Published by: World Tibet Network News Saturday, November 21, 1997

By Conrad Richter

TORONTO, Nov. 20, CTC -- Interviews of Tibetans arriving in Kathmandu, Nepal, paint a worsening picture of conditions in Tibet. Arrests, oppressive tax increases, forced labour, restrictions on monasteries and even attempts to control thought have been reported as hundreds of Tibetans have crossed into Nepal in the past month.

Last week 140 Tibetans left Tibet and another 40 arrived two days ago. Many are arrested by police on both sides of the Tibetan-Nepali border. Thirty Tibetans were caught by Chinese police on October 20 and 28 were caught two days ago near Mount Everest at Solo Khumbu, an unusual route according to observers in Kathmandu. Tibetans caught by Nepali police are returned to Chinese authorities. Three were returned on November 11 and another 12 were returned the next day.

Young monks from Pemba, an isolated village in Kham, in eastern Tibet, told of increased Chinese control of the local monastery since 1996. Monks younger than 18 were forced to leave, and those remaining were forced to tear up photos of the Dalai Lama and stamp on them. Monks were required to repair local roads without payment of even food. Regular mandatory meetings are called to enforce the new rules. They also said that monks now require a pass to go to Chamdo, the nearest city.

According to the young monks, the Chinese have raised taxes to the point that villagers do not have food to last until the next harvest. Some villagers are forced to beg for provisions from neighbours. New limits on the numbers of yaks to 6 per person among farmers and 8 per person among nomads (drokpas) are effectively destroying a traditional way of life in the area.

A 29-year-old monk from Tendok monastery told of how the Chinese are even trying to control thought. There are three themes that the Chinese have been trying to drill into the monks since May:

1. "Tibetans and Mongolians are Chinese," and "you must tell everyone that that Tibet is not independent."

2. "The Dalai Lama must be brought down and you must tell everyone that you will not listen to him."

3. "The Panchen Lama of the Dalai Lama is a lie and this you must tell."

The Tendok monk also said that monks under 18 years of age who are forced out of the monastery are told that they must not study religion even at home.

At Tsepo monastery in Tsarongpa, also in eastern Tibet, monks were asked to raise their hands if they supported the Dalai Lama. Those that did were handcuffed and taken away. Tsepo monastery is now sealed. The authorities have threatened the lay population in the area to arrest those who support the Dalai Lama.

Reports of torture are common among the recent arrivals. Negative experiences with the police are "a given" according to one source. Refugees are reporting also that prison labour is being used for logging. Whole contiguous areas across mountains without pause are being clear-cut. The accounts of destruction are "breathtaking" according to the source.