THE article headlined, 'More cash spent on Tibetan relics work' (South China Morning Post, September 6), reported official Chinese media claims that Tibet's cultural relics were damaged by Tibetan carelessness not Chinese soldiers. China admits many temples were 'defaced' during the Cultural Revolution of 1966-1976, but denies previous damage. But, from 1949 to 1966, Deng Xiaoping was second-in-command of China's Southwest Military Command, stationed in Chengdu. Under Marshall Liu Po Cheng, Deng was personally responsible for the invasion and 'liberation' of Tibet, starting in 1949.
It was under Deng's direction that the premeditated destruction of Tibet, its religion, and the genocide of the Tibetan people took place. The worst atrocities were in eastern Tibet from 1956 on, and in Central Tibet from 1959, after the Dalai Lama escaped to India. By the start of the Cultural Revolution in 1966, thousands of ancient monasteries had been looted and were occupied by the PLA including the Potala and Norbulinka Palaces. The personal treasures of the Dalai Lama were stolen. Tibetans were forbidden to enter.
From information contained in a secret Chinese internal report, it is clear that by 1966 up to half a million Tibetans had been murdered by Deng's troops in the Southwest and Wang Trin's soldiers in the Northwest.
Deng was responsible for the complete physical destruction of the monasteries in 1962 and 1963 - before the Cultural Revolution. An internal Chinese report reveals that the orders for this cautioned that the destruction should start slowly in Central Tibet, avoiding the border areas which would attract attention from the outside world. Once the Cultural Revolution began, the Red Guards were encouraged to complete the destruction Deng had begun.
These facts have been hidden from the Chinese people and it is clear why Deng Xiaoping has resisted all reasonable attempts by the Dalai Lama to resolve the issue of Tibet. Dialogue would inevitably exhume the truth.
The events of those times compare with the Holocaust as crimes against humanity. As history is reviewed at the time of Deng's passing, let those Chinese with a conscience who know the truth of Deng's career in the Southwest Military Bureau, also think the unthinkable and speak out the truth - that the tragedy had nothing to do with 'Tibetan carelessness'.