New Delhi, Aug 5 : China has ramped restrictions in advance of the birthday celebrations of an important Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader, asking local officials in two Tibetan regions to block people from sharing his picture or online wishes, reports from the media stated.Authorities have threatened to detain Tibetans in the Ngaba and Dzoge regions who defy the law in posting messages on August 8th which is the anniversary of the 11th Kyabje Rinpoche (honorific) Lobsang Tenzin Jigme Yeshe Gyamtso Rinpoche.RFA said.
Rinpoche is the abbot chief in exile of the Kirti Monastery, one of the most influential and important monasteries in Tibet according to the report stated.
“The government has warned of this kind of activity by Tibetans, and those who do so are likely to be detained and punished if they are found to be defying the law,” said a Tibetan source from Tibet who refused to be identified so that they could be able to speak freely.
Chinese authorities barred monks of the Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Dzoge county as well as the Kirti Monastery in Ngaba county both in Sichuan province’s Ngaba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, from celebrating Rinpoche’s birthday in 2021.The regions are awash with ethnic Tibetans.
Monks were not allowed leave their monasteries, and social gatherings were not allowed during the time, RFA reported.
“Last year, Tibetans in Tibet were anticipating restrictions and pressure from the Chinese government in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Kriti Rinpoche and, therefore, they stayed away,” said a Tibetan who lives in exile.
“But this year Tibetans who live in exile and within Tibet are eagerly anticipating celebrating Rinpoche’s birthday and making offerings of the tenshug” the source explained in reference to a life-long prayer offering offered to spiritual teachers.
“But we are witnessing restrictions and examination in Ngaba as well as Dzoge.”
The Kirti Monastery has been the location of the vast majority of self-immolations carried out by monks who are opposed to China’s oppressive policies in Tibet, RFA reported.
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