The Chinese government is not a fan of the Dalai Lama, symbol of Tibetan resistance to that government, even if these days he says that he does not want independence for Tibet but only “meaningful autonomy.” So China wants to stop Tibetans from celebrating his 89th birthday, which is on July 6, 2024, reports Tibetan Review.
The Dalai Lama is already a byword for ban in Chinese-ruled Tibet, and those found to keep his photos and anything else related to him have faced arrest, beating, torture, and imprisonment.
But during the past three weeks, authorities have more frequently and rigorously checked the cell phones of Tibetan travellers to ensure they have not downloaded any photos of him….
The Chinese tightening of restrictions is even more stringent this time because of the news about the Dalai Lama’s travel to the United States for a knee surgery. “Many may have downloaded his photo to their phones to pray for a speedy recovery,” the report cited the sources as saying, referring to the authorities’ heightened suspicion.
Also, Chinese authorities are stated to have turned down visa requests by some Tibetans who planned to travel to the US, after being asked if they were going to see the Dalai Lama there.
The report said Chinese authorities had also prohibited Tibetans across the Tibetan Plateau region from communicating with the outside world about the Dalai Lama’s upcoming birthday.
It’s pretty dismaying for Chinese Communist Party officials. There’s this birthday coming up, and people want to express good wishes on that account. News of the knee surgery has also evoked good wishes. Both are reminders of the leader’s mortality. There may be little time left to wish the Dalai Lama well if you’re a Tibetan inclined to do so.
Carrying his photo? Praying for his recovery? Being willing to risk torture and imprisonment to do so? Very dangerous.
If only CCP domination were as fragile as the anal-compulsive wacko zealots of the Chinese Communist Party seem to think it is.
