HONG KONG—As news of the Dalai Lama's acceptance of a U.S. congressional gold medal spread, spontaneous celebrations sprang up across Tibet, the motherland of the exiled spiritual leader. However, when monks from the Drepung Monastery in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa were preparing for a celebration ceremony they were stopped by 1,000 armed policemen. Some monks were beaten as Lhasa authorities descended on the monastery according to a report in the latest edition of Asia Weekly.
The report quoted a monk from the Drepung Monastery—the largest temple belonging to the Gulug (Yellow Hat) of Tibetan Buddhism. He said the monks planned to paint the Buddhist temple and the wall of the monks' residence to celebrate the Dalai Lama's award in the U.S. on Oct. 17. While the monks were preparing paints and containers, a group of officers suddenly surrounded them. One of his fellow monks, who just about to stir paint, was suddenly hit in the face and then beaten up by an officer.
The monk explained that soon after this initial attack, the other monks gathered together and pushed the officer into a corner. Afterward, the monks continued with their preparation—stirring the paints and painting the walls. A while later, approximately 1,000 policemen forced their way in and took control of the monastery.
Afterwards, about 500 policemen were wielding various firearms and demonstrating military exercises in the parking lot of the monastery.
The report also referred to information provided by a female Tibetan writer named Tsering Woeser. When she called the monastery, the monk who answered the phone nervously explained that while the turmoil had subsided, armed police was still inside. Any plans to pay homage to the Dalai Lama were prohibited and the monastery was sealed off.
Woeser indicated that rumors of the incident were spreading across Lhasa, with some reporting that more than 10 monks were arrested.
She added that the Chinese communist regime had been in a panic since it was announced that the Dalia Lama would be awarded the gold medal—all of the government units held meetings on how to deal with the matter through the use of "neighborhood committees [1]" and temples. Tibetans were ordered not to wear festival costumes or burn incense.
As most of the government offices in Tibet are located alongside employees' residences, some government units even restrained employees from going out, to ensure tighter personnel control. Retired cadre members were also threatened with pension reduction if they dared to disobey the order.
In spite of the restraint imposed by the local authorities, many Tibetans started to wear their festival costumes on the day the Dalai Lama received the gold medal said Woeser. Women were especially bold in their show of respect. Normally fastened to the top of their heads, Tibetan females old and young let down their braids to honor their spiritual leader.
In addition, many Tibetans set up incense burners on the roadside and burned sweet grass and pine branches in Lhasa that day. The air in Lhasa was filled with pleasant scents and a festive atmosphere. The excitement and joy expressed by Tibetans for this event hasn't been seen since the Dalai Lama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.
Note: [1] The neighborhood committee—a grassroots organization in the residential areas of China—is intended to help local governments in controlling almost every aspect of the residents' daily life, ranging from birth control, surveillance, security and hygiene. During the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s, it used to be a tool for the notorious "class struggle" persecution.
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