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His Holiness calls for more research into missing Lama
His Holiness speaks on ‘Growing Wisdom’ Vol. 03, Issue 141, Print Issue 65, September 30, 2015 His Holiness cancels US trip after medical check-up By Yeshe Choesang: September 28, 2015
Dharamshala — The spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, canceled all of his U.S. visits for October at the advice of doctors following a medical check-up this week, his office said in a statement on September 25. The statement said doctors had urged the Nobel Peace Laureate to rest for several weeks, though it gave no indication that he was ill nor details about his state of health. On Sunday, Mayo spokeswoman Ginger Plumbo confirmed he remained at the clinic for evaluation but said she could offer no further details about his stay. “His Holiness the Dalai Lama is in the United States for a medical check-up,” the statement said. “The doctors have advised His Holiness to rest for the next several weeks. As a result, His Holiness’ planned October U.S. visit has been cancelled,” his office said. “We deeply regret the inconvenience caused by this decision and apologize to all the people who have worked so hard in organizing the visit as well as to the public,” it said, adding: “We thank you for your support and understanding.” Smith College issued a statement on Friday saying “the Dalai Lama had canceled scheduled appearances for October there and at two nearby Massachusetts schools, Amherst College and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.” 12 Tibetans were detained over land-grab protest in Ngaba
Tibetans petition in Dzoge County in Ngaba, north-eastern Tibet for the return of land seized by local Chinese government, September 22, 2015. Photo: RFA/Mandarin By Yeshi Choesang: September 24, 2015
Dharamshala — Authorities in Ngaba County of northeastern Tibet have detained at least a dozen Tibetans, later releasing one, who reoccupied land taken from them five years ago for a government development project. Local Tibetans from Thangkor town in Dzoge (Ch: Ruo’ergai) County in the Ngaba (Ch: Aba) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture had appealed to the government for the return of their land on May 15 as no developer had begun construction and local authorities were leasing it out to private individuals, a local source told said. But local officials, angered by the appeal, retaliated by withdrawing subsidies for local families, the source told the Tibet Post International, speaking on condition of anonymity. When residents complained, the local government pledged to resolve the dispute by September 20, but when the deadline passed, “the local Tibetans reoccupied the land,” he said. “In response, the authorities dispatched a contingent of police from the Dzoge County and other counties in Ngaba and cracked down on the Tibetans on Sept. 22.” According to the source, at least 12 Tibetans were taken into custody, including six who had assisted in writing up the appeal—Jigjey Kyab, Tsepak, Sonam Gyatso, Phurkho, Dorbe, Jitruk, Tsering Kyab, Patra, Tsering Tashi, Yeshe and Tsokyi. Tsokyi, the sister of appeal organizer Jigjey Kyab, was “severely beaten and then released,” he said, while 11 others “are still detained in [neighboring] Marthang (Hongyuan) county.” The source said Jigje Kyab, 39, is now missing “and nobody knows about his condition.” Ngaba County is under heavy surveillance and presence of armed security personnel. Communication lines including internet and social media, a major medium of flow of information to the outside world, tightly controlled except in government offices.
TYC’s Hunger Strike reaches Day 20
Tibetan Youth Congress marks 20th day of their hunger strike with a rally in Delhi, hoping to gain UN attention. September 28, 2015. Photo: TPI September 28, 2015
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Dirty politics if the motivation is selfish: His Holiness By Yeshe Choesang: September 23, 2015
London, England — Responding to questions about dirty politics, His Holiness the Dalai Lama clarified that the quality of all human activities depends primarily on the motivation. It’s not that politics is dirty, but if the motivation is selfish, it is likely to become so. On September 19, His Holiness was greeted with fulsome cheers from an audience of 10,000 as he came onto the stage in the O2 Arena, the Greenwich peninsula in south-east London, England. A young Tibetan woman led a recitation of a prayer for his long life before introducing Ngawang Lodup, a former monk from Amdo region of Tibet. Lodup performed a poignant mountain song followed by one of his own compositions, which praised His Holiness as the light of the 21st century and the soul of the people of the Land of Snow. Next, a group of 52 Tibetan children aged between 6 and 14 sang a song that longed for the reunion of Tibetans in Tibet and an end to their sufferings. “I’m very happy to be here with you and to have this opportunity to share some of my thoughts and experiences with you. And when it comes to the question and answer session, I hope I’ll learn something from you,” His Holiness said, adding: “I very much appreciate the organizers for providing us with this opportunity and I thank you for coming. “I’m just one of the 7 billion human beings alive today. We are all physically, mentally and emotionally the same. We all face problems, but we also have the same potential to deal with them. Scientists have shown that even very small children respond positively to images of help and recoil from images of harm, demonstrating that basic human nature is compassionate and good. “We can use our own common sense to see this too. Look at your neighbours. They may be well-off, but if they lack a sense of warm-heartedness, if they tend to be suspicious of each other, they won’t be happy, whereas those who are trusting and warmhearted clearly are happy.” His Holiness declared that at 80 years old he belongs to the 20th
His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s talk on ‘Compassion - the Foundation of Well-Being’ at the 02 Arena in London, England on September 19, 2015. Photo/Ian Cumming
century generation. Those young people who are less than 30 years old belong to the generation of the 21st century. He conceded that the generation of the 20th century had created many problems, including damage to the environment. Some of their ideas, such as the notion that problems can be solved by force are now completely out of date. He added: “I want to live a happy life and others want to live a happy life too. This is something we all have a right to do. I believe that if we all make an effort and take a long view of the future, we can change the world for the better. Now for some questions.”
Recent peaceful protest yields detainment of monks, one grandmother
Without waiting for the moderator to be introduced, at this point someone from the back of the hall cried out indistinctly, “Is there discrimination in the Tibetan community? Is this true?” His Holiness responded directly. “I suppose you are asking about the Shugden question, a controversy that has been going on for nearly 400 years. However, it’s only come to prominence in the last 80 years or so. In my own case, while I propitiated this spirit, I had no religious freedom. I only gained that freedom once I understood its nature and background and stopped that practice. P-2... A senior Tibetan monk returns to Tibet: State run media
By Yangchen Dolma: September 29, 2015
Dorjee Dolma, a native of village no. 2 of Meruma town, Ngaba County in Amdho Region of north-eastern Tibet Tibet. Photo: TPI By Molly Lortie: September 17, 2015
Dharamshala — It emerged that on the afternoon of September 10th in Tibet’s Ngaba County of Amdo region in north-eastern Tibet, two young men began a peaceful protest that slowly incorporated much of the local residents. During the protest, police arrived and allegedly arrested one woman, a 64 year old grandmother on the scene. Her whereabouts remain unknown. “The incarcerated grandmother’s family name is Namkha Kyab and is originally from Rongkarsar, Ngaba. She has nine siblings and works as a street cleaner, according to Ven Lobsang Yeshi,” Lobsang Yeshi and Kanya Tsering from Kirti Monastery told the Tibet Post International. “The day of the protest, other protesters were also allegedly arrested by police, however their identities remain unknown.” The day after the incident, on September 11th, five monks from Kirti Monastery were also allegedly arbitrarily detained while going for a walk, and were not sentenced for a crime. Most of the monks were released from jail after the third day, however 22 year old monk Lobsang Sonam remains in detainment on charges unreleased by local authorities. “Lobsang Sonam is also from Rongkarsar, Ngaba. His father’s name is Kalsang, and his mother’s name Tsering
Dolma, and he has three younger brothers,” said Ven Lobsang Yeshi. “He has been a monk at Kirti Monastery since he was a child.” This protest follows another from last month, on the morning of August 20th, when Dorjee Dolma, a 29 year old mother performed a solo peaceful protest and was immediately arrested by ten policemen, Ven Kanyag Tsering, a monk with close contacts in the Tibetan region, told the TPI. “Dolma is the second of four daughters of father Dorjee Rabten and mother Tamdrin Tso, of the Tendartsang house in division no.2 of Me’uruma village, and is the mother of three children.” “Dorjee Dolma, a native of village no. 2 of Meruma town, Ngaba County in Amdo Region of north-eastern Tibet Tibet (Ch: Aba County, Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in the north-west of Sichuan Province),” Ven Tsering added, saying “her current conditions remain unknown.” Her father’s name is Dorjee Rabten, and mother’s name Tamtin Tso. She has three sisters and three sons of her own. The Ngaba area has been under military lock-down since major protests were held in the area following the spread of protests across the Tibetan plateau beginning in March, 2008. The Chinese authorities are clamping down on the contents of popular social media, and particularly on the posting of photos, videos, and text that could be considered to be anti-China.
