The Tibet Post International Online Newspaper

Ex-Political Prisoner Soepa Speaks about his life in Chinese jail

A Tibetan Woman-Blogger Wins “Reporters Without Borders” Category Award

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A Message For The Voiceless

Vol. 02, Issue 65, 30 April 2012

Tibet Resolution Passed at IUSY World Congress

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Kalon Tripa Meets with Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister By: Paul Eggers, The Tibet Post

By: Paul Eggers, The Tibet Post

Paraguay 22 April 2012: In a sign of the growing international attention support for Tibet's push for independence, the largest political youth organization in the world approved a Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) resolution condemning China's illegal occupation of Tibet.

The measure before the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY), which also backed Tibet's independence, garnered an overwhelming majority votes inside the IUSY World Congress, the group's highest making decision-making body. All members of the congress reviewed the Tibet Resolution, which was made available in 3 languages.

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Prisoner Meeting Barred in Central Tibet

An aerial view of the various prisons and detention centres of Tibet Autonomous region. Photo: Tibet Net By: Central Tibetan Administration: Tibet Net

Dharamshala: - Reports coming out of Tibet say, an internal notice sent to all the prisons and detention centers of central Tibet (Chinese: Tibet Autonomous Region TAR) in March 2012, has barred all prisoners from meeting their friends and family.

The notice has also clearly outlined a need for stricter vigilance in the prisons and has directed all the prison officials to closely monitor the movements of the Tibetan prisoners.

Lawyers and legal advisers of the prisoners were asked to get the permission only from the chief warden and were allowed only a limited amount of time for case discussion.

The reason for stricter rules in the prison was cited as public security and the welfare of Lhasa residents.

Most of the detention centres and prisons of the so called Tibet Autonomous Region are situated on the north west of Lhasa.

These prisons were built rapidly in 1983 and was used ever since for secret detention of political prisoners and dissidents.

Many respected monks from the three main monasteries of Tibet were also reportedly arrested and detained in these prisons and tortured.

Dharamsala: Looking to generate support for Tibetans living in Himachal Pradesh, Kalon Tripa Dr. Lobsang Sangay met on Sunday 6 May with the north Indian state's Chief Minister. In the 45-minute meeting held in the state capital of Shimla, Kalon Tripa also thanked CM Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal for his efforts to clear Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje for his alleged role in the currency seizure case.

Kalon Tripa outlined to the CM problems of rehabilitation and livelihood facing Tibetans living in Shimla and Solan, focusing particularly on those residing near the Shimla bus stand. In response, the Chief Minister assured Kalon Tripa the state government would continue the same support it has offered the Tibetan people over the past 50 years.

Following the meeting with the high-ranking Indian lawmaker, Kalon Tripa addressed the Tibetan community at Yangchen Gatsel Ling settlement in Kusumpti. Speaking on the decision of His Holiness to hand political authority to the Central Tibetan Administration, Kalon Tripa lauded the move, announcing that the Dalai Lama's decision allowed for the complete democratization of Tibet policy, making the Tibetan struggle more sustainable. He credited the support of the Tibetan people for the smooth transition possible, sharing how unity has led to solid work by the CTA under the present Kashag.

Kalon Tripa went on to highlight details of the Kashag's guiding principles: innovation, self-reliance and unity. Addressing the growing international support to restore freedom in Tibet and the 35 self-immolators demand that His Holiness the Dalai Lama return to his homeland, Kalon Tripa told the audience, "As free spokespersons, we have spread their aspirations worldwide to garner strong support from the international community, including prime ministers, former presidents, world parliamentarians and other political leaders of countries like the US and Japan."

The visit also marked the Golden Jubilee celebration of the Central School for Tibetans in Shimla. Kalon Tripa attended the celebrations on 5 and 6 of May, expressing gratitude for the hard work by both Indian and Tibetan teachers throughout the

Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay during his meeting with Chief Minister Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal in Shimla on 6 May 2012. Photo: tibet.net

school's history. He added that the Central Tibetan Administration takes pride in seeing CST-Shimla graduates filling prominent posts in both the exile community and the international arena.

Kalon Tripa also addressed Indo-Tibet relations organized by Bharat Tibbat Sayog Manch at the Deputy Commissioner's Office and later spoke with the media. Prominent dignitaries including Mr Suresh Bharadwaj, MLA Shimla, Mr. Tarsim, President of Bharat Tibbat Sayog Manch attended the presentation along with scholars and professors from Himachal Pradesh University.

Journey Over: Exile Family Denied Entry into Nepal

Video Footage speaks of Self-Immolation

Tibetans Address First Dhasa TEDx Event

Tibetan poet, writer and activist Tenzin Tsundue.

Photo: TPI/Paul Eggers By: Kris Krupa & Paul Eggers, The Tibet Post

Dharamsala: Celebrated international conference TEDx came to Dharmshala for the first time on Sunday, 6 May 2012, with two local Tibetans helping headline the event.

A diverse audience made primarily of foreign nationals gathered at Drumstix Cafe in McLeod Ganj to hear a number of speakers from the local community, including controversial Tibetan poet, writer and activist Tenzin Tsundue and acclaimed Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) student Tenzin Yougyal.

The event, titled ‘RECONNECT to Roots,' worked to promote See Page 3 ...

Threat to Tibetan Language Brings Unrest

By: Paul Eggers, The Tibet Post

Dharamsala: Startling video footage released today by the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) shows the April self-immolations of two young Tibetans.

Additional recordings show the brutal crackdown by Chinese authorities on peaceful protests inside Tibet in January of this year.

Activist and ex-political prisoner Tenpa Dargye played a key role in obtaining the videos, which will live on the Internet at TibetOnline.TV. In order to protect the safety of his sources inside Tibet, Dargye declined to directly answer any question detailing how he gained access to the footage.

The recordings document the growing unrest inside Tibet. On 23 January 2012, a crowd of Tibetan monks and laypeople over 1,000 strong organized a peaceful candlelight vigil in Zume Namda township in Zamthang to express solidarity with Tibetans who have self-immolated in protest against the Chinese government's rule.

