Tibetans resent new Chinese policy on reincarnation

Dehra Dun, Sep 22 (UNI) Hundreds of Tibetan monks and nuns residing in Uttarakhand today staged a rally in this district to condemn China's latest ''religious repressive tactics'' in Tibet.

More than 600 monks and nuns in their traditional robes gathered at Parade Ground and led a procession chanting slogans against the Chinese government. The rally was organised by the Dehra Dun chapter of the Regional Tibetan Women's Association, Tibetan Youth Congress and supported by various RTWAs and RTYCs.

The leaders of Tibetan Associations said China's State Administration of Religious Affairs (SARA) had released 14-article 'Measures on Reincarnation' on July 18 this year, which came into effect on September 1 this year, openly promoting the Chinese Government's rampant attempt to undermine religious freedom in Tibet.

They said the article rejected the importance of the Golden Urn Process in selecting reincarnations and stipulated that a reincarnation would have to take approval from either the Central People's Republic of China (PRC) or SARA making the Chinese government the sole authority over the reincarnation process in Tibetan Buddhism.

They rued that the Chinese government had also made it clear that it would not entertain any international intervention in the matter.

'' We recognise the 14-article measures to be no more than the PRC's effort to further restrict Tibetans religious rights,'' said one of the leaders Tsering Yongzam, adding that such restrictive measures were against the centuries old Tibetan Buddhist philosophy.

Meanwhile, Presidents of RTWA Tenzing Choki and Tsering Dolma said,''We believe that people of faith everywhere who long for peace and truth will never keep quiet at China's outrageous policy.'' Leaders Yashi Tharchen and Tsering Dhondu opined that if the Chinese government wanted to create a conducive environment for Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan Lamas to advocate peace and harmony within China itself, then it should honour the Dalai Lama.

The leaders said the Tibetan community would never accept the policy and would definitely challenge and campaign against it. There was no question of any compromise on this issue, they said.

UNI