By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, August 22: Workers of a Chinese government’s mining division have forced their way near a hill considered sacred by local Tibetans of Dingwa township in Zoege County in Amdo Ngaba, Kanyag Tsering, a monk of Kirti monastery here said.
The sacred hill known as Drakzong is worshipped by local Tibetans who believe that a protective deity resides in the two caves on the hill. Apart from religious concerns, residents of the Dingwa township also fear that the mining activities will seriously hinder the environment of the area. There are Tibetan pilgrims from other areas and local devotees regularly praying at the two caves, said Kanyag.
In a bid to halt Chinese mining activities, the local Tibetans blocked a road leading to the excavation site. However, the Chinese mining workers warned the Tibetans that they would seek police intervention if the Tibetans didn’t allow the workers to pass. Meanwhile, the Chinese mining teams have since transported many heavy duty machineries and equipment.
There is no information as to which government authority the operations come under or what mineral will be extracted from the site, said Kanyag. However, another Tibetan source said that the Chinese miners might be in search for Uranium.
Although since 1960 to 1995 for more than 30 years, the Tibetan residing in the neighboring Kyangtsa, Thewo and Dingwa have witnessed several mining pursuits by mining groups simply known to the local people as department 892, department 407 and department 405.
The reckless quarry in the area has since borne detrimental consequences to the Tibetans living in the vicinities with previously unheard ailments and massive loss of livestock.
In September 2011, China announced plans to spend 300 billion yuan (US$46.89 billion) on 226 key projects ranging from railway and dam building to mining and promoting tourism in Tibet within the next five years.
According to China’s official statistics, the Tibetan plateau has China’s largest chromium and copper reserves with most of its rich iron, gold, silver, potassium, oil, and natural gas reserves unexploited.
Tibetans have long argued that China’s grand projects in Tibet are planned and implemented without consultation, consent, and knowledge of the local Tibetans.
The Central Tibetan Administration maintains that Beijing, “under the guise of economic and social development, encourages the migration of Chinese population to Tibet, marginalizing the Tibetans in economic, educational, political and social spheres.”
