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Rights activist urges Germany to challenge China’s policies in Tibet Vol. 03, Issue 150, Print Issue 74, February 29, 2016 Tibetan man detained after solo protest in Karze County of Tibet
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I can never give up the cause of Tibet: His Holiness By Yeshe Choesang: February 23, 2016
Chinese authorities have detained Jamyang Dorjee after he carried out a solo protest in Karze county in protesting against the repressive Chinese occupation of Tibet. Photo: TPI By Yeshe Choesang: February 25, 2016
Dharamshala — Reports coming out of Tibet say Chinese authorities in Karze County of eastern Tibet have detained a Tibetan man after he launched a solo protest in Karze county in protesting against the repressive Chinese occupation of Tibet. Jamyang Dorjee, 41, was taken into custody shortly after 11:00 a.m. on February 14, on a road leading to Karze County, Kham Province of eastern Tibet (Ch: Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan province), a Tibetan living in India told TPI, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Dorjee shouted slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom for Tibet. Chinese police immediately arrested him at the spot,” the source said, citing local sources. “Weeks have now passed since he was detained, but no word has been received concerning his arrest,” the TPI sources said, adding “his whereabouts and condition continue to remain unknown to his family and friends.” “Dorjee is a resident of Sershul village, near Karze township,” the source said, adding “both of his parents are deceased.” After his arrest, Chinese authorities immediately recorded the phone numbers of his in-laws and authorities imposed restrictions on his friends and family to prevent spreading the news of his arrest, the sources added. Most parts of Tibet have suffered severe crackdowns and been under heightened restrictions and controls in the past six decades, that China calls it a “peaceful liberation”. But Tibetans describe a systematic repression, excluded from positions of power and imprisoned. China’s invasion of Tibet and its continuous implementation of harsh policies to crackdown the freedom of Tibetans living inside Tibet have triggered Tibetans to resort to more extreme forms of resistance.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA — Addressing the 3000-strong crowd, mostly Tibetans, the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama says that he “can never give up the cause of Tibet.” Arriving at the Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA on February 21, 2016, he was welcomed by hundreds of Tibetans and well-wishers, including representatives of the Tibetan community. Mayor of Minneapolis, Betsy Hodges and State Representative Carolyn Laine also welcomed him to their city. “I’m also a Tibetan,” he said, “and since I’ve been nurtured by Tibetans since I was small, I can never give up the cause of Tibet,” His Holiness said. “In 2001 I semi-retired from political responsibility and in 2011 completely retired. I did this to promote democracy,” the Nobel peace prize laureate said. “Still, Tibetans both within Tibet and outside have placed their hopes in me, but now my responsibility is to work to protect Tibet’s natural environment,” he added, saying that, “which is fragile and delicate because of the altitude and dry climate.” “Because they see it as important to global climate change as the North and South Poles, some environmentalists have referred to the Tibetan Plateau as the Third Pole,” Tibetan spiritual leader said, adding that “Special care needs to be taken of it.” Describing Tibetan culture as a culture of peace and non-violence, His Holiness suggested “it can contribute to making the world a more peaceful, compassionate place.” As for Tibet’s Buddhist traditions, he said it seems to be the most complete transmission of the traditions of India’s
His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeting the audience as he arrives on stage at the Convention Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA on February 21, 2016. Photo/Tenzin Phuntsok
Nalanda University, including logic, psychology and a range of philosophical views. The Tibetan Buddhist leader said that “these traditions are
Tibetan monk jailed for sharing photos of His Holiness Dalai Lama online
contained in the more than 300 volumes of Buddhist literature translated, mostly from Sanskrit, into Tibetan.” “Many Tibetans came here as refugees, although many of them have passed on. Now there is a new generation who were born and brought up here. I’ve met you now and then over the last ten years that I’ve been receiving care at the Mayo Clinic,” His Holiness said, adding: “Two years ago we celebrated Losar together and I’m happy to see you all again.”
