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President Obama meets with His Holiness The Dalai Lama

By Yeshe Choesang: June 16, 2016

Tsering Dolma, a mother of two has been released on June 18, after 10-day in detention, in Serta County, eastern Tibet. Photo: TPI

By Yangchen Dolma: June 24, 2016

Dharamshala — Chinese police in Serta County of eastern Tibet have detained a Tibetan mother of two on unknown charges, taking her into custody this month for the 3rd time. She was later released from custody after a 10-day detention period.

“Tsering Dolma, a Tibetan mother from Kangtsa village (Ch: Gang Zha Cun, Serta County, in east of Sichuan Province) in eastern Tibet, has been released on June 18, after a 10-day detention period following her arrest by Chinese police in Serta County, on June 8,” Ven Golok Jigme, a former Tibetan prisoner living in exile told the TPI. “Dolma was detained after she allegedly took part in a protest against Chinese government rule in Tibet, in 2008 and 2012,” he said.

“A large number of Chinese police with 13 vehicles arrived in Kangtsa village on June 1, 2008, at around 6pm and detained Dolma and her father without giving clear reason,” he said.

“They were severely beaten and tortured by Chinese police while in detention,” the source said, adding that Dolma has two sons, at the time respectively one- and four-years-old.”

Dolma fled to the remote mountains to hide in the days after staging a peaceful protest in Seta County against Chinese policies in Tibet, on October 11, 2012. Chinese police detained her again and released her after she had spent months behind bars.

Washington, DC – US President Barack Obama met with the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama Wednesday morning (June 15, 2016), at the White House, marking the fourth time since Obama took office.

President Obama expressed his government’s support for the “Middle Way Approach”, which seeks “a Genuine Autonomy” for all three traditional provinces of Tibet and encouraged “direct dialogue” between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his representatives and Chinese authorities, despite a strong warning by China that it would “damage diplomatic relations.”

“President Obama expressed support for the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach during their discussion, and encouraged direct dialogue between the Dalai Lama and his representatives and Chinese authorities,” the White House said in an official statement issued after the two Nobel Peace Prize Laureates’ meeting, on June 15.

“The President accepted the Dalai Lama’s condolences for the shooting in Orlando, Florida on June 12 and commended the Dalai Lama for his efforts to promote compassion, empathy, and respect for others,” the statement said.

“The President and the Dalai Lama discussed the situation for Tibetans in the People’s Republic of China, and the President emphasized his strong support for the preservation of Tibet’s unique religious, cultural, and linguistic traditions and the equal protection of human

President Barack Obama greets His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the entrance of the Map Room of the White House, June 15, 2016. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

rights of Tibetans in China,” said the statement.

The White House said that “The President lauded the Dalai Lama’s

Five detained, many severely beaten in sacred lake protest of Tibet

VTA members arrested in Beijing for distributing leaflets

(1) Undated photo of Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh and (2) the administrative penalty issued by the Beijing Police station in Tienanmen Square area, Beijing, China, June 25, 2016. Photo: TPI

By Yeshe Choesang: June 29, 2016

Dharamshala — Chinese authorities in Beijing have reportedly arrested seven members of the Vietnam - Tibet Alliance (VTA) after distributing thousands of leaflets in Tienanmen Square, condemning Chinese policy on Tibet and Vietnam.

The group said that they performed a campaign to distribute thousands of leaflets in Tienanmen Square - Beijing, on June 24, 2016. The current condition and whereabouts of four Tibetans involved in the protest remains unknown.

“The leaflets provided information condemning the Communist Party of China for its assimilation policies in Tibet and its plan of domination of Vietnam,” they said in a statement.

The seven members, four men and three women; ‘Mrs Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hanh, 60, a Founder and Leader of the Vietnam - Tibet Alliance, Mr Tran Ngoc Phuong, 72, from Vietnam, Mr Doan Viet Khanh, a Vietnamese origin who carries Laos nationality. The four Tibetan members are Mr Phuntsok, 34, Mr Tsering, 24, Ms Singay Choedon, 26, and Mrs Dawa Dhondup, 43,’ Mrs Ngoc Hanh added, but it is still unclear.

Beijing police have detained them after they distributed thousands of leaflets in Tienanmen Square, criticizing the repressive policies of the Chinese government toward Tibet and Vietnam.

“The police want to link this demonstration with the plot of a bomb attack on June 12 at Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport. But all the accusations had no grounds as the Vietnam - Tibet Alliance had nothing to do with any such attacks,” Mrs Ngoc Hanh told the TPI. “On June 26, 2016, Beijing police decided to deport the following persons to their country of residence,” the statement said, claiming that “Mrs Ngoc Hanh to France, Mr Phuong to Vietnam and Mr Khanh to Laos respectively, as they are citizens of foreign countries.”

“There is no information on the situation of the four detained Tibetans right now,” Mrs Hanh further added, saying, “Mr Phuong might have been arrested by Vietnamese police, but there has been no information after 48 hours of the deportation.”

Speaking to the TPI, Dharamshala VTA President Thupten Tenzin has praised the courage of those who had engaged in the peaceful protest in the Chinese capital. “We should also take small steps like this, to continue the struggle for Tibetan freedom.”

In the footage, a man who appears to have suffered an injury to his face and head is visible, as a Tibetan woman shouts “Look at what the county Communist Party leader has done to us.” Photo: TPI

By Yangchen Dolma: June 24, 2016

Dharamshala — Chinese police have detained five Tibetans, beaten several others severely, protesting over the threatened demolition of their homes, shops and guesthouses at the Tso-gnon Lake, in Amdo region of north-eastern Tibet. The assault followed similar crackdowns carried-out by Chinese authorities in the County.

“As many as eight people have been severely injured, to their heads and legs following a string of beatings in Gungho County,” Lungtok Gedun, a monk from South India told the TPI, adding: “A large numbers of police force led by Dukjam the head of the local Chinese government arrived in two Tibetan villages of the rural County.”

The monk said that “on June 23, local Tibetans protesting the forced closure of their small businesses were severely beaten by police near Lake Tsongon in the Chabcha region of Tibet” (Ch: Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai province, China.)

Latest photographs and video clips of the events also show hundreds of protestors-carried large white banners with slogans written in Chinese, saying, “we need to survive, we need to eat”. In the footage, a man who appears to have suffered an injury to his face and head is visible, as a Tibetan woman shouts: “Look at what the county Communist Party leader has done to us.”

Local Tibetans have thrived for centuries near the Blue Lake, known as Kokonor Lake or “Tso Ngon Po.” The total demolition of Tibetan homes, shops and guesthouses has not only excluded the commercial participation by local Tibetans but has also driven their families from their holy place.

Those detained in Chabcha were identified as Lhachen Kyab, Jigjey Delek Gyatso, Rinchen Bum, and a woman named Tashi Dolma and all five were residents of Trelnak township’s Karla and Dhose villages in Chabcha. However, one detainee’s name and other details, including their health conditon are not available immediately.

Although the number of protesters have increased somewhat since the crackdown of 2015, the tension further increased, as a result of massive demolitions of local Tibetan sources of income.

In October last year, Chinese authorities, equipped with bulldozers

demolished more than 240 Tibetan homes and shops, which have left over 960 Tibetans homeless in Kala village in Serchen county, Amdo Tsolho, north-eastern Tibet.

Last year’s destruction in Kala village followed by just few days, a similar operation in Trelnak, in which “Chinese officials and police arrived and tore down 30 structures built by the Tibetan nomads as dwellings and place of business around the holy Kokonor Lake (Tib: Tso Ngon Po).

“The lakeside shops had been financed by personal loans. They were built with iron sheets and were designed to cater to visiting tourists and pilgrims,” the source said.

The TPI previously reported that “Several Tibetan nomads were detained and severely beaten before being released. Some of them were, reportedly threatened at gunpoint by Chinese police before they were taken into custody.”

Following the destruction of their homes in last year, Tibetans returned to their area to attempt to collect their belongings. But Chinese authorities refused them access, beat them severely and held them in custody for hours without charge.

Thousands of Tibetan nomads have been forcibly housed into concrete ghettoes under a controversial resettlement scheme enacted by the Chinese government in recent years and as a result many say their customs, social institutions, beliefs and spiritual traditions, farming systems, livelihoods: in fact, their entire cycle of culture is now under serious threat.

On the other hand, most Tibetan nomads, lacking the technical skills and no formal education, which makes it almost impossible for them to compete with highly- skilled, Chinese immigrants.

Instead of addressing the failure, the Chinese government continued its policies of political repression, cultural assimilation, social discrimination, economic marginalization and environmental destruction in Tibet.

Chinese government’s colonial and hard-line policies in Tibet, is moving blindly from failure to failure, coupled with a lack of a holistic view, which led to the Tibetans’ mistrust of the regime— frequently complain of political, economic, and religious discrimination.

commitment to peace and nonviolence and expressed support for the Dalai Lama’s ‘Middle Way’ approach.”

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Int’l Torture Day: Remembering Tibetan Heroes

By Chakshu Sharma: June 28, 2016

Dharamshala — June 26 is the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. Tibetans in exile including former Tibetan political prisoners gathered in the Himalayan town of McLeod Ganj to mark the event. They condemned the Chinese government for its practice of torture and ill-treatment in Tibet.

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and former political prisoners’ movement Gu-Chu-Sum organized a string of events to memorialise the UN International Day in Support of Victims of Torture on June 26, 2016.

