Religious Persecution Through "Patriotic Re-Education"


The repression of freedom of religion is outstanding in Tibet and throughout 1997 Chinese authorities intensified their brutal suppression of the Tibetan people's right to practise and express their religious beliefs. Under China's "Strike Hard"(1)1 campaign (or "Crack Down Severely on Crimes"), which has been implemented in Tibet since April 1996, Tibetan monks and nuns have been targeted for intensive "patriotic re-education" sessions. Strict controls within the monasteries and nunneries have resulted in 2,827 known expulsions, 165 arrests, nine deaths and 35 have left their monasteries and nunneries. Limits have been set on the number of monks and nuns permitted in each institution and a minimum age of 18 years has been imposed on those wishing to enter monasteries and nunneries.

Ragdi, the Executive Deputy Secretary of "TAR" Party Committee, has announced, in a broadcast by Chinese regional television on November 26, 1997, that "we must declare a total war ( in thinking and theory and in the ideological realm ( on Dalai and his separatist force."

International Law

The right to freedom of religion is enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR):

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.
Art. 18 UDHR

Freedom of religion is also protected as a cultural right, under Article 15 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), and as a right of minority groups under Article 27 of the ICCPR which states:

In those States in 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 own culture, to profess and practise their own religion, or to use their own language.

Yan Da - China's "Strike Hard" Campaign in Tibet (Tibetan: Dung -Dek Tsa-Nen)

The so-called "Strike Hard" campaign, launched by the Chinese authorities on April 28, 1996, is still being forcefully implemented in various monasteries and nunneries throughout Tibet. Since the launch of the campaign, Tibetan monks and nuns have undergone a series of brutal repressions: endless "patriotic re-education" sessions, expulsions and arrests. Some, forced to denounce their most sacred beliefs, have even been driven to suicide.

In the beginning, the "Strike Hard" campaign concentrated on targeting Tibetan religious institutions and initiates in an effort to stifle nationalistic feelings and support for the Dalai Lama, thereby breaking the backbone of the Tibetan national movement as well as striking at Tibet's spiritual heart. So far some 30,000 of Tibet's 46,000 Buddhist monks and nuns have received "patriotic re-education" and out of 1,787 monasteries and temples, it is reported that 1,780 monasteries and temples have been covered by the work-teams(2)2. Chinese authorities now appear determined to extend the campaign from monasteries into all parts of Tibetan society. In an announcement by Jampa Kelden, head of the Nationalities and Religious Affairs Commission in the "TAR", reported in the Tibet Daily on November 21, 1997, it was stressed that, "... steps should be taken to spread "patriotic re-education" in the agricultural communities, towns, cities, government organs and schools."(3)3 He added, "... if we only carry out the patriotic re-education in temples, the instability will continue." The proposal to spread the campaign to schools and other communities indicates a move to impose even greater repression on the Tibetan people.

Work Teams in Monasteries/Nunneries in Tibet

As part of "Strike Hard"'s "patriotic re-education" campaign, Chinese work-teams (Chinese: gongzuo dui; Tibetan: laedoen rukhag) have been sent into monasteries and nunneries all over Tibet in order to conduct "patriotic re-education" sessions and instruct monks on the "evils" of the Dalai Lama and Tibetan nationalism.

Testimonies from Tibetan monks and nuns who have fled into exile reveal a fairly consistent pattern of "patriotic re-education". Classes typically run from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. with a break of one hour, and then begin again from 3 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. In each of the sessions there is a break of about five minutes for rest. The five principles listed for assent during these sessions are: opposition to separatism; unity of Tibet and China; recognition of the Chinese appointed Panchen Lama as the true Panchen Lama; denial that Tibet was or should be independent; and agreement that the Dalai Lama is destroying the unity of the motherland.

