A Tibetan nun has died from suicide by hanging at the largest Buddhist academy in Serther County, Ganze Tibetan Autonomous Region in today's Sichuan Province on July 20, 2016.
According to sources, Rinzin Dolma left a note behind blaming the endless harassment of the Chinese government towards Tibetans and the sight of systematic demotion of the Larung Gar institute as the reason behind her suicide.
In the meanwhile, U.S. State Department urged the Chinese government to “cease any actions that escalates the tension” and calls for respect of Tibetan people’s religious freedom.
The Chinese government, claiming renovation work as the reason for the demolition, has destroyed more than 600 residential structures since the government has begun its demolition operations on July 20.
Founded in 1980 by Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok, a highly regarded Tibetan Buddhist master, the academy attracts Tibetan Buddhist monks and nuns for short- and long-term study in the religion's more esoteric aspects. They typically stay in a sprawling mountainside settlement made of thousands of log cabin, and the institute houses both Tibetan and Chinese Buddhist students and practitioners.