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Hundreds of Tibetan students rally against plans to use Chinese as the medium of instruction for all subjects, except Tibetan language and English, in schools in Tongren, known as Rebkong in Tibetan, in China’s Qinghai Province, on 19 October 2010.File. Photo/TCHRD/ Handout/China Tseten Dorjee, his younger sister Lhamo Kyi and mother Dhongpo Kyi at the Nepal border in Sonauli. Photo: Lubom Tashi

By Paul Eggers, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala, India: The Dharamshala family that set out by foot from Dharmashala to Tibet is now on its way back to Dharamshala after being denied entry into Nepal. Tseten Dorjee, his mother Dhongpo Kyi and younger sister Lhamo Ky had covered roughly 1,300 kms over two months since setting out for Tibet from Dharamshala on 10 March.

On 9 May, six members of the Nepal-based Domey Association and two representatives of a Nepalese human rights group welcomed the exiled Tibetan family before they crossed the border. The next morning, the family cleared two checkpoints

before border guards detained them at the third. Family contacts in Dharamshala now report Nepalese Police have denied the family entry into the country.

Tibetan exiles living in India must follow a strict set of rules before leaving the country, needing permission from the proper Indian authorities to obtain departures on their Residential Certificates. It is unclear whether the family completed these steps.

Before the march, Dorjee hoped Nepalese authorities would not prove an obstacle on their march to Tibet.

By: Kris Krupa & Paul Eggers, The Tibet Post

Dharamsala: In March 2012, Tibetan monk Jamyang Phelden and civilian Sonam Dharjee self-immolated to protest the Chinese government's new educational policy that required all subjects be taught in Chinese language earlier the same month. During the self-immolations, Phelden and Dharjee shouted for the Dalai Lama's return to Tibet and for continued study in the Tibetan language.

The same day of these self-immolations, thousands of students from First National High School, Second National High School, Rebkong Geden Cheophel High School, Redkong National High School, Yuphu High School and Handicrafts School in Tsekug, See Page 4 ...

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The Tibet Post International

TPI NEWS INTERVIEWS AND RECAP

Gu Chu Sum Interviews: Soepa Speaks on Torture in Prison in Tibet

15 May, 2012 Dharamshala

Environmental Awareness Program in North East Settlements

By Central Tibetan Administration: Tibet Net

By Paul Eggers, The Tibet Post

In the first of a series of special interviews conducted

by American journalist Paul Eggers , Soepa, a student at Gu Chu Sum college for Tibetan expolitical prisoners in Dharamsala, north India, speaks about his experiences of torture in Chinese prisons in Tibet and his hopes for the future.

Dharamsala: My name is Soepa, and I have another name - Phuntsok Wangdu. I'm 39 years old. I come from Mangchoe Village, Wuya Township, Zogang County, Kam Region, East Tibet. My family are both farmers and nomads. At the age of 16, I became a monk and joined Sangnag Thekchen Ling Monastery, where I studied for six years. After that, I went to Jampa Ling Monastery in Chamdo for another four years.

The Chinese government always lied that it created a heaven in Tibet under socialism. The reality is that government policy in Tibet changed the nation, the culture and the economy whilst controlling religious practice.

I distributed ‘Free Tibet' flyers on March 24 and April 28 1996. On May 2, the Chamdo district police arrested me. In custody, I was subjected to terrible punishment and brutal torture. Many times I was beaten unconscious with knives and tools.

On July 2, Chamdo District Intermediate People's Court tried me in front of thousands of people. A soldier held each of my arms and a sign was hung from my neck stating my alleged crime.

I was charged with ‘making announcements against the revolution' and sentenced to five years in prison, with an additional three years' suspension of my political rights.

I spent the first five months in Chamdo Prison before being moved to Drapchi Prison in Lhasa. Around 250 political prisoners were held there.

When I arrived, they took my blood, saying it was to check my health. They lied. I never saw any report.

They took my blood many times and shaved my head.

Sometimes we would have to stand in the sun and memorize 49 chapters of the 'Personal Criminal Rulebook'.

Every day, we would have to exercise with the army, during which time many prisoners were beaten and tortured if they didn't follow exact instructions.

One 1 May 1998, the Chinese authorities attempted to raise the Chinese flag inside the prison. There is no rule saying the Chinese flag should be raised in prisons in Tibet but the authorities went ahead anyway.

All the political prisoners united and held a demonstration. On May 4, eight political prisoners were killed, including Lobsang Wangchuk, Kyidup, Lobsang Choepel and five nuns. 27 prisoners had their sentences extended. All of the prisoners were tortured - not one was spared.

There were so many different torture methods. They would bind prisoners' entire bodies tightly with rope for 15 minutes, pushing them to the limit of survival.

They would use different torture instruments, including electric cattle prods. They would force prisoners to strip naked and stand on ice, or to stand in the hot sun on one leg. I cannot list all the methods of torture because so many were used.

When I was finally released, I would tell people, if you want to do something for Tibet tell people the truth about China. If people ask me what I want to do for Tibet, I tell them I want to share my experiences.

In accordance with His Holiness the Dalai Lama's views, our hope for the future is that the three traditional Tibetan provinces will get genuine autonomy and that Tibetans living in exile can return home. If Tibet is not granted autonomy within three to five years, all Tibetan culture, forests and mineral resources will be finished. That would be a dangerous future.

Genuine autonomy is the policy of His Holiness and the Central Tibetan Administration. I hope His Holiness is allowed to return Tibet.

Dharamshala: - Two staffs of Environment and Development Desk (EDD) of DIIR, Central Tibetan Administration, Jigme Norbu and Tempa Gyaltsen Zamlha visited north eastern Tibetan Settlements of Miao Choepheling, Tezu Dhargeling and Tenzingang on an environment awareness talk program titled ‘Current Ecological Situation in Tibet' from 20th April to 27th April 2012.

The program includes talks on topics such as Climate Change and its impact on Tibetan Plateau, Removal of Tibetan Nomads and Grassland Degradation, Resource Extraction in Tibet and its impact on Tibetan ecology, Significance of Tibetan Rivers in Asia, and Endangered Species of Tibet through power point presentation.

