I n t e r n a t i o n a l
Tibetans commemorate disappearance of 11th Panchen Lama Vol. 03, Issue 133, Print Issue 57, May 31, 2015 China jails Tibetan singer for 6 Years in new year song case
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Tibetan mother of two self-Immolates in Amdo Chone, Tibet
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A Voice For Tibet Bi-monthly
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His Holiness: Tibet has many problems in the 21st century By Oliver Arnoldi: May 29, 2015
Cover of Ring of Unity, Singer Gonpo Tenzin: TPI By Molly Lortie: May 21, 2015
Dharamshala – Gonpo Tenzin, a popular Tibetan singer from Driru (Ch: Biru) County in Ngachu region of Tibet was sentenced to three and a half years in prison by a local Chinese court on April 15 2015. Gonpo was arrested in November 2013 on unknown charges, and was kept in detention without any access to legal proceedings for over a year. During his detention, he was brutally tortured and deprived of all political and legal rights. After constant inquiries from Gonpo’s family about the cause of his arrest, Chinese authorities have responded that the singer was arrested for his song ‘Where is the New Year in Tibet’. The song allegedly praises Tibetan culture and language, and encourages Tibetan people to preserve their language and culture. P-3... China detains a Tibetan monk in Kham region of eastern Tibet
Dharamshala -- The three day teaching held at Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV), Upper Dharamshala that began on May 27 concluded on May 29. His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave blessings to TCV and a long-life offering ceremony was held for the Tibetan spiritual leader. His Holiness said: “I’m teaching during your holidays, but the way you have decorated the school is really nice. I want to thank all the people, including monks and students, who have come to TCV from far away. I hope to see you next time I am at TCV. As young people, you have a big opportunity to contribute to society and you have the ability to do so. It is very important that you are not selfish.” “In the 21st century, Tibet has many problems, but there are a lot of Tibetans self-immolating who are proud and have faith in Tibet. Even under Chinese occupation, we have not lost Tibet. Education is very important. The first time we founded a school in exile our ambition was to mix modern and traditional education. If you only have a modern education, it’s difficult to have a good wellbeing, because modern education is largely focused on material development. Material development offers human beings a good external life, but it doesn’t develop the mind. The view of Buddhist psychology is to put others before yourself, which will bring you happiness. Therefore, the unification of modern education with traditional culture is very important,” he added. Dawa Tsering, a Member of the Tibetan Parliament, commented on the teaching: “Today is the last teaching, and His Holiness gave blessings to students and they gave a long-life offering prayer to His Holiness. 7,000 people came from around Dharamshala,
His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his teachings at TCV Upper Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI/Dawa Phurbu
including foreigners and students. His Holiness’s comments on emptiness and compassion were very important. Also, students must understand that Tibetan Buddhism derives from Indian Buddhism, and that the two share many similarities.”
Tibetan father of four self-Immolates in Tawu county, eastern Tibet
“This teaching, which happens every year, is a chance for His Holiness to give to students. It is very important for students take this chance because many Chinese people spend lots of money to come from the mainland to hear his Holiness speak,” he added 38 teams from 5 countries to take part in Tibetan Memorial Gold Cup
Undated image of Ven Gonpo Choephel. Photo: TPI By Molly Lortie: May 20, 2015
Dharamshala — Emerging sources report that Chinese police arrested one Tibetan monk, Tsewang Choephel, on May 18th, 2015. A source from Switzerland told the Tibet Post that in the Kham region of Tibet in the town of Kucha, Tsewang Choepal was arrested on May 18 at 10:30 am. Allegedly Tsewang Choepal was arrested on a highway near town as he was driving a motorcycle, and held on unknown charges. Tsewang Choephel is a monk at Nyatso Monastery in Kham Tawu County. Upon questioning at the police station, regarding the reason for his arrest, local people reported that on December 23 2014, Kalsang Yeshe self-immolated at Nyatso Monastery. Police claim that when they arrived at the scene, Tsewang Choepal resisted and hit officers, leading to his arrest, the sources said speaking on condition of anonymity. However, local sources question the legitimacy of police claims, as Choepal is known to be active in political activity and disliked by police, which could be the true reason for his arrest.
The 16th Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup football tournament at Bylakuppe Tibetan settlement, south India. Photo: TPI By Oliver Arnoldi: May 25, 2015
In Tibet, environmental group barred from photocopying Tenzin Gyatso, 35, from Tawu County, Kham region of eastern Tibet. Photo: TPI By Yeshe Choesang: May 21, 2015
Nyiser Printing press office Tsojang, Amdo region of north-eastern Tibet. Photo: RFA Mandarin Service By Molly Lortie: May 16, 2015
Dharamshala — The efforts of a local environmental conservation effort in eastern Tibet were thwarted when a local photocopy office prohibited them from photocopying their material, sources say. In Dashuk county, Amdho a group called the Fish Protection Society was formed to protect the local fish in Tso Ngongbo, the largest lake in the county. When members of the group went to Nyiser Photocopy office/printing press to create literature regarding the issue, members were not allowed to make photocopies. Phuntsok Gyatso, who currently resides in Australia and currently serves as the chairman of the Tibetan Newcastle settlement said to the Tibet Post, “In Qinghai province, the local Society for Fish protection was prohibited from P-3... making photocopies in the local printing office.
Dharamshala — Sources coming out of Tibet say a Tibetan, father of four set himself alight Wednesday, in Tawu County, eastern Tibet, in an apparent political protest against the Chinese hard-line policies in Tibet. “The man, identified as Tenzin Gyatso, a 35-year-old Tibetan from Khangsar village in Tawu County selfimmolated in an apparent protest against the Chinese government’s continuing repressive policies in Tibet,” Yama Tsering, a monk from South India told the Tibet Post International on Wednesday evening. “Several Tibetans [were] beaten up [and] detained on May 20, during the heavy paramilitary deployment at Tawu township, wearing riot-gear and armed with sophisticated weapons,” he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It was not known whether he survived,” but local sources said “it is believed to be in response to mounting pressure on the local Tibetan community in Tawu County.” “Gyatso set himself ablaze [on] May 20 2015 in Tawu county, Kham in north-eastern Tibet (Ch: Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province). The sources said “his condition and whereabouts were unclear.” “Police arrived shortly after the self-immolation and forcibly removed his body and no further details are
available at present. Gyatso was the father of four (three boys and one girl). He was from Khangsar village in Tawu,” Ven Tsering said. “Security in Tawu town has been tightened and all the communication channels are being restricted following the protest,” he further added. This incident brought the total verified number of selfimmolations in Tibet to 139 since February 2009 and of them 118 reportedly passed away while the status of the rest remains unknown or critically injured. The Tibetan self-immolators have called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom for the Tibetan people. Most parts of Tibet have suffered severe crackdowns and been under heightened restrictions and controls. The Chinese government has blamed outside forces for the selfimmolations, particularly His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration- regarded by China as subversive. But Tibetans have denied such accusations, saying that the main cause of self-immolation is “Beijing’s hardline policies, including political repression, economic marginalization, environmental destruction, cultural assimilation and denial of religious freedom.” The Chinese government says Tibet has always been part of its territory, but Tibetans say Tibet was virtually independent for centuries until Chinese troops invaded in the 1950s.
Dharamshala - -Thirty eight teams from five countries will take part in the 21st Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup (GCMGC) football tournament from May 30 to June 10 at the grounds of the Upper TCV School in Dharamshala. Registered to compete are teams from the USA, Canada, Europe, Nepal and India. The Gold Cup will be played initially in a group stage followed by multiple knockout rounds. The opening ceremony will take place in the morning of May 30. Chief Guest Mr Sudhir Sharma, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), will be Chief Guest and Mr Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies (ATPD), will be Special Guest. Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay will be the Chief Guest during the closing ceremony on June 10. The Gold Cup was inaugurated in 1981 in honour of the late mother of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This year’s tournament is organised under the chairmanship of Mr Sonam Dorjee, Tibetan Settlement Officer. Early Grade Reading Workshop underway in Dharamshala By Oliver Arnoldi: May 28, 2015
Dharamshala -- The first of two Early Grade Reading Workshops for Primary Teachers is underway in Dharamshala. Organised by the Central Tibetan Administration’s Department of Education, over 30 teachers are taking part in the first session which began on May 24 and runs until May 29. The second session runs from May 30 to June 2. The participants are from Tibetan schools under the control of the Central Tibetan Schools Administration (CTSA), Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society (STSS), Tibetan Children’s Villages (TCVs), Tibetan Homes Foundation (THF), Snow Lion Foundation, Nepal (SLF) and Munsel School, Spiti. The Department of Education has organised Early Grade Reading Workshops since 2014 in an effort to improve the academic learning, language development and intellectual development of early graders. Thus far, approximately 200 primary teachers have taken part in these types of workshops. The current workshops are overseen by Professor Krishna Kumar and Dr Latika Gupta from Delhi University. It is being funded by the United States Agency for International Development through The Tibet Fund.
