Annual Report, 1999 - Tibet: Tightening of Control
The Chinese government is conducting a deliberate and
systematic campaign which is eroding the foundations of
Buddhism in Tibet. Monastic institutions, the traditional
centres of Buddhist activity, have come under assault
since May 1996 with the inception of the "Strike Hard"
campaign. Throughout Tibet, monasteries and nunneries
have been visited by "work team"" conducting "patriotic
re-education" campaigns aimed at forcibly repressing
support for the Dalai Lama, the Panchen Lama, and Tibetan
independence. The impositions caused by the "work team"",
along with restrictions imposed by the Chinese government
denies Tibetans their guaranteed right to freedom of
religion.
Control of monastic institutions has been usurped
by the CCP further endangering traditional Buddhist
practices through the imposition of Democratic Management
Committees (DMC). The U.S. State Department reports
that, "the Government ... retains management control of
the monasteries through the government-controlled DMC
and the local Religious Affairs Bureau. In April 1996,
regulations restricted leadership of management committees
of monasteries to 'patriotic and devoted' monks and nuns
and specified that the government must approve all members
of the committees."
The official goals of this campaign are to crack down on
crime and corruption; but the activities of the Chinese
"work team"" in Tibetan religious institutions indicate
that the true targets are the "splittists", or those
individuals who support Tibetan freedom and the Dalai
Lama. There has been widespread resistance and resentment
in monastic institutions in response to this campaign. As
a result, 11,409 monks and nuns are known to have been
expelled from their monasteries and nunneries since
1996. This figure includes 1,729 nuns and 9,952 monks.
In 1999, TCHRD has received information of the expulsion of
1,432 monks and nuns from their monasteries or nunneries
and 49 monks and nuns who have been arrested for refusing
to accede to "work team" members' instructions.
In addition to the disruption of religious activities and
forceful "re-education" of monks and nuns in all religious
institutions in Tibet, China has banned Tibetans from
celebrating purely religious ceremonies including the
Monlam Chenmo (Great Prayer Festival), as well as other
religious festivals that are viewed as promoting local
nationalism. A European Union Delegation which visited
Tibet in May of 1998 reported that, '[a]uthorities in the
TAR exercise extremely tight control over the principle
elements of Tibetan religion and culture.'
Repression of religion in Tibet is not linked to
any particular dislike of Buddhism by the Chinese
authorities. Rather, Chinese hostility against religion
stems from a fear of (Tibetan) national unity, as religion
is one of the most constituting aspects of Tibetan national
and cultural identity. The very essence of Tibetan
Buddhism and its major components, including the role
of Dalai Lama have become an object of criticism and are
directly attacked by Chinese officials. In January 1999,
the Chinese government launched a three-year "atheism"
campaign aimed at eroding support for Buddhism, and the
Dalai Lama in Tibet. This further jeopardises Tibetan's
right to freedom of religion.
Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
(UDHR) states:
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience
and religion; this right includes freedom to change
his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in
community with others and in public or private, to manifest
his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and
observance.
Freedom of religion is also protected under Article 27 of
the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(ICCPR), which China has signed states:
In those States is which ethnic, religious or linguistic
minorities exist, persons belonging to such minorities
shall not be denied the right, in community with the
other members of their group, to enjoy their culture, to
profess and practice their own religion, or to use their
own language.
The Constitution of China provides for freedom of religious
belief as one of the fundamental rights of its citizens
(Article 36). The Chinese Criminal Law stipulates that
government officials who deprive citizens of religious
freedom may be sentenced up to two years in prison.
However, government authorised campaigns to restrict
religious practices in monasteries and nunneries are common
and widespread in Tibet. The CCP is tightening its control
of religious institutions through DMC's and "work team"";
consequently, monks and nuns are consistently denied the
freedom to freely practice their religion.
In its first annual report on religious freedom, the
U.S. Department of State describes a deliberate pattern of
religious persecution of the Tibetan people by the Chinese
government. "[T]hose activities viewed as vehicles for
political dissent, such as religious manifestations that
advocate independence or any form of separatism (which
are described as 'splittist'), are not tolerated and are
promptly and forcibly suppressed."
Despite these charges, Chinese authorities deny having
deprived Tibetans of their freedom of religion. China's
Foreign Ministry spokesman Sun Yuxi stated, "Nobody has
been arrested or detained because of religious beliefs.
If religious believers are arrested, it is not because of
their religious beliefs but because they have taken part in
criminal activities." The Chinese government allows limited
religious beliefs and activities so long as the policies of
the Chinese government are not challenged, Tibetans pledge
allegiance to China, denounce the Dalai Lama, and oppose
all form of separatism. Despite this limited tolerance
of "purely" religious activity, regulations imposed
including age and monastic capacity limits, along with
management control by non-religious authorities (DMC's)
are threatening the survival of Buddhism in Tibet.
The "Strike Hard" campaign which was launched in May
1996 in "TAR" by the Chinese government is still being
executed by the local authorities in all religious
institutions. This campaign had been extended to the
"TAP" in 1997 and 1998, and to lay communities in
1999, by sending "work team"" to the village and town
levels. The campaign "work team"" identify, expel and
arrest dissident monks and nuns, and ensure that party
principles prevail over Buddhist doctrines. According to
the Chinese government, religious belief in Tibet should
conform to the policies of the CCP and the state, and
above all, loyalty to China is required.
