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Vol. 02, Issue 87, Print Issue 11, 31 May 2013 Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche meets with MP CM

China jails Tibetan writer Gartse for five years over his writings

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Develop a code of mental and emotional hygiene: His Holiness The Dalai Lama

By Kiran Mohandas Menon: 24 May 2013

Prof. Samdong Rimpoche with Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Photo: TPI

By Yeshe Choesang: 29 may 2013

Dharamshala: - Former Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdong Rimpoche recently paid a courtesy visit to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan after he was appointed as Chancellor of Sanchi University in Madhya Pradesh, a state in central India.

According to the Central Tibetan Administration, Prof.

Samdhong Rinpoche has been appointed as the Chancellor of Sanchi University of Buddhist-Indic Studies based in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on 25 April 2013.

Sikyong speaks on Middle-Way Approach

Participants of the workshop with Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay and Director of the TPPRC Mr Choekyong Wangchuk. Photo: TPI/Kalsang Dolma

By Kalsang Dolma: 29 May 2013

Dharamshala: - Speaking to a group of Tibetan college students at a workshop organised by the Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the political leader of Tibet on Thursday [May 29, 2013] said the 14th Kashag has launched consolidation, action and dialogue phases to revitalise the Tibetan movement.

Dr Sangay added that consolidation of the Tibetan movement will be guided by action in a peaceful and dignified manner, and the dialogue phase with our stand of substance as primary and process as secondary to engage in meaningful dialogue with the Chinese leadership to solve the issue of Tibet.

57 Tibetan students from different colleges in India attended the workshop on ‘Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Leaders’ from 21- 29 May. Sikyong responded to questions from the students about the Middle Way Approach, the financial viability of the CTA and the transfer of CTSA schools to the Central Tibetan Administration.

Sikyong also praised the Tibetan students who have achieved outstanding results in the All India Senior Secondary Certificate Examination held this year.

Dharamshala: - His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet completed his visit to the American state of Wisconsin with a visit to the State Legislature in the capital, Madison. He also met with Scott Walker, the Governor of Wisconsin. Earlier he had visited Portland, Oregon, addressing the State Legislature, saying that he had long been an admirer and promoter of Democracy, particularly since witnessing the bullying of the regent in Tibet. He said that he wanted to change the Tibetan system and that the time had come for the “Dalai Lamas to retire from political concerns”.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama articulated his three main commitments, “the promotion of human values in the interest of human happiness,” fostering inter-religious harmony and the Tibetan cause”.

Earlier, he had given a public teaching to an audience of 3,500 people at the Alliant Energy Centre in Madison. He spoke of the “sense of religion” that human beings had developed over the last 4-5,000 years and explained that different traditions had evolved due to the different “locations, ways of life and philosophical outlooks”.

The later teachings were based on a text by Je Tsongkapa, a Buddhist teacher who lived in the fourteenth century.

In the morning, His Holiness had participated in a discussion with relation to global health and happiness. He was joined in the panel by Richard Davidson, Chair of the Centre for Investigating Healthy Minds and Jonathan Patz, Chair of the Global Health Institute, both from the University of WisconsinMadison.

He expressed his happiness that modern science had begun to show an interest in the “mind or consciousness and the public

View of the Wisconsin State Legislature during His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit in Madison, Wisconsin on May 14, 2013. Photo/Greg Anderson

interest in emotional training”. He added that “knowledge of the mind is limited” and that “people only have a superficial view of what the mind is”.

His Holiness stressed that a code of mental and emotional hygiene had to be taken seriously, similar to the codes of physical hygiene that people practice. This was important to fix the “mind and emotions, which are also complex and

Thousands of local Tibetans protest against Chinese planned mining in Tibet

sophisticated like the brain”.

In Portland, His Holiness took part in an Environmental Summit and gave a short interview to be included in a documentary being created by Maitripa College. He stated that “one of his biggest dreams was to harness the solar potential of places like the Sahara and then use the power to run desalination plants that will produce clean water”. He said See Page 3...

Tibet Festival 2013 attracts huge crowd in Japan

Photo 1: Representative Lhakpa Tshoko with the dignitaries during the Tibet festival.

Photo 2: Cham, a Tibetan Buddhist opera being performed by Tashilhunpo monks.

Photo 3: Tibetan Thangkas and cultural artefacts on display. Photo 4: Tibetan Buddhist monks performing prayers. Photo: TPI

By Yeshe Choesang: 29 may l 2013

Dharamshala: - The ‘Tibet Festival 2013’ was successfully held at the Gokokuji temple in Tokyo, the capital of Japan from 1-5 May, 2013.

See Page 6...

Foot-and-mouth disease confirmed in Tibet

Glimpses of wetlands in Tibet

Over 1000 trucks loading more than 4500 local Tibetans protesting Chinese mining in Driru county, eastern Tibet, on May 24, 2013. Photo: TPI

By Yeshe Choesang: 28 May 2013 A cell infected with foot-and-mouth disease virus in an undated image courtesy of The Pirbright Institute. The virus is red, green is tubulin and blue is the nucleus. REUTERS/The Pirbright Institute

By Yeshe Choesang: 29 May 2013

Dharamshala: - Infections of foot-and-mouth disease have been reportedly in cattle in central Tibet, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) said Friday, May 24, 2013.

According to the Chinese state controlled news agency ‘Xinhua,’ a village in Nyingtri county, Tibet (Chinese: Linzhi Prefecture) reported that 51 cattle displayed symptoms on May 17, according to the Chinese authorities.

The National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory on Friday confirmed that the cattle were infected with type A foot-and-mouth disease.

To prevent the disease from spreading, local authorities sealed off and sterilized an infected area where 56 cattle were culled and safely disposed of, according to the MOA. Foot-and-mouth disease is a contagious and sometimes fatal viral infection that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild species within the family Bovidae.

Dharamshala: - Thousands of local Tibetans from Driru county of eastern Tibet gathered near their sacred mountain on Saturday to demonstrate against the Chinese government’s planned mining projects in eastern Tibet.

On May 24, 2013, Over 1,000 trucks loaded more than 5,400 Tibetans from the four major areas, including Pekar, Nagshoe Phudha and Tsala gathered in Dathang town, near the sacred mountain in protest of the growing Chinese mining tensions in the county; said Mr Ngawang Tharpa, an exile Tibetan in Dharamshala, citing contacts in the region.

The mountain is called Lhachen Naglha Dzambha, rich in mineral resources and it has the Gyalmo Ngulchu [Salween River] running through its foothills. While Tibetans ultimately managed to stop the mining at the Mount, sources describe significant challenges they faced in their campaign.

The current situation is tense in the Driru county (Chinese: Biru in Nagchu Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region), where the local authorities deployed over fifty military convoys to the protest site, according to sources from inside Tibet.

Sources spoke of concerns over possible clashes between security forces and Tibetan villagers. In adition, two protesters named Gonp and Abu were killed in a vehicle accident on their way to the protest site.

A large number of Chinese workers arrived in the area in August 2010. Local Tibetan villagers were told they were building a dam, but was said nothing about mining. Later Tibetans surrounding villages then gathered at the site to oppose the construction. Finally, the Chinese themselves then left the area in September of the same year.

According to the Central Tibetan Administration, Tibet’s rich mineral deposits have become a resource curse for the local residents and ecosystem. Since the late ‘60s, these mineral deposits have been exploited in various scales, mostly under poor environmental norms and regulations.

As for the minerals extracted, copper, chromium, gold, lead, iron and zinc are the minerals of greatest interest to Chinese and other foreign miners operating in Tibet.

These are being mined to different extents at various locations throughout the Tibetan Plateau.

Mapham Yutso, Lake Manasarovar, or Manasa Sarovar/Lake Manas, is a freshwater lake in central the Tibet, 940 kilometres from Lhasa. Photo: TPI

By Kalsang Dolma: 29 may l 2013

Dharamshala: - Mapham Yutso Wetland, most typical of Tibetan lake wetlands, provides habitats for a large number of water birds such as the black-necked cranes and barheaded geese. It is also the “must go” migration path to the Himalaya Mountains for rare wild animals like Tibetan Yaks and antelopes.

China says it has built up a series of wetlands and wetland natural reserves including the Yarlung Zangbo River State Wetland Natural Reserve, Mapham Yutso Wetland, Mitika Wetland and other 24 natural reserves at local levels.

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Editorial:

TPI NEWS

In times of crisis, Tibetan Youth Congress should be more united and stronger than ever

By Yeshe Choesang: 31 May 2013

It is an extremely important step that the Tibetan Youth Congress has taken apologize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, for mistakes they may have made in the past, especially in the wake of recent criticism that the organization has faced.

I had also mentioned in my last editorial that any unrealistic allegations and accusations against His Holiness the Dalai Lama will hurt six million Tibetan people. Recently, I met a Tibetan father from my native hometown and I was trying to explain to him the procedures related to the devolution of powers by His Holiness to a democratically elected leadership.

The man refused to listen to me. In his mind, even speaking about it was ‘bad karma’ and this mindset epitomises the thought process of many Tibetans today, particularly those inside Tibet.

So it is reasonable that the TYC has made it clear that they have never criticised His Holiness the Dalai Lama and that they will follow his general guidance in the future, but they should further articulate on that point.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has always outlined three major commitments-universal responsibility, fostering inter-religious harmony and advocacy of the Tibetan cause. While the first two commitments are more general in nature, the third commitment is what matters to an organisation like the TYC, which has been fighting strongly for the Tibetan cause for over five decades.

With regard to this, His Holiness has carefully explained his preferred method and objective to seek meaningful autonomy for the Tibetan people in three traditional provinces of Tibet within China by peaceful means.

This is why the TYC should clarify further by explaining how exactly it is that they are following His Holiness’s guidance and thereby eliminate confusion among the Tibetan community. Any misunderstandings that still linger on within the minds of the Tibetan community should be cleared and now is the right time.