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May 31, 2015
TPI NEWS
For Beijing, Tibetan issue does not exist By Claude Arpi, The Pioneer
By Claude Arpi, The Pioneer One wonders why the White Paper on Tibet attacks the Dalai Lama when he is China’s best bet. But a perusal of the lengthy document makes it clear that, for the communist regime, there is no ‘Tibetan issue’; all is fine The State Council Information Office (China’s Cabinet) recently released a White Paper, ‘on the development path of Tibet’. It is not the first WP published by the Chinese Government on Tibet; in fact, it is the 13th since 1992, when the State Council, tried to justify its position about ‘ownership and human rights’. The characteristic of the latest avatar is best described by the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala: “[it] tries to belittle His Holiness the Dalai Lama by questioning his sincerity in dealing with China. His Holiness admired around the world and revered by the Tibetan people, does not need any certificate on his motivation from the Chinese Government.” One wonders: Why such a violent attack on the Tibetan leader, when many in China realise that he is undoubtedly the best bet if Beijing wants to find a solution to the Tibetan issue. But reading through the longish paper, it is clear that for the communist regime, there is no ‘Tibetan issue’; everything is fine and wonderful on the roof of the world. Beijing, however, warns: “The wheels of history roll forward and the tides of the times are irresistible. …Any person or force that attempts to resist the tide will simply be cast aside by history and by the people.” One can only agree with Beijing, except for the fact that they mistakenly judge the tides’ direction. Democracy, freedom of thought and speech are accepted concepts everywhere on the planet, except in a Middle Kingdom which seems to have passed into a reverse gear. The WP asks the Dalai Lama to ‘put aside his illusions’ about talks on Tibet’s future status. For Beijing, the Dalai Lama has little understanding of modern Tibet, but keeps ‘a sentimental attachment to the old theocratic feudal serfdom’. The WP argues: “The only sensible alternative is for the Dalai Lama and his supporters to accept that Tibet has been part of China since antiquity, to abandon their goals of dividing China and seeking independence for Tibet. … The Central Government [Beijing] hopes that the Dalai Lama will …face up to reality in his remaining years.” Tibet has been part of China since antiquity however raises a serious question: What is China? A few years ago, Ge Jianxiong, Director of the Institute of Chinese Historical Geography, Fudan university in Shanghai stated in an article in China Review: “If we ask: How big was eighth century China and if we speak about the borders of the Tang dynasty, we cannot include the QinghaiTibetan plateau. [Tibet] was sovereign and independent of the Tang dynasty.” Mr Ge went further and questioned the notion of ‘China’: “First of all, ‘China’ (Zhongguo) only officially became the name of our country with the founding of the Republic of China in 1912. Before this, the idea of ‘Zhongguo’ was not clearly conceptualised. The concept of ‘China’ has continued to expand. From referring specifically to the central plains of China, the concept has since grown to now refer generally to a whole nation…” The timing of the WP’s publication is linked to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Tibet Autonomous Region. In 1965, Tibet was divided in five areas, with Southern and Western Tibet becoming the Tibetan Autonomous Region, while other parts of historic Tibet were officially integrated in the Chinese provinces
of Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu and Qinghai. The WP categorically rejects the concept of a historic ‘greater Tibet’, as well as the Dalai Lama’s demand that all the Tibetan-inhabited areas should be incorporated into a unified administrative area. Beijing also condemns the Dalai Lama’s middle way approach which seeks a genuine autonomy for roof of the world, simply because China believes that the Dalai Lama’s ultimate goal is independence, which he has denied time and again. Beijing also can’t accept that the religious leader decides on his own to terminate the Dalai Lama Institution: It is for the party to decide! In several cases, Beijing put in the Dalai Lama’s mouth statements that he never made: “The Red Han people were snakes in your chest and abominable, …the Han people are like psychopaths, ...they tortured us Tibetans ruthlessly and treat us like beasts”. More serious is the constant distortion of history. Take the Tibetan uprising of March 1959, in which the entire population of Lhasa participated to protect the Dalai Lama. Beijing says: “In 1959, the Dalai party launched a large-scale armed revolt against officials the Central Government stationed in Tibet, and massacred local Tibetans who supported democratic reform.” The Tibetans remember the facts differently: “In a crackdown operation launched in the wake of the National Uprising, 10,000 to 15,000 Tibetans [by the People’s Liberation Army] were killed within three days.” Dharamsala quotes a Chinese source (a secret 1960 Tibet Military District Political Department report) which admits that “between March 1959 and October 1960, 87,000 Tibetans were killed in Central Tibet alone.” Dharamsala affirms that according to the information that they compiled, over 1.2 million Tibetans died between 1949 and 1979. In its report on Tibet in 1960, the International Commission of Jurists confirmed these facts. A couple of decades ago, I remember seeing in Dharamsala the files documenting the casualties of these tragic years; it is perhaps time for the Central Tibetan Administration to come out of its shyness, show the world what really happened in Tibet and publish these records. But there is still some irony in Tibet. As the WP was released, a Chinese official website, vtibet.com, reported the renovation of a palace in Tronkhang village of Nyingchi prefecture; the building is said to be the house where Thubten Gyatso, the 13th Dalai Lama was born. The Tibetan leader, who is reverently called “The Great Thirteenth” by Beijing, fought all his life to make Tibet an independent nation; this ‘detail’ has now been forgotten by Beijing. Another irony, Lhasa has been awarded by the ‘CCTV Economic Life Survey’, China’s highest happiness index for five years in a row; it is however not mentioned, if the ‘happiness’ is for the migrant Hans or local Tibetans! More sadly, as long as the tide does not change, the doors seem closed for the Dalai Lama. For India (which is never criticised in the WP), the publication is also significant as it shows that, despite its claim of becoming a ‘normal’ nation, a power which wants to lead Asia (for example in the two New Silk Roads project or with the Asian Infrastructure Development Bank), the Middle Kingdom remains rather feudal as far was freedom, plurality (and history) is concerned. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits China next month, he should go with pride: India has succeeded in growing and developing, with her citizens remaining free human beings. This is not the case in China. The views expressed are those of the author (s), and do not necessarily represent the editorial views of The Tibet Post International (TPI).