Dharamshala — “A senior Buddhist monk has returned to settle in Tibet,” Chinese officials claimed, saying “he decided to settle down in Ngaba County after receiving approval in April. The China Tibet Information Center, a government-run news website said late on September 26 that Achok Rinpoche “a senior Buddhist monk” China Tibet Information Center had returned in May and was now living permanently in Ngaba, part of the southwestern province of Sichuan. “I’ve now really become a Chinese citizen,” he was quoted as telling senior Sichuan government official Cui Baohua last week. The report said that Cui heads the United Front Work Department in Sichuan, which is in charge of co-opting religious groups and ethnic minorities. The website showed a picture of the Rinpoche and Cui Baohua walking around a temple in Ngaba. A detail report also published on the Tibetan version of the goverment run website. Although he was invited to the Dalai Lama’s birthday celebrations in July, what he wanted to do more was come home and settle down, the website said. He also lived in Beijing for a year in 1987 at request of the late Panchen Lama, working at a school for reincarnated lamas, the report added, saying Rinpoche and Cui Baohua are “old friends.” Achok Rinpoche, who was born in Sichuan in 1944 and left in 1959 after a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, first came back to China in 1982 as part of an effort by Beijing to engage with exiled Tibetans, the Chinese website said. Achok Rinpoche had headed a Tibetan hospital and worked as a senior librarian in exile, the Chinese website said. But Rinpoche was the director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, which is an autonomous body in exile. He fell and injured himself while in Nepal in December 2014 and asked to be taken to China for treatment, which Cui organized, the report said. During each trip Achok Rinpoche could see with his own eyes and that religious and ethnic groups were well-treated, the website said. “The motherland and home are the best. The motherland is the warmest,” it said.
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Protest rally for Xi’s visit, as U.S.-China Obama raises trade, human rights, Tibet, cybersecurity with Xi clash on rights, islands By Yeshi Choedsang: September 26, 2015
In Washington and in Seattle on September 22-25, protesters shout freedom and human rights as Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with U.S. Photo: Media file By Yeshi Choesang: September 28, 2015
Washington, DC — Hundreds of people, including Tibetans, Chinese, Uighurs, Taiwanese and supporters protesting against human rights abuses in China greeted President Xi Jinping in Seattle on September 22, in demonstrations against China’s leader during his week-long U.S. visit. In downtown Seattle, a crowd supporting Falun Gong, a religious group that says it is repressed in China, waved signs against what it called China’s treatment of prisoners’, calling for “Stop force live organ harvesting in China.” With passionate shouts and handcrafted signs, the three-pronged afternoon demonstration gathered at Westlake Park and walked toward Westlake Center after about 30 minutes of chants that included, “Xi, you’re not welcome here.” “Falun Gong practitioners have been put into forced labor camps, prisons, and mental hospitals, and they have been killed for their organs,” said Michael Green, 38, of Seattle. A group of pro-Chinese protesters, some of them wearing hats emblazoned with “USA,” waved Chinese and U.S. flags and large red cloth signs that read “Hello President Xi” in Chinese characters. At one point, Xi’s supporters attempted to drape a giant flag over a Falun Gong banner that read: “Forced organ harvesting of Falun Gong practitioners is not tolerated by heavenly principles.” There were no arrests by late Tuesday during what police said were peaceful demonstrations. China’s official atheist Communist Party does not tolerate challenges to its rule and religious activities must be state sanctioned. In Seattle, Tibetans and supporters joined the protests against China’s Human Rights violations in Tibet and called for freedom in the Himalayan region, as did activists calling for China to curb militarization of the South China Sea. In Seattle, the Northwest Tibetan Cultural Association also asked members to attend the protest downtown “to highlight the repressive policy of Xi in Tibet”, while unaffiliated activists planned to gather at a nearby park to call on China to curb militarisation of the South China Sea. In Washington DC, As Xi and Obama gave a joint press conference in the Rose Garden, roars from hundreds of people gathered outside in protest of Mr Xi could be heard over the television broadcast. This comes at a time when more than 140 Tibetans inside Tibet have self immolated as a means of protest against Chinese government, calling for freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The protesters represented many groups; Chinese activists calling for democracy and religious freedom in China, Tibetans shouted for freedom and Human Rights in Tibet and and Uighurs speaking out against the Chinese state’s treatment of the Uighurs in Xinjiang and chants of “shame on you Xi Jinping” and “stop lying to the world” could be heard over loudspeakers. “We had a frank discussion about human rights, as we have in the past,” Obama said, branding China’s authoritarian treatment of political dissidents and religious or regional minorities “problematic.” Mr Xi firmly pushed back on human rights criticism, warning that reform would come on China’s own timetable and without undermining its stability. There was also a sensitive exchange over China’s strike hard campaign to extend its sovereignty over the South China Sea by building bases on reclaimed islands in areas disputed by Washington’s southeast Asian allies. “Islands in the South China Sea, since ancient times, are China’s territory,” Xi declared. “We have the right to uphold our own territorial sovereignty and lawful and legitimate maritime rights and interests.” Obama said the disputes must be settled in accordance with international statutes, stressing that the United States wants to “make sure that the
rules of the road are upheld.” US activists and lawmakers slammed China’s recent rights record on September 18 as controversy mounts ahead of a visit to Washington by President Xi. The Congressional-Executive Committee on China, which is a panel invited several US-based dissidents, journalists and rights activists to bear witness to what they said was a systematic abuse of civic and human rights under China’s one party state. “If President Obama had lived his life not in the United States but in China, as a Christian, a community organiser, a civil rights lawyer, a constitutional law professor, he would not be enjoying a grand fete with Xi Jinping,” a Republican from Arkansas, Senator Tom Cotton said, adding: “President Obama most likely would be in prison or much, much worse.” Critics say Since Xi became the top leader of China, Christians, writers, human rights lawyers, Tibetans, Uyghurs, Mongols and many other communities have suffered increased persecution and an unrelenting assault on their basic human rights.
