Dharamsala, May 11 – Concerned about the current unrest at Kirti Monastery in the Tibetan area of Ngaba in Sichuan province, the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, presided over a special prayer session on May 4th, organized by twelve different organizations based in Dharamasala.
The head of Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism reiterated, “I join His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Eminence Kyabje Kirti Rinpoche in their appeal to the Central Chinese Government and the international community to peacefully resolve the current crisis in Ngaba.”
Chinese authorities tightened security and its stranglehold on Ngaba in general and the Kirti monastery in particular since a Tibetan monk’s death that sparked off protests by Tibetans and a massive arrest drive by Chinese authorities.
Around 300 monks were forced into military trucks and taken to unknown location on April 21, 2011 and two elderly Tibetans among a group camped near the monastery were beaten to death while they tried to stop Chinese security forces from taking the monks away.
The monks of Kirti monastery continue to be subjected to sessions of “patriotic reeducation” campaign and the monastery has turned into a virtual prison with Chinese troops alert in its premises and vicinity since April 12.
In a recent press meet in New Delhi on May 2nd, the young head of Karma Kagyu said, “frequent peaceful protests carried out by the Tibetans are symptoms of a broken and wounded people desperately crying out for the restoration of their cultural identity, religious and human rights.”
Reports have stated that the ongoing military siege of Kirti Monastery, the arrest of over 300 monks, and the death of two elderly local residents in police beatings have increased fears that if the authorities did not abandon use of force, the situation may deteriorate into full-scale violence costing lives of hundreds of unarmed and innocent Tibetans.
While in New Delhi recently, the Karmapa appealed for peace at Kirti Monastery and neighboring areas.
The Karmapa also offered prayer for the monks of Kirti monastery during his recent visit to Ladakh.
