DHARAMSHALA, November 4: In the continued eviction process happening at the Larung Gar Buddhist Institute in Tibet’s Serta County, the Chinese authorities have included a new means to their exploit by locking up the residence of nuns and monks who are subjected to these evictions.
According to an RFA source, “Officials are now locking the doors of the monks’ and nuns’ quarters when the occupants are at class or away on an errand. Then, when they return, they are unable to get inside.”
Warnings have been issued by the Chinese officials that anyone found to be altering with these red coloured and numbered locks will be dealt as breaking the law. “Under these threats, many of the monks and nuns have to leave in despair without gathering their few possessions,” an RFA source said.
Since July the Chinese government started the demolition drive at Larung Gar Buddhist Institute claiming renovation work as reason whilst they forcibly evict the students with aims to cut down the academy’s strength to 5,000 from 10,000 by 2017.
A total of three Tibetans nuns studying at this largest Buddhist Institute have committed suicide following Chinese government began the demolition of the institution. They were unable to bear witness to their academy being demolished.
The sprawling Tibetan Buddhist study center in Serthar County was founded by late Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok.