Washington, DC — US President Barack Obama urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to engage in dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama or his representatives and asked China to preserve the religious and cultural identity of the Tibetan people. Addressing a joint press conference with the Chinese President at the White House on September 25, the President Obama mentioned the name of Tibet’s spiritual leader -- His Holiness the Dalai Lama who is seeking genuine autonomy for Tibet within the framework of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China. “Even as we recognize Tibet as part of the People’s Republic of China, we continue to encourage Chinese authorities to preserve the religious and cultural identity of the Tibetan people, and to engage the Dalai Lama or his representatives,” President Obama said. “We had a frank discussion about human rights, as we have in the past. And I again affirmed America’s unwavering support for the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people, including freedom of assembly and expression, freedom of the press and freedom of religion,” Obama said. “I expressed in candid terms our strong view that preventing journalists, lawyers, NGOs and civil society groups from operating freely, or closing churches and denying ethnic minorities equal treatment are all problematic, in our view, and actually prevent China and its people from realizing its full potential.” “Obviously, we recognize that there are real differences there. And President Xi shared his views in terms of how he can move forward in a step-by-step way that preserves Chinese unity. So we expect that we’re going to continue to consult in these areas,” Obama added. “Even as our nations cooperate, I believe — and I know you agree — that we must address our differences candidly,” Obama said from the South Lawn of the White House shortly after Xi’s arrival. “The United States will always speak out on behalf of fundamental truths.” “Democracy and human rights are the common
Tibet supporters and Tibetans stage protest in front of the NKT By Yangchen Dolma: September 28, 2015
London, UK — Tibetans and Tibet supporters on September 18, staged a demonstration in front of the Kadampa Meditation Center in London, UK, a controversial organization run by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. “The Center is the epicenter of those who make baseless allegations against His Holiness Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government-in-exile in the name of demonic deity Dolgyal,” the GTV said in a statement released after their protest. The statement said “over 30 demonstrators of Global Tibetan Volunteers for Truth (GTVT) distributed about 500 booklets about Dolgyal and some 3000 pamphlets among the public During that the protest.” The organiser said that “the purpose of the demonstration was to protest against the misdeeds done by the Dolgyal groups e.g, the harmful mission that they are doing to Buddhism, to the struggles of Tibetan freedom and defamation of His Holiness.” They also said that “It was also aimed to inform the people of the world in general England in particular about the real truth about Dolgyal and it’s followers and to expose how they are deceiving people using the names of Jey Tsongkhapa and Buddha.” “The demonstrators have demanded the immediate stoppage of the harmful deeds against Tibetans and Buddhism by NKT or Shugden groups,” it added. “When the people around the saw the real face of the Center and it’s followers, they thanked the demonstrators for giving correct information
the Dolgyal.” “Because Dolgyal groups had started making the allegations from London, so the Global Tibetans Volunteers for Truth has also started protesting from the same place,” it further stressed. “It was strongly iterate that until the Dolgyal groups stop misinforming and making baseless allegations, the members of the GTVT will never stop protesting against them,” the group wrote, adding, “With this declaration, the procession went fruitful and victorious one.” Protesters from NKT staged protests against His Holiness the Dalai Lama as he lands in the country. The protesters lined the streets in London, banging drums and shouting slogans. They claim Shugden followers are being persecuted and His Holiness the Dalai Lama has failed to take a stance. “I suppose you are asking about the Shugden question, a controversy that has been going on for nearly 400 years. However, it’s only come to prominence in the last 80 years or so,” His Holiness said in response to a question from a woman from the audience at his talk on September 19 at the O2 arena. “In my own case, while I propitiated this spirit, I had no religious freedom. I only gained that freedom once I understood its nature and background and stopped that practice.” “You have no religious freedom when you worship this spirit. It is very much sectarian. Since then it’s been my duty to make this clear to others. If you want to pay attention to what I have to say, that’s up to you,” His Holiness added.
Tibetans and supporters holding signs calling “NKT- Extremist Buddhist Cult., Don’t Embarass the Buddha,” in front of the NKT building in London, UK, on September 18, 2015. Photo: TGVT
President Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping hold a joint press conference in the Rose Garden at the White House on Friday, 25 September 2015. Photo: Getty Images
pursuit of mankind. At the same time, we must recognize that countries have different historical processes and realities,” Obama added saying, “we need to respect people of all countries in the right to choose their own development path independently.” “The Chinese people are seeking to realize the great renew of the Chinese nation, which is the Chinese history. This process in essence is a process to achieve social equity and justice and advancing human rights,” he said. The US President said that “China stands ready to, in the spirit of equality and mutual respect, conduct human rights dialogue with the United States, expand consensus, reduce differences, learn from each other, and progress together.” Hacking allegations, discriminatory regulations and human rights concerns have shadowed Xi’s first state visit to Washington. Congressional Republicans and GOP White House hopefuls have pressed Obama to use the meetings with Xi to take a more stringent approach with China on these topics. Several candidates even called on the administration to downgrade, or even cancel, the event. But Obama stuck by his decision to welcome Xi with all the trappings of a full state visit, including military marches, music and a 21-gun salute. But, President Xi avoided directly addressing trade concerns or human rights in his remarks. XI simply
said, through a translator, that both countries must “encourage our two societies to meet each other halfway and cement the social foundation of ChinaU.S. relations.” Xi said he was willing to have a human rights dialogue with the United States, but as is customary with Chinese leaders, he pointed out that the concept of human rights was seen differently in Beijing. “We must recognize that countries have different historical processes and realities, that we need to respect people of all countries in the rights to choose their own development independently,” he said. And with the eyes of the world on China’s economy, amid fears that a slowdown and a stock market clump could tip the world into recession, Xi promised a “proactive fiscal policy and prudent monetary policy” to restore growth rates to around 7%. “We continue to have serious concerns about some of China’s actions, as they do ours, in each – in such areas for us as cyber space, maritime security, economic policy, human rights, that are preventing our relationship from reaching its full potential,” said Secretary Kerry who co-hosted a lunch for Chinese President Xi Along With US Vice President Joe Biden. “But the commitment was we would work very hard to work through it to see the Chinese perspective, and for them to see ours,” Kerry added.
Since then it’s been my duty to make this clear to others. If you want to pay attention to what I have to say, that’s up to you. However, you should go to South India and see for yourself that monks who want to do this practice have their own monasteries on land that was provided for Tibetan refugees. You can see for yourself that in fact they are free to practise as they wish.” At this, the audience broke into cheers and loud applause. Hansjorg Mayer of the Tibet House Trust then introduced Daniel Goleman, writer and scientist, who has long been a friend of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s, to moderate the questions and answers. He recently published a book ‘A Force For Good: The Dalai Lama’s Vision for Our World’ to mark His Holiness’s 80th birthday. The first question he put to His Holiness was that he too had been listening to the BBC news as His Holiness regularly does and he wanted to know how he avoids feeling depressed. “Firstly, many of the problems we face are our own creation, so logically we should also be able to solve them. Next, we have to remember how much the media tends to take positive developments for granted. It seems it’s only killing, violence, stories of sexual abuse that make the news. I do think that the media should take a more balanced approach. “Recently I heard on the BBC that it’s been found that the content of mother’s milk changes according to their children’s need. This reminds me of an occasion I was attending an inter-faith meeting in Delhi. “I represented the Buddhist tradition, another teacher represented Islam. Representing Hinduism was Dr Karan Singh, a great scholar of religion, and the son of the former Raja of Jammu and Kashmir. I teased him that when it came to mother’s milk, as the son of a poor peasant farmer, I had probably done much better than he had as the son of a Raja, who was given a wet-nurse.” “One thing we have learned is that parents should spend as much time as they can with their children. Provide them maximum affection. This affection is our first lesson in life. In my case, my mother was so affectionate, we never saw her angry – unlike my father.” When Goleman asked more specifically about developing compassion, His Holiness told him that we all have a biologically based sense of compassion, but it tends to be biased, it is directed mostly to those we are already attached to.
However, it is possible to use our intelligence and extend our compassion to others, including even our enemies. He explained how it’s necessary to distinguish the agent from their action. Someone may have harmed you and their action is wrong, but they remain human beings deserving of compassion. His Holiness pointed out that attachment like anger is not an isolated emotion, but is related to many other emotions. Ancient Indian knowledge of the mind and how it works can help us understand this. There was a question about dirty politics and His Holiness clarified that the quality of all human activities depends primarily on the motivation. It’s not that politics is dirty, but if the motivation is selfish, short sighted and narrow minded it is likely to become so. Asked whether things are getting better or worse, His Holiness referred to the great advances in mutual understanding that have taken place over the thirty years and more that he has been engaging in discussions with modern scientists. “I’ve learned a great deal about matter and the physical world and modern scientists have taken a great interest in consciousness and the life of the mind. Out of these discussions has also emerged an understanding of a need for secular ethics. “ His Holiness also noted that compared to attitudes in the early 20th century, the idea that war is a solution to problems has been shown to be out of date. However, as the Copenhagen summit on climate change showed, when too many countries put national interests before the global interest, there is still a great need to cultivate a sense of the oneness of all humanity. Before the event came to a close, Ian Cumming, who serves as a photographer when His Holiness visits the UK, happens to be a contestant in the Great British Bake-off. He offered His Holiness a cake he’d made for him in this his 80th birthday year and members of the audience sang “Happy Birthday.” His Holiness thanked him and turned back to the audience: “Please think about what we’ve talked about today. If you think any of these points is useful, think about them some more, examine them and try to put them into effect. If you are able to think about these things for about 20 minutes every day, you’ll find your life is happier. More important than celebrating a birthday is whether we can live each day in a meaningful way.”
