Related News
No Tibetan protest, despite foreign rumors, official says
Source: Xinhua |
March 4, 2009, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
AN official in southwest China's Sichuan Province said yesterday that a ritual held on Sunday by dozens of lamas in the Se Monastery was a case of normal religious activity, and not a "Tibetan monks protest" as reported by some foreign media.
Shi Jun, secretary of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture Committee of the Communist Party of China, said lamas in the Tibetan-inhabited areas in Sichuan enjoy full freedom in practicing religious beliefs.
"Having elected a lama to the post of a monastery administrator, known as tiebang lama - literally translated 'iron-rod lama' - on Sunday, lamas with the Se Monastery were overjoyed and congratulated the lama on his success," the official said.
In accordance with Tibetan Buddhism, tiebang lama is in charge of the monastery roster and overseeing discipline within the monastery.
"This was a normal religious activity but had been distorted as a Tibetan lamas protest by some foreign media with ulterior motives, we are indignant toward the distorted news reports based on hearsay and are disappointed at those western media which have long touted they are observing 'objectivity and fairness' in news reporting," said Shi.
According to foreign media reports, Buddhist monks in Aba started to protest on Sunday morning when officials stopped them as they gathered to pray.
The reports cited the International Campaign for Tibet, based in Washington DC, and said security forces had surrounded the monastery and cut telephone lines.
Shi Jun, secretary of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture Committee of the Communist Party of China, said lamas in the Tibetan-inhabited areas in Sichuan enjoy full freedom in practicing religious beliefs.
"Having elected a lama to the post of a monastery administrator, known as tiebang lama - literally translated 'iron-rod lama' - on Sunday, lamas with the Se Monastery were overjoyed and congratulated the lama on his success," the official said.
In accordance with Tibetan Buddhism, tiebang lama is in charge of the monastery roster and overseeing discipline within the monastery.
"This was a normal religious activity but had been distorted as a Tibetan lamas protest by some foreign media with ulterior motives, we are indignant toward the distorted news reports based on hearsay and are disappointed at those western media which have long touted they are observing 'objectivity and fairness' in news reporting," said Shi.
According to foreign media reports, Buddhist monks in Aba started to protest on Sunday morning when officials stopped them as they gathered to pray.
The reports cited the International Campaign for Tibet, based in Washington DC, and said security forces had surrounded the monastery and cut telephone lines.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
