China secretly sentenced Tritsun, a Tibetan writer
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See Page 4 ..... Vol. 02, Issue 88, Print Issue 12, 15 June 2013 Protesters stake out estate hosting Obama-Xi summit
China threatens France 24 journalist over recent Tibet documentary
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His Holiness The Dalai Lama promotes peace and harmony in New Zealand By Catherina Leipold: 12 June 2013
Chinese and Tibetan activists protesting Xi Jingping.’s US visit. Photo: TPI By Chumar Dhondup: 8 June 2013
CA, US: - Hundreds of protestors gathered outside the desert oasis where Obama and Chinese Xi were to hold talks on Friday, June 7. The protesters gathered at a time when Obama has been strongly called upon to do more to support human rights in China, most recently by outspoken New Jersey congressman Chris Smith, who brought the topic up in a House session on June 6, calling China the “torture capital of the world.” “China get out of Tibet,” Tibetans and supporters shouted during a brief march for the cameras. One protestor was wearing a giant head resembling the Chinese leader. “A robust discussion of human rights abuses in China must be on the agenda and not in a superfluous or superficial way,” Smith said. “It’s time for Obama to cease his numbing indifference toward the victims of Beijing’s abuse. Can a government—no, read that, dictatorship—that crushes the rights and freedoms of its own people be trusted on trade and security?”
Washington Governor expresses concern on Tibet crisis
Governor Washington Jay Inslee (L) with Mr Tashi Namgyal, member of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. Photo: CTA
Dharamshala: - As part of his four-day visit to New Zealand, His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet attended numerous events in Christchurch and Dunedin on June 10 and June 11. His Holiness spoke with students in both cities, and also met with parliamentarians and gave a public talk focused on ethics for a whole world. On June 10, His Holiness began his second day in Christchurch with a meeting with the New Zealand Youth Representatives of the Council for a Parliament of World Religions. While he gave his support for their work, His Holiness stressed that attaining inter-religious harmony requires us to be active. “Religion is about cultivating a more peaceful mind, so it’s very disappointing if religion becomes a source of conflict,” His Holiness told the group. His Holiness next spoke to 12 parliamentarians from different parties, reflecting the diverse 120-person Parliament. The topic of discussion quickly centered on Tibet’s relationship with China. His Holiness spoke out against censorship and explained that the judicial system must be raised to international standards. Reflecting on the presence of force in Chinese history, His Holiness reminded the parliamentarians that force leads to fear and that harmony must be based on trust and come from the heart. His Holiness stated that Tibet is not demanding independence. “It is to Tibet’s advantage to remain with the People’s Republic of China, so long as we have genuine autonomy, the ability to maintain our culture, language and identity, which the Chinese constitution provides for,” His Holiness said. His Holiness shared that the absence of wholehearted Chinese
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with members of Friends of Tibet New Zealand, a group of all party parliamentarians, after their meeting in Christchurch, New Zealand on June 10, 2013. Photo/Jacqui Walker
support of Tibet lies in the fact that China does not understand the Middle Way approach. He also mentioned the ironic statistic that China has the largest Buddhist population in the world with over 400 million disciples. His Holiness appealed to New Zealand, a small and neutral nation, to encourage China on the path of democracy. Realistically, His Holiness expects gradual change, as China has no
Dhokham 5th Annual Inter-monastic Debate Meet held in Tawu County, Tibet
experience with democracy and continues to deny many citizens constitutional rights. He pointed out that most recent self-immolations have occurred in areas under direct Chinese administration. Tibet-hhdl-2013-2A team of Maori sportsmen greeted his Holiness with a traditional welcome at an event later in the day organized by the University of Canterbury Student See Page 6... Association.
Tibetan MPs visit settlements in India
By Kalsang Dolma: 6 June 2013
Dharamshala: - Governor Washington Jay Inslee expressed his deep concern for the situation in Tibet and hoped that the legitimate concern of the Tibetan people is addressed. According to the Central Tibetan Administration, Inslee said this while interacting with Mr Tashi Namgyal, member of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, during the Governor’s Reception honouring the Washington State Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs, the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs, the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs and the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs. Governor Inslee was a member of the US House of Representative representing the Ist Congressional District. He had spoken in favor of House resolution 1077 calling on the Chinese government to end its crackdown in Tibet and to enter into a substantive dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to resolve the problem of Tibet. He was a member of the bipartisan Congressional delegation led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi that met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala in 2008.
Tibetan MPs, Geshe Tseringpo and Dolma Tsering during their visit to the settlements. Photo: CTA
By Kalsang Dolma: 11 June 2013
Dharamshala: - Some Tibetan MPs have visited various Tibetan settlements and institutions across India to ascertain ground difficulties facing the exiled community. According to the exiled Tibetan Administration, MPS; Dolma Tsering and Geshe Tseringpo visited Dondheling settlement (Kollegal), monasteries around the area and Tibetan sweater sellers in Ooty and Kodaikonal. MPs met local Indian trade union leaders, local heads of administration and expressed gratitude for their help towards the Tibetans. MPs, Jamyang Soepa visited Tashi Jong, Bir settlements, TCV Suja school and Tibetan settlements in Mandi, Tso Pema and Manali. The Tibetan MPs spoke about the critical situation inside Tibet. They explained the policies of the Tibetan administration and the resolutions passed in the 5th session of the 15th Tibetan Parliament.
‘India cannot remain insensitive’ to Tibet crisis
Thousands of monks attending the Kham winter debate festival, which is being held at the Tao Nyatso Monastery, Tao county of Kham region, eastern Tibet, on June 10, 2013. Photo: TPI
By Yeshe Choesang: 11 June 2013
Shri. Rajnath Singh, president of Bharatiya Janata Party . File/photo By Yeshe Choesang: 13 June 2013
Dharamshala: - Shri. Rajnath Singh, president of Bharatiya Janata Party has raised the issue of Tibet and the recent self-immolations, saying India should not remain “insensitive” to the “atrocities being committed on Tibetan monks”. “In the past few months, hundreds of Buddhist monks have committed self-immolation in protest against the violation of the human rights by China in Tibet,” Singh told reporters. “India cannot remain insensitive to the atrocities being committed on the Buddhist monks in Tibet as we share a long history of cultural affinity with this region,” he said.
Dharamshala: - Despite the heavy Chinese restrictions imposed on Tibetan monasteries, this year’s Kham Jang Gun-choe, a winter Buddhist debate festival is being held in Tawu Nyatso Monastery, Eastern Tibet, on Monday, June 10. “The winter inter monastic debate meet will be held for 10 days from June 10 June 20, 2013 and portraits of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama were reportedly enthroned at the opening ceremony,” sources coming out ofTibet said. “Over 3,000 monks from 50 different monasteries of Kham traditional province of eastern Tibet are currently participating in the winter debate; the main participating monks from the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism; Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, Gelug and monasteries of Bon Sect in Kham region of eastern Tibet,” Yama Tsering, a monk from Gaden Monastery in South India told The Tibet Post International (TPI), citing sources in the region. “The Kham winter inter-monastic debate meet is being hosted by Tawu Nyatso ‘Thoe Sam Dhargye Ling Monastery’ in Tawu County and co-sponsored by 25 townships in the county and
surrounding areas,” sources said. ‘This had a great impact on the younger Tibetans attending, and helped to uphold their identity as Tibetans,’ sources said, citing information gathered from participants in the meeting. Sources stated that “some monks from other provinces of Tibet, including from Ngaba county in Amdho region are also participating in the festival.” “Monks have applied for planning permission to hold the festival, but local Chinese authorities have not given an answer. After waiting a month, finally they were allowed to host the 5th Kham winter Buddhist debate festival, but only for 10-days,” Yama Tsering told TPI. “Last year’s festival couldn’t take place after the local authorities have denied several requests made by monks. Instead of allowing the festival, Chinese authorities have imposed various restrictions in the region,” he further added. The 2011 Buddhist festival, the fourth in a series of annual debate meeting, took place at Lithang Gonchen Monastery (Ganden Thubchen Choekhorling,Lithang, Kham, Eastern Tibet) Tibet beginning 15 July. More than 5000 participants came from across the Kham region. See Page 3...
2013 GCMGC Football Tournament to be held in South
A previous team with the golden cup. Photo: TPI
By Yeshe Choesang: 14 June l 2013
Dharamshala: - Tibetan National Sports Association (TNSA) said the 2013 GCMGC Football Tournament will be held at Rabyaling Tibetan Settlement, Hunsur, South India. “The commencement date of the tournament is tentatively fixed in the fourth week of July 2013. Club wishing to participate in the tournament are requested to see the Terms and See Page 3...