A photo exhibition showing torture in Tibet was also held in the town, which included physical evidence of torture equipment smuggled out of prison as well as blood stained clothes of Tibetan prisoners.

The United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture – 26 June is held annually on 26 June to speak out against the crime of torture and to honor and support victims and survivors throughout the world. The day was chosen by the United Nations GeneralAssembly for two reasons.

First, on 26 June 1945, the United Nations Charter was signed during the midst of World War II – the first international instrument obliging UN members to respect and promote human rights. Second, 26 June 1987 was when the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment came into effect.

The Department of Health (DoH), CTA commemorated the day with a play titled ‘History Written in Blood’ at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts on Sunday, 26 June.

The play, enacted by Tibet theater, a Tibetan dramatics association and organised by the torture and substance abuse section of the Health Department, was based on a true-story of a Tibetan, who had suffered torture inflicted upon them by the Chinese authorities. The play aimed to shed light on the tortures perpetrated by Chinese.

Mr Tsewang Ngodup, Additional Secretary at the Department of Health and Mr Dawa Rinchen, Tibetan settlement officer, Dharamshala were the two honoured guests at the play.

Sonam Dolma, in-charge of Torture Survivors Program under DoH, said, “The main aim of organizing the theater is to primarily to get our message through to the youth since they are the future of our nation. Moreover, we hope that through theater we can help the youth understand the reality inside Tibet.”

She further added that the support shown was not just for ex-political prisoners in exile but also for Tibetans presently suffering at the hands of the oppressive Chinese government.

The organization of former political prisoners co-ordinated a series of event titled ‘Remembering Tibetan Heroes’at the Club House in McLeod Ganj where Geshe Monlam Tharchin, Member of Tibetan Parliament in Exile, attended as the chief guest. He officially launched the organization’s website and the organization’s Annual Human Rights report as well.

Gu-Chu-Sum held a photo exhibition heralding various protest stories of Tibetans against the Chinese. Also on display were torture equipment smuggled out of prison and blood stained clothes of prisoners. Gu-ChuSum simulataneously launched an online photo campaign to mark the day and show support. This campaign was supported by a number of groups such as Students for a Free Tibet and shared heavily online.

Supporters later joined a candlelight vigil followed by a poetry recital in the evening.

United Nations Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-moon has expressed support for and solidarity with the victims of torture and their families throughout the world, and underscored that torture must never be used under any circumstances, including during conflict or when national security is under threat.

“Despite its absolute prohibition under international law, this dehumanizing practice remains pervasive and, most disturbingly, is even gaining acceptance,” Mr Ban Ki-moon said in his message on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

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TPI NEWS

UK Govt. commission: A Dark Moment in China, Tibet, and East Turkistan

By Tenzin Yeshe: June 29, 2016

The Crackdown on Human Rights in China, 2013-16.

Photo: CPHRC

Dharamshala — The human rights situation in Tibet, Eastern Turkistan, Hong Kong and China is at present the “worst for many years”; the British government ‘Conservative Party Human Rights Commission’ (CPHRC) says they are “deeply concerned” about an uncritical friendship with China.

On Tuesday, the CPHRC launched a report entitled The Darkest Moment: The Crackdown on Human Rights in China 2013-2016. The report documents a “severe deterioration” of China’s human rights record since President Xi Jinping assumed power in 2013 and calls for the UK Government to reconsider its own China policy in light of its current findings.

Fiona Bruce MP, Chair of the Commission, calls for the UK government to speak out publicly and consistently on human rights, and to consider the ways it can more effectively promote and protect these rights.

“We recognise that the relationship with China is of significant importance on many levels, economic and strategic, and that trading with China, as well as working with China to address many global challenges including climate change and security, is vital. But we believe, particularly at a time when there have been allegations of such a severe deterioration in the human rights situation, these concerns must also be at the forefront of that relationship and should not be sidelined.”

“It cannot be in Britain’s interests, or that of the wider world, to witness a lack of respect for human rights or the rule of law by any country with whom we seek to have a meaningful relationship, without challenging this when we become aware of it,” Bruce noted in his forward to the 68-page report.

Based on submissions by more than 30 organisations, including India based Tibetan news agency, Tibet Post International (TPI), as well as Tibet Society and Free Tibet (both based in UK), the report is particularly significant because the CPHRC is tasked by the British Conservative Party. This is because - as the governing party of the current UK government – their mandate carries some weight in attempting to address serious human rights problems. It operates independently of the government, however, and its choice to examine China and its criticisms of UK policy, including its reluctance to speak out publicly on human rights issues, has not been welcomed by some in government.

The CPHRC report devotes a section to Tibet, using the evidence TPI submitted, including several issues such as the denial of press of freedom, torture, suppression of Tibetan language and culture, selfimmolation protests and surveillance. The section concludes by referring to TPI submission: “Every aspect of Tibetan life is under siege and Tibetans have even fewer civil and political rights than Chinese people also ruled by the Communist Party,” says Yeshe Choesang of Tibet Post International in his submission to us. He elaborated on many of these issues at length: “The regime enforces its control over every aspect through the threat and use of arbitrary punishments, at times including severe violence....Since the Chinese invasion in 1949, an estimated 1.2 million Tibetans have been raped, tortured and murdered, thousands imprisoned and over 6,000 Tibetan Buddhist monasteries destroyed, according to Yeshe Choesang...Illustrative of the sheer desperation felt by many Tibetans, recent years have seen a significant number of monks self-immolating. On 29 February 2016 Kalsang Wangdu, an 18 year-old monk, self-immolated, bringing the total verified number of self-immolations in Tibet to 143 since February 2009. Of these, 123 died while the others were either critically injured or their whereabouts and status are unknown”.

Referring to the TPI submission, the CPHRC explained that “the main causes of the Tibetan people’s grievances are China’s policies of political repression, cultural assimilation, economic marginalisation, social discrimination and environmental destruction in Tibet”.

The US Congressional Executive Committee on China records 646 political prisoners in Tibet, although the Tibetan Human Rights Group, as cited by Yeshe Choesang, claims that there are a total of 2081

Tibetan political prisoners, including 967 monks.

Of these, 68 were detained in 2015, according to Yeshe Choesang’s submission. They are frequently subjected to extreme forms of torture and denial of medical care. In 2014, an increasing number of Tibetans died in detention as a result of their treatment.

Tenzin Choedak had all the bones in his feet broken as well as his jaw dislocated before he was returned to his family on ‘medical parole’. He died two days later, on the 5th of December 2014. On 12th of July 2015, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche - a highly respected Tibetan Buddhist leader - died in prison. On July 13th of the same year, Chinese police fired upon Tibetans protesting his death.

The evidence submitted by Free Tibet, also describing issues of Tibet such as the denial of religious freedom, torture, suppression of Tibetan language and culture, self-immolation protests and surveillance: “It is important to note Free Tibet’s observation that the reduction in the number of the most egregious abuses in Tibet over the past three years, such as the comparatively less frequent instances of lethal force being employed to control protests, should not be regarded as any sign of improvement. ‘This does not indicate a softening of China’s approach in Tibet, or greater acceptance of Chinese rule by Tibetans.

Instead, it reflects China’s current effectiveness in implementing policies that have so restricted Tibetans’ ability to express opposition to its rule in both private and public spheres that the need to systematically employ violence arises more rarely.”

According to the Tibet Society, “Tibetans charged with political crimes are often tried in secret, not allowed independent legal representation and evidence against them is extracted by torture”.

The Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choeki Nyima, remains missing following his abduction in 1995 when he was just six years old. China at present continues to refuse to provide any evidence of his whereabouts or well-being.

On the 10th of April 2013, eight Tibetan students were jailed for their involvement in mass protests against education policies which included the restriction of the use of the Tibetan language. On 27 January 2016, Tashi Wangchuk, an advocate of Tibetan language education, was detained and charged with “inciting separatism”.

The possession and display of the Tibetan national flag and images of the Dalai Lama are banned. On 7 November 2014, two young monks were jailed after peaceful protests earlier in the year, which had involved waving hand-drawn versions of the Tibetan flag.

The Commission calls on the UK government to place human rights at the centre of the UK’s relationship with China, and puts forward 22 specific recommendations. These include calling for the UK government to urge China to invite the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief to be permitted unrestricted access to Tibet and engage on dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It also recommends that the UK government should meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama, something it has strenuously avoided doing for many years.

While fewer sources and less coverage of Xinjang province have been available, given the tighter Chinese governmental control measures have been enforced in recent times, a particularly prominent point of concern in the CPHRC report was that of imprisoned Uyghur intellectual, Ilham Tohti. He has been considered to be an icon of Uygur resistance to what is increasingly perceived to be escalating repressive tactics on the part of Xinjiang government officials, since his initial arrest in 2009 as a moderate Uyghur intellectual teaching at Beijing’s prestigious Minzu university.

Elaborating on his wider political significance, Eliot Sperling (Professor of Central Eurasian Studies at Indiana University) and Yaxue Cao (Editor of ChinaChange.org) contributed a supplement to the CPHRC report. In it they provide important context for his arrests and their subsequent aftermath: “In 2009, in the face of massive Chinese repression in Xinjiang, Ilham Tohti posted information on Uyghurs who had been arrested, killed and “disappeared” during and after the protests. As a result Ilham was taken into custody for weeks. In subsequent years he was subjected to periodic house arrests. En route to the US to be a visiting scholar in the Department of Central Eurasian Studies at Indiana University in early 2013, he was detained at the airport and prevented from leaving China. Ilham Tohti’s final arrest came on January 15, 2014. He was afterwards charged with separatism and sentenced to life imprisonment.”

