Three Buddhist nuns living at the Larung Gar Academy in Sichuan have committed suicide and a fourth who attempted suicide was prevented by her friends at the last minute, all in protest against the Chinese authorities’ destruction of large parts of the Tibetan Buddhist academy.
The first was Rinzin Dolma, a Tibetan nun from Larung Gar who committed suicide on July 20.She left a note expressing how she could not bear the pain of Chinese harassment of the residents of Larung Gar. She was from the Dege region and lived in the academy as a regular student.
News of her death did not emerge until this month. Restrictions on communications are preventing news of events at Larung Gar reaching the outside world so news of what is happening at the academy may take weeks to reach the outside world. The authorities are monitoring phone calls and social media messages and in addition there are reports that they are looking for people who have already sent images or videos of the demolition to outside contacts.
This month, Tsering Dolma, aged about 20, hanged herself on August 17 a source living in the area told Radio Free Asia’s Tibetan Service, saying that“she could no longer bear the pain of seeing the destruction of Larung Gar”. The source said that Dolma left a note expressing her distress at the demolition and complaining that the Chinese will not let them live in peace.
Nuns Tsering Dolm (left) and Rinzin Dolma
Photo:Radio Free Asia
Dolma was a native of Mewa township in Marthang county in Sichuan’s Ngaba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Before her death people had noted that she seemed “depressed and worried” about what was taking place at Larung Gar, said RFA’s source,“So she hanged herself”.
A third nun, Semga, who was a native of Dowa village in Ngaba’s Dzamthang county, is also believed to have recently killed herself, though detailed information is not available at the time of going to press, while a fourth nun attempted suicide.
The demolition work at Larung Gar Buddhist institute is still hitting the news and causing international concern. Despite protests by international human right groups as well as the publicity given by Tibetans around the world, the Chinese authorities are continuing with their demolition at the monastery.
United States State Department spokesperson Elizabeth Trudeau said, “We urge authorities to cease actions that may escalate tensions and to pursue forthright consultations with the institute’s leaders to address any safety concerns in a way that does not infringe on the right of Tibetans to practice their religion freely”.
Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, the democratically elected leader of Tibetan government-in-exile, speaking to Asian News International, said the demolition shows a “double standard” by the Chinese government as they say on the one hand that there is religious freedom, while on the other hand destroying the residences of nuns and monks studying at theLarung Gar Institute.
Early this month Tibetan non-government organisations (NGOs) in Dharamshala jointly participated in a solidarity vigil to condemn the ongoing demolition work at the institute and to express their solidarity with the first nun had who committed suicide at that time.
With the demolition work progressing, the authorities have started expelling nuns and monks. And in the neighbouring town Tibetan landowners have had their land requisitioned to make way for commercial development near the academy. RFA reports that a large area of theNubsur township, which is located 20 miles from Serta county in Kardze, has been seized and the Tibetan owners were given only token compensation. “The authorities are planning to develop the area as a tourist complex,” said RFA’s source.
This year’s annual ten-day ceremony at Larung Gar was banned by the Chinese authorities, a local source said that the ceremony was moved to another monastery which was permitted to conduct a one-day ceremony only.
Armed security forces are deployed at the site and surrounding areas to suppress any attempts to protest or to halt the work.
The BBC has reported that there has been no formal comment by Chinese authorities, although they claim they have concerns about overcrowding. The BBC also reports that a Sertar county government official contacted by the Associated Press said the purpose of the work was to renovate rather than remove the buildings. It is understood the population of Larung Gur will be reduced by half to 5,000 residents.
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