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Tibetan problem in Nepal, a wake up call for our future community and struggle existence By Yeshe Choesang:15 June 2013 Dharamshala: - Every so often the tragic situation of the Tibetans in Nepal pushes itself to the forefront of international consciousness. Lately it has been, as a result of the Nepal authorities forcing many illegal Tibetan refugees, even those who are born in the country try out to Chinese hands in a new open trade and left hopeless. Many Tibetan refugees in Nepal now known as facing legal documentary crisis, were widely coveraged and internationally concerned as a worst situation ever they faced. Nepal has set the respect for the rest of world for many years but are Nepal authorities democracy losing credibility and its own traditional values and cultural bounds with Tibet, because of Chinese pressure? It is an easy question for them, however hard to answer without burring their true faces. Then, the story grows everyday, but not the reality of their impossible circumstances stuck literally between a rock and a hard place with nowhere to go. These persecuted and displaced refugees come from Tibet where they have lived for many generations, and yet they are stateless, the Chinese government refuses to compromise to demands make by these Tibetans as the communist regime is aiming at a largely Han Chinese colonization. However, Tibetan refugees in Nepal looked after by our administration in collaboration with UNHCR which is in the country recognized by the Nepal government, recently many of them started to face the crisis. But many are possibly in the worst condition - they own nothing and are entitled to nothing. Though, after Collapse of the Kingdom of Nepal, Tibetan refugees started to face various problems. Beyond desperately poor and prone to legal documents -- including license, business and travel, perceiving their language and culture, observing traditional religious or cultural festivals, including the birthday of their beloved spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama -- with many people crammed together into the hands of Nepal authorities. The international community repeatedly emphasised that they were considerably concerned about the Tibetan refugees escaping to Nepal from China-held Tibet and urged the Nepal authorities to ensure the refugees’ transit was proceeded without hindrance. But
the government remains stuck officially after it declined, due to heavy Chinese pressure. Considering long term care options for the future of six million Tibetan people, the Tibetan community in India is the Heart of our freedom struggle. We must rise again and find a way to grow our community. At the very least be careful to take some precautions for the survival of the Tibetan community in India during the next 50 years. The borders between the Tibet and Nepal, heavily guarded by increasingly deployment military with modern weapons on both sides, it is now nearly impossible to cross in certain places either by climbing rocky and snow-covered mountains or walking by foot. It is not only a problem for the Tibetans in Nepal, but a ‘Wake Up Call’ for the future existence of our community and its long term struggle. The life of Tibetans seeking refuge in Nepal is far from paradise. In fact it seems it has already begun to indicate that an average Tibetan in the country will may face worst crisis in the near future and may bring the worst or irreparable effect on our community if we don’t carefully think the next fifty years. The problem of Tibetans residing in Nepal, continued nearly a decade, despite strong international condemnation, without a comparable result. But If the situation will remain still the same for another decade (or two), logically the actual consequence may not have such a happy beginning or ending. Because Nepal is one of our main doors to further strengthen the new generation into the next generation as rotary struggles to grow. Meanwhile the US is strongly concerned regarding the case of the Tibetans to stay in Nepal until a solution that is conducive to rights of their cultural and identity is found. China’s political policies forces Nepal theoretically to oppose to the integration of the Tibetan refugees while the UN is advocating for their basic rights to be met -- current challenges include the right to education, right to work and freedom of movement. Something needs to be done as many of these Tibetans have been suffering for a long time now, even after being refugees. They are psychologically tired. It’s a tough life, and there are no easy answers immediately but so far neither our administration nor the political leaders have a better option. Nepal remains aloof, happy to open the gates and let the Tibetans out.
Tibetan monks from Gyuto Monastery in India get record deal and Glastonbury spot By Kalsang Dolma: 14 June 2013
Dharamshala: - A group of Tibetan monks could soon be storming the alternative charts with their spiritual brand of music after signing a global record deal. A group of monks from the Gyuto Monastery, whose oldest member is 78, have landed a record contract with Decca and have been invited to perform at Glastonbury Festival next month, AP reported on June 12. They last performed in the UK in 1973 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, but over the years have been seen at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Sydney Opera House and toured the US with veteran rock act The Grateful Dead, according to the report. The oldest member, Lobsang Tsering, was among 80 Gyuto Monks when he fled his homeland along with the Dalai Lama in the wake of the upheaval in Tibet in 1959. It stated that their album, Chants: The Spirit Of Tibet, has been recorded at their monastery in the Himalayan foothills by UK producer Youth who has worked with U2, Sir Paul McCartney and Depeche Mode among others, as well as playing bass in Killing Joke for many years. He said: “Their voices are commanding and powerful. When they sing they put every fibre of themselves into it. They believe that just by listening to these special tones you can actually come closer towards enlightenment. “To me they seemed like they were in the engine room of the world, diligently turning these huge invisible karmic wheels with their voices and mantras.” Their Glastonbury performance coincides with
opinion
The Tibet Post International
Overview of the current situation inside Tibet from point of an United States’ citizen
The ongoing Chinese constructions in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet destroying the ancient city, Tibetan culture and its identity. Photo: TPI/Woeser By Rabten Migmar: 13 June 2013
Dharamshala: As is known, Tibet has been a hot issue on diplomatic levels between China and the USA for a long time, with the US mentoring Tibetans to raise their genuine demands and discuss them with the Chinese administration. While adopting the stated course of action, both countries have conveyed their displeasure on various issues from time to time, but these exchanges and expression of views towards each other has not prevented a US national visit to Tibet. Recently, the chilling situation that exists inside Tibet was revealed by an American citizen. He highlighted the destruction of a nation, religion, culture and language for so-called political and national interests by the Chinese. Whilst narrating the situation inside Tibet, he added that Tibetan culture was almost destroyed, and was apparent on all levels. He also reported that “there were Tibetan restaurants in Tibet but none of the Tibetan restaurant sells Tibetan foods any more. All Tibetan restaurants serve Chinese foods and this is really sad to see”. It was equally sad and disappointing to see that children in Tibet don’t speak Tibetan language anymore, and use Chinese to communicate with each other. Chinese authorities have also imposed stringent and punishment on parents if their children are found interacting with tourist from western countries. Tibetans additionally don’t wear traditional Tibetan dress either. Now, they are wearing Chinese and western attire. This was again disappointing for him. While explaining situation of basic and fundamental
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rights he stated that in most of the towns he visited, Tibetan original natives were confined to designated areas and other areas of the town were inhabited by people of Han Chinese origin. According to him, this was gross violation of basic human rights as Tibetans were being forced to live in virtual jails in their own villages and towns amid their own motherland. He also added that most of the Tibetan people were facing pathetic living conditions in their houses, with no safe drinking water and very unhygienic toilets which have converted their living place into hell. It was also disappointing to see that the Chinese have built a number of power projects inside Tibet and all electricity generated is being transmitted to other parts of China, with Tibetans living in Tibet are left with no option but to live without electricity. There are apparently few or no children in most of the villages as Chinese authorities take these children to a boarding school to ensure impartment of so called “patriotic education”. The most chilling fact revealed by the American visitor was regarding massive constructions that were being carried out by Chinese authorities on the highlands of Tibetan Plateau. He spoke of massive constructions being carried out by Chinese authorities even in small villages that might not even have many people. According to him in such villages Chinese authorities have built residential blocks for almost two thousand families. He also stated that as of now, these residential blocks were likely to be completed by next month. He also suspected massive redensification of Han Chinese from other parts of China to Tibet in the coming days aimed towards
dilution of the Tibetan population. He further told some of these structures being exclusively built for Chinese armed and security forces. According to his interaction his with local people, Chinese authorities were planning to deploy more soldiers on permanent basis in these residential complexes and had asked them to remain in confined areas for them. The majority of Tibetans survive on grazing of sheep and yaks. But now, Chinese authorities have started fencing of grazing lands to prevent the Tibetan nomad’s way of life. The American also explained that while executing their political and religious design, Chinese authorities have not only damaged and destroyed Tibetan culture and language but now were preparing to hurt religious sentiments of millions of Hindu and Buddhist all over the world as Chinese authorities have sold Mount Kailash and Mansarovar lake construction to a local company for its development as a holiday resort. He added that Chinese authorities were also engaged on the road around Mount Kailash, and that a huge tourist centre was being built by authorities just around the areas of Mount Kailash and Mansorovar lake pilgrimage sites. Chinese authorities planned to create a mandatory orientation to each Indian tourist who visits Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake for the purpose of religious pilgrimage or tourism. The US national who is also an experienced construction professional also added that the construction of huge buildings and townships in the middle of nowhere indicates that these developments are being carried out for some other kind of strategic objectives.
Tibetan student’s fashion exhibition held in Dharamshala
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The Monks who have landed a record contract with Decca and have been invited to perform at Glastonbury Festival. Photo: AP
the 100th anniversary of the Tibetan Declaration of Independence and will see them conducting a traditional ceremony in the Green Fields. They will break off from a tour of Australia with the Dalai Lama to make their appearance on June 27. Reprots said, the monks’ album is released on July 8, 2013. The Gyuto Monastery is one of the most famous monasteries in Tibet and specializes in the study of Tantric meditation, Tantric ritual arts and Buddhist philosophy. The main disciple of the first Dalai Lama, Jetsun Kunga Dhondup, founded Gyuto Monastery in 1474 in eastern Tibet. The Gyuto monks practice the major Tantric texts such as Guhyasamaja, Chakrasamvara and Yamantaka and have passed these lineages on to the younger generation of monks for over 500 years without disruption. As a result of the communist Chinese invasion in 1959 the Monastery was reestablished in India.
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By Yeshe Choesang: 13 June 2013
Dharamshala: - On June 7, 2013, a Tbetan student fashion exhibition held in at the main Tibetan temple, Mcleod Ganj. The exhibition displays creations by past and present fashion students from different exile schools. Around 20 students have participated in the the creation of fashion shoot, during their winter holiday in last year. Tibet’s traditional clothing, is an essential part of Tibetan life, still worn by men, women, and
children today on special occasions holidays, including ‘White Wednesday’ (Tibetan: Lhakar). Today, the great diversity and elegance of beautiful dresses have inspired innovative fashion trends and design creations across Tibet and exile. Under the theme ‘Culture, Beautiful Communication’, this exhibition presents exquisite examples of both traditional and original contemporary clothing and introduces the artists that have created them. Photo: TPI
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The Tibet Post International
Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh visits the heart of Tibetan community
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15 June 2013
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Tibetan admininistration holds its first education advisory committee meeting By Yeshe Choesang,: 6 June 2013
Chief Justice Ajay Manik Rao with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Photo: /OHHDL
By: Yeshe Choesang : 6 June 2013
Dharamshala: - Newly-appointed Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court, Mr Ajay Manikrao Khanwilkar visited Dharamshala today. He met His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the morning at a private audience. Justice Khanwilkar was accompanied by the local Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM), Superintendent of Police, Kangra and the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Kangra district.According to the Central Tibetan Administration, Kalon
Dolma Gyari of the Department of Home, Central Tibetan Administration welcomed the new Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court to Dharamshala. A cultural show featuring the Thank You India song, was presented to him and his entourage by the artists of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA). Chief Justice Ajay Manikrao Kahnwilkar’s visit to Dharamshala was co-ordinated by the Tibetan settlement office of Dharamshala.
