Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, Aug. 3: Druk Bum Gyal, the County chief of Drakkar county in Tsolho (Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in eastern Tibet, has reportedly been stripped of his post after declining to immediately enforce Beijing’s sweeping campaign targeting Tibetan religious practices, according to a report by the Dharamshala-based Tibetan outlet, Tibet Times.
Chinese authorities recently ordered the implementation of stringent measures across five counties in Tsolho (Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture—Serchen, Trika, Drakkar, Mangra, and Ba—requiring local authorities to prohibit the public from observing Nyungne, a traditional Buddhist fasting retreat, while intensifying restrictions on religious activities. The directives also called for dismantling of prayer flags and prayer banners, as well as the mandatory display of the Chinese national flag at the entrance of every household.
However, Druk Bum Gyal, who served concurrently as Communist Party Secretary and county chief of Drakkar County, reportedly refrained from implementing the directives immediately. According to the report, he argued that abruptly enforcing the policies could provoke an unpredictable public reaction, saying the measures should instead be introduced gradually.
His reluctance to carry out the campaign reportedly prompted higher authorities to remove him from his leadership positions. He was subsequently transferred to a lower-ranking post.
Despite his demotion, a source told TT many Tibetans at the grassroots level have welcomed his decision, praising him for resisting the immediate implementation of measures viewed as hostile to Tibetan religious traditions.
The source further alleged that the intensified restrictions began after Beijing appointed Xiong Yuanlai, a Han Chinese official, as Communist Party Secretary of Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in April this year. Since then, authorities have reportedly expanded a broad campaign across counties and townships that includes demolishing mani stones (sacred rocks carved with Tibetan mantras), burning prayer banners and prayer flags, compelling households to fly the Chinese national flag, and dismissing Tibetan government employees on the grounds that there were “too many” Tibetans serving in official positions. The campaign has placed considerable physical and psychological strain on Tibetans throughout the prefecture.
The developments, the source added, reflect a broader political climate that has evolved under Chinese President Xi Jinping since around 2012. Under the Communist Party’s so-called “tigers and flies” anti-corruption campaign, officials whose conduct or views are deemed inconsistent with the Chinese Communist Party’s ideology have reportedly faced investigations, detention, and criminal prosecution. Authorities have also accused them of offences such as violating the central government’s Eight-Point Decision, lacking loyalty to the state, betraying the party’s trust, abandoning their ideals, accepting bribes, engaging in corruption, undermining social stability, and attempting to promote separatism. Similar allegations, the source said, have also been used against intellectuals, environmental advocates, and human rights defenders considered unsympathetic to Communist Party ideology.
Druk Bum Gyal was born in 1973 in Tharshul, Mangra County. After graduating from Qinghai University in 1993, he entered government service, holding positions with the Mangra County People’s Congress and the county government, and later serving as head of Gomang Township. In 2009, he was appointed deputy county chief of Ba County before becoming deputy Communist Party Secretary and deputy county chief of Drakkar County. He was later promoted to Communist Party Secretary and chief of the county, positions he held until his reported removal.
