Where Are the Monks of Lhasa?
Geoffrey York writes for the Toronto Globe and Mail that large numbers of monks appear to be missing from Lhasa, Tibet.
The Olympic torch passed through Lhasa on Saturday amid heavy security. Observances of the Tibetan Buddhist holy month of Saka Dawa were halted for the event. Now the pilgrims are back. But where are the monks?
"A visit yesterday to the Sera monastery, the second-biggest Buddhist monastery in Tibet, found that its 550 monks had virtually disappeared from sight. Most buildings and outdoor areas at the monastery were nearly empty, and only about 10 monks could be seen," York writes.
York says he spent three days in Lhasa, the first such access permitted a Canadian journalist since the March uprising. Monks are missing from the streets even around Jokhang temple, the holiest temple in Tibetan Buddhism.
Photo Caption: A monk opens a door for foreign journalists visiting the Sera monastery on June 22, 2008 in Lhasa, Tibet. Photo Credit: Guang Niu/Getty Images
Comments
This is the true tragedy of our supporting to Olympics. I understand the athletes have put their hearts and souls into preparing for this but that we are so silent about what is happening in Tibet can be construed as support for the Chinese. It’s disgusting.
Is anyone asking the Chinese government where they are?
This is a big tragedy for the whole mankind. What are ONGs doing? What is Amnesty doing? If we let these things go like this, there’lll be no humanity left!!!