[30. October 2011] Radio Free Asia

Chinese authorities have banned religious activities and harassed monks at an ancient monastery in Tibet’s Chamdo prefecture following a bomb explosion at a government building there last week, sources said Sunday.

Most of the monks at the monastery in Dzagyu Karma township where the blast occurred have fled the institution, saying they cannot bear the pressure piled on them by Chinese security forces.

The stepped-up security came amid rising Tibetan protests, including 10 self-immolations this year, against Chinese rule in Tibetan-populated areas.

Since Wednesday’s blast, Chinese security forces and government officials have zeroed in on the Karma monastery, located on the eastern bank of the Dzachu River in Chamdo (in Chinese, Changdu) prefecture and founded in the 12th century. Read more