China launches smear campaign against Kirti monks

(TibetanReview.net, Apr24, 2011)  

In a move to smear the reputation of the monastery and the personal character of its monks, China has indicated that it is carrying out something of a moral education crusade at the Kirti Monastery in Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) County of Sichuan Province, according to theAFP Apr 22. The government’s claim followed the reported trucking away by the security forces of over 300 of its monks in the night of Apr 21, with more detentions seen likely to follow on Apr 22.

Earlier, on Apr 19, China’s foreign ministry had said that the situation at the monastery was perfectly normal despite reports since Mar 16 of protests by monks and lay Tibetans alike and clashes between them and the police. Independent reports based on eyewitness accounts had said, on the other hand, that the monastery had been sealed off, with even food being not allowed to be delivered in at one time; monks being detained and tortured, and a rigorous course of education in patriotism being carried out there. International media reports also said foreigners had been banned from the county and a number of neighbouring Tibetan areas.

Making false allegations of economic crimes or morally reprehensible conducts against dissidents and others who question the communist party rule have been the favourite recourse of the Chinese government for persecuting them. Tibetan monks and lamas had been subjected to such false allegations before, especially during the so-called democratic reform since 1959 and the Cultural Revolution period (1966-76).

Based on a report by China’s official Xinhua news agency, AFP cited the government of Aba County as saying Apr 22 it had decided to give monks "legal education" due to the "problems" there and "illegal activities" committed by some monks. More specifically, a circular released by the local government was quoted as saying, "some monks in the monastery had visited prostitutes, got drunk and kicked up rows and engaged in gambling. And some disseminated pornographic videos."

The county government was also reported to have accused “a small group” of monks of "disrupting social order" for a long time, with some allegedly inciting mobs to riot in March 2008 amid widespread unrest across much of the Tibetan Plateau.

The county government’s claims came as reports emerged that on Apr 21 evening, more than 300 monks of Kirti Monastery had been taken away to an unknown location.

The Xihnua report, dated Apr 23, also cooked up an elaborate story on how the self-immolation and death of the young monk named Phuntsog was a premeditated plan to create disturbance in the area. While eyewitness reports said the young monk died more because of merciless beating by the police after the flame was put out, Xinhua said monks who forcibly took him away from the police were under suspicion of intentional homicide.

China had earlier said Phuntsog was 20 years old; but this one claimed he was 16.

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Last updated on Apr 24, 2011 09:53:26

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