Annual Inter-monastic Debate .................. ..... Continued from front page Local Chinese authorities that time had at first attempted to limit the number of those attending to 1000, but finally declined to interfere, though security forces reportedly remained camped nearby throughout the event. At the ceremonies, Tibetans led by monks publicly enthroned a portrait of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama with full religious ceremonial gaiety. Buddhist monks from the host monastery were assigned to different duties, including security, festival finances, and to enforce that attendees followed the rules of the ceremony related to Tibetan culture and language.
The Jang Gun-choe or the Great Winter Debate of Janghas been a famous festival of Tibet just as many other annual festivals typical of traditional Tibetan Buddhism. The Debate mainly consists of the earnest and most competent scholars from the great monasteries in Tibet. Though later invasion of Tibet by Chinese military force, demolished thousands of monasteries and wiped out a number of Tibet’s integral culture. Tibetan Buddhism in the Himalayan region also faced a serious deterioration, most of these important heritages such as the Jang Gun-choe festival were restored in exile and are celebrated each year without fail to this day.
Tibet scholars petition China, UNESCO to halt destruction of old Lhasa City By Yeshe Choesang: 14 June 2013
Dharamshala: - International scholars on Tibetan studies recently have petitioned China and UNESCO expressing “grave concern over the rapidly-progressing destruction of much of the traditional architectural heritage of the Old City of Lhasa and its environs.” The petition dated May 15, 2013, addressed to Chinese President Xi Jinping and UNESCO Director-General Irina Bukova, urges them to send “independent investigative teams” to Lhasa and to see “whether local officials and business interests have violated the responsibilities incumbent upon China through its participation in UNESCO.” The scholars say: “This is not just a Tibetan problem; it is not just a Chinese problem. It is an international problem.” In a specific request to UNESCO, the petition says “most importantly we ask that UNESCO provide a clear-cut plan outlining what needs to be done immediately to preserve the Old City of Lhasa, to halt the current destruction, and to prevent Lhasa from being turned into an early 21st-century tourist town, shorn of its uniqueness and its innate traditional culture.”
2013 GCMGC .................. ..... Continued from front page Conditions set by TNSA before registration,” the sport group said in a statement. In 1981, the first club level tournament was organized in the loving memory of the late mother of His Holiness (14th) the Dalai Lama - the Gyalyum Chemo Memorial Gold Cup (GCMGC). A special committee was formed to start the tournament. Over the years various bodies took charge of organizing the GCMGC football tournament. Today it is the most prestigious tournament in the Tibetan community.
Dharamshala: - The first Education Advisory Committee Meeting of Tibetan schools is being organised by Department of Education (DoE) of the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamshala from 5-6 June, 2013. According to the Central Tibetan Administration, the meeting is being conducted as a part of the 14th Kashag’s prioritisation of education and academic excellence. In his opening remarks, Sikyong and Education Kalon Dr Lobsang Sangay said the meeting aims to solicit profound and substantive advices from the participants to improve and upgrade the education system of the Tibetan community. He also expressed his hope that the inspiring and motivating suggestions and contributions of the advisory committee members will bring the much needed exposure and ground breaking innovations in the education system. He said a sound education is the most important construct that will strengthen and sustain the Tibetan community. And as a mark of respect and gratitude, Sikyong highlighted the immense contributions made by former Indian prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and His Holiness the Dalai Lama towards the education of Tibetan youths since 1959. The two-day meeting will also discuss the qualification and profile of a teacher, quality of education, importance of language proficiency, school management, and higher education policy. Members of the first Education Advisory Committee meeting include Tharlam D. Changra, Principal and recipient of National award from former President A
Dharamshala: - As a mark of traditional respect and to express solidarity with all those Tibetans who died of self-immolation protests for the just cause of Tibet, an official prayer service was organised, by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) based in Dharamsala, India. The traditional prayer service which was aimed mainly to remember all those Tibetans who died of self-immolation protests and particularly Tenzin Sherab, a lay Tibetan man who died on May 27, 2013, after burning himself to protest against Chinese Government’s hard-line and repressive policies in Tibet, that certainly cause for selfimmolations and protests in the Himalayan region against the regime. The special prayer service was held at the main Tibetan temple in the Himalayan town of Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala, on June 5, 2013, and organised by the Department of Religion and Culture of CTA. Addressing the public during the service, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay expressed his hope for the
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Vice-Chancellor of Central University of Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, Samphe D. Lhalungpa, Education consultant from Canada, Nawang B.Phuntsog, Associate Professor of Education, California State University, Fullerton and Duke Tsering, Principal, Tibetan Children’s Village School, Selakui. Representatives and heads of various Tibetan schools are also attending the meeting. The Education Advisory Committee was established to provide guidance to the education department to improve the standard of education in Tibetan schools by assessing the existing situation and drawing necessary action plans.
By Yeshe Choesang: 6 June 2013
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Tibetan Administration held prayer service to express solidarity with self-immolators
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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
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Sikyong addressing during the official prayer service held in Dharamshala, India to express solidarity with those Tibetans who died of self-immolation protests in Tibet, June 5, 2013. Photo: TPI/Dhondup
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Despite the Central Tibetan Administration’s repeated appeals urging Tibetans not to resort to drastic actions, 118 Tibetans self-immolated, 101 of them passed-away. Most of the Tibetans demand His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans, before Tibetans burned themselves ablaze to protest against the Chinese government ‘s repressive policies.
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Tibetan Buddhist nun sets herself ablaze in latest Tibet protest By Yeshe Choesang : 11 June 2013
Dharamshala: - Emerging reports coming out Tibet say, a Tibetan Buddhist nun has set herself ablaze on Tuesday evening, June 11, 2013 (5pm local time) in Tawu county, Karze, Kham province of eastern Tibet, in an apparent protest against Chinese repressive rule in Tibet. Latest sources coming out of Tibet stated that the Tibetan nun has been identified as Wangchen Dolma and she is 31 year old. Now Chinese authorities are putting heavy restrictions on the movement of local Tibetans,” sources further confirmed. “Immediately after her self-immolation protest, she was taken to a hospital in Dhartsedho county, eastern Tibet, but it is not mentioned whether she was taken by Chinese police or local Tibetans,” Yama Tsering, a monk from Gaden Monastery in South India told The Tibet Post International (TPI), citing sources in the region.
“She set herself on fire near Nyatso Monastery, Kham region of eastern Tibet, where over 3000 thousands of Buddhist monks from over 50 monasteries in Kham region are currently holding a 10-day annual Buddhist debate meet, started on June 10,” Tsering added. “The Buddhist debate meet is still going ahead this evening, not been affected so far by the incident,” he said. Since 2009, at least 119 Tibetans have selfimmolated reportedly to protest Chinese hardline and repressive rule in Tibet and of them, 101 reportedly passed away due to their severe injuries. Most of them have called for the return of the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his homeland and freedom for Tibetans. Latest reports.on June 13 said she is still alive and in a hospital near Dhartsedho, eastern Tibet.
China secretly sentences a Tibetan Writer over publishing a book By Yeshe Choesang : 11 June 2013
An undated photo of monk writer Tritsun. Photo: TPI
Dharamshala: - A Tibetan monk has been ordered a jail sentence after he published a book containing politically sensitive writings amid a crackdown by Chinese authorities on assertions of Tibetan national and cultural identity, sources said. According to the sourcces, Tritsun, 26, was given a prison term of unknown length following his detention on March 11 while visiting his mother in Gade county in the Golok (Chinese, Gande, Guoluo, prefecture of Qinghai province), north-eastern Tibet. A resident monk in Golok’s Tongkyab monastery, Tritsun had published a book on March 8, 2013 called Breath of Truth, in which he wrote about Tibetan self-
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immolation protests, source said. “He also wrote several articles dedicated to Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet,” the source said, adding that a 20-page section of Tritsun’s book, titled “Strength,” has now surfaced outside Tibet. About a month ago, Gade county police visited Tritsun’s mother and handed her a notice informing her that her son had been sentenced, the source further added. The notice provided no details of the length of Tritsun’s prison term or present whereabouts. “His mother asked the police for permission to see her son, but this was refused,” the source said it is very unfortunate. China has jailed scores of Tibetan writers, artists, singers, and educators for asserting Tibetan national identity and civil rights since widespread protests swept the Himalayan region. Since 2008, more than 30 men and women, including writers, bloggers, singers and environmentalists, have been detained or are imprisoned, mostly after sharing views or information about conditions in ethnic Tibetan areas, according media reports. Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, is introducing rules to restrict access to printing and photocopying services from 2010. Chinese officials said it was an effort to stop “illegal activities.” Under the rules, operators of printing and copying businesses in Lhasa must be cleared by the police, and must collect the names, addresses and identity card numbers of anyone using their services, said the state controlled media that time.
