(TibetanReview.net, Jul19’19) – Chinese authorities in the traditionally Tibetan county of Palyul (Chinese: Baiyu) which is now part of Sichuan Province have expelled 3,600 more monks and nuns from the Yachen Gar Tibetan Buddhist study and meditation centre in recent days, bringing to 7,100 the number of such expulsions since May this year, reported the Tibetan Service of rfa.org Jul 18.
China’s religious policy in Tibet does not allow Tibetans to enroll at monasteries if they do not belong to the local county. Those expelled in May were mainly from Chamdo City of Tibet Autonomous Region. Those expelled more recently were stated to be from Qinghai Province and other parts of Sichuan.
The expelled monks face months of detention and political re-education in their home counties for the purpose of being moulded into China patriots while being banned from joining any other religious centre to continue their study.
Both Yachen Gar and the more famous Larung Gar in neighbouring Serta (Seda) County have faced massive expulsions and demolitions of residences over the past several years.
The report noted that at least 4,820 Tibetan and Chinese monks and nuns were removed from Larung Gar, with over 7,000 dwellings and other structures torn down since 2001.
