For Immediate Release
May 11, 2008
Does Religious Freedom Exist in Tibet?
The Chinese Government claims religious freedom exists in Tibet solely based on the presence of Buddhist statues and monks and nuns in the monasteries and nunneries. However, the following statements depicting true ground reality underneath authorities' pretense shows whether religious freedom really exists or not.
1. According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, display of devotion to one's root lama is considered highly significant, thus an integral part of all trinities. The very fact that the Chinese government does not allow Tibetans to show any form of faith and devotion to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, let alone possess any picture of the Dalai Lama, is a violation of religious freedom. Religious freedom has been violated during the arbitrary arrest of the 10th Panchen Lama, who was later poisoned to death under a mysterious circumstance. Moreover, the 11th Panchen Lama was abducted when he was only a child and whereabouts continue to remain unknown. In all efforts to control religious figures due to the tremendous reverence with which they are held by their followers, the Chinese Government, an atheist state, passed a law in 2007 requiring Reincarnation Application be completed of all lamas wishing to reincarnate. The above incidents clearly prove there is too much interference and too much obstacles placed on Tibetans. The consistent baseless accusations of renowned lamas and restrictions on revering Tibetan Lamas by the Chinese Government have created hindrance for many Tibetans to carry out their religious duties.
2. Since the monks play a pivotal role in preservation and promotion of Tibetan Buddhist culture, it is frightening the numbers of monks are dwindling in monasteries. Before Drepung, Sera and Gaden (three biggest monasteries in Lhasa) had more than 7700 monks, 5500 monks and 3300 monks, respectively. Due to these monks' persistent and diligent preservation of Buddhist teachings and their monasteries, Buddhism flourished boundlessly and those monasteries were able to produce many scholars and intellectuals who selflessly extended their services for the promotion of world peace and harmony.
However, currently in Tibet, Chinese authorities, in addition to all the restrictions placed on monks and nuns, they are also conducting Patriotic Re-education in monasteries, where monks and nuns are forced to denounce the Dalai Lama. Those who oppose the patriotic re-education are expelled. Due to such reasons, today, there are no more than 3000 monks in all the above monasteries put together. Within the past 5 decades, these monasteries have not been able to produce even a single Buddhist scholar and an intellectual.
3. The monasteries are not only a pivotal center for promotion of Buddhist tradition, but there have been also constantly visited by lay Tibetans for their spiritual practices. In the past history of Tibet, the 6,000 or so monasteries in Tibet played a significant role in preservation of distinct and unique Buddhist culture and tradition. These traditions continue to equally play an important role in this world. However since Chinese invasion of Tibet, these 6000 monasteries have been destroyed.
The devoted Tibetans wishing to reconstruct and renovate have appealed to the Authorities but their appeals were rejected. There are many monasteries in Tibet today that are damaged and destroyed. Many appeals to reconstruct the monasteries are on the standstill. For instance, many monks' residence at Serta Larung monastery was destroyed by Chinese government and has not been allowed to rebuild it.
4. The daily spiritual practices are considered crucial for devoted Tibetans since these are part and parcel of their Tibetan identity and their daily life. These customs have transcended from generations before. However, Chinese Government imposes a widespread campaign against these crucial religious practices in Tibet. For example, in the last several decades, Tibetans in Tibet were not able to observe ceremonies like Monlam Chenmo "Grand Prayer Festival" and Tse Gutor Chenmo "Grand Butter Sculpture Festival" which are considered auspicious and popular in all parts of Tibet. The Chinese authority also imposes severe restrictions on the teachings by high lamas in Tibet. If a lama of district "A" wants to preach in district "B" community, he has to seek consent or permission from the local Chinese authority. In case a lama from a Tibetan Autonomous Region wants to preach in Gansu Province, he must seek permission from the Central authority.
5. In other instances, the Chinese Government announced the rectification of the Buddhist tradition to comply with the principle of socialism. Authorities instill propaganda on younger Tibetan generations that Buddhism is entirely based on blind faith. Young Tibetans below 18 years are prohibited from enrolling in monasteries and nunneries. Dedicated and spiritual monks from Amdo and Kham Province, who were interested in learning Buddhism, were not allowed to visit the monasteries. In sum, the Chinese Government systematically suppresses and violates the religious freedom in Tibet. As such, the Chinese Government's attempt to exhibit the existence of religious freedom in Tibet is merely a pretense.
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:
- To immediately send an independent international fact-finding mission into Tibet
- To exert pressure on the PRC government to allow unfettered access to free press in whole of Tibet
- To pressure the PRC to end the brutal killings in the whole of Tibet
- To immediately release all the arrested and imprisoned Tibetans
- To extend immediate medical assistance to those injured Tibetans
- To allow free movement of people and provide access to daily needs
- Tibetan Solidarity Committee