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Tibetan monk arrested over 2008 mass protest freed after in 5-yrs jail By Yeshe Choesang: 7 June 2013
Dharamshala: - Confirmed reports coming out of Tibet say a Tibetan political prisoner has been released after serving a 5-year prison sentence for participating in the 2008 protest against Chinese repressive rule over Tibet. According to sources, Tsewang Dakpa, a 27-year old monk of Jangang Monastery in Drakgo along with two others who participated in 2008 mass protest in Drakgo, Kham region of eastern Tibet, were arrested by Chinese authorities on June 6th in 2008, in Drakgo county of eastern Tibet for allegedly protesting against the Chinese rule. “Tsewang was released on June 5, 2013 after completing five years of imprisonment and is also reported to be in a very serious health condition and his hand reportedly damaged as a result of the treatment he received in the Chinese jail “ Norbu, a Tibetan living in Australia told The Tibet Post International (TPI), citing sources in the region. “Tsewang Dakpa, Thupten Gyatso and Jangchub Nyima – had been sentenced to five, four and threeyear jail terms, respectively, in 2008 in Sichuan’s capital Chengdu for allegedly political offences;
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taking part in protests at Drakgo County of Karze Prefecture on Jun 6, 2008,” Ngawang Chenrab, a monk from Drepung Monastery in South India told TPI. “The monks shouted slogans calling for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans before security forces set upon them, kicking and punching them and using electric rods. All three were severely injured and later taken to the county hospital,” said the sources. Sources stated that the three monks who staged a demonstration in front of the Drakgo County government offices on Jun 6, 2008, were transferred to Miyang prison after their sentences. Tsewang Dakpa is from Jangthang township, Yarde area in Drakgo County, Sichuan Province, Thupten Gyatso (age still unknown) is a native of Tawu County in Darze County, and Jangchub Nyima, 27, from Dzatoe County of Kyegudho (Ch: Yushu/ Jiegu) Prefecture in Qinghai Province. During the mass protests in all parts of Tibet, in 2008, more than 200 Tibetans were killed and thousands jailed or just disappeared.
Tsewang Dakpa, a Tibetan monk who imprisoned for five years for allegedly political offences, in Drakgo county of eastern Tibet. Photo: TPI
China secretly sentenced two singers in Tibet but their whereabouts still unknown By Yeshe Choesang: 13 June 2013
Dharamshala: Two Tibetan singers who were detained last year for composing and releasing a music album titled “Agony of Unhealed Wounds” had been secretly sentenced to two years in prison in Ngaba (Ch: Aba) County in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. “Singers Pema Trinley, 22, and Chakdor, 32, both hailing from Meuruma nomadic village, had recorded and distributed a music DVD containing songs about current situation in Tibet including self-immolation protests, as well as songs in praise of the Dalai Lama, Panchen Lama, Kirti Rinpoche (exiled head of the Kirti monastery) and Lobsang Sangay (exiled Tibetan political leader),” said Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD). In July 2012, days after the release of the music album, both singers were detained in the neighbouring Machu (Ch: Maqu) County in Malho (Ch: Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province. For over six months, they were detained in Ngaba County, sources said, before their secret sentencing in February this year. According to TCHRD, Pema Trinley sentenced to two years in prison but whereabouts remain unknown. Despite confirmed information about their sentencing, it is still unknown where they are imprisoned. Sources said family members of both singers were notified by local authorities through a letter stating that Pema Trinley and Chakdor were being imprisoned at Mianyang
Tibetan singers; Chakdor and Pema Trinley sentenced to two years each in prison and their whereabouts remain unknown. Photo: TCHRDKyabpe. Photo: TPI
Prison in Sichuan Province. However, family members and relatives of the singers traveled to Mianyang at least two times but were turned away by prison officials who claimed that the two singers are not in that prison. The confusion and secrecy surrounding the whereabouts of the singers have added to the suffering of their loved ones who have apparently not seen them since their arbitrary detention. Furthermore, two other Tibetans who collaborated with the sentenced singers on the music album have also gone missing. The whereabouts and
wellbeing of musician Khenrap and lyricist Nyagdompo remain unknown. Pema Trinley is the son of late Mr. Zamlha and Mrs. Tseringma. He is also related to Chakdor, whose father’s name is Chokden Dowa. Chakdor is also a close cousin of Choepa who died of self-immolation protest on 10 August 2012 in in Ngaba. The rights group said it has received a copy of the album, “Agony of Unhealed Wounds” and will soon release English translations of some of the songs.
Student jailed over Tibet protest against language curbs By Yeshe Choesang: 13 June 2013
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The Tibet Post International
Dharamshala: - a Tibetan student sentenced by a Chinese court for allegedly leading a protest last year in Malho county, Amdho region of north-eastern Tibet, where several thousand Tibetan students took to the streets demanding “equality of nationalities and freedom of languages” and demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. “Dorjee Wangchuk, a student at the Middle School of Nationalities in Malho County (Chinese: Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of northwestern China’s Qinghai province), was sentenced to four years in prison for his alleged involvement in organizing a mass Tibetan student demonstration over Tibetan language rights,” sources said. Detail of the Tibetan student, including his age, reason for his sentence, and the date of his sentencing were still not available. Sources stated that Dorjee was arrested after several thousand students launched a peaceful mass protest, on December 10, 2012. As many as 10,000 Tibetans including students from three schools in the county marched to the main street of Rongpo Gyalthang township on Friday early morning (Around 5am local time, October 9, 2012). The crowds that offered loud recitation of prayers for the long life of their spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and shouting slogans such as “Equal rights
for Tibetans, rights of Tibetan language preservation, Freedom in Tibet, unity among the Tibetan people, and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet.” In mid August 2012, two students were handed jail terms of three years. Tashi Tsering, 22, and Choeyang Gonpo, 21, were picked up on March 18, 2012 following student demonstrations four days earlier challenging Chinese rule and opposing policies favoring Chinese over Tibetan as the language of instruction in area schools. The two men, both students at the Kangtsa County School of Nationalities, were charged with advocating independence for Tibet, but were chosen from other students for prosecution because of their age. In early April this year, eight Tibetan students have been sentenced to five years in prison after a major protest involving more than 1,000 people was held in Chabcha in the Tsolho region of Amdho. Students demanded freedom of language and equality of ‘nationalities’ – a reference to China’s minority peoples, including Tibetans. The students were sentenced for their involvement in the protests on November 2012, named as: Rabten, Wangdue Tsering, Jampa Tsering, Choekyong, Tashi Kunsang, Dorjee Tsering, Sanggye Dhondup and Kunsang Bhum. Tensions over language teaching in schools and universities in the region have erupted in recent years as the Chinese government sought to impose a rigid version of the policy. Language protests led
Photo taken on Jan/02/04: Dorjee Wangchuk, a Tibetan student who received four years jail term over Tibetan langauge protest in 2012. Photo: TPI
to a major crackdown and the virtual imposition of martial law in the region. The widespread protests in Qinghai in 2010 over language reveal the deep resentment that many Tibetans feel over policies formulated by the Han Chinese, China’s dominant ethnic group, that Tibetans say are diluting their culture.
5 TPI NEWS EXILE Many Tibetan refugees in Nepal face legal His Holiness The Dalai Lama’s four day Dharma documentation crisis, situation now critical teaching for devotees from across India The Tibet Post International
By Kiran Mohandas Menon: 10 June 2013
Dharamshala: - Tibetan refugees in Nepal are facing a legal crisis due to lack of proper and essential documentation, required to lead normal lives. Nepal is home to one of the largest Tibetan populations in the world, hosting at least 20,000 Tibetan refugees and asylum seekers. It also serves as a transit point for hundreds of Tibetans on their journey to India-the home of His Holiness the fourteenth Dalai Lama and the seat of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).India is also home to more than 100,000 documented Tibetan refugees. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the refugee agency of the United Nations, around half of the 15,000 Tibetan refugees, who arrived prior to the 1990’s lack any documentation. The result is that they are unable to own property, access education or get legal employment as they lack any legal status. The UNHCR continues to advocate for the issuance of proper documentation to Tibetans, who have been staying in the country for long periods. Under normal circumstances, most refugees who have been in the country for such a long time should have been documented and given refugee cards (RCs) by the Nepalese government. Yet,
15 June 2013
Shanker Koirala, a senior official of the Home Ministry of Nepal told Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN) that “no decisions had been made yet”. Sudeep Pathak, head of the Human Rights Organization of Nepal (HURON) says the “lack of RC of any form of documentation means that these people are totally stateless”. According to HURON, the Nepalese government stopped issuing RC’s due to pressure from the Chinese government, despite many of them having lived in Nepal for over two decades. “Without any form of identification paper, I don’t know where I belong. There is no future for me in Nepal.” Palden Lama, a Tibetan refugee told IRIN. Kate Saunders, a senior official of the International Campaign for Tibet says that “there is a fundamental need for documentation – whether refugee identification or citizenship – for Tibetans in Nepal”, stressing that a large number of Tibetans in Nepal are “effectively stateless, vulnerable to political exploitation, and unable to benefit from state services or travel without the threat of harassment, extortion or detention.” Currently, there are twelve Tibetan refugee camps in Nepal, mostly set up by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), with support from the government of Switzerland.
Jawed Habib and TCC opens hairdressing training centre in Dharamshala, India
Mr Jawed Habib with the students of the first batch of Jawed Habib certified hairdressing course offered by TCC at Sarah college for Higher Tibetan studies. Photo: CTA
By Yeshe Choesang: 11 June 2013
Dharamshala: - The Dharamshala Tibetan Career Centre (TCC), a joint initiative of TechnoServe and the CTA Home Department, inaugurated a Jawed-Habib certified hairdressing training course on 5 June at the College for Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah, about 30 minutes away from McLeodganj hill town. According to the Central Tibetan Administration, the inauguration ceremony was attended by 37 students who have enrolled in the first class. Special guests included legendary hair stylist Jawed Habib, TechnoServe representatives Ashwath Muralidharan and Runit Jhanwar, Dharamshala Tibetan Welfare Officer Sonam Dorjee, Finance Department Women’s Desk representative Tenzin Tseyang, Principal of Sarah University Jampel Dakpa, and hairdressing class instructor and former Jawed Habib employee Karma Yongdue. The ceremony was presided over by Tenzin Dolker, the Career Consultant at Dharamshala TCC. The training program is part of a larger initiative of the Tibetan Career Centre to reduce
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unemployment among young Tibetans in exile. To date, Tibetan Career Centres around India and Nepal have helped train well over 400 youth in valuable, job-relevant skills, and placed almost 200 youth in jobs. The inaugural class of two batches commenced on May 20 and will end in late August, after which certified candidates will be eligible for high quality jobs in the hairstyling sector, including in Jawed Habib Salons across India. Sharing her experience working at Jawed Habib salons across India, Karma Yongdue said that the skills Mr. Habib taught her enabled her to build a successful career and become economically independent. She expressed heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Habib for his many years of support and mentorship, as well as his generosity in supporting the first-ever hairdressing course specifically for Tibetan youth. The keynote speaker, Mr. Jawed Habib, urged students to make the most of this opportunity. “You must look at this as more than just training. You should try and develop a passion for what you do. In this field if you work hard and are passionate, the sky is the limit.”
