The 17-article agreement is the shortened version of
the Agreement between the Central People's Government and
the Local Government of Tibet on Measures for the Peaceful
Liberation of Tibet.
It was signed in Beijing
on May 23, 1951. The signing of the historic agreement
marked the peaceful liberation of Tibet.
In
April 1951, the Tibetan local government sent a five-member
delegation to Beijing, with Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme as chief
delegate, to talk with the central people's government on
matters regarding the peaceful liberation of Tibet.
The delegation arrived in Beijing April 26.
The Central People' s Government assigned Li Weihan as chief
delegate. As the central people's government gave full
consideration to the national policy and took the opinions
of Tibetan delegates, the negotiations were carried out
smoothly, culminating in the signing of an agreement on the
peaceful liberation of Tibet on May 23.
Main
contents of the 17-article agreement are as follows: The
Tibetan people shall unite and drive out imperialist
aggressive forces. The local government of Tibet shall
actively assist the PLA to enter Tibet and consolidate the
national defense. The Tibetan people have the right of
exercising national regional autonomy under the unified
leadership of the Central People's Government. Funds needed
by the military and administrative committee, the military
area headquarters and the People's Liberation Army entering
Tibet shall be provided by the Central People's Government.
Tibetan people will enjoy freedom of religious belief. The
revenue of lamaseries will remain unchanged.
After signing the agreement, Zhang Jingwu was
appointed as the representative of the Central People's
Government to Tibet. Meanwhile, the Chinese People's
Liberation Army marched into Tibet from four directions and
entered Lhasa in October.
(Xinhua 05/22/2001)
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