(TibetanReview.net, Aug20, 2015) – China said it was strengthening security measures in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) in preparation for its 50 anniversary celebrations early next month. Ms Sun Chunlan, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of the CPC United Front Work Department, hosted a meeting Aug 17 to discuss preparations for the central delegation’s visit to the TAR for the purpose, reported China’s online Tibet news service eng.tibet.cn Aug 18, citing the official Xinhua news agency.
However, there is no official announcement of the exact date for the anniversary celebrations, which are likely to be held in early September, reported China’s international party mouthpiece Global times Aug 18.
There is also no information about who will lead the central delegation for the celebrations.
However, there have been several official and non-official reports about the security measures being taken for the celebrations, including large scale troop movements, the suspension of the issuing of travel permits to visit the TAR for at least the first week of September, and postal service restrictions.
The Global times report cited Wu Yingjie, vice secretary of the Communist Party of China Tibet Committee, as saying that for the upcoming 50th anniversary, public support will be sought to safeguard security, and religious activities will be organized in an orderly manner with the strengthened management of temples.
The report also noted that the Tibet Armed Police Frontier Corps had held an oath-taking rally on Jul 12, vowing to protect regional stability.
Sun was cited as saying holding the 50th anniversary celebrations of TAR was very significant to encourage the people of Tibet to closely unite around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the general secretary, boost morale and confidence together with people across the country to achieve a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way and realize the long-term stability in time.
This did not necessarily mean that Xi will lead the central delegation. Xi did lead a 59-member central delegation in Jul 2011 for celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the so-called peaceful liberation of Tibet when he was the Vice-President of China.