Reported and edited by Kelsang Jinpa
Translated By TenGyal
The Chinese government has mandated the forced resettlement of nearly half the population of Bi Tsang and Yaka Village in Karing Town, Yazi County, Amdo, to other locations.
These villages, situated near Amnye Ratoe a revered mountain in Karing, Yadzi (Xinha) County of Tsoshar (Haidong Prefecture), Tsongon (Qinghai) Province, now face the disruption of their communities under this directive.
In a significant development reported today, Chinese authorities have ordered the relocation of half the households of Bi Tsang and Yaka villages in late October. The move was justified by officials as a precautionary measure, citing the potential danger of landslide at Amnye Ratoe, a sacred mountain in Tibetan culture and religion.
Amnye Ratoe is the most sacred mountain in Karing, a region that is home to nearly 22 semi-nomadic villages. Among these, Yaka Village has around 200 households, while Bi Tsang Village has approximately 100. Notably, about 30% of the households in these villages are situated along or on the slopes of the mountain.
A source describes, “ The households that are to be relocated have only two options; either to receive a compensation sum of 15,000 Yen or relocate to a small house built by the Chinese government. Households are allowed only one of these two choices; opting for compensation means foregoing the house and vice versa. As such, they are faced with the loss of their ancestral residences, farms and lands.”
Based on the testimony of local villagers, although government agencies conducted investigations and trial mining activities a year or two ago, the villagers remain uncertain about the specific types of mineral ores discovered behind the mountain.
According to local folklore, the area is said to house eight stupas of unclear historical and cultural significance. Additionally, there was a sacred Mani Pebble Stupa, believed to enshrine religious texts and artefacts buried during the Cultural Revolution. Despite these, the locals are convinced that Chinese authorities are primarily exploiting the mountain for its mineral resources rather than excavating these stupas.
Earlier, some households from Yaka Village, driven by desperation, had already moved into the small homes promoted as the “House of the Nation.” While some families chose to stay in their ancestral homes, all households behind the mountain are eventually required to relocate. The villagers are deeply troubled because the so-called “Treasure of the Nation” compensation of 15,000 yen falls far short of covering the costs of acquiring new land and building new homes. Most critically, they face the dual hardship of losing their farmland and livelihoods, leaving them with no viable option: they cannot afford to relocate, yet they are prohibited from staying.
Yagi and Magi villages in Karing, Yazi County, have traditionally relied on agriculture as their primary source of livelihood. The villagers predominantly cultivate wheat, barley, beans, linseed. The local community has consistently enjoyed abundant harvests.