The Environment and Development Desk (EDD) of DIIR, in its Year 2012-13 Work Plan has set the Awareness Program about the current ecological situation on Tibetan Plateau to all Tibetan Settlements and monasteries as one of its priority.

This Program is in some way a follow-up to a very successful Awareness Program in year 2011-2012 where EDD staffs gave awareness talks at most of the Tibetan Schools in India .

A large number of public (both young and old) showed up for the talks in all the three settlements with great curiosity, listened intently with constant nod and expressed their appreciation to the two EDD Staff for letting them know of the ecological

Tempa Gyaltsen, a researcher from the Environment and Development Desk, interacting with students at Miao Tibetan settlement. Photo: Tibet Net

situation in Tibet.

They also gave talks in all CST schools of these three settlements (which were the only schools that were not visited last year by EDD staff) and where student showed great interest, answered many question and many teachers personally thanked

them for the talk and also requested for more such visits in future.

The two staff felt great satisfaction after experiencing the kind of interest shown by both public and students of these three most remote Tibetan settlements.

Chinese President Hu Jintao, Top Jailer of Free Press Advocates

Tibetan Grads Prep for Success

By Paul Eggers, The Tibet Post

By Paul Eggers, The Tibet Post

Dharamsala: A college orientation program sponsored by the Department of Environment today will prepare roughly 130 Tibetan 12th graduate students for the next phase of their educational success.

The 8th annual program, held at the Gangkyi Conference Hall, seeks to connect the students of Tibetan Children Village (TCV), Tibetan Homes Foundation (THF) Sambhota Tibetan Schools (STS) and Central School for Tibetans (CST) with professionals in a wide variety of fields.

The day-long program, inaugurated by Additional

Secretary Togyal Tering, DOE, divides students into groups based on their educational background and personal interests. Each group then receives a briefing from a career professional on the college coursework available and the future job prospects that grow from particular academic training.

Covering topics ranging from the relevance of Tibetan language study in today's world to vocational training in Journalism, Computer Education, Law, Psychology, Social Work and Tibetan Civil Service, the program features Dr. Chok Monlam Pelsok, Mr Gyaltsen, Tenzin Lekshay,

Dharamsala: Chinese President and Communist Party General Secretary Hu Jintao is the leading jailer of press freedom defenders, with 68 netizens and 30 journalists imprisoned under his rule.

After online activists called for protests on 20 February 2011 in 13 Chinese cities, President Hu ordered the strengthening of ‘controls on the information Web' to maintain social order and to promote a harmonious society. Government and party officials understood the message loud a clear, enacting stronger information restrictions and greater media censorship, particularly online.

Pressures on journalists, netizens and dissidents have grown, including a spike in summonses to appear before government officials. This comes as working conditions for foreign journalists have steadily deteriorated.

The issue is of particular concern in regions gripped by social or political unrest. Chinese authorities responded to an Inner Mongolia protest movement launched in May, 2011 with information blackouts and other repressive measures. Tibet, where nearly Tendar Tsering and Namgyal Lekshey among others.

Given that scholarship and college admission information is of particular importance to new grads, Ms. Donkar Wangmo and a number of former college students will share their experiences in a special presentation. Each student will also receive scholarship application forms and sample college admissions papers.

20 monks have self immolated since March 2011, has essentially been cut off from connecting to the outside world. Foreign media is barred from covering events in the region while Chinese propagandists relay a full-scale disinformation campaign via progovernment media to denounce the international community's involvement. New leadership in China is unlikely to change the situation for Tibet. Xi Jinping, President Hu's announced successor, has promised to "smash" any attempts to "destroy

stability" within Tibet.

The dubious distinction for President Hu comes as World Press Freedom Day, 2012 creates awareness for the growth of physical attacks against news providers. Reporters Without Borders reports a total of 21 journalists and 6 netizens and citizen journalists have been killed since the start of 2012, many of those in warzones such as Somalia and Syria. This translates to a rate of one news provider killed every 5 days.

Video Footage Captures 2 Self-Immolations and Zamthang Protests ..... Continues From Front Page Three days later, on 26 January, Chinese security forces shot and killed 20-year old Ogyen following a peaceful protest by Tibetans in Barma township in Zamthang. In the early afternoon of the same day, Ogyen and fellow students pasted pamphlets throughout the town, leading to the arrest of another Tibetan, Tharpa. The shooting and arrest triggered a massive rally by Tibetans in front of the Public Security Office, leading to a large deployment of security forces in the region.

Less than one month after the shooting, the situation in Zamthang continued to deteriorate.

Heightened repression motivated 18-year-old Nangdrol to set himself on fire near the Zamthang

Monastery. "Under China's rule there is immense suffering," the English translation of his final note reads, "It is not possible to live under this evil rule."

Then, on April 19, two Tibetan youths in their twenties named Sonam and Choephag Kyab also self-immolated. The newly released video footage depicts this act of protest. In the translation of their collective statement, the two write, "In sound mind and thought, both of us in sound mind and thought, self immolated for the restoration of freedom in Tibet, growth of Buddhism, happiness for humanity and world peace." reveals they performed their act "In sound mind and thought. Video

15 May, 2012 Dharamshala

TPI NEWS

Tibetan Family Marching with Chinese Flag “exemplary”

EXILE

The Tibet Post International

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CTA Signs Agreement With World Chess Federation

By Tibetan offical websit: tibet.net

Tseten Dorjee, center, carrying India, Nepal, People’s Republic of China and Tibetan flag, during his march on, 1 April 2012. Tseten’s sister Lhamo Kyi is seen in the foreground. TYC Handout)

By Tibetan Official Media: Tibet.Net

DHARAMSHALA: Showing its full support for the exiled Tibetan family marching from Dharamshala back to Tibet with the Chinese flag controversially on display, the Tibetan People's Movement for the Middle Way called their initiative "exemplary."

To celebrate the 53rd Tibetan National Uprising Day, Tetsan Dorjee, his mother Dhumpo Kyi and sister Lhamo Kyi began their march to Tibet from the exile Tibetan headquarters of Dharamshala on 10 March.

With the Tibetan, Indian, Nepalese and Chinese flags all on display, the family has reached the Indo-Nepal border town of Gorakhpur, covering nearly 1300kms in nearly 2 months.

