CHINA´S RECORD IN TIBET: more than a million killed, more than 6000 monasteries destroyed, thousands in prision, hundreds still missing…

The sistematic eradication of tibetan culture and religion saw the destruction of over 6,000 monasteries and temples. The handfull still standing today are used as turists attractions, army baracks or public toilets. Precious scriptures and sculptures were destroyed or sold in international art markets. The chinese used scriptures as shoe soles and monks and nuns were forced to desecrate religious objects.

“On november 22th, 1989, I participated in a peacefull demonstration in Lhasa with other 5 nuns from my nunnery. We were immediately arrested and taken to a detention center. I was interrogated for two months. We were hung from the ceiling, cigarettes were stubbed on our boddies and we were beaten severely with metal wires. Some female prisoners had electric batons inserted in their private parts.

After 3 days we reached an encampment of tibetan nomads in Sikkim. We were totally exhausted and suffered extreme pain from our frostbite. The nomads took us to an indian army post for medical treatment. I was more worried about being reported back to the chinese than about my health.

We were hospitalized in Gangtok but my condition didn´t improve. After six months my legs and some fingers were amputated.

Two of us were finally allowed to go to Dharamsala, India, but the other 2, whose physical condition was better, were sent back to Tibet.

When we reached Dharamsala we were taken for an audience with His Holiness Dalai Lama... i don´t remember anything that happened there, i just cried.

Narrated by Migmar Tsering
Formerly of Dhargyeling Monastery, Tibet
Recorded by Antonio M. Sánchez
at the Tibetan Museum  of Dharamsala, India