This earned the author a wave of support and ignited protest against his treatment. “, as Sperling and Cao note: “Numerous statements condemning his trial and sentence were made by Western governments and the European Union”.

It is in this way that both Ilham Tohti’s and the Tibetan case intersect with crucial international issues and human rights concerns in the context of China.

The Tibet Post International TIBET NEWS US leaders raise Tibet issue, meet with His Holiness

By Chakshu Sharma, June 24, 2016

Washington, DC — In tow of His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet’s 19 day tour of the US, Democrat representative from the state of Massachusettes, Jim McGovern led a Special Order on the Tibet issue in the US House of Representatives on June 13, 2016.

A Special Order is a procedure that enables a Member of the House of Representatives to speak on any topic they wish, for a specified period of time, after all legislative business is concluded for the day.

This special order was raised fallowing a November 2015 trip taken by Jim McGovern, Nancy Pelosi, and other lawmakers and leaders to Tibet and China to keep a spotlight on human rights issues in Tibet.

“Everywhere we went, in every meeting we had, we talked about Tibet. We talked about the Dalai Lama and his strong bipartisan support in Congress. We talked about the importance of respect for people’s cultures and religions, and we talked about the need to strengthen and protect all of the human rights of the Tibetan people.”

Rep McGovern opened his speech by welcoming His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Washington, D.C. and then went on to deliver a thorough speech about the Tibet issue and the need for the international community to act now.

In praise of His Holiness he said, “He is a warm, generous, compassionate man with a great sense of humor. He is also a man of peace. He has consistently advocated policies of non-violence, even in the face of extreme aggression. In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his non-violent struggle for the liberation of Tibet. He has received over 150 awards, honorary doctorates, and prizes, in recognition of his messages of peace, non-violence, inter-religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion. His is a voice for tolerance.”

He lauded the democratic spirit of the Tibetan community by saying, “The Tibetan people are setting a democratic example for the world.”

“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Dr Lobsang Sangay on his reelection as Sikyong, as well as the 45 newly elected members of the Tibetan parliament.

This election, conducted all around the world, reflects Tibetans’ strong commitment to democracy, and sets an example for China.”

On the issue of overwhelming inaction in regards to Tibet by the international community he stated, “But

His Holiness the Dalai Lama meeting with the US Congressional Leadership during his visit to Capitol Hill in Washington DC, USA on June 14, 2016. Photo/Sonam Zoksang

that struggle (struggle for an Autonomous Tibet) is not going very well today. And part of the reason it’s not going well is that the international community today is more interested in not offending China than in vigorously supporting the human rights of the Tibetan people. It seems to me that my own government has fallen into this trap.”

On the need to urgently empathise and be concerned by the Tibetan population he brought up the issue of self-immolation, “Tibetans themselves have tried to shock our conscience. Since 2009, 143 Tibetans inside China have self-immolated: 143 people have taken the unimaginable step of setting themselves on fire, some to protest Chinese government policies, others to call for the return of the Dalai Lama. Most of them are believed to have died as a result. What a terrible thing to have to do to try to get the world’s attention.”

Highlighting the blatant abuse of Tibetan Human Rights at the hands of the Chinese he quoted the U.S. State Department’s most recent human rights report and also a Human Rights Watch report titled “Relentless” which was published a little over a month ago.

“Here’s what a Tibetan living in Lhasa wrote about the conditions in late October and early November: “Lhasa was placed under extreme repression and the people were being constantly indoctrinated in

Obama meets with His Holiness ...

“The President encouraged meaningful and direct dialogue between the Dalai Lama and his representatives with Chinese authorities to lower tensions and resolve differences. In this context, the President reiterated the longstanding U.S. position that Tibet [Tibet Autonomous Region] is a part of the People’s Republic of China, and the United States does not support Tibetan independence.

The statement reads, “The Dalai Lama stated that he is not seeking independence for Tibet and hopes that dialogue between his representatives and the Chinese government will resume. The President and the Dalai Lama agreed on the importance of a constructive and productive relationship between the United States and China.”

“The President welcomed the Dalai Lama’s leadership on climate change issues, and expressed support for the Dalai Lama’s efforts to raise awareness of the importance of limiting global warming, including to protect the Himalayan glaciers and the environment on the Tibetan plateau,” the statement includes.

This was President Obama’s fourth official meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the White House in the last 8 years.

In an interview with Fox News on June 14, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said he and Obama talked about the current situation in Tibet.

The Nobel Peace Prize Laureate denied he was seeking independence for Tibet and that it was in Tibet’s interests to remain part of China, “provided we should have full right for preservation of our own culture, or rich Buddhist knowledge, knowledge of Buddhist philosophy, these things.”

Tibetan spiritual leader also noted in the interview that Chinese President Xi Jinping had said Buddhism was an important part of Chinese culture. “So this is something new, for a leader of a Communist party, you see, mentioning some positive things about leader of Buddhism, wonderful.”

But the regime in Beijing considers the Tibetan leader a “separatist”, seeking Tibet’s independence, without usually providing a clear and reasonable explanation to the international community for how he seeks Tibet’s separation from China.

A day before the two leaders’ meeting, Chinese ministry spokesman Lu Kang said the meeting would encourage “separatist forces.” He urged Washington to abide by its promises to recognize that Tibet is part of China and cease any support for

(continued from front page)

Tibet independence.

China’s Foreign Ministry said earlier it had lodged diplomatic representations with the United States over the planned meeting, saying it would damage China-US ties.

The truth of the MWA and China’s epic fail?

Tibetan government in-Exile says that the ‘Middle Way Approach (MWA) represents the official position of the Tibetan people on how to peacefully and sustainably resolve the current situation in Tibet. It is a position that is also shared by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.’

MWA seeks “A Genuine Autonomy” for the Tibetan people within the framework of the the People’s Republic of China (PRC) constitution and Law on National Regional Autonomy – defines areas such as the “application of a single administration for the Tibetan nationality in the PRC”, the “nature and structure of autonomy” and the “11 Basic Needs of Tibetans”.

However, the Chinese leadership rejects the proposal, falsely claiming that the MWA seeks a “Greater Tibet”, “Higher Degree of Autonomy,” “covert independence” and “independence in disguise”, without providing a reasonable explanation to the Tibetan people and the international community.

The government in-Exile also says that the MWA seeks only “a genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people” that would operate within the framework of the PRC: its constitution, territorial integrity and sovereignty, its’ three adherences and the hierarchy and authority of the Chinese Central Government.

For Tibetans, the MWA implies not seeking “independence” for Tibet, but “genuine autonomy.”

The Tibetan side also says this vision is articulated in the “Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People”, which was presented to the Chinese government in 2008.”

During the last round the Tibetan side also submitted “Note on the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People”, to the Chinese government, saying it further seeks “specific concerns” raised by the Chinese side with respect to the “form of single administration; political, social and economic systems; public security; regulation of population migration; language; and religion.” However, Beijing once again rejected the proposal.

The government in-Exile says after six decades of Chinese occupation, ‘Tibetans inside Tibet expressed their categorical rejection of Beijing’s failed policies, in Tibet, through self-immolations since 2009.’

political thoughts, using both violent and softer approaches. Free speech was also severely curtailed.

So much so that people felt it difficult to even move their bodies [...]”

“Anyone who thinks the human rights situation for the Tibetan people in China is improving, or is not so bad, is just wrong.”

For the future he suggested a number of campaigns and steps that should be taken by the US Administration and Congress to improve the situation in Tibet. He suggested passing a bill in the House that he introduced, the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act (H.R. 1112), and for the US government to invite the Dalai Lama to “every event on every occasion where his decades of knowledge, experience, and reflections would be helpful for addressing the world’s problems.” He also said that we should “insist that Tibet be part of our climate change discussions with China.”

Some pragmatic steps to further aid the Tibetan people as suggested by Rep. McGovern: a. The United States needs to open a consulate in Lhasa, Tibet. b. More Members of Congress, more journalists, more members of parliament from other nations, and more people in general – including members of the Tibetan community here in the United States – need to be allowed to travel freely to Tibet. c. Tibetans in China need to be able to travel freely, as well. d. The dialogue between Beijing and the Dalai Lama to resolve longstanding issues of Tibetan autonomy, religious practice, culture, language and heritage needs to be renewed.

Leader Pelosi opened her remarks by welcoming His Holiness the Dalai Lama to D.C. and stating that he is “among one of the things that we all (Democrats and Republicans) agree on – his greatness and the honor he brings us with his visit.”

“I completely associate myself with every word of my colleague’s comments, Mr. McGovern’s comments. He talked about our visit to Lhasa, Tibet, and to China – all of China, other places in China – and we called Mr. McGovern the spiritual leader of our visit.”

Rep. Pelosi then described her interactions with the Dalai Lama over the years, in Congress and elsewhere, as well as his broad bipartisan support, not just in Congress, but also in the White House. As she has said on previous occasions, Leader Pelosi reiterated that “Tibet remains a challenge to the conscience of the world, and we must respond to that.”

In his written statement, Rep. Walz (D-MI) states that as the U.S. “continues to advance U.S.-China relations, we must never forget the people of Tibet.

Restrictions on human rights and religious freedom in Tibet have been a growing concern to many.”

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), in his written remarks – which focus on the denial of religious freedom in Tibet — describes the Dalai Lama as an “energetic and unfailing ambassador for human rights and the rights of the Tibetan people.”