The work-teams stay in the religious institutions at the expense of the monastery or the nunnery. The number of the members in the work-team depends upon the size of the religious institution and they conduct different kinds of meetings for the "patriotic re-education" sessions: Tsok-chung (small size meetings) ( whereby the monastery is mainly divided into small units called tsok with about 20-30 monks/nuns in each tsok. Tsok-chung is very common and is held in almost all monasteries and nunneries. Tsok-dring (medium size meeting) ( in this case, several tsok are grouped together. This style of meeting is rarely held. Tsok-chen (mass meeting) ( is generally held when a "TAR" representative from a county, region or from Lhasa comes to the monastery to make important announcements and lectures. This kind of meeting is also rarely held. Private Sessions ( these are called when a monk fails to answer correctly during the day meetings. The work-team will visit rooms to conduct private sessions lasting for one to two hours to force the monks to accept the principles of the work-team.

The work-team distributes four different study materials as part of the patriotic re-education sessions in the monasteries and nunneries. The books are entitled: Brief Explanation and Proclamation of Tibet's History; Brief Explanation of Legal Knowledge; Brief Explanation and Proclamation on Opposing Splittism; Brief Explanation and Proclamation of Religious Policy.

Some of the monasteries and nunneries covered by the work-team during the "patriotic re-education" campaign are:(4)4

Samdrupling Monastery (Tsethang County, Lhoka, "TAR") - All Samdrupling monks walked out on June 18, 1997, after a work-team began "patriotic re-education" classes in the monastery(5)5. The monks decided to close down the monastery when the work team officials instructed them to criticise the Dalai Lama and denounce Tibetan independence.

Riwoche Thanjee Maa Monastery (Riwoche County, Chamdo Region, "TAR") - In September-October 1996, 17 work-team members arrived at this monastery ( two were Chinese and the rest were Tibetans ( and stayed for 58 days. There used to be 700 monks in the monastery but now there are only 305, the other monks either expelled or having left the monastery for fear of expulsion. The work team has imposed a limit of 85 monks in this monastery and there are no monks below the age of 18 (this age limit also applies to Riwoche Monastery, and Drayab Magon Monastery).

Chamdo Monastery ("TAR") - A 44 to 45 member work-team ( three Chinese, the rest Tibetan ( arrived in August 1996. The work-team planned to carry out the "patriotic re-education" campaign for 40 days and to extend if they did not achieve the desired results. There are 13 classes, each with 60 to 180 monks, which are conducted at 2 p.m. and then at 6 p.m. The afternoon class focuses mostly on the five principles and the evening class concentrates on Chinese Communist ideology. It was reported that there used to be 1,800 monks in the monastery and that 500 of them have been expelled by the work-teams. At present there are 1,300 monks but the work-team has imposed a limit of 800 monks in the monastery and no monks below 18 years are permitted. The work team is still conducting the "patriotic re-education" sessions.

Sera Monastery (near Lhasa, "TAR") - A work-team of 100 officials ( mostly Tibetans ( arrived at Sera Monastery on May 21, 1996, and stayed for about four months. "Patriotic re-education" sessions were held three times a week on the first floor of the Tsokchen (main hall). The monks were given two white books and two pages of documents in Tibetan, similar to an application form. Some Tibetan lay people were also seen teaching the monks. Attendance slips had to be kept and monks were made to write their own biography, to give their thumbprint and to sign the five declarations. At present there are about 800 monks in the monastery but only 550 hold valid ID cards. The work-teams have set a limit of 550 monks who can stay in the monastery; monks below 16 years have been expelled and monks above 65 years have been sent to a retirement home. TIN reported that, in order to illustrate the benefits of Chinese rule in Tibet, officials at Sera took the monks on "educational" visits to Lhasa's military hospital, modernisation projects in Lhasa, to view the restoration work at the Potala Palace and the Traditional Tibetan Hospital and were shown video footage of the Dalai Lama's visit to Beijing in 1956 when he welcomed China's involvement in Tibet. The monastery was said to be surrounded by 50 security personnel at all times with armed officials or police deployed on rooftops around the monastery during all sessions. It is reported that nine monks, plus a woman involved in the attempt by five monks to paste posters criticising the campaign, have been arrested.(6)6

Rebkong Nunnery (Sog County, Nagchu Region, "TAR") - Rebkong Nunnery has about 61 nuns but the official limit set by the work-team that arrived in May-June 1997 is 45. The work-team announced that all the nuns should return to their homes and look after the children while the lay people should go out and pluck Sinensis (Tib: Yartsa Gunbu - a medicinal plant) as tax for the nuns. The work-team announced that "patriotic re-education" sessions would be held after the collection of the plant. On June 22, 1997, a six to eight member work-team returned to the nunnery. The majority of the members were Tibetans, including one Tibetan woman. The work-teams announced that there were too many nuns in the nunnery, but as yet the threatened expulsions have not been reported to have taken place.

