Cheogyal Dawa, a 25-year-old Tibetan man, recently fled his homeland and is now sharing his story of persecution and cultural erosion in China. He recounted his experiences to CNN, describing the difficulties of growing up in a region where the Chinese government has increasingly suppressed Tibetan culture and language.

Suppression of Tibetan Culture

Cheogyal said that when he was a child, he was able to study Tibetan language and culture in school, but over the years, he has seen the Chinese government crack down on these opportunities. His elementary school was taken over by the state in 2021, and his secondary school was shuttered in 2024. Now, children from his home county attend government primary schools where Tibetan is taught as a single subject course.

Cheogyal’s story is a rare first-hand account of coming of age in the Tibetan region under Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s policies. Since coming to power in 2012, Xi has stressed the need to ‘Sinicize’ religion and has mounted efforts to suppress dissent and tighten control over China’s ethnic minorities, particularly in Tibet and the neighboring Xinjiang.

Flight to Freedom

Cheogyal managed to leave China by air with travel documents earlier this year and is now living in India. He described the emotional moment when he saw a portrait of the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, which is banned in China. ‘I was so excited I burst into tears,’ he said.

Cheogyal’s journey is a testament to the struggles faced by Tibetans living under Chinese rule. His story highlights the erosion of Tibetan culture and language, as well as the difficulties of fleeing the country. Despite the risks, Cheogyal chose to share his story, using his real name, to give a full account of the changes he has seen in the Tibetan region during his lifetime.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.