A large number of Chinese troops with machine guns, riot gear, and military type vehicles deployed at Kubum County, north-eastern Tibet, on March 5, 2015. Photo: TPI
OPINION
The Tibet Post International
If Tibet is part of China, Why are Tibetans treated so badly? Rose Tang By Rose Tang: May 22, 2015
Brooklyn, US – If Tibet is part of the People’s Republic of China, as the Chinese government insists, then why are Tibetans treated so badly? said Rose Tang, a Chinese born-activist and dissident based in Brooklyn, US. The following speech was made by Rose Tang during the commemoration of the Tibetan National Uprising Day in Chicago, US, on March 10th, 2015. “March 10 is not only a special day for YOU, my Tibetan brothers and sisters, but also for the Chinese people and all humanity. The Tibetans were the first in the world to rise up against the Chinese Communist Party since it took power in 1949. And the uprising was the world’s first Occupy Movement. Heroic Tibetan men and women who surrounded Norblingka Palace and protested in Lhasa streets showed us a great example of revolting against a monstrous regime while being severely outnumbered. You were the pioneers and I look up to you! When the Tibetan people were rebelling against the Chinese rule in 1959, the Chinese people were starving to death in Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward, including 12 of my relatives. And while Tibetan protesters were jailed and tortured after the Uprising Day, Chinese intellectuals were being jailed and persecuted in Mao’s Anti-Rightist campaign. Thirty years later, in March, 1989, again, fearless Tibetans were the first to face off with the Chinese government and were butchered. They sacrificed for freedom, democracy and independence. At that time, I was a college freshman in Beijing. A Chinese friend who returned from a visit in Lhasa told us he witnessed how the Armed Police brutally beat up the Tibetans. I wish more students of Tianananmen had known such stories, and had connected with the Tibetan protesters before the massacres in Lhasa and Beijing happened, along with the people who were demonstrating for democracy in more than one hundred Chinese cities in the spring of 1989. Back then, our movements were separate. We could blame the lack of telecommunication, the lack of mutual knowledge and mutual understanding. Now in 2015, in this era of the Internet and smart phones, we have nothing to blame but ourselves, our own fear and loathing. The Chinese Communist Party has been trying very hard to divide us, inciting hatred among us. They spread lies all over China, making the world, including President Obama and Michelle Obama, say publicly Tibet is part of China. What a blatant lie! It infuriates me. I was nearly killed in Tiananmen Square in the morning of June 4, 1989, for what? For democracy. Hundreds, if not thousands of Chinese were gunned down or crushed by tanks, for this one simple right: to vote for our own leaders. When it was my first time to vote as an American citizen in the United States, I voted for Barack Obama. I was hoping he would bring some change, because he said: “Yes, we can!” But he didn’t bring that much change, especially in polices towards China. He has let us down. I’m not here supporting the Republicans because I criticize Obama. I’m here supporting humanity, justice and our basic rights as Americans. Here in the United States, supposedly the beacon of democracy, our government leaders have not really represented us. They aren’t going to make huge change. They just want to make money with China. That’s why they spread lies for China and with China, a Nazi-like regime. Chinese President Xi Jinping is the most ruthless ruler since Deng Xiaoping. Under Xi’s leadership, the Chinese government wages a Red Terror, ruling its people with violence and propaganda, spreading pollution to the environment and humanity. This is very wrong. This is a very dangerous trend. It’s up to us to say no to these government leaders. We’re here also as Americans, we need to tell them this is not on. And now, Hong Kong people have been on the forefront of fighting against China’s brutal regime. There’s no such thing as “One Country Two Systems”. Beijing threw it in the waste bin a long time ago, just like how they treated the 17-Point Agreement more than half a century ago. Prominent Chinese investigative journalist Su Xiaokang wrote in a recent article that the Chinese Communist Party has been nibbling away Hong Kong, by adopting their policies in Tibet and Xinjiang (East Turkestan) where they succeed. What Beijing has been doing is an expansion of dictatorship, by using bloody violence. I totally agree. This is frightening. It’s been an expansion of an evil super power. We see luxury brands and high value properties around the world being grabbed by corrupt Chinese officials, their mistresses, cronies and family members. Their princelings are in many Ivy League universities. They’re here polluting our hearts and minds, our whole system, and encroaching on our democracy. President Obama isn’t willing to stand up against President Xi, but we don’t have to behave like Obama or other government leaders who are adopting appeasement towards China. In my open letter to the Tibetans, my speeches and talks, I’ve been calling for all of us, the victims of the Chinese Communist regime, to unite and rise up together. We must not be silent victims. We can be fighters. I’m not alone. Now Su, another Chinese, is urging the Tibetans, Chinese, Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, Taiwanese and Mongols to form an alliance of resistance. When we individuals are united, forming our own “United Front Work Department”, we can
Rose Tang delivering her speech at the Tibetan National Uprising Day rally in Chicago, US, on March 10, 2015. Photo: TPI
do something, we can be very powerful, and we can bring change. It’s not up to the big banks, businessmen or politicians to tell us what to do. In today’s America, love is no longer in the air, fear is in the air. Everybody is so scared of China, refusing to open their eyes to see it’s a paper dragon, a paper tiger, an emperor without any clothes on. Even the Americans are afraid of this so-called China super power. They censor themselves to make sure they can get a visa to go to China for vacation or business. China has been cheating and tricking the world to believe it’s a super power, it’s holding the whole world at its hostage. Unlike what the Chinese government has coerced the world to believe, Tibet was never part of China. Tibet belongs to the Tibetans, and China belongs to the Chinese people. The People’s Republic of China belongs to the people. Hong Kong belongs to Hong Kongers, and Taiwan is an independent nation. Uyghurs deserve their independence, and Southern Mongolians deserve independence. On March 4, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang mentioned in his speech at the annual meeting of the National People’s Congress that China would oppose any Taiwanese independence movements. Why did he say this? He should know, Taiwan has been an independent country since 1949. Is he afraid of Taiwan’s independence, or perhaps he’s afraid Taiwan acting as a role model for the people in the so-called People’s Republic of China? A survey conducted by Hong Kong University in March shows one third of Hong Kong people support Taiwan’s independence. It’s the highest number since 1994 when 36 percent of Hong Kongers said yes. During the last few months, more and more Hong Kongers have been debating and publishing thoughts, theories and practical methods of working towards Hong Kong’s independence. This is a new trend sparked by the Umbrella Revolution. Many protesters, especially the students, are questioning if Beijing would ever grant them any genuine universal suffrage. Police beatings, tear gas and pepper spray woke up many people and forced them to think of more alternatives which they didn’t dare to think or dream a few years ago. What’s been happening in Hong Kong already had a direct impact on Taiwan: the pro-Beijing-KMT (the Nationalist Party) lost local elections in a landslide last November. When I visited Taipei in mid-December, locals told me the opposition Democratic Progress Party won many seats largely due to its slogan: “Taiwan could become Hong Kong if you vote for KMT.” Today’s Hong Kong is quickly deteriorating into another Tibet. When I unfurled a Tibetan national flag at Hong Kong’s Umbrella Square in Admiralty last December, locals recognized the flag immediately and said: “We don’t want to be Tibet!” The cruel reality has been forcing more and more people to abandon the idea of negotiating with the CCP or waiting for it to conduct internal political reforms. We students of Tiananmen Square learned a hard lesson almost 26 years ago. We went on hunger strike, we marched and rallied for almost two months. We were slaughtered instead, for asking for what? A dialogue with the government. There was never meant to be any dialogue. Hong Kong students went on hunger strike, camped in the streets for more than two months and were savagely beaten up by the police. They’re mostly teenagers, high school students. Many are even younger than us, the students of Tiananmen. Until they were driven out of the protest sites by large police forces, they had been hopeful Beijing would keep its promise to grant them genuine universal suffrage. But the student leaders weren’t even allowed to board a flight to Beijing when they planned to talk to the officials up north. When Hong Kong police were driving us out of the Umbrella Square, a number of protesters told me: “They can clear our protest sites, but they can never diminish our spirit.” The Umbrella Revolution is far from over, the largest protests sites were cleared out by the police by last December, but protesters or people inspired by them have since formed civil groups to carry on the revolution. These people are the most advanced thinking professionals including top lawyers, bankers and journalists. And dozens of people have been occupying sidewalks outside the government headquarters and the legislative council building to this day. They’ve been staying in tents and are planning to be there for a long time. The oldest protester is a 91-year man nicknamed Uncle Wong. He spent the Chinese New Year in his tent. Uncle Wong escaped China after the Communist troops took over and he knows the price of freedom. They need our support badly, please send them messages by Facebook or other social media outlets.