Riwo Dechen Monastery (Chongyal County, Lhoka Region, "TAR") - In September 1996 a team comprising of four Tibetan officials arrived in the monastery. They spent one month "re-educating" the monks on the history of Tibet and "proving" Tibet to be a part of China. It is believed that a second "patriotic re-education" work-team will also be coming although the time is not yet known. It is said that monks below the age of 18 are to be expelled from Riwo Dechen but so far there have been no known expulsions. An official ceiling of 90 monks has been imposed on the monastery, yet at present there are only 74 monks, the majority of which are below the age of 18. All the monks in the monastery have a valid permit to stay in the monastery by the Dzong (County) Religious Office and the monastery is managed by a six-member "Democratic Management Committee".

Tamug Monastery (Diru County, Nagchu Region, "TAR") - A five-member work-team, all Tibetans, arrived in Tamug Monastery on April 7, 1997, and stayed for 48 days. On June 6, 1997, a second work-team of six members came to the monastery and left after 15 days, telling the monks they would be back. The work-teams have expelled 10 monks who have either made a visit to India or are below the age of 18 and have set a ceiling of 40 monks. At present there are 35 monks in the monastery.

Tsawa Serwa Monastery (Pashoe County, Chamdo Region, "TAR") - The work-team arrived in mid-June 1997 and asked the monks whether they had faith and belief in the Dalai Lama. The monks were ordered not to display pictures of the Dalai Lama but they refused to remove the pictures, stating that they had full faith and belief in the Dalai Lama. As a result the monastery was labelled as "Splittist"(7)7 and closed, and all 30 monks had to return to their family homes.

Tashi Lhunpo Monastery (Shigatse, "TAR") - A 19-member work-team, all Tibetan, arrived in Tashi Lhunpo at the end of June 1995. The work-team reportedly stayed in the monastery for more than a year and conducted a series of "patriotic re-education" sessions. They returned at the begining of 1997, saying they would be staying for two months, but they are reportedly still in the monastery. There are at present 830 monks in Tashi Lhunpo, but the official limit is 1,000 monks. The age limit set by the work team is 13 years. During the "patriotic re-education" sessions in 1995, nine monks were expelled, 20 were arrested, and four monks voluntarily left the monastery. In 1997, one monk was arrested by the work team. There have been two cases of death in connection with the "Strike Hard" campaign.

Drigung Thil Monastery (Meldro Gongkar County, "TAR") - According to the accounts of two tourists, work-team officials carrying guns were seen harassing the monks in this monastery in early June 1997. An American journalist reported seeing armed education officials in the monastery, where he said about 120 monks were being re-educated by the work-teams.(8)8 A former monk from this monastery says the six-member work-team arrived on March 21, 1997, and stayed for two months conducting "patriotic re-education" sessions. The monastery was divided into five units and classes were held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a break for lunch and then from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. There are reportedly about 260 monks in the monastery, although the official limit is 205 monks, and around 60 monks have been expelled for failing to satisfy the work-team in examinations conducted during the "patriotic re-education" sessions. It was reported that ID-cards were to be issued to the monks but this has not yet been confirmed.

Reting Samtenling Nunnery (Phenpo Lhundrup, Lhasa, "TAR") - There are at present 200 nuns in the nunnery. A four-member work-team, all Tibetans, arrived in late December 1996. The work-team stayed at the nearby town of Thangoe and made daily visits to the monastery. The work-team has imposed a limit of 150 nuns in the nunnery and set the age limit to 13 years and it is rumoured that about 50 nuns are to be expelled. During the "patriotic re-education" sessions two nuns were arrested and two nuns voluntarily left the nunnery. The work-teams have laid down certain restrictions on the nuns including the requirement that high lamas cannot be welcomed nor can any nun go on pilgrimmage without the approval of the "TAR" authorities.