E v e r y y e a r, w e s e e r e f o r m i n i t i a t e d b y governments, organisations and groups. The TYC does not have to change its core objectives, including following the guidance of His Holiness directly, but steps should be taken to restore unity and confidence within the organisation and to restore its credibility among the Tibetan

community and internationally.

People should refrain from making statements without considering their consequences. Many people believe that such irresponsible statements by some people, who have been directly or indirectly associated with the TYC in the past, may have possibly harmed the organisations credibility.

The most important requirement now is for the TYC to be united. This is integral for the organisations survival and for it to restore confidence among the Tibetan community and for it to continue receiving international support.

They need to reform-take steps inorder to encourage more membership, new chapters and to bring stability to the structure and direction of their organisation, rather than continue to merely focus on issues that create divisions.

The TYC may or may not adopt the Middle Way Approach. That is not the issue, I am suggesting here. There are other positions and stances that they can adopt, taking into consideration the realities and conditions of today’s world. The issue is that the survival of an organisation like the TYC is socially, culturally and politically important for the Tibetan community.

The TYC should continue to be able to attract different kinds of support, including financial support from the Tibetan and international community and its activism must stay diplomatically relevant, while keeping moral responsibility. The TYC should also be able to attract moral support from the Tibetan community. All these points should be taken into consideration to further strengthen the TYC. Across the world, movements led by the youth are inspiring reform and change. Yet in the Tibetan case, it is always the elder generation, led

by His Holiness the Dalai Lama that has brought reform and changed the mechanisms, structure and fabric of the society. So we must respect their dedication, vision and tremendous efforts in laying down a proper path for the Tibetan struggle to take.

Most of the 20,000 members of the TYC are young people. It should have a wider perspective and learn from these movements. This will make the TYC a stronger and more efficient force.

Finally, as a Tibetan, I believe and hope that organisations like the TYC and organizations led by the youth in general should only to grow stronger and more united as time progesses.

Manual details psychological consequences on People’s Armed Police Force in Tibet

By Kiran Mohandas Menon: 14 May 2013

Dharamshala: - The Chinese police have achieved international notoriety for their severe and brutal crackdowns on protestors inside Tibet and other parts of China.

A document highlights the increasing psychological trauma being experienced by members of the People’s Armed Police Force (PAPF), the Chinese Police in Tibet.

The Chinese language manual, titled “Guide on Psychiatric Wellbeing While Maintaining Stability” was published by the Sichuan Provincial Political Department of the People’s Armed Police Force and was circulated to the members of the PAPF in Sichuan.

According to the TCHRD, the manual was drafted by experts in psychiatric health departments of armed police hospitals and includes 29 questions and answers that focus “ on providing guidance to some PAPF officers on effectively dealing with the common psychological traumas”, caused by the horrors of their work in Tibet and to “ further improve the quality of capability of stabilitymaintenance work in Tibetan areas, particularly the PAPF officers and other armed forces who need thorough educational and ideological guidance on their work”.

The Chinese government describes the PAPF’s duties as to “perform guard duties, handle emergencies, combat terrorism and participate in and support national economic development” in ‘peacetime’ and to assist the People Liberation A rmy (P L A ) in defens iv e op er atio ns in ‘wartime’.

The Chinese manual describes protestors as

opinion

TPI interviews prominent members of the Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest NGO

Tsewang Rugzin, the president of TYC addressing during opening session of the 15th TYC general body meeting being held in Dharamshala, India, on May 27, 2013. Photo: TPI

By Kiran Mohandas Menon: 29 May 2013

TPI interviews prominent members of the Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest international Tibetan NGO on the Tibetan struggle and the organisation’s stance on various issues.

Dharamshala:- The Tibetan Youth Congress(TYC), which is currently holding its 15th General Body Meeting from 27 May- 1 June, 2013 in Dharamshala, India is the largest and among the most influential Tibetan NGO’s in the world.

Aiming to analyse the functioning of the organization, the general body meeting will also re-evaluate the stance of the Tibetan Youth Congress on various prominent issues, including future activities.

Famed for its pro-independence activism, the organization recently apologized to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for mistakes made in the past.

TPI spoke to various prominent members of the organisation, regarding changing opinions and positions among its members.

Poet and Writer Tenzin Tsundue, the Dharamshala executive member of the TYC believes that some of the TYC members “got carried away in their enthusiasm and misread some of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s recent speeches, looking at it as a prophecy”, which he says is unfortunate.

“The issue is not independence or autonomy, the issue is how we have conducted ourselves within the Tibetan community”. “The most important thing is being flexible and co-operative, while maintaining the independence of Tibet at the core of the struggle.”

Asked about his opinion on the positions of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Mr Tsundue emphasises the importance of “maintaining absolute respect for the CTA”, as it is the “mandate of the majority of the Tibetan people”.

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Front cover of the PAP manual on mental health

‘troublemakers’ and states that some policemen become “uncomfortable and confused”, when they see maroon robed monks protesting. It further states that “such reactions diminish the strength of armed force’s valour and resolve in punishing troublemakers”.

In the past, Chinese police have shot at unarmed demonstrations and have also been accused of arbitrary arrests and torturing prisoners. The whereabouts of many of these prisoners are also unknown.

The popular international publication, the Economist, once stated in an article, titled ‘China’s Crackdown’ that the Chinese police pick up people “under arbitrary detention rules and then, they are made to disappear’.

China’s is also one of the last single party systems and authoritarian regimes remaining in the world.

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He further states that “The CTA stands for autonomy, keeping in mind the urgency to find an immediate solution in Tibet and various other limitations, especially running an administration within India and trying to seek support from many other foreign governments who today find interest in dealing with China, than supporting the Tibetan cause” and that “the maintenance of the middle way approach has sustained the Tibetan struggle and that is its biggest contribution.”

Speaking on the future steps that have to be taken by the TYC, he says that “the constructive step that the TYC must take is to look at the interest of other countries and governments and see opportunities for Tibet”. Mr Tsundue concludes by stating that “the TYC believes that the Tibetan people are the main principle of the struggle and therefore unity is important”. “The unity comes in maintaining the same motivation to struggle for the Tibetan nation and the people. When we have that kind of motivation, we can approach it from different ways and different methods can also be executed”.

However many TYC members are reconsidering their positions on the methods that have to be adopted for future activism.

Tamding Tsedup, a former member of the TYC and pro-independence activist told the Tibet Post International that he had changed his stance after being influenced by the speeches of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who formulated the model. He said that the approach was mutually beneficial for both the Tibetans and the Chinese as the Tibetans would get genuine autonomy and China would earn respect and credibility from the international community. He added that he felt that this approach was what was required now and that it guaranteed results.

Dolma Tso, a member of the Toronto regional chapter however disagrees. She believes “it was better to close down the TYC” if it changed its stance as “there was no need for two movements fighting for the same cause” and that “two movements with two approaches” were required.

She added that the Chinese would be more worried by calls and activism for Tibetan independence and that His Holiness, as a Buddhist teacher would always only think for the benefit of “the entire humanity”.

Tamding Tsedup, the head of the TYC in the Rabgyaling settlement in Hunsur, South India says that “instead of closing down, the TYC should stay and change their policies and methods”. Speaking to Tibet Express, he said that “after listening to speeches of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, members of his settlement are suggesting that they should adopt the Middle Way Approach”.

Lhasang Tsering, the former President of the Tibetan Youth Congress told the TPI that “the confirmed policy of the TYC was to fight for independence”. “We have the responsibility to listen to the voice of the majority inside Tibet.

They are voting for freedom with their lives.”

Mr Tsering stresses that” the idea of freedom is about truth and justice and that “it must not be treated as an item of business.” “Even if the Middle Way Approach is well intended, it depends on the Chinese and we cannot trust them.”

Mr Tenzin Jigme, the President of the Minnesota chapter of the TYC told TPI that the important thing was to understand the situation inside Tibet, especially with regard to the recent self immolations.

He points out that “the self immolators had three main slogans. Firstly, they wanted freedom in Tibet, then they wanted the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and thirdly, a certain percentage had also asked for independence and as Tibetans living in exile, it is our duty to try and fulfill their wishes.”

Tsultrim Lodoe, the head of the Bir (Himachal Pradesh, India) chapter of the TYC told the Tibet Times that he felt that as time progresses, the organization would have to adopt the Middle Way Approach.

Asked about his opinion on the matter, Tibetan writer and journalist, Mr Tendar Tsering told TPI that he felt that the TYC members were contradicting themselves. He said “The TYC has four vows, and TYC’s first vow I feel contradicts with its last vow. Its first vow states to follow His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s guidance where as its last vow states to fight for complete independence which Dalai Lama doesn’t approve” and that “if the TYC truly believes in the Dalai Lama’s political ideologies and if they really see him as one of the world’s most experienced political leaders and if they truly believe in his political guidance, then TYC should drop down its stance as His Holiness signaled.”

He further added, “there is nothing wrong if we have two stance and two demands and two ways to solve the Tibet-crisis but in between, there are many youngsters who are being misinformed, who are being used to divide the society. So, I don’t know if it is the right time or not but it is high time that we have to do something and maybe dropping down one of these two stances is the only way to stay strong and be united.”

The TYC will discuss steps to make their movement more powerful and efficient in the 15th General Body Meeting. Special discussions will also be held on the demands of the more than 100 Tibetans, who have who self immolated protesting Chinese repression since 2009.

Other topics that will be considered are measures to pressure the Chinese authorities to release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, who has been missing since 1995 and other Tibetan political prisoners, who have been languishing in Chinese jails, aditionally, the key measures to strengthen the democratic structure of the exile administration will also be discussed.

The meeting will also focus on improving the structure and regulations of the Tibetan Youth Congress, its budget and its relationship with other international organizations.

Some parts of the article translated by Kalsang Dolma and Kiran Mohandas Menon

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New representative appointed for Tibet office in New York, USA By: Yeshe Choesang : 27 May 2013

Dharamsala, May 23 – Kaydor Aukatsang has been appointed as the new Representative for the office of Tibet, New York.

