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Living Buddha: Tibetans enjoy full religious freedom
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-19 16:04


Awang (L), an official from Xigaze of China's Tibet Autonomous Region and also a member of the delegation of Tibetan deputies of China's National People's Congress (NPC), talks with a representative of local overseas Chinese in New York, the United States, March 18, 2009. [Xinhua] 

The Chinese central government has earmarked special funds for the collection, collation and publishing of the text of the oral epic tale.

Chen Ching-chun, head of a Chinese society in New York, said he visited Tibet in 2007 and was convinced that "there is no such things like oppression of religion in Tibet."

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"I think the so-called religious oppression was fabricated by some Western media and politicians for their own interests," he said after the meeting.

Chen's comments were echoed by Hua Chuen-Hsiung, leader of another overseas Chinese association.

Hua, a Taiwanese American, said he visited Tibet in 1984 and 2005 and noticed great changes in Tibet during his second visit. "It's obvious that people's life has greatly improved," said Hua.

But Hua said most Western people know nothing about the achievements that Tibet has made over the last 50 years. "Their knowledge of Tibet is rather one-sided."