Dirty politics if the motivation is ...
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TPI NEWS 10th Session of 15th Tibetan Parliament Concludes The Tibet Post International
The 10th session of the 15th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile concluded in Dharamshala, on September 25, 2015. Photo: TPI/Choneyi Sangpo By CTA/DIIR: September 25, 2015
Dharamshala -- The 10th of the 15th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile concluded this afternoon after ten days of active deliberation and discussion on a wide range of issues facing Tibet and the Tibetan people. The 10th session also discussed the activities and annual reports presented by the various departments of the Central Tibetan Administration. Speaker Penpa Tsering, in his concluding remarks, gave a brief overview of the
proceedings that took place during the 10th session and lauded the parliamentarians for their wholehearted participation in the discussions to resolve the critical situation inside Tibet. “All the parliamentarians actively participated and expressed heartfelt and rational opinions during the discussion on the resolution of solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet,” the Speaker said, adding, the responsibility shown by the parliamentarians have sent a strong
message to everyone particularly the Chinese government. “During the discussion, we have been able to make our opinions and views very clear to the Chinese government regarding their policies in Tibet, their whitepapers, the celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region and the over-all political situation inside Tibet,” he stated. The Speaker also recalled late Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and his immense efforts towards the preservation of Tibetan culture and heritage. He raised the question of Rinpoche’s death in Chinese prison and the Chinese government’s brutal policies of repression in Tibet. At the same time, Speaker Penpa Tsering explained that the Tibetan Parliament didn’t propose a separate resolution of mourning for Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche as the parliament has already written to various world leaders and international bodies regarding Rinpoche’s sudden death in prison. These letters, in turn, have elicited a huge outpouring of grief and solidarity from all corners of the world. Besides the political situation inside Tibet, the 10th session also devoted considerable time to discuss the recommendations made by the parliamentary academic committee on the Basic Education Policy of the Tibetan exiles; the workings of the Central Council of Tibetan Medicines and Norbulingka Institute of Tibetan Arts and Crafts, etc..
Top leaders ask Jonang followers to respect legislature’s decision By YangchenDolma: September 19, 2015
Dharamshala — The Tibetan cabinet (Kashag) and parliament-in-exile have urged followers of “Jonang” tradition to respect the legislature’s decision rejecting their request for the allotment of a membership seat in the Parliament. Dr Lobsang Sangay, Sikyong or political leader of the Tibetan people, and Mr Penpa Tsering Speaker of the Tibetan Parliamentin-Exile, spoke to a group of the Jonang followers who are gathered in front of the parliament building to protest against a recent resolution rejecting their demands. A group comprising of about 150 protesters holding signs outside of the Parliament building appealing for the allotment of a membership seat in the Parliament for Jonang tradition. The protesters are also demanding recognition from the Parliament for a separate tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. They first emerged in 1990 and have been demanding the TPiE to recognise their tradition. The motion to allow membership for Jonang tradition as a separate Buddhist sect failed in the Parliament during a majority vote held in the 9th session of the 15th Tibetan Parliament. The amendment is possible only if supported by 29 members in the 44-member parliament, but only 17 voted in favor of the motion. Speaking to the gathering, Speaker Penpa Tsering “urged the protesters to exercise restraint while upholding due deference to the judgment passed by the Tibetan Parliament,” the Tibetan administration media reported. Penpa Tsering further explained that time for discussion on the issue was allowed but none of the parliamentarians took the opportunity. The Speaker also “advised the Jonang followers to utilise the democratic processes of lobbying and convince the Tibetan parliamentarians especially the members of the upcoming 16th Tibetan Parliament to resolve the issue, rather than staging a sit-in and disrupting the ongoing 10th session.” Mr Tsering also “lamented the heckling of a particular member of parliament by few of them on 17 September that was completely uncalled for and added that the incident has reduced the support and solidarity of the Tibetan parliamentarians on the issue.” “As per the three pillars of democracy, the Tibetan Parliament legislate the laws, the Kashag executes them and the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission monitors the execution to ensure rule of law,” Dr Lobsang Sangay said, explaining the importance of respecting the judgments made by democratic institutions of the Tibetan polity. “The harmony of these three pillars determine the success of a democracy,” Dr Sangay said. On the issue of the creation of parliamentary seats for Jonang tradition, Sikyong urged them to uphold the majority judgment passed by the Tibetan Parliament. As for the Kashag, Dr Sangay further explained that “the 14th Kashag follows the
Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, Speaker Penpa Tsering and Deputy Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel speaking to the Jonang followers on September 18, 2015. Photo: CTA/DIIR
guideline set by the previous Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche regarding religious traditions, adding that the present Kashag treats Jonang as a major Tibetan Buddhist tradition as stipulated in the guideline.” “For instance, during the special general meeting of Tibetans, the Kashag allotted special seat for them,” Sikyong added. He also reminded that “during the conference of the Tibetan religious heads, the Kashag allotted
them two seats assuring that the respect the Kashag accords to Jonang tradition is both in principle and in practice.” Nine members of the group have started a hunger strike on Friday, September 18. They said they will continue until the TPiE fulfil their four demands. TPiE is the unicameral and highest legislative organ of the Central Tibetan Administration. Established and based in Dharamshala, India. Ten members are elected from each from Dotoe, Do-med, and U-Tsang, the three traditional provinces of Tibet, while the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, including Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, Gelug and the traditional Bon faith elects two members each. Four members are elected by Tibetans in the west, two from Europe, one from North America and one from Canada. On March 26, the House voted to give a separate, one-seat for the Tibetans living in the Australasian and Asian countries other than India, Nepal and Bhutan.
Tibet News
September 30, 2015
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TYC: World leaders must speak for oppressed
Three executive members of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC)Tamdin Hrichoe, Tenzin Wangchuk and Tsewang Dolma are on their 12th Day of an “Indefinite Hunger Sstrike” at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, India, September 22, 2015. Photo: TPI By Molly Lortie: September 17, 2015
New Delhi — The Tibetan Youth Congress began a hunger strike on September 10th, 2015 in an attempt to gain the attention of the United Nations and encourage action and intervention in Tibet. The TYC updated about their “Indefinite Hunger Sstrike,” stating. “thirteen days and 312 hours later, without any food, the three Tibetan Youth Congress Executive members on hunger strike (2male, 1 female) bodies are weak but their minds are strong and their will to go on with conviction and determination is even greater.” “This campaign is aimed at the United Nations who has a responsibility to stand up and speak up for truth and justice. Resolutions on Tibet have been passed at the UN General Assembly but the communist Chinese government is never held accountable for their actions.” TYC’s demands for the UN include: 1. United Nations member states to raise the issue of Tibet at its General Assembly and Human Rights Council Session 2. Urge China to address the demands of the Self Immolations in Tibet 3. Urge China to give evidence that the 11th Panchen Lama Gendun Choekyi Nyima is alive 4. Send a fact-finding UN delegation to assess the current critical situation in Tibet 5. Urge China to release all political prisoners In addition to the United Nations, the TYC also urges United States President Barack Obama to speak strongly on the issue of Tibet with Xi Jinping when they meet in Washington DC.
