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Lobsang Gyaltsen (often written as Losang Jamcan) was appointed Governor for the TAR in January 2013. At the time Reuters  described him as “a hardline ethnic Tibetan” whose appointment was “a signal that the government has no plans to ease up on its tight control on the Himalayan region” Lobsang Gyalten replaced Padma Choling, and was subsequently himself replaced by Che Dalha in 2016, becoming Chair of the Standing Committee of the TAR People’s Congress. He was an Alternate Member of the 18th Central Committee (becoming a full member at the 18th CC’s final plenum in October 2017) and is now a member of the 19th Central Committee (one of only two Tibetans along with Che Dalha).

Lobsang Gyaltsen was formerly mayor of Tibetan capital Lhasa and once taught Marxist theory, according to his official biography. He has a background in the Communist Youth League.

“He’s rather hardline, but all officials at that level are the same,” said prominent Tibetan writer Woeser at the time of Lobsang Gyaltsen’s appointment. “There will be no real change in Tibet.”

This has been borne out by pledges that during his governorship the government would “resolutely struggle” against exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. “We will unswervingly protect the unity of the motherland and ethnic harmony … and maintain harmony and stability in Tibet,” the China News Service quoted him as saying. “Harmony and stability are the basic guarantee of Tibet’s development and prosperity,” he added.

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• Website: www.gov.cn
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