Dorjee stated that parading the Chinese flag symbolized his fight for the Dalai Lama-backed

Middle Way policy and his willingness to support Beijing if Tibet is granted genuine autonomy.

However, that stance brought criticism from the Tibetan Youth Council (TYC). Tibet's largest nongovernmental organization (NGO) objects to Dorjee marching with the Chinese flag on display, stating, " here in a free country the action of a Tibetan carrying the Chinese flag completely contradicts the moral responsibilities of a Tibetan towards the struggle and historical legacy of Tibet."

However, Dorjee now has the support of the influential Tibetan People's Movement for the Middle Way. "This initiative has become a potential way of fulfilling the wishes of Tibetans both inside and outside Tibet.," the group wrote in a statement.

Two Local Tibetans Address First TEDx Dharamshala Event ..... Continues From Front Page the idea that ‘solutions to current problems may be found in our roots,' according to TEDx Dharamshala lead organizer Arvin Panwar.

An afternoon of 11 speakers -- 5 from the local Indian and Tibetan communities and 6 from TED's video library -- shared personal experiences on topics ranging from the use of computers in deciphering ancient scripts to returning to one's community for a sense of purpose. Despite continued technological issues throughout the program, patient attendees waited for the last speaker, Tibetan poet, writer and activist Tenzin Tsundue to take the stage.

Known as much for his trademark red bandana as for his outspoken views on Tibetan independence, Tsundue addressed the inspiration that comes from

performance. Yougyal opened his presentation with a Tibetan prayer, explaining afterward in effective English, "That was a prayer for Tibetans who set themselves on fire in Tibet, and the Tibetans who died in India."

Yougyal continued with a whimsical performance on the drayen, which he explained to a largely Western and Indian audience was a traditional Tibetan instrument. He then revealed a home-made drayen he had constructed as a young boy out of a few pieces of wood and an old, empty paint can.

Yougyal shared stories of his childhood love of singing and dancing and his dream to study at TIPA. He explained how his admission to TIPA in 2004 allowed him to fulfill TIPA's mission to preserve and

Dharamsala: The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has signed an agreement with World Chess Federation (FIDE), recognising chess as a universal tool to reinforce the capabilities of Tibetan children for a better schooling life.

World Chess Federation President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, who is a former president of Russia's Kalmykia Republic and steadfast supporter of Tibet, visited the Kashag Secretariat in Dharamsala yesterday and signed the agreement with Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay.

Under the agreement, the Central Tibetan Administration will introduce the development and promotion of chess in the Tibetan education system.

Both CTA and FIDE will co-operate in the realisation of a mutual incentive-programme "Chess in Schools" as purposed-oriented educational programme.

The Tibetan schools will have chess classes by the new school year/semester of 2012.

The chess will be developed in Tibetan schools through educational programme, e-learning, awards, certificates, stipend and allowance.

Kalon Tripa opines that the agreement marks Central Tibetan Administration's another important step towards forging ties with an international body.

FIDE President Ilyumzhinov was accompanied by Kalmykia's spiritual leader Telo Rinpoche and other

Kalon Tripa and World Chess President played chess as a mark of auspicious beginning during the signing ceremony.

Photo: tibet.net

delegates.

Mr Ilyumzhinov has been closely associated with Tibet. As the president of Russia's Republic of Kalmykia, Mr Ilyumzhinov personally visited

Dharamsala in 2006 to present His Holiness the Dalai Lam with White Lotus Award, the highest civilian award of the Kalmykia, on the 17th anniversary of His Holiness' Nobel prize.

Kalon Dicki Chhoyang Visits Tibetan Community in Calgary

By Tibetan Official Media: Tibet.Net

Dharamsala: Kalon Dicki Chhoyang of the Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration visited the Tibetan community in Calgary as part of her short stay in Canada.

Kalon Dicki held extensive meeting with executive members of the Tibetan Association of Alberta and Project Tibet Society last Saturday.

Later in afternoon, the Tibetan community accorded traditional welcome to Kalon Dicki Chhoyang and hosted a luncheon in honour of her visit. It was followed by a public talk, during which she expressed greetings from the Kashag, and requested the Tibetan community's support for the project for resettlement of 1,000 fellow Tibetans from Arunachal Pradesh in Canada.

Kalon Dicki Chhoyang spoke about a wide range of topics including the current critical situation inside Tibet, the importance of unity amongst Tibetans, the role of Tibetan youth to engage with their local Tibetan association and Tibet support groups such as Canada Tibet Committee.

Kalon Dicki Chhoyang also touched upon several other important issues related to the Central Tibetan Administration, and encouraged the

members of the Tibetan community to visit Tibetonline.tv and Tibet.net for official updates on activities and policies of the Central Tibetan Administration.

(From left) Ngawang Yonten (from Office of Tibet, New York), Tashi Phuntsok (Vice President of Tibetan Association of Alberta), Kalon Dicki Chhoyang, Jigme Tenzin (Treasurer of Tibetan Association of Alberta), Namgyal Chodak (Secretary of Tibetan Association of Alberta), Nyima Dorjee (Project Tibet Society) Photo.tibet.net

Generating Support for Tibet, One Indian Town at a Time

By Paul Eggers, The Tibet Post

the ‘Rebel Mind.' Focusing on the need for individual freedom everywhere, Tsundue told the audience, ‘All communities have their own Rebel Mind and the Rebel Mind is expected to speak up when there is injustice, when there is pain and suffering.' Largely avoiding the controversial Tibet situation, likely due to TED guidelines limiting political and religious issues, Tsundue instead applied his idea of the ‘Rebel Mind' to a range of contemporary problems, including environmental degradation.

Earlier in the afternoon, Tibetan culture took center stage with TIPA student Tenzin Yougyal's folk

promote Tibetan culture. Youngyal ended with a performance on the Tibetan fiddle, or piwang, explaining to the audience the song's lesson: "Don't destroy the nature; instead, live in harmony with the nature."

TEDxDharamsala is an independently organized offshoot of the non-profit TED (Technology Entertainment Design) organization which hosts a series of conferences and talks that aim to spread "ideas worth sharing." Each year, TED hosts a main conference in California, with smaller, international conferences like TEDxDharashala held in different countries on all continents throughout the year.

