SEARCHING FOR THE DALAI LAMA IN QINGHAI PROVINCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BEIJING 001351 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/10/2028 TAGS: PHUM PGOV KIRF SCUL CH SUBJECT: SEARCHING FOR THE DALAI LAMA IN QINGHAI PROVINCE Classified By: Political Internal Unit Chief Dan Kritenbrink. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) During a February 24-25 trip taken prior to the Tibet-related unrest that began in mid-March, POLOFF observed ethnic Tibetans in Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, displaying their reverence for the Dalai Lama in low-key, sometimes clandestine, ways to avoid confrontation with public security officers. During the trip, POLOFF visited the Kumbum Monastery, where a single portrait of the Dalai Lama was on display in an out-of-the-way temple. A monk at Kumbum reported at the time that authorities tolerated the image only because it is away from the busier parts of the monastery that are frequented by tourists. Kumbum, the monk reported, maintains quarters for use by the Dalai Lama should he one day return to China. The monastery is also home to 300 unregistered monks, our contact said. In Xining City, POLOFF observed portraits of the Dalai Lama at local Tibetan businesses. A Tibetan vendor reported that those caught selling Dalai Lama photographs and audio recordings risk up to three months detention and fines of up to RMB 5,000 (USD 700). Comment: This visit took place just three weeks prior to the outbreak of widespread unrest in Tibetan areas of China. During a second visit to Xining the week of March 17 (report to follow septel),the atmosphere at Kumbum and in Xining had changed significantly: Tibetans were much more reluctant to speak with foreigners, and a tour guide at Kumbum told POLOFF that the temple housing the single Dalai Lama photo had been "closed." End Summary and Comment. Kumbum Monastery: Holy Site of Gelug School... -------------- - ¶2. (SBU) During a joint Embassy and ConGen Chengdu visit to Xining, Qinghai Province, February 24-25, PolOff and ConGenOffs visited the Kumbum Jampa-ling Monastery ("Ta Er Si" in Chinese). Kumbum Monastery was founded in 1583 by the Third Dalai Lama at the site where Tsong Kha-pa (1357-1419),the founder of the Gelug ("Yellow Hat") School of Tibetan Buddhism, was born. The monastery is one of the six great centers of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism. Kumbum is also located about 50 kilometers fom the birthplace of the current alai Lama in nearby Hongya (Taktser). The abbot of the Kumbum Monastery, Arjia Rinpoche, who had also been vice chairman of the China Buddhist Association, fled to exile in 1998 due to the Chinese Government's repression of Tibetan culture and religion. Though currently residing in the United States, Arjia Rinpoche continues to have great influence over Kumbum, according to ConGen Chengdu contacts. ...And Tourist Hotspot -------------- ¶3. (C) While one of the holiest sites in Tibetan Buddhism, Kumbum Monastery is also the main tourist attraction of Xining City. Authorities have constructed a four-lane toll freeway between Xining and the monastery, which lies about an hour drive from the city. Immediately outside the monastery, a small town has developed that mainly consists of Tibet- related souvenir shops. Admission to the monastery costs RMB 80 (USD 11) but is free for Tibetans. February is low season for foreign and Han Chinese visitors, and during our visit Tibetan pilgrims outnumbered tourists by at least a five-to-one ratio. While a Tibetan monk was in charge of selling entrance tickets, at most points in the monastery, POLOFF observed lay Han Chinese workers monitoring donation boxes and collecting loose bills left as offerings by pilgrims. Lozang Yeshi (strictly protect),a monk who has resided at Kumbum for most of the last 20 years, referred negatively to the recent development in and around the monastery. Lozang, who spent two years studying in India in the 1990s and met the Dalai Lama on three occasions, told POLOFF Kumbum suffers from being so close to Xining and has become "too urbanized" and "just like a museum." Rooms Waiting for Dalai Lama's Return -------------- ¶4. (C) Several main structures at the monastery showed BEIJING 00001351 002 OF 002 signs of recent investment and upgrading, including a new temple used for housing scriptures. Lozang told PolOff the new temple was built for RMB 30 million (USD 4.2 million),provided by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing. (Note: The website for the Li Ka-shing Foundation mentions this project, but does not give a dollar amount of the donation.) Lozang added that the upper floors of the new structure include living quarters for use by the Dalai Lama should he one day return to China. 300 Unregistered Monks -------------- ¶5. (C) Less investment was visible in the peripheral areas of the monastery that contain the living quarters for monks and are not frequented by tourists. Each structure had an address plate, issued by the local public security bureau, affixed near the front door. According to ConGen Chengdu contacts, PSB officials tightly control the issuance of these plates at Tibetan monasteries to prevent unauthorized expansion. Prior to the Tibetan uprising of 1959, Kumbum had 3,800 monks. Today, the monastery has just 400 officially registered monks. However, Lozang told PolOff that Kumbum is home to an addition 300 unregistered monks. During the visit, POLOFF observed several monks who appeared to be below the age of 18. The unregistered monks, Lozang said, simply double bunk with registered monks. A Single Image of the Dalai Lama -------------- ¶6. (C) The Kumbum Monastery is closely associated with the Panchen Lama and the Dalai Lama, the two leading figures of the Gelug School. Throughout the monastery, photographs of the 10th Panchen Lama (1938- 1989) were prominently displayed. However, even at Kumbum's main temple dedicated to the Panchen, POLOFF saw no images of either Gyaltsen Norbu, the 11th Panchen recognized by the Chinese Government, or Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen recognized by the Dalai Lama. The monastery had one photo of the current Dalai Lama on display, in a temple located at the very rear of the complex. Lozang Yeshi said authorities tolerate the photo because that particular temple receives few visitors. The image is of a young Dalai Lama wearing the yellow hat of the Gelug School and thick glasses and would not be immediately obvious to a casual visitor. Glimpses of His Holiness in Xining -------------- ¶7. (C) In the city of Xining, which is home to approximately 30,000 to 40,000 Tibetans, PolOffs observed evidence of the Dalai Lama's continued influence. At a Tibetan nightclub, POLOFF observed a small image of the Dalai Lama and the 10th Panchen Lama discretely displayed near the cash register. In a Tibetan area of Xining, POLOFF saw a Tibetan vendor selling photos of the Dalai Lama. Police had closed the store three times, the vendor said, and if he was caught again, police would likely detain him for up to three months and force him to pay fines between RMB 3,000 and 5,000 (USD 420-700). At another shop that sold Tibetan language magazines and music, a Tibetan vendor offered several unmarked compact discs containing the Dalai Lama's lectures. The vendor said that buyers should carry these items in their inside coat pockets rather than in a bag since the police are much more likely to search a bag. Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) This visit took place just three weeks prior to the mid-March outbreak of widespread unrest in Tibetan areas of China. During a second visit to Xining the week of March 17 (report to follow septel),the atmosphere at Kumbum and in Xining had changed significantly. Tibetans were much more reluctant to speak with foreigners, and a tour guide at Kumbum told PolOff that the temple housing the single Dalai Lama photo was "closed." End comment. ¶9. (U) This cable was coordinated with ConGen Chengdu. RANDT