By Tenzin Dharpo
DHARAMSHALA, Nov.23: Although the demolition of the prominent Tibetan Buddhist institute has begun months ago, alarming developments of discrimination are reportedly taking place with Chinese houses being spared from destruction.
According to Radio Free Asia, while dwelling of Tibetan monks and nuns have been subjected to forced demolition and the occupants evicted, houses belonging to lay Chinese devotees have been spared from destruction. Marked with yellow paint, the demolition crews spare houses with the mark from destruction.
An unnamed source told RFA, “The houses of lay member who are primarily Han Chinese have been marked with yellow paint and spared from demolition.”
Also older members of the monastic community from the undestroyed parts of Larung Gar are now targeted to be evicted. “Many who came to Larung Gar at an early age have now reached their 70s, and many have been forced to leave,” the same source said.
Earlier this month, buses boarded by monks and nuns were seen, in videos smuggled from Tibet, being evicted forcefully. Their houses were locked and sealed by authorities while they were out for classes, in efforts to evict occupants from the houses they have lived since many decades.
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’s demolition of the institute. Sources said that the three died because 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 and is one of the most prominent Buddhist learning centers in Chinese occupied Tibet.
