Beijing tells party members and officials they cannot take part in religious activities
Dharamsala (AsiaNews) - The authorities of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) announced that members of the Communist Party, cadres, government officials and even students cannot participate in religious activities such as the Sagadawa (aka Vesak: the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and passing away) . The order issued by the TAR Committee for Discipline Inspection and Supervision Department says that participation in religious activities and rites is a "serious violation of political discipline and stability work" and that severe punishment would be meted out accordingly, the official Tibet Daily newspaper reported yesterday.
The official directive noted that "some Party members and cadres, particularly some retired personnel who still believe in religion, participate in religious activities, and illegally cross the border to attend religious teachings by the Dalai Lama', show that their political stand is not strong, and that their "understanding of the struggle against separatist activities is not stable, swinging openly towards the Dalai Lama". No matter how much credit any official or party member has earned so far or how high one's position is, the failure to ensure stability would lead to immediate firing.
The TAR Committee Discipline and Inspection Department also called for the strengthening of supervision and inspection work with regards to the implementation of an 18-point regulation introduced in February 2012.
Since the beginning of this year, 19 officials in Tibet, both of Tibetan and Chinese descent, have either been demoted or fired for failing to implement stability maintenance work.
Recently, Tibet has seen numerous street protest and dozens of suicides by monks and lay people, who by such an extreme act exert their freedom to profess the religion of their choice without restrictions or impositions.
For this reason, top Chinese Communist party and government leaders have focused especially on stability, national unity, and the fight against religion unconcerned about popular views and the wishes of many party and government officials.
AsiaNews has already noted that the central committee is doing everything it can to stop the spread of religion but is running up against a quest for faith and values that transcend politics that is leading many officials to convert, often to Christianity, or embrace a religious faith.
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