Qamdo of Tibet Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Liberation

China Celebrates 50th Anniversary of Qamdo's Liberation

A grand ceremony was held Thursday in Qamdo, a city in eastern Tibet, to mark the 50th anniversary of the city's liberation.

It unveiled colorful activities to celebrate the occasion and for the peaceful liberation of Tibet. Qamdo was the first liberated Tibetan city since the founding of new China in 1949. At that time, Tibet and Taiwan were the only places yet to be liberated. The battle of Qamdo was the last military operation that unified the Chinese mainland, paving the way for the peaceful liberation of Tibet in the following year.

Raidi (his full name), deputy secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said in a speech delivered at today's mass rally, "The liberation of Qamdo foiled the attempts of imperialists and reactionaries among members of the upper strata in Tibet. It is of far-reaching significance to the unification of the Chinese mainland."

Qamdo was immersed in a festive atmosphere today. Buddhist horns blew in unison, streamers fluttered in the air. Tibetans, clad in their holiday best, sang and danced in the People's Square.A team of 100 lamas with masks performed a dance of auspiciousness.

The ancient city of Qamdo has long been regarded as the eastern gate of Tibet. In 1950, Chairman Mao Zedong issued a directive, ordering the Chinese People's Liberation Army to drive on to Tibet.

Entrusted by the central government, Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, then chief administrator of Qamdo, conveyed the central government's order to Dalai after Qamdo's liberation, urging the local government to negotiate with the central government.

Gyaincain Puncog, who served then as chief secretary of Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme, said, "We briefed Dalai on the bravery and virtue of the liberation army soldiers and the lenient policy of the central government to dispel their misgivings and asked them to consider the offer of negotiation."

Soon after, Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme was appointed the representative of the negotiation team sent by the local government. Dalai also signed a document to greet the PLA to Tibet.

The aim of the peaceful liberation of Tibet is to drive out imperialist forces, consolidate the border area and help Tibetan people to get rid of the yoke of serf system and embark on the road of modernization.

Losong Qoizhoin, an old Tibetan lady attending today's celebration, said, "The liberation of Qamdo has brought about tremendous changes. The seven members in my family used to share one quilt. After the liberation, we were given a piece of farmland and my two younger brothers were able to go to school."

An exhibition opened here today shows Qamdo is now a symbol of modern Tibet. The first meteorological station, first hydrologic station and the first primary school in Tibet were all built in Qamdo. The world's highest airport, coal mine and office building are also located in Qamdo.

By the end of 1999, the grain output of Qamdo Prefecture tripled the 1959 figure to reach 142 million kg. The annual per capita net income of local farmers and herdsmen averaged 1,393 yuan, 10 times the figure 41 years ago. The highway mileage of Qamdo, where yaks were the only means of transportation in pre-liberation days, has sprawled to 5,240 km.

Qamdo is also one of the best cities in Tibet to protect traditional culture and ethnic customs. The number of temples and lamaseries has risen to over 500 with 20,000 lamas.