Representatives Capuano (D-MA), Sensenbrenner (R-WI), and Pocan (D-WI) paid tribute and offered welcome wishes to the Dalai Lama in their written statements, and Capuano and Sensenbrenner urged support in the House for pending legislation on Tibet each has introduced: H. Res. 584 (Capuano) which urges the President to seek an independent investigation into the death of Tibetan Buddhist leader Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and to publicly call for an end to the repressive policies of the People’s Republic of China in Tibet, and H.R. 2679, the Tibetan Refugee Assistance Act of 2015 (Sensenbrenner) which aims at “providing 3,000 immigrant visas to qualified displaced Tibetans over a three-year period. The bill supports the well-being of the Tibetan exile community as they strive to find a peaceful solution for Tibet; helps the overburdened settlements in India and Nepal; and gives displaced Tibetans the opportunity to flourish as Tibetan-Americans.”

The Tibet Post International

His Holiness: Avoid falling into “sectarian” and “regionalist” traps

Members of the Colorado and New Mexico Tibetan Community and Tibet supporters attending an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Boulder Theater in Boulder, Colorado on June 24, 2016. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

By Yeshe Choesang: June 27, 2016

Indianapolis, IN, USA — Meeting Tibetans from Colorado and New Mexico Friday morning, June 24, 2016, His Holiness the Dalai Lama urged the younger Tibetan generation, to carry forward their linguistic and cultural identity, avoiding “falling into the traps of sectarianism and regionalism”.

“We Tibetans are an ancient nation. The Emperors of the past were kind and far-sighted. Some say that a Tibetan written script existed beforehand, but what Thönmi Sambhota composed is still in use today,” the spiritual leader told a group of 650 Tibetans gathered in front of him.

“In 7th century Songtsen Gampo married a Chinese and a Nepalese princess, who each brought Buddhist images to Tibet. The statue of the Buddha that came from China was housed in the Ramoche Temple, which sparked an interest in the Buddhadharma. Then in 8th century, Trisong Detsen had a Chinese mother so he could have furthered connections with China, but he chose instead to create links with Buddhism in India, particularly with the Nalanda Tradition.

Trisong Detsen invited Shantarakshita, whose writings, such as the ‘Adornment of the Middle Way’ (Madhyamakalankara) and ‘Compendium of Principles’ (Tattva-samgraha), with its two volume commentary by Kamalashila, reveal him to have been a top scholar. It was Shantarakshita, assisted by Guru Padmasambhava who overcame obstacles, who established the Nalanda Tradition of Buddhism in Tibet.

“It was Shantarakshita too who instigated the translation of Indian Buddhist literature into Tibetan. And although he is said to have been 70 years old when he came to Tibet, he apparently made an effort to learn Tibetan. At that time it was just developing as a literary language, with new terms being coined to express new ideas. Today, if we want to know about the Nalanda Tradition, Tibetan is the best vehicle for studying it. The introduction of Buddhism enhanced and enriched the Tibetan language.

This is something for us Tibetans to be proud of.”

His Holiness explained that he is able to hold his own in discussions with modern scholars and scientists because of his training in the Nalanda Tradition. He went on to

explain that the main treatises concerning Buddhist logic and epistemology are now only available in Tibetan.

“The existence of such literature has been crucial to the preservation of Tibetan traditions.”

Speaking about other indigenous peoples he has met who struggle to preserve their own traditions because they have no system of writing, His Holiness has urged them, like the Scandinavian Sami, to create one.

“Tibetan Buddhism is the most comprehensive transmission of what the Buddha taught available today.

This is something Tibetans should be aware of. As a nation, we are going through very difficult times, yet we have been able to keep our heritage alive.

“The 13th Dalai Lama recognised the need to adapt to the modern world. He sent students to Britain to study, where Lungshar looked after them. However, the monasteries resisted the study of English and undermined the 13th Dalai Lama’s efforts at reform. Then the British invaded so their misgivings appear to have been fulfilled.

“After we escaped from Tibet in 1959, with Nehru’s help we established modern schools for Tibetans. We also searched for land on which we could set up Tibetan communities. The most fulsome response came from the then State of Mysore and its leader Nijalingappa, who was a strong supporter of Tibetans. Consequently we were able to re-establish the Three Seats, Sera, Ganden and Drepung, as well as Tashi Lhunpo and several other important monasteries.

“In the early days, school students learned to debate. Gen Lobsang Gyatso, the teacher who was murdered, started teaching it. But after some time the custom declined.

Today, I have suggested that those who teach these topics should be called Philosophy Instructors rather than Religious Teachers.

“When we talk about studying the Dharma, we are talking about transforming the mind. We need to study what is contained in the 300 volumes of the Kangyur and Tengyur in terms of science, the nature of reality, the nature of the mind and philosophy.

“We’ve been in exile 57 years and as the older generations pass away, the younger ones have to carry the torch forward. At the same time we have to avoid falling into the traps of sectarianism and regionalism.”

Exiled Tibetan parliament lauds US support for resolving the issue of Tibet

By Yangchen Dolma: June 21, 2016

Dharamshala — The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile expressed gratitude to US President Barack Obama for his government’s support for resolving the issue of Tibet and meeting His Holiness the the Dalai Lama at the White House on 15 June 2016, despite strong objections from the Chinese government.

“On behalf of Tibetans in and outside Tibet, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile sincerely express our heartfelt gratitude to Your Excellency for welcoming and meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 15th June, 2016 at the White House, despite strong objections from the Chinese Government and sad Orlando tragedy,” Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Speaker of the 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile said in statement.

“We are immensely grateful for your continued support to our Middle Way Approach and for encouraging meaningful and direct dialogue between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his representatives with Chinese authorities, to lower tensions and resolve differences,” Ven Tenphel said.

“We are thankful for you and your administration’s expressions of concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in Tibet, preservation of our unique culture and protection of fragile environment of Tibet plateau,” the statement reads.

“We once again thank the People, the Administration and the House of the United States of America for supporting the genuine cause of Tibetan people,” he further added.

President Obama expressed his government support for the “Middle Way Approach”, which seeks “a Genuine

Jume 30, 2016 Tibet & Exile News 3 Sikyong : NED citation sends a message of hope to Tibetans

TPI NEWS

Autonomy” for all three traditional provinces of Tibet and encourages “direct dialogue” between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his representatives and Chinese authorities, despite a strong warning by China that it would “damage diplomatic relations.”

The Chinese government expressed anger over the meeting and warned the US that it may damage their diplomatic relationship. China regularly criticises His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the international community and claims he is dangerous separatist who is aiming to divide the country.

These claims have so far been unfounded and Beijing does not back them up with constructive evidence.

The spiritual leader of Tibet has repeatedly said that separation and independence is not what he seeks, instead he wants a relationship with China and genuine autonomy for Tibet through an approach dubbed the ‘Middle Way Approach’.

This policy means achieving autonomy for all Tibetans living in the three traditional provinces of Tibet within the framework of the People’s Republic of China. His Holiness sees it is a non-partisan and moderate position that safeguards the vital interests of all concerned parties.

Starting in 1949, Tibet was invaded by 35,000 Chinese troops who systematically raped, tortured and murdered an estimated 1.2 million Tibetans, one-fifth of the country’s population. Since then over 6000 monasteries have been destroyed, and thousands of Tibetans have been imprisoned. According to different sources, it is estimated that up to 260,000 people died in prisons and labor camps between 1950 and 1984.

By Steve Shaw: June 20, 2016

Washington, DC — The political leader of Tibet Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay was presented with a citation from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) on 15 June in recognition of the achievements made by the Central Tibetan Administration.

When he accepted the citation, Sikyong said the democratic system in exile is due to the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

“This recognition and honour of Tibetan democracy will send a strong message of hope to the Tibetans inside Tibet and a message of solidarity to the Tibetan political prisoners,” he told the audience.

Sikyong then discussed the evolution of Tibetan democracy from when His Holiness supported the formation of a democratic administration in the 1960’s to 2011 when His Holiness devolved all his political authority to an elected leadership.

“His Holiness was barely 24 at the time when he lost his country, but even at that tender age, he had a vision for democracy in exile. A democracy without borders. And in 1960 itself, Tibetans elected members of the parliament and the Tibetan parliament was formed,” he added.

The citation was awarded by the chairman of the board of directors at NED, Martin Frost in the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a number of other guests who have supported the Tibetan struggle, including Nancy Pelosi, Richard Gere and senator Diane Feinstein.

During the presentation Frost commended the Central Tibetan Administration for its commitment to democracy in spite of the many challenges it

Sikyong receiving NED’s citation honouring Tibetan democracy in the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 15 June 2016.

Photo: CTA/DIIR

has faced.

“The Tibetan diaspora numbers about 1,50,000.

The emergence of this strong, unified, tolerant and educated community didn’t happen by chance.

And its success was neither predetermined nor guaranteed. To survive as a community in exile, it’s a challenge in the best of circumstances. But the Tibetan community under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai lama and the Central Tibetan Administration has thrived.”

“The Tibetan diaspora, once housed mainly in the camps and settlements of India, is now global. Even

after six decades of exile, Tibetans have retained a distinct sense of identity and community. There are many reasons to honour the Central Tibetan Administration but principal among them is the establishment of an effective and representative government. The CTA has grown significantly for the last 60 years. At the core of the CTA is a commitment to democratic values and institutions, electing members of parliament since 1960’s and directly electing the Sikyong since 2001,” he said.

