Chinese authorities order removal of Tibetan prayer flags in eastern Tibet

Material Published by Authorities as Part of the Campaign

Chinese authorities have ordered the removal of Tibetan prayer flags from the mountains, monasteries and villages in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Golog, eastern Tibet.

The authorities ordered local Tibetan citizens and monks to remove the flags, labelling it part of an  environmental clean-up drive.

The sources said the orders have been carried out in Machen county and other areas of Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. They added that the environmental clean up drive began in March and has continued since.

Tibetan prayer flags are traditionally hung in Tibetan areas on rooftops of homes, monasteries, mountains and holy sites. They represent prayers to ward off evil, spread good fortune and good health.

Chinese authorities in the region have used the cleanup drive to remove the prayer flags and urged citizens to help on a large scale.

An official media report said the campaign began in March as an ''environmental clean up and renovation activity" with over 5900 monks participating from 66 monasteries. 

The same news source said over 6000 public information materials have been distributed in Golog, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

Online communications have also been subject to increased surveillance and restrictions in recent months. A large number of Tibetans have been arrested in connection with social media surveillance in the region.  

Free Tibet recently reported there has been a crackdown on communications in Tibet during the coronavirus crisis and some influential Tibetan exiles with links to people in Tibet have had their communications restricted.