After having served as president of the Tibetan Association of Northern California, Development Director at the Natural Capital Institute and Philanthropic Advisor with the Tides Foundation Kaydor Aukatsang is currently the advisor of Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, elected head of the Tibetan people.

According to CTA, now Kaydor has been appointed as the new Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for North America. He will replace Mr Lobsang Nyandak beginning 1 September 2013.

The Central Tibetan administration also announced the exchange of two European Representatives. Mr. Ngodup Dorjee, currently Representative for the Office of Tibet based in Brussels, Belgium will take charge beginning 9 August 2013 as the new Representative for the Office of Tibet in Geneva.

L i k e w i s e M r. Ts e t e n S a m d u p , n o w Representative for the Office in Geneva will start as Representative for the Office of Tibet in Brussels on 2 August 2013.

Further, Mr. Lhakpa Tshoko, Representative of His Holiness for Japan and East Asia will continue his position untill November 2013 instead of June 2013 in order to prepair the Dalai Lama’s visit to Japan later this year.

Since 2011 the constitutional authority to appoint Representatives is delegated to the Kashag cabinet.

The offices of Tibet, currently present in 11 countries all over the world, are the official agencies of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration.

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Develop a code of mental........................ ..... Continued from front page would have widespread benefits and would require global co-operation.

Then His Holiness then joined Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber, Andrea Dubin of the Oregon Environmental Council and Canadian scientist David Suzuki in a summit themed “Universal Responsibility and the Global Environment”.

Speaking at the summit, His Holiness said that

although he was able to escape from Tibet to India in 1959, there would be nowhere to go if the whole world faced environmental problems.

He also visited the Northwest Tibetan Association (NWTCA). Addressing the members of the association, His Holiness said that “Buddhism is a source of wisdom, not just a set of rituals to be performed in the temple” and that it had to be used to “transform the mind” and that its knowledge must be made part of their lives.

Chinese espionage and terror plot against Tibetan community exposed By: Yeshe Choesang: 23 May 2013

Penpa Tsering, the Chinese agent. Photo: CTA

Dharamshala: - A terror plot to poison two Tibetan youths – Tashi Gyaltsen@Tashi Dhondup and Karma Yeshi@Tashi by Chinese Security Agencies aimed at spreading chaos and terror in the Tibetan community was uncovered.

According to the Central Tibetan Administration, this latest exposure goes well beyond Chinese government’s aggressive intelligence gathering on His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Central Tibetan Administration and other exile based organizations to undermine the exile community.

Penpa Tsering, aged 33, from Lhari County of Nagchu Prefecture in Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), confessed that he was first recruited and then sent across to India in 2009 by Li Yuquan who was then working as Party Secretary of Political and Legal Committee; Head of Public Security Bureau of Nagchu Prefecture, ‘TAR’ and a member of the 9th National People’s Congress of TAR,. Li has been since transferred to Chamdo Prefecture, TAR but holding the same portfolio as before.

Penpa Tsering is fully trained in intelligence tradecrafts and physical combat including weapon handling. He was in PLA from 1999 to 2002 and later worked in Public Security Bureau, Nagchu Prefecture prior to coming to India.

Li Yuquan had initially tasked Penpa Tsering to collect intelligence on alleged “terrorist” activities against China by Central Tibetan Administration and Tibetan NGOs based in exile. He was asked to report on the health condition and schedules of His

Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Posing himself as staff of Department of Security, CTA, he made contacts with numerous individuals to collect specific intelligence on exile based Tibetan NGOs, important personalities, new comers from Tibet and vulnerabilities in Tibetan community. He then reported this information to his handler on a regular basis through phone, Internet based Weechat and QQ. Later, Li Yuquan tasked Penpa Tsering to eliminate the above mentioned two youths – Tashi Gyaltsen of Driru Dzong, Nagchu and Karma Yeshi of Palpung, Derge Dzong, Kham – both of them had escaped to India in early 2010. To execute this terror plot, Li summoned Penpa Tsering twice to Kathmandu, Nepal since 2012. Li, along with other Chinese agents personally instructed him to eliminate the two youths by poisoning. Three different poisonous substances were first tested in front of him on two puppies and a chicken and then handed to him.

Penpa Tsering has received more than Eleven lakhs in Indian Rupees from Li Yuquan since May 2009 for providing intelligence reports and the task of eliminating the above two youths.

The Department of Security would like to express its appreciation to Tashi Gyaltsen and Karma Yeshi for their courageous efforts in exposing the Chinese plot and intelligence network attempting to infiltrate and undermine the Tibetan exile community.

We also take this opportunity to appeal all sensible and right thinking Tibetans to cooperate with us in further exposing evil designs of Chinese security agencies by providing credible and timely information whenever they come across of any such nature.

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Exile Tibetan Parliamentary delegation completes North East India visit

By Kiran Mohandas Menon: 30 May 2013

Dharamshala :- A Tibetan Parliamentary delegation completed a five day (23-28 May, 2013) visit to the North-East Indian State of Meghalaya, thereby completing the final leg of the ‘All India Lobby Campaign’. The campaign which is organized by the Tibetan parliament in exile is aimed at spreading awareness about the series of recent self immolations that have engulfed Tibet among the Indian public.

The delegation, led by former speaker Pema Jungney met with prominent State leaders, Political Party leaders, Bureaucrats, Luminaries and members of the Press.

His Excellency the Governor, Shri Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary expressed his solidarity with the Tibetan cause. After being informed about the current crisis in Tibet, he told members that “hope is what will keep you all going” and that “victory will be an eventuality”.

Mr Mooshahary, who was the former Director-General of India’s National Security Guard (NSG), saluted the “tenacity, arduousness and the resolve of the exiled Tibetans”.

The delegation then met with Shri Rowell Lingdo, the Deputy Chief Minister of the State, who condemned the “atrocious policies of the Chinese Government”, adding that “China must realize, respect and respond to the true aspirations of the Tibetan people and the Tibetan leadership’s call for dialogue to resolve the crisis.”

The delegation also met with the Deputy Speaker of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly, Shri Sanbor Shullai, who stated that, the “Indian Government should treat the Tibet issue as a special issue” and raise it during the “diplomatic engagements with the Chinese leaders”.

The delegation held meetings with the leaders of prominent political parties in the State and appealed for a cross-party support for the Tibetan political movement. The three member delegation also led a ‘mass solidarity candlelight vigil’ to ‘express solidarity with the supreme sacrifices made by the Tibetans inside Tibet’.

Earlier, the delegation had visited Arunachal Pradesh, calling on the Chief Minister and other Political leaders of the State for ‘stronger and fortified expressions of political support for the resolution of the crisis in Tibet’ The leaders unequivocally pledged support-politically and socially for Tibet and Tibetans in Tibet and in exile and resolved to submit a joint letter to the Chief Minister on the Tibet crisis.

On May 20, whilst the high-level talk between the visiting Chinese Premier Li Keiqiang and Indian

Photo 1: The Tibetan delegation with Chief Minister Nabam Tuki Photo 2: with Rajya Sabha MP Mukut Mitthi and Photo 3: The delegation with political party leaders and TSG members after the conclusion of the May 20 Symposium. Photo: TPI

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was underway in New Delhi, the 3-member Tibetan Parliamentary delegation held a meeting with the Honorable Chief Minister (CM) of the State Shri Nabam Tuku at the CM Bungalow.

The CM expressed solidarity with the aspiration of the Tibetan people inside Tibet and said that ‘he feels connected to Tibet socially and culturally.’

The CM expressed admiration for the ‘exile Tibetan Administration and the exile Tibetans’ perseverance that persists despite all odds.’ Taking stock of China’s diplomatic maneuvers in the contentious border row between India and China over Arunachal Pradesh, the CM affirmed that ‘practically Arunachal Pradesh shares border with Tibet and not with China.’

The Tibetan delegation met with Shri Mukut Mithi, Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (Congress), former Chief Minister and president President of Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC). Shri Mithi avowed party support for the passing of an ‘All-Party Parliamentary Resolution on Tibet Crisis.’

Members of Legislative Assembly - Smt. Karya Bagang and Shri Passang Dorjee Sona received the Parliamentary delegation and assured State support for the Tibetan movement, particularly on SocioCultural avenues.

The delegation also took part in a symposium on ‘Tibet and India’ along with leaders of the four political parties of the State, three of which are mainstream parties: Indian National Congress (INC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), National Congress Party (NCP) and one regional party- People’s Party of Arunachal

(PPA).

In Assam, the delegation met with senior officials including His Excellency the Governor, Shri J.B. Patnaik, the Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly, Shri Pranab Kumar Gogoi and Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Shri Bhimananda Tanti.

Honourable Governor of the State, Shri J.B. Patnaik, received the delegation at Raj Bhavan on May 11. The Governor lamented the unprecedented spate of selfimmolations inside Tibet and said that ‘it should stop as the stone- hearted Chinese leadership will not be moved by such acts.’ “One must survive to struggle,” said the Governor who served as the former Chief Minister of Odisha.

The Honourable Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly (ALA), Shri Pranab Kumar Gogoi reiterated the same. “Lone, isolated voices across the globe will not undo the atrocities in Tibet, instead a tenacious and resolute action from the United Nations will effectuate the effective addressing of the plight” said Gogoi.

The Deputy Speaker of the Assembly Shri Bhimananda Tanti expressed appreciation for the ‘non-violent movement and the unflinching spirit of the Tibetan people.’

While deeming the unflinching support of the Indian Government and its people towards the Tibetan people as significant, the delegation appealed the State leaders for substantial and public expressions of solidarity and support amid the unprecedented spate of self-immolations by Tibetans inside Tibet and the subsequent deepening crackdown by Chinese Government.

it confirms that the actual plan is to completely transform the Jokhang and Barkhor area which is of great spiritual and cultural heritage of Tibetans for more than a thousand year, into a superficial tourist spot.