“This recognition by NED is a symbol of our democratic solidarity with the Tibetan people,” he added.

detentions, prosecutions, and convictions. As well as calling for the unconditional release of all political prisoners including five cases in particular, monk and community leader Khenpo Kartse, human rights defender Tashi Wangchuk, primary school teacher Lhamo Kyab and retired doctor Yeshe Choedron.

Additionally APPGT say that the UK should call on China to allow visits to Tibet by UN Special Representatives so that recent issues of torture can be addressed and further information can be obtained regarding the death in prison of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche.

The letters conclude by saying it is the Council’s and the UK’s duty “to ensure that China is held to account for the human rights situation in Tibet “ and “to stand in solidarity with defenders and activists on the ground.”

The UK previously issued a joint statement, along with 11 other countries, condemning China’s human

rights abuses during 2015’s session of the UN Human Rights Council.

However, the government led by Prime Minister David Cameron has recently faced growing criticism over the way it has appeared to prioritise economic ties over human rights, particularly since 2015.

This has included, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer being publically praised in state media for putting business ahead of human rights and the government failing to raise the subject during President Xi Jinping’s UK state visit.

The UK also praised China on the UN’s Human Rights Day in December 2015 for protecting the civil and political rights of its citizens. This was in contrast to countries such as the US whose ambassador to Beijing, Max Baucus, accused Beijing of treating peaceful activists and human rights lawyers as “enemies”.

The speech followed an earlier statement made by ICT on behalf of the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights at the Human Rights Council session on 17 June. It responded to a report from the UN Special Rapporteur regarding the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

The statement focused on the risks Tibetans face when expressing their views, risks that have become even greater since China adopted its new “stability maintenance” measures, which categorise most expressions of Tibetan identity or culture as “splittist”.

The statement also raised concerns over China’s recently adopted counter-terrorism law, which combines the notion of terrorism with undefined religious “extremism”. This potentially gives the authorities the power to prosecute Tibetans under terrorism laws for expressions of identity, acts of non-violent protest, or for criticism of ethnic or religious policies.

During the statement, Mélanie Blondelle, policy and advocacy officer at ICT in Brussels said: “We call upon the Human Rights Council, of which the People’s Republic of China is a member, to ensure the release of all those detained for the mere reason of having exercised their right to freedom of opinion and expression, and to urge China to allow independent observers access to Tibet to verify the extent of the violations to freedom of expression on the ground”.

In the UK a group of British Parliament members and members of the House of Lords have also urged the UK government to raise China’s “stability maintenance” campaign to the UN Human Rights Council.

The MPs and Lords who make up the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet (APPGT) also said the UK should call for the unconditional release of all political prisoners and press China to allow visits to Tibet by UN Special Representatives.

soon after and left 20 Tibetans wounded and 7 detained.

However, a large number of community members continued the protest, urging authorities to “protect the holy mountain and stop the mining”. The deployment of security forces created an on-going standoff.

Village representatives went directly to the local authorities to demand an end to the mining and quickly gained the attention

of local media and Tibet support groups.

The representatives will next submit petitions to the related local government offices and to the Chinese government to demand an explanation about the future of mining in the area. They will also request protection to be given to nomads living on the nearby land and end the destruction of the ecological environment.

MPs urge UK government to discuss human rights in Tibet at UN

By Steve Shaw: June 16, 2016

London — A group of British Parliament members and members of the House of Lords have called upon the UK government to ensure that China’s human rights record in Tibet is raised at the on-going session of the UN Human Rights Council.

The MPs and Lords who make up the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet (APPGT) wrote letters to Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and the UK’s Permanent Representative at the UN in Geneva Julian Braithwaite. They urge the government to express concern over China’s treatment of Tibetans and to keep “human rights violations by China firmly on the Council’s agenda”.

The group goes on to write that specific issues should be highlighted, including China’s current “stability maintenance” campaign which has led to many

China’s policies do not create peace or stability in Tibet

By Steve Shaw: June 22, 2016

Geneva — China’s current policies in Tibet are undermining peace and stability, a leading Tibet advocacy group told the United Nations Human Rights Council on 20 June.

In the speech delivered by Kai Müller, executive director of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) in Germany, he outlined detailed policies, laws and regulations that create a climate of repression and fear in Tibet, and which are in contravention of international human rights law.

Müller made the speech at a side event organised by the Society for Threatened Peoples during the ongoing session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Ngodup Dorjee, a representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Geneva moderated the event and Tienchi Martin-Liao, president of the independent Chinese PEN organisation, which fights for freedom of expression, was among the panellists.

Mining halted after protests in Akhori Township of Tibet

By Yangchen Dolm: June 22, 2016

Dharamshala — The local government in Akhori Township, Chuchen County has been forced to temporarily halt mining at a sacred mountain after Tibetan protests caught the strong attention of the media.

However, protesters do not believe the pause will last long as the town’s holy mountain was previously named the main mining project of the China Geological Survey Bureau from 2016 to 2018.

A source in the community said: “Akhori Townships are protecting the ecosystem by risking of their lives and they are determined to never hold back. Thanks to the strong support from the people who believe in justice as well as attentions of the Media, the Chinese local government has stopped the mining project. But if given the opportunity, the Chinese government will suppress Tibetans without any mercy”.

He added: “What we want to see is a new policy from China that means we don’t have to face a violent group of armed forces. We don’t want to suffer ethnic discrimination and we are not willing to be cheated by the Chinese government anymore. They look us like enemy and treat us like a toy, we don’t have any freedom”.

The protests first broke out on 28 March after work started on the construction of infrastructure to support the mining operation, including building a road to aid the development of a new power station.

A clash between security forces and the protesters followed

Mining protest in Akhori Township in Ngaba, Amdo, north-eastern Tibet. Photo: TPI

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Tim Loughton MP describes human rights abuses in Tibet during the launch of The Darkest Moment report. Photo. TPI/ Steve Shaw

London — The UK government’s Human Rights Commission has publicly released a report on human rights abuses in China since 2013, with one member of parliament describing the situation in Tibet as “deeply troubling” and “never been worse”.

The launch of the comprehensive report titled The Darkest Moment took place on 28 June at the Houses of Parliament.

Tim Loughton, a member of parliament and chair of the All Parliamentary Group for Tibet said he was pleased that Tibet is referenced throughout the report and the issues in the region have an effect not just on Tibetans but on the world.

Loughton went on to describe a number of human rights violations including the suspicious deaths of political prisoners, the gradual elimination of Tibetan language and culture, environmental damage, and the destruction of UNESCO World Heritage sites. He also made strong and frank statements on the influence the Chinese government has on Westminster and the international community.

“People should not underestimate the tentacles that China extends throughout the world,” he said.

The section of the report that examines China’s oppressive policies toward Tibet took evidence from the Tibet Post International, Tibet Society and Free Tibet.

“Every aspect of Tibetan life is under siege and Tibetans have even fewer civil and political rights than Chinese people also ruled by the Communist Party,” wrote Yeshe Choesang, editor of Tibet Post International in his submission. “The regime enforces its control over every aspect through the threat and use of arbitrary punishments, at times including severe violence.”

“The main causes of the Tibetan people’s grievances are China’s policies of political repression, cultural assimilation, economic marginalisation, social discrimination and environmental destruction in Tibet,” he added.

Meanwhile Tibet Society highlighted the plight of political prisoners in their submission, stating that Tibetans charged with political crimes are often tried in secret without independent legal representation. Much of the evidence in these cases is extracted through torture.

The report goes on to say that it is important to note that observations that might show there has been a reduction in the number of the most shocking abuses since 2013, such as in the use of lethal force against protestors, should not be regarded as a sign of improvement.

“This does not indicate a softening of China’s approach in Tibet or of greater acceptance of Chinese rule by Tibetans,” Free Tibet wrote. “Instead it reflects China’s current effectiveness in implementing policies that have so restricted Tibetans’ ability to express opposition to its rule in both private and public spheres that the need to systematically employ violence arises more rarely.”

The report was written in order to detail the significant deterioration of human rights in China since 2013 and along with highlighting serious concerns for Tibet, it is also highly critical of issues such as the treatment of human rights lawyers, the use of torture, the detention of Hong Kong booksellers, and the deteriorating situation in Hong Kong.

It concludes that the period between 2013 and 2016 is the worst in China’s human rights situation since the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989. And goes on to criticise the UK government’s relationship with China, which in recent years has seen government ministers regularly turn a blind eye to human rights abuses due to their fear of damaging the economic relationship between the two countries.

The former Governor of Hong Kong, Lord Patten also spoke at the launch and said that the fear of speaking

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out is an attitude that must be eliminated and the UK government must be willing to “raise these issues without fear of failure or that we are commercially shooting ourselves in the foot, because we are not”.

He continued that while many European countries are too much like the UK in their attitude towards human rights dialogue, Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel is an example of a leader who has been willing to consistently speak out against China’s human rights record without any detrimental effect on their economic relationship. To illustrate the importance of this, he said that during the days of the Soviet Union dissidents who were detained regularly said their conditions improved when western countries spoke up and in China the same thing has been observed.

Regarding the UK’s relationship with China, the report states: “Given the overwhelming evidence of a very grave deterioration in the human rights situation over the past three years, the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned about the UK Government’s decision to develop a friendship with the government of the People’s Republic of China, without this being an appropriately critical friendship, particularly at this juncture and especially in the manner in which the relationship has been presented, described and calibrated.

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Horoscopes for the Month of July, 2016 Source: Always Astrology ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Look into family outings or projects. Job changes are in order. Go for interviews or send out resumes.