“Leaders of the world have a responsibility to speak up for those oppressed”, stated TYC President Tenzing Jigme. “We ask that the President not only raise the issue of Tibet with Xi but send a strong message that human rights and freedoms of Tibetans must be respected”, added Jigme. On hearing the news that the delegations of the United States and the European Union who TYC has been lobbying have raised the Tibet issue at the ongoing 30th Human Rights Council session in Geneva, TYC VP Tamdin Hrichoe who is one of the participants of the Indefinite Hunger Strike said, “reports that the US and EU have raised the issue of Tibet at the Human Rights Council session is welcoming and one of our demands, but we will continue until the aims and objectives are met”. “We consider this, in a way, an impact of TYC indefinite hunger strike being held here. We had met with US Embassy and European Union officials recently in Delhi, and appealed them to raise Tibet issue in the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council meetings,” TYC President Tenzing Jigme said on Tuesday. H.E. Mr. Jean-Marc Hoscheit, Permanent Representative of the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg on behalf of the European Union, and the delegation of the United States of America, Ambassador Keith Harper reportedly gave statements calling China to cease undue restrictions on religion in Tibet and urged to address the root causes of unrest and foster dialogue with Tibet.
“I Stand With Tibet” – Over 40 Scottish MPs show support
Over 40 MSPs have signed a Tibet petition on September 15, to be presented to the various bodies of the EU and its member states. Photo: David Lloyd Hudson By Molly Lortie: September 21, 2015
Edinburgh, Scottland — The Cross Party Group has just concluded an extremely successful week of exhibiting in the Scottish Parliament, in an effort to raise awareness of Tibet and the human rights abuses taking place. Over 40 MSPs took the time to show their support and to sign the “Paris Declaration on the Freedom Struggle of the Tibetan People“, a petition to be presented to the various bodies of the EU and its member states. During the exhibition, the group was honoured to host Ven. Thubten Wangchen, a member of the Tibetan Central Administration who travelled to Edinburgh in order to attend the
exhibition and meet in person the MSPs who came to show their support for Tibet. The Cross Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Tibet (CPG on Tibet) also held an exhibit on Tibet in the Scottish Parliament– sponsored by Linda Fabiani in the Scottish Parliament. Last week saw the Cross Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Tibet (CPG on Tibet) form an exhibit in the Scottish Parliament. The Exhibition Coordinator David Lloyd Hudson and fellow organizer and member of the CPG on Tibet Iain Thom were joined by special guest Ven Thubten Wangchen, who is currently a European Member of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile and a Director of the Tibet House Trust
based in Barcelona, Spain. The exhibit’s focus was primarily on the impact of human rights abuses in Tibet and China and to raise this with Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), bringing also to their attention the reports on the varied human rights issues in Tibet written by Dr. Martin Mills, Professor of Tibetan Anthropology at Aberdeen University. The Cross Party Group on Tibet was most honoured to receive Ven. Wangchen, who brought with him an official petition by Tibet groups in Europe on human rights policies, being presented to the European Parliament and other bodies in November this year by Wangchen la and his European counterpart. These issues were well
received by MSPs available during the week and it was pleasing to see their support by signing the ‘I Stand With Tibet’ petition. The petition forms part of the official campaign of Tibet groups in Europe, supporting the Paris Declaration which calls on all EU member ‘…governments to be true to the fundamental values and principles that Europe prides itself on’ and to undertake three key actions. Alex Salmond MSP when speaking with David Lloyd Hudson, and replying to questions raised to colleagues about the former then First Minister not meeting with the Dalai Lama in 2012, said he would be happy to meet with His Holiness on a future pastoral visit to Scotland and happily signed the petition in this context. Members of the Scottish Parliament who signed to support the ‘I stand with Tibet’ petition along with Mr Salmond were (in alphabetical order): Clare Adamson, Claire Baker, Richard Baker, Neil Bibby, Cameron Buchannan, Roderick Campbell, James Dornan, Linda Fabiani (Convener of the CPG on Tibet), Mary Fee, Alex Fergusson, John Finnie, Christine Grahame, Rhoda Grant, Iain Gray, Hugh Henry, Cara Hilton, Jim Hume, Alison Johnstone, James Kelly, Bill Kidd, Richard Lyle, Angus MacDonald, Gordon MacDonald, Ken Mackintosh, Mike Mackenzie, John Mason, Joan McAlpine, Liam McArthur, Jamie McGrigor, Stuart McMillan, Anne McTaggart, Margaret Mitchell, Elaine Murray, Dennis Robertson, Alec Rowley, Mike Russell, Tavish Scott, Kevin Stewart, Jean Urquhart, Sandra White and John Wilson. Mr Alex Salmond, former First minister of Scotland, also expressed that he would be happy to meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the future while responding to David Lloyd Hudson and other colleagues on the question of the former First Minister’s inability to meet His Holiness in 2012.
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September 30, 2015
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Horoscopes for the Month of October, 2015 Sorces: Always Astrology ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Opportunities to get ahead are evident. Do not sign your life away. Your involvement with groups will raise your self esteem. You may be uncertain about some of your coworkers and your boss. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday. TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) Keep your thoughts to yourself for the time being. Your ability to help others will win you points. Don’t bother retaliating, just walk away. Be sure to cover all the necessary groundwork before signing binding contracts. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday. GEMINI (May 22-June 21) You won’t be able to keep a secret. You can discuss your intentions and ideas with your colleagues or friends this month. Don’t let others try to create unwarranted guilt if you can’t meet their demands. It’s time to reevaluate your motives. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.
LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Take time to talk things over. Travel for business or pleasure. Your lover may feel rejected. Keep your feelings to yourself if you want to avoid embarrassment. Your ideas will be well received. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday. SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Satisfy your passionate mood. Keep calm. Someone around you is bouncing off the walls. Get back to basics and reevaluate what is important in life. You just hate waste, and when someone else costs you dearly you see red. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) You don’t need to pay out in order to have fun. If boredom has set in, find new and unique directions that offer interesting friendships. Keep an open mind when listening to the opinions of others. This will be a good day for research and for sitting down with some good, informative reading material. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.
CANCER (June 22-July 22) You need to get down to basics with regard to yourself. You must take care not to over exert yourself if involved in sports. Be aware that a female you work with may be trying to hold you back. Don’t say things that could be damaging later on. Cut loose. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Don’t gossip. You may need a physical outlet that will help you relieve your tension. Your ability to come up with original ideas will bring recognition from superiors. Opportunities for love will develop while traveling or while attending religious functions. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.
LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Help others solve their dilemmas. You will have a blowup this month if your partner does things that you feel are not aboveboard. You won’t impress anyone by being overly generous. Responsibilities with respect to older relatives may be a burden. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Tuesday.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) Your ability to do detailed work will dazzle those who are less creative. Your compassion will be appreciated more than you can imagine. Romance appears. You may need a good friend to lean on.Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.
VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Avoid friends or acquaintances who drink too much. You may be frazzled this month. Compromise if you have to, to avoid verbal battles. Ask a close friend for advice. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Tuesday.
PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) You may have taken on a little too much, but you will enjoy every minute of it. Things will be emotional with your mate. Your mate will appreciate your honesty. Don’t overextend yourself in the process. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.
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H.H THE DALAI LAMA
“Tibetan civilization is ancient:” His Holiness
His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeting members of the Tibetan community on his arrival at the O2 Indigo in London, England on September 19, 2015. Photo/Ian Cumming By Yeshe Choesang: September 21, 2015
London, England — “According to archaeological findings, Tibetan civilization is ancient,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama said during a meeting with over 700 Tibetans from Britain and other countries of Northern Europe, on September 19. “We Tibetans have a special karmic connection to have been born as Tibetans under your leadership. We are united because of you. We are doing our best to contribute to the Tibetan struggle,” Tsering Passang, who read a report, outlined the funding and support that UK Tibetan community. The report said that there are more than 700 Tibetans in the UK today, and of those a third are less than 18 years old. “During this difficult period in our history I haven’t been able to do very much. But I’ve
done what I could and you’ve placed your trust in me,” His Holiness said in response to UK Tibetan community report, outlined numbers of issues, including support to education among Tibetans in terms of scholarships. “According to archaeological findings, Tibetan civilization is ancient. The Tibetan Emperor, Songtsen Gampo, took a Chinese wife and a Nepalese wife. Both of them brought statues of the Buddha to Tibet.” “In the 8th century, Trisong Deutsan, despite existing close relations with China, specifically turned to India as the source for bringing Buddhism to Tibet. He invited top Nalanda scholar Shantarakshita, a philosopher and logician to teach.” Shantarakshita encouraged the translation of Buddhist literature into Tibetan. He is said to have even begun to learn Tibetan himself.