It’s very easy to gain a visa at the Hong Kong airport if you happen to pass through the city. Please go say hello. They’d be so thrilled to see you. A Hong Kong professor and radio host who leads a civil group recently posted on my Facebook openly: “Rose, when are you coming back?” I replied: “Later this year.” He wrote: “When you’re back, let’s do something about Tibet!” Look at the Basic Law of Hong Kong and the SinoBritish Joint Declaration. They only exist on paper, so does the Chinese Constitution. Article 33 of the Constitution says: “All citizens of the People’s Republic of China are equal before the law. The State respects and preserves human rights.” Article 34 says: “All citizens of PRC who have reached the age of 18 have the right to vote and stand for election...” Article 35 says: “Citizens of PRC enjoy freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration.” Article 36 says: “Citizens of PRC enjoy freedom of religious belief.” If Tibet is part of PRC, as the Chinese government insists, then why are Tibetans treated so badly? Why is it so difficult for Tibetans to obtain a visa to go to China and a permit to enter Tibet? Why would Tibetans even need a visa? We can go through all the articles of the Constitution and see how many have been ignored and violated by the Chinese government. Back in 1989, some protesters, including myself, were calling for a rewrite of the Constitution. Little did we realize, our rights and freedoms had already been in print but have been ignored by the Chinese Communist Party in practice. So why are we here asking for a dialogue with Beijing, to work within the framework of the Chinese Constitution that the Chinese government itself doesn’t even follow? The Chinese government has been cracking down on dissent harder than ever. “Under President Xi, China is rapidly retreating from rights reforms and the Party’s promise to ‘govern the country according to law,”’ Sophie Richardson, China director at Human Rights Watch said, adding “Repression of critics is the worst in a decade, and there appears to be no end in sight.” Two days before the March 8 International Women’s Day, Chinese police arrested ten women’s rights activists who were planning to launch an educational campaign to prevent sexual harassment on public transport in a number of cities. The police accuse these young women of “Picking Quarrels and Causing Trouble”. It’s Cultural Revolution all over again. The world needs to wake up and realize this is a Nazi regime. Xi Jinping is worse than Hitler. It’s time to abandon wishful thinking and false hopes. Instead of asking for a dialogue, we should demand our countries back. We should form our own resistance forces and fight with them, with peaceful means, not with violence. This is a great historical moment for us, because the Chinese Communist Party has seen all of us as enemies, either the “overseas enemy forces” or domestic “criminals” who “pick quarrels and cause trouble” (a criminal offense). They are forcing us to unite! A few hours ago, I put out a message on Twitter asking the Chinese what they would like me to say in this speech. A college student replied: Don’t forget to say different Chinese provinces and regions want our own independence. One Chinese man inside China openly Tweeted back: “Do not forget history. Please tell our Tibetan friends we know they’ve been fighting for freedom. Today’s Chinese people aren’t that easy to be fooled. We’re gradually waking up. This is where the future of China holds. When all the people take action together, that’s the end of the Communist Party. China at this moment today is in the darkness before the crack of dawn. We’re anxiously waiting for the ray of morning sun. Let’s join our hands and work together!” We should demand our independence and basic human rights back, instead of asking them nicely. It’s not a nice battle here. It’s going to be nasty and messy, because it has been nasty and messy. Tens of millions of Tibetans, Chinese, Uyghurs and Mongols have died under this tyranny. We have to hang on to our battle and keep on fighting, Bhod Gyalo!” Rose Tang is a Chinese-born writer, artist and activist based in Brooklyn. She works on China’s human rights and the Tibetan cause and has been a frequent speaker in mainstream media and at events. Tang’s activism stems from her survival from the Tiananmen Massacre as a student protester. The views expressed are those of the author (s), and do not necessarily represent the editorial views of The Tibet Post International (TPI).
3 TPI NEWS Tibet News Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay Tibetan mother of two self-Immolates in Amdo Chone, Tibet The Tibet Post International
May 31, 2015
wraps up Washington DC trip
Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay with Ms. Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader of US House of Representatives and Former House Speaker. Photo: CTA/DIIR By Molly Lortie: May 21, 2015
Washington DC – Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay wrapped up a successful visit to Washington DC, the capital of the United States and left for Toronto City in Canada on May 17, according to a government run media report. Sikyong’s visit to Washington was part of an ongoing effort by the Central Tibetan Administration to affirm closer ties with overseas Chinese scholars and students, garner international support to the Tibetan movement and meet with Tibetan communities in exile, the report said. It said that the visit culminated with a special address at the diplomacy training for officials of the Offices of Tibet, a series of meetings with senior US officials, congressmen, and a public talk to the Tibetan community of Washington DC.
Following his address at the diplomacy training, Sikyong met with staff members of the Congress and government agencies, and influential people in Washington DC. During their meetings, Sikyong introduced the democratic aspect of Tibetans in exile and the tragic situation in Tibet. He also talked about the inherent nature of Tibetans as kind with a deep commitment to help others in need, recounting the initiative of the Tibetan people during the recent Nepal earthquake. “Even though we are refugees ourselves, the Tibetan people started collecting donations and undertook relief efforts to help people trapped and injured during the recent Nepal.” Sikyong explained. Sikyong also met several members of the US Congress including longtime Tibet supporter Ms. Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader of US House of Representatives and Mr. Tom Cotton, Senator from Arkansas during a visit to the US Congress. He apprised the Congressmen on the grave situation of Tibetans inside Tibet and the wave of self-immolation protest that has swept Tibet as a result of continued Chinese repression. He assured the Tibetan people’s firm commitment to nonviolence and dialogue to resolve the Tibet issue. Sikyong’s final engagement in Washington DC was his public talk to the Tibetan community followed by a potluck dinner. In his address to the Tibetan community, Sikyong explained the main objectives of his current visit to North America
Tibet protester who set himself on fire dies, about 15 reportedly arrested
Tenzin Gyatso, 35, from Tawu County, Kham region of eastern Tibet. Photo: TPI By Molly Lortie: May 21, 2015
Dharamshala — A Tibetan father of four who set himself on fire to protest a heavy paramilitary deployment at Tawu township, died on Thursday. On Wednesday, May 20th, 2015 at 8pm, Tenzin Gyatso self-immolated as a protest to the strict paramilitary and police force in the area, Yama Tsering, a monk from Gaden Monastery in South India told the Tibet Post International (TPI). “Following his self-immolation, monks and local Tibetans gathered at his residence to offer traditional prayers,” sorces said, speaking on condition of anonymity. According to the sources, “the Chinese authorities secretly cremated his body in Dhartsedho township and but two of his family members were asked to collect his body on the next day, Thursday at 3pm.” However, his family members fear that “the authorities will cremate his body there, and will return just a part of the ashes.” Because in the past when some families tried to reclaim self-immolator’s body, the authorities often refused and instead gave the family the ashes, saying that his/her remains have already been cremated. Tenzin Gyatso is from Kungsar town in Kham
Tawu, eastern Tibet. He is 35 years old. His wife’s name is Sonam Dolma. He has three sons and one daughter. The three boys are named Tsewang Gyatso, Thupten and Topden. The daughter is named Tsering Tsolmo. His self-immolation was a protest against the Chinese police’s harsh and strict policies over the area. So much so, about 15 Tibetans from different towns have been arrested, including four women namely Tashi Dolma, Tsering, Choetso and Rinzin Lhamo. The Tibetans are constantly beaten while in detention, had their hair cut, and receive one cup of porridge per day. After one week of unwarranted detainment, they are released. Tenzin Gyatso found the harsh police action to be unbearable, and self-immolated. There had been some media reports that Chinese police crackdown in the area has come due to Chinese fear of Tibetans celebrating the 80th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Due to this, local Chinese officials have been placed in the area to distribute Chinese propaganda and prevent Tibetans from celebrating, and police have been armed and spread throughout the region and in the monastery, often beating locals for no reason.
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By Yeshe Choesang: May 27, 2015
Dharamshala — A Tibetan mother of two from Chone County, Amdo, Tibet reportedly died after setting herself ablaze in protest against China’s repressive policies on May 27, sources said. Sangye Tso, 36, self-immolated on Wednesday, around 4am, in front of a Chinese government building located within the compound of Choparshing Tashi Chokorling monastery in Chone county in Kanlho, Amdo, north-eastern Tibet (Ch: Gansu province), sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The government building and monastery was surrounded and occupied by Chinese authorities, including police and security forces. Her body was moved to Tsoe city by the Chinese authorities. Meanwhile, several police and officials also arrived at her house to investigate on the incident. Sources said she has self-immolated in front of the government office in response to the government’s security crackdown on peaceful protesters and torturing and harassing Tibetans. Sangye Tso was born in Meru Sebpa village in Chone county, Kanlho. She is survived by her husband Tamding Wangyal and her two children: son Tsering Dhondup and daughter Khatso. “The monastery has been under intense pressure including arrests of monks and applying fines for having peaceful protests,” sources said, adding: “The large buildings that house security and propaganda workers had been actually built inside the monastery’s walled compound to watch activities of monks.”
