"Tibetan monks have not been given the right to practice their religion and their monastic life is subject to interference from the Chinese government". These long-held arguments have repeatedly appeared in a series of reports covering the topics of religious freedom and human rights published by the pro-Dalai camp. They describe the situation in Tibet as a "humanitarian crisis" and "religious genocide".

What has the Chinese government done to elicit denunciations with such severity?

Lately, according to their reporting, the monasteries in Tibet are now equipped with tightened security forces and monk leaders have been “detained” every now and then for the purpose of “political re-education”.

"Political re-education"?

These reports lack adequate evidence to stand convincing as most of them are based on unconfirmed sources or official reports by US government-related bodies who shows no respect for China by imposing its own standards on religious policies, regardless of the differences in history, culture, and economic and political realities.
Their sources are powerful enough to point out clearly the identities and whereabouts of the detained monks and their study materials, but they are not merciful to disclose the materials to the world.

This might be another case of "one picture, two interpretations". If monk leaders are summoned from time to time, the only meditation is that they are to participate in a religious forum or seminar. For instance, the Buddhist Outlook on Life Seminar held on Jan. 16, 2013 stressed “mercy” and “no kill” as the core values of Buddhism (if you call these political re-educations).

Similarly, in light of the self-immolation cases over a period of time, learned monks, Rinpoches and scholars from different sects of Buddhism across China have gathered in various occasions for in-depth discussion and enunciated their voices, both collectively and individually on relevant topics as there is a pressing need to resolve a mystery, i.e. what pushed those devout Buddhist monks over the verge of self-immolation when no single commandment of Buddhism stipulates it as an appropriate act?

It indicates that the current religious practice is not perfect, still leaving room for improvement. Under such a circumstance, it is reasonable that religious figures assemble to discuss religious-related matters such as how to better preach Buddhist doctrines to make them well understood by monks and how to render monks immune to instigations from ill-intentioned groups.

Therefore, "political re-education" or "patriotic education campaigns" could be otherwise interpreted as a religious symposium or seminar.

The precondition of religious freedom

The authenticity of those reports aside, there is a need to clarify the relation between religious freedom and the macro environment in which any religion is practiced.

Country is a broader term than the term "religion". Any religious practice ought to follow the laws of a country unless it is a theocracy. It is a philosophy universally acknowledged that freedom of religion should not transcend the definition of country. When Japanese Aum Doomsday Cult killed lives in the underground with poisonous gas, did Tokyo act as an on-looker? When the disciples of the People's Temple of the US commit group suicide, did Washington say that they did it out of "desperation for the government"? No. Because religions that kill lives are cults.

In the case of Tibet, the Chinese government would not tolerate that Buddhism, one of the three largerst religions in the world, being turned into a cult by the Dalai Lama who uses his status as a "spiritual leader". Amid the increasing number of self-immolations incited by those with ulterior-motives, legal action serves as a measure to prevent more people from going astray.

As a sovereign country, China has every right to maintain its social stability and territorial integrity by cracking down on religious extremism, splittism and terrorism which advocate violence in the name of seeking religious freedom and human rights.

Current condition of religious practice in Tibet and China

As mentioned above, religious freedom is a statutory and basic human right.

Since Tibet was emancipated in 1951 from an autocratic, theocratic and slavery society, religious freedom has been popularized to this magic land and written into the constitution of China.

The National Human Rights Action Plan of China published by the Information Office of the State Council in June 2012 stressed Chinese government's protective attitude on citizens' freedom to religious belief, and promised to aid the religious circles, especially Tibetan Buddhist community, to accomplish monastic construction and building projects.

Tibet nowadays has about 46,000 monks and nuns. "The freedom of religious belief in Tibet is well protected and respected by various policies and practices," said a Lama on March 27, 2012, one day before the anniversary of Tibetan Serfs Emancipation Day.

Most of Buddhism followers are satisfied with religious freedom that they have. In Lhoka Prefecture, about 1,000 monks and nuns have initiated a signature campaign to express love for the country and religion at the end of last year. The number of participants exceeded 80 percent of the total registered monks and nuns in the prefecture, according to Dawa Tsering, head of the prefectures' Buddhism association, organizer of the event. He added that a Buddhist should resolve to comply with laws and dharma, discern right and wrong, advocate harmony, and pursue peace.Jampa Chile, a lection teacher of Sera Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet's regional capital, pointed out Tibetan Buddhists' gains under the Chinese government and said, "I've benefited from the religious freedom policy."
All monasteries in Tibetan-inhabited regions had access to radio, television, electricity and drinking water, he said.

Sera Monastery, one of the three important temples of the Gelug sect, currently has 560 monks, all covered by medical insurance, Chile went on, adding the government donated more than 100 million yuan (about 16 million U.S. dollars) to maintain the monastery in 2012.