China Moves Tibetan Buddhist Monastery Students To State Schools | Exclusive

Last Updated:November 22, 2024, 18:15 IST

The Lhamo Kirti Monastery school was completely shut down as part of China's broader initiative to control the Tibetan education

China has intensified control over Tibet, targeting religious, educational, and environmental spheres. (File for representation)

The Chinese authorities recently transferred around 200 students from a Tibetan Buddhist monastery school in Sichuan province to state-administered residential schools, in what agencies have termed a sign of China’s escalation on Tibetan Buddhism.

According to a note from top intelligence agencies, the Lhamo Kirti Monastery school was completely shut down as part of China’s broader initiative to control Tibetan education. Four Tibetan youths were detained in Sichuan for resisting forced transfers from monastic schools to state-run schools. They then underwent political re-education before being compelled to enrol in a local government school.

“China aims to promote loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) through state-run education. Over 1 million Tibetan children have been placed in state-run schools promoting Mandarin and Chinese cultural values. China has intensified control over Tibetan Buddhism through stricter restrictions, increased surveillance, and forced assimilation policies. China’s actions aim to assimilate Tibetan identity and limit family contact," read the note.

Intelligence sources said, “China asserts control over the appointment of Tibetan religious leaders, including the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation. The launch of the Tibet Communication Centre was to reshape international narratives."

“China has intensified control over Tibet, targeting religious, educational, and environmental spheres to take them away from their roots and a situation like that of the Uighurs is being created. Arrests are being carried out for contacting outsiders in these areas and they are threatened that they will be sent to rehabilitation centres in case of non-compliance," sources said.

In September, Chen Wenqing, the head of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission – the ruling Communist Party’s top security body, visited the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and some of the 10 Tibetan autonomous prefectures across Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai and reviewed security. He called for a resolute crackdown against separatists.

He also asked the local officials to maintain stability and guard against independence activities, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported.

In July, the US passed the Resolve Tibet Act, which enhances its support for Tibet and promotes dialogue between China and the Dalai Lama toward a peaceful resolution of the dispute over the status and governance of the remote Himalayan region.

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