Tibetan Monks Ordered Out Of China's Quake Zone

April 21, 2010

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Beliefnet

Wire Service: AP

http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2010/04/tibetan-monks-ordered-out-of-c.php

Earthquake survivors say it was the Tibetan monks who helped first, bringing food, pitching tents and digging through rubble after disaster hit far western China a week ago, killing thousands.

Now the Buddhist monks who responded first are being pushed out of the disaster area and off of state media - apparently sidelined by Beijing's unease with their heroism and influence.

Monasteries were given verbal orders the last two days to recall their monks. Amid hours of coverage for China's national day of mourning on Wednesday, no monks were visible in the official proceedings.

It was a jarring omission in light of their contributions to the weeklong rescue and relief effort following the quake, which killed 2,064 people and injured more than 12,000 others.