Thang Po Che Monastery (Nyathang County, Lhoka Region, "TAR") - A work-team reportedly came to this monastery and near-by Pao Nunnery at the same time. There used to be 35 monks in the monastery, but since the work-team's visit there are only 21 monks. A work-team of one Chinese and three Tibetans came to the monastery in March-April 1996 and stayed for 17 days conducting "patriotic re-education" sessions. The work-team imposed a limit of 27 monks who had to be aged above 18 years. During 1996, four monks committed suicide due to the pressure by the work-teams to oppose the Dalai Lama; six monks were expelled; 12 monks were placed "on probation" in the monastery and three monks left the monastery.

Pao Nunnery (Nyathang County, Lhoka Region, "TAR") - The work-team conducted re-education sessions by putting the Pao nuns with the monks from Thang Po Che Monastery. Pao Nunnery had 22 nuns before the work-team arrived but 11 nuns were expelled in March-April 1996 and at present there are only 11 nuns. The age limit has been set at 18 years.

Rongpo Monastery, (Rebkong, Amdo, Ch: Qinghai) - 42 work-team officials came to this monastery in April 1997 and two work teams along with 10 to 15 monks held "patriotic re-education" sessions. The monks were told to oppose the Dalai Lama and accept the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama. The work-team were said to be staying in the monastery for seven months and, if dissatisfied with the result, they would stay longer. Photographs for ID-cards were taken but so far the cards have not been issued. It is reported that about 200 monks below the age of 18 have been expelled and there are presently 500 monks.

Rabten Monastery (Sog County, Nagchu Region, "TAR") - According to a former monk, a work-team came to this monastery in March-April 1997. Three Chinese vehicles arrived carrying 16 members: eight Chinese and eight Tibetan. They stayed for one month and announced that they would come again. The monastery has 406 monks but the work-team has set a limit of 150 monks and those below the age of 18 are not permitted to stay. During the "patriotic re-education" session, 256 monks were expelled and amongst them 10 have been able to reach India. The other expelled monks are still in the monastery but they are not allowed to take part in any prayer sessions and may be forced to leave the monastery for the slightest reason. The work-teams did not issue ID-cards because the monks had failed to accept the work-team principles such as "Love country and Love Religion" (Tib.: Gyal-Jae Chos-Jae) and "Oppose the Dalai Lama".

Dakkar Monastery (Pember, Chamdo Region, "TAR") - A work-team consisting of three Chinese and three Tibetans entered this monastery in May 1997. The team stayed for about one month and, when they left the monastery in June 1997, they notified the monks that they would return to conduct the final "patriotic re-education" sessions. The team distributed the four "re-education" books and told the monks to study them. Before the arrival of the work-team there were about 30 monks in the monastery, but only 18 monks ( all elderly, senior monks ( were issued ID-cards and allowed to stay in the monastery. The rest of the monks were expelled.

Duptae Monastery (Diru County, Nagchu Region, "TAR") - Work teams arrived at this monastery in March 1997, conducting meetings for the whole day and then leaving in the evening. The work-teams have imposed a limit of 50 monks but the monastery has 70 monks. So far seven monks have been expelled.

Closure of Monasteries

Monasteries and nunneries completely closed down during the "patriotic re-education" campaign include: Samdrupling Monastery (Tsethang County, Lhoka); Sung Rab Ling Monastery (Lhoka) and Drigung Sherta Dialectic School. According to a tourist, the monks of Ling Khang Monastery were locked into the monastery after they refused to sign the denunciation of the Dalai Lama.(9)9

Arrests of Monks and Nuns

During 1997, reports of 45 arrests of monks and nuns in conjunction with the "patriotic re-education" campaign in Tibet were received. In 1996, 110 such reports were received, making a known total "Strike Hard" arrest figure of 165 for 1996-1997.