Late Tibetan monk’s cousin testifies before US Rights Committee By Molly Lortie: September 21 , 2015
Dharamshala — Geshe Jamyang Nyima, cousin of late Tibetan political prisoner Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, testified before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on September17th. The Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission is a bipartisan caucus of the United States House of Representatives, aimed to promote, defend and advocate internationally recognized human rights norms. U.S. House Representative Jim McGovern delivered the opening remarks of the hearing, briefing the caucus of the history of Tenzin Delek’s incarceration and known illness. “Last April, I wrote to the U.S. State Department to encourage our government officials to prioritize Tenzin Delek’s release on medical parole, because he was reported to be suffering from serious health problems. In late June, the State Department assured me the message had been transmitted. But at the end of the day, China ignored my pleas and those of many others around the world. I want to emphasize again today that the Chinese authorities bear direct responsibility for Tenzin Delek’s unnecessary death.” In his testimony, Geshe Jamyang Nyima raised the questions of how and why Tenzin Delek Rinpoche died. A prominent Tibetan political prisoner and a highly respected spiritual figure, he died in prison under mysterious circumstances on July 12th. At the time of his death, Rinpoche was serving a life sentence under very harsh conditions for allegedly ‘causing explosions’ and ‘inciting separatism,’ charges which he never received a
fair trial or legal representation for, and that he steadfastly maintained his innocence against. “After Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s death, his family and community asked the prison authorities how and why he died. They asked the authorities for the body of Rinpoche in order to perform Buddhist final rites as per Tibetan tradition,” Geshe Jamyang Nyima stated in his testimony before the commission. “But the authorities withheld Rinpoche’s body for several days, and finally, secretly cremated it. When Tibetans in Lithang, Rinpoche’s hometown, organised a peaceful protest to demand Rinpoche’s body for final rites, the Chinese police fired at them,” he said. Two of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s relatives were detained and interrogated. Rinpoche’s sister, Dolkar Lhamo, and community leaders submitted a 5-Point Appeal to the Chinese prison authorities, urging Chinese authorities to release the body for final rites and ritual. However, authorities not only withheld the body, they also prohibited any kind of religious prayers or gatherings in the region of Lithang, Rinpoche’s hometown. Tibetans were banned from observing any prayers, or displaying his photographs, or lighting butter lamps, or any other religious rituals for several days. Geshe Nyima urged the US and Europe to speak out publicly for freedom and rights in Tibet under the repressive policies of the Chinese government. He particularly called on the US Congress to urge President Obama to raise the issue of Tibet during the President’s upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Geshe Nyima, cousin of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche with Matteo Mecacci, the President of the International Campaign for Tibet, Washington, D.C., USA, September 18. Photo: ICT
Samye Monastery was founded with separate departments for Vinaya, translation and so on.” “We need to keep up our efforts, especially monks and nuns. Just studying the ‘Great Stages of the Path’, (Lam Rim) is not enough,” he said, speaking on the Tibetan system of Buddhist education. “The ‘Clear Ornament for Realization’ says study the Three Jewels in terms of the Four Noble Truths and the Two Truths.” “We need to be proud of our traditions without being arrogant. The Chinese Communists have been killing and torturing Tibetans for years, but our spirit is still strong,” His Holiness added. “We’re tough. This can’t have been what they expected. We need to keep it up, particularly with regard to our standards of education.” Meeting with friends and supporters of Tibet, His Holiness began by voicing his concern for Tibet’s environment. He mentioned that because of the fragility of the environment at altitude any damage that takes place will take longer to recover than elsewhere. He mentioned the Chinese ecologist who asserted that the Tibetan Plateau is as important to the global climate as the North and South Poles. He called Tibet the Third Pole. His Holiness noted that an estimated 1 billion people across Asia depend on water from rivers that rise in Tibet. “Buddhism came to Tibet,” he said, “and transformed our culture into a culture of peace and non-violence. This is something truly worthwhile in the world today. China needs such a culture too.” “It is traditionally a Buddhist country and there are now said to be 400 million Chinese Buddhists, many of them interested in Tibetan Buddhism. Many of those I meet invite me to come to China.” His Holiness stated that Tibet is materially backward and in need of development. He cited the number of Tibetans who make their way to the West, some of them illegally. They seek material development, not spiritual growth. He pointed out that there can be mutual benefits from Tibet’s remaining with China. He acknowledged that there are young Tibetans and others who consider that they should be fighting for complete independence, and that is their right, but they also have to be realistic. “I’m happy to know that we have such longstanding friends here among you. Please help us preserve our values, our spirituality and our knowledge,” ,” His Holiness said, while remembering the historic close relations between the UK and Tibet. “They can be of immense help not only to us, but also to the people of China.”
September 30, 2015
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His Holiness speaks on ‘Growing Wisdom’ By Molly Lortie: September 18 , 2015
Cambridge – Groups of Tibetans, friends and British dignitaries gathered at Magdalene College on the morning of September 16th for the first of a two day conference graced by the Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, entitled, Growing Wisdom, Changing People. The conference, organized by the Inspire Dialogue Foundation, was hosted by Lord Rowan Williams. Barrister and former Attorney General, Baroness Scotland, as moderator of the first plenary session, introduced His Holiness as an embodiment of wisdom. She described herself as honored and humbled to be joining them and invited His Holiness to speak first. His Holiness greeted the conference, saying “time is always moving on and while we can’t change the past, the future is still in our hands. Meanwhile, circumstances change but our old ways of thinking remain the same. Many of the problems we face are of our own making. To solve them requires vision and a more holistic view. Therefore, I’ve come here to listen, to gather suggestions. My ears are open!” Discussions and panels on a variety of topics convened throughout the first day, including, global economy, ethnic and religious conflict, gender, and several other compelling topics. Panelists talked extensively about the environment and climate change. Lord Williams introduced the notion of security, suggesting that this is the underlying reason why we accumulate wealth. However, he added that our pursuit of growth could breach natural limits yielding a lack of security and defeating our
ability to manage the planet. His Holiness responded that the solution to this is education and increased awareness. He also reminded the gathering that too large a number of people in the world have little time or energy to entertain such awareness because they are preoccupied by where they will get their next meal. This illustrates the seriousness of the gap between rich and poor. Nevertheless, if members of the 21st century generation make the effort, with vision, now, by the end of the century the world may be a happier more peaceful place. The second day of the conference convened on the theme of ‘A Vision for Education.’ His Holiness began by describing the traditional model of education in Tibet has come down from ancient India, in which a teacher works with a few students. He painstakingly explains the text in hand. Students study and then exercise what they have learned with each other on the debate courtyard. Employing logic they bring doubt and skepticism to the conversation, which is helpful for sharpening the mind. His Holiness pointed out that where the church used to foster a sense of humane values, as its influence has waned, responsibility for this has not been taken up by schools and education institutions. It needs to be, which is why His Holiness has proposed the incorporation of secular ethics into modern education and has encouraged the creation of appropriate curricula to do so. The event concluded with a thanks from the organizers and a group photo. His Holiness today traveled to London to continue his UK trip.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the dialogue on ‘Growing Wisdom, Changing People’ at Magdalene College’s Cripps Court in Cambridge, UK on September 16, 2015. Photo/Ian Cumming
EU, US, others condemn human rights violations in China, Tibet By Yeshe Choesang: September 23, 2015
