Dharamshala — On International Justice Day, Tibetan activists from eight NGOs and Tibetans around the Dharamshala held a solidarity candlelight vigil at Main Square, McLeod Ganj , Dharamshala, on July 17, 2024, to condemn China's forced closure of the renowned Gangjong Sherig Norbuling School in Golog, Tibet recently and the Chinese Communist Party's systematic violations of human rights in Tibet as well as to stand in solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet.
Tibetan activists from Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women's Association, Students for a Free Tibet-India, National Democratic Party of Tibet and the Tibetan communities of three provinces (Cholkha) of Tibet; Central Dhotoe Cholkha, Dhomey Cholkha Association, Central U-tsang Chokha organised a solidarity candlelight vigil at Main Square, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, on July 17, 2024, around 100 Tibetans joined the event to condemn China's forced closure of the renowned Gangjong Sherig Norbuling School in Golog, Tibet recently and to stand in solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet.
The Chinese government has forcibly shut down the most popular school for Tibetan students, the Gangjong Sherig Norbu School, also known as the Jigme Gyaltsen Vocational School on July 12, 2024. The school held a closing event for students and teachers on July 12, 2024. The teachers and students cried so hard that they could not control their sadness at the closure of their beloved school after 30 years. One their professor wrote, "Since the announced of the shut down of our school, our teachers and students have been filled with grief, and the students I have met have been filled with tears of sadness. Today, We held a farewell function for our students, when I see students filled with tears of sadness, I feel deep pain in my heart." The Chinese government is trying to eliminate the Tibetan language and identity through various means and policies, this one being the most recent one.
After seeing the videos and photos of the school's shutdown, former students of the Tibetan school, Tibetan scholars, writers, activists and Tibetan people from inside and outside the Tibet, expressed their deep anguish and concern that the preservation of Tibetan language, culture and religion in Tibet is worsening day by day.
Tenzin Passang, national director of Students for a Free Tibet-India read out the statement of the eight non-governmental organizations based in Dharamshala at the event, she said," on International Justice Day,eight non-governmental organizations based in Dharamshala express its profound concern and condemnation of the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) systematic violations of human rights in Tibet.
"The CCP's policies in Tibet have resulted in egregious violations affecting the fundamental rights of Tibetan children and their access to education. More than one million Tibetan children are currently enrolled in colonial-style boarding schools, forcibly separated from their families and cultural roots. This forced assimilation into the Chinese language and culture runs counter to international standards on cultural rights and education. Moreover, the CCP has aggressively shut down privately-run Tibetan schools and educational institutions, eroding Tibetan communities' ability to preserve and transmit their unique cultural heritage and values through education.
"Since 2018, the Chinese government has enforced a complete ban on new admissions of monks and nuns in all monasteries across Tibet. Aiming to empty Tibetan monasteries, a policy has been forcibly implemented, prohibiting monks and nuns under 18 from entering major monastic institutions. This policy continues to be enforced to this day.
"Recently, strict controls have been imposed on several monasteries, including Kirti Monastery in Ngaba, Amdo, Tagtsang Ihamo Kirti Monastery, Gomang Monastery, Tsennyi Monastery in Machu County, and Labrang Monastery in Sangchu County. Families of young monks and nuns have been ordered not to send their children to monasteries, causing significant difficulties.
"Notably, on July 12, 2024, the Ragya Gangjong Sherig Norbu School, founded by the renowned Tibetan educator Jigme Gyaltsen with the approval of the local people's government, was forced to close under pressure from the Chinese Communist government.
"Therefore, the coalition of NGOs based in Dharamshala vehemently condemns the forced closure of the school founded in 1994 by Ragya Jigmey Gyalsten, the school served as a cornerstone of Tibetan cultural and linguistic education for three decades before its abrupt shutdown by CCP.
"These actions are part of a malicious policy aimed at destroying the environment for nurturing Tibetan education, culture, psychology, and consciousness, effectively erasing the Tibetan people's identity. We strongly oppose this policy and condemn the Chinese government's actions.
"This is also a part of broader pattern of suppression of Tibetan language and cultural education by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This systematic crackdown not only violates the basic human rights of Tibetan children to receive education in their own language and culture but also undermines the preservation of Tibet's rich cultural heritage.
"This incident follows a series of similar actions in recent years, including the mandated closures of Tibetan private schools in Sershul County, Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, where the medium of instruction was Tibetan.
"The NGOs in Dharamshala call upon the international community, including governments, human rights organizations, and educational institutions, to take immediate and decisive action to hold the CCP accountable for these grave violations.
"We urge the United Nations and its member states to pressure the CCP to cease its oppressive policies in Tibet, restore the rights of Tibetan children to education in their own language and culture.
"Furthermore, we call for unrestricted access for international observers, journalists, and human rights monitors to independently assess the situation in Tibet and report on ongoing violations.
"On this World Justice Day, the NGOs in Dharamshala reaffirm our commitment to advocating for justice, freedom, and the preservation of Tibetan cultural heritage."