The statement said that “Fearing this inevitability under Chinese regime, the Central Tibetan Administration in the past had pleaded many times with the UNESCO and other organizations for the inclusion of Jokhang and Barkhor area in the World Heritage list.”

“We strongly urge the Chinese leadership to stop destructing one of the last remnants of spiritual, cultural and social centre of Tibet,” it further stated.

According to reports coming out of Tibet, Tibetans living among the ancient buildings around Lhasa’s Jokhang Temple have been uprooted by the Chinese government in recent weeks, creating further destruction and demolition of the ancient Tibetan civilization.

“The construction project in the areas of Barkor streets of the Jokhang temple covers an area of 150,000 square meters to use as new shopping malls and 1,117 square meters for the underground parking spaces”, said the sources.

Recent visitors have raised strong concerns over the constructions, as well as the fate of Lhasa. They have condemned them for demolishing the ancient symbols of Tibetan civilization.

Central Tibetan Administration urges China to stop destruction of Lhasa City in Tibet

By Yeshe Choesang: 18 May 2013

Dharamshala: - The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), which is based in the Himalayan hill town in northern India strongly urged Chinese government to stop destructing one of the last remnants of cultural center of Tibet.

“We are deeply concerned about the so-called ‘face-lift project’ that is currently underway in Barkhor and the old town area of Tibet’s capital Lhasa,” CTA said in a statement issued on 16 May 2013.

“Apparently, for this project, China is investing 196 million US dollar to upgrade “infrastructure” in the old town of Lhasa. However, according to recent reports,” the administration added,

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Dharamshala: - The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPIE) today expressed it’s heartfelt gratitude to Mr Jason Kenney, honourable minister of Canada for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism for his continued support towards democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Tibet.

According to the Central Tibetan Administration, member of TPIE from North America Mr Norbu Tsering presented the souvenir award to Mr Kenney on 24 May 2013 at his office.

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TPI NEWS TIBET 4 China jails Tibetan writer Gartse A layman dies of self-immolation for five years over his writings protest in Tibet: Toll rises to 118 The Tibet Post International

31 May 2013

By Yeshe Choesang: 29 May 2013

Tibetan writer Gartse Jigme and the front-page cover of his book. Photo: TPI/File

By Kiran Mohandas Menon: 3 May 2013

Dharamshala: - Gartse Jigme, a Tibetan writer, has been arrested and sentenced to 5 years imprisonment by Chinese authorities in Tibet, citing the “political content’ in his writings.

Jigme, who is 36 years old, is a monk at the Gartse monastery.

The Chinese security officials are said to have raided his house and confiscated his personal belongings, including his computer. He was sentenced on May 14, 2013 by a Chinese court in Tsekhog. No details are available regarding his current whereabouts and condition.

His writings focused on crucial issues such as the self immolations that have engulfed Tibet since 2009, the conditions of the Tibetans in Tibet and the workings of the Tibetan government and administration in exile.

The distribution of his book, the ‘The Kings Courage’ was given as reason for his initial detention. He also wrote about His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the circumstances surrounding Tibet’s 11th Panchen Lama, who has been missing since 1995.

His referenced failed Chinese policies such as the Great Leap Forward, in which thousands of Tibetans lost their lives due to the current poor conditions of Tibetans in Tibet.

Born in Gartse, in the Rebkhong region on Malho, Gartse Jigme started writing in 1999 and his first book ‘Bsam bzhigs nyul ba’I zin tho’ (Diary of Wandering Thoughts) was met with popular acclaim.

He was detained by Chinese authorities in the beginning of 2011 and was reportedly tortured after the publication of ‘The Kings Courage’.

China has previously arrested many Tibetan and

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Chinese intellectuals and writers for expressing concern about the human rights situation and other problems in the country.”Reporters without Borders” had labelled the condition of the press in China as ‘difficult’, describing the Chinese government as the “leading repressor in the world of the Internet’.

Among those who have been jailed by Chinese authorities is 2010 Nobel Peace Laureate, Lu Xiabo, who was jailed for ‘inciting subversion of state power’.

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Tenzin Sherab, a 34 year old Tibetan layman from Chumarleb township, Yulshul county of Easntern Tibet. Photo: TPI

He criticized Beijing’s failed and hard-line policies in Tibet, saying “We discourage the actions, but support the aspirations. Life is precious and as human beings we do not want anyone to die in such a manner. As Buddhists, we pray for the soul of the deceased. As Tibetans, it is our sacred duty to support the aspirations of Tibetans in Tibet: the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet, freedom for the Tibetan people, and unity among Tibetans.”

The Chinese government, however, has accused His Holiness the Dalai Lama and exile Tibetans of orchestrating the waves of self-immolation protests by Tibetans in Tibet.

Missing Buddhist monks of Onpo Monastery in eastern Tibet reportedly in Chinese Prison

By Kiran Mohandas Menon: 29 May 2013

Dharamshala: - Reports from Tibet state that six of the nine monks, who were missing after being arrested by the Chinese military in October last year are in a prison in Kham Karze, Eastern Tibet(Chinese-Ganzi, Tibet Autonomous Region, Sichuan Province) The whereabouts of the monks were unknown after they were arrested in a series of arrests that were conducted by the Chinese military from 15-24 October, 2012. The whereabouts of the remaining three monks including the eldest monk in the group, Choedhar (47 years) remain unknown, Ven Jampa Yonten, a monk in South India told The Tibet Post International, citing contacts in the region.

The monks, Choedhar (47), Kyabpe (27), Mitruk (25) Gedun (24) Sogon (22) Sochoe (22) Khedup (22) Norbu (20) Yingnyen (19) are from the Gadhen Shedup Dhargyeling Monastery in Onpo Village, Dzamed Township, Sershul County, Kham Karze in Eastern Tibet.

Protests against the policies and actions of the Chinese authorities have been rife in this region and on 4 February, 2012, protestors demonstrated by chanting slogans against Chinese repression and

Photos in line 1: Yignyen, Sonam Gonpo and Norbu and Photos in line 2: Tenzin Gedun, Choedhar, Sonam Choedhar and Kyabpe. Photo: TPI

removing a Chinese flag in a school and replacing it with a Tibetan flag. The Chinese authorities responded by sending in the army to suppress the protests, although no arrests were made then.

After another wave of protests in September, the same year, the Chinese military arrested around

30 people from the two monasteries of Onpo.

Reports state that among the arrested were monks who had come to the monastery to study from other regions.

Translated by Kelsang Dolma and Kiran Mohandas Menon, The Tibet Post International.

the man, after repeatedly informing the police, who did not take any action. In 1994, He was moved to a prison in Nagchu and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment. Gyatso was then transferred to another prison in Drapchi.

While imprisoned in Drapchi, he created slogans calling for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and about the human rights situation in Tibet and read it loudly. He also distributed them to other inmates.

Gyatso was then reportedly tortured and kept in solitary confinement. After being transferred back, he repeated this and reports state that he was brutally tortured for a month in March 1995, causing severe health problems, including kidney failure. Reports also emerged from prison that he was going to be sentenced to death.

This information was reported to the Tibetan media and the CTA, with the help of various NGO’s requests were made to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to intervene.

As a result, the Chinese government commuted his sentence. The formal charge that was brought up against him was efforts to ‘split the country’.

In 1998, there were mass protests inside the prison against the Chinese authorities and Lodoe

Gyatso was shifted to the infamous Chushul prison, in the outskirts of Lhasa.

He was released on May 2nd this year. Reports state that Gyatso was handed over to the Sokdzong police.

Translated by Kalsang Dolma and Kiran Mohandas Menon.

Tibetan Political prisoner Lodoe Gyatso released from Chinese Jail after two decades

By Kiran Mohandas Menon: 20 May 2013

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Dharamshala: – Emerging reports from eastern Tibet say a 34-year old layman has died in eastern Tibet on Monday after setting himself ablaze as a self-immolation protest against China’s hardline and repressive policies on Tibet.

“Tenzin Sherab, 23, has died after setting himself ablaze at a road side in Kyaring area, near Chumarleb county, Kham Yushul of eastern Tibet (Chinese: Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southern Qinghai) on May 27, 2013 in protest against the continued religious and cultural repression by the Chinese government,” Ven Jampa Yonten, a monk in South India told The Tibet Post International, citing contacts in the region.

Tenzin Sherab was a native of Adrel village in Chumarleb county, Kham Yushul of eastern Tibet, according to Jampa Yonten.

“After his self-immolation protest, his friends and local authorities handed-over his body to Chinese police. The next day, [May 28], the Chinese police called Dhondup, Sherab’s father and family and told them to claim the body,” sources said.

“Later the Same Day, Sherab’s body was taken into a local monastery called “Onpo Monastery” where traditional Buddhist prayer services were

held by monks,” Jampa further added.

“The local Chinese authorities already have ordered monks Wednesday evening to cremate their bodies in the morning tomorrow,” sources added.

According to the sources, Sherab was ‘very loyal and honourable Tibetan man.” It says that many times, he criticised China’s failed policies in Tibet and declared his loyalty to Tibet cause.

The latest incident has pushed the total number of self-immolations in Tibet to 118 since 2009, at-least 101 of them reportedly passed-away due to burn injuries.

The most common calls for the return of the spiritual leader of Tibet His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his homeland and freedom for Tibetans. However, many also called for Tibetan independence.

Tibetans inside Tibet and exile say China’s crackdown on Tibetan regions is so oppressive, those who choose such a horrific form of protest feel they have no other way to express their beliefs.

“Through various media, the Tibetan administration has consistently appealed and categorically discouraged Tibetans in Tibet from self-immolating as a form of protest,” said Dr Lobsang Sangay, the political leader of Tibetan people.

Lodoe Gyatso, a Tibetan activist from Sok County of eastern Tibet. Photo: TPI

Dharamshala: - Lodoe Gyatso, a Tibetan activist from Sok county of eastern Tibet has been released from a Chinese jail after being imprisoned for two decades.

