The Chinese government has forcibly relocated several hundred Tibetan nomads in Tsui Township in Shantsa County, Nagchu Prefecture, for a massive construction project that is currently underway.
[Posted on T.T Tibetan site 30 August 2022 ] Since June and July 2021, Chinese authorities have forcibly relocated several hundred Tibetan nomads in Tsui Township in Shantsa County, Nagchu Prefecture, to Sinpo Hill in Lhoka County. Many earth-moving vehicles and equipment began demolishing houses, nomadic structures, and yards to the ground, leaving no trace of the once thriving nomadic region. Instead, a massive project saw the construction of buildings of different sizes and design in Tsui Township.
A source from the region told Tibet Times that the construction project is progressing aggressively and that the design of the buildings suggests that they are not meant for habitation by common people, but likely for a military base. Construction workers and staff at the site, when enquired by the source, said that they were following orders and have no knowledge regarding the use of the buildings. The same source opined that he fears the relocation of more nomads from Shantsa County, and that any area that has good pastures and an abundant source of water is at the risk of being turned into a military base.
In June of 2022, the Chinese government, under the guise of protecting the ecology and environment of the high altitude areas in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), announced an eight-year plan (2018–2025) to relocate 130,000 people from 20 counties and 97 townships from the autonomous prefectures of Shigatse, Nagchu and Ngari. Beginning in March 2022, Chinese authorities relocated 1,268 nomads from Todlung Dechen District. Similarly, 26,304 nomads from 6,306 households from Tsonyi, Amdo, and Nyima Counties in Nagchu Prefecture were relocated to Lhoka Prefecture within the TAR. Since July 2022 , over 500 households from various villages such as Ngochu, Rongmar, Asur, and Dhongmar in Nagchu Prefeture’s Nyima County have been forcibly relocated to Lhoka Tsetang County.
According to a source, the Chinese government has not honoured their promise to pay monetary compensation of 10,000 yuan to each household. Difficulties for the displaced nomads grow as families are separated due to restriction of movement owing to the Covid pandemic, and unemployment of the displaced nomads adding to their problems.
Over the years, the Chinese government have aggressively and forcibly relocated thousands of Tibetan nomads into cramped housing complexes while their lands are turned into so-called nature parks and ecological reserves meant to boost tourism, and theme parks for earning revenue.
