I learned in books that the ferocious-looking men of Kham are strong "warriors of Tibet", coming from the toughest tribe, wearing long hair and carrying long knives.

Yet I had a better understanding of their determined minds as I interviewed incumbent chairman Losang Jamcan, and two former chairmen, Qiangba Puncog and Padma Choling, of the Tibet autonomous region.

The three hail from Qamdo prefecture in eastern Tibet and are deputies attending the annual session of the National People's Congress.