;
5 to revive and preserve the Tibetan culture, religion, medical system, traditional arts, crafts and sciences;
6. to train Tibetans in all economic, technical, administrative, managerial and professional fields, in order that Tibetans once again can take the leading role in all sectors of Tibetan society and political and economic life;
7. to improve communication facilities within Tibet and with the outside world; and
8. to provide opportunities for Tibetans to study abroad.

Guidelines for projects and investments:

In light of the above objectives, the following guidelines are proposed for engagement in development projects in Tibet.

1. Development projects should be small-scale, decentralized initiatives in which Tibetans have control. Large-scale projects are discouraged. Promotion of appropriate technology enterprises is strongly urged;
2. All development initiatives should be preceded by social, cultural and environmental impact assessments;
3. Projects that intensify and promote transfer of Chinese into Tibet should be opposed;
4. Development projects should use on a priority basis available trained and qualified Tibetans and should provide effective and appropriate training and education to other Tibetans including, where appropriate, training in foreign languages;
5. Tibetan should be used as the working language of projects to the extent possible. It will be important for the development project staff to know the Tibetan language;
6. Projects should involve systematic and meaningful Tibetan participation in all phases including the identification, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation;
7. Development projects must not directly or indirectly use prison or forced or child labour. They must not assist or help in experimenting, producing and obtaining military or police equipment that can be used against the Tibetan people;
8. Special attention should be paid to education, welfare and general upliftment of the position of Tibetan women.
9. 'The project managers, sponsors, and funding agents should regularly monitor and evaluate the projects to ensure that these guidelines and any conditions stipulated in the agreement are respected;
10. Projects should respect Tibetan culture and way of life as well as the aspirations of the Tibetan people.
11. Development projects should foster self-sufficiency and self-reliance of Tibetans. Programmes and projects should strive to draw on renewable resources available locally

Priority Fields:

Bearing in mind the above guidelines, the Tibetan government-in-exile recommends the following priority areas:

1. Rural health
2. Rural education
3. Strengthening and development of village level development organisations and human resources
4. Small scale enterprises using appropriate technologies
5. Small scale hydro-electric projects providing power to Tibetan villages
6. Training in traditional medicines
7. Technical, professional opportunities abroad
8. Adult literacy programs
9. High altitude research centers on nomadic farming, desert irrigation, livestock rearing, fodder, vegetation and solar energy etc.
10. Animal husbandry and dairy farming
11. Horticulture
12. Cultivation of medicinal plants
13. Sustainable agriculture
14. Traditional arts and crafts
15. Ecologically sustainable tourism
16. Woollen garment manufacture.
17. Forestry
18. Cultural projects to restore monasteries, nunneries, libraries, and historical sites.

For more information and for discussion of specific proposals contact or consult:

Environment and Development Desk
Department of Information and International Relations
Central Tibetan Administion
Gangchen Kyishong
Dharamsala - 176215
INDIA
e-mail: diir@dsala.tibet.net
Tel: 0091-1892-22510
Fax: 0091-1892-24957
November 1994

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