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His Holiness the Dalai Lama during opening prayers at the Main Tibetan Temple at the start of the first day of his four day teaching given at the request of a group from India in Dharamsala, India on June 1, 2013. Photo/Abhishek Madhukar
By Yeshe Choesang: 4 June 2013
Dharamshala: - His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet has begun a 4-day teaching on Shantideva’s A Bodhisattva Way of Life (TIB: Choedjug) at the main Tibetan temple, McLeod Ganj, the Himalyan town in Dharamshala on Saturday, June 1, 2013. The teaching is being held at the request of Nalanda Shikhsha, comprising a group of 16 Sangha organisations across India. In his introductory address, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, “even though the teacher today is a Tibetan, the place and the source of this rich religion is India. And I feel glad to be able to repay these ancient traditions back to the well-educated new generations of India.” The Nobel Peace Prize laureate also noted that every living being on this earth desires happiness and an escape from suffering. “But we, as human beings, have this special intellect to discern right from wrong. The seven billion human beings on this earth all share a common desire for happiness and an end to suffering,” he said. The teaching began with a recitation of Heart Sutra (TIB: Sherab Nyingpo) in Sanskrit led by a female Indian devotee. Over seven thousand people including local Tibetans, 1,900 foreigners and about 14 Chinese from Mainland China are attending the teaching. The teaching will be held till 4 June 2013. Last year, a thousand Indian devotees came to this town to listen to what His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has to say on things spiritual and temporal. This year, the number has gone up by nearly 200. “These teachings were organised the second time, especially on the request of a group from India. Out of the 8,000 participants, over 1,200 were Indians,” Tenzin Taklha, joint secretary at the Dalai Lama’s office, told IANS.
The four-day teachings, which concluded Monday, saw participants from 69 countries. “We have come from Bangalore for the first time to attend the teachings of His Holiness (Dalai Lama),” Supriya Sharma, a senior executive with a multinational company said. Her friend Isha Goel said: “Indians are known to rely on their spiritual and yoga gurus. Their inclination is often the result of the appearance of such gurus on television channels, but gradually there has been a shift from Hindu philosophy to Buddhism propagated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.” “Quite relaxing, the visit was focused on understanding Tibetan culture and the sources of its spiritual sustenance,” Isha said. On the first day of teachings, the 77-year-old pontiff expressed happiness at teaching Indians. “I am pleased to give teachings to Indians as these teachings originated from India,” said His Holiness the Dalai Lama. “Giving teachings on Buddhism back to Indians is like returning their ancestral Buddhism to a new generation of Indians,” the globe-trotting monk said. Aides of the Dalai Lama said that seeing how Indians are drawn to the Dalai Lama’s teachings, his official website (dalailama.com) was made available in Hindi too from May 25. Octogenarian Tashi Dolma, who was part of the Indian Buddhist group, travelled along with over 100 Buddhist devotees from Keylong in Himachal Pradesh for an audience with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The spiritual guru’s teachings are free and open to the public. Even boarding and lodging is free for the participants, says the Dalai Lama’s office. The teaching sessions are held at the request of followers and devotees, mostly Westerners and Asians.
In his addresses, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is often quoted as saying: “India and Tibet share millennia old teacher-student relationship as Buddhism reached Tibet directly from India in the seventh century.” His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaks in Tibetan, and there are simultaneous translations in English, Hindi, Chinese and Russian for the participants. His Holiness Dalai Lama will visit Pune city, the ninth largest metropolis in India, during Rev Dada JP Vaswani’s 95th birthday celebrations this July. According to Times of India, this will mark His Holiness Dalai Lama’s third visit to the city. “His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Dada have great love and respect for each other. And this being Dada’s 95th birthday, it’s going to be amazing when they meet. This time he will take a tour of the museum and will attend an event at the mission,” said a spokesperson from the Sadhu Vaswani Mission. When asked if he plans to stay longer on this trip to the city, the spokesperson said, “As of now, we are not sure if he will plan to extend his stay .”
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Sikyong opens leadership Workshop in Dharamshala for Tibetan school prefects by Yeshe Choesang: 4 Jun 2013
Dharamshala: - Sikyong, the political leader of Tibetans Dr Lobsang Sangay on Tuesday, June 4, opened an experiential leadership workshop for Tibetan school prefects at the Tibetan Children’s Village school in Dharamshala. According to the Central Tibetan Administration, the workshop is being organised by the Department of Education, Central Tibetan Administration, coinciding with the ongoing summer vacation of schools. It is funded by the USAID grant awarded to the Department of Education, CTA. The five-day workshop from 3-7 June will be presided over by Mr Sanjay Upendram, the chief executive officer of Amarthi Consulting based in Hyderabad. 32 school prefects from 17 K-12 Tibetan schools from both TCV and the Central Schools for Tibetans are currently attending the workshop. Speaking to the school prefects, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, who is also Education Kalon acknowledged the importance of leadership in social growth. He said, a leader must always assume there is and will be conflicts of interests, and he should engage and enlist the aid of others to successfully empower the masses with the three principles of vision, strategy and execution. He noted that western education relies more on cognitive science, but a gradual understanding of the importance of emotional science (training of
Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay and Mr Sanjay Upendram, the resource person at the opening session of the workshop with Education Secretary Topgyal Tsering and Tsewang Yeshi, Executive Director of TCV. (Photo/DIIR)
mind) is also being recognised. Quoting Daniel Goleman’s theory of emotional intelligence, he said leadership is driven by a wide array of competencies and skills. Self-awareness, selfregulation, social skill, empathy and motivation are some of the constructs enlisted by Goleman in his assessment of a good leader. Sikyong Dr Sangay also said that he subscribes to the idea of a creative leadership as opposed to authoritative and activist leadership. A creative
leadership creates a conducive environment to engage and empower, and encourages valid feedbacks from the masses, he said. Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay reiterated the 14th Kashag’s prioritization of education and urged the importance of academic excellence to succeed in life. He noted the incredible achievements of various individuals in the board exam, particularly Tenzin Chokyi, who became the first Tibetan to score above 95%.
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TPI NEWS
There is no such plan to visit Hong Kong: H.H. The Dalai lama’s private office By Yeshe Choesang: 4 June 2013
Philip Li Koi-hop, chairman of the Hong Kong Tibetan and HanChinese Friendship Association (Photo/Jonathan Wong)
Dharamshala: - His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, has been invited to visit Hong Kong by a Tibetan and Han-Chinese religious organisation in September. The organisation said it is confident that His Holiness will be able to make the trip. Philip Li Koi-hop, chairman of the Hong Kong Tibetan and Han-Chinese Friendship Association, expressed his optimism while speaking to Hong Kong based newspaper the South China Morning Post. Li said he has visited the Dalai Lama four times in India between 2009 and 2011. “One time I asked him if he wanted to come to Hong Kong. He answered ‘Yes’, and said a University of Hong Kong professor had invited him earlier. But the Hong Kong government rejected the visit,” Li told the Post. Li said the current invitation to the 77-year-old spiritual leader, who relinquished all his political authority to the elected Tibetan leadership in 2011, was sent following his return from his latest visit. Li further told the Post that he hopes to use media pressure to urge the Dalai Lama to come to Hong Kong as well as to lean on the Immigration Department to allow the visit. He has applied to the Immigration Department as well as sent letters to authorities in the mainland, and to
President Xi Jinping, to allow His Holiness the Dalai Lama to visit the city. But it has not given an answer yet. It has said only that it processes all applications according to the law and current immigration policy. It said it would consider all factors related to an application before making a final decision. Li added that if the Dalai Lama, who was forced into exile in 1959, is allowed to enter Hong Kong, “his visit will represent significant progress in easing tensions with Beijing.” The Hong Kong Tibetan and Han-Chinese Friendship Association was set up in 2010 to ‘’defend Tibetans’ core value and promote ethnic harmony in China.’ An official of the Association had earlier told the Kyodo news service based in Tokyo “they want to gather people who would defend Tibetan culture and to build strong ties with them.” Li also said that if the Tibetan spiritual leader is permitted to visit Hong Kong, “his visit will represent significant progress in easing tensions with Beijing.” However, His Holiness The Dalai lama’s private office has clarified that there was no such plan to tour the special administrative region under the control of People’s Republic of China. “Yes, it is true that the Private Office received the letter and our concerned staff had immediately replied saying that His Holiness’ visit would not be possible for the time being,” said Nagpa Tsegyam, secretary at His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s private office. “His Holiness has no scheduled plans of visiting Hong Kong in the near future,” he said, adding that there was a lengthy process involved in organising a spiritual leader’s visit and required detailed planning. Tsegyam added that His Holiness the Dalai Lama meets many devotees from mainland China and many followers from Hong Kong had extended invitations to him. “When invited to visit Hong Kong, His Holiness has repeatedly said that if the Chinese government allows, he is most willing to visit,” the senior official said. He noted that the 77-year-old spiritual leader follows a pre-planned schedule and will be visiting Europe this September.