Sangye Tso, a 36-year-old Tibetan woman who died on Wednesday, in her self-immolation protest in Chone County, Amdo, Tibet. Photo: TPI Reader
This incident brought the total verified number of self-immolations in Tibet to 140 since February 2009 and of them 120 have reportedly passed away while the status of the rest remains unknown or critically injured. The Tibetan self-immolators have called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom for the Tibetan people. Most parts of Tibet have suffered severe crackdowns and been under heightened restrictions and controls.
Thousands of Tibetans gathered at the main Tibetan temple in Dharamshala, on Wednesday to pray for Tibetan self-immolaters, including Tenzin Gyatso and Sangye Tso, both of whom had passed away this month. Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected political leader of the Tibetan people, expressed his solidarity with the sufferings of the Tibetan people inside Tibet and urged the Chinese government to address the genuine grievances of the Tibetan people at the prayer service.
Int’l Rangzen Conference on Tibet held in India’s capital New Delhi By Molly Lortie: May 26, 2015
Dharamshala — On May 23, a 2-day International Rangzen Conference was held in Delhi, marking the anniversary of the 17 point agreement signed between China and Tibet during the initial occupation. The 2-day was inaugurated by the chief guest Dr. Arun Kumar, Indian parliament member and staunch supporter of Tibetan cause. The meeting was held at the International Hall of India in New Delhi. The meeting was organized by several Tibetan individuals as a continued effort to mark the date. Lhasang Tsering from Dharamshala, Sonam Wangdue who lives in the United States, and Gonpo Trinley, a former political prisoner from Tibet who recently arrived in India, were presented gifts in recognition of their contributions made in Tibetans’ struggle for independence or Rangzen. Over 100 Tibetans, including activists, MPs and journalists attended the conference. But many were students studying in Indian universities of Gandhinagar, Baroda, Bangalore, Mysore, Delhi, and Jawaharlal Nehru university. Tibetan residents of Dharamshala and Bir in Himachal Pradesh were also among the attendees, all sharing the desire for a free Tibet. For two days they discussed the current situation in Tibet, followed by lectures by Indian scholars. The meeting commenced with a short talk by Tibetan Youth Congress member Tenzin Tsundue who said, “Before we struggle for the rights of a free Tibet, we must understand the international situation, and then we can understand the context of the Tibetan situation. Among Tibetans, there are many different ideas and desires regarding a free Tibet. But these differences are not important, what’s important is that we unite for Tibet. Organisers said, “this meeting was not organized or sponsored by an organization, it is supported by individual donations. We are now a generation separated from the original occupation of Tibet, and it is this new generation that has joined the struggle and joined this meeting.” A press conference was held after the meeting to announce their 4-point resolution. The 4 points were on the Tibetan freedom struggle, critical situation inside Tibet, unity among Tibetans in exile, and on garnering international support. Tibetan Parliament member Serta Tsultim said, “My vision is for a free Tibet. In the future, I hope for a new generation to continue to understand the importance of a free Tibet.” Indian guest Dr Kumar stated, “Chinese must stop their annihilation of Tibetan culture. Historically, Tibet is a country, it’s just now that Tibet is under the forced occupation of Chinese government. But, the unique Tibetan religion, culture, and history is very easily seen. The struggle for a free Tibet is genuine and worthy. People across the world can support this cause. After 1960, many countries
have attained freedom. As Tibetans, do not neglect or underestimate the importance of the struggle for a free Tibet. The Chinese think that when His Holiness the Dalai Lama passes away, the Tibetan cause will be finished. This is unthinkable. China has occupied Tibet for 60 years now, but never give up. This is imperative. Never give up. The movement for a free Tibet is one based on pride and respect.” A few organizing members of the event put together a document detailing the purpose and goals of the meeting, stating: “In 1951, on the 23rd of May, the Chinese and Tibetans made a 17 point agreement. This agreement fails to reflect the hopes and wishes of Tibetans, as the signing was forced under great duress, which negates its legitimacy. This meeting is to acknowledge that Tibetans continue to recognize that this agreement was never truly accepted. It’s been 64 years since the forced signing
of this agreement. The occupation, cultural destruction and torture of Tibetans continues. But the voice of protest also continues. The struggle’s ambition for a free Tibet has not been lost. Under the Chinese occupation, so many Tibetan men and women’s lives have been lost, and many more people have been tortured in jails. But, Tibet is owned by Tibetan people. This protest is growing in power. This struggle is between the occupied and the occupiers. It is a struggle over recognizing rightful ownership. Tibetans, under the Chinese torture, still are not afraid, the struggle has not ceased. As long as we are denied our rights under Chinese occupation, the last testament of all those who have died for our struggle for freedom will continue to be heard, their hopes for a free Tibet cannot die. So many Tibetan men and women have sacrificed their lives for the struggle for Tibetan freedom. At this time we commemorate their sacrifice, and continue our struggle.”
International Rangzen Conference held at India International Centre, New Delhi on May 23, 2015. Photo: TPI
In Tibet ...
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The society was founded last year, and the organization has done good work prohibiting people from illegally fishing during the winters, and cleaning the garbage from the shores of the lake during the summer times. Unfortunately many locals and tourists have contributed to the pollution of the lake, throwing plastic and wrappers in to the lake, contaminating the water and leaving the fish population at risk. Within Dashuk county, Nyiser Photocopy office is a large printing company in the region. Members went to the office to print their literature regarding fish protection and pollution, which is written solely in the Tibetan language to most effectively reach the local community, but upon their arrival, the office’s manager asked them ‘do you have government approval? You have no permission to make these copies.’” Despite being paying customers, the Society for
Fish protection was not allowed to photocopy their material, and was rejected from the photocopy office.
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Gonpo Tenzin hails from Shakchu Township in Driru county. He lived with his aged parents, wife and kids at home before his arrest. Driru county is at the center of several peaceful protests including self-immolation protests against the Chinese government’s repressive measures in recent years. As a result of the peaceful Tibetan resistance, many youths from the region were imprisoned with politicallymotivated charges, accusing them of colluding with “exiled separatist forces”. Monks from these regions have also been restricted from traveling to other places in Tibet for spiritual and educational purposes; instead the Chinese government is forcing them to undergo political re-education or repatriation classes.
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Tibetans commemorate disappearance of 11th Panchen Lama
on May 14 1995. Once described as the world’s youngest political prisoner, the current Panchen Lama is now 26, and is considered to be among world’s longest-serving political prisoners. The Panchen Lama and his family’s whereabouts continue to remain unknown even after 20 years of his enforced disappearance. Meanwhile, the Chinese government has installed another person, one of their preferences, as the Panchen Lama. The Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration organized a public talk to discuss the Panchen Lama’s present condition and whereabouts. The
talk was followed by a documentary film, Tibet’s Stolen Child, and a photo exhibition on Chinese government’s continued repression in Tibet which has led to the wave of self-immolation protests. The event was held at TCV Day School, and the speakers included Mr. Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, Mr. Thubten Samphel, Director of Tibet Policy Institute, Tsering Tsomo, Director of Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, and Mr. Sonam Norbu Dagpo, Secretary of DIIR. In his keynote speech, Mr. Penpa Tsering condemned the Chinese government for interfering in Tibet’s centuries-old lineage of finding reincarnation of Tibetan lamas. “The sole purpose of abducting the Panchen Lama is to deprive him of Buddhist studies and thereby hindering his spiritual influence on the future Tibetan generations,” he said. Mr Sonam Norbu Dagpo, Secretary of the Department of Information and International Relations, read the statement of the event. “This is an aggressive attempt by an atheist Chinese government to legitimize its control over the centuries-old Tibetan Buddhist practice of reincarnation. In this context, and given his crucial cultural and religious role, it is critical that the 11th Panchen Lama receives a spiritual upbringing that is free from political interference,” the statement read. “We once again appeal to the international community to launch concerted efforts to urge China to release the Panchen Lama and all political prisoners in Tibet. We renew our pledge to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Tibet and pray for the earliest resolution of the issue of Tibet,” he added.
