By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Nov. 9: The Tibetan Centre of Human Rights and Democracy today revealed contents of a leaked Chinese government documents that expose detailed elements of the Chinese government authorized repressive campaign and its attempt to essentially implement repression on an individual level for the past few years in Diru County in Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region.
The obtained document meant for internal circulation known simply as ‘document no. 224’ was issued by the Diru County government on Sep. 19, and calls for the intensification and deepening of the campaign to purge and reform religious institutions.
TCHRD Director Tsering Tsomo said, “The implementation of these anti-religious campaigns is systematically converting Tibetan monastic institutions into Chinese government offices and the monastic population into Chinese Communist Party members.
“Yet in general policies that aim to restrict the Tibetans have had little or no success. In July 2013, official Chinese media reported the implementation of the party’s ‘adhere to mass line and building harmony’ campaign for the third time in Diru County. The officials and framer of such policies are taken back by its lack of effectiveness reflected clearly by protests and self immolations,” she added.
The leaked proclamation has identified and targeted 24 activities and has issued strict directives on regulating official ceilings on the number of monastic populace in religious institutions as well as restrictions on syllabus, religious teachings, travelling to other areas for study, providing religious classes, attending religious gatherings, admission and enrollment of new entrants, and even monitoring them while on vacations among other things.
The document has consistently sought to cover even the smallest of aspects like monitoring hermits who are essentially off- grid and has no or little contact with the outside world, and restrictions on religious rock carvings and mani stones.
“The whole content and especially the use of specific wordings such as ‘purge’ has strong genocidal connotation to it and is definitely cause for concern. It is essentially cultural revolution 2.0,” said TCHRD researcher Tenzin Nyinjey.
The emphasis on reincarnation has been touched upon as well as the selection and appointment of religious personnel in religious institutions. The directive also has listed punishments like denial of welfare benefits, denial to harvest Yartsa Gunbu (caterpillar fungus), involuntary sessions of legal education and expulsion from monastery and even imprisonment for individuals. The concerned authorities failing to implement the policies are also subject to denial of compensation funds, suspension, demotion and even firing from their positions.
The rights group said, “In recent years, TCHRD has closely monitored the situation in Diru and published information gathered. Past reports contain evidences of escalating violence and crackdown and religious repression. We are deeply concerned that gross human rights violations including crimes against humanity, are being perpetrated with the active support of local Chinese authorities in Diru”.
