No faith in the state Tibetans speak about religious restrictions A Tibet Watch report No faith in the state Tibetans speak about religious restrictions A Tibet Watch report for Free Tibet Campaign © Tibet Watch 2007 Edited by Anne Holmes Designed by Catherine Quine Cover photo by Pedro Saraiva Photos by Pedro Saraiva, Ian Cumming, Neil Bowman, Carole Mahoney, International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) and Tibet Watch. With thanks to Sue Byrne, Emilie Hunter (contributing author, Chapter 1), Robert Barnett, Tsering Topgyal, Nyima Tsam, Namlha, Jampa, Samdup, Jan Willem den Besten, Sophie Bod, Matt Whitticase and Tibet Watch Trustees. With special thanks to the late David Arnold Smith and his niece, Louise Veys. Tibet Watch is a research, education and analysis charity (Registered Charity Number 1114404). Tibet Watch 28 Charles Square, London, N1 6HT, UK +44 (0)20 7324 4612
[email protected] www.tibetwatch.org Tibet Watch 3 Contents page A decade in Nyitso monastery . 6 Executive summary . 9 Chapter 1 The unwritten law . 13 What freedom of religion could mean in Tibet What ‘freedom of religion’ does mean in Tibet Chapter 2 Death by a thousand cuts . 19 Key restrictions imposed on Tibetan monasteries in 1996 Entrance exam Identification Age restrictions Study restrictions Travel Pilgrimages Reconstruction Police presence Revenue generation Demonising the Dalai Lama Case study 1: Sonam Phuntsog 4 No faith in the state Chapter 3 ‘Love your country, love your religion’ . 33 Tibetan responses to patriotic re-education Case study 2: Drepung monastery Chapter 4 Reincarnation: over our dead body . 41 Failed attempts Case study 3: The tale of the two Panchen Lamas Dictating reincarnation Case study 4: Enthronement at Labrang monastery Case study 5: Tenzin Deleg Rinpoche and Bangri Chogtrul Rinpoche The dilemma Chapter 5 Resistance is fertile .