www.TibetanReview.net, May 2, 2008
While being under severe criticism for diluting Tibetan culture through relentless onslaught of Chinese immigration and Chinese domination of Tibet’s economy, governance and security set up, China has been seeking to boost the tourism value of the Tibetan culture by announcing funds for the restoration of temples, monasteries and other historical monuments. The latest is the largest cultural relics preservation project thus far launched on Apr 18.
The official Xinhua news agency reported Apr 18 that a 570 million yuan ($81.43 million) project will help preserve 22 historical and cultural relics in Tibet Autonomous Region. The project has significant political purpose as well, for the report cited Yudawa, the Tibet Regional Cultural Heritage Bureau director, as saying the project included 15 monasteries under state-level protection and seven historical sites proving the rule over Tibet by central governments through history.
The project spending would include 120 million yuan for the preservation of the 300,000-square-meter Tashi Lhunpo in Xigaze, 50 million yuan for the preservation of the Jokhang, Ramogia (Ramoche), Sanyai (Samye) and Samgya-Goutog monasteries.
All this is in addition to a 330 million yuan preservation project on the Potala Palace, Sagya Monastery and Norbu Lingka Palace begun in 2002 and expected to be finished this year.