Lodoe Gyatso was born in 1962 in Sokkhar village in Tsardrok, Sokdzong in the Kham province of Eastern Tibet.

He is the son of the late Jigme and Sonam Yeshi.

A member of the local cultural committee, Gyatso was active in spreading aspects of Tibetan culture across the region.

In 1993, one of Gyatso’s five sisters was murdered by a man. Gyatso reportedly stabbed

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TPI NEWS

Three exile Tibetan schools in India performed excellent in CBSE exams

EXILE

31 May 2013

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Minister Chhinjor urges Tibetan intellectuals to join the Central Tibetan administration

By Kiran Mohandas Menon: 18 May 2013

SIkyong Dr Lobsang Sangay with Tenzin Chokyi. Sikyong met her at his office earlier to personally congratulate her for the achievement. (Photo/Tenzin Phende)

By Elisabeth Crokaertss: 29 May 2013

Dharamshala, 29th May: – On May 27th 2013 the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) stated the class XII board examination results and three Tibetan schools have achieved 100% result this year.

Three Tibetan Schools, namely TCV Selakui, TNMF Clement Town and TCV Gopalpur, achieved a 100 % result in All India Senior School Certificate Examination (AISSCE). Out of the 1,616 Tibetan students who appeared, 1,411 have passed, 47 students failed and 158 students were placed under compartment category (failed in 1 subject).

Tibetan schools have with 87,3 % already a slightly higher passing percentage in comparison to Indian schools who have a passing percentage of 82.10 %. However, the last year’s result of Tibetan schools in class XII board examination showed a significant dip in comparison to the 92.52 % passing percentage of last year.

Tibetan girls perform better than Tibetan boys as 85.96 % of the boys and 88.63 % of the girls passed.

The winner of the prestigious and dnew Sikyong Scholarship of Rs 100,000 was Ms. Tenzin Chokyi of THF School Mussoorie. She topped in Arts Stream with a score just above 95%. This scholarship aims to encourage students to work harder and perform better in class XII board examination.

Further, Mr. Trinley Tsering Lama of TCV School, Selakui topped in Science with 92.8% and Mr. Tenzin Thinlay of THF Mussoorie in Commerce

stream with 90.4%.

According to the Tibetan Community, these results are indebted to their new prime minister, Lobsang Sangay. It was he whos concentrated on improving the level of education of Tibetans.

Today Dr. Sangay communicated with college students attending a workshop organized by the Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre in McLeodganj. He updated them on the situation inside Tibet and the efforts made by the Tibetan government in exile.

After coming into exile in 1959, His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama had given top priority to education. He then requested the then Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to establish schools for Tibetan refugee children to provide modern education, while also preservation of the Tibetan language and culture.

The Department of Education currently oversees 73 Tibetan schools – excluding the pre-primary sections and private schools – in India and Nepal under different autonomous administrative bodies, according to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).

It reports there are around 24,000 students and 2,200 staff members in these schools. The autonomous school administrative bodies include: Central Tibetan Schools Administration (28 schools), Tibetan Children’s Villages (18 schools), Tibetan Homes Foundation (3 schools), Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society (12 schools), and Snow Lion Foundation (12 schools).

‘Revised White Paper’ on Tibet SelfImmolations released by CTA

By Kiran Mohandas Menon: 8 May 2013

Dharamshala: -The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Saturday released the revised version of its White Paper on Tibetan self-immolations on the occasion of International Tibet Solidarity Day. The White Paper titled ‘Why Tibet is Burning.’ explains the fundamental reasons behind the ongoing wave of self-immolations inside Tibet and the alarming escalation in the protests witnessed in the past few months.

“We issue this report to illuminate the deeper layers of the current crisis in Tibet. It is our hope it will motivate and assist members of the international community to urge the new leadership, led by Xi Jinping, to initiate wise new policies in regard to the Tibetan people,” Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay stated in the foreword of the book.

“As we have repeatedly said, the blame for and the solution to the crisis in Tibet lies in the hands of the Chinese leadership,”Sikyong added.

Despite the Kashag’s repeated appeals to the Tibetan people not to resort to drastic actions such as self-immolation, over 118 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in Tibet to protest against the continued occupation and repression by Chinese government.

The self-immolators have called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans.

The research publication explaining the fundamental reasons behind the ongoing wave of self-immolations inside Tibet and the alarming escalation in the protests witnessed in the recent years, was first released on January 28, 2013 by

The Tibet Policy Institute (TPI), a think-tank that functions as a research-oriented intellectual platform for the CTA. The revised version is available in English, Chinese and Tibetan languages.

China’s state-run television network CCTV, on May 16 aired a news feature blaming His Holiness the Dalai Lama and foreign media for encouraging a spate of self-immolations in Tibet.

The documentary claims that the self-immolation protests that had taken place in Tibet were guided by a manual written by Mr Lhamo Kyab.

The documentary also describes him as a two-term former member in the parliament and claims that he still has an important position in its “educational system.”

The ‘Chinese Government misrepresents personal writings on self-Immolations to lay blame on His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration,’ Ms Dicki Chhoyang, Kalon or minister of the Department of Information & International Relations of CTA said in a statement issued on, March 7, 2013.

“Mr. Lhomo Kyab is a former member of the Tibetan Parliament in exile who now resides in France. He is neither part of the Central Tibetan Administration nor Private Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” she said.

His blog reflects his personal opinion. “Such writings are irresponsible and unnecessarily give excuses to the Chinese government to resort to the blame game and shirk its responsibility for the root causes leading to self-immolations,” the minister said.

Dharamshala: - Tibetan minister Pema Chhinjor urged intellectuals and scholars from the Tibetan community to join and be part of the Tibetan administration and to use their knowledge and ability to further strengthen the Tibetan cause.

A prayer service and official gathering was organized by the Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration at the Tsuglakhang in Dharamshala in memory of the Tibetans who set themselves on fire, protesting the Chinese rule and calling for the return of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to Tibet. Since 2009, at least 118 Tibetans are reported to have lost their lives this way.

The prayer service, which was conducted on 17 May, 2013, was organised as part of the observance of International Solidarity Day, On this day in 1995, the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet, Gendhun Choeki Nyima disappeared suspiciously at the age of 6.

Kalon Pema Chhinjor of the Department of Religion and Culture spoke of the strength that has been displayed by the Tibetan community in exile. He also called out to Tibetan authors and scholars, who frequently criticise the workings of the CTA and the Tibetan parliament to do something constructive and beneficial for the Tibetan community, stressing that “there were plenty of seats available at the Tibetan parliament”.

The Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, Ven. Khenpo Sonam Tenphel stated that the fact “that his whereabouts still remain unknown clearly symbolizes the continuing tragic situation in Tibet, where courageous Tibetans are still being

Tibetans and suporters observing the International Tibet Solidarity in Dharamshala, India, on May 17, 2013. Photo: TPI/Dhondup

imprisoned and their basic rights recognised only in forced denials is the reason why 17th of May has especially been set aside for observing this special occasion”.

Ven. Sonam Themphel said that the Tibetan parliament in exile remained hopeful that “ as a result of this day being observed in places across the world, definite appreciable gains will be seen in the furtherance of the Tibetan cause with regard to Tibet’s both immediate and long term religious, political and ethnic well being”.

He expressed his gratitude to the “United Nations, governments of numerous countries,

organizations and groups, as well as private individuals, who have adopted resolutions, issued statements and so on, on the tragic situation in Tibet today, expressing solidarity with and support for the Tibetan people”. He also thanked the “government and people of India for their continuing and phenomenal generosity towards the Tibetan people”.

The day concluded with performances by members of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts and a mass recitation of ‘Words of Truth’, a prayer composed by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

Largest exile NGO Tibet Youth Congress holds its 15th General Body Meeting

By Kiran Mohandas Menon: 27 May 2013

Dharamshala: - The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), the largest international Tibetan nongovernmental organization has apologized to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, if they had made mistakes in the past.

The TYC is holding its general body meeting from 27th May-1 June in Dharamshala, India and is being attended by over 300 of its members, including guests and representatives from Tibetan NGOs. Speaking at the event, Tsewang Rigzin, the President of the Tibetan Youth Congress said that “if the TYC had made mistakes by going against His Holiness’s thoughts”, he apologized from the depths of his heart.

He also paid tribute to the “martyrs of Tibet”, to those who have lost their lives protesting Chinese repression and those who are still suffering under the Chinese system, stating that the “courage and strength’ they had shown would be the basic route of the Tibetan struggle. He also promised that the TYC would follow His Holiness’s guidance and would co-operate with and contribute support to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) Aiming to analyse the functioning of the organization, the general body meeting will also re-evaluate the stance of the Tibetan Youth Congress on various prominent issues, including future activities.The TYC will discuss steps to make their movement more powerful and efficient. Special discussions will also be held

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Tsewang Rugzin, the president of TYC addressing during opening session of the 15th TYC general body meeting being held in Dharamshala, India, on May 27, 2013. Photo: TPI/Dhondup

on the demands of the more than 100 Tibetans, who have who self immolated protesting Chinese repression since 2009.

Other topics that will be considered are measures to pressure the Chinese authorities to release Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, who has been missing since 1995 and other Tibetan political prisoners, who have been languishing in Chinese jails and measures to strengthen the democratic structure of the exile administration.

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6

TPI NEWS H.H the Dalai lama His Holiness The Dalai Lama His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet talks Among the World Leaders at of peace and compassion in Louisville, US Highest Levels of Popularity in U.S. and European countries The Tibet Post International

31 May 2013

By Elisabeth Crokaerts 23 May 2013

His Holiness The Dalai Lama, President Obama and Pope Francis at Highest Levels of Popularity in U.S. and Five Largest European Countries

By The Wall Street Journal: 29 May 2013

NEW YORK, May 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As President Obama begins thinking about his postpresidency plans, he might want to consider a move to Italy or France, whose residents give him an almost universal thumbs-up. Across the five largest European countries and the United States, President Barack Obama is tied with the Dalai Lama with the highest levels of popularity. Pope Francis is the only leader that comes close to the two of them.