but local Tibetans believe they had been detected sending politically sensitive writings and photos of the Dalai Lama over their WeChat accounts, it said. Chinese authorities have stepped up curbs on information flows in Tibetan-populated regions amid protests, in some places including selfimmolations, challenging Beijing’s rule in these areas, and images of the spiritual leader of Tibet His Holiness the Dalai Lama are considered especially sensitive. Separately, a second source confirmed the two had been taken into custody, but gave separate dates for their detention by police, saying that Rithar had been detained on May 16 and Lhundup on May 19. Another man was also detained in Traktse
village at the end of last year after police found politically sensitive photos on his cell phone, sources said in earlier reports. Tobgyal, about 23-year-old, was taken into custody in Lhasa on December 26 while working at a construction site, according to a local source. He was handed over to authorities in Dingri on January 12 and released the next day on condition he not travel outside his home area, the source added. Tobgyal’s elder brother Tsewang Dondrub was later detained on January 17, sources said. The latest incident brought the total verified number of self-immolations in Tibet to 140 since February, 2009 and and of them 120 were reportedly passed away while the status of the rest remains unknown or critically injured.
because if we don’t, who will? “On a day like this, we urge the international community to stand in support with Tibet. We cannot fight this fight alone,” he added. Gyatso, who has a wife and four children, set himself alight at 8pm on May 20 to protest the huge deployment of police in Tawa county in response to the plans of Tibetans to celebrate
the 80th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on July 6. Chinese police quickly removed Gyatso’s body and secretly transported it to the nearby city of Dartsedo (Ch: Kangding), where they reported that he died yesterday at 3pm. Gyatso is the 139th verified Tibetan to selfimmolate since 2009.
Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, Mr. Penpa Tsering addressing the gathering on 17 May 2015 at TCV Day School. Photo: CTA/DIIR By Molly Lortie: May 18, 2015
Dharamshala – Tibetans and Tibetan supporters gathered on May 17 to observe International Solidarity Day with Tibet and to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama. The Panchen Lama is the second highest Tibetan Buddhist leader after His Holiness the Dalai Lama. After the death of the 10th Panchen Lama, the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, was forcibly abducted and disappeared after his recognition as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
China detains two men in Tibet over sensitive writings and photos By Yeshe Choesang, May 27, 2015
Dharamshala -- Chinese authorities in Tibet have detained two young Tibetans believed to have transmitted politically sensitive writings and images over the popular WeChat microblog, sources say. Lhundup, 27, and Rithar, 21, were detained separately on May 22, a Tibetan living in exile told Reporters Without Borders, citing local contacts. Both were natives of Traktse village in Dingri county in Shigatse (Ch: Rikaze) prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region, a source said. Lhundup, a monk of the Traktse Chakjomo monastery, was detained in Traktse village, while Rithar was detained in [Tibet’s regional capital] Lhasa, the source added. No reason was given for their detention,
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Sikyong speaks about Tibet’s future with Chinese scholars By Molly Lortie: May 16, 2015
Washington D.C. -- Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the democratically elected political leader of the Tibetan people, yesterday spoke to over forty Chinese scholars and students in Washington DC on the topic: Care for the future of Tibet? The meeting took place at a dialogue organized by Initiatives for China (IFC), a grassroots movement towards democracy in China, which was moderated by Dr. Yang Jianli, Founder/ President of IFC and a fellow Harvard scholar and close acquaintance of Dr. Sangay. Sikyong, in his address to the scholars, underlined the importance of interaction between the Chinese and the Tibetan people to restore their historic trust and friendship. Lately, this has been strained as a result of Chinese government’s continued propaganda to create misunderstandings and disharmony, he noted. Without over simplifying the essence of the Tibet issue, Sikyong explained that the Tibet issue could be described in four M’s: Mistake, Mistrust, Middle Way and Misunderstanding. He said that the occupation of Tibet by the communist Chinese forces and the continued repression of the Tibetan people by the Chinese government is a mistake. “If you look back in history, at least from the Tang dynasty all the way to the Qing dynasty to the Kuomintang era, Tibet invaded China at one time and Chinese armies also came to Tibet. But then the Chinese army never stayed in Tibet for this long, the repression has never been this severe, hence I think even from a historical context it is a mistake,” he said. Sikyong reasoned that this mistake is the root that has sown mistrust. “Instead of redressing the mistake, the Chinese government continued its policies of political repression, cultural assimilation, social discrimination, economic marginalization and environmental destruction in Tibet, which led to the Tibetan people’s mistrust of the Chinese government,” Sikyong said. Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay highlighted the Jokhang temple as the epitome of the mistrust that has prevailed in Tibet as a result of the Chinese occupation and repression. “The Jokhang is the holiest shrine for Tibetan Buddhists. What’s interesting is that the Jokhang houses a statue of Buddha which was brought to Tibet by Wencheng, a Chinese princess who
Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay speaking to Chinese scholars and students during a dialogue organised by Initiatives for China in Washington DC, 12 May 2015
married Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo. For centuries, Tibetans have worshipped the temple. However, if you visit the Jokhang now, there are surveillance cameras and sharpshooters perched on rooftops everywhere, which is making the Tibetan people apprehensive about going to the Jokhang now,” he said. “This drastic change in the behavior of the Tibetan people towards the Jokhang begs the question, how did a sacred place of worship turn into a feared police station? Perhaps this is the biggest example of the mistrust between the two people that has risen as a result of the Chinese occupation of Tibet,” Sikyong asserted. Speaking on the Middle Way Approach, Sikyong said that the Middle Way Approach was envisioned by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and implemented by the Central Tibetan Administration to address the enduring mistrust. “The Middle Way Approach seeks for a genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people within the framework of the Chinese constitution. The Chinese government always allege that Tibetans aim to split the nation, which is why we have taken into consideration not to challenge the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China,” Sikyong explained, adding that this proposal is as reasonable and moderate as one can get to resolve the issue. Sikyong concluded his address by reassuring the Chinese scholars about His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people’s deep commitment to non-violence to resolve the Tibet issue. This dialogue is also a part of Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay’s continuous efforts to enhance mutual trust and understanding between the Chinese and the Tibetan people and hopefully reach a positive solution on the issue of Tibet.
US Commission Rebukes China for Violation of Religious Freedom Candlelit vigil held for self-immolator Tenzin Gyatso By Oliver Arnoldi: May 22, 2015
Dharamshala — A candlelit vigil was held in Dharamsala last night for Tenzin Gyatso, who self-immolated in Khangsar village, Tawa (Ch: Daofu) county in the Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture on May 20. Hundreds of people joined a procession in honour of Gyatso, which began in the Main Chowk before proceeding down Temple Road to the Tsuklakhang where the procession congregated in front of the Martyrs’ Memorial. A period of silence was held for Gyatso before a representative from Students for a Free Tibet, Tsering Yangkyi of the Tibetan Women’s Association and Tenzing Jigme, President of the Tibetan Youth Congress, spoke about the implications of Gyatso’s death. Jigme said: “It is very significant that we stand by the Martyrs’ Memorial; it is dedicated to all those Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives for Tibet’s freedom and for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama back to Tibet. We are here to stand in solidarity with Tenzin Gyatso and to honour not only him, but all of those who have self-immolated since 2009.” “The truth is people inside Tibet don’t have any freedom. They don’t have any freedom of religion, they don’t have any freedom of speech, they don’t have any freedom of press, all they can do is keep quiet. We must speak out, we must stand up for our brothers and sisters
Tibetans in Dharamshala holding candle-light vigil for Tenzin Gyatso who died of self-immolation in Tawu County, eastern Tibet. Photo: TPI/Dawa Phurbu
Tibetan political leader Dr Sangay honored at Canadian Gala By Molly Lortie,: May 20, 2015
The Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre (TCCC) organized the 8th Annual Gala Event on May 16 2015. Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay attended the event as chief guest during his trip to Canada. Additionally, Mr KaydorAukartsang, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Americas, was a Guest of Honor. The gala was attended by many Canadian dignitaries, Friends of Tibet and community members. This year’s gala dinner was dedicated to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, as Tibetans and
Tibet supporters all around the world mark the 80th birthday of His Holiness. Sikyong’s visit to the Tibetan community in Toronto city was a year-long plan in the making. To honor him and express deep respect and appreciation, the Tibetan community in Ontario, and the Board of the TCCC presented Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay with a special “Gyatoen Award” for his strong leadership, unwavering support, and commitment to the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Other dignitaries at the event include Canadian MPP Cheri DiNovo, former Senator DiNino, and MP Bernard Trottier. The Canadian political leaders assured their continued support to Tibet and the Tibetan people. Sikyong continued his trip to Canada the following day with a public talk addressing t h e p o l i c i e s o f t h e C e n t r a l Ti b e t a n Administration and his commitment to the Middle Way Approach to resolve the issue of Tibet through dialogue.