Geneva — During the 30th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, on 21 September 21, Luxembourg speaking on behalf of the EU and the United States, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in China, Tibet and Eastern Turkestan (Ch: Xinjiang). The criticisms came under Agenda Item 4 of the session titled ‘Human Rights Situation that requires the Council’s attention’.The EU Delegation Mr Jean Marc Hoscheit, condemned the human rights situation inside China including inside Tibet and Eastern Turkestan. It said, “In China, the recent mass arrest of human rights lawyers and human rights defenders has raised serious questions about its commitment to strengthening the rule of law.” “China should release all those detained for seeking to protect the rights of others and for exercising their freedom of expression and association, including Liu Xiaobo, Ilham Tohti, Gao Yu and Pu Zhiqiang,” it said. “China should also promote an enabling environment for civil society activity and take into account deep concerns about the draft law on foreign NGOs and the recently adopted national security law. Lastly, the EU urges China to address the root causes of unrest and foster dialogue with and between different ethnic groups, especially in Tibet and Xinjiang,” the EU delegation stated. The US Permanent Representative Mr Keith Harper delivered a statement which called upon the Council’s attention and commented “China has detained nearly 300 lawyers and activists since July; we call for the immediate release of 27 who are still in custody, as well as Ilham Tohti, Shokjang, Zhang Kai, Pu Zhiqiang, Gao Yu and Liu Xiaobo.” “Draft NGO and national security laws unreasonably constrict civil society. We urge China to cease undue restrictions on religion in Tibet and Xinjiang and stop church demolitions and cross removals in Zhejiang, which contravene international standards,” the US Representative said. Other countries, including Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, France, UK, France and Switzerland, have stood by the EU statement, expressing concern
over “human rights violations” in China, Tibet and Eastern Turkestan, especially the recent abductions and detentions of “human rights lawyers and activists.” Simultaneously, on behalf of the Society for Threatened People, NGO in Special Consultative Status, Mr Dawa Tsultrim from the Office of Tibet, Switzerland, delivered an oral statement during the 1st session under Agenda Item 4 and submitted a written statement. Germany raised concerns over about the human rights situation in China and urged China to reconsider the adoption of laws that would restrict freedom of expression. Mr. Frank Jarasch, Counsellor and Head of Political Affairs of Permanent Mission of Germany to the UN said, “Germany alliance itself with the statement made on behalf of the EU. Germany is worried about human rights situation in China and it has continued to deteriorate. “We urged the government to immediately release all detained human rights defenders. We remained particularly concerns about the situation of journalist Gao Yu, lawyer Pu Zhiqiang and Uyghur professor Ilham Tohti,” Mr Jarasch said. “We also urge the government to reconsider the draft law for foreign NGOs. This law in conjunction with the recent draft national security law and draft counterterrorism law, which potentially restricts independent civil society and freedom of expression,” he added. Switzerland expressed concerns about the human rights situation in China. “Switzerland remained concerned with the reactions of the Chinese authorities against more than 200 lawyers and their families in China. We call upon the Chinese authorities to guarantee their fundamental rights, includes the right of access to a lawyer,” said Ms Barbara Fontana. United Kingdom raised concerns over the human rights situation in China. “UK remains concern by restriction of freedom of expression in China. That incldudes recent detention of defense lawyers such as Wang Yu. We urge authorities to release all these individuals to hold their peaceful expression of views,” said Mr Ian Duddy. Belgium then raised concerns over human
rights violations in China. It called on “China to put an end to repressive measures against political opponents and activists.” Human Rights Watch said that the Council had demonstrated inefficiency in human rights protection all over the world. “China, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan also required further attention of the Council. “ International Federation for Human Rights Leagues called on all States to urge China to cease its targeting of human rights defenders and to immediately release those arbitrarily detained. “The Chinese government embarked on a sweeping and systematic effort to harass, detain, and silence human rights defenders and lawyers, their supporters and colleagues, and even their families,” Mr Nicolas Agostini said, adding: “The Council should speak out strongly against such blatant backpedalling on human rights by a Member State.” “We call on all States to use the platform of the Council to urge China to cease its targeting of human rights defenders; immediately release all those arbitrarily detained; respect and enable the exercise of the rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly; and provide for transparent investigations and adequate remedies for those affected,” Mr Agostini further added. In response, China said that “human rights issues should not be used for interference in other countries’ internal affairs.” China also refused accusations made during the session, including on China’s ethnic policy. The Human Rights Council said “speakers have raised allegations of human rights violations in countries and regions around the world and reiterated the Council’s responsibility to address all situations of concern” that require the Council’s attention. The delegations “voiced concerns over restrictions on freedom of expression in a number of countries, and condemned attacks against civilians in conflict situations,” the UNHRC said, adding they also “raised concerns relating to specific country situations.” The UN Rights Council also said that “Several speakers reiterated their concerns over the politicisation of this agenda item of the Council, and expressed support for a non-selective and dialoguebased approach instead.”
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Back Page Focus Volunteering at TPI: Interview with an Indian journalist His Holiness September 30, 2015
Staff writer Molly Lortie interviewing Reetika Subramanian during her time as a visiting journalist, on August 20, 2015. Photo: TPI/Dawa Phurbu By Molly Lortie: September 16, 2015 Reetika Subramanian worked as a visiting journalist from Mumbai at the Tibet Post International for one month. TPI conducted this exclusive interview with Reetika regarding her experiences as an Indian journalist at the Hindustan Times, her interest in Tibet, and her experience volunteering for the Tibet Post.
Please introduce yourself and tell us about your background. Ans: My name is Reetika and I have been associated with the media for a couple of years now. I have just completed my masters in media and cultural studies in Mumbai. Before that, I worked with two daily papers in Mumbai, one was the Hindustan Times where I worked on issues with different communities and cultures in terms of local governance and politics. And before that I worked with another newspaper called the Free Press Journal. Since completing my masters over the past year I’ve been associated with several projects, where I’ve been blogging and working with communities in Mumbai. Why did you want to become a journalist? Ans: It was not a choice, it was really my only option. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do. Because I’ve always loved writing, and I think it’s easier for me to express in words than actually speaking. To me journalism is really fascinating because A) you get to meet so many different people, B) you get to know their stories, and it’s kind of this outsider, insider perspective thing. So I was just fascinated and wanted to become a journalist. What sort of problems have you faced during your work? Ans: Of course. One of the central issues I’ve faced in journalism was being a woman, as in being a female journalist reporting in India becomes a problem, I wouldn’t say a huge problem but I’ve faced and had experiences that haven’t been very pleasant. Apart from that, I’d say the daily competition. I was working in daily news reporting which can get a little daunting because you’re only writing and the schedules are erratic etc. But I think the biggest challenges have been being a woman, and in addition to that most newspapers are owned by politicians or big corporations, so it becomes a little difficult to
locate yourself in the midst of their interests, so that sort of ethical dilemma is something I think every journalist faces. What are some of the most compelling issues you’ve had the opportunity to report about? Ans: I think the good part about journalism is that you get to be a part of so many stories and so many lives. In terms of compelling stories, I had the opportunity to write a lot, especially in Mumbai, about marginalized communities, like slum rehabilitation or about Muslim women in Mumbai who have been marginalized and writing about women’s rights. Not just that, but writing about communities. One of the most compelling experiences was reporting on a bomb blasts in Mumbai. As in it was something that went deep, not just being a journalist, but I had such a dilemma as looking at myself as an individual and a journalist, because I was going to ask families of victims who’ve died how they’re feeling or if they can tell me about their family members. And when I locate myself there as an individual, I just don’t want to talk to a journalist. But also I have to do my job. So it’s this balance between being a journalist and being an individual—a human being. But it was also an experience that makes you more objective, it’s an experience I found really interesting. Why were you drawn to Dharamshala to volunteer with the Tibet Post? What sparked your interest in the Tibet issue? Ans: I think my interest in the Tibet issue emerged maybe three or four years ago when I met many Tibetan refugees in Mumbai. Every winter, Tibetan refugees come to Mumbai to sell sweaters. As in it’s something which is a site you don’t usually see. They are all sitting on the streets and selling sweater and winter wear. And I was just fascinated by the entire idea of this community that comes here, it is such a seasonal occupation. So I had done a story on these refugees, I talked to many of the people over there. But Mumbai is not particularly politically founded space, unlike Delhi. Mumbai is more commercial. So it was interesting to meet SFT and Friends of Tibet, their chapters in Mumbai, and I did a little bit of reading up on the Tibetan issue and happened upon Tibet