When a "work team" conducts "patriotic re-education",
monks and nuns are required to spend a majority of their
time studying political propaganda, thereby infringing
on their ability to practice their religion. Religious
activities have been disrupted in all monasteries where the
"work team"" have made visits. By December 1999, TCHRD has
documented 261 religious institutions where "work team""
visited since the launch of "Strike Hard" campaign.
Restrictions have been imposed in the admission of monks
and nuns in the religious institutions. Monks below the
age of 18 and above 50 are expelled from the religious
institutions. Once expelled from the monastery they are not
allowed to rejoin any religious institutions in Tibet. The
age limit further denies the rights to religious freedom of
Tibetans. The forcible retirement of monks and nuns above
the age of 50 threatens the survival of Tibetan Buddhist
tradition as senior religious people play a pivotal role
in the transmission of religious teachings.
Forty-nine arrests of monks and nuns were reported in 1999
in connection with the "patriotic re-education" campaign
in various religious institutions in Tibet. Since the
commencement of the campaign in April 1996, 541 arrests
have been documented. These "crimes" have included: pasting
posters around monasteries advocating independence,
failure to denounce Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama, and
opposing the "work team" members' "patriotic re-education"
campaigns. The details of these arrests for the year 1999
are included in the Political Prisoners and Prisoners
of Conscience chapters of this report. Brief summaries
follow:
-
Geshe Sonam Phuntsok,
along with two other monks, Agyal Tsering and Sonam
Choephel from Kandze Dhargye Monastery were arrested
on October 24, 1999 by ? officials of the Kandze
County PSB. Sources within Tibet report that the Chinese
authorities suspected Sonam Phuntsok of having "clandestine
contacts" with the exiled Tibetan government. The current
whereabouts of the three monks are unknown.
-
On July 20, 1999, PSB officials arrested eleven monks from
Kandze Dhargye Monastery after discovering pro-independence
slogans on the walls of the monastery. The monks were
charged with inscribing "Tibet is Independent" in red paint
on the gates and walls of the monastery. Their identities
and place of etention are unknown.
-
Three monks
of Nemo Monastery were arrested on May 31, 1999
by PSB officials of the Lhundrup County. The monks were
arrested on charges of pasting "Free Tibet" posters on the
gate and walls of the Tso-toe town authorities' offices.
-
Dakpa Gyaltsen,
24 years old and Sangye Tashi, from Rong-Gonchen Monastery
were arrested in April 1999 on charges of distributing
pictures of the Dalai Lama.
-
"Work team" members arrested four monks from Sera Monastery
in January and February 1999 on suspicion of involvement
in political activities critical of Chinese government.
-
Lobsang Kunchok,
23 years old, alias "Choedar", a monk from Kirti Monastery,
in Ngaba County was arrested in April 1999 on the charges
of pasting pro-independence posters around Ngaba County.
-
Ngawang Gyurme,
30 years old from Drepung Monastery was arrested in 1998
on charges of distributing pamphlets calling for Tibetan
independence. His room was searched after an argument with
the "work team" members and the documents were discovered.
-
In March 1998,
ten nuns
from Drayib Nunnery in Taktse County, Lhasa Municipality,
were arrested by PSB officials
for raising objections when a "work team" ordered them to
denounce the Dalai Lama. One of the nuns,
Tenzin Dolma,
aged 22, who escaped into exile and reached Nepal on May
12, 1999, reported that they were kept in Taktse County
Prison for four days and later taken to Seitru Detention
Centre where they were interrogated and detained for two
months. The arrested nuns were beaten for two days during
interrogations. They were released in the end of May 1998.
-
Tsultrim,
a monk of Ragya Monastery was arrested in 1998 for bringing
five political books from India which discussed the freedom
of Tibet. He was detained for seven days and later released
after paying a fine of 15, 000 yuan.
-
Two monks
were arrested from Tawu Nyitso Monastery in
June or July of 1998 when a thirteen-member "work team"
visited the monastery to conduct a "patriotic re-education"
campaign.
Dakpa,
a 23 year-old monk,
was arrested on
suspicion of pasting political posters in the monastery.
-
Lobsang Tsering,
alias 'Tsering Lhemar' of Ngaba "TAP", is a 27 year-old
former monk of Kirti Monastery. In June 1998, as a result
of pasting posters protesting the "patriotic re-education"
campaign, he was detained for an unknown period of
time. Lobsang was also found hanging a picture of the Dalai
Lama with an inscription "Tibet is an independent Country."
According to recent refugees from ? Kirti Monastery,
Tsering's whereabouts are still unknown.
-
Five monks
of Samdrup Monastery, Kandze County in Kandze "TAP",
were arrested following the visit of a ten to fifteen
member "work team" in the beginning of 1996. It is not
known whether the arrested monks continue to be held in
detention. Their identities remain unkown.
-
Four monks
from Dolma Lhakang Monastery, Chusul County,
were arrested in 1996 and detained for one month. They
are
Jampel Choesang,
Riga Phuntsok,
Sangpo
and
Tsultrim Gyaltsen.
Reports of at least 46 monasteries and nunneries visited
by Chinese "work team" members were recorded in 1999. Some
visits had been made in earlier years but the information
was received only this year. Several monasteries have been
revisited by Chinese "work team"" to further "discipline"
and "regulate" the behaviour and thoughts of monks and
nuns.
