Crackdown on Buddhism in Tibet?.
Sakya Monastery, Tibet. Sakya Monastery was founded in 1073, by Konchok Gyelpo and is situated about 130 km west of Shigatse on the road to Tingri. By I, Luca Galuzzi, CC BY-SA 2.5 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5>, via Wikimedia Commons.
By Rene Wadlow.
There have been periodical periods of repression on religious liberty in Tibet by the Chinese government usually related to broader policies concerning religion on the part of the government. We may be in such a period now as there is a Muslim element in the repressive policy toward the Uyghurs in Xiaoping and a less obvious Christian element in the repressive policy in Hong Kong; where Christian churches and Christian-related universities are strong champions of human rights. It is also possible that recent events in Afghanistan have made some government officials more aware of the religious element in political trends.
The reasons for the crackdown were not articulated by the police authorities who only cited having photos of the Dalai Lama and correspondence with Tibetans living in India and Nepal for the closing of Kharmar Monastery in Gansu Provence in late July and the arrest of over 120 Tibetans including six monks from Dza Wompo Gaden Shedrup Monastery in early September.
Uyghurs praying in East Turkestan. By Preston Rhea, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
Crackdown on Buddhism.
Crackdown in religious practice in Tibet has been periodical. In 1951 Chinese government troops entered Tibet under a “17 Point Agreement” which left Tibet largely autonomous under the Dalai Lama. However, in March 1959, China imposed the socialist system on Tibet in the name of “democratic reforms”. The Dalai Lama, fearing that he would be arrested left for India, followed by his entourage of highly trained lamas and later by other Tibetans. The Tibetans were settled in the Himalaya hill station of Daramsala by the Indian government.
In May 1966, Mao Zedong launched the “Great Cultural Revolution” to “Smash the four olds” (old ideology, old culture, old customs, and old habits). A large number of monasteries, temples and shrines were destroyed in Tibet.
Again, in March 1989, martial law was declared in Lhasa following three days of riots during which thousands of Tibetans took to the streets to attack Chinese-owned stores and government offices. There was a crackdown on religious practice as Buddhism and a sense of nationhood remain for most Tibetans common mobilizing symbols despite the decades of Chinese rule.
The Dalai Lama. By kris krüg, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
Middle Way Approach.
At other times, there have been meetings between Chinese officials and representatives of the Dalai Lama such as those of 2002 when the Dalai Lama’s representatives set out a “Middle Way Approach” to secure genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people within the scope of the constitution of the People’s Republic of China. In a follow up meeting in 2008, a detailed memorandum of “Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People” was presented by the Tibetan representatives. There were meetings in 2010 to clarify concerns and possible misinterpretations of the Memorandum, although there has been no formal follow up since 2010.
Within China itself, there is an increasing interest in Tibetan traditions of Buddhism. There are some 50 institutes specializing in Tibetan studies. The interest is both cultural and spiritual as some Chinese search for a meaning in life.
Thus it is not clear if the recent arrests are the start of a broader crackdown or the actions of local police officials. From the outside, those of us concerned with safeguarding religious liberty must follow events in China closely.
Rene Wadlow, President, Association of World Citizens.

President, Association of World Citizens (AWC).
Estudied International relations in The University of Chicago.
Estudied Special Program in European Civilization en Princeton University
Here are other publications that may be of interest to you.
Biodiversity: A Pledge, Now Action.
Featured Image: Photo by Jeevan Katel on Unsplash. In the early hours of 19 December 2022, the delegates to the U. N. Convention on Biodiversity (COP 15) reached an agreement…
Ongoing Armed Conflicts and the Need for Stronger Track Two Efforts.
Featured Image: Photo by Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash. The continuing armed conflict in Ukraine and the likelihood that the conflict will drag on through the winter, the 11th…
U.N. Human Rights Council Focus on Iran.
Featured Image: Ebrahim Raisi By Nasim Online, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. On 24 November 2022, the United Nations Human Rights Council held a Special Session on the…
Dark Clouds Over Eastern Congo.
Featured Image: Photo by Flow Clark, Unsplash. As if there were not already enough tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo (RDC), there is a renewal of fighting since mid-October in…
What I would say if I could. Protest symbols in China.
Featured Image: Photo by Nuno Alberto. Unsplash An empty white page held high has become the symbol of protest in the manifestations currently spreading to different parts of China. Just…
Democratic Republic of Congo: Increasing Tensions and Danger of Violence.
Featured Image: Movement militiamen M23 and Type 85 heavy machine gun. By Al Jazeera English, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. Despite the presence of some 14,000 United Nations…
U.N. Highlights Rape as a War Weapon in Ukraine.
Image Featured: Photo by Melanie Wasser, Unsplash Pramila Patten, the United Nations Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur on sexual violence in times of conflict reported mid-October 2022 that rape is…
War-related Famine: Action Needed.
Featured Image: Photo by Megan Thomas on Unsplash. In a 11 November 2022 presentation to the Paris Peace Forum, David Beasley, Director of the United Nations World Food Programme warned that…
A Wind of Change Blows Ever Stronger in Iran.
Featured Image: Photos of various protests in London in solidarity with Mahsa Amini. Despite strong governmental repression, a wind of change blows ever stronger in Iran. What began as manifestations…
Convention on the Rights of the Child: The Vital Role of NGOs.
Featured Image: Photo by Yannis H on Unsplash. When the Convention on the Rights of the Child was unanimously adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 20 November 1989; governments took a…