H.H the Dalai lama
Education is the answer, His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet stresses in Australia By Catherina
Leipold: 14 June 2013
Dharamshala: - His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet arrived in Sydney early on June 13, launching his 11-day visit to Australia. His first destination was the University of Sydney, where Professor John Keane introduced him to the 788person audience as “a real leader, who stands for non-violence and compassion and shows a path for everyone.” His Holiness catered his speech to the students, who comprised the majority of the audience. He referred to the past century as an era of bloodshed that showed that violence is an unrealistic approach to fulfilling our goals. “The future is open and you have an opportunity, a responsibility, to make this a better, more peaceful century than has gone before,” His Holiness told the young crowd. To emphasize the fact that genuine peace comes from within, His Holiness explained that others’ interests are in our own interest, making the use of force “self-destructive.” His Holiness highlighted the importance of education, whose purpose he defined as the reduction of the gap between appearance and reality. His Holiness reminded the audience that most problems arise when our disillusioned minds fail to see reality clearly. “In addition to basic education, we need to encourage warm-heartedness, concern for others and compassion,” His Holiness declared, advising against intelligence led by powerful negative emotions. He acknowledged that understanding the mind and emotions is difficult, as it requires the use of the mind itself. Contrary to those who believe ethics must be rooted in religion, His Holiness argued for the link between ethics and education. Since there will never be a universal religion with a fully committed supporter base, His Holiness
Thousands hear His Holiness The Dalai Lama speak in Christchurch, New Zealand
Photo 1: His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his teachings on the “Four Noble Truths” at the CBS Arena in Christchurch on June 9, 2013. Photo 2: His Holiness during the public talk. Photo 3: His Holiness being introduced by Sam Johnson before his talk. Photo 4: Maari McCluskey of MindFood magazine interviewing His Holiness. Photo 5: Some of the over 2300 people attending His Holiness’ teachings. Photo: Jeremy Russell/OHHDL
By Aditi
Padiyar: 10 June 2013
Christchurch, New Zealand, 9 June 2013 - Bringing his message of peace and compassion, the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressed a crowd of more than 2300 people at the CBS Arena in Christchurch, New Zealand on June 9, 2013. As His Holiness walked onto the stage in the Arena on Sunday morning, an applauding audience of more than 2300 took to their feet and His Holiness saluted them with folded hands. “Respected monks and nuns, human brothers and sisters,” he began, “we are all the same; physically, mentally and emotionally, which is why I greet you as brothers and sisters.” He remarked that Buddhism belongs to the East and as does New Zealand geographically, while culturally looking to the West. In the past, communication with the outside world was poor, much as it was in Tibet, but now this has changed. The world has become one multi-religious, multi-cultural community. Although the West was not traditionally Buddhist, interest in Eastern thought, including Buddhism, seems to be growing. “The topic for today is the Four Noble Truths, which are the basis of all Buddhist traditions. This is the first teaching the Buddha gave. In the Sanskrit tradition we have the perfection of wisdom of which the Heart Sutra is a short explanation. It discusses the ultimate reality to which the third noble truth refers. In the first turning of the wheel of Dharma, the Buddha taught the Four
Noble Truths, in the second turning of the wheel he taught the perfection of wisdom and in the third turning of the wheel he taught about the clarity of mind and the path referred to in the fourth noble truth. The ultimate source of suffering, referred to in the second noble truth is ignorance, which is the opposite of wisdom.” His Holiness explained that different religious traditions, as well as the different traditions of Buddhism, came about because of people’s different dispositions and locations. “Just as we need different medications to treat different ailments, we need different solutions to help us deal with our different disturbing emotions. Even when they take a different approach, all these religious traditions share a common message of love and compassion.” He explained that in Buddhism there is no creator apart from us. The law of causality shows that certain actions bring certain results; our future depends on us. If we do good, there is a positive, happy result; if we do harm, the result is negative and unhappy. Because all major religions make guiding our actions their common purpose, they deserve our respect. With regard to the notion that there is one truth and one religion, he said this may be true on a personal level, but in terms of the wider community the reality is that there are several religions and several truths. What’s more, we need to promote harmony and respect among them. Turning specifically to Buddhism he referred to the Pali and Sanskrit traditions. The Buddha’s teachings were
The Tibet Post International
gathered in three councils after his death and eventually recorded in Pali. These were studied in great centres of learning like Taxila, Nalanda and Vikramashila, from which Sanskrit Buddhist literature later emerged. Southern Buddhist countries such as Sri Lanka, Burma and Thailand preserved the Pali tradition well on the basis of the Vinaya or monastic discipline. The Sanskrit tradition travelled to China in about 3rd century and from there on to Vietnam, Korea and Japan. It was conveyed to Tibet in 8th century by the renowned scholar Shantarakshita who established it there with the aid of Padmasambhava. In the first turning of the wheel of dharma, the Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths: suffering, the cause of suffering, cessation and the path. His Holiness clarified that the ignorance that is at the root of suffering refers to the contradiction between appearance and reality. “Just as heat displaces cold, light eliminates darkness. We will not overcome suffering just by making prayers or engaging in thoughtless meditation, but by understanding reality. The third noble truth, cessation, refers to the elimination of suffering and the way to it is the path of the fourth noble truth. The ultimate method to overcome ignorance is wisdom understanding reality,” he added. The three trainings in morality, concentration and wisdom constitute the path. To achieve them we need mindfulness and determination and His Holiness outlined the four mindfulnesses of body, feelings, mind and phenomena that are included, along with the four restraints and so forth in the Thirty-seven Wings of Enlightenment. These culminate in the eightfold noble path that we can observe in practice in our daily lives. He concluded that the desire to overcome ignorance is an aspiration for liberation. Once we cultivate that in relation to other sentient beings we develop the awakening mind of bodhichitta, the aspiration for enlightenment. We embark on the practice of the six perfections and engage in the four classes of tantra. Once we have a basic understanding of the teaching, we can follow the path gradually, step by step. “This,” he declared, “is a realistic approach.” After lunch, he returned to the stage, where his public talk was introduced by Sam Johnson, who was honoured as 2012 Young New Zealander of the Year for his co-ordination of volunteers in clearing up after the recent Christchurch earthquakes. His Holiness began: “I appreciate your invitation. I was glad to be able to visit here after the earthquake to express my sympathy and I appreciate your work to help others facing difficulties. I think what I do, just talking, is much easier than actually giving a helping hand like See Page 7... you have done.
Photo 1: His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaks at the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia, on June 13, 2013. Photo 2: His Holiness with members of the Reach Foundation on the first day of his visit. Photo 3: His Holiness is presented a jersey and cap from the New South Wales football team the Rabbitohs’ players and Photo 4: His Holiness being interview for ABC Television’s 730 Report. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL
suggested the incorporation of training on the mind and emotions into the modern education system. “Think about what has been said and if you find it interesting or useful explore it further, but if you don’t, then just forget it,” His Holiness concluded his advice to the students. His Holiness proceeded to meet with the press and give two television interviews, touching on suffering and human happiness. His Holiness stressed the interdependence of mankind and his preference for extensive analytical meditation as opposed to popular entertainment at this point in his life. In response to a question about the numerous, recent self-immolations in Tibet, His Holiness
urged Chinese authorities to investigate and resolve the factors that fueled these extreme protests. His Holiness recognized that the incidents of Tibetans setting themselves on fire are doing little to change Beijing’s policies. His Holiness said it is unnecessary to fear death, as it is nothing but a mere body change if approached with realistic expectations and confidence. His Holiness also made comments about the potential for a female 15th Dalai Lama and the importance of social media. His Holiness will continue his Australia tour with teachings and public talks in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Darwin, before returning back to Dharamshala for teachings at the month’s end.
..... Continued from front page
accomplishments of the centre, to which His Holiness responded with praise and suggestions for increased study of Buddhist science and philosophy. More than 30 local church leaders and representatives of the Dunedin Interfaith Council greeted His Holiness on the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral the next morning. The welcome was followed by a discussion on Maori beliefs at the University of Otago Clocktower Building. A bagpiper led the way to the University’s St David Lecture Theatre, where Vice-Chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne made introductory remarks and then opened the floor for questions from the 550 students and staff members. His Holiness spoke on the lack of a Buddhist view on creation, which is instead substituted by a belief in the continuing cycle of the beginningless universe. Speaking of a monk whose body remained fresh for 17 days after his clinical death, His Holiness asserted that there exists a subtler level of consciousness that is able to function when sensory consciousness can no longer function. In true fashion of investigating and testing what is taught, His Holiness has introduced science to the curriculums studied in Tibetan monasteries. His Holiness has also established the Mind & Life Institute. When asked about death, His Holiness advised the visualization of death, because a lack of preparation will lead to an unpleasant surprise when ultimately faced with death. “Tibetan Buddhist culture is a culture of peace, compassion and non-violence and as such is of great value to the world,” His Holiness said on the state of Tibet and the decision not to seek outright independence. “I am convinced of the importance of acknowledging the oneness of humanity, so try not to think only of New Zealand, but think instead of the whole world,” His Holiness concluded his meeting with the students. His Holiness’ last appearance of the day took place in front of an audience of 2,100 for “Ethics for a Whole World” at the Town Hall. His Holiness stressed the importance of ethics as a source of peace and trust. “Personally we need faith in our own tradition, but at the same time we need to cultivate understanding and respect for others,” His Holiness advised. He followed up by saying that this sense of compassion does not stem from religion, but from our mothers. His Holiness also spoke on the importance of enemies, because they allow us to practice our patience and forgiveness. His Holiness gave a brief televised and webcast interview to Rev. Professor Sir Lloyd Geering back at Otago University, before preparing to fly to Auckland early on June 12 for a series of meetings and a speech on “The Path to Happiness.”
His Holiness promotes peace..................
