As many as 40 Tibetan families from Chunga village in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture’s Chabcha county have been uprooted from their ancestral lands and moved to urbanised areas, against their wishes and by order of the Chinese government, says Radio Free Asia (RFA) in a report dated May 1. Big families of nine or more members are now packed into their new living spaces, which are small two-bedroom homes unequipped to house large families, “we don’t feel comfortable in our resettlement home at all” says RFA’s local source.
The evicted Tibetans have had to sell their livestock at low prices to relocate to new areas. “We are all pastoral nomads with no skills for working in a modern city, and though we were told the Chinese government would help support poor Tibetan families, we have received no assistance so far”, RFA’s source explains.
RFA’s source, who remains anonymous, says that it has left families begging in the street for financial aid. She describes her home in Phenpo, about 63 km from Lhasa, saying the family did not have to pay for water, electricity or rent but after moving to the Kuru Sampa suburb to the east of Lhasa they have to pay for everything. Uprooted Tibetans are promised compensation for their land of 12,000-200,000 yuan (US$1,750-US$29,0 / £1,400-£12,000): some are still waiting to receive their money.
Many feel that the amount offered is insufficient for the value of the land and for them to be able to move forward, supporting their families. When offered a settlement the RFA source said, “It is better to take the money offered and relocate as consequences can be severe.” Families are not given a reason when evicted but on May 16 a report from RFA states the land will be used to build a new airport.
phayul.com commented, “Forced relocation, land grabs and urbanisation are recurring issues in occupied Tibet in the last few decades with Tibetans on the receiving end of Chinese government policies”.
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