The reasons for arrests include: pasting wall posters in monasteries; arguing with the work-team; protesting against the work-team; possessing the Tibetan national flag; possessing a picture of the Dalai Lama; involvement in the Panchen Lama dispute and refusing to sign the political pledge of allegiance to China.

































Fig.1: Total known arrests of monks and nuns in connection with "Strike Hard" in Tibet (1996-97) ( * Refer to Appendix C for detail)

Expulsions from Monasteries and Nunneries

Expulsion is a key part of China's measures to combat political activity in monasteries and nunneries and to reduce the monastic population. The first wave of mass expulsions took place on August 30, 1996, at Ganden Monastery when 92 monks were expelled. There were 1,532 known expulsions of monks and nuns in 1997 ( 18.3 per cent higher than the 1996 figure of 1,295 expulsions. The total number of expulsions in connection with "Strike Hard" (for the period 1996-1997) is thus 2,827 monks and nuns.

Often monasteries and nunneries have up to 30 per cent more monks and nuns than the official ceiling. These monks and nuns do not have registered papers and are therefore extremely vulnerable to expulsion and being returned to their homes. Some monasteries and nunneries have lost as many as 50 per cent to 70 per cent of their resident monks and nuns through expulsions. Expulsions generally occur on the advice of the work-team or Democratic Management Committee(10)10 (DMC). Monks and nuns who have been arrested or detained are routinely expelled upon their release and, once expelled, they are generally prohibited from rejoining any other monastery/nunnery or any organisation in Tibet.






























Fig. 2: Total number of known expulsions from various monasteries and nunneries in connection with "Strike Hard" campaign in Tibet (1996-1997) * Closed monasteries/schools ** See Appendix D

Monks and nuns have been expelled for: refusing to accept the principles laid down by the work-teams; expressing support for the Dalai Lama; having previously travelled to India; being a novice under the age of 18 years; refusing to sign the political pledge of allegiance to China presented by the work-team; possessing pictures of the Dalai Lama; shouting slogans such as "there is no religious freedom"; exceeding the official limit of monks and nuns imposed by the work-team; not falling within the official rolls of the monastery/nunnery; and not holding a valid ID-Card.

Three nuns from Sa-Ngag Simbuk Nunnery were expelled in March 1997. The work-teams asked the nuns to return to their villages and were threatened with arrest if they spoke of their expulsion. The nuns were: Ngawang Woeser, 26 years; Ngawang Youdon, 22 years; and Ngawang Seldon, 26 years.

Ten monks were reported to have been expelled from the Tamug Monastery Diru (Kham) in July 1997. Ngawang Topgyal (33), Kalsang Thokmey (23), Ngawang Khenrap (27), Ngawang Choesang (24), Ngawang Lobsang (28), and Ngawang Tenpa (23) were expelled because they had previously travelled to India. Donyoe Paljor (11), Donyoe Gyurmey (12), Donyoe Tsundue (11) and Donyoe Choedar (11 or 12) were not eligible to remain in the monastery because they were below 18 years of age.

Dawa, aged 20, and Tashi, in his 20s, have been expelled from Pha Dampa Monastery. They are reportedly still staying in the monastery but both are not on the monastery rolls. It is said that soon they will have to leave the monastery and will be prohibited from attending the religious classes.

In Drepung Monastery, near Lhasa, 300 monks are reported to have been expelled since the "Strike Hard" campaign was launched. According to the reports received, all novice monks below the age of 16 were expelled from the monastery and those monks left behind were weak, aged and incapable of performing their duties to the full.

Ngawang Jampa, from Pember Dzong (County), reports that out of 75 monks, he and 52 other monks were expelled from the monastery in May 1996.

Samdup, aged 17 from Thenkon Chu, is from Sera Monastery in Lhasa. He was expelled from the monastery because his age disqualified him from being a monk. Samdrup said that he had heard that about 200 nuns from Chubsang Nunnery had also been expelled.(11)11

Tenam Legshey, aged 23 from Rango town, Sog Dzong (County), in Nagchu region, was expelled from Rabten Monastery along with the 256 monks from this monastery. Those monks who have been expelled are at present still in the monastery but will be sent away if there is any chaos or disturbance.

