For Immediate Release
May 7, 2008

Chinese Authorities Defiles Tibetan Buddhism

On May 6, around 30 officials from the Sangchu county under Kanlho (Ch: Gannan) TAP, Gansu province arrived at Bora monastery and persuaded the monks to propitiate Dholgyal (A.K.A Shugden), during a session of patriotic re-education. The monks, however, rejected the authorities’ demand. Dholgyal is a malevolent spirit categorically discouraged by eminent Tibetan Buddhist scholars and masters such as the Great Fifth and the 13th Dalai Lama, Panchen Lamas and Trichen Ngawang Chokden. The former Panchen Lamas have even conclusively maintained the harmful effects of propitiating Dholgyal by incorporating a clause in the Tashi Lhunpo's monastic charter. The attempt on the part of Chinese government to encourage the practice of Dholgyal is simply aimed at defiling Tibetan Buddhism and to create division within the rank and files of the monastic as well within the Tibetan community.

Chotop, who was shot at by the Chinese security forces on April 28 in Darlag County, Golog TAP was with his mother who was also shot and injured by the Chinese armed forces. Seven members of Chotop's family (his parents, a monk, his daughter and three brothers) had been under detention since then. It is learnt that there are only two small children left in his house.

On April 29, a monk named Konchok was arrested by the Chinese security personnel when he staged a protest in front of the local police station in Zamthang county under Ngapa (Ch: Aba) TAP. Later on May 3, two monks from the same monastery namely, Paljor and Dorje Drakpa, were also arrested when they went to seek the release of the arrested monk. The monastery has been closed down and there is a tight restriction imposed in the area.

The Chinese government recently announced that around 400 monks of Drepung monastery and 350 monks of Sera monastery had performed mass prayers in their respective monasteries on May 5 and April 30, respectively. It is of interest that the government had earlier reported about having around 1000 monks in each of the above monasteries. If the above report of having only around 500 monks in each of the monastery during mass prayers is to be trusted, there is strong ground to believe that half of the monks from these two monasteries have been killed, imprisoned or expelled from the monasteries.

In Shigatse (Ch: Xigatse), Tashi Lhunpo monastery has also been placed under strict control and restriction with an extensive "patriotic re-education" campaign undergoing. This information is also confirmed by a similar report yesterday on May 6 by official website of TAR.

In view of the ongoing critical situation inside Tibet, we urge the United Nations and the International community and organizations to the following urgent needs:

  1. To immediately send an independent international fact-finding mission into Tibet
  2. To exert pressure on the PRC government to allow unfettered access to free press in whole of Tibet
  3. To pressure the PRC to end the brutal killings in the whole of Tibet
  4. To immediately release all the arrested and imprisoned Tibetans
  5. To extend immediate medical assistance to those injured Tibetans
  6. To allow free movement of people and provide access to daily needs

 - Tibetan Solidarity Committee