The Chinese authorities have imposed restrictions against Tibetans traveling to India and Nepal this year to attend the teachings given by the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya. The restrictions imposed on Tibetan travels has severely reduced Tibetans attending the annual teachings.
Last year, thousands of Tibetans from China occupied Tibet traveled to India mostly via Nepal to attend the teachings given by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya. However, there are not more than a hundred Tibetans from Tibet attending the teachings this year, according to the report in Radio Free Asia.
“Teachings given by the Dalai Lama in Bodhgaya, India, drew thousands of Tibetans living in China last year, but on returning to China many had their passports taken away and destroyed by authorities seeking to limit Tibetans’ contact with outside “separatist” forces.” said the report in Radio Free Asia on Wednesday.
The report added that this year, “not more than a hundred” came from Beijing-ruled Tibetan areas to attend the Dalai Lama’s teachings, which began on Dec. 17 and will run through Dec. 31.
Travel restrictions imposed on Tibetans now include refusals to grant new passports and the confiscation of many passports already issued, according to a source saying in the report.