Dharamsala: From his first steps starting out of the Tsuglagkhang Temple Complex in Mcleod Gang on 10 March 2012, Sherab Tsedor has been a man on a mission. With eyes blindfolded to symbolize both the plight of Tibetans inside their own country and the weak response of the international community, the 26-year-old Tibetan activist is on a journey across northern India to generate support and awareness for Tibet.

Each day from 9 to 5, the Upper T.C.V. and Delhi University graduate marches wearing his blindfold through the streets of a new city or town on a signature drive. Traveling by car with 2 friends through more than 45 communities across Himachal and Arunachal Pradesh so far, he's gathered over 17,000 signatures for a petition urging the People's Republic of China to respect the fundamental human and religious rights of Tibetans and for Beijing to allow an independent fact-finding mission led by international diplomats and media personnel. He plans to visit at least 60 more cities before arriving in New Delhi sometime in July. Once there, he will deliver his petitions to offices of the Indian government, the U.N. and all foreign embassies in the Indian capital.

Tsedor and his collaborators raised roughly 80,000 Rs to fund their signature drive, which has also benefitted from the free use of a friends automobile. Generous support from Indians he's met along the way has also backed his campaign.

In garnering broad support among the Indian and Tibetan communities for the Tibet movement, Tsedor has managed to find a kind of compromise between full Tibetan independence and the Dalai Lama-backed ‘Middle Way.' When asked which he supports,

Tsedor stands outside the gateway welcoming visitors to Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. The town is one of 46 he has visited so far on his signature drive.

Tsedor told The Tibet Post, ‘I have no particular preference. Tibetans inside Tibet have pushed for three things: the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet, basic human rights for all Tibetans and full freedom of religion inside Tibet. I demand the same.'

Taking this stance contrasts with another activist who started his own trek on the same day from the same place as Tsedor. Tsetan Dordee set out for Tibet by foot with his mother and sister from Tsuglagkhang Temple Complex on 10 March 2012.

His advocacy for the Middle Way, going so far as to carry the Chinese flag on his journey, has attracted the criticism of the Tibetan Youth

Congress (http://www.thetibetpost.com/en/news/ exile/2512-youth-group-strongly-condemnstibetans-carrying-chinese-flag).

Still, Tsedor's actions have not always been devoid of controversy. In Delhi on 4 November 2011, Tsedor set fire to himself outside the Chinese embassy to protest human rights violations against Tibetans inside their homeland. He survived with serious injuries to his legs. Reflecting on the effectiveness of the action, Tsedor told The Guardian, ‘I don't know if it has helped the cause of freedom for Tibet, but I hope it's helped send the message.'

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TIBET TPI NEWS Political Prisoner Dispute Grows Tibetan Land Seized for Thousands of into Farming Boycott Chinese Workers The Tibet Post International

15 May, 2012 Dharamshala

By Paul Eggers, The Tibet Post

By Paul Eggers, The Tibet Post

Dharamsala: Demanding the release of political prisoners, local villagers from Adu near Nagpa County have stopped farming as a result of the ongoing dispute.

On 1 May 2012, an estimated 200 women from Adu villages near Nagpa County set out to meet with Chinese government officials, demanding the release of those recently arrested in local demonstrations. Military forces stopped the Tibetans en-route and heated arguments between the groups ensued. In what quickly grew into a tense situation, the head of Adu Monastery arrived, requesting the villagers withdrawal from talks.

In the aftermath, the local Tibetan community gathered, establishing their purpose was to work for all Tibetans, not just those imprisoned locally.

Expressing solidarity with Jamyuang, a selfimmolator, they committed not to farm and not to collect Ophiocordyceps sinensis (caterpillar fungus).

Shortly after, on 7 May, seven demonstrators, including those arrested in demonstrations in Nagpa County, were released. The prisoners remained detained for three additional days of ‘reeducation.' Chinese authorities promised additional prisoners would be released.

Local Tibetans resumed collecting Ophiocordyceps sinensis (caterpillar fungus) after the concession by Chinese authorities; however they have stood ground on their farming boycott.

Consequences from this action could prove severe for the villagers, as a majority of their income comes from agriculture work.

Chinese Crackdown on Tibetan NGOs in Karze County,Tibet

Dharamsala: Tibetans have been forced to surrender land in Ba County to Chinese authorities, making way for the construction of two hydroelectricity projects, according to a Tibetan resident of the area. As a result, an estimated 130,000 Han Chinese laborers will move to the region, essentially establishing a new town.

On 25 April, Chinese authorities held meetings in the nomadic villages of Seton, Dragmar, Seru, Machu and Goekar, announcing then that Tibetans in the area would be forced to give up 60% of their land and surrender 54% of their animals within the year.

The seizure would allow development to begin on a power plant, which would bring in 30,000 Han Chinese laborers to Sholma (Lower) Township.

Officials stated fences would mark the government territory and animals would not be allowed inside those areas. Villagers were advised to cull their livestock by selling to slaughterhouses. During the meeting, Tibetans from the five villages unanimously refused the Chinese proposal.

The attempted seizure marks the second attempt by Chinese authorities to displace rural Tibetans. Similar Chinese declarations inside Ba County, in the villages of Nahor, Tagsoe, Gyamo, Kya and Naglong, also led to unanimous Tibetan refusals. According to local sources, authorities are constructing 2 hydroelectric projects in a roughly 7km stretch from Mashag Township of Upper Gartse to Raja Monastery, which would bring in an additional 100,000 Chinese workers to the area.

Dorje Tsebe (Tsepel), a famous Tibetan singer, was Once arrested after protests in Ba county on 18 March.

Photo: freetibetorg

The resistance by Tibetans in the area has Chinese considering other methods to seize the land. Young Tibetans in the region have endured threats of a second Cultural Revolution.

China's policy of removing hundreds of thousands of Tibetans from their ancestral grasslands has grown increasingly common and more vigorous in

some areas inside Tibet, attracting the attention of international organizations. A report on the website of London-based advocacy group Free Tibet, "The policy is having a disastrous impact on Tibetan herders' ability to maintain their traditional livelihoods and on a distinctive form of Tibetan cultural identity."

