By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, August 9: A Tibetan nun studying at Tibet’s largest Buddhist Academy in Serthar County died on July 20, reportedly after committing suicide on the day Chinese government began demolition of the institution.
According to an RFA source, Rinzin Dolma hanged herself because she was unable to bear the sight of her academy being demolished by the authorities. She had a dwelling on Pema Khado Road inside the Larung Gar complex and was a regular student of the institution.
“She left a note behind in which she wrote about how she could not bear the pain of the endless Chinese harassment of innocent Buddhists who quietly studied at the institute,” the source said about the reason given in her suicide note.
Along with the note she left some money to be handed over to the institute.
According to media reports, more than 600 structures have been torn down by the Chinese government which claims renovation work as reason for the demolition began operations on July 20. Sources say Chinese workers are demolishing nearly 100 to 250 houses in a day.
The Chinese authorities have also imposed restrictions and heavy monitoring of telephonic and Internet communication in the area in order to curb the flow of information from the demolition site.
The demolition drive is aimed at cutting the center’s strength to 5,000 from 10,000 by 2017. Last year, over 600 members of the center were ordered to leave, while around 400 members over the age of 60 were also expelled.
Similarly, the year 2001 also saw a similar dismantling of Serthar Institute. Over 8,000 students were evicted forcibly from the Institute and approximately 2,000 dwellings of monks and nuns were demolished that year.