In 1999, TCHRD has recorded 1,432 expulsions of monks
and nuns from various religious institutions in Tibet. Of
these, 196 were nuns and 244 monks and nuns were below the
age of 18. An additional 156 monks and nuns have left their
religious institutions voluntarily unable to withstand the
repressive "re-education" campaigns. Since the start of
the "Strike Hard" campaign, 11,409 expulsions have been
recorded.
Arig Gaden Choephelling Monastery in Arig township,
Chuchen County in Sichuan Province was visited by work
team" members on September 23, 1997. The officials stayed
for forty-five days. Arig is the largest Gelugpa Monastery
in that prefecture housing approximately 250 monks, but at
present it is reported that the monastery has only thirty
monks.
Samten Tsering,
a 19 year-old monk of Awam Monastery, reported the
arrival of a ten-member "work team" in his monastery in
May-June of 1997. They stayed for four months and conducted
"re-education" sessions. The monks were ordered to denounce
the Dalai Lama. However, the monks refused and as a result
the duration of the "re-education" was raised from three
months to four in an attempt to persuade the monks to
accede to the demands of the "work team".
A former monk from Bora Monastery in Sangchu County,
Gansu "TAP" reported that "work team" officials visited
the monastery in July 1998 and May 1999. During their
first visit, they conducted "re-education" meetings and
issued Identity Cards to 310 out of the 350 monks in the
monastery. The officials collected 10 yuan from each of the
monks for the cards. The remaining 40 monks were between
60 and 70 years old and were expelled from the monastery.
At present there are 285 monks in the monastery. In total,
66 monks were expelled from the monastery.
Sonam Choephel,
a 20 year-old monk, left his monastery voluntarily and he
reports that all the 108 monasteries in the Sangchu County
were visited by the "work team"".
Chamdo Jampaling Monastery
in Chamdo, "TAR" was repeatedly
visited by a "work team" since July 1996. In March 1999
"work team" officials visited the monastery, disrupted
prayers and announced that those monks who had earlier
travelled to India would be expelled. In 1996, the
monastery had about 1,800 monks. Currently there are 1,100
monks and it is reported that 800 of them were issued with
Identity Cards; a permit that allows them to stay in the
monastery. An official order has been circulated decreeing
that those without the permits are deprived of monastery
rights and are prohibited from conducting religious prayers
in lay houses. It is reported that the "work team" still
continues to visit the monastery twice a month.
Choekhor Monastery
in Sershul County, Kandze, "TAP", Sichuan Province,
was visited by a six-member "work team" in July 1997.
According to a former monk of this monastery,
20 year-old
Tenpa Thaye,
the monks were given "political education" and later an
"examination".
Monks were also
asked to give their signatures as an acceptance of the
instructions. Those who tried to resist the "work team"
members were threatened with expulsion. The "work team"
issued ID cards to 100 monks. Approximately 40 monks were
later expelled from the monastery for refusing or ignoring
the instructions of the "work team".
Choelung Nunnery
in Taktse County, Lhasa, was completely
destroyed during the Cultural Revolution; however it
was later reconstructed with the help of local Tibetans
after 1990 and 130 nuns entered this nunnery. Ten "work
team" members came to the nunnery in the July 1997 and
stayed three months conducting "patriotic re-education"
sessions. The officials distributed "political" booklets
and demanded that the nuns denounce the Dalai Lama. The
nuns tore the documents and refuse the orders. As a result,
thirty additional officials were called to the nunnery and
each nun was interrogated individually. After two months
of "re-education", the nuns were required to write down
a political "pledge" which denounced the Dalai Lama and
"splittism"" During the three months of "re-education",
twenty nuns from the nunnery were expelled after refusing
to agree with "work team" instructions. Twelve nuns
voluntarily left the nunnery in protest of the demands of
the "work team".. Chinese officials informed these nuns
that they were not allowed to go anywhere out of their
villages and seek work unless they obtain permission
from the "village-head" and county authorities. They were
restricted from performing or attending any "religious"
services. At present, there are ninety nuns in the Choelung
Nunnery.
Darthang Monastery
in Chigdril County, Golog "TAP", was
visited by "work team" members three times from the summer
of 1998 to January 1999. In total, 78 expulsions of monks
have been recorded. Out of 1,100 monks, only 300 monks were
issued the required residential passes. The 800 monks who
were denied residential permits will likely be forced to
leave.
Dechen Sa-Ngag Monastery
is in Taktse County in Lhasa Municipality. Ten monks were
expelled for refusing to comply with "work team" orders,
reports Jamyang Lodoe, a 20 year-old former monk of the
monastery. Prior to the visit of "work team" officials,
the monastery had 60 monks. Chinese "work team" officials
from Trika County visited the monastery twice in May and
September 1998. On their first visit, three officials
stayed in the monastery for five days. They distributed
"re-education" books and documents to the monks and
meetings were called twice a day during which monks
were instructed to: oppose "splittist's", to accept the
Chinese selected Panchen Lama, and to be patriotic. The
authorities also banned pictures of the Dalai Lama. A
five-member "work team" visited the monastery again in
September 1998. This time they stayed for one month. The
monks were individually examined and ordered to write
their opinions on the "re-education". The monks were
threatened with "dire consequences" if they tried to
avoid the examination. Despite the threat, Rabgyal, 23
years old and Lobsang Tashi, along with eight other monks
refused to comply with the instructions. The ten monks
were subsequently expelled from the monastery. Currently
there are approximately 50 monks who were issued with the
permits to remain in the monastery.