Tibetan Monk Names Imprisoned Ba County Protesters

By Matthew Singh-Toor, The Tibet Post

Dharamsala: A Tibetan monk living in south India has reported the names of several protesters who were arrested during a demonstration in Amdo region, eastern Tibet, in March.

Around 60 lay persons and monks were arrested during a protest in Ba County, Qinhai Province, on March 15. The majority have now been released.

However, Choedrak, of Drepung Monastery, has received information from inside Tibet that two monks from Ba Shentri Monastery - Jampa Sangpo and Kunsang Ringdol - were sentenced respectively to one year's and one month's imprisonment in Xining City, the capital of Qinhai Province.

Amongst the lay persons arrested were well-known singer Dorje Tsebe, along with his wife and Dorje Gyal. Dorje Tsebe was released, but his wife was sentenced to one year and Dorje Gyal to one year and three months.

Two other lay women were sentenced, but their names are unknown. One, from Konlog village, received one year and three months. The other, identified as the wife of Richen Gyal, from Kogen village, received six months. Both are being held in Ba County prison, doing forced labour.

Choedrak reported that four other monks and four

other lay persons are still being held in detention.

The monks are Yeshe Dorje, Tsultrim Rinchen, Tenzin Rangsher and Lobsang. The lay persons are Dorje Dhondhup, Guru Dorje, Tseten Gyal and

Tsering Wanggyal, who was initially released but then rearrested.

All eight are being held at Ba County 'people's prison'.

In this March 10, 2009 file photo, Tibetan monks walk past People's Armed Police troop on a street of Kangding, Ganzi prefecture in southwestern China's Sichuan province.

By Paul Eggers, The Tibet Post

Dharamsala: In order to cripple the growth and influence of Tibetan non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Karze (Chinese: Ganzi), Chinese authorities have implemented harsh new rules to restrict their actions.

The directive, issued on 26 April 2012 for Karze County, eastern Tibet (Chinese: Ganzi, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province), requires all non-governmental ‘social organizations' to register with the prefectural-level Bureau of Civil Affairs.

Any organization deemed to fall short of the new rules will be declared illegal. The notification further stated that government authorities will investigate the nature and activities of all existing and new NGOs, and if found ineligible for registration, these NGOs will be closed. Only those that meet registration criteria listed by the government will be granted registration rights.

The move by Chinese authorities can be viewed as a response to the rising number and influence of locally-funded Tibetan organizations in Kardze Prefecture. Founded by local Tibetans, these NGOs organize educational, religious, environmental and welfare activities. Some also set up informal panels to help mediate disputes among Tibetan villagers.

The groups' successes include the founding of old age homes and schools, plus programs to protect the environment of the region.

Increasing concern among Chinese authorities reflects their belief that the Tibetan NGOs have become politically sensitive. For the Chinese government, any activity involving a large number

of Tibetans is often viewed as political in nature.

This environment has put Tibetan NGOs, and their organizers, at risk.

Indeed, in just the past three months, the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has reported on the forcible closings of three Tibetan NGOs in Kardze Prefecture. In mid-February, 2012, Karze Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers detained four members of the Tawu Environmental Protection Association (TEPA) in Tawu (Chinese: Daofu) County. In operation since 2011, TEPA organized activities opposing the rampant mining, deforestation and poaching in the area, plus the growth of fishing in sacred waters.

On 2 April 2012, local authorities shutdown Khadrok Jamtse Rokten Lobdra, a school founded in 1989 by local Tibetans. Karze County PSB officers also arrested the school's director, Nyendak, and a teacher, Yama Tsering. For more than 20 years, the school operated with the full approval of local officials, holding classes in Tibetan language and culture while placing a special emphasis on speaking pure Tibetan.

Less than two weeks later, on 14 April 2012, authorities targeted Da-yul Thundin Tsogpa (Dayul's Unity Association). The group, established in 2008 by community leaders in Da-thama Township, helped resolve disputes between local Tibetans in the hopes of building unity among 13 neighboring villages. Tibetans protests of the closing resulted in a brutal crackdown by security officers, leaving many injured and hospitalized with over 33 Tibetans still in police custody.

Threats to Tibetan European Support for Tibet Builds Language Bring Ahead of the Dalai Lama’s Visit Unrest ..... Continues From Front Page Rebkong united in Tsekug County's town to protest in front of the Chinese Government Office, Chinese Police Office and Chinese Special Police Office. They shouted for language independence and equal national rights.

The Chinese Government responded to these by firing several school principals. The terminated principals include: Pema Tseden, the Principal at the Resident Village School in Tenreng County, Dorjee Gyal , Principal of Yuphu High School, the principal at Rebkong Geden Cheophel High School and Lhabum Kar, the Headmaster of The Education Office of Tenreng County.

The Chinese Government also has plans to fire additional Tibetan principals at Tsekug County schools.

After the protest in Rebkong, Chinese police detained a number of Tibetans, subjecting them to harsh questioning on their potential involvement in the protests. All were released, partly due to fears among Chinese authorities that extended detention would lead to more unrest. However, with a majority of the community now in high mountain fields working the lucrative caterpillar fungus harvest, Chinese authorities may call back and detain those suspected protesters.

British Prime Minister, David Cameron. Photo: yearof1989.wordpress.com

By Paul Eggers, The Tibet Post

Dharamsala: Tibet groups will present UK Prime Minister David Cameron with a detailed new report on the deepening crisis inside days before His Holiness the British capital. Bianca Jagger plans to deliver the urgent call for support of Tibet to 10 Downing Street on Thursday, May 10, just days before the Dalai Lama is scheduled to receive the

Templeton Prize for his contribution to spirituality at London's St. Paul's Cathedral. The London, UK action marks the start of pro-Tibetan events planned across Europe, building to a European Tibet Solidarity rally in Vienna on 26 May 2012 to coincide with remarks by His Holiness at a Buddhism and science symposium.

