Dharamsala (AsiaNews) - Chinese authorities forcibly closed a number of Buddhist monasteries in Nagchu Prefecture (Tibet Autonomous Region). In order to stop anti-Chinese protests, they have sent in 'work teams' to seize the monasteries and transfer rights and authority over them to the Chinese government even though these facilities are privately-owned. Because China's Communist rulers are imposing ever-tighter controls, monks are opting to abandon their monasteries.
Late last month, one such "work team' visited the monasteries of Taklung and Choelung as part of the central government's attempt to stop self-immolation by Buddhist monks, as 28 have already done. Once inside the monasteries, officials tallied all of their assets and ordered the monks not to conduct any transaction without official approval.
In both places, officials organised 'patriotic re-education', i.e. brain-washing sessions to turn dissidents away from their fight.
When one of the monk asked the officials whether such a practice did not violate religious freedom as guaranteed by the Chinese constitution, he was ignored. However, this led the monks to leave the facilities. Eventually, the same thing was repeated in Bekar, Drong-na, Rabten and Roggyen. After a re-education session, the monasteries were closed for lack of monks.
Given the turn of events, the authorities have tried to get the religious back into the monasteries, ordering civilians not to give them refuge or shelter.
In Layok, village chief Soegyam was sacked for disobeying the order. In explaining his action, he told government officials that the monks do not want to live under constant suffering and surveillance.
On the other hand, the local population reacted to the monks' departure with great concern, fearful that people might not receive the religious and spiritual assistance the monasteries usually provide.
In Layok, hundreds met to call on the government to change its decision. Demonstrators said that the dead could not be buried without the monks performing the necessary rituals. Communist officials responded by telling them to bring the dead and the money so that they could do the job.