8-July-2006*Nongte

Yesterday, we were visited by Pema, Losang Tsering, and a large round driver (whose name escaped me) from the Jomda Department of Overseas Tibetans. They came to check us out. They wanted to know our names in Chinese and Tibetan, our birthdates, occupations, relationships with people here, and where we had visited. They also videotaped us.

Then Pema, who is local party chairman, launched into a long explanation of the Western Expansion (Xi Bu Kai Fang) and its benefits for Tibet. He explained that the central government is extremely kind to Tibet; also, its policies are extremely beneficial to Tibet. For example, he remarked, in prior times the roads were non-existent or extremely poor, but now the government is investing large sums of money into road building, which has great benefits for Tibetans.

He informed us that Mengkhang, Gonjo, and Jomdahave been designated as protected natural resource areas: hunting is prohibited, tree-cutting is restricted to only the amounts "required for locals to use in home heating and cooking." Furthermore, natural areas are to be kept natural while cultivated fields are to be kept in cultivation.

Pema told us that in the 70s and 80s there had been a central policy of trying to utilize every inch of space in China. The populace was instructed to build terraces where the land could be cultivated and to harvest forest resources in other areas. The result, in Tibet, had been massive erosion. Lacking forest and natural ground cover, runoff volumes had been amplified and sediment loads increased greatly. These changes resulted in devastating deadly floods in the flatland areas of central China. But, these policies have been reversed and now environmental protection is the new watchword.

This came as good news to me, and I told them I was very happy to hear this and that, were my countrymen to learn of it, they would be similarly pleased. I hope what he told me is true.

Pema also described other benefits of the central government's Western Expansion policy. He told us that in the past, Jomda was the first area of Tibet to be liberated by the PLA. They had come through this valley and up through Jomda. Similarly, this area is the first part of Tibet to reap the direct benefits of Western Expansion. He explained that goods from the interior, such as modern clothing, are now widely available in Tibet.

And he talked of the benefits of electrification. Now, many homes can use modern electrical appliances. And now, many homes have TVs. He explained that before, people could only sing, dance, or listen to Lamas for entertainment, but now they can watch TV or go to the towns for entertainment. "Xian zai, renao de difang doude hen!" (Now, lively places are very numerous.)

Pema also mentioned the fact that Tibetans pay no taxes. When work crews come from the interior, they have to pay taxes, but Tibetans do not have to pay any taxes on their incomes and business operations.

We told Pema about the road from Chamdo to Jomda, how torn up things are along the road side, and we described the devastating mining operation we had seen along the way. Pema explained that this was only the first stage of the mining operation; there is a 3-5 year plan, and when finished, they will cover over the mined areas and restore the vegetation. I listened with skepticism, but I do hope what he said is true. At the same time, I wonder what damage is being blithely inflicted in the interim, both to nearby and downstream river ecosystems.

They also told us that their office was there to assist visiting foreigners and overseas Tibetans. They gave us their phone numbers and told us to contact them in the future if we want to visit Jomda.

After this exchange, the threesome abruptly stood up, said their good-byes, and left.