In February 2024, Tibetans in Sichuan province staged rare protests against the construction of the Gangtuo hydropower dam, a project that has sparked deep concerns over cultural preservation and forced relocations. The protests, which saw hundreds of Tibetans gather to voice their opposition, were met with a swift and violent crackdown by Chinese authorities. Reports from Tibetan sources, corroborated by satellite imagery and leaked footage, reveal that dozens of protesters were detained, beaten, and subjected to extended interrogations.
Tibet has been under strict Chinese control since its annexation in the 1950s, and public dissent is rare. However, the dam project, which threatens to flood historically and religiously significant sites, including the 700-year-old Wontoe Monastery, has drawn significant opposition. The planned reservoir would submerge several villages and sacred Buddhist sites, including rare murals that have been part of Tibet’s cultural heritage for centuries.
The Gangtuo dam is part of China’s broader push to harness the hydropower potential of Tibet’s rivers, particularly the Jinsha River, which feeds into the Yangtze. This drive is part of the government’s broader “Western electricity to the East” initiative, aimed at generating clean energy to fuel the country’s rapidly growing eastern cities. However, the project has raised alarms among Tibetans and human rights organizations, who argue that it exacerbates Beijing’s historical pattern of undermining Tibetan culture and exploiting its land for economic gain.
The Gangtuo dam project, first approved in 2012, has been met with resistance from local communities who were not adequately consulted about the development. In a letter to the UN, a special rapporteur raised concerns about the lack of meaningful consultation with the affected populations and questioned whether local consent was ever properly obtained. Despite these concerns, Chinese officials have consistently defended the relocation, claiming that affected residents were compensated and provided with new housing. However, many Tibetans report insufficient information about the process and little regard for their cultural connection to the land.
The protests intensified when locals, including Buddhist monks and villagers, learned of imminent eviction notices and scarce details on relocation options. In response, demonstrators took to the streets, calling for the cessation of the project and an end to the forced evictions. Videos from the protests show monks pleading with officials for mercy and calling for the preservation of their land and heritage.
Authorities swiftly arrested hundreds of protesters and raided homes across the region. Some detainees were subjected to beatings and prolonged interrogations. Witnesses described scenes of police brutality, with elderly protesters and monks among those injured. The United Nations has also documented reports of severe beatings, which led to hospitalizations, but these incidents have been largely omitted from Chinese state media coverage.
Following the crackdown, communication with the outside world became increasingly difficult for Tibetans in the region. Those who were released from detention have faced restrictions on their movement, complicating efforts to seek medical care and maintain their livelihoods, particularly for nomadic communities dependent on grazing lands.
The Gangtuo dam is one of several large-scale hydropower projects planned for the Jinsha River, which runs through Tibetan territories. While China presents these projects as essential to achieving its clean energy goals, rights groups argue that they come at a significant cultural and environmental cost. Relocation has been a contentious issue, with reports of insufficient compensation, inadequate housing, and loss of community ties for displaced Tibetans. Additionally, environmental concerns persist, particularly regarding the potential for increased seismic risk in the region, which could lead to catastrophic consequences for the surrounding population.
The Chinese government’s handling of the protests and its continued push for development in Tibet underscores a broader issue of control and cultural suppression. For many Tibetans, the dam represents not just an environmental and economic threat, but also a direct assault on their identity and heritage. As the Chinese government continues its development efforts in the region, the fate of Tibetans and their sacred sites remains uncertain.
