Residents of Kesong, Tibet's first village to launch the Democratic Reform in 1959, issued an open letter to the former serfs Friday ahead of the Serfs Emancipation Day.

Local villagers celebrate to mark the 50th anniversary of the emancipation of millions of serfs and slaves in old Tibet at Kesum village of Nedong County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 23, 2009.

"We will never return to the dark age of the feudal serf system under the rule of Dalai Lama. We must cherish the happy life now as we cherish our eyes," the letter said.

More than 400 villagers of Kesong in Shannan Prefecture set up a farmers' association in 1959 as the first village to implement the democratic reform which emancipated a million serfs.

Local peasant Dawa holds her family medical treatment account at Kesum village of Nedong County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 23, 2009.

Tibet legislators endorsed a bill in January to designate March 28 as an annual Serfs Emancipation Day.

"The proposal of writing the open letter wins supports throughout the village," said villager Sonam Dondrup. "We suffered a lot in old Tibet and are enjoying our lives now. We want to express our feelings and tell a new Tibet to the world."

"The 14th Dalai Lama did nothing good to us. Rather, he has not stopped disturbing our happy life. What he wants is to restore the old Tibet," the letter said.

It called for upholding socialism and building a harmonious society under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

(Xinhua News Agency March 28, 2009)