{"id":12870,"date":"2023-03-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-06T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/savetibet.nl\/nieuws\/china-closes-sacred-temple-around-tibetan-national-uprising-day\/"},"modified":"2023-03-07T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-03-06T23:00:00","slug":"china-closes-sacred-temple-around-tibetan-national-uprising-day","status":"publish","type":"nieuws","link":"https:\/\/savetibet.nl\/en\/news\/china-closes-sacred-temple-around-tibetan-national-uprising-day\/","title":{"rendered":"China closes sacred temple around Tibetan National Uprising Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In an apparent attempt to thwart any potential incidents during the sensitive period surrounding the anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising of March 10, 1959, Chinese authorities have announced the closure of the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa for pilgrims from 8 to 10 March 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Jokhang is considered the most sacred place for Tibetan Buddhists and lies in the center of Lhasa, Tibet\u2019s capital. Many Tibetans visit it daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Jokhang temple has been the site of protests by Tibetans<\/a> against Chinese misrule in the past. There have also been incidents of self-immolations by Tibetans<\/a> in front of the temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Screen shot of Al Jazeera report in 2008 when Tibetan monks unexpectedly gathered at the Jokhang Temple to speak to the international media.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Sources said a notification from the Jokhang Management Committee, dated 6 March 2023, that was pasted in public places in Lhasa states there would be no public access to the temple during the period as it will undergo \u201ccleaning up.\u201d The notification added that the temple will be open from 11 March as usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reopening<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, Chinese state media said the Lhasa Traffic Police on 2 March 2023 announced restrictions on certain roads in the city on account of \u201cupgrading and transformation of water supply network.\u201d The announcement said the restrictions will be imposed between 6 and 12 March. These roads are not in the city center, and the stated reasons for restrictions might have a valid basis, but the timing of the work around the sensitive political anniversaries period – including the Tibetan National Uprising of 1959 and pan-Tibetan demonstrations in 2008 – raises questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, this year, besides the general lockdown of TAR to foreigners, the authorities have not issued any additional notice barring foreign travelers. In the past, there would have been such a ban for foreigners for a period of several weeks around the sensitive period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, there are reports that the re-opening of the Tibet Autonomous Region – which spans about half of Chinese-occupied Tibet – for foreign tourism is decided. A posting by the Lhasa Tourism Development Bureau on Chinese social media on 4 March 2023 invited probable visitors to let them know how they would like to arrive in Tibet, whether by train or by plane, saying the bureau is ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sources say travel agencies have been told to get ready, and that the reopening can happen from as early as April 2023, although the permit would be restricted to group tours. Some travel agencies<\/a> have already started announcing tours for pilgrimage to the sacred Gang Rinpoche (Mount Kailash) region in Western Tibet, with first group scheduled to leave in April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special permit required<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It also seems that the reopening might include permission for foreign students to study in Tibetan institutions. For instance, Canada-based historian Tsering Shakya tweeted on 5 March 2023 that Tibet University in Lhasa will restart a Tibetan language program for international students in September 2023. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tibet University in Lhasa will restart #Tibetan<\/a> language Program for International students in September 2023. Prospective students can write to: lxsb@utibet.edu.cn or 631225880@qq.com for further information and an application form. #Tibet<\/a> #China<\/a> #Buddhism<\/a><\/p>— tshakya \u0f5a\u0f7a\u0f0b\u0f62\u0f72\u0f44\u0f0b\u0f64\u0f71\u0f40\u0fb1\u0f0d (@Lhatseri) March 5, 2023<\/a><\/blockquote>