Eleven "work team" members (one Chinese and ten Tibetan)
arrived in
Dharyul Nunnery
in Phenpo Lhundrup County
on May 14, 1998.
Nuns were instructed to agree with the
"work team" "re-education." However, the nuns refused to
comply with their instruction to oppose "splittism" and the
Dalai Lama. The officials later called on the parents and
relatives of nuns in the nunnery and ordered them to advise
the nuns to agree with their points. Their parents were
threatened with the confiscation of their farming lands
if the nuns did not comply with their instructions. The
officials also warned that both parents and nuns would be
arrested and imprisoned.
A "work team" arrived in Dhondupling Monastery in April
1996. This monastery is the largest in Kongra Chus of
Dechen County in the Yunnan province.
Ditsa Monastery,
(Tsoshar "TAP"): A former monk of this monastery has
reported that earlier this year a "work team" told him
and other monks of the monastery that if they did not
oppose the Dalai Lama then they would be expelled from
the monastery.
A seven-member "work team" visited
Dongru Monastery
in Ngaba County, Ngaba "TAP", Sichuan Province on December 4,
1998 to conduct "patriotic re-education" sessions. Monks
between the ages of 18 to 50 years were required to obtain
an Identity Card. It is feared that if these monks are
expelled from the monastery, then only 30 of the 170 monks
will remain. No reports have been received following the
December 16, 1998 revisit by the seven-member "work team".
Lobsang Namkha,
a 25 year-old monk of Dong-thok Monastery in Karok township
in Kandze "TAP", reports that a "work team" came to his
monastery for the first time in 1997. In May-June of 1998,
a mass meeting was organised in Karok township and around
300 monks and nuns from five different monasteries and
nunneries of the Kandze County were required to attend. The
"work team" warned them that any disobedience or protest
would be met with punishment as well as expulsion. It
was also announced that no new monks would be admitted
in any monastery or nunnery in Kandze County above the
limitation set by the "work team" members. As a result
of the interference in the religious workings of Dongthok
Monastery, Lobsang Namkha decided to leave the monastery
in October of 1999.
Dragkar Trel Dzong Monastery
is in Tahopa township in Chabcha County, Qinghai Province.
There are 380 monks in the monastery. 50 officials from
five different townships came to the monastery on May 7,
1997. Of the 50 officials, thirty stayed until August 1997
and twenty stayed until May 1998. Intensive "re-education"
sessions were held three times a day. A monk named Tsogyal
left for pilgrimage to Kumbum during the "re-education"
and the "work team" officials announced that Tsogyal
was expelled from the monastery and was not allowed
to return. Of the 380 monks in the monastery the "work
team" have imposed a limit of 150 monks that can stay in
the monastery. 60 monks were forced to retire from the
monastery.
A six-member "work team" visited
Dranang Monastery
in autumn of 1998.
They stayed in the monastery for two weeks,
conducting "re-education" sessions. Monks were
instructed to denounce the Dalai Lama and oppose those
who advocate for the independence of Tibet. The officials
collected and banned pictures of the Dalai Lama. This
monastery had seventy monks, but only forty were issued
permits to remain. The remaining thirty monks were expelled
from the monastery.
On March 20, 1998, thirty officials from Taktse PSB
visited
Drayib Nunnery
in Lhasa Municipality "TAR".
According to a former nun,
Tenzin Dolma,
of the 150 nuns, only five aged nuns were permitted to stay,
the remainder being expelled.
The expulsion took place when the nuns,
who were in Lhasa for pilgrimage during the Tibetan
New Year, refused the PSB's order to return to their
nunnery. Later the nuns refused to oppose the Dalai Lama
during "re-education" sessions. It is reported that the
officials completely destroyed the nunnery and looted the
wooden pillars and window frames.
Dolma Lhakang Monastery
in Chushul County, Lhasa Municipality,
was visited by a "work team" on August 8, 1997.
Twenty-three monks, including twenty monks below
the age of 18, were expelled.
Sixteen monks were expelled from
Duptae Monastery
in September 1998 following the "re-education" campaign
imposed by a six-member "work team" from Driru County in
Nagchu Prefecture. The rest of the monks in the monastery
were allowed to stay in the monastery but were not issued
ID cards.
"Work team" members visited
Garu Nunnery
in Lhasa, "TAR" in 1997
to conduct "patriotic re-education" sessions.
Eight "work team" officials stayed in the nunnery for
approximately six months. Possession of the Dalai Lama's
picture was strictly forbidden. There are reportedly 60
nuns in the nunnery but no reports of expulsion have been
received.
Phuntsok Yangchen
(28),
voluntarily left the nunnery with
Phuntsok Yangdrol
and
Phuntsok Kusang
when the
"work team" first visited the nunnery in early 1996.
In July of 1998, a ten-member "work team" came to
Gonsar Monastery,
located in Jhangkar township in
Lhundrup County in Lhasa Municipality.
There were twenty monks in
the monastery when "work team" officials came to conduct
the "re-education" campaign. The "work team" ordered the
monks to oppose the Dalai Lama. The monks refused, and the
"work team" expelled all of the monks and shut down the
monastery. The monks were restricted from joining any
other monastery.