By Molly Lortie,: May 17, 2015
Dharamshala – In its 2015 report published on April 30 2015, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended that China be designated as a “country of particular concern (CPC)” based on an alarming increase in systematic, egregious and ongoing abuses of religious freedom in the country. The US state department has designated China as CPC since 1999. The report on China stated: “In 2014, the Chinese government took steps to consolidate further its authoritarian monopoly of power over all aspects of its citizen’s lives. For religious freedom, this has meant unprecedented violation against Uighur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, Catholics, Protestants, and Falun Gong Practitioners.” “People of faith continue to face arrests, fines, denials of justice, lengthy prison sentences, and in some cases, the closing or bulldozing of places of worship,” the report added. On its section on Tibetan Buddhists, the report said: “Since 2008, the Chinese government has imposed harsh policies of repression on Buddhists across the Tibetan plateau, including harassment, imprisonment, and torture.”
The report documented the Chinese government’s campaign of repression involving the destruction of religious structures and restrictions that force young monks out of monasteries. “Moreover, the Chinese continued its vilification of the Dalai Lama, including accusing him of seeking Tibetan independence, which he has repeatedly denied,” the report said. The annual report mentioned specific examples of Tibetan prisoners, including Goshul Lobsang, a Tibetan political prisoner who died shortly following his release from prison after suffering extreme malnourishment and brutal torture, and Khenpo Kartse, a Tibetan religious leader who was sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment for allegedly protecting a fugitive monk. In light of the many reported violations of religious freedom, the commission recommended the U.S. government to consistently raise religious freedom concerns at the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue and other bilateral meetings, to urge the Chinese government to release its political prisoners, and to press China to uphold its international obligations.
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May 31, 2015
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His Holiness to TCV students: take responsibility and preserve Buddhism
Thousands of audiences listening to His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Tibetan Children’s Village School, Dharamshala, HP, India on May 27, 2015. Photo: TPI/Dawa Phurbu By Oliver Arnoldi: May 27, 2015
Dharamshala – The spiritual leader of Tibet His Holiness the Dalai Lama has implored students at the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV), Upper Dharamshala to take responsibility to preserve Buddhism in the 21st century. His Holiness – who addresses the students of TCV this morning before three days of teachings
on Buddhist psychology – said: “Until my last day, it is my duty to preserve the deep and vast tradition of Buddhism. But I have reached a point, like a setting sun. It is now your responsibility, so when I die I can be confident that you will promote and preserve the religion.” The teaching took place in front of over 1500 students and members of staff. His Holiness took time to address why preserving Buddhism
was so important: “We often make divisions between one another. We say: ‘My religion. Their religion.’” This inevitably leads to violence. As Buddhists we wish for all sentient beings to be happy and to be free from suffering. But if you don’t do anything about it, you might as well not wish for anything.” “You cannot make all human beings Buddhist, it’s not practical. But if you can promote the idea of compassion to others – that we are all the same, that we are all human, all seven billion of us – then you’ll be amazed at how we can transform things,” he added. He shared an anecdote about a bug to illustrate his point: “As part of a humanitarian project, a thousand Tibetan refugees were granted residency in the United States. One of them got a job washing vegetables in a university kitchen. Whenever he found a bug in the vegetables, he would place it in a container, and after his day’s work, he would set them free outside. His American co-workers asked him why he did such a thing, and he explained that Buddhism prohibited harm to any sentient beings. Soon after, all of his co-workers followed his example.” The teachings on Buddhist psychology began in the afternoon of May 27. The students discussed Akya Yongdzin Yangchen Gawai Lodro’s A Compendium of Ways of Knowing: A Clear Mirror of What Should Be Accepted and Rejected. This continued until May 29.
Declaration of the 2nd International Rangzen Conference By Yangchen Dolma, May 25, 2015
New Delhi: -- The two-day Rangzen Conference was overwhelmed by youth participation which consisted mostly of university students and professionals. “The basic perception and parameters of the discussions are fresh and new. Unlike their parents generation, the youth do not see a contradiction in standing for a policy different from the one proposed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and yet having deepest love and respect for him as their leader. The youth love the Dalai Lama, they see him as the champion of love and compassion in the entire world.” observed Vijay Kranti, senior journalist and a long-time Tibet supporter who has been with the Tibet issue for 42 years. The participants came from various parts of India at their own expenses, while there were delegates from the US, Germany, Taiwan, Nepal. Tibetan Youth Association in Europe sent a delegate from Switzerland. While Tibetan member of parliament Serta Tsultrim made the inaugural speech, Chief guest of the opening ceremony Indian member of Parliament Dr. Arun Kumar reassured India’s support for the Tibetan Independence movement. The conference for the Independence of Tibet held in New Delhi saw two panel discussions and one whole day closed-door meeting among the Tibetan delegates. “While the panel discussions were organized in collaboration with India’s premiere intellectual hub India International Centre, the whole expense of the conference came from donations, mostly from individual Tibetans from different parts of the world and some individual supporters as gesture of support. We want to thank them for their contributions” said Wangden Kyap of the Organizing Committee members. “We launched a book of essays in Tibetan and English on the Independence of Tibet, and concluded the conference with Delhi Declaration which include a prelude and four point commitments.” said Tenzin Tsundue of the Organizing Committee. In the Declaration we said: “The Conference respects the official stance of the Tibetan Government and resolves to promote unity among Tibetans by practicing patience and tolerance in the face of wrongful accusations being labeled against Rangzen advocates by certain sections of the society.” While re-affirming our stance on Rangzen we said: “The Conference reaffirms that in order to fulfill the enduring goal of restoring our nationhood, generations of Tibetans both within and without Tibet must carry on the struggle with unflinching faith and determination.” “The speakers in the first panel discussion “Tibet and Indian’s Security” like Bharat Karnad, Gururswamy, Rangachari and Claude Arpi were damn right pragmatic talking about economics, military and geo-strategic calculations, and provoked us to think again. But it was Prof Ashis Nandy’s view on Tibetan civilization and Gandhian Rajiv Vora ji’s view on Tibet as a Swaraj saying that Tibet can be a remedy for China’s mad rush for consumerism that gave me great sense of confidence as a Tibet.” observed Tenzin Dolma, one of the student delegates from Baroda. “I feel there is much to learn and unlearn.” she added. “I have been awakened more by these two panel discussions and the closed door Tibetan meeting than my education in Tibetan school.” said another Delhi University student. “I am so excited being among Rangzen heroes and thinkers. I wish this conference happens every year. There would be so much more youth participation” he added. The following is the declaration released after the Rangzen Conference held in Delhi, on May 24, 2015. Prelude The spiritual land of Tibet, encircled by snowy mountains, has been a free and independent country
