Chinese officials remove Tibetan satellites

Chinese officials have reportedly cracked-down on foreign media in Tibet by dismantling satellite dishes at the Labrang Tashi Kyil monastery in Labrang (Gansu province), Amdho region, eastern Tibet on March 10th, the 54th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising in Lhasa.

The monastery was ordered to remove and burn their satellite dishes. Monastery officials were informed the satellites would be replaced with state sanctioned devices, capable of only receiving Chinese state controlled programmes. The move will block the Monastery from obtaining access to international media.

The new receivers accompanying the satellites are reportedly "fitted with an automatic recorder and camera which are used as surveillance devices by the Chinese government television control office", according to Tibetan media outlet 'The Tibet Post.'

Earlier this year Chinese authorities confiscated televisions and dismantled satellite equipment from 300 monasteries in the western part of the Amdho region. Chinses officials offered cash rewards for anyone who informed the authorities of Tibetan ownership of ‘illegal’ satellite devices. Individuals found to have devices installed on their property were subject to arrests and fines. (NewsPoint)