A five-member "work team" visited
Goeylung Nunnery
in Driru County, "TAR" in April 1998.
"Work team" officials ordered
removal of all pictures of the Dalai Lama and ordered
nuns to write letters criticising the Dalai Lama.
Expelled nun
Kunchok Sangmo
(32),
reached India in early 1999 and
reported that there were 60-four nuns before the arrival
of the "work team". The officials expelled fifteen nuns
below the age of 18 and set a limit of forty-nine nuns
in the nunnery. Subsequently, thirteen nuns have left the
nunnery voluntarily.
A twenty-member "work team" arrived at
Gyuto Monastery,
Lhasa,
in 1996. The officials were from Lhasa PSB. Of the
130 monks in the monastery, ten monks left voluntarily at
the time of "re-education" session.
In June 1998, a three-member "work team" visited
Gyamo Monastery
in Sangchu County and remained for two days.
On the first day, a meeting was called during which the "work
team" denounced the Dalai Lama and instructed the monks to
accept the Panchen Lama selected by Chinese government.
On that day, the "work team" imposed a ceiling of 300
monks in the monastery and announced that novice monks
below 18 years old will not be allowed to remain in
the monastery.
Samdrup,
a former monk reported that his
monastery has around 500 monks. He left the monastery
on July 12, 1998. While Samdup was in Lhasa, he learned
that in August 1998, another "work team" had visited the
monastery and expelled all seventy monks below the age of
18.
Jha Khyung Monastery
is the biggest monastery in Bayan Khar
Hui Autonomous County in Qinghai Province. An eight-member
"work team" came to the monastery in the summer of 1998 and
stayed for one month. Before the arrival of "work team",
there were 500 monks in the monastery. The officials
visited for the second time in autumn of the same year.
There were eighty "work team" members and they stayed in
the monastery for fifteen days. 200 monks were expelled
for disagreeing with the "work team" officials. Some of
those expelled are below the age of 18.
"Work team" officials visited the
Kandze Monastery
in June 1998. There are around 600 monks in the
monastery. Ten officials visited the monastery twice a
week to conduct "patriotic re-education" sessions. Monks
were forced to study books and those who did not attend
the meetings were punished. Monks were ordered to oppose
the Dalai Lama and all photos of the Tibetan leader were
confiscated. Currently, no expulsion has been reported.
"Work team" officials visited
Khanang Tso Monastery
in Jyekundo, "TAP" in April 1998. A former caretaker of the
monastery, who arrived in Nepal in December 1998, reports
that of the 315 monks, only seventy-five have been issued
"permits" to remain in the monastery. The status of the
remaining 240 monks is unknown.
Khapshong Monastery
had 250 monks before the arrival of a six-member "work
team" in 1996. 50 novice monks who were below the age of
18 were immediately expelled. The officials later set a
limit of 225 monks.
Kharchu Monastery
is in Lhodrag County, Lhokha Prefecture, "TAR". Between
July and August of 1996, a four-member "work team" from
Lhoka Prefecture conducted a "patriotic re-education"
campaign in the monastery. The "work team" remained at
the monastery for three months. The officials appointed
a new DMC and new regulations were established overseeing
management of the monastery. Approximately one month after
the "work team" left the monastery,
Lama Namkhai Nyingpo,
a monk from Bhutan came to perform teachings. During his
stay at the monastery, his photo was displayed, but was
removed after his departure by Chinese officials. Religious
scriptures he had distributed were also confiscated.
Kirti Monastery
is the largest monastery in Ngaba County, Ngaba "TAP",
Sichuan Province. In March 1999, the monastery received
orders to expel monks below the age of 18 and above the
age of 50. This provoked protests from the monks, but
opposition was forcibly repressed by the PAP. Since the
beginning of 1999, "work team" members have called the
PAP forces on three different occasions to control the
monks. There are currently around 2,300 monks in Kirti
Monastery. If the forced depopulation is enforced, it is
estimated that only about 600 monks will remain.
Khangmar Monastery
in Khangmar County, Shigatse Prefecture, "TAR" was visited
by seven-member "work team" on August 17, 1998. There were
around 120 monks in the monastery at that time. The "work
team" banned pictures of the Dalai Lama and instructed
monks to denounce him. However, the abbot of the monastery
along with all the monks protested against the officials
and refused to denounce the Dalai Lama. The officials have
announced that only 60 monks can remain in the monastery.
Lhamo Dechen Monastery
is located in Chentsa County in Malho "TAP", Qinghai
Province. A thirty-member "work team" came to the
monastery between May and July of 1998. They stayed in the
monastery for one month. During their stay they distributed
books opposing the Dalai Lama and the "splittists," and
called for the "unity of the motherland." They visited
the monastery again in August and September of 1998 with
twenty-five "work team" members. They distributed the
same documents as the previous visit. The expenses of the
"work team" were borne by the monastery. After the Tibetan
New Year of 1999, around thirty "work team" members came to
the monastery. A former monk who left the monastery in May
1998 reports that fourteen monks were expelled and when he
left, only seventy-five monks remained. Before the arrival
of the "work team", there were approximately 200 monks in
the monastery. Ninety monks left the monastery voluntarily
to avoid further harassment from the officials.
Eighty-five monks were expelled from
Menpa Dratsang
(hostel) of
Lhabrang Tashikyil Monastery
in Sangchu County, Gannan "TAP."
