Tibet, November 7 – Chinese authorities stepped up a long‑running campaign against Tibetan Buddhism, raiding a monastery in the Amdo region and seizing photos of the Dalai Lama. The move comes after Beijing has increasingly tightened its grip on religious expression in Tibet, citing the growing popularity of the Dalai Lama as a threat to state control.
In a series of detentions that began early Monday, police burst into the Larang Tashi Khyil Monastery and the nearby villages of Thangnag, Ngonchag, Ledruk and Sangkhog. The agents confiscated dozens of photographs, shouting that any image of the Dalai Lama is illegal. They also cut off phone and internet service, making it hard for monks and nuns to communicate with the outside world.
The crackdown is part of a broader effort to replace traditional Tibetan religious symbols with a state‑approved version of Buddhism. In past years, the Chinese government has removed Dalai Lama images from public spaces and replaced them with portraits of Chinese leaders. In 2021, officials in Zawonpo Township forced Tibetans to sign pledges promising loyalty to the Communist Party, promising to keep dishes clear of Dalai Lama pictures, telling relatives not to hold such images and threatening to cut welfare benefits for non‑compliance.
In addition to raids, local officials have staged a controversial Panchen Lama ceremony. The state‑sanctioned 7th Panchen Lama, Gyaltsen Norbu, led a Kalachakra empowerment that forced monastic staff, including the 7th Gunthang Rinpoche, the Sakya abbot and the Sera abbot, to attend under tight security. Beijing’s promotion of Norbu is part of a strategy to weaken the influence of the Dalai Lama and control the succession of religious leaders.
The Chinese authorities reject the “legitimate” 11th Panchen Lama, Gendun Choekyi Nyima, who disappeared after being taken by Chinese officials in 1995. His absence remains a point of contention for Tibetans and human‑rights observers.
Human‑rights groups and Western governments have called the crackdown a violation of religious freedom. Reports from Freedom House, for example, note that the Chinese regime is “especially rigorous in suppressing any signs of dissent among Tibetans, including manifestations of Tibetan religious beliefs and cultural identity.” Critics say the campaign is a political tool used by Beijing to reshape Tibet’s spiritual landscape, eroding centuries of tradition in favor of a homogenised narrative of Party loyalty.
International observers argue that stronger diplomatic pressure is needed to protect the cultural and spiritual rights of Tibetan Buddhists. They warn that without such intervention, the Dalai Lama’s teachings risk fading from the region under authoritarian control.
China’s latest raid in the Amdo region highlights the growing tensions between the state’s desire to regulate religion and the resilience of Tibetan Buddhist communities. As Beijing continues to enforce its policy, the world watches how this clash will shape the future of religious freedom in Tibet.
Source: ianslive
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