Chinese authorities levelled almost half of Yarchen Gar – one of the world’s largest Tibetan Buddhist sites – in August, according to recently published satellite images.
London-based NGO Free Tibet reported that a densely populated area on the west bank of the river running through Yarchen Gar in Palyual County, eastern Tibet has been reduced to bare ground.
Monks and nuns have also been forced out of their homes and places of worship in the area, with research group Tibet Watch confirming the removal of at least 70 nuns in July.
Established in 1985, Yarchen Gar is a Buddhist monastery complex that previously had a population of around 10,000 people.
Chinese authorities have reportedly deployed 600 military personnel in the area, and foreign visitors have been barred for the time being.
Free Tibet had previously reported demolitions and evictions in Yarchen Gar, with 1,000 residents forced to leave in 2016 and authorities tearing down 3,500 homes in 2018.
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