By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Nov. 6: More details on the Driru County mass expulsion of nuns and land grab has emerged. A total of 106 nuns from the Jada Gaden Khachoeling Nunnery nunnery in Pekar Township’s Driru County, have been expelled from the nunnery and their residential quarters destroyed by local Chinese Authorities, according to a report by Voice of Tibet radio services.
On Sep. 27, 28, 30, the Driru County official by the name of Sangay Tashi led the crackdown that saw th expulsion of more than hundred nuns from the well respected nunnery. The expelled nuns were sent to their homes in Driru and other neighboring Counties by the Chinese authorities and are prohibited to wearing robes or engaging in religious activities. They would have to report to ‘patriotic re-education sessions’ on a daily basis, the report added.
Tenzin Pelmo, a nun of Jangchup Choeling nunnery in South India, said, “I can clearly say that the incident took place as announced by the Chinese Authorities a few days earlier”.
The living quarters of the nuns have been demolished under the pretext of building new quarters, home for aged nuns and also school in place of the old structures. The same source said, “They lied and deceived the nuns by telling them that they (Chinese authorities) would construct homes for old nuns, new living quarters as well as schools for new entrants in the nunnery.
“When the demolition finished, even the materials that the nuns themselves bought with their own money were taken away. The land will surely be used for their own means.”
The Jada nunnery is not new to such crackdowns, last year 26 nuns were expelled for refusing to attend ‘patriotic re-education’ compulsions. The nunnery built in 1488 is of the prominent Gelukpa establishments in the region.
The source also mentioned disturbing news of a few nuns committing suicides and other few disrobing following the ordeal.
China’s relentless crackdown on religious institutions and the monastic populace has many observers and exile Tibetans worried of the exploits. Another monastery in the Pekar Township, Driru County, and an ancient Bon monastery called Ngotsar Phunstokling have also been brought under the scope around the same time.