Yeshi Samten , aged 20, Dechen, aged 22, and Lobsang Tsering, aged 23, have been expelled from Yada Monastery and are now doing farming work and are forbidden from having short hair. They report that 13 monks were expelled.

Six monks were expelled from Thang Po Che Monastery (Nyethang County, "TAR") in April 1996. They were charged as "undisciplined monks" after they failed to oppose the Dalai Lama.

About 50-60 monks are said to have been expelled from Drigung Thil Monastery (Meldro Gongkar County, "TAR") in May 1997.

Fourteen monks from Dakkar Monastery (Chamdo Region) were expelled because they were new monks in the monastery and had exceeded the official limit imposed by the work-team.

About 15 monks from Dagpo Shedrupling Monastery were expelled last year in the 8th month of the 1996 Tibetan calendar (September/October). These monks are not included in the official rolls of the monastery, do not have a valid ID-card and some of them are aged below the monastery's age limit.

Two-hundred novice monks below the age of 18 were expelled from Rongpo Monastery, Rebkong County, Amdo (Ch: Qinghai Province).

Fifty-three monks from Choe Tsang Monastery were expelled from the monastery by the work-team in early 1996. (For details see Appendix II)

Approximately one-quarter (613) of the monks and nuns expelled were children below the age of 18. In Tibet, monasteries and nunneries are learning institutes where the students study religious philosophy for their own practice and also to impart this knowledge to the community. Monasteries in Tibet are similar to universities where the students are required to pass yearly examinations.(12)12 Those students who complete at least 15 years of study are honoured with a geshe (equivalent to doctorate) degree. By expelling novice monks, the Chinese authorities are destroying the educational institutes in Tibet. This policy of expulsion is tantamount to violation of not only the rights to profess and practise ones religion, but also the right of Tibetan children to education.

Monks on Probation in the Monastery

In some cases, monks who do not meet the expectation of the work-teams during the patriotic re-education sessions are not immediately expelled from the monastery, but are allowed to remain in the monastery on probation. In most cases such monks are not allowed to seek admission in any other religious institution or organisation in Tibet.

At present 12 monks from Thang Po Che monastery are on probation in the monastery: Ngawang Gelek, Tashi Tsering, Ngodup, Phurbu Tsering, Dawa Lodoe, Ngodup Tsering, Pema Tenzin, Tsering Bagdro, Kanza, Bu Yeshi, Tenzin Namgyal, and Loyang.

During the "patriotic re-education" session, 10 monks from Gyutoe Monastery in Ramoche, Lhasa, were refused ID-cards and were kept on probation for three months. The work-teams told the probationary monks that if they observed any changes in their attitudes then the ID-cards would be issued. The ten monks, all from Markham County, Chamdo Region, "TAR" were: Sonam Tenpa (24), Thinlay Dorjee (20), Yeshi Wangchuk (25), Passang Tsering, Sonam Dhargay (23), Jampa Choyang, Jampa Choezey (22), Tuloe, Pema Namgyal (32), and Ngawang Tenzin (29).

Deaths

There are unconfirmed reports of deaths in an incident at Ganden Choekor Monastery in Ringon, Namling County, 50 km east of Shigatse. A monk called Lhundrup Tendhar in his 60s is said to have committed suicide because he could not tolerate the "patriotic re-education" and the work-team's interrogation process.

A monk named Jamyang Thinley, 30 years old, originally from Tsawa County and belonging to Chamdo Monastery, was arrested along with three other monks from his monastery in connection with pasting up a poster in front of the gate of the hostel in the monastery. They were first taken to Chamdo Prison, where Jamyang was badly tortured by the jail officials. As a result he showed signs of serious brain damage and died in prison two months after his arrest. According to a reliable source, four monks died during 1997 work-team sessions in Thang Po Che Monastery. They were: Lobsang Gendun, aged 70; Ngawang Sherap, aged 50; Choe Dakpa (nickname), aged 50; and Ngawang Lobsang, aged 60. The monks reportedly could not bear pressure from the work-team to oppose the Dalai Lama and hanged themselves.

