Tibet Supporters Worldwide Unite to Condemn China’s Demolition of Larung Gar

By Tenzin Samten / October 24, 2016;

Monks and nuns in Dharamshala taking part in mass prayer protest against demolition of Larung Gar
Photo: tibetexpress.net

More than 180 Tibet support groups in at least 20 cities around the world staged demonstrations on October 19 in a co-ordinatedGlobal Day of Action for Larung, protesting against China’s illegal demolition of Larung Gar Buddhist academy and the forced eviction of residents there.

Larung Gar Buddhist academy is located in Serta County in Tibet and is one of the largest Buddhist institutions the world and home to over 10,000 Buddhist nuns, monks and other visiting students.

A joint statement released by the participating groups urges the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights to call on China to immediately stop the demolition. The group also urged the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to push for an official visit to Tibet and LarungGar.

In Dharamshala, the seat of Tibetan Government-in-exile and His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s home in India, crowds gathered to take part in a mass prayer protest led by local monks and nuns. The event was jointly facilitated by five major non-government organisations–the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), Students for a Free Tibet –India (SFT), Gu Chu Sum, the ex-political prisoners support group, Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) and the National Democratic Party of Tibet (NDPT).

Speaking to Phayul, Tashi Lamsang, General Secretary of TYC said “The demolition of Larung Gar is an indication of another cultural revolution carried out by the Chinese Government. Today we are sending a message to Beijing that we exile Tibetans haven’t lost hope.”

Parts of Larung Gar institution where houses are knocked down

“We were warned that even the slightest protest could end up in demolition of the entire institute. It was the reason why most of us stayed quiet, in fear of the severe consequences because of an individual act of dissent,” said Dolma Kyi, a former student at Larung Gar who is currently studying in India, also speaking to Phayul.

In an attempt to reduce the number of residents at Larung Gar from 10,000 to 5,000 by next year, Chinese authorities are knocking down houses there and have been carrying out forced eviction of nuns and monks since June this year.

Larung Gar was founded in 1980 by Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok. The academy hosted both Tibetan and Chinese Buddhist students and practitioners.