Tibetan Language Ban Intensifies: Monks Expelled and Schools Closed

By Tenzin Samten / November 11, 2021;

Gaden Rabten Namgyaling, a school administered by Drago Monastery
Photo: RFA

The Chinese authorities in Tibet continue to intensify their ban on the Tibetan language, with the latest report of blocking Tibetan students from taking informal Tibetan classes during the school winter holidays; this applies to all of the traditional Tibetan province of Amdo [Ch: Qinghai]. Other acts of targeting institutions which focus on Tibetan culture, language and religion include the demolition of a Tibetan school which and there is another report of 80 young monks being expelled from monastery schools and sent home.

Gaden Rabten Namgyaling, a school administered by Drago Monastery in Kardze prefecture, was criticised by the local Chinese authorities and then in October, monastery officials were warned that if the school was not demolished in three days, government officials would destroy it and confiscate the property. The report by Radio Free Asia quoted their source as saying that school staff and volunteers hastily took down the school. He said that the centre is targeted because it provides education in Tibetan culture and religion.

Dhitsa monastery in Amdo
Photo: RFA

A separate report published on November 9 by Free Tibet, a UK-based nongovernment organisation advocating for freedom in Tibet, says that Chinese officials have expelled 50 young monks aged between 11 to 15 years from Dhitsa Monastery in Amdo and send them home. 30 more teenage monks from Jakyung Monastery, also in Amdo,were also expelled. It is understood that other monasteries may also had similar instructions.

Jakyung Monastery

Speaking to Tibet Watch, Free Tibet’s research partner, a source who spoke anonymously out of concern for their safety, spoke of security officers informing these young monks that “they could no longer wear monks’ robes, nor could they attend school.” It is unclear as of now whether they will now attend government schools where they will be taught entirely in Chinese. The new enforcement was announced earlier under a Religious Affairs Regulation issued on October 1.

Tibetan parents and rights activists have expressed concerns over these directives to keep young Tibetans from learning and using their language, religion and culture and fear that there will be negative consequences in the future.