Reported By Palden
Edited by Pema Tso
Translated By TenGyal
The Chinese government’s environmental and fire safety departments, citing fire hazards during the dry winter season, have burned large numbers of Mani prayer flags and other religious items on the mountain tops of Chik Dril County (Jigzhi County) in Tibet.
As the Chinese government continues to tighten restrictions on traditional Tibetan religious practices and customs—such as making smoke offerings and hoisting prayer flags—officials of the environmental and fire safety departments in Chik Dril County, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, alleged that Mani prayer flags pose a heightened risk of fire damage in the dry winter season. On 18 November, they carried out widespread incineration of prayer flags. Furthermore, the authorities also failed to properly dispose of the ashes and debris, leaving local Tibetans to clean up the site themselves.
A related source explained, “Recently, officials from the environmental and fire safety departments of Chik Dril County inspected the locations where prayer flags had been hoisted. Afterwards, they issued a notice claiming that Mani prayer flags were susceptible to catching fire in the dry winter season and therefore presented a safety concern. On November 18, these officials arrived at the site and proceeded to burn the prayer flags and other objects sacred to the Tibetans.”
The same source continued, “The officials simply burned the prayer flags and other religious items and made no effort to clean up the ashes and remaining waste. Although local Tibetans cleaned the area themselves, the Chinese authorities later publicized online that professionals had been deployed specifically to handle and prevent winter fire hazards.” Responding to the incident, one Tibetan inside Tibet said, “Burning Mani prayer flags is equivalent to desecrating the resting places of our ancestors.” Another remarked, “In a dry, rocky region, of course burning prayer flags will cause fires. What else can one expect?”, voicing deep dissatisfaction with the disrespect shown toward Tibetan faith and devotion.
Beyond the Chinese government’s ongoing restrictions on religious activities in Tibet, such as smoke offerings, prayer flag hoisting, and the performance of rituals, authorities in some Tibetan areas claim that prayer flags and stone mounds on which the flags are hoisted, cause environmental pollution and harm wildlife, and are moving to abolish these practices entirely.
In September 2023, Chinese authorities sentenced five Tibetans from Awoe Kyil Ri Village, Khekor Township in Serta County, to two years in prison. The individuals—Chuk Dhar, Ge Lo, Tse Do, Ba Mo, and Ko Re—were convicted of “making smoke offerings, erecting stone mounds, and performing religious rituals.” Fifty-two-year-old Chuk Dhar was beaten in custody and tragically died from his injuries. Officials told the family that he died suddenly and was not killed by the beatings. Although the authorities initially offered compensation in an effort silence the family, it appears the family never heard from them.
Related News: https://tibettimes.net/2022/09/19/222146/
