Linn Maung
Sinicization of Tibet after 1959 has not only changed the demographic profile of Tibet but it’s indigenous culture and religion too has been brought under check.
Many ancient Tibetan religious institutions like Larung Gar’s original structure and heritage is being wiped out systematically in the name of development. Even after six decades of forceful occupation of Tibet, it seems China still have insecurities about Tibet in general and Dalai Lama in particular. This is well evident from the fact that China has already started looking for reincarnation of 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, who is still alive and is the temporal Head of Tibetans, who is based at Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh, India.
Chinese intelligence have made number of attempts to get their moles placed close to Dalai Lama or even intrude into Tibet’s Exile govt. Some trained PLA soldiers in the cover of monks were sent to Tibetan settlements in India but unfortunately could not succeed. China’s desperation about Dalai Lama has increased with passage of time but latter has become the global peace ambassador with huge following not only restricted to Tibetans. China had appointed their own 11th Panchen Lama (2nd Highest Tibetan Leader after Dalai Lama), Gyalsten Norbu, in 1995 by dislodging and abducting the original reincarnated Panchen Lama, Gedun Choekyi Nyima, recognised by Dalai Lama. It was done to have better control over monastic affairs in Tibet as Chinese knew that life in Tibet revolves around monasteries and spiritual leaders. Whereabouts of then five years old Choekyi Nyima still remains a mystery. But now China wants have their own “ Dalai Lama” to have better control over Tibetan’s Religious Affairs. It is not understood, why there is so urgency of finding a reincarnation of a person who is still alive. Dalai Lama himself said that he is going to live long. Basically, 14th Dalai Lama’s acceptability as global spiritual leader is giving much pain to China.
Religious suppression is a tool that China has been using in various provinces to enforce their ideology. But it is fact that every act has a threshold of tolerance. Tales of atrocities in Tibet and Uyghur region have been documented and known globally. Social media have contributed a lot in exposing the actual state of affairs in China where individual privacy, religious freedom and freedom of expression is at risk.
China actually wants to transform her neighbors. Along with BRI projects, it plans to bring cultural and religious transformation too. For example in Myanmar, it has deputed her archaeological teams to carry renovation of the most important Highest Thatbinnyu Pagoda in the heritage city of “ Bagan” for nine years.
Nine years is enough time to carry other work on the sidelines like teaching Chinese language, promoting Chinese cuisine and encouraging relationships culminating into marriages with local girls. One must watch this slow transformation. Today lot of “ Chinese Temples” have come up in various places in Myanmar although “ school of thought” is different yet it shows systematic expansion. Bagan has become favorite site for Chinese to hold regional conferences.
MeKongNews