One thing to keep in mind is that this poll does not measure job ratings, but rather how good or bad opinions are of some well-known world leaders.

Across the six countries, three-quarters of adults (78%) on average have good opinions of both President Obama and the Dalai Lama. For the Dalai Lama, between 64% (in the U.S.) and 86% (in Italy) have good opinions of him. For President Obama, it is a little more of a difference, with his own country being the low point. While just half of Americans (51%) have a good opinion of the President, he is much more popular in Europe (87% in Italy, 87% in France, 80% in Spain, 83% in Germany and 79% in Great Britain).

In the U.S., Americans have higher opinions of The Dalai Lama (64%) and Pope Francis (61%) than they do of President Obama.

These are the results of a Harris Poll conducted online among a total of 7,245 adults aged 16+ in France, Germany, Great Britain and Spain and adults aged 18+ in Italy and the United States between May 8 and 15, 2013 by Harris Interactive. Click here to see the full results, including data tables and the complete list of world leaders tested.

Looking at some of the other heads of states for the countries surveyed, over two in five Britons (43%) have good opinions of Prime Minister David Cameron, similar to the 44% who have a positive opinion of him across the six countries. Angela Merkel of Germany has the opposite issue of President Obama. While over three in five Germans (63%) have a good opinion of her, only 47% across the six countries say the same.

The bottom of the list has some controversial figures from around the world: Kim Jong Un (4% of adults across the six countries have a good opinion of him), Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran (6%), China’s Xi Jinping (14%) and Vladimir Putin of Russia (19%).

Influence of Leaders In addition to overall opinions of the leaders, there is also the question of how influential these leaders are, again not only among their own countrymen and women, but also among adults in all six of the countries. President Obama is at the top, with 83% across all 6 countries saying he has a great deal or some influence, but it is Europe driving that as seven

in ten (70%) of Americans say he has influence.

Three-quarters of adults in all six countries (75%) say Angela Merkel has a great deal/some influence, including 82% of Germans who say this. Rounding out the top five most influential leaders from our list are Vladimir Putin (69%), David Cameron (61%) and Pope Francis (60%).

Job approvals and popularity share a sometimes disparate relationship for politicians. President Bill Clinton enjoyed high job approval ratings in the 1990s, but Americans gave him low marks for popularity during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Here, there is also the issue that sometimes, the grass is greener on the other side of the pond, so to speak. Perhaps Europeans see something in President Obama from across the Atlantic that is missed up close in the United States.

To see other recent Harris Polls, as well as to see the full list of world leaders, please visit the Harris Poll News Room.

Methodology This Harris Poll was conducted online by Harris Interactive among a total of 7,245 adults (aged 16+) within France (1,018), Germany (1,016), Great Britain (1,023), and Spain (942) and adults (aged 18+) in Italy (1,006) and the United States (2,240) between May 8 and 15, 2013. Figures for age, sex, education, region and Internet usage were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

All sample surveys and polls, whether or not they use probability sampling, are subject to multiple sources of error which are most often not possible to quantify or estimate, including sampling error, coverage error, error associated with nonresponse, error associated with question wording and response options, and postsurvey weighting and adjustments. Therefore, Harris Interactive avoids the words “margin of error” as they are misleading. All that can be calculated are different possible sampling errors with different probabilities for pure, unweighted, random samples with 100% response rates. These are only theoretical because no published polls come close to this ideal.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Interactive surveys. The data have been weighted to reflect the composition of the adult population.

Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the Harris Interactive panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

The results of this Harris Poll may not be used in advertising, marketing or promotion without the prior written permission of Harris Interactive.

These statements conform to the principles of disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls.

Tibet Festival 2013........................

The festival was organised by the cultural section of the Liaison Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Japan and East-Asia, with support from the authorities of Gokokuji temple and was visited by over 80, 000 people.

Focusing on various aspects of Tibetan culture, the festival also included the performance of traditional Tibetan art forms. Tibetan food was also made available to the visiting public.

Cham, a Tibetan ritual dance was performed by Tibetan monks from the Tashilhunpo Monastery in South India. Sand Mandalas and Tibetan Thangka paintings were displayed in association with the Norblingka Institute of Dharamshala.

..... Continued from front page

Dharamshala: -His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet met with Vietnamese Buddhists, middle and high school students and the top official in Louisville, before ending his two week US tour.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate and spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists met a group of Vietnamese Buddhists at the Kentucky Center for Arts in Louisville, where the Heart Sutra in Vietnamese chanted.

“Let’s begin with your reciting the Heart Sutra in Vietnamese,” His Holiness said. “While you do that visualize the Buddha in the space in front of you surrounded by Indian teachers like Nagarjuna and Asanga, and those who brought Buddhism to Vietnam.

And remember how the Buddha practiced for aeons to show us that through a combination of the awakening mind of bodhichitta and the wisdom understanding emptiness, we too can attain enlightenment.”

His Holiness was impressed by the way Vietnamese keep up their language, Buddhist traditions and monastic robes. He remarked that Tibetans too are trying to preserve their culture and religion in the face of adversity.

A question was asked about how His Holiness imagines freedom coming about in Tibet and he replied that although they don’t seek outright independence, Tibetans have their own language and culture, as well as a fragile environment, to protect, something best done by Tibetans themselves. And for that they need genuine autonomy.

His Holiness reminded the audience about the fact that material development may be much advanced but that it will not necessarily bring more inner peace.

On the contrary, it often tends to bring more greed and competitiveness.

The spiriutal leader also spoke in positive words about having respect for the Buddha’s teachings, other religious traditions and the way how Vietnamese keep up their language and Buddhist traditions.

After the spiritual event with the Vietnamese group, His Holiness spoke to a group of middle and high school students, followed by a meeting with Greg Fisher, the Mayor of Louisville, Kentucky and his team.

It is a misconception, the Nobel peace laureate said, that love and compassion are values that only belong to religion. “Not only should we not think that human values are confined to religious practice, it would be a mistake to think that compassion only benefits other people, but brings us no reward. My mother was consistently kind and compassionate to others, despite being illiterate and uneducated, and she was also consistently happy. Later, when I came to engage in Buddhist training in compassion, I found it easier because of the seeds of compassion my mother had sown in me.”

He made them remember that all humans are like brothers and sisters and that it can help to remind yourself that we are all human beings when confronted

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Joseph Kurtz in Louisville, Kentucky on May 20, 2013. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

with negative behaviour.

“If someone behaves negatively towards you, it can be very helpful to remember that they are human beings like you. It’s also helpful to remember to distinguish between an action and the person who does it,” he said.

We can prevent others from harming us by taking measures preferably with a calm mind as anger disturbs our ability to reason properly. He continued that the practise of compassion and forgiveness gives one great inner strength. By using your intelligence you can reinforce your sense of compassion, a quality that is not a sign of weakness.

“If you need to take counter measures to prevent someone doing harm, it is always better to do it with a calm rather than an agitated mind. If we act out of anger, the best part of our brain fails to function properly.

Remember, compassion is not a sign of weakness,” he added.

His Holiness answered some questions asked by the students. “I have some regret that at an age that was an ideal time to study I played instead. That time is gone and I regret losing it. When I was younger I loved gardening. I also used to love toys that moved. I’d play with them for a while and then would open them up to see how they worked. In a similar spirit, I looked at the moon through my telescope and seeing the shadows of the mountains realised they were caused by sunlight and that the moon had no light of its own. This was the beginning of my interest in science, which I have encouraged Tibetans to share. Last year, our Tibetan monasteries in India formally decided to incorporate science into their study programs.”

His Holiness The Dalai Lama meets Tibetan and Chinese students in Madison, Wisconsin, US

Ven. Eiji Okamoto, the Chief Abbot of the Gokokuji Temple said that “ he felt glad to help the Tibetan people’ and that the Gokokuji temple “ shared a special relationship with the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama due to the past visits

by His Holiness to the temple.”

His Holiness the Dalai Lama had visited the temple in 2011 to conduct prayers following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan that year.

Lhakpa Tshoko, the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Japan thanked the authorities of the Gokokuji temple, the volunteers and the participants for their support.

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His Holiness talked about how the American youth can develop a calm mind. His Holiness said that “what they need to do is tackle their disturbing emotions, adding that if their basic mental state is calm it’s easier to deal with eruptions of anger. He recommended that corresponding to physical hygiene we should encourage the adoption of mental or emotional hygiene. When we have a calm mind we have less fear, anger and suspicion. One way to achieve this is to pay attention to our breath, by mindfully counting 20 inhalations and exhalations. That will reduce our tendency to anger.”

One thing is that we could pay full attention to our breath for 20 in- and exhalations to tackle disturbing emotions like anger. By reintroducing a sense of human values we can also reduce destructive emotions.

During his meeting with Greg Fisher and his team, His Holiness emphasized that whatever you do, it is your motivation that is vital. He commended Fisher for his initiatives towards compassion for the city and suggested that under his leadership it should be possible to promote human values under the banner of secular ethics.

Students and teachers expressed their gratitude to His Holiness for coming, one of them telling him, “You remind us of the goodness within us.”

His Holiness also met with Archbishop Joseph Kurtz before the start of his teaching at the Yum Center in the city.

He returned to his exile home town of Dharamshala on Thursday after a historical 16-day visit to the United States. Members of the Tibetan community and other devotees in the Himalayan town offered His Holiness a traditional welcome on his arrival.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking during a meeting with Chinese students in Madison, Wisconsin on May 16, 2013. Photo/ Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

By Kiran Mohandas Menon: 21 May 2013

Dharamshala: - His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet met with a group of Chinese and Tibetan students during his visit to Madison, Wisconsin, United States.

His Holiness met with 51 Chinese students, 13 Chinese Professors, 15 Chinese and 13 Taiwanese scholars from Madison and Chicago.