Post, some of my friends had volunteered here, and I just thought it was the ideal space, as in I get to write about the issues and meet a lot of people here. What are the most compelling issues you’ve reported on while here with the Tibet Post? Ans: I think the most compelling or startling aspects is the issue of identity. It just boils down to that. When I was doing some interviews, it was interesting to know that you’re not a citizen this refugee status they’re living with didn’t used to bother me as much as it does now. When I started speaking to people, and I’m like okay, ya know it is a big issue, it’s an issue of identity, you don’t know where you belong. I was talking to a coworker the other day and he was saying how difficult it is to communicate with his own family. They’re all scattered and it’s just a fractured community, scattered globally. And even when I just go to these cafes and meet different people, like I was in Wangyal café the other day and met someone who told me he hasn’t been home in 14 years but he’s going to Lhasa in December. And he knows he’s never going to be able to come back. So these are stories which I just, everyone put in perspective. But of course there are other issues like political imprisonment and self immolations which I came to know and could only dig deeper into upon coming here. In your opinion why do you think the Tibet issue remains largely unreported about in mainstream media? Ans: It’s true, and when I came here it was one of the reasons I wanted to come, to do my little part in making sure this got into the mainstream media. I think one major reason is due to the nature of the politics, as in people don’t want to write about it because there’s no clarity in a way. There’s a huge giant on the one hand, China, people don’t want to write anything against this giant, because they feel threatened. Another issue is just because the community is so scattered. For example, if I’m to write about Tibetans in Mumbai, I can count on my fingers the number of refugees in Mumbai. So then, you’re not talking about a community at large. And unfortunately the mainstream media functions in terms of numbers and impacts, effects. So only if I pitch it as a huge story. For example there is this recent death of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, and there were protests in Mumbai, but it was 10 or maybe 12 people. But then I could pitch a story from here to one of the mainstream papers, because here there are so many people on the streets protesting about it. So then, they’re interested, they said oh there’s so many people, we can write something on Dharamshala protests. So you know it is unfortunately due to the fragmented nature of the community in addition to the politics, it’s not in the mainstream media. So what can be done about it. I think we just need to start writing about it. We really need to start and it’s such a good sign that so many of these organizations in Mcleod Ganj use social media so well. Even Students for a Free Tibet, every 2 hours I have a new update on my home page posting photos or an event, so even if it’s not in mainstream media at least it’s on social media. So I think that is drawing people’s attention in more ways than one.
Gandhi Peace Foundation expresses strong support for Tibet’s struggle By Yeshe Choesang: September 16, 2015
Dharamshala — A group of five A delegation from the Gandhi Peace Foundation (GPF) based in New Delhi, India visited Tibetan community based in Dharamshala, India to express their strong support for Tibet’s freedom struggle. The delegation attended a press conference hosted by the Tibetan Parliamentary in Exile at Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala, India, Friday, September 18. Mr Karma Yeshi, a member of the TPiE standing committee made a brief introduction of delegation led by Smt Radha Bhatt Chairperson of the Gandhi Peace Foundation. “Foundation has always stood for Tibet and will
continue to do so in the future as well,” Ms Bhatt said during the press conference in Dharamshala. “ It’s not only about being sad but we should do something for Tibet,” Ms Bhatt added, while expressing her strong concern over the waves of self-immolation in Tibet. “Thus we sent messages to different heads of nations, peace organizations in the world and have asked them to contact Chinese government and talk about it.” Ms Bhatt stressed, “because it is something, which is the cruelest thing happening in Tibet under the Chinese government.” ‘Jawaharlal Nehru and Jayaprakash Narayanthe ‘J factor’ has played an essential part in
Gandhi Peace Foundation delegation accompanied by Mr Karma Yeshi, member of Tibetan Parliament at the press conference in Dharamshala, India, on 18 September 2015. Photo: TPI/Choneyi Sangpo
the history of Tibet, GPF Secretary Mr Kumar Prashant said, adding It was the ‘J factor’ that initially built the ‘Indo-Tibet friendship’ that led to the exile of the Tibetans in India. Pt Jawaharlal Nehru whose moral and political support to Tibet, symbolised the support and solidarity from the Indian government whereas Mr Jayaprakash, represented the support from the Indian public and it was him who has organised the very first international conference on Tibet, Prashant further said. “Thus, the tri-link between the J factor and His Holiness the Dalai Lama has become important and precious for us,” he added. Quoting “Freedom is Priceless,” Mr Prashant said that nothing overrates one’s freedom and if Tibet struggle has to continue, sacrifices have to be made. He also stressed that since Tibet’s struggle is based on non-violence, it should continue its course and one is sure to succeed through non-violent approach. “Being a citizen of India, I urged the central government and the Indian Parliament to host a special session on Tibet addressed by Indian Prime Minister Mr Modi and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Calling His Holiness the “symbol of Tibet”, GPF Former Vice-Chancellor Mr Iyengar said that “each and every Tibetan must work harder and must represent him after such a political transition.” The delegation also visited the Tibetan Parliament to witness it’s ongoing session followed by discussions on Tibet related issues with the top leaders. They have also met representatives of various Tibetan NGOs and cultural institutions in Dharamshala.
The Tibet Post International
calls for more research into missing Lama By Yangchen Dolma: September 16, 2015
Dharamshala — The spiritual leader of Tibet His Holiness the Dalai Lama said on Monday more research was needed to settle the fate of the Panchen Lama, who was swept up by Chinese authorities and never seen from again. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was declared by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of 10th the Panchen Lama, the second most senior figure in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, at the age of six in 1995. On May 17, 1995, three days after he was anointed by the Dalai Lama, the boy was detained by Chinese authorities and promptly disappeared. Beijing subsequently named another child, Gyaincain Norbu, to the position. Nyima “is receiving education, living normally and growing healthily. He does not want to be disturbed by anyone”, the official Xinhua news agency earlier this month quoted Norbu Dondup, an official at Tibet’s United Front Work Department, as saying. The Chinese Communist Party appointed Gyaincain Norbu as its own 11th Panchen Lama, who is now a deputy to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a national debating chamber, but Beijing seeks to use Norbu as a political tool, a policy that is aimed at absolute authority in both political and spiritual matters. He has made numerous tightly scripted public appearances since he turned 18, and visited Hong Kong, his first trip outside the Chinese mainland, in 2012. The Chinese Communist Party has long maintained that Gendun Choekyi Nyima is not the real Panchen Lama, and in 1995, the government selected Gyaltsen Norbu as the 11th
Panchen Lama. The Chinese government also sees the appointment of the next Dalai Lama as key to consolidating state control over Tibet, where Tibetan movements have flared since the 1940s, and to undermining the present Dalai Lama’s influence. “I think the Chinese government is more concerned with the Dalai Lama institution than myself,” the Dalai Lama said on Monday at a news conference at Oxford University. The Dalai Lama acknowledged reports on Gendun Choekyi Nyima, but said evidence was needed to make them credible. “Some friends say that my Panchen Lama is still alive ... and he has also had the opportunity to make a family,” he said. But he added: “We need more research. Unless we do the research, it’s no use to make a comment like that.” “As long as people are not given free access to meet him, we will consider him as missing and held against his will,” Dicki Chhoyang, minister for information and international relations, told AFP. “He’s the youngest political prisoner in the world and we continue to see his forced absence as a symptom of Chinese repression.” The now 80-year-old Dalai Lama fled to India after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. Beijing calls him a “violent separatist,” however the Buddhist monk denies espousing violence and says he only wants “genuine autonomy” for Tibetan people. However. more fundamental questions remain unanswered and increasingly unasked. It seems if the Tibetans in Tibet really have such a new good story to tell, the Chinese government should let them freely tell it and allow world media and international fact-finding delegations in to see for themselves.