There are around 2000 monks in six hostels
(Tib: dratsang) of the monastery, and only 1200 of them
are registered with the local Religious Affairs Bureau. A
twenty-member "work team" visited the monastery in April
1998 and set a limit of monks in all the hostels. In
Menpa Dratsang where there were 150 monks, the officials
set a limit of 60-five monks and expelled the remaining
eighty-five monks. The "work team" members stayed in the
monastery for four months.
Five nuns were expelled from
Lhundrup Choeling Nunnery.
There were fifteen nuns prior to the arrival of
"work team" members. The officials set the minimum age
limit, and expelled all those under 18 years old.
A sixteen-member "work team" visited
Meeru Monastery
in Driru County, Nagchu Prefecture "TAR" in April 1998 for
five months. Four novice monks below the age of sixteen
were expelled. In addition, two monks
(Rinzin Tsewang
and
Ngawang Tenzin)
were also expelled.
In 1998 a "work team" visited
Mewa Monastery
to conduct "re-education" meetings.
They found pictures of the
Dalai Lama in some of the rooms and ordered the monks
to take down the pictures. Since the recognition of the
Panchen Lama by the Dalai Lama in 1995, Chinese officials
have periodically visited the monastery to conduct
"re-education" sessions.
According to a monk from
Minthang Monastery
in Golok "TAP":, a six-member "work team" came to the monastery
in August of 1998 to conduct "re-education" sessions.
The monks were compelled to take part and ordered to
denounce the Dalai Lama.
"Work team" members visited
Moendrup Choete Monastery
in Shigatse, "TAR" in early 1996.
Sangpo Gyaltsen,
a 20 year-old monk,
was reprimanded for possession of a picture
of the Dalai Lama. He was fined 5,000 yuan for arguing
with the "work team" members and was subsequently expelled
from the monastery. Another monk voluntarily left the
monastery.
Chinese officials visited
Nyag-Raes Nunnery
in Golog "TAP" in 1997 and ordered the nuns to support the Chinese
selected Panchen Lama.
A six-member "work team" visited
Nyerong Monastery
for six months, beginning in February 1999 as part of the
"patriotic re-education" campaign. Rather than accede
to the demands of the "work team", twenty-two of the
twenty-five monks escaped to their homes or fled into
exile. Chinese officials later banned all religious
activities in the monastery. At present there are only
three monks left in the monastery.
Pekarthang Monastery is in Mepa village, Rebkong County,
Malho "TAP", Qinghai Province. Prior to the visit of
the "work team", this monastery had 60 monks. In March
1996, a 15-member "work team" from three levels of the
government: regional, prefecture and county, visited
the monastery and conducted a "patriotic re-education"
campaign. In July 1997, the "work team" members returned
to the monastery. Further intensive "re-education"
was given to the monks. They stayed at the monastery
for fifteen days and made several violent attacks on the
monks. The monks above the age of 18 were made to sit for
an "entrance test", and the twenty monks below the age of
18 were expelled. The "work team" members also announced
that those who failed to give satisfactory answers would
be expelled. Two monks failed the entrance test and were
expelled. In June 1998, an eight-member "work team"
visited the monastery for the third time and stayed
for twenty days. This time the "patriotic re-education"
was conducted even more seriously. The monks were made
to sit for another political test whereby the answers
were already prepared: the monks just had to select the
"correct" choice. The questions included opposing the
Dalai Lama. The monks were compelled to sign the answer
sheet upon completion, but they refused and made excuses
about being sick and illiterate. The "work team" members
ordered the DMC of the monastery to have the monks sign
the exams.
Phenpo Gyaltoe Monastery
in Phenpo Lhundrup County, Lhasa Municipality was visited
by a seven-member "work team" in 1996. Eleven of the 60
residential monks were expelled from the monastery.
Photrang Monastery
is in Pelbar County, Chamdo Prefecture, "TAR". Soepa
Senge, a monk from the monastery, reports that
a three-member "work team" came to the monastery to
conduct a "patriotic re-education" campaign in 1997.
At that time, there were 50 monks at the monastery. The
"work team" ordered the monks to pledge allegiance to the
Chinese appointed Panchen Lama. Only twenty monks were
allowed to remain at the monastery. All monks below the
age of 18 were expelled.
Ragya Monastery
in Machen County in Golog "TAP" was visited
four times by "work teams" in October 1998 and April,
May, and July of 1999. In October 1998, a forty-member
"work team", (including ten Tibetans), came to the
monastery. At the time, the monastery had 480 monks. The
"work team" ordered monks below 18 years of age to leave
the monastery; however no pressure was imposed, and few
left. All photos of the Dalai Lama were removed and the
monks were ordered to accept the Panchen Lama appointed
by the Chinese government. An exam was conducted by the
"work team" in the monks did not respond according to the
wishes of the authorities. The "work team" returned on
April 26, 1999 and conducted the examination again. On
their last visit in July of 1999, the officials imposed
a ceiling of 160 monks in the monastery.
Nuns from
Rating Samtenling Nunnery
in Phenpo Lhundrup
County in Lhasa Municipality, have been subjected to
"re-education" campaigns since July 1998. "Work team"
officials searched all of the nun’s quarters and compelled
them to sign political pledges denouncing the Dalai Lama
and accept the "unity of motherland." The nuns' refusal
to sign the pledge resulted in a two-month extension of
the "re-education" sessions. The nuns' contact with their
family members was restricted, and they were not allowed to
visit their homes. Eighty nuns who refused to comply with
the instructions were subjected to further restrictions and
were forbidden to attend any religious sessions. Fourteen
nuns were expelled, leaving 105 nuns in the nunnery.