In a friendly conversation, His Holiness spoke of the potential benefits to Tibetans of being part of the People’s Republic of China, but also reiterated the determination of the Tibetan people

to preserve the Tibetan language, religion and culture.

He recalled his experiences while visiting China in 1954-55 and his meetings with Mao Zedong and other members of China’s leadership.

Later, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with a group of Tibetan students. Speaking in Tibetan, he stressed the importance of the Tibetan language, religion and culture, while also stating that “Tibetan Buddhism contains the most thorough and comprehensive presentation of Buddhist thought in the world”.

The spiritual leader also said that the heritage of Nalanda University, an ancient Indian centre of learning, established in the 5th century, was now only available in Tibetan.

He told the students that the dialectical method, which was developed in India, but maintained in Tibet, had enabled him to follow and understand the findings of modern scientists and discuss such findings with them, despite him having no modern education. The method’s sharp logic and reasoned approach could be applied to other areas of study, he suggested.

His Holiness emphasised how Tibet’s language, religion and culture had been the historically unifying factor, ever since the powerful Tibetan nation of the 7th, 8th and 9th centuries fragmented.

His Holiness explained the background and ethos of the Middle Way Approach and how it involved careful thought at every stage. The Middle Way Approach has attracted international support, ever since it was propounded by His Holiness.

He concluded by stressing that he had retired from political responsibility and that it was due to a moral responsibility, that he was explaining these things.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama also addressed an audience at the Alliant Energy Centre in Madison. In a two and a half hour session, he spoke of the importance of education, stressing that “the cause of all suffering- ignorance could be removed by education and self awareness” and that “self centeredness created fear and that it was fear that created anger”.

TPI NEWS International

The Tibet Post International

Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay thanks US senators for supporting Tibet refugees

By Yeshe Choesang: 21 May 2013

Dharamsala: - Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the political leader of Tibet and Tibetan people on Tuesday welcomed the US Senate Judiciary Committee’s approval of the provision of 5,000 visas to Tibetan refugees living in India and Nepal.

The US Senate Judiciary Committee approved the provision of 5,000 immigration visas to displaced Tibetans residing in India and Nepal. The amendment, offered by Senator Dianne Feinstein and cosponsored

by Chairman Patrick Leahy and Senator Chuck Schumer, was approved by voice vote and included in the immigration reform bill currently under consideration in the US Senate.

The approval of the Tibet-related amendment, however, faces a long and possibly arduous process before it gets enacted. The immigration bill with the Tibetan provision must be approved first by the Judiciary Committee and then by the full US Senate, reconciled with the House version, and eventually passed by both houses of Congress. The entire process could take several months.

“I want to thank Senator Feinstein for introducing the amendment, Chairman Leahy and Senator Schumer for cosponsoring, and honorable members of the US Senate Judiciary Committee for approving the amendment. This provision will provide a great boost to Tibetans and contribute to burden sharing of Tibetans in India and Nepal. The passage of this provision provides a timely moral support to Tibetans as they struggle against a new wave of repressive Chinese policies, and represents a tangible continuation of the long-standing and bipartisan support of the United States for Tibet,” Dr. Lobsang Sangay said.

“Senator Feinstein’s amendment that would create 5,000 immigrant visas for displaced Tibetans over a three-year period is based on a similar provision in the Immigration Act of 1990. The US Congress then generously approved a provision to grant immigrant

visa to 1,000 displaced Tibetans living in India and Nepal. That program, carried out at no cost to US taxpayers, resulted in the successful establishment of thriving and independent Tibetan-American communities in 21 states,” said Sikyong.

“His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan leadership have been trying for over five decades to preserve Tibetan identity and culture in exile until Tibetans are free to return home again. It has long been His Holiness’ vision that a healthy and prosperous diaspora is key to achieving this objective. The new Tibetan immigration provision, if and when enacted, will help the Central Tibetan Administration’s efforts to find meaningful livelihoods and support the well being of displaced Tibetans who have fled Tibet into exile.

The Fourteenth Kashag has been vigorously seeking international governmental support for Tibet. Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay in his earlier and during his most recent visit to Washington on May 6-10 met with various Congressional leaders and their senior aides including Senators Feinstein, Leahy and Schumer.

Dr Sangay thanked the US government and Congress for supporting Tibet and the Tibetan people and discussed the status of Tibetan refugee settlements in South Asia and the challenges faced by the Central Tibetan Administration in providing educational and employment opportunities for Tibetan refugees.

The Kashag urges all Tibetans to again be mindful that the inclusion of a Tibet-related amendment in the US immigration bill is only the first step in a long process. Firstly, the Senate Judiciary Committee and the full Senate must approve the immigration bill. The House of Representatives will be working on their own immigration bill.”

The two bills will then need to be reconciled. Lastly, immigration reform is a highly contentious issue and it is possible that there may not be an agreement on a final bill.

Tsering Woeser presented with US’s Woman of Courage Award in Beijing

By Kiran Mohandas Menon: 17 May 2013

Dharamshala: - The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is observing the 17th of May, 2013 as the International Tibetan Solidarity day. According to the CTA, the International Solidarity Day is being organised to “symbolise international community’s solidarity with the aspirations of the Tibetan people inside Tibet who yearn for freedom and continue to stand strong in the face of great adversity.”

On this day in 1995, the 11th Panchen Lama of Tibet, Gendhun Choeki Nyima disappeared suspiciously at the age of 6.

An exhibition, titled ‘History of Tibet’, ‘A Long Look Homeward’ is being organised by the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) of the CTA at the Tsuglagkhang.

The exhibition will deal with the recent self immolations that have engulfed Tibet, the culture and history of Tibet before Chinese occupation and the struggle for liberation and life in exile of the Tibetan people after Chinese Occupation.

Speaking to the Tibet Post International, Tashi Phuntsok, the Secretary of the DIIR said that one of the main objectives of the exhibition was to spread awareness about Tibetan culture, history and the ongoing crises affecting the region among international visitors.

Since 2009, at-least 117 people have set themselves ablaze calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and for the liberation of the region from Chinese rule. The exhibition, through the display of photographs aims to explain the reasons and circumstances that have led to ordinary Tibetans from all walks of life committing such a severe act.

Another section of the exhibition deals with the culture, religion and history of Tibet and the Tibetan people before the Chinese occupation. The works of

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By Yeshe Choesang 29 May 2013

Dharamshala: - On May 19, 2013, Tibetan author and blogger Tsering Woeser was presented with the U.S.government’s International Women of Courage Award at the U.S. Embassy in beijing, the capital of China.

She was originally awarded the honor on March 8, 2013, by First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry at a ceremony in Washington, DC, but was unable to attend due to Chinese government restrictions on her overseas travel.

The award was presented to Woeser in person by staff of the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Those

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attending the private ceremony included her husband, writer Wang Lixiong, artist Ai Weiwei, economist Ilham Tohti, human rights activist Hu Jia, lawyer Ding Xikui, and 2011 International Women’s Courage Award winner, lawyer Guo Jianmei.

In his remarks on March 8, Secretary Kerry explained the justification of the award to Woeser: “for courageously striving to improve human rights conditions for China’s Tibetan citizens by illuminating their plight through her writings, and thus giving eloquent voice to those whose stories might otherwise never be heard, Tsering Woeser is a woman of courage.”

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International Tibet Solidarity Day observed in Dharamshala

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Woeser with Mr. Wang Xiaomin from Secretary of State, her husband Wang Lixiong, artist Ai Weiwei, Uighur writer Tohti, human rights activist Hu Jia, her lawyer Dingxi Kui, 2011 International Women’s Courage Award” winner, Chinese lawyer Guo Jianmei. and the U.S. embassy staff at US Embassy in Beijing, China, May 19 2013. Photo: TPI

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Foreigners visiting the exhibition, titled ‘History of Tibet’, during the International Tibet Solidarity day, which was held in Dharamshala, India, on May 17, 2013. Photo: TPI/ Dhondup

Claude Arpi, a prominent French born author and Tibetologist and the director of the Tibet pavilion in Auroville is also displayed.

The third section of the exhibition focuses on the Chinese occupation, its impact on Tibet and its people, the physical and cultural destruction that has followed and the life of the Tibetan people in exile. ‘Far Away from Home’ aims to highlight the present crises and conditions facing the Tibetan

people in Tibet.

The day will conclude with a prayer service to honour the memories of those who died in the recent self immolations, a performance by members of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts and a recitation of the ‘Words of Truth’, a prayer composed by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

Translated by Kalsang Dolma and Kiran Mohandas Menon.

Political leader of Tibetans, Dr Lobsang Sangay completes Norway and Sweden visit

By Kiran Mohandas Menon: 30 May 2013

Dharamshala: - Dr Lobsang Sangay, the political leader of Tibet has completed a three day visit to Norway.

The Sikyong was visiting the Scandinavian nation to participate in the Oslo Freedom Forum, where his talk, ‘Democracy in Exile’ was part of a session titled, ‘The Asymmetric Activist’.

Other participants in the session included renowned Chinese human rights activist Chen Guangcheng, who escaped house arrest and fled China in 2012 and Bill Browder, the American businessman who gained fame for his activism to expose corruption and human rights abuses in Russia.

In his speech, the Sikyong said that Tibet is a “litmus test for the international community and China”.

The Sikyong also visited the Nobel Institute, where he was received by Mr Geir Lundestag, the Secretary General of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. The Sikyong thanked the Nobel committee for their support for the Tibet cause over the years.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee had awarded His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1989, for his peaceful “ struggle for the liberation of Tibet, consistently opposing the use of violence” and instead advocating “ peaceful solutions based upon tolerance and mutual respect’.

Dr Sangay later addressed more than 70 members of the Norwegian Tibet Committee and also gave interviews to prominent International and Norwegian media corporations and publications including the BBC Radio Service, Aften Posten, Newsweek and The Atlantic.

The Sikyong has also recently completed his first official visit to Sweden. The Sikyong, who was in the Scandinavian nation from May 15-17 met with members of the Tibetan community in Sweden (TCS) and various members of the Swedish parliament.