5 TPI NEWS INTERNATIONAL Minnesota’s Tibetan Community Bangladeshi And Tibetan Bloggers Win “Reporters Receives Asian Pacific Leadership Without Borders” Category Awards Award The Tibet Post International

15 May, 2012 Dharamshala

By Reporters Without Borders

By Paul Eggers, The Tibet Post

St. Paul, Minnesota, USA - Honored for its outstanding service and achievements in preserving Tibetan culture, the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota (TAFM) received one of the 2012 Asian Pacific Leadership Awards.

Presented by the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans (CAPM), TAFM's positive contributions to the well-being of the Tibetan populace through a variety of social and educational programs helped earn them the award.

In his acceptance speech, TAFM's President Namgyal Dorjee thanked the Council and Minnesotans for the kindness and hospitality they've shown the Tibetan community.

"We recognize the value of working together for the benefit of the community and Minnesota," Dorjee added in remarks aimed at drumming up support for TAFM and its programs.

He added that the award serves as recognition for years of hard work by TAFM since its inception in 1992 and the service of Minnesota's entire Tibetan community, currently estimated at nearly 3,000 people in the Twin Cities of Minnesota and St. Paul.

A state agency that advises lawmakers, CAPM advocates for Minnesota's Asia Pacific community.

Four individuals and just one other organization earned 2012 Leadership awards, handed out at the group's annual Heritage Dinner.

Tibetans, Indians Unite Over Himalaya's Future, Says 17th Karmapa

His Holiness 17th Karmapa Rinpoche lighting the inaugural lamp at the Bodh Dharama-Vishva Shanti" summit at Kachari town of Dharamshala, India, May 2nd 2012. Photo: TPI

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: - His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorjee addressed the "Bodh Dharama-Vishva Shanti" summit, a large gathering of Indian and Tibetan Buddhists at Dharamshala on Wednesday. His Holiness thanked the Government of Himachal Pradesh and its people for their assistance and hospitality to the Tibetan people.

"I think, Himalaya is an origin of Indian culture heritage, religion and history and Tibet is bounded by the Himalayan mountain ranges," His Holiness the Karmapa told the gathering.

"A good relationship at every level has been shared between Himalaya and India, as well as between Tibet and Himalaya based on great cultural heritage, religion and history," His Holiness stated.

"The Himalaya is important place, where we strongly unite and maintain a good friendship by understanding the historical and cultural background.

It is also very important for the future and for our own future generations," the 17th Karmapa Rinpoche added.

"The spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama fled into exile in India, and he was followed into exile by many Tibetans, many of whom settled in the Himachal Pradesh; it has been the second home for those Tibetans. " he further added.

"Since then the Himachal State has kindly hosted the Central Tibetan Administration and provided shelter to Tibetan refugees including His Holiness the Dalai Lama," Karmapa Rinpoche said.

"We are always grateful and remember the kindness and hospitality of Himachal Pradesh and its people

for creating an environment to preserve and protect our culture and religion. I especially pray that this relationship will continue over many thousands of years," Karmapa Rinpoche told the gathering while thanking the hospitality of the state.

"We are gathered here today, because of we have shared feeling in neighbours, friends and families, therefore, I am very happy to see our gathering again as one family," His Holiness the Karmapa concluded his speech at the Himalachal summit.

Dolma Gyari, Kalon for Home Department of CTA said, "Until Tibet is not safe, the Himalayas will remain in danger, If Mt. Kailash is not safe, how can the Himalayas be safe. If Tibet is not safe, how can the Himalayas be safe," she added.

Dolma urged Vice Chancellor of the Himachal Pradesh University, A. D. N. Bajpai, to have special research on Mt. Kailash given its importance as the source of the Asia's major rivers.

Indresh Kumar, vice president of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha said Tibet was never a part of China and denounced the ongoing violation of basic human rights inside Tibet. "Tibetans' setting themseves on fire to protest against Chinese rule is neither an act of self-immolation nor violence, because they do not set themselvs for personal motives," he added.

"During the violent crackdown on the pro-democracy student uprising in China in 1989, which was crushed in the brutal "Tiananmen Massacre" hundreds of students were killed." Indresh continued, "if they can do such inhuman things to their own people,

Paris: - Bangladeshi journalist Abu Sufian's blog about extrajudicial executions and other kinds of injustice is the jury choice in the "Reporters Without Borders" category of this year's BOBs (Best of Blogs competition), organized by the German radio station Deutsche Welle. It was was chosen from 11 finalists by an international jury consisting of bloggers and a Reporters Without Borders representative.

A reporter for the bdnews24.com website, Sufian exposes himself to threats and considerable danger to provide detailed investigative coverage of extrajudicial executions, a problem that the government denies and the traditional media largely ignore, although the victims number in the thousands. He won an awardfrom a national journalists' organization in 2006.

His reporting has included coverage of last February's murder of husband-and-wife journalists Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, which has prompted unprecedented protests and joint demands for justice by Bangladeshi journalists and bloggers. He is also campaigning for a "right to information" law that would force the government to be more transparent.

Life is not easy for journalists in Bangladesh, which is ranked 129th out of 179 countries in the press freedom index that Reporters Without Borders published in January. The editors of two newspapers were recently threatened with death and reprisals, privately-owned TV stations are harassed and the authorities did not hesitate to threaten journalists in March.

An additional award was made in the "Reporters Without Borders" category on the basis of votes cast by the public on the BOBs website from 13 March to 2 May. The public's choice was Invisible

Tibetan woman writer Mrs. Tsering Woeser. Photo: File

Tibet, a blog about the situation in Tibet that Beijing-based writer and poet Tsering Woeser keeps despite the permanent news blackout that the Chinese authorities try to impose on Tibet.

An outspoken critic of the government's policies in Tibet, Woeser has been covering the many cases of self-immolation by Tibetan monks and a wave of arrests of Tibetan intellectualls in western China.

She was recently prevented from leaving China to receive an international award and was placed under house arrest in March.

Last year's jury choice in the "Reporters Without Borders" category was Ciudad Juárez, en la sombra

del narcotráfico, a courageous blog by Spanish journalistJudith Torrea about drug cartel activities, government repression and police corruption in northern Mexico.

The public's choice last year was the blog that is kept by the staff of the Moscow-based independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta. Providing outspoken coverage of such stories as the Caucasus and police abuses, the newspaper and its blog have become an institution in Russia and abroad but its journalists have paid a high price.