Rong Gonchen Monastery,
in Rebkong County, Malho "TAP", was visited by a forty-four
member "work team", beginning in March or April of
1997 and lasting for seven months. The "re-education"
sessions were conducted for 2-3 hours daily. During
the sessions, monks were required to denounce the Dalai
Lama as a "splittist" and to accept the Chinese appointed
Panchen Lama. The monks were also required to "appreciate
the progress of religious and political rights of the
Tibetan people since Communist China's rule," and to
recognise that Tibet is a part of China. At the time,
the monastery had over 500 monks. These were divided into
twelve different groups with three officials assigned to
each group. After each session, the monks were forced to
sign a pledge denouncing the Dalai Lama. Twenty-five monks
were expelled from the monastery for defying officials’
orders and others left voluntarily. Currently, there are
400 monks in the monastery.
Samo Monastery
was visited by a seven-member "work team"
on August 18, 1999. The "work team" members banned pictures
of the Dalai Lama. Four out of the fifteen monk of the
monastery were expelled when photos of the Dalai Lama were
discovered in their rooms.
A month before the occasion of the 50th anniversary of
the founding of the PRC, leaflets calling on Tibetans
to lay down their lives for the "freedom struggle" were
pasted on the flagpoles of Sera Monastery in Lhasa City,
"TAR". In reprisal, Chinese authorities deployed additional
troops into the monastery to prevent "disturbances" on
the National Day. The authorities warned that 60 monks
would be expelled from the monastery. Currently, thirty
monks have reportedly been expelled.
On June 12, 1996, "work team" officials expelled four
monks below the age of 18 from
Shelkar Choede Monastery
in Tingri County, Shigatse Prefecture. There are currently
thirty-eight monks in the monastery.
In
Shugseb Nunnery
in Lhasa City "TAR", fifteen nuns below
the age of fifteen were expelled by "work team" members who
arrived in March of 1997. "Work team" officials forced
the remaining nuns to oppose the Dalai Lama. There are
currently 200 nuns in Shugseb Nunnery, and only 120 nuns
have been granted the necessary permit to remain.
A seven-member "work team" visited
Sok-Tsang Monastery
in Dzoge County in Ngaba "TAP", Sichuan Province in
December 1997. They distributed two books entitled "The
Law of People's Republic of China" and "Denunciation of
Dalai Lama." The monks were threatened with expulsions
for failure to learn the contents of the books within a
month's time. The officials visited the monastery monthly
to conduct oral tests. There are presently 200 monks in
the monastery and no report of expulsions.
Tawu Nyitso Monastery
in Tawu County in Kandze "TAP", Sichuan Province was
visited by a thirteen-member "work team" in June or
July of 1998. The "work team" expelled two monks (Nyima
Dhargay and Jampa Tenkyong) for refusing to accept the
Chinese appointed Panchen Lama and for failing to denounce
the Dalai Lama. One monk (Dolho) voluntarily left the
monastery.
In June 1998, eight County and Province officials visited
Tsang Monastery
in Arik village, Sogpo Mongol Autonomous
County, Malho "TAP", Qinghai Province for approximately
one month conducting "patriotic re-education" sessions.
The monastery was required to pay all expenses of the "work
team". The officials introduced a limit of 300 monks. The
minimum age for admission into the monastery was set at
18 years. Currently, seven monks have been expelled.
Tse Pak Lhakang Monastery
in Meldrogungkar County, Lhasa City, was visited by a
"work team" in May 1998. One monk (Norbu) voluntarily
left the monastery, because he did not want to undergo the
"re-education."
Terdhon Choegyal Ling Monastery
in Chamdo County, "TAR", was visited by
a "work team" in May 1998. They remained for three and
half months, during which time forty of the 60 monks were
expelled. The "work team" forbade the monks from practising
all the major religious activities of the monastery.
Theckchen Jangchup Choeling Monastery
in Thang Karmo, Tsonub "TAP", Qinghai Province was visited
by a "work team" from September to October 1997. All monks
above 18 years old were issued resident "permits". They
are approximately 100 monks below the age of 18 who may
be expelled.
Tsamkhung Nunnery
in Chabcha County, Qinghai Province was visited by a
"work team" in 1997. The nuns were ordered to oppose and
denounce the Dalai Lama. A nun was expelled for refusing
the "work team" orders.
Wasi Monastery
in Chamdo County, "TAR" was visited by a "work team" which
came and took pictures of all the monks. The "work team"
forbid the monastery from keeping pictures of the Dalai
Lama. This report was received in 1999.
A former monk of
Woeser Monastery
in Chamdo County, "TAR" reports in 1999 the arrival of a "work team"
to his monastery. He does not remember the date. The
"work team" stayed in the monastery for one month, and
all related expenses were incurred by the monastery. He
states that monks below the age of 18 are expected to
be expelled. There are fifteen monks below that age. The
source also mentions that there are approximately twenty
monasteries in that area and all these monasteries have
been visited by the "work team".
