Contact is taking a holiday!

The Chinese authorities in Kardze (Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture have forced over 200 monks in Dza Sershul Monastery to leave and to disrobe to join Chinese government established schools. The monks are aged up to 15 years, according to a report by Voice of Tibet (VOT). The Chinese authorities warned that the monastery will be closed and administrators of the monastery and parents of the young monks will be severely punished if hey do not adhere to the orders.

The same order has been issued to all monasteries in the Kardze region and photos and videos of young monks leaving the monasteries with their pa, rents were being circulated on July 10.

Twenty young monks have been reportedly removed from Jowo Ganden Shedrub Palgyeling monastery in Dzachuka, according to a report by Radio Free Asia (RFA).

“The Chinese government has ordered many monasteries in Dzachuka to enroll novice monks under the age of 15 in Chinese-run government schools, and they have started to expel the young monks from their respective monasteries,” said one source, Kunga, speaking to RFA. “Many of the parents of these young monks are unhappy about what the Chinese are doing,” he added.

“Chinese authorities have long sought to restrict the size and influence of Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, traditionally a focus of Tibetan cultural and national identity,” said sources in the region speaking to RFA.

In recent years, the Chinese authorities have strictly limited the number of monks and nuns enrolled in each monastic institute, and those allowed to stay are given classes promoting loyalty to China and its ruling Chinese Communist Party.

According to an article published in the Chinese state media Global Times on June 4, the Chinese government is training Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns to “to strengthen their political beliefs”. Speaking about the new development, the Washington Post stated that the Chinese authorities are indoctrinating Tibet’s Buddhist clergy and officials in charge of religious affairs as part of their campaign to strengthen the ruling Communist Party’s grip on the region.