By John Zavrel
Washington/New York. A majornew report released by the International Campaign for Tibet revealsthe increasing threat to the survival of Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet.'When the Sky Fell toEarth: the New Crackdown on Buddhism inTibet' documents therise in repression of religion in Tibet that is a direct result ofChina's economic policies and strategic objectives.
This report outlines the impact of officialChinese policy on contemporary Tibetan Buddhist culture throughpreviously unpublished internal government documents and eyewitnessreports.
The 122-page illustrated study demonstrates thatmany of the controls and restrictions that China has beenimplementing in recent years have little to do with curbing dissidentpolitical activity, but are simply aimed at suppressing the growthand strength of religion in Tibet.
Accompanying the report is a'Sourcebook of CurrentChinese Documents on Religious Policy'that provides governments, human rights organizations and academicsextensivemevidence of changes in religious policy.A video containing recentand rare footage also accompanies the report, graphicallyillustrating the recent demolition of key monasteries, officialsconducting political education sessions in monasteries, officialenthronement ceremonies and many other topics in thereport.
"China proclaims to be protecting religion andculture in Tibet but its internal documents flatly contradict thisand show an intensification of control and repression by thegovernment," said John Ackerly, President of the InternationalCampaign for Tibet. "We arenow seeing a level of government intrusiveness and control overmonasteries that was unheard of in the 1980s and early 1990s," Mr.Ackerly continued.
'When the Sky Fell to Earth'reports that:
Officials at all levels in Tibet are now beingexhorted to strengthen control over monasteries and over the processof identifying reincarnations of important Buddhist monks and nuns. Crackdowns on prayerceremonies for the Dalai Lama and important religious institutions ineastern Tibet in recent years have been described by some Tibetans asbeing like a 'secondCultural Revolution.'
Political education campaigns continue inmonasteries and nunneries throughout Tibet, contrary torepresentations by Chinese officials to Western governments that theyhave been discontinued. The PRC authorities are focusing increasinglyon the 'control' of religion through administrative and legalmechanisms that enable them to clamp down on religious activitieswhile claiming they are operating according to a 'rule of law.' Theatheist Chinese government is taking a more aggressive approach tothe identification, enthronement and education of reincarnate lamasfollowing the escape of the 17th Karmapa into exile in2000.
The enforcement of atheistpolicies by the Chinese state has created widespread despair amongTibetans in Tibet, as spiritual faith and loyalty to the Dalai Lamaare intrinsic elements of Tibetan Buddhistculture. 'When the Sky Fell to Earth'details the factors thathave led to many thousands of Tibetans escaping into exile in recentyears to practise their religion, including:the dearth of seniorteachers and scholars insideTibet; restrictions onthe movement of popular religious leaders;virulent politicalcampaigns; thehistorical legacy of the Cultural Revolution;limitations on numbersof monks and nuns in monasteries andnunneries; andrestrictions on pilgrimage.
"Undermining religion in Tibetis a political imperative for today's China", said Kate Saunders, aTibet expert and one of the authors of thereport. "The close links between Tibetanidentity, sense of nationhood and spiritual faith means thatreligious practice and devotion are often perceived by Beijing as athreat to the state and to the unity of the PRC, and an obstacle toeconomic progress," Ms. Saunders said.
"The result of China's current policies andpractices will be the emasculation of one of the world's greatreligious traditions and in its stead a sanitized, superficial set ofpractices beholden to a communist party," said Mr.Ackerly.
Companion Film: "Devotion and Defiance--Buddhismand the Struggle for Religious Freedom in Tibet" (USA, 2004, 35minutes). Produced by the International Campaign for Tibet. Containsrare footage shot in Tibet in the last three years. Available to themedia in DVD, VHS and PAL.
You can purchase the report and the video online,through ICT's online store. The report "When the Sky Fell to Earth"is available here for $10 and the video "Devotion and Defiance" isavailable as a DVD or as a VHS tape, in both cases for US$6.00. Theseprices include shipping and handling.
Copyright 2004 West Art, Prometheus 93