Rights Group Says New Housing Campaign Deepening Poverty in Rural Tibet

[Bishka]

A Chinese Government campaign requiring Tibetan villagers to rebuild their houses under strict official specifications is leading to poverty rather than boosting economic development, according to a report by the New York based Human Rights Watch.


The report, dated December 20, 2006, says the campaign, "Namdrang Rangdrik", began in 2005 as part of China's 11th Five-Year Plan. "Tibetans have reported being told by local officials that clean, modern houses are necessary to make a good impression on growing numbers of visitors and tourists as the region modernizes," it said.

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