Youning Monastery
in Gonlung Tu Autonomous County in Tsoshar "TAP" was
visited by a "work team"in April 1998. Forty-nine monks
above the age of 60 were forced to retire, sixteen monks
below the age of fifteen were expelled and the resident
population of the monks in the monastery was set at 192
monks. This report was received in 1999.
In April 1998, an eleven-member "work team" visited
Lhartse County, Shigatse Prefecture to conduct the
"patriotic re-education" campaign in the monasteries
and nunneries of the county including:
Kundhen Nunnery,
Shenkhang Lhaka Monastery,
Sharchen Monastery
and
Lhatse Chatae Monastery.
All the monks and nuns were instructed to
assemble in Lhatse Chatae Monastery and were ordered both
to denounce the Dalai Lama and to call for the unity of
the motherland. A nine-member "work team" visited
Khundhen Nunnery
in May 1998.
Officials threatened the nuns with
expulsion for failure to learn the documents on "opposing
the Dalai Lama" and "Chinese sovereignty over Tibet".
The nuns were forbidden from engaging in any religious
activity except for "reading and learning" of the "work
team" documents. Two nuns left the monastery because of
the impositions of the "work team". The officials left the
nunnery after three months of intensive "re-education". All
the "work team" expenses, including their food and
accommodation were borne by the nuns. Four or five members
continue to visit the nunnery monthly for inspection
purposes. "Work team" officials visited Lhatse Chatae
Monastery in 1996 and 1997 and expelled two monks who
refused to comply with the orders of the "work team". The
monks said that they could not bear the idea of opposing
the Dalai Lama. The "work team" members reportedly continue
to visit the monasteries and the nunneries every month.
In the February 4th 1999 edition of the Tibet Daily,
Legchog, the Vice-Party Secretary of the "Tibet Autonomous
Region" called for widening of the "patriotic re-education"
campaign amongst the "peasants and herdsman in a renewed
effort to stamp out support for the Dalai Lama." This
extension of the "Strike-Hard" campaign further infringes
on the rights of Tibetans to freely practise their
religion.
A reliable source from Tibet, reports the launching of the
"patriotic re-education" campaign in the lay community
in Meyling village in Damshung County, Lhasa, in May
1999. Five "work team" members held meetings with people
of the Meyling village and instructed them to oppose
"splittists" and to accept Tibet as part of China. The
villagers were forbidden from inviting religious lamas,
oracles, and monks to the villages unless prior permission
is sought from Chinese officials. A restrictive order
was placed on meditation, divinations, and the staging
of trances as a medium for local deities. The officials
stayed three days in Meyling and left for other villages
and towns of Dhamshung County to conduct similar
"re-education" sessions.
In Damshung County, "work teams" have visited five
towns and two villages. An order was issued to all the
visited towns and villages that anyone who desired to
join religious institutions had to seek permission from
the county officials. In order to join any of the three
big monasteries in Damshung County, a Tibetan is required
to have a recommendation letter from a senior monk who is
willing to take complete responsibility for the monk in
the future. Permission must also be sought from the same
officials if local people want to build any religious
monuments or temples.
Closures of Religious Institutions
In July 1998, a ten-member "work team" visited
Gonsar Monastery
in Jhangkar township, Lhundrup County, "TAR".
The members conducted the "patriotic re-education" campaign for
the twenty monks of the monastery. The "work team" forced
the monks to oppose the Dalai Lama. The monks refused
to comply with the orders stating that, "they are men of
robes and cannot oppose ones own faith." Despite unanimous
objection from the monks, the members continued with their
campaign. Finally the "work team" members announced that
they were going to close down the monastery and that all
monks must return to their respective homes. At the end
of August 1998, all twenty monks were made to return to
their villages and the monastery was closed down. The monks
were restricted from rejoining any other monasteries or
conducting prayer services in homes. Gonsar Monastery was
completely demolished during the Cultural Revolution. In
1991, the monastery was renovated with the help of the
contributions made by local Tibetans.
Since the launch of the "Strike-Hard" campaign 18
monasteries and nunneries have been closed down. The
closure of 17 religious institutions was reported in 1998
and three in 1997.
Religious Teaching Prohibited
In July-August of 1999,
Bhar Monastery
invited
Geshe Lobsang Sherab
for the second time to Taktse County to
give religious discourses to the monks of three different
monasteries. At that time, around 60 monks gathered in
the monastery to receive religious teachings from
Geshe Lobsang Sherab.
On August 6, 1999, the third day of
religious discourse, twenty members from the Taktse County
PSB came to the monastery and ordered the monks to stop the
teachings. The PSB then accused Geshe Sherab of misleading
the masses through his teachings. They threatened to arrest
people if the teachings did not stopped immediately. The
monks of Awam Monastery and Phak-mo Monastery were sent
back to their respective monasteries.
Geshe Lobsang Sherab
was interrogated about his "aim" and "reasons" for
giving religious discourses. He was immediately ordered to
return to Lhasa. Since then, the three monasteries have
been regularly inspected by County authorities. An order
was issued on August 23, 1999 that no monks from any of
these monasteries are allowed to practice religion outside
of their monastery, and no monk is allowed to receive
religious discourses from any lama in any villages of
Taktse County.
The County authorities issued an order which prohibited
the monks from attending or performing any prayer services
in private homes in villages. They announced that "The
sermon from August 5-6, 1999 was organised against the
law and security of the nation and whoever attended it
had violated the law."
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