Make decisions about your professional objectives.

Don’t trust coworkers with important or personal in formation. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) You will need to finalize important deals this month. You can make headway if you share your intentions with someone you care about. You’re on the right track and you can make money if you are willing to go out on a limb. Try to get away with your mate. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Don’t let others try to create unwarranted guilt if you can’t meet their demands. You will need to work diligently in order to accomplish even the smallest amount. You can have an enjoyable time if you socialize with friends. You are able to make changes in your home that will be favorable to all involved. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Tuesday.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Try to avoid any drastic/ decisions concerning personal legal matters. Don’t be afraid to talk to close friends or relatives about pressing personal problems. Channel your energy wisely and you can score points with the boss. Unexpected bills will be impossible for you to pay. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Don’t push your mate if you want to keep this union going. Look into real estate. Put some energy into getting back into shape. Listen to reason. You will have good ideas for home improvement projects. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Tuesday.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Look for something entertaining to do. You’ve got that competitive edge. Find a quiet spot where you can work diligently and stay out of the way. Be discreet with private information.

Pleasure trips will promote romance. Your diplomacy will be of utmost importance this month. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You will gain knowledge through your adventure. You can make new friends and get involved in new hobbies successfully. Creative endeavors will give you somewhat of an outlet.

Avoid boredom by being creative in your endeavors. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You’re in the mood to spend time with y o u r l o v e r. Yo u c a n m e e t p o t e n t i a l n e w mates, but make sure that they aren’t already committed to someone else. Your ideas will be well received. Do not expect too much from others. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Don’t play on your partner ’s emotions.

Don’t push your mate away. Be cautious who you deal with financially. Your interests could lead you down avenues you never realized existed. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Social activities that involve the whole family will be enjoyable. You should be setting up interviews or sending out your resume this month. Difficulties will result if you have to deal with controversial groups this month. You need to mingle with people who can spark enthusiasm and confidence in you. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) Your compassion will be appreciated more than you can imagine. Look into ways to make your home more comfortable. Be sure to question any detail that you feel could leave you in a precarious position at a later date. Real estate investments will payoff. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Get involved in groups and organizations that are of a distinguished nature. You can get ahead if you work diligently behind the scenes. You will be up and down emotionally. You can pick up additional responsibility that will lead to higher wages and a better position.Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

The Tibet Post International

His Holiness says Today’s reality must change

By Chakshu Sharma: June 02, 2016

Salt Lake City, Utah, US — Describing more than 200 million people died violently in the 20th century, His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet said “Today’s reality must change”.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama currently on a 19-day tour of the US, paid a visit to the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah on June 21, 2016.

Speaking at the University’s Hunstsman Centre before a 12000 strong, rapt audience of devotess, supporters and well-wishers he began his address by saying,”I believe that if we thought of the 7 billion human beings alive today as our brothers and sisters, many of the problems we face would go away. Fundamentally we are all the same as human beings. We all want to lead a happy life and we all have a right to do so.”

University President David Pershing announced that the state’s leading school was awarding the Tibetan leader its highest honor, the Presidential Medal for his championing of world peace and non-violence. The President said the Dalai Lama wouldn’t have to wear it because the medallion hangs from a heavy chain.

The Buddhist leader immediately put the medal around his neck. “No, no. Not heavy,” he said. “Now give me that hat.” He then donned a white cap sporting a red “U.” Much to the delight of the large audience.

His Holiness went on to advocate peace and compassion with his usual fervour, “We’ve prayed for peace for 1000 years without much success. We need to ask who it is who breaches the peace and creates violent conflict and the answer is, we do.”

The Nobel peace laureate encouraged the audience at the University of Utah to start with themselves and their families to spread a sense of wonder in humanity.

“Who creates violence? Who destroys peace? Not God, but you. So you have the responsibility to

solve this problem,” he said.

More than 200 million people died violently in the 20th century, His Holiness the Dalai Lama deplored.

“We need to create a better relationship on this planet. Today’s reality must change. We cannot do it with old thinking. We must create a new way of thinking, offering a global message that transcends national boundaries.”

However he added optimistically that an increasing number of youth view themselves primarily as global citizens and this attitude of compassion, and brotherhood promises a better future.

Speaking briefly in Tibetan, the soon to be 81 year old said, “This has been one of the most difficult periods in Tibet’s long history. It has also been a period of opportunity for those in exile, while in Tibet the spirit of Tibetans remains strong.”

When asked if he expects to return home in this lifetime, then the Nobel laureate, who calls himself a “simple monk,” replied saying “one day there will be a reunion of Tibetans in exile and our brothers and sisters in Tibet. I remain optimistic.”

Governor of Utah Gary Herbert hosted the private lunch for the spiritual leader of Tibet that was attended by former presidential candidate Mitt Romney and the mayors of Salt Lake City and county. The spiritual leader also met with two senior Mormon church leaders on Wednesday.

The meetings with politicians came despite a warning letter from a Weber State University professor who helped broker Utah’s relations with China.

Professor Taowen Le said that officials could jeopardize that relationship if they met with the Tibetan spiritual leader, but Utah leaders said the China connection doesn’t mean giving up core values such as freedom of speech.

Tibetan director gets detained and abused in Xining Airport

By Tenzin Yeshe: June 29, 2016

Award-winning Tibetan film director Pema Tseden. Photo: File

Dharamshala — The renowned and award-winning Tibetan film director Pema Tseden has reportedly been detained and assaulted at Xining Airport. At present, director Pema has been hospitalized due to a health issue, but there is still no official report on his release.

Multiple associations within Tibet and outside of Tibet have published announcements to call for just and legal treatment of Director Tseden.

According to Director Pema’s friend Dorjee Tsering’s public post, “Pema arrived at the Xining airport from Beijing in the evening of June 25. Pema forgot one item of luggage, and turned back to the luggage area with his ticket in hand to pick up his belongings. The airport police used fetters to detain him and forced him into the Xining Airport Police Station before interrogating him for a whole night. At midnight on the next day, he was officially detained on the charge of ‘interrupting the public order of the airport’. “ The post wrote, “on June 27, Director Pema felt vertigo, chest stuffiness, numb fingers, and other forms of discomfort. In the afternoon of the same day, Director Pema was sent to the hospital and now he is still under observation. “According to Tsering, Director Pema has several injuries and bruises, which were apparently caused by the airport police.

Some sources revealed that he suffers from diabetes.

Another Chinese source (from one of Pema’s anonymous friends) said that, “Pema Tseden’s heart did not feel well at all, with serious chest stuffiness.

Last night, they measured his blood pressure at over 200/60. His blood sugar was also high, and the bones of his both hands were constantly numb. The doctor said that, his back and shoulder had soft tissue injuries. He can hardly sleep well at night, and it was very painful leaning on the bed.”

Many Tibetans as well as Tibetan supporters and Tibetologists have been reposting messages

Jume 30, 2016 H IS H OLINESS T HE D ALAI L AMA 5 His Holiness: Global world, use of military force is out of date

TPI NEWS

regarding director Pema’s enforced detainment and situation on social media.

Today (June 29), the Film Directors Guild of China published an official announcement regarding Director Pema Tseden’s incident in the Xining Airport. It says, “we urge the relevant authorities to make public the reason as to why the police is using enforcement measures, and whether the law was enforced according to the standard, and whether there is issues of violence in law enforcement or abuse of the rule of law in this incident.”

Later on today, Qinghai Airport Police published a report stating that the police ‘investigated an incident regarding a traveler’s illegal act of disturbing the public order’. The announcement claims that the policemen have been acting according to the law, but Pema Tseden was ‘shouting in the controlled zone’ and then ‘refused to answer the police’s interrogation.’

But director Pema’s producer, Chonjee Sonam Gyal, revealed that, ‘the airport staff was harsh and did not listen to people. Pema Tsetan was rationalizing the situation, but the staff called the police. The Police were even worse. Without any interpretation, they handcuffed him, and sent him to the police station along with his assistant and driver.’

Chonjee told the public that, according to director Pema, the police applied violent law enforcement on him, handcuffing him behind his back and deliberately hoisting his arms. During interrogation, the police put him into an iron cage, and he was forced to sit on a torture-rack, hancuffing both his hands and feet.

And according to many of director Pema’s friends and teachers, he has always been a mild, polite, and humble person. Some of them do not believe that he would ever shout at the airport stuff.

The head of International Sino-Tibetan Association, Tibetan issue expert, former Central Tibetan Administration parliament member, Kelsang Gyaltsen analyzed that there might be bigger political plot behind this incident.

Many Tibetan netizens related this incident of director Pema to many other explicit and implicit daily discriminations and injustices faced by Tibetans and Uyghur people under Chinese rule nowadays. It has constantly been reported that it is hard to rent a place or even stay in a hotel for a Chinese citizen with a Tibetan or Uyghur identity in some cities in China.

There are also a lot of discriminating discourses towards Tibetans and Uyghur people among Chinese local police, especially in ethnic regions like Qinghai, Gansu, and Sichuan.

Pema Tsetan was born in 1969 in Gade County (Ch Guide), Amdo Tibet. His first film the Silent Holy Stones awarded the Golden Rooster Award for Best Directorial Début in 2005. His most well known works include ‘Old Dog’ (2011), ‘The Sacred Arrows’ (2014) and ‘Tharlo’ (2015).

By Jane Cook: June 22, 2016

Sacramento, CA, USA — Addressing a Joint Convention of the California State Legislature, His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet said that “the use of force is out of date” and a “proper solution to problems is dialogue, meeting together and talking things through face to face.”