in all aspects, with a distinct cultural heritage, history and a legitimate government. Since 1949, the imperialistic Chinese government with the evil goal of colonising Tibet gradually employed a number of civil and military measures, invading Tibet from the east and occupying Chamdo. Then, with the clear intention of forcibly occupying central Tibetan areas, the Chinese government came out with proposals to negotiate with the Tibetan government. The Chinese government on May 23, 1951 forced a Tibetan government delegation, which had no treatysigning authority, to sign the so called “17 Point Agreement” in Beijing. Counterfeit seals were forged and the delegation signed the infamous “Agreement” under duress thus paving the way for the complete occupation of Tibet. The Tibetan Government, led by the Great 14th Dalai Lama, sincerely tried to accommodate the occupying forces but the Chinese government continued with their coercive policies, further oppressing the Tibetan people and even hatching plans to incarcerate His Holiness the Dalai Lama. On March 10, 1959, Tibetans from the three provinces of Tibet united to lead a popular national uprising in the Tibetan capital Lhasa which was brutally suppressed. His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government was forced to escape into exile along with a small number of Tibetans. Soon after reaching the safety of exile, His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke to a large contingent of international media on April 18, 1959 in the Indian city of Tezpur. His Holiness declared that the free and independent country of Tibet was invaded and brutally occupied by the Chinese government and officially repudiated the so called “17 Point Agreement”. The Tibetan GovernmentinExile, under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, continued to appeal to the United Nations and in 1961, the global body, while recognising Tibet as an occupied country, passed a resolution calling “for the cessation of practices which deprive the Tibetan people of their fundamental human rights and freedoms, including their right to self determination”. As a direct result of China’s invasion and the implementation of catastrophic policies such as the Cultural Revolution, more than a million Tibetans died. Only a visage of Tibet’s unique religious and cultural heritage remained. Following China’s economic liberalisation and limited policy reforms, Tibetans were presented with a slender opportunity to rekindle the embers of Tibetan religious and cultural heritage. However, the fundamental freedoms of the Tibetan people and their right to equality and to inherit their culture have been constantly denied. To this day, Tibetans inside Tibet are sacrificing their lives and security protesting China’s rule. A large number of Tibetan have succumbed to torture in Chinese prisons while many have perished to Chinese bullets. Since February 27, 2009, a known number of 140 Tibetans from the three provinces of Tibet have set themselves on fire in protest against the Chinese government. In exile, six Tibetans have selfimmolated. The slogans and last testaments of the selfimmolates called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and demanded freedom for Tibet. The Chinese government has not only disregarded the demands of the selfimmolators but pilloried and wrongfully indicted them as “criminals”. Although His Holiness the Dalai Lama, with his magnanimity and farsighted vision, proposed the Middle Way Approach, the Chinese government has not only rejected the proposal but continues to distort Tibet’s history and vilify and slander His Holiness the Dalai Lama, an action akin to stabbing a knife in the hearts of Tibetans. Moreover, China’s latest whitepaper on
Tibet, published on April 15, 2015, has clearly revealed that China has no intention of resolving the Tibet issue. Against this backdrop, a group of Tibetan Rangzen activists and supporters have met in New Delhi on May 23 and 24th, 2015 for the first International Rangzen Conference. The twoday conference has been organized and attended by second generations Tibetans; those who are born and raised in India and have never seen Tibet, and those who escaped from Tibet in the recent times and couldn’t return home. This one hundred second generation Tibetans conference on the Independence of Tibet is a slap in the face of Chinese leadership’s easy calculation that the issue of Tibet would dissipate after His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This not only gives India a reassurance of the rising Tibetan youth power, but reinvigorates the moral of the Tibetans that the new generation has arrived and there is hope. Fourpoint commitments of the Rangzen Conference. 1. The Tibetan Freedom Struggle Tibet was historically an independent country, which was invaded and occupied by the Chinese government. The Conference reaffirms that in order to fulfill the enduring goal of restoring our nationhood, generations of Tibetans both within and without Tibet must carry on the struggle with unflinching faith and determination. 2. The Critical Situation Inside Tibet The Conference expresses solidarity and support with Tibetans inside Tibet who continue to sacrifice their lives for the cause of Tibet and pledges to never let their sacrifices go in vain. The Conference fully understands and rejects China’s repressive political policies, discriminatory economic and educational policies, and destructive environmental policies that is spoiling the fragile ecology of Tibet beyond repair. The Conference agrees to collaborate with other nationalities subjugated by the Chinese regime and dissident individuals and groups in order to form a common resistance against the Chinese government. 3. To Promote Unity Among Tibetans The Conference pays fervent gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for His enduring leadership and declares absolute faith and steadfast loyalty in His Holiness as the saviour of the Tibetan people. The Conference undertakes to fully implement the tenets of the democratic system as so graciously conferred on the Tibetan people by His Holiness and believes that in a democratic society various political ideologies must exist and should be expressed without fear of retribution. The Conference respects the official stance of the Tibetan Government and resolves to promote unity among Tibetans by practicing patience and tolerance in the face of wrongful accusations being labeled against Rangzen advocates by certain sections of the society. 4. Garnering International Support Recognising that the primary responsibility of the Tibetan struggle lies with the Tibetan people, the Conference proposes to garner international support for the revival of a free and independent Tibet while keeping the interest and concerns of the Tibetan people as paramount. The Conference expresses its unbridled gratitude to the people and government of India for their indispensible support to the Tibetan people at this most critical period of our history. The Conference reaffirms that a free and independent Tibet is in the best interest of India’s security and development. The Conference acknowledges the support of countries, organisations and individuals from across the world for the Tibetan cause and appeals for your continued solidarity and support for the revival of a free and independent Tibet. With resolute conviction in the imminent reunion of the Tibetan people in a free and independent Tibet and the glorious return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Potala Palace.
Essay Competition Announcement ‘Exhibition on H.H the Dalai Lama’s Body of work’ is a project that I initiated on 10th December 2012. In the past two and half years, I was able to conduct over forty-five presentations primarily in centers of learning and other places all over India. The aim of this project is to inculcate in the minds of the truth and peace-loving people, a sense of recognition and gratitude for the gift of wisdom bestowed by His Holiness on how to live a meaningful life. Moreover, it also seeks to spread words about the deeds and accomplishments of His Holiness throughout his life as a guiding light to us all.
Some of my forthcoming projects are as follow; 1) To conduct a scholar debate on His Holiness’s Thoughts & Ideas on Religion, Politics, Health, Environment, Compassion and other disciplines by a panel of experts related and intimate with His Holiness. 2) Reading comprehension contest on His Holiness’s multi-faced works in their proper disciplinary entity. 3) The ranking essays of this competition will be published in ‘Khongsa Chok-kyi khyenpa,’ which will be a journal of scholarly articles to be launched soon. Therefore, I request professional and other aspirant writers from everywhere to support me in this venture by contributing their articles on any of the following three topics.
Topics for Essay Competition; 1) Analyzing the purpose behind the Dalai Lama’s body of work and value of his ideas. 2) The Dalai Lama’s guide to an ethical way of life beyond religion. 3) The evolution and practical implementation of the Dalai Lama’s tenets of Peace & Non-violence. Essays in all kind of genre are entertained. There is no strict word limit, but try not to exceed beyond 2880 words. The deadline falls on 13th July, 2015. Submit the essays via email or post at the address mentioned below. Please make sure to leave your contact details. The essays can be written in Tibetan and English and will be judged by a penal of experts in a transparent and unbiased manner.
Awards and prizes for the top-ranking essays; • • • •
First second Third Consolation
• • • •
50 books by H.H the Dalai Lama or 25000 Rs (Either of them) 30 books by H.H the Dalai Lama or 20000 Rs (Either of them) 20 books by H.H the Dalai Lama or 15000 Rs (Either of them) 10 books by H.H the Dalai Lama to 10 winners
The winners are allowed to making his/her own decisions regarding prize books or money.
Note:
1) On any of the topics above, it is preferable to get an insight by referring books of His Holiness. 2) Try to inject not only your own ideas, but also the opinion of others in order to add analytical value to the essay. 3) Contact for further information.
Contact;
Gonpo Gyal Phone: +918679032180 Email: donnie5908@gmail.com
(Full Address)
Gonpo Gyal (M.A Student) C.H.T.S P.O Sarah, Dharamsala Distt. Kangra -176215 (H.P) INDIA
ALL THE BEST!!