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Chinese authorities are facing serious allegations after a young Tibetan Buddhist monk reportedly died in custody under suspicious circumstances, with rights groups pointing to torture and enforced secrecy.
The case has raised fresh concerns over China's treatment of Tibetan religious figures, as reported by Tibet Watch and cited by Phayul, a news portal focused on Tibet and the Tibetan diaspora. According to Phayul, the monk, identified as Samten, 25, had allegedly been under constant police watch since 2021. His body was returned in December to Ditsa Geden Tashi Choeding Ling Monastery by officials from Shongshan Tibetan Township. Authorities claimed he had succumbed to a sudden illness while being rushed to a hospital, though no details regarding the medical facility or the exact timeline of events were provided, further deepening suspicions. Samten's earlier detention in 2021 was reportedly linked to accusations of sharing images on WeChat connected to the leadership election of the Tibetan government-in-exile, known as the Central Tibetan Administration. His arrest coincided with a sweeping clampdown on monasteries and religious communities across the region. During the same period, authorities intensified surveillance at his monastery, expelling nearly 50 monks below the age of 18. In a similar move, around 30 monks were removed from Jhakhyung Monastery in Palung County, part of the Tsoshar Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Amdo. These actions reflect a systematic effort to weaken traditional monastic structures. Rights observers argue that Samten's death is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of repression. This includes enforced disappearances of senior monks, raids targeting monasteries to remove images of the Dalai Lama, and coercive "political education" sessions compelling monks to publicly denounce their spiritual leader, as highlighted by Phayul. In one reported case, such pressures allegedly drove a respected scholar to suicide. The report further situates these developments within China's ongoing "Sinicisation" campaign under President Xi Jinping. The policy seeks to reshape Tibetan identity by curbing the use of the Tibetan language in schools and restricting religious education for young monks, as reported by Phayul. (ANI)
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