Fig.3: Deaths due to torture and pressure during the "re-education" campaign, 1996-1997

Name Date Origin Circumstances of death
Jamyang Thinley May 96   Torture in prison
Lobsang Gendun (70)   Chongyal County (Lhoka) WT pressure to oppose Dalai Lama
Ngawang Sherap (50)   Nyethong County (Lhoka) WT pressure to oppose Dalai Lama
Wangdu (24)   Shigatse Suicide due to WT pressure
Choe Dakpa (50)   Chongyal County (Lhoka) WT pressure to oppose Dalai Lama
Lhundrup Palden     Ganden Choekor Monast. Drowned
Lhundup Tendhar (60)   Ganden Choekor Monast. Suicide due to WT pressure
Penpa   Tashi Lhunpo
Monastery
Monastery Heart attack due to WT pressure
Ngawang Lobsang (60)   Chongyal County (Lhoka) WT pressure to oppose Dalai Lama
WT = Work-Team

A monk named Wangdu, aged 24 from Thongmon in Shigatse, was first arrested by the work-team during a meeting to oppose the Dalai Lama and Chadrel Rinpoche (head of the Panchen Lama Search Committee, now in prison). Wangdu did not agree to oppose them and was later found dead after having committed suicide in Choekhang Shar (the eastern part of the temple).

Voluntary Depopulation of Monasteries and Nunneries

Many monks have chosen to voluntarily leave monasteries rather than renounce their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and participate in the "patriotic re-education" sessions conducted by the Chinese work-team officials in the monasteries and nunneries. They have also left the monasteries and nunneries in order to attempt escape into exile where there is freedom of religion and religious education. As at the end of 1997, 35 monks had been reported to have left their monasteries.

Ban on Photographs of the Dalai Lama

The ban on photographs of the Dalai Lama has been in place since May 1994. This practice, a violation of the people's right to practise their religion, was apparently aimed to reduce the influence of the Dalai Lama among the Tibetan people.

At the start of 1996, photos of the Dalai Lama could still be found in monasteries throughout Tibet, although they were not found for sale in the Barkhor area of Lhasa.(13)13 On January 26, 1996, the order was given by the "TAR" Department of Culture to the Norbulingka and Potala Palace to remove all the photographs of the Dalai Lama and the ban was then extended to public institutions and private homes.

Rooms of monks and nuns have been ransacked by work-teams in search of photographs of the Dalai Lama. A nun from Sa-Ngak-Simbuk Nunnery reported that work-teams searched the rooms of the nuns, confiscated 21 photographs of the Dalai Lama and destroyed them. The work-teams threatened that if the nuns did not follow the directives from the government then the number of nuns would be reduced and gradually the nunnery would be closed.

In almost all monasteries and nunneries, pictures of the Dalai Lama have been confiscated or burnt in front of the monks and nuns.

Issuing of ID Cards

Different ID-cards (Ch: cow-rhen-ten) are being issued to monks and nuns in the monasteries and nunneries. There are two kinds of ID-cards: the holder of the red ID-card is considered a permanent, "official" member of the monastery or nunnery who has completed satisfactorily the "patriotic re-education" session and enjoys more privileges in the monastery. The holder of the blue ID-card is considered to be a temporary monk or nun who has been admitted by the monastery without the approval of the Democratic Management Committee (DMC) and does not enjoy all the privileges of the monastery. This card restricts travel to within the region of domicile and the holder must subsequently "prove their loyalty to the nation" to obtain the red ID-Card.

In Kirti Monastery in Ngapa, ID-cards were issued in December 1996 on payment of 36 Chinese yuan each. The work-teams in Diru Monastery announced that monks without proper ID-cards would be expelled from the monastery. In Sera Monastery, 516 red ID-cards have reportedly been issued to the monks.

The Panchen Lama Issue

On May 14, 1995, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was proclaimed as the true re-incarnation of the late 10th Panchen Lama. Just days after the announcement, on May 17, 1995, the six-year-old boy and his parents disappeared. To this day their whereabouts are not known. On May 28, 1996, China finally admitted the young boy and his parents were being held in custody. The government claimed that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was "in danger from Tibetan separatists in exile" and that the parents had appealed to the government for protection.

