Human rights violations in Tibet high

Dharamsala, Dec 10 The Tibetan government-in-exile on Saturday alleged that human rights violations in Tibet was high, citing an ongoing massive demolition drive by China at the world's largest Buddhist institute there.

"China's total disregard for human rights is currently demonstrated by the ongoing massive demolition at Larung Gar, the largest Tibetan Buddhist Institute in the world, home to thousands of Tibetans and Chinese devotees from Mainland China," the Central Tibetan Administration said in a statement.

It said the rights violation situation has left not much for the Tibetan people to celebrate.

This December 10 marks the 68th year since the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

On this day in 1989, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who has been living in India since fleeing Tibet in 1959, was honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for his homeland.

The administration said it is estimated the Larung Gar institute housed more than 10,000 devotees and after the demolition the number would be reduced to 5,000 monks and nuns.

Saddened by the Chinese government's action, three nuns of the institute -- Rigzin Dolma, Tsering Dolma and Semgha -- committed suicide, it alleged.

Congratulating the Nobel laureates, especially the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize winner Juan Manuel Santos, the president of Colombia, for his resolute efforts to bring peace to his country, the administration said stringent measures were being taken to restrict Tibetans from moving freely within Tibet.

Pilgrims travelling to Lhasa from eastern Tibet were kept under strict surveillance, it added.

The CTA is based in this northern Indian hill town.