“We may have different language and culture, but physically, mentally and emotionally we are all the same,” His Holiness said to the gathered students. “Great developments in science and technology, whose purpose is to ensure a happier humanity, have sometimes brought more stress and anxiety.” His Holiness explained that the ultimate source of joy and peace of mind is within the mind. Even though short-lived satisfactions are pleasant, long-term meditation is more beneficial. As they say, money can’t buy happiness. “We have an opportunity to make this century a more peaceful, happier era,” His Holiness told the students. He placed the responsibility for this transformation on the younger generation. His Holiness proceeded to answer questions about climate change, population control, and civilization clashes. “I use my own intelligence, on the basis of a calm mind, and employ what I have learned from ancient Indian thought,” His Holiness said when asked who he looked to for guidance. His Holiness concluded his visit in Christchurch with comments on the necessity of secular ethics, the importance of leading a meaningful life by helping others, the absence of an absolute truth, and his contradictory non-vegetarian diet. Upon arriving in Dunedin in the afternoon, His Holiness was welcomed at the Dhargyey Buddhist Centre. He spoke about his time in exile, and expressed pride at the Tibetan preservation of knowledge and culture. Ven Lhagon Rinpoche presented a report of the
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7 TPI NEWS International UNESCO urged to end the destruction of Demonstrations in Tibet “illegal”: China at the ancient Lhasa City in Tibet United Nations Human Rights Council 15 Juney 2013
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By Yeshe Choesang: 1 June 2013
Dharamshala: – In a letter sent on May 27, the Canada Tibet Committee has urged the Canadian Commission for UNESCO to ensure that China immediately halts construction of a shopping mall and underground parking lot in the Barkor, a historic and culturally unique section of Tibet’s capital city Lhasa. UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee is scheduled to meet in Cambodia in mid-June. Canada does not currently hold a seat on the Committee but is a member of UNESCO. Parks Canada will represent Canada at the WHC meeting. “Once the old buildings in Lhasa’s Barkor are destroyed, they can never be brought back” said Carole Samdup, Executive Director of the Canada Tibet Committee. “It is the responsibility of the international community to ensure that the Tibetan people never experience that loss.” In its letter, the Canada Tibet Committee urges the Canadian Commission for UNESCO to recommend
that the World Heritage Committee conduct an independent investigative mission to Lhasa. In 2004, China made formal commitments at UNESCO to respect and protect Tibet’s architectural and cultural heritage sites including Lhasa’s old city, parts of which have existed for more than 1300 years. Barkor is home to the Jokhang Temple, one of Tibet’s pre-eminent places of worship. Every year thousands of Tibetan pilgrims make their way to Lhasa to circumambulate the Jokhang, many travelling on foot for weeks to complete the journey. The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile on Friday, May 31 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. Member of Tibetan Parliament from North America Mr Norbu Tsering presented the souvenir award to Mr Kenney on 24 May 2013 at his office.
Conference on Tibet’s environment will be held in Brussels, Belguim By Yeshe Choesang: 11 June 2013
Press release by the organisers: Photo: UNPO
Brussels – The European Parliament’s Tibet Inter-group will be holding its 97th meeting by hosting a conference on the state of Tibet’s environment. The conference will be held at the European Parliament, Room ASP 3H1, Brussels, on Wednesday June, 19, 2013. The conference, hosted by MEPs Satu Hassi (Greens), Thomas Mann (EPP) and Lidia Joanna Geringer de Oedenberg (S&D), is jointly organized by the Office of Tibet in Brussels, the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) and the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO). ‘This conference will be the occasion for all to discover the multiple facets of Tibet’s struggle against the degradation of its land, air and water,’ the organisers said in a statement issued on June 11, 2013. Covering almost 2% of the earth’s land, Tibet has
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long been regarded by its indigenous population as a rich source of natural elements. Its fertile grasslands, glaciers, rivers and minerals have allowed generations to survive in a region often referred to as “the rooftop of the world” for its altitude. Over the past decades, and at an increasingly alarming rate, Tibet’s landscape has changed due to man’s presence and China’s enthusiasm to cash in on Tibet’s outstanding resources. Tibet’s environment subsequently suffered from severe setbacks, all of which affect not only Tibet, but the whole of South East Asia – and eventually the world. With its glaciers melting fast, water resources in Tibet have become deregulated. An important source of fresh water for over 10 countries, Tibet’s glaciers run a high risk of disappearing within a couple decades. Permafrost layers found at high altitudes are busy melting as the earth’s temperature rises, feeding a vicious cycle as carbon exposed through this melting will in turn exacerbate the earth’s warming. Extractive industries, such as gold or copper mining, as well as deforestation have left gaping holes in Tibet’s already fragile landscape. Unfortunately, these are but the tip of the iceberg for Tibet and its inhabitants. The keynote speaker will be Mr Tenzin Norbu, Director of the Environment and Development Desk of the Central Tibetan Administration. A short documentary screening will follow, after which a question and answer session will allow for further debate.
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The mass Tibetan students’ protest in the Chabcha county of Tsolho county, North-eastern Tibet, in November 2012. Photo: TPI by Yeshe Choesang: 6 June 2013
Dharamshala: - The Chair-Rapporteur of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention and the United Nations Human Rights Council Special Rapporteurs issued a joint communication on arbitrary detentions and rights to freedom of peaceful assembly at the 23th regular session of the UN Human Rights Council meeting. On 3rd June 2013, the Chinese representative responded in a statement that the peaceful
demonstrations by young students in Chabcha (Ch: Gonghe) in Tsolho in north-eastern Tibet on 26 November 2012 were illegal and required prior permission according to Chinese law. In making this statement, the Chinese representative revealed that any form of demonstration perceived as harmful to the interests of the state, society or community by the Chinese authority will not be permitted. On 26 November 2012, about 1,000 students
protested in Chabcha area in Tibet against the release of an official Chinese booklet degrading the Tibetan language, which is one of many instances when the Chinese government has brazenly defied its own constitution. Article IV of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China clearly stipulates that people of all nationalities have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages, and to preserve or reform their own ways and customs. It is therefore incomprehensible that when Tibetan students protest to protect their constitutional rights, their actions are labelled ‘illegal’ while, at the same time, China illegally reconfigures its own constitutional authority in order to suit a particular definition of national security. It is widely known that China’s inability to redress grievances expressed by Chinese students in 1989 led to an outpouring of resentment that was brutally suppressed on June 4th 1989 in Tiananmen Square. This same suppression has been perpetrated and repeated inside Tibet since its occupation. The CTA thanks the European Union, United States, Czech Republic and other countries for their valuable statements on June 5th, reiterating the importance of addressing the deteriorating human rights situation inside Tibet and China at the ongoing 23th session of the Human Right Council meeting.
My words are not tainted by lies and deception: Gartse By Yeshe Choesang: 11 June 2013
Dharamshala: - Imprisoned Tibetan monk and writer Gartse Jigme in a heartfelt appeal calls on the Chinese government to reach out to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to listen to the demands articulated by self-immolation protesters, as a first step towards creating a truly harmonious and stable Tibet where respect for Tibetan rights and freedoms would replace oppression and suffering. According to the Dharamshala based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), this essay appears at the end of the second volume of his book, “Tsenpoi Nyingtop” (The King’s Valour) which was published this month in India after the author was sentenced to five years imprisonment. He is being imprisoned at an undisclosed location. About the book, Gartse Jigme writes: While publishing this book, I endured loads of pain. Tears drenched my heart. For the true values of truth, justice, rights, equality, peace and harmony, I sacrificed everything and wrote this book. This [book] is a source of joy to me. It is my hope for the future. The book is not at all meant to prove my heroism. This book is a way out for me to shed tears once for the suffering of my ancestors. The book is not written to prove my scholarly credentials. It is a way out for me to shed tears for the pain and suffering endured by my fellow-countrymen. To be honest, I am not a hero. I am not a scholar. I am not wealthy. I am nothing. Amid the waves of truth and justice, I cried once with the suffering of my fellow countrymen. He writes: My heartfelt Appeal to the Chinese Government
“In the hearts of more than ninety nine per cent of the Tibetan population, His Holiness the Dalai Lama dwells like a ray of sun. Therefore, no Tibetan will accept the constant demonization of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Such a demonization is unbearable to the Tibetans. They will make every effort to resist it. If democracy truly exists, then the Chinese government must seriously take into account the wishes and yearning of more than ninety nine percent of the Tibetan population. They must conduct negotiations with either His Holiness the Dalai Lama or with his representatives, so that His Holiness could return to his homeland. Such an effort will reduce the conflict. As a Tibetan, more especially as a monk, I have expressed my heartfelt views to the Chinese government. I have expressed them honestly...For the true values of truth, justice, rights, equality, peace and harmony, I sacrificed everything and wrote this book. This [book] is a source of joy to me. It is my hope for the future. The book is not at all meant to prove my heroism. This book is a way out for me to shed tears once for the suffering of my ancestors. The book is not written to prove my scholarly credentials. It is a way out for me to shed tears for the pain and suffering endured by my fellow-countrymen. To be honest, I am not a hero. I am not a scholar. I am not wealthy. I am nothing. Amid the waves of truth and justice, I cried once with the suffering of my fellow countrymen. In short, the Chinese government, instead of ridiculing and denouncing the unbearable and tragic suffering of the Tibetan people, must make efforts to find out the root cause [of the tragedy] taking into account the truthful and just laws of Karma. With an open and
Gartse Jigme, monk and writer. Photo: TPI
liberal [mind], it should conduct negotiations with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, so that the two demands of the self-immolating Tibetans [could be fulfilled]: 1) return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet 2) genuine autonomous rights for the whole Tibetan population. I have a firm faith that if Beijing fulfills these two demands, the painful and tragic issue of Tibet would be resolved. However, if the Chinese government continues to dictate through violent repression, while the masses continue to pursue the [path] of rebellion and vociferous protests, then the situation might get out of control, leading possibly to more violent and bloody conflicts [in future]. In order to prevent [such an eventuality], tears in my eyes, I have sent this appeal through wind to Beijing”.
Thousands hear His Holiness ..................
