Beijing seizes monasteries' TVs to stop self-immolations in Tibet
Dharamsala
(AsiaNews / Agencies) - After accusing the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan government
in exile and even the teachings of Buddhism, the Chinese authorities are trying
to stop the self-immolations in Tibet by removing television sets and satellites
found in the local monasteries. According
to local press, a team sent by the Communist government confiscated equipment
from 300 monasteries in the remote prefecture of Huangnan because of "anti-Chinese
broadcasts."
The
state news agency in China's Qinghai province on the borders with Tibet,
writes: " At this moment, critical for maintaining social stability in
Huangnan prefecture ... [we must] strengthen measures and fully fight the
special battle against self-immolations".
Also
according to the agency, the local government would have invested 8.64 million
yuan (about 1 million euros) to install
50 transmitters which broadcast 70 per cent of TV channels in the prefecture. But
this "media offensive" has proven unsuccessful, because thanks to the
internet and satellites the majority of the population follows the programs
prepared and aired by the Tibetan diaspora.
Beijing
seems increasingly desperate in the fight to stop the self-immolations. The
number of people who have chosen to kill themselves by setting themselves on fire
has increased significantly in November, during the 18th Chinese Communist
Party Congress that crowned the "Fifth Generation" of national
leaders. According to
Tibetan sources, the victims are now almost 100.
The
tensions have increased to the point that Beijing has stepped up security
measures in the county of Rebgong, home to the monastery of Rongwo (built about
600 years ago and the scene of dozens of self-immolations) by installing a
number of checkpoints to keep tourists out. Thousands
of paramilitaries patrol roads and religious buildings in an attempt to block
the sacrifices, while the local police officers have been "armed"
with fire extinguishers.
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