By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, MARCH 7: In a bid to prevent mass protest during the Tibetan Uprising Day on March 10, Chinese officials in Qinghai Province have begun distributing certificates and cash awards to monks, nuns and monasteries deemed ‘cooperative’ towards the communist party, Radio Free Asia reported citing a local source.
“Many feel that this is a Chinese ploy to pre-empt Tibetan protests on March 10,” the source said on condition of anonymity.
According to the source, the conference organized by the local authorities in Rebkong County yesterday (March 6) saw representatives from over 40 monasteries.
“Officials from the United Front Works Department and the Religious Affairs Bureau distributed awards of about 10,000 Yuan each to individual delegates, and also gave out awards worth several thousand Yuan to the delegates’ monasteries,” the source said adding that certificates of ‘unity and friendship’ were also given to those loyal towards the government.
Attended by monks belonging to various schools of Tibetan Buddhism, the officials took the opportunity to warn those monks, who had recently traveled to India and Nepal of serious consequences if identified.
According to the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy’s annual report, the authorities in March last year imposed unprecedented restriction on the display of the Dalai Lama’s photo at Rongwo Monastery and in other monasteries in Rebkong County.
“A directive issued in this regard announced that those who refused would be expelled from the monastery and prosecuted. The directive also requires monastic institutions to follow the orders of the Monastery Management Committees,” the report said.
