Chinese Govt Orders Restriction on Religious Activities at Kirti Monastery [Wednesday, 30 March 2011, 12:48 p.m.]

Phuntsok/File photo

“The
Chinese government has enforced patriotic education campaign in Kirti
Monastery forbidding the monks to carry out their daily religious
studies and other related activities for an indefinite period of time,”
a monk at Kirti Monastery based in Dharamsala in India. The patriotic
education campaign involves forcing the Tibetans against their wishes
to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the exile Tibetan
administration. The monk said the situation in Ngaba county
still remains tense with heavy deployment of armed security personnel
across the region. He attributed the heightened restriction
imposed by the Chinese government to the self-immolation of Phuntsok, a
monk of Kirti Monastery and the local Tibetans’ attempts to celebrate
the democratic elections in the exile Tibetan community.He said
the Chinese authorities have arrested three monks suspecting their role
in Phuntsok’s protest and self-immolation. “On 22 March, Phuntsok’s
younger brother Lobsang Kelsang and his uncle and teacher Lobsang
Tsondue, and another monk named Samdup were taken into police custody
for interrogation,” he added.Earlier on 20 March, the general
public in Ngaba county made elaborate arrangements to celebrate the
final round of elections held in the exile Tibetan community. “On the
day of the polling, people in Ngaba were in festive mood to mark the
day with fireworks and other events. But around dusk the Chinese
government deployed a large number of security forces across the region
on the same evening. The authorities issued strict orders to members of
each and every households not to venture out of their homes to light
crackers that they had arranged for celebration. Warnings were also
given to the local government officials to remain 24 hours in their
offices or face expulsion if they were caught taking part in any kind
of festivity,” the monk said.Defying the intense government
restriction, some Tibetans went on to celebrate the occasion by
lighting crackers and subsequently arrested. Many people remained
indoor to mark the day by praying and lighting butter lamps in their
homes. “They prayed in hope that the newly elected Kalon Tripa and the
members of Tibetan Parliament would successfully fulfill the wishes of
His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” the monk added.  Meanwhile, a day
after the self-immolation by Phuntsok on 16 March, students at a nearby
Tibetan school in the region sat for hunger strike to mourn his death
and in protest against the government heavy-handed measures. The
Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile which was in session last week expressed
deep condolence over the demise of Phuntsok and commended him for
sacrificing his life for Tibet’s cause.