He was received by Governor Jerry Brown and his wife, joined by Senate President pro Tempore Kevin De Leon, Speaker Anthony Rendon and his wife, and Senator Janet Nguyen. Tibetans in traditional dress bearing Tibetan flags and welcoming banners gathered in substantial numbers to cheer His Holiness as he arrived.

In the State Assembly the Speaker convened a joint convention and invited Rinban Bob Oshita of the Buddhist Church of Sacramento, a Jodo Shinshu Temple, to lead the prayer for the day.

The Speaker introduced the President pro tem, who introduced His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the joint convention. He described his humble origins and how in recent times he has received awards such as the Nobel Peace Prize in acknowledgment of his consistent message of peace, non-violence, compassion and inter-religious harmony, as well as his concern for our natural environment.

“Basically we are all part of humanity, belonging to the same human family. Mentally, physically and emotionally we are the same.As social animals we need a sense of community, therefore we need to think in terms of our global well-being. It’s natural to take care of ourselves, but as social animals the best way to take care of ourselves is to take care of each other. Differences of faith, race or nationality are secondary in the context of our sameness as human beings,” His Holiness told the Joint Convention of the California State Legislature.

“We are born the same way and we die the same way. After we’re born, our mother’s affection is essential to our survival.

The affection we enjoy then is a source of security for the rest of our lives. Scientific findings suggest that basic human nature is compassionate. This is a source of hope, which would not exist if our basic nature were anger. It’s because we have hope that we can think of creating a happier more peaceful world. Peace in the world can only occur on the basis of inner peace. Leading a happy life depends on our mind’s being at peace. Plentiful material facilities by themselves don’t guarantee happiness, whereas someone who’s poor will be happy if they are surrounded by affection. We need to pay more attention to the inner values that are the key to our happiness.”

When it comes to relations between our major religious traditions, His Holiness said, they all have the potential to create more compassionate human beings. He explained that as social animals we have a natural sense of altruism, and as human beings we are able to use our intelligence to extend that sense of altruism to embrace all beings. His Holiness declared that his first commitment is to promoting awareness of human values as a source of lasting happiness.

His second commitment he described as working to foster

His Holiness the Dalai Lama waving to the crowd at the conclusion of his public talk at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 21, 2016. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

inter-religious harmony, something he has seen flourishing in India where he has lived for more than five decades.

Occasional problems flare up, he said, which is only to be expected in a population of more than 1 billion. Although there are those today who think of Muslims only in terms of militancy and violence, His Holiness said he has many Muslim friends who are wonderful people. There is clear evidence in India, he reiterated, that all our religions have the potential to create good human beings. And the way all major religious traditions have lived together there, side by side, for more than a thousand years is an example the rest of the world could learn from.

Noting that California is also a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society, His Holiness urged the legislators to consider how to ensure respect and understanding among religious traditions.

He also acknowledged the special efforts California has made with regard to environmental issues and climate change.

“We must protect this planet,” he said, “because it is our only home. The moon hangs beautifully in the night sky, but it is not somewhere we could comfortably live.”

He went on to observe that because education today has largely materialistic goals, there is a corresponding lack of human or inner values. The solution, he suggested, is to find a more universal approach to human values that can appeal to everyone without being limited to this or that faith. There is a need for what His Holiness refers to as secular ethics, secular not in the sense of dismissing religion, but secular as it is understood in India. There the word implies unbiased respect for all religious traditions. His Holiness commended the incorporation of secular ethics into the education system, something he appealed to the legislators to take seriously.

“Genuine peace in the world depends on our having peace in our hearts. If we are full of anger how can we expect to bring about peace? In this country there is talk about gun control,

but real gun control starts here in our hearts with greater respect for the lives of others and their rights. To achieve peace we need a demilitarized world and to achieve external disarmament we have to start with inner disarmament.

“In our world we’re facing many problems. There is too much killing and killing in the name of religion is unthinkable. Since we human beings created many of these problems, we also have a responsibility to solve them. In the 20th century we tried to solve our problems by force, but now in our more interdependent, global world the use of force is out of date.

In the 21st century a proper solution to problems is dialogue, meeting together and talking things through face to face.

“We may sometimes feel that we can’t do much as individuals, but humanity is made up of individuals; we can make a difference. As individuals we can influence our own families. Our families can influence our communities and our communities can influence our nations. Wherever I can I talk about these things because as human beings we can work together to make a better world. Thank you.”

Before leaving the rostrum His Holiness added that he has long considered the USA the leading nation of the free world.

Within that context California is not only one of the largest states of the union but is also admired across the world as a major locus of innovation. He appealed to the legislators therefore to consider and support innovative changes to education that can lead to the emergence of happiness and peace for all human beings.

In the final paragraph of a prepared written statement he said: “The time has come to take concrete steps to bring about a real transformation in the ways we educate our future generations.

We need to combine both an education of the mind with an education of the heart so that our children grow up as responsible, caring citizens equipped to meet the challenges of today’s increasingly globalized world.”

state media sources, the known stations along the new railway line are, Dartsedo City (Ch: Kangding),Yaknga City(Ch:Ya’an), Chamdo City (Ch: Changdu), and Nyingchi City (Ch: Linzhi), making four sections separately: the Chengdu to Yaknga, Yaknga to Darzedo, Dartsedo to Nyingchi, and Nyingchi to Lhasa.

The estimated hours from Chengdu to Lhasa will be reduced to 15 hours, compared to the previous Qinghai-Tibet railway which is 42 hours long.

However, these media sources have different number regarding the estimated total distance of the railway. According to China Daily and Xinhua, the whole Chengdu-Tibet railway will be about 1,629 kilometers, while for People’s Web, the operating length is around 1,900 kilometers and the construction length is around 1,800 kilometers.

Among these sections, the construction of Chengdu to Yaknga section has already been on, and will be finished in 2018. And the National Development and Reformation Committee have already approved the Chengdu to Dartsedo section earlier on. For the Lyingchi to Lhasa section, it was started in Dec. 2014.

Many interviews featured the difficulty as well as high cost of the construction of the Chengdu-Tibet railway. According to China’s Daily,Lin Shijin, a senior civil engineer at China Railway Corporation, said, ‘The accumulated height it will climb reaches more than 14,000 meters, and it will cross many fault zones...It’s like the largest roller-coaster in the world. With a designed service life of 100 years, it is believed to be one of the most difficult railway projects to build on Earth.”

No word about the impact on the environment as well as the potential destruction of vulnerable natural resources on the high plateau was mentioned. Also there is no plan regarding how to deal with the road construction in Tibetan region where culture and religion is drastically different from what China was reflected.

China’s first railway to Tibet, the Qinghai-Tibet railway opened in 2006, caused fierce discussions and critiques in terms of environmental deterioration in this vulnerable region, with the average elevation exceeding 4,555 metres (14,800 ft).The Tibetan plateau is also home to 125 rare species animals like Tibetan Antelope, black bear, clouded leopard, black muntjac,

musk deer, giant panda, wild yak, golden monkey, etc. and 40 kinds of rare species plants. There is no official evaluation as to how this Chengdu-Tibet railway may affect wildlife in Tibet so far.

English-language mainstream media have paid attention to this large-scale Chinese government construction project in Tibet. The Guardian’s news on Mar. 5 about the plan of Chengdu-Tibet railway noticed that, even though many Tibetans are opposing Chinese control, the region holds a strategic position next to India, Nepal, and Myanmar.

The Economist article on May 21 featured this project and was mainly concerned with the escalating Chinese migration and tourism’s potential negative impact on Tibet and Tibetans.

The Diplomat on May 27 also focuses on this new railway and its connection with China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ policy. The article commented that the implications of this railway centre on China’s ‘expedited control’ over Tibet.

Ironically, these intense reports on the Chengdu-Tibet railway project by the Chinese state media were posted in March, the most memorable as well as ‘miserable’ month for Tibetans. This special month includes the Tibetan national uprising day on Mar. 10 since Dalai Lama’s flight to India in 1959. The 2008 Tibetan unrest also started and got repressed in March.

Critics of the railway, including Tibetans and rights groups, say the project has spurred an influx of longterm migrants who threaten Tibetans’ cultural integrity, which rests on Buddhist beliefs and a traditional herding lifestyle. But the regime in Beijing consistently denies any rights abuses or cultural disrespect in Tibet, claiming the Chinese government’s rule has bought much-needed economic development.

The preservation of traditional Tibetan place names is particularly politically charged, according to recent reports. The Chinesedesignated “autonomous”, “prefectures” and “counties” are traditional territories of Tibet, or Cholka-Sum. Large areas of Qinghai and Sichuan provinces, as well as parts of Gansu and yunnan, are traditionally parts of North-Eastern and Eastern Tibet, or the traditional regions of Kham and Amdo, while the Chinese-designated TAR is historically U-Tsang. All are lying within

The plan of Chengdu-Tibet railway launched in March 2016

By Kalsang Sherab: June 20, 2016

Map of Sichuan-Tibet Railway issued by the Chinese government (still being constructed). Photo: File

Dharamshala — China’s state-run media recently claimed that, China is going to build a second railway running through Tibet, so called the Sichuan-Tibet railway.

This will be China’s second railway line to Tibet, linking Lhasa, U-Tsang Province of Tibet with Dartsedo, Kham Province of eastern Tibet, and further connecting the city of Chengdu, Sichuan, China.