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Chinese police arrest a young writer in Tibet for unknown reason
Chinese celebrities warned not to mix with exile Tibetans
Tibetan writer Sonam Tsephel. Photo: TPI By Yangchen Dolma: February 29, 2016 In April 26, 2012, Chinese pop singer Faye Wong, performs during the opening ceremony of the third World Buddhist Forum in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File) By Yeshe Choesang, February 27, 2016
Dharamshala — China’s state media have criticized celebrities for attending an event in northeastern India with members of the Tibetan government-in-exile, adding to Chinese authorities’ warnings that actors and singers must “serve the people and socialism.” An article on China Tibet Online this week that was widely carried by other state media said there was nothing wrong with Beijing singer and actress Faye Wong, Hong Kong actor Tony Leung and Beijing actor Hu Jun worshipping Buddhism and attending religious activities. But it said that “meddling with the ‘Tibetan-independence’ clique leaders has gone far beyond the realm of ‘freedom of religious belief.’” An AP report said that the phrase is a reference to the government-in-exile and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Buddhists’ spiritual leader whom Beijing accuses of campaigning to split Tibet from the rest of China. The celebrities were attending an event on Feb. 14 commemorating the 92nd anniversary of the birth of the late predecessor of the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Tibetan Buddhism’s third-highest spiritual leader, said the Karmapa’s office. Karma Namgyal, secretary of the Karmapa’s office, said the presence of the three along with one of the Tibetan officials was “coincidental.” He said the celebrities were in Bodh Gaya, a temple-dotted town where tradition has it that the Buddha reached enlightenment, to attend an annual weeklong prayer festival for world peace. They arrived a few days early, so attended the commemoration event as well, sitting on the side with all the laypeople, said Karma Namgyal. Jamphel Shonu, a press officer for the self-claimed government-in-exile in Dharamsala, India, said the event was “purely religious” and had “nothing to do with politics or the Central Tibetan Administration.” The state media commentary Wednesday said it would be “a pity if they lose their good reputations earned by hard work over so many years” by getting acquainted with people “on the wrong side of the state’s major principle of right and wrong.”
Gomar Choephel, 47-year-old Tibetan monk from Rongwo monastery in Rebgong County, Amdo, Tibet. Photo: TPI By Steve Shaw: February 22, 2016
Dharamshala — Stepping up its severely crackdown against Tibetans in Tibet, a senior Tibetan monk has been given a two year sentence for inciting “separatism” after Chinese police found banned photos of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his mobile phone, during a raid. Gomar Choephel, 47-year-old Tibetan monk from Rongwo monastery in Rebgong County was sentenced by a Chinese Intermediate People’s Court in in Malho, Amdo, north-eastern Tibet, for ‘activities intended to split the motherland, on February 17,” Tenzin, a Tibetan living in Europe told TPI. “Ven Choephel has been sentenced to two years in prison for allegedly keeping images of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his mobile phone, and sharing them to his friends,” Tibetan with close contacts in the area told TPI. Ven Choephel, as he is known because of his native village Gomar and a monk of Rongwo monastery in Rebgong County in Malho, Amdo, north-eastern Tibet (Ch: Tongren County in Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province) was detained on July 10, 2015. After his arrest, his family and relatives had expressed concern about his whereabouts and safety as there was no
information available about him. “The Chinese authorities had not given any reason for his arrest,” the Tibetan said, speaking on condition of anonymity. However details of the trial are not known, including the precise charges and whether or not due legal process was carried out. Choephel was born in Gomar Village in Nyenthog Township in Rebgong County in Eastern Tibet. He joined the Thoesam Norling College at Rongwo Monastery at a young age. Tibetans are forced to denounce their beloved spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and his photographs are banned. Arbitrary arrest, imprisonment and torture are common occurrences daily in almost all parts of Tibet for maintaining loyalty with their religion and culture identity. Two senior monks have been arbitrarily arrested for holding a prayer ceremony for His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the Karze County, Kham Province of Tibet (Ch: Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan). The arrests come amid Chinese authorities’ efforts to suppress the prayer gathering in the region. Chinese authorities announced on January 31 that all Dalai Lama photos were “illegal publications” and ordered them to be handed over before February 2.
Dharamshala — Reports coming out of Tibet say Chinese authorities have arrested a Tibetan writer from Pasho County, Chamdo region of eastern Tibet for unknown reason. His whereabouts and condition remain unknown. Sonam Tsephel, who writes under the pen name “Gangchenpa Gudak”, was arrested on February 19, 2016. Jigme Ngwang, a Tibetan living in exile told TPI that “his location and the reason for his arrest are not currently known.” Tsephel is originally from Pasho County, Chamdo region of Kham Province in eastenr Tibet. He was first arrested in 2009 and served a sentence of two years in prison for “instigating separatist activities” after spending 9 months in detention before trial. According to sources, while the exact reason for his arrest is currently unknown, they suspect that Tsephel’s writings and keeping speeches by His Holiness the Dalai Lama along with distributing his photos. In 2015, he served 20 days in prison, accused of writing articles against China and keeping speeches by His Holiness the Dalai Lama along with distributing his photos. He was later fined 1500 yuan (approximately US$200) and released. However, he was kept under surveillance and restrictions from the Chinese authorities. According to various sources, all communications, include Internet lines in the region and surrounding areas severely restricted and oftenly blocked, except for Chinese government offices and institutions. Most parts of Tibet have suffered severe crackdowns and been under heightened restrictions and controls in the past six decades, that China calls it a “peaceful liberation”. But Tibetans describe a systematic repression, excluded from positions of power and imprisoned. China’s invasion of Tibet and its continuous implementation of harsh policies to crackdown the freedom of Tibetans living inside Tibet have triggered Tibetans to resort to more extreme forms of resistance.