By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, DEC. 5: The Tibetan exile government based here has appealed the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to take immediate action to save Larung Gar Buddhist centre, which is currently being demolished by the Chinese authorities.
At a joint press conference, the Tibetan Prime Minister and the Speaker of the Tibetan parliament called on UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) to take immediate action to save Larung Gar and assess human rights situation in Tibet.
“High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad al Hussein has made it a priority to visit Tibet at the time of his appointment. We urge him to visit Tibet to assess the human rights situation in Tibet and especially in Larung Gar and Yarchen Gar. We also request him to raise this issue during his opening statement at the upcoming 34th UN Human Rights Council Session in Geneva in March next year,” said the Tibetan PM Lobsang Sangay.
The political leader of Tibet also expressed fears of a domino effect of Larung Gar’s demolition on other large Tibetan monasteries hinting at a possibility of recurrence of Cultural Revolution, during which the three great monasteries of Tibet – Sera, Drepung and Gaden were completely destroyed.
“We fear that the Cultural Revolution is reviving in Tibet. The Chinese government is also coming out with a draft of religious policy with more restrictions and restrain of religious practices. So it is too much of a coincidence,” Sikyong said, adding that China also considered it a big mistake. The Tibetan PM urged the Chinese people to support the initiatives to stop a “Cultural Revolution like situation” in Tibet.
Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Speaker of Tibetan parliament, also expressed concerns and fear over the consequences faced by the forcefully evicted monks and nuns after returning to their hometowns.
“The treatment of expelled monks and nuns in their hometown vary from region to region. In the Tibet Autonomous Region, some had to go through reeducation program, many were not allowed to stay at their own monasteries and some reportedly were imprisoned as well,” said the Speaker.
The heads of Tibetan executive and legislative bodies both expressed condemnation of the videos showing nuns in military uniform singing praise songs of motherland and communist party, and forcing nuns to dance on Chinese pop songs.
“It is very unnerving to witness such atrocities. It is very humiliating to every Tibetan, particularly to those nuns who have taken a vow to live a pure Buddhist way of life. They are made to dance in front of lay people, which insulting and indication of violation of basic human rights,” the Tibetan PM said.
According to the estimates, over 4,600 monks and nuns have been forcefully evicted and around 1,500 dwellings destroyed.
A seven-minute video on Larung Gar demolition was shown before the press conference to express solidarity with the institute. CTA will be observing a solidarity prayer on December 10 at Tsuglagkhang for Larung Gar.