In 2006, China opened “Qinghai-Tibet Railway” as part of the so called Chinese government development efforts. It passes through the spectacular Tibetan highlands, at altitudes as high as 5,000 metres (16,400ft) above sea level.

The Xinhua News Agency reveals that the “Sichuan-Tibet Railway” has been listed in the draft outline of the 13th Five-Year Plan (20162020) released on March 5, 2016.

Based on interviews with Chengdu’s Development and Reformation Committee , another Chinese state-run media “People’s Web” also reported that the Sichuan-Tibet railway would be one of the five new railways connecting Chengdu with other capital cities of neighbouring provinces. This construction aims at facilitating Chengdu to become the inland transportation nexus.

Xinhua confirmed again on March 16 that the Sichuan-Tibet railway has been listed as one of the most important projects for the 13th Five-Year Plan, which means that the Sichuan-Tibet railway has been put on the agenda.

According to limited details from multiple Chinese

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Jume 30, 2016

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Back Page Focus

His Holiness: Tibet faces a life or death struggle for its cultural identity

The Tibet Post International

US supports for Middle-way, but policy on Tibet remains unchanged

US secretary of state John Kerry talks with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi. (Photo: Getty Images)

By Yangchen Dolma, June 20, 2016

His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeting members of the Tibetan community at the start of their meeting at his hotel in Anaheim, California on June 19, 2016. Photo/Don Farber

By Yeshe Choesang: June 22, 2016

Westminster, CA, USA — Describing Tibetan people used only to quarrel among themselves to the detriment of the entire three provinces of Tibet, the spiritual leader of Tibet His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, but now Tibetans are facing “a life or death struggle” for their “culture and identity”.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama was greeted by 400 members of the Tibetan community, in Anaheim, California, where he spoke to them about the history of Tibet, Tibetan freedom struggle, Buddhism and Tibetan culture and identity.

“We’re passing through the most difficult period in the last 2000 years of our recorded history. We used only to quarrel among ourselves to the detriment of the entire three provinces of Tibet, but now we’re facing a life or death struggle for our culture and identity,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama told the Tibetan community, on June 19, 2016.

“This may be the fruit of our karma, yet among Tibetans in exile as well as those in Tibet, our spirit remains strong. Amongst other exiles we stand out due to the courage and dedication of our people. The report says you are teaching your children Tibetan.

That’s good and it’s good to teach them about our religion too,” His Holiness said.

“From an archaeological point of view, Tibetans are an ancient people. Stone Age tools found in Amdo are estimated to be 30,000 years old; artefacts in Chamdo are 7000 years old, while others found in Ngari are 10,000 years old. What matters now is that for more than 1000 years we’ve had our own writing. Today, it is the best vehicle for conveying the thoughts of the masters of Nalanda—something to be proud of.

“Trisong Detsen had a Chinese mother, so he could have brought Buddhism to Tibet from China. Instead he chose to go to the original source and invited Shantarakshita to come from India to Tibet. Despite his age, with the help of Guru Padmasambhava, who overcame inner and outer obstacles, he established Samye. The Chinese Hoshangs suggested that there was no need to study, but Kamalashila made clear the importance of study, reflection and meditation, an approach we’ve adopted for the last 1000 years.

“This is why we shouldn’t just keep the Kangyur and Tengyur on the altar out of respect. There also used to be a custom of carrying the volumes on our shoulders round in procession around the fields to

protect the harvest from calamity. But books are to be studied and read. I’ve been urging nunneries and ritual monasteries to engage in study of the classics for 40 years and this year we’re going to award fully qualified nuns the Geshe degree.

I visited one of the settlements in Bhandara, Madhya Pradesh, where school children debated before me.

They were good and I asked who had taught them.

It turned out their teacher was a nun. She’d trained them well. So nuns will become Geshe-ma, but there is still work to do on the Gelongma question. Some Western feminists seem to think it is something I can decide, but it’s beyond my authority. Matters of Vinaya can only be decided by scholars within the monastic community.

“In Dharamsala and Ladakh there are now Dharma study groups among lay-people. Earlier this year after my medical treatment in Rochester, I visited Deer Park in Madison. I recommended that it becomes a more broadly based centre of learning, where the knowledge of the workings of the mind and emotions that we have in our tradition can be combined with the work on emotions of people like Paul Ekman and his daughter to the wider benefit.”

the Chinese language being an additional course.

He points out that for families, children, schools and the education department of the Autonomous region their primary concern should be the quality of children’s education. If Tibetan children are asked to learn in their own language and then take exams in another national language, it directly affects their education and degrades the quality of learning.

Tibet expert and former MP of Tibetan Parliament, Kelsang Gyaltse said in an interview: “There is Tibetan writer called ‘Dekhang Jampa’ who wrote an article on “who took away educational rights of Tibetan children”. I think this is a very representative article. In these recent years, not only in the Tibetan Autonomous region but also include other regions of Tibet, there are people pointing out that their needs to be change in the existing bilingual teaching.

“They point out that Tibetan should be the main language

and Chinese, an alternative language. It should not be that Chinese is the main language and Tibetan an alternative. I think this is totally against the law of a national autonomous region in which regional people can enjoy the use and study of their own language”.

He added that the law dictates Tibetans inside Tibet should not struggle for the right to learn their own national language and the relevant departments must place more importance on this subject.

“This action is of course the eradication of the language and culture of a nation, this kind of action will cause more boycotts and more resistance in the future.

“We all know that Tibetan regions and the Tibetan Autonomous region have one type of teaching system, but the Sichuan and Yunnan provinces don’t have this teaching system. This kind of action is not only against constitution of China, but its aim is to eradicate a nation’s language,” he said.

Chinese government in Tibet changes Tibetan math’s textbooks into Chinese

By Yangchen Dolma: June 21, 2016

Dharamshala — The Education department situated in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) has revised Tibetan language mathematic textbooks into Chinese, causing educators from inside and outside the TAR to demand the education department respects the TAR’s education system.

The department has justified the revisions to the primary teaching material by saying that they will improve efficiency among students. However, Tibetans have condemned China’s rule of terror in Tibet and accused it of “cultural genocide”.

A document called ‘’Usage of Primary school Mathematics textbooks in County areas of Lhasa’’ indicates that a number of districts will be expected to begin using the Chinese textbooks in primary schools from autumn of 2016.

In an article published online, Tibetan language activist Dekhang Jampa criticised the decision and called on the local government to change the education system within the Autonomous region.

Jampa continued that according to the Chinese constitution: “All nationalities have the freedom to use and develop of their language”. He also noted that the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Regional National Autonomy states: “local or regional security guards in ethnic autonomous areas have to protect the various nationalities to use and develop their own spoken and written languages”.

Jampa went on to propose four changes: Firstly, public schools must guarantee the use and teaching of Tibetan language. Secondly, teachers should be fully trained and shouldn’t have any obstacles between them and their students. Thirdly, the prohibition of subject revisions, and any violations of basic civil rights that might disrupt education.

Fourthly, regional ethnic entrance examinations should be conducted in regional languages with

A poster that shared on social media wechat reads “how to use Lhasa County primary mathmatics textbook”. Photo: Wechat

Dharamshala — The US Secretary of State, John Kerry said Washington maintains that Tibet is an inalienable part of China and does not support the independence of Tibet. The White House earlier said that President Obama reiterate his support for the “Middle Way” Approach, which seeks “a Genuine Autonomy” for Tibet.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks during a phone call on Saturday (June 18) with US Secretary of State John Kerry, during which Wang reiterated China’s position on the issue of Tibet. In response, Kerry reaffirmed that there was no change in US policy, and the US government maintains that Tibet is an inseparable part of China and does not support the independence of Tibet.

This development comes in the wake of US President Barack Obama’s meeting with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, at the White House, marking the fourth time since Obama took office.

“The US supports his ‘Middle Way’ approach of neither assimilation nor independence for Tibetans in China,” The White House said following a meeting between President Obama and His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 2014.

President Obama expressed his government support for the “Middle Way” Approach, which seeks “a GenuineAutonomy” for all three traditional provinces of Tibet and encouraged “direct dialogue” between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his representatives and Chinese authorities, despite a strong warning by China that it would “damage diplomatic relations.”

The Chinese government expressed anger over the meeting and warned the US should that it may damage their diplomatic relationship. China

regularly criticises His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the international community and claims he is dangerous separatist who is aiming to divide the country.

These claims have so far been unfounded and Beijing does not back them up with constructive evidence.

The spiritual leader of Tibet has repeatedly said that separation and independence is not what he seeks, instead he wants a relationship with China and genuine autonomy for Tibet through an approach dubbed the ‘Middle Way Approach’.

This policy means achieving autonomy for all Tibetans living in the three traditional provinces of Tibet within the framework of the People’s Republic of China. His Holiness sees it is a non-partisan and moderate position that safeguards the vital interests of all concerned parties.

For Tibetans their culture, religious identity and religion are protected and for the Chinese their security and territorial integrity is preserved.

Neighbouring countries could also benefit from peaceful borders and international relations.

Both Kerry and Wang hailed the success of the recent US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogues and the US-China High-Level Consultation on Peopleto-People Exchange, which were held in Beijing earlier this month.

Starting in 1949, Tibet was invaded by 35,000 Chinese troops who systematically raped, tortured and murdered an estimated 1.2 million Tibetans, one-fifth of the country’s population. Since then over 6000 monasteries have been destroyed, and thousands of Tibetans have been imprisoned.

According to different sources, it is estimated that up to 260,000 people died in prisons and labor camps between 1950 and 1984.