UN human rights experts jointly condemn China’s on Buddhist institutions/ENG

2017. március 2./Phayul.com/TibetPress

eredeti cikk

By Tenzin Dharpo

DHARAMSHALA, MAR. 2: In a rare development, a group of UN human rights experts have come together in condemning China for committing grave violation at Buddhist institutions. The statement condemned the mass expulsion of monastic populace from Buddhist learning institutions such as Larung Gar and Yarchen Gar.

A statement from the group criticized the demolition of the Larung Gar Buddhist University, regarded as the biggest of its kind in the world, where Chinese authorities have carried on work to demolish houses and hutments since July 2016. The statement from 6 UN human rights experts censured the “severe restrictions of religious freedom”.

“While we do not wish to prejudge the accuracy of these allegations, grave concern is expressed over the serious repression of the Buddhist Tibetans’ cultural and religious practices and learning in Larung Gar and Yachen Gar,” the statement further said.

The condemnation by the apex human rights body of the free world also sought explanation over the developments that have been going on in Larung Gar and Yarchen Gar, both in Sichuan Province in eastern occupied Tibet.

The special rapporteurs who signed the statement come from different nationalities and have diverse specialty of human rights subjects such as cultural rights, sustainable environment and peaceful assembly. The statement although filed months ago in November last year was made public just before this year’s UN Human Rights council that began on Monday, which was also the Tibetan new year.

In December 2016, the European Parliament also adopted a resolution where the demotion and eviction of monks and nuns were condemned.

Three Tibetans nuns studying at this largest Buddhist Institute committed suicide following Chinese government’s demolition drive.

The Chinese government started the demolition drive citing renovation work as reason whilst forcibly evicting students intending to cut down the academy’s strength to 5,000 from 10,000 by end of the year.

Similarly, the year 2001 also saw a similar dismantling of the institute founded by late Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok, one of the most prominent religious leaders with huge following in China. Over 8,000 students were evicted forcibly from the Institute and approximately 2,000 dwellings of monks and nuns were demolished that year.