In another hilarious attempt by the Chinese government to cover up their mess, it is blaming the monks for destroying a Buddha statue. At the beginning of this year, the news about China’s destruction of a giant Buddha statue in Tibet was leaked. Since the news spread like a wildfire, backfiring at China for its reckless disregard for religious freedom, it is now forcing Tibetan monks to take the blame for their deeds.
The Chinese authorities had demolished a 99-foot-tall Buddha monument in Kham Drakgo, Sichuan Province along with 45 massive prayer wheels erected at the Drakgo Monastery, in December last year. After the news about the destruction was leaked, strict restrictions led to difficult information gathering about the resulting situations. However, it is confirmed by the sources to Radio Free Asia that monks in the region are being forced to take the responsibility for the destruction by making them sign affidavits.
The bronze statue was erected in Drakgo, near a crossroad, with considerable labor and significant contributions from local Tibetans, at a cost of roughly 40,000,000 Yuan (around 6.3 million USD). Drakgo was devastated by a huge earthquake in 1973, which resulted in significant destruction and the deaths of thousands of people. On October 5, 2015, a 99-foot-tall Buddha monument was erected to stave off future natural calamities.
The sacred statue was said to have been erected after all necessary permits were obtained from the district office, and it was even praised by local officials at the time. However, higher officials who visited the area in the last two or three years have criticized the statue’s size. The county authorities ordered its demolition on December 12, 2021, after invalidating the documentation and stating that a statue of such height is illegal.
While the complete details about how the Tibetan monks are being subjected to this matter, such as punishments for refusing to comply with the signing of the affidavit claiming responsibility for destroying the statue, it is certain they will be treated harshly. Over the recent past, China’s crackdown on religious freedom in Tibet has been on a high tone.