The Sikyong addressed a gathering of TCS members

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Sikyong with the Executive Director and also Secretary General of Norwegian Nobel Committee at his office. May 13, 2013. Photo: TPI

and members of the Swedish Tibet Committee (STC) on the nature and functioning of Democracy in exile. He had spoken on the same subject at the Oslo Freedom Forum, earlier this month.

Later, on 16 May, the Sikyong held meetings with officials from Sweden’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informing them of the crises engulfing Tibet and the urgent need for change and reform in the region, through dialogue.

Dr Sangay also gave interviews to prominent Swedish radio stations and newspapers.

The Sikyong met with Swedish Members of Parliaments representing five political parties, including Kirsten Lundgren, a member of the Council of Europe. He reiterated the situation in Tibet and the problems faced by Tibetans, urging continued Swedish support.Dr Sangay also addressed students at the prestigious University of Uppsala.

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Editor in Chief Chinese Editor Assistant Editor Tibetan Editor UK Correspondent Layout & Design Distributor

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Mr Yeshe Choesang Miss Keary Huang Miss Kalsang Dolma Mr Dhondup Mr Samuel Ivor Mr Yeshe Choesang Mr Karma

Contributors to this editon

Keary Huang Samuel Ivor Kiran Mohandasmenon

Taiwan UK India

Elisabeth Crokaerts

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Amy King Rajeshwari K Yeshe Choesang Kalsang Dolma Dhondup Himalayan Literacy Trust (Head Office) Room #2 2nd Floor, Exile House Temple Road, McLeod Ganj: 176219 Dharamshala, Distt. Kangra H.P., India

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E-mail: editor@thetibetpost.com Skype: dhardhophonya1959 Mobile: +91-9882423566 www.thetibetpost.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/tpinews

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TPI NEWS back page focus

31 May 2013

Exile Tibetan Buddhist nuns finally receive Ph.D degrees

Nuns of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition during the Geshema dialectic debate on 22 May 2013. Photo: CTA

By Elisabeth Crokaerts: 30 May 2013

Interview with Additional Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture in Dharamsala, Mr. Tenzin Lungtok.

Over the last 10 years, there were no big decisions or changes related to the Buddhist nunnery community.

But after years of deliberation, the Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala finally made the decision to grant the Geshema degree to Buddhist nuns. These degrees are the equivalent of a PhD in Buddhist Philosophy. More specifically, this historic decision was reached last year after a two-day meeting between high lamas, representative of nuns and members of the Tibetan Nun Project.

The decision also got through because his Holiness the Dalai Lama strongly advocated for the Geshema degrees. He has talked about it for more than 20 years.

Several times he said to the nunneries: “In future you should have your own abbot, aim for it.” But nothing happened since last year. In the first month of the Tibetan calender of 2012 he indicated clearly to take initiative. In the meeting of May 2012, the rules about how Geshema should be given were made by its members. Beside the Tibetan Nuns Project and the Institute for Buddhistic Dialects, six nunneries participated in this meeting.

Beginning 20th May untill 3th June 2013, the first Geshema dialectic debate is being held at Jamyang Choeling nunnery, situated about 10 kilometers from Dharamsala. 27 Buddhist nuns from various nunneries across India and Nepal are participating in the Buddhist philosophy debate. The Department of Religion and Culture is satisfied with this participation

number.

According to the Department, the debating session is 30 minutes, 15 minutes for questions and 15 minutes for answering. The debates are fully monitored and controlled by the Nun Examination Board, comprising of members from Gaden Choeling, Dolma Choeling, Jangchup Choeling, Kachoe Gakyil, the Tibetan Nun’s project and the Department of Religion. Six Geshes from the three great monasteries are also assessing the performance of the nuns.

In the past, these degrees were only open to Tibetan monks under the name Geshe degree.

Geshe Ladangpa Yeshe Lhundup from the Loseling Monastery says that the system of debate is similar with the monks except for a few minor differences.

For the Geshe degree examinations, there are specific number that can participate. On the other hand, there is no restriction of number to attend the Geshema degree examinations, meaning that all nuns are welcome when they fulfill the two criteria mentioned below.

Next to this, the Geshe degree is subdivided into several levels from which the Lharampa degree is the highest. This is not the case for the Geshema degree, meaning that there is only one Gesheme degree and no subdivision in levels.

Further, to be able to participate in the Geshema examinations, a nun has to fulfill two conditions.

Firstly, she has to complete a 17-year study in Buddhist philosophy. Secondly, she has to obtain an average result of 70 % in this study. This second condition does not need to be fulfilled by the monks.

But as the nuns themselves requested a higher percentage of qualification to join the exam, we must not conclude that the Geshema nuns are more qualified than the Geshe monks. With this degree, nuns are

given the opportunity to appear for the very stringent doctorate examinations. When successful, they will be able to teach Buddhist philosophy in nunneries and schools.

Although there are differences between the Geshema and the Geshe degree, we cannot speak from discrimination as the rules are set up by different meetings. Therefore, you cannot compare both.

The examinations are spread over 4 years. The nuns will be questioned in the following 5 major subjects of Buddhist philosophy: Abhidharma (Higher Knowledge), Prajñā Pāramitā (Perfection of Wisdom), Madhyamaka (Middle Way), Logic and Vowed Morality.

Aside from this, they will also be examined in Introductory Science and Tibetan history. If you don’t pass these two last topics, you are still able to succeed.

On the contrary, this is not the case when you fail in one of the 5 mayor subjects.The examinations will be held in May of each year and will be taken over a period of about 30 days. Every year, the examinations will be held somewhere else. The time of examination may also change in the future, but this is uncertain.

The travel- and food expenses are paid by the Tibetan Nuns Project. The Department of Religion and Culture only organizes and subsidizes the examinations for which the nuns don’t have to pay any fee. However, the Geshema degree is nowhere in the world officially recognized.

In India and Nepal, there are about 21 nunneries. Most of the buddhist nunneries are following Buddhist philosophy classes. They are independent institutions which are free to compose their own curriculum. It is not the decision of the Department wether they follow Buddhist classes. Within Buddhism, there are 5 mayor sects and each nunnery belongs to one of those sects.

It is important to keep in mind that the nunneries who belong to those sects that don’t study the 5 subjects examined for the Geshema degree, will normally not be interested in obtaining that degree.

At the end of our interview Mr. Tenzin Lungtok adds that for the current examination everything goes well.

“We have good hope for the future but of-course, you never know what the outcome will be in the next years.

It is not our job to promote the nuns participation, we can only offer them the chance to get this degree.“ Mr. Tenzin Lungtok finishes with a message to the nuns on behalf of his department: “Study well and stay positive. The only thing we can do is organize the examinations. From there, it is the nuns who have to step forward. As a Tibetan saying says: We need 2 hands to clap, one is not sufficient. “

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Tibetans protest Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s Indian visit

Li Keqiang’s visit: Tibetan groups threaten protest, security stepped up. Photo: TPI

New Delhi: - Tibetan activists staged a protest near the Taj Palace hotel in New Delhi, the Indian capital, where Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is currently staying.

Protestors unfurled a 20 foot long banner, which read “China out of Tibet, China out of India, Li Keqiang: Tibet will be free”. The protestors were detained by Indian security personnel and shifted

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Now that his business has reached a certain critical mass, he is looking for investors or a loan to hire more staff, buy medical equipment and set up a proper office.

Dawa is passionate about his business and puts in all his energy and resources into making it successful.

As he signs off, he says “My Advice for young Tibetans who want to start business is to do business with your whole heart” Touché!

Dr Sangay was scheduled to address the Swiss Tibetan community on April 14 in Fribourg, where His Holiness the Dalai Lama was also set to give a teaching. From April 20 to 21, the Sikyong

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“My vision for the Company is to be known as the best Home Health Care provider in India which provides comprehensive health care services to patients with proper documentation.”

In his words, “After 5 years, I want Nurse On Call to be the Best Health Care provider with compassion in India and have many skilled nurses, doctors and health care workers”

to a nearby police station.

Li Keqiang is in his first official visit to India, since taking over as China’s Premier earlier this year.

Tenzin Tselha, Grassroots Director of Students for a Free Tibet in India, who organised the protest said that “only a lasting resolution to China’s illegal occupation of Tibet can bring about a lasting solution to India’s longstanding border issues with China”.

She also said that the protests were aimed to “shame Li Keqiang over the ongoing crisis in Tibet and to challenge him to end China’s failed policies that have driven 117 Tibetans to light their own bodies on fire in protest”.

Dorjee Tseten, the National Director of Students for a Free Tibet in India also stated that “China’s occupation of Tibet is not only a issue for 6 million Tibetans aspiring for freedom and human rights, but also a growing security issue for India”. And that he hoped that the “Government of India will raise a lasting resolution for Tibet as a priority issue during these talks with China’s new leadership”.

By Kiran Mohandas Menon: 20 May 2013

Tsering Dawa is a man of many positive traits – As a nurse, he is caring, nurturing and responsible; as a person, he is young, enthusiastic and passionate; And as an entrepreneur, he thinks big, is creative and resourceful. Put these 3 together and you get ‘Nurse-on-Call’ – Tsering Dawa’s new start-up based in Delhi, designed to deliver quality health care at home.

During his five year experience of working as a qualified nurse in one of Delhi’s top hospitals, Dawa noticed that a lot of patients requested for a nurse at home when they were being discharged from the hospital. He started accepting a few such jobs post his duty hours and it was this well-spotted opportunity, along with brainstorming sessions during the TechnoServe run, USAID funded Empowering Tibetan Businesses program which inspired him to start Nurse On Call business in Delhi.

From an ideation stage in October, Nurse on Call now has three full time employees and is catering to nursing needs at home. But this is just the first step! Tsering Dawa is looking to hire more nurses for the home business and start pitching for contracts to corporates, hospitals, schools and hotels.

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