Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Feb. 12: The Chinese government has expelled thousands of monks and nuns from Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, one of the most prominent Tibetan Buddhist institutes located in Serthar (Ch. Seda) County, within the so-called Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Tibet’s traditional province of Kham. Citing alleged illegal residency and lack of proper documentation, the Chinese authorities have imposed further restrictions, according to a report by Tibet Times, a Tibetan news outlet based in Dharamshala.
The expulsion follows a series of escalating restrictions since November last year, capping the number of monks and nuns allowed to reside at Larung Gar at just over 5,000. A nun who was among those forced to leave told Tibet Times that government officials and military personnel from Serthar County conducted multiple inspections before enforcing their removal. “We were informed that we could no longer stay at the monastery,” she said.
Beyond the expulsions, visitors, including tourists, now face strict restrictions. Previously permitted to carry phones and take photographs, they are now barred from bringing mobile phones, cameras, or other recording devices when entering the monastery. At least 400 Chinese government officials and police officers are stationed at Larung Gar to conduct inspections and maintain surveillance.
Concerns are mounting over the possible demolition of monks’ and nuns’ living quarters under the pretext of road construction. According to sources, the Chinese authorities have issued warnings that disseminating information about the expulsions could result in legal penalties.
A separate source cited by Tibet Times noted that individuals who inherited permits from deceased family members have been permitted to remain, while new monks and nuns are prohibited from registering for residency permits. Although the expelled monks’ and nuns’ quarters have not yet been demolished, their current circumstances remain uncertain.
This crackdown marks an unprecedented escalation. On December 20 last year, approximately 400 military personnel from Drago County and surrounding areas in Kardze Prefecture were deployed to Larung Gar, supported by helicopters, to conduct surveillance. Reports indicate that the government plans to enforce a 15-year residency limit for monks and nuns at Larung Gar, beginning this year, and intends to further reduce the institution’s population through mandatory registration, compelling Chinese students to leave the academy.
Founded in 1980 by the late Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok, Larung Gar has been a crucial center for Tibetan Buddhist scholarship, attracting thousands of monks and nuns seeking spiritual education. However, this latest military deployment and intensified surveillance signal a renewed phase of repression. This follows the large-scale demolitions and forced evictions between July 2016 and May 2017, during which the academy’s population was halved from approximately 10,000 residents, and over 4,500 Tibetans were displaced and subjected to strict surveillance.
China’s actions at Larung Gar have drawn widespread international condemnation. In October 2016, the co-chairs of the United States Human Rights Commission wrote to the Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., expressing “deep concern” over the demolitions and urging Beijing to halt the repression, restore the destroyed infrastructure, and allow Tibetans to practice Buddhism freely. Similarly, the European Parliament passed a resolution in December 2016 condemning the forced removals and demolitions, calling on China to respect Tibetans’ religious freedoms and cease its oppressive measures.
Critics say the latest wave of expulsions and restrictions at Larung Gar represents yet another severe infringement on Tibetan religious and human rights, further intensifying concerns about Beijing’s ongoing efforts to control and suppress Tibetan Buddhism.