It is now more than two and half years since Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was declared as the 11th Panchen Lama and was subsequently put under detention in conditions of absolute secrecy. Despite repeated appeals from the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, the United Nations and other concerned governments and international bodies, China has refused to provide any information on Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, or to allow an independent observer to see the boy and his parents and to confirm that they are alive and well.

Soon after the announcement on May 14, 1995, Chinese military were sent to Tashi Lhunpo Monastery ( the traditional seat of the Panchen Lama ( and a series of arrests were carried out in connection with the re-incarnation issue. Chadrel Rinpoche, then the abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery and the Chinese-appointed leader of the search committee for the reincarnation, was detained in May 1995 on suspicion of having communicated with the Dalai Lama in exile regarding the choice of the reincarnation. Almost two years after his disappearance, Chadrel Rinpoche was sentenced on April 21, 1997, to six years imprisonment and deprivation of political rights for an additional three years on charges of "conspiring to split the country" and leaking "state secrets". At present he is imprisoned in a top-secret cell in Chuandong No. 3 prison in Dazu Dzong (County) in Sichuan province.

To date, more than 80 people have been arrested in connection with the Panchen Lama reincarnation issue. On April 21, 1997, Champa Chung was sentenced for four years and Samdrup was sentenced to prison for two years on charges of "disclosing state secrets" and "conspiring to split the country".

On March 15, 1996, four student monks, Damchoe Gyatso (27), Jigme Tendar (29), Phuntsok (25) and Damchoe Kalden (31), were taken from their quarters in Kumbum Monastery. They were accused of producing posters and leaflets condemning China's intervention in the search for the Panchen Lama.

Phuntsok, the deputy head of the monastery's DMC, has been held in detention since July 1995. Tendor, a monk of Gyudpa Monastery, was arrested on the night of May 16, 1995, and held incommunicado in Nyari Prison in Shigatse. Gyatrul Jampa Tenzin, Chairman of the DMC, was arrested on the same day. Ven. Thupten Kalsang was expelled from the monastery after being detained in prison for one year.

Cases of expulsion from Tashi Lhunpo Monastery are as follows: Lobsang Tsultrim (16), Gedhun (25), Sonam Phuntsok (27), Lhakpa Tsering (17), Chemi Tsering (28), Tseshon Chungdak (24), Lobsang Gyatso (21), Tsering Gonpo (27) and Gelong (21). Ngagchen Lobsang Chodak (67), the abbot of Gyudpa Monastery, was expelled from his monastery. Penpa died of heart failure and Wangdu (24) committed suicide because he was not able to bear the pressure of the work-teams.

Taxation of Hermits and Monks

The religious repression has extended to hermits who live in their own small shacks, surviving on begged food. It has now become a rule that a hermit must seek permission from the county authorities to go for retreat. If granted permission, a sum of 30 Chinese yuan (about US$3.50) is charged for the pass: 10 yuan for land; five yuan for road-tax; 15 yuan for water; and fire wood. An additional tax of three yuan for senior hermits per month and six to 20 yuan for new hermits must be payed.

The monks must pay tax in the form of Sinensis (Tib: Yartsa Gunbu - a medicinal plant). The monks must pay about three to five sang (one sang is equivalent to 50 grams) of Sinensis to the Democratic Management Committee and, as the monks do not go to pluck the plant themselves, they must ask their relatives to get it for them.

Other Restrictions on Religious Practice

In a meeting of "TAR" county leaders held in March 1997, the "TAR" Party Secretary, Chen Kuiyuan, said that all people working in government departments are strictly forbidden from performing last rites, religious prayers prayers and all those activities that are performed in "total blind². He also announced that they would not be permitted to visit monasteries during Tibetan New Year or other religous holidays.

Reports received reveal certain restrictions have been imposed on visitors to the Jorkhang, the Central Temple in Lhasa. Visitors are not allowed to circumambulate after 6 p.m. and entry by the gate is completely restricted after 7 p.m.

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Last updated: 1-Feb-98