Sometimes hardship brings about a greater sense of community. We saw this in New York after September 11th, in Brisbane after the floods and in Japan after the tsunami and nuclear accident.” Noting that this relates to an awareness of the oneness of humanity, he said we also have to remember that everywhere there is a huge gap between rich and poor. It is a gap we have to address not by making the rich poorer, but by improving conditions for the poor. Recalling that 20th century was, for all its great achievements, a century of violence, he stressed the need to make this 21st century an era of peace. He said this can be done only if we seek to solve our problems through dialogue and non-violence. Doing this requires that we acknowledge the oneness of humanity, that people are essentially the same, rather than dwelling on secondary differences such as nationality, race, gender, education and so forth. “If I think of myself as Tibetan, Buddhist, as Dalai Lama, this isolates me from you; it creates a gap between us. That’s the kind of gap that allows us to bully, exploit and deceive others, to condone corruption. If, on the other hand, we think of ourselves as the same as others and concern ourselves with their needs, we become closer to them, which puts a stop to our negative behaviour.”
..... Continued from page 6 He pointed out that our experience of our mother’s affection at the start of our lives is what prepares us to express affection and concern for others later on. However, we lack the training necessary to tackle our disturbing emotions, something that involves the mind and can only be achieved by using the mind. This is something we need to introduce to modern education. Asked for advice on fostering inner values in the community, His Holiness recommended we check our motivation and cultivate will-power and determination. He said we naturally have self-interest but it should be wise self-interest rather than foolish self-interest. That means taking others needs into account as well as our own. About Tibet and China he encouraged people to go to Tibet to see for themselves what is happening there. He said visitors from abroad are good for Tibetan morale. But he also advised taking opportunities to explain the situation to ordinary Chinese. Tibetans need to preserve their language, culture and identity, but many Chinese are ill-informed about the situation in Tibet, because they are only provided distorted information that conceals reality. He asked for help to rectify this.
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TPI NEWS back page focus
15 June 2013
China threatens French journalist over Tibet report
Photo file: French journalist Cyril Payen, a reporter for the French TV news station France 24. Photo: France 24 By Yeshe Choesang: 13 June 2013
Dharamshala: - France 24 reporter Cyril Payen has been harassed and threatened by Chinese diplomatic personnels for his documentary ‘Seven Days in Tibet’, says Reporters Without Borders (RSF). His report, entitled “Seven days in Tibet,” was broadcast by France 24 on 30 May, 2013 and was followed by a live debate. China is highly restrictive and still a totalitarian state when it comes to freedom of press, particularly when it comes to reporting on the current real situation in Tibet. The Paris based world press freedom watchdog says “it is outraged by the way Chinese diplomatic personnel have harassed and threatened French journalist Cyril Payen, a reporter for the French TV news station France 24, since the station broadcast his documentary “Seven days in Tibet” on 30 May. The TV Channel is an international news and current affairs television channel based in Paris.” “A few days after it was broadcast, Chinese embassy personnel went to the TV channel’s headquarters in Paris to demand the documentary’s withdrawal
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from its website. The Chinese embassy in Bangkok then threatened him by telephone after he arrived in Thailand,” it stressed. “Such unacceptable behaviour might be expected from the mafia but not from senior diplomats,” Reporters Without Borders said. “It is acceptable for an embassy to express its disagreement with a report. But it is completely unacceptable for diplomats stationed in France and Thailand to try to intimidate a news outlet into modifying editorial content, to harangue a journalist and to summon him with the intention of interrogating him. “Such methods are undoubtedly normal in China, and that is regrettable, but they have no place in a free country. The telephone threats that these diplomats made against a French journalist expose them to the possibility of judicial proceedings. “We urge the French authorities to summon the representatives of the Chinese embassy in Paris in order to protest against this unacceptable harassment. The French authorities must condemn the Chinese government’s use of such aggressive methods with a French journalist and their violation of his freedom of information.” “Payen described to Reporters Without Borders the events that followed the broadcasting of his report. Taking advantage of a loosening in controls on people entering Tibet, Payen, entered the territory clandestinely in early May in order to do a report on China’s repression of its Tibetan minority. His report, entitled “Seven days in Tibet,” was broadcast by France 24 on 30 May and was followed by a live debate,” RSF criticised China’s ‘interference and attempted censorship.’ As Payen was leaving Paris for Bangkok on 3 June, the Chinese embassy in Paris contacted France 24 and asked to meet with him. As he had by then already left, two embassy officials went to France 24 to talk to its CEO, Marc Saikali. For two hours, they accused the station of broadcasting a mendacious report that was “riddled with errors” and demanded its removal from the website. The station refused. Cyril-Payen-documentary-2013-Lhasa’On his arrival in Bangkok on 4 June, Payen received a call on his mobile phone from the Chinese embassy in Thailand, although neither he nor France 24 had given his number to any Chinese diplomats. Asked to go to the embassy as soon as possible, Payen said he was willing to meet at a Bangkok hotel, but the Chinese diplomats ruled out a meeting anywhere but the embassy,’ RSF has strongly condemned the Chinese diplomats’ ‘harassmen’t and ‘open threats’ on the French journalist. “The embassy then stepped up its harassment of Payen, who received several anonymous calls and many texts. A message left yesterday by a
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female member of the embassy’s staff was openly threatening,” RSF said in the statement. She gave him an ultimatum to attend a meeting at the embassy by today at the latest to explain why he had “cheated” in order to obtain a Chinese visa. She urged him to stop postponing the meeting and to comply with the embassy request, or else “take the responsibility” of his refusal. “Foreign journalists are forbidden to visit Tibet and the Chinese police continue to prevent them from covering demonstrations by Tibetans in nearby provinces. The police arrested a CNN crew at a toll station in Sichuan province in January 2012 and prevented them from travelling on to the neighbouring Tibet Autonomous Region,” RSF said while it had considered Tibet – as a “sensitive subject.” “The Chinese authorities are aware that these bans violate their own laws and often use bad weather or the state of the roads as pretexts for denying access to Tibet. The police readily harass foreign journalists suspected of intending to defy their instructions. Some journalists have complained of being followed. The police have escorted others to the nearest airport, interrogated them for hours, forced them to delete their photos and video footage, and confiscated their equipment. The police not only ask to see press cards and passports but also temporary foreign residence permits, which journalists now have to carry with them. These violations of freedom of information foster a climate of permanent surveillance that
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Tibetan admin. to start NGX progamme in Tibetan schools “NGX Programme has benefited more than 2 million children across 13 countries in terms of improving children’s proficiency in English and knowledge in Science. This programme uses high-quality 21st century materials for teaching recognized as amongst the best for its content accuracy and research,” said the statement. Gyaltsen said that “a 2-day workshop on NGX Programme will be organized by the Department of Education at College for Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah on June 22 and 23, 2013.” “Honourable Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, who is also Kalon for the Education Department will grace the inaugural function of the workshop on June 22, 2013,” said Gyaltsen. “This programme with be conducted in five Tibetan schools (viz., TCV Suja, TCV Chauntra, STS Chauntra, STS Paonta Sahib and Mevon Petoen Tsuglak School) in year 2013-14 benefiting over 2000 students,” he further added.
By Yeshe Choesang: 14 June 2013
Dharamshala: - The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in collaboration with ‘National Geographic Explorer’ will start a new progamme in exiled Tibetan Schools, near Dharamshala, India. “The Department of Education (DoE) of CTA, in collaboration with National Geographic Explorer (NGX) Programme, USA will be starting a yearround school-based Science, Environmental Science and English Learning Programme for class VI to X students from July 2013 under its USAID Projects, Mr Gyaltsen, Science Education Officer for DoE said in a statement issued on June 14, 2013. According to the department, “It is a holistic and integrated programme with a broader mission to increase global understanding and promote conservation of our planet through exploration research and education.”
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Recent photos from Lhasa, the capital of Tibet showing, how the current situation is bad in Tibet. Photo: Screen-shot/France 24 documentary on Tibet
is stressful for journalists and often takes a psychological toll. In February 2012, China-based foreign journalists asked the authorities to allow them to freely visit the provinces that are closed to them, to have freedom of movement throughout the country and to be able to interview anyone who is willing. Submitted by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China (FCCC), which is not recognized by the government, the request was not granted.” The world media watchdog stated that there is “growing problems for foreign journalists” as China has tightly controlled the media coverage in China, particularly inside Tibet. “The authorities have stepped up their harassment of the foreign media ever since the Arab Spring echoed around the world in 2011. Harassment of journalists based outside China is still unusual, but there has been a marked increase in harassment of journalists visiting China or based there,” it said. It further stated that “the Communist Party does not hesitate to employ police violence, disguised by the use of plainclothes police, to control foreign media coverage. The beating that a Bloomberg cameraman received in March 2011 was one of the most striking cases.” Every aspect of Tibetan life is under siege from a Chinese regime determined to gradually eradicate a whole religion and culture idtentity. For example, freedom of expression is targeted, and Tibetans particularly intellectuals have been threatened, denied equality, education, employment, and their citizenship without “declaring loyalty” to mainland China. In other words, on condition they abandon their national identity, culture, language, and historic heritage that’s the equivalent of asking Han Chinese to renounce Buddhist leaders including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet. Harsh crackdown on intellectuals and cultural figures have continued. Since 2008, hundreds of Tibetan writers, singers, bloggers, intellectuals and cultural figures have been arrested or disappeared, most of them have been sentenced to varying prison terms and many were sentenced to life imprisonment. China is on the Reporters Without Borders 2013 list of “Enemies of the Internet” and is ranked 173rd out of 179 countries in the 2013 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index. Reporters Without Borders (RWB, also Reporters Sans Frontières, RSF) is a France-based international non-profit, non-governmental organization that promotes and defends freedom of information and freedom of the press. The organization has consultant status at the United Nations.
Zurich: The political leader of the exile Central Tibetan Administration in India, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, arrived in Switzerland on April 10 for a 12-day visit.
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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