The Chinese authorities in Barkham County banned the third annual winter session of religious congregation, which was to be held at Gyalrong Tsodhun Kirti monastery. The annual religious event which was first held at Tagtsang Lhamo Kirti monastery in the year 2007 was subsequently decided to be organised by the four major Kirti monasteries namely Tagtsang Lhamo Kirti monastery, Ngaba Kirti monastery, Tsodhun Kirti monastery and Hortsang Kirti monastery turn wise.

As per the information received from the Emergency Coordination Committee of Kirti monastery at Dharamsala, besides imposing ban on this congregation, the local Chinese authorities have warned the Tsodhun monastery of closure and the arrest of monks in the event of failing to comply with the ban order.

The Tsodhun monastery has spent close to five months to seek permission from the local authorities as well as from the county office to organise the annual event but it has now been turned down terming it as political and unlawful. Severe restrictions have been imposed and the entire monastery has been put under strict surveillance.

The annual congregation of this magnitude where monks from over fifty monasteries in Kham and Amdo participate is an enormous opportunity for monks to excel in their knowledge on a particular and important aspect of Buddhist tenet called 'Tsema' or valid cognition (Pramanna in Sanskrit) and banning of such a religious event is a despicable display of lack of religious freedom in Tibet.

The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile strongly condemns this open act of violating the fundamental human right of religious freedom and calls upon the government of China to allow the congregation to take place. We also call upon human rights and Tibet support groups to take the issue up with the Chinese authorities.

Issued by: The Standing Committee of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile
Dharamsala
Dated: 6th January 2010