China tightens control, prevents pilgrimage, before major Dalai Lama teaching in exile International Campaign for Tibet June 12, 2014 The Chinese authorities have tightened controls and deployed paramilitary troops to block Tibetans from making a pilgrimage to the sacred Mount Kailash in western Tibet and restrict travel in border areas. The moves are linked to the authorities’ objectives in preventing Tibetans from attending a major religious teaching, the Kalachakra, by the Dalai Lama across the border in Ladakh from July 3. The restrictions coincide with the important religious period of Saga Dawa, the anniversary of the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death, which this year falls on May 29-June 27.[1] According to Tibetan sources in exile, a major security operation has been underway in Pashoe (Chinese: Basu) county, Chamdo (Chinese: Qamdo) in the Tibet Autonomous Region for the past few weeks involving armed police and work teams, targeting both laypeople and monks. “Local people are not allowed to travel outside Chamdo for two months from June and July 2014,” said a Tibetan source now in exile. “If any local students need to travel for study, or people need medical treatment outside the area, they have to seek special permission, and will be charged with a criminal offence if they are travelling without papers. The county authorities have banned pilgrimage to Mount Kailash since the end of May and are checking IDs of all passengers and vehicles in the area.” Woeser, who lives in Beijing, cited a Chinese traveller who had been told by a travel agency that Tibetan clients were no longer able to obtain permission to travel in border areas of Tibet such as Purang (Chinese: Burang) where Mount Kailash is located.[2] The Chinese visitor was able to obtain the document because he applied in Guangzhou. Another Chinese netizen said the restrictions were likely to continue until August, and possibly until the end of the year.
Posted on: Sat, 14 Jun 2014 16:48:59 +0000
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