This year's prizes will be presented at Deutsche Welle's Global Media Forum in Bonn on 26 June.

Nancy Pelosi’s Statement to the 6th World Parliamentarians’ Convention on Tibet

By Central Tibetan Administration Official Media: Tibet.Net

Washington, D.C. - Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement at the 6th World Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet, in Ottawa, Canada from April 26-28. The statement was read on Leader Pelosi's behalf at the conference on Friday, April 27th.: "Thank you for your invitation to be with you today for the 6th World Parliamentarian's Convention on Tibet. And thank you for your work in bringing together such a distinguished group of parliamentarians and advocates for the cause of Tibet.

"This multilateral approach is an essential mechanism for advocating for the Tibetan people and ensuring that world parliamentarians speak with one voice.

"For all of us here today, it is an extraordinary privilege to be in the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. His Holiness is one of the greatest voices for democracy and human rights across the globe. His clarion call for the freedom of Tibet is a challenge to the conscience of the world.

"We have a shared responsibility to answer that call, stemming from our belief in shared values.

The freedom to assemble peacefully and demand basic human rights. The freedom to practice your faith. The freedom to live in security in your homeland. These values - like the challenge of Tibet - are not limited by borders and are not limited to any one country or parliament.

"In the United States Congress, our solidarity with this mission has led us to stand as a vanguard for global action on Tibet. It led us to award the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal in 2007 the highest civilian honor Congress can bestow.

And I was proud to join President George Bush in presiding over the Gold Medal ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda.

"Our relationship has been advanced and strengthened by leaders in the U.S. Congress. Over the years, we have institutionalized support for Tibet, ensuring that this cause crosses party lines and sessions of Congress. Back in 1987, under the leadership of the late Congressman Tom Lantos, we were proud to host the Dalai Lama to hear him lay out his five point peace plan to resolve the crisis in Tibet. Since that time, the U.S. Congress has spoken with a unified voice by passing

why not to the Tibetans."

Vice Chancellor Bajpai, and representives of Tibetan NGOs based in Dharamshala also attended the daylong event.

The Bodh Dharama-Vishva Shanti programme was organized by Himalaya Pariwar. The group aims to help people in the Himalayan Region, working to assist them overcome the challenges of communalism, regionalism, linguism, intruism, pollution, corruption, poverty, unemployment and to awaken and unite them.

resolutions and holding hearings calling for respect for the religious and political freedom of the Tibetan people. Ten years ago, we passed the Tibetan Policy Act - to invest in Tibet's economic development, assist refugees, and officially make Tibet a national priority for the United States.

"With our votes, we enshrined support for Tibet as the law of our land.

"Building on that support, every year, regardless of which party is in the majority, the Congress passes legislation to assist the transit process for Tibetan refugees crossing the border; provide development grants to preserve cultural traditions and environmental conservation inside Tibet; and promote a series of initiatives related to education, the National Endowment for Democracy, and Tibetan language broadcasts by Radio Free Asia and Voice of America.

"Moving forward, Congress will continue to extend our bonds of friendship and provide a bedrock of support for the Tibetan cause.

"Today, our actions - in the U.S. and around the world - are as critical as ever. More than 50 years after Tibetans bravely assembled to protest Chinese rule, China's harsh crackdown continues.

And the situation has deteriorated in recent months as the Chinese government has increased its military presence in Tibet; Tibetans have resorted

to the practice of self-immolations to draw attention to their plight; and China has engaged in a more aggressive campaign to pressure foreign governments to move the issue of Tibet off the radar.

"As parliamentary leaders, we cannot - we must not - let this status quo go unanswered.

"And over the next few days, leaders at this convention are engaging in innovative and strategic discussions about the challenges in China and Tibet, culminating in the 2012 Ottawa Declaration and an action plan.

"Our voices will be strong because we have the moral high ground, but also because we are standing together with a unified voice.

"Standing together, we must send a clear, effective message to the Chinese government - to cease religious repression; allow access to journalists, diplomats, and international observers; release political prisoners of conscience, including the 11th Panchen Lama.

"Standing together, parliaments and legislatures the voices of freedom-seeking citizens around the world - must keep working multilaterally on measures to support the men and women of Tibet and the Tibetan refugees in India and Nepal.

"Standing together, we will remain steadfast partners of the Tibetan people.

"His Holiness the Dalai Lama embodied the spirit of all Tibetans when he said: ‘I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest.' For 53 years, His Holiness has remained separated from his land and his home. Yet he has found hope, even in the darkest hours.

"The parliamentarians of the world are here today because they have hope for a brighter future in China and Tibet.

"Thank you for your participation today and I look forward to working with you to shine a light for the freedom of the Tibetan people."

....Tibet Resolution Passed at IUSY World Congress ..... Continues From Front Page The voting came after a detailed account of the current situation inside Tibet, delivered by TYC Joint Secretary Tenzin Norsang, who represented the group at the biennial international meeting held in Paraguay from April 20-22. In his address, Norsang outlined details of the Chinese Communist Party's oppressive policies and facts on self immolations inside Tibet.

"An equal world and change is possible only when we put the Tibet resolution into action," Norsang told the IUSY World Congress. Norsang also met with the President of Paraguay, Fernando Lugo, briefing him on the dire situation inside Tibet's borders. Lugo visited the meeting as chief guest for the opening day ceremony.

Beyond passage of the Tibetan Resolution, Norsang

contributed to the drafting of the IUSY Global Political Manifesto. Participating in the global democracy and human rights subcommittee, Norsang raised issues on the abuses that arise through foreign occupation.

His points on discrimination, cultural genocide, sterilization, education, one-child policy and the role of the UN in occupied countries, received long consideration after being absent from the manifesto's original draft.

The IUSY represents more than 100 countries and 150 member organizations. Composed of socialist, social democratic and labour political youth organizations from around the world, the IUSY has earned UN consultative status. TYC has worked with IUSY, a more than 100-year-old international social justice group, since the early 1990's.

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The Tibet Post International

TPI NEWS

EXILE

15 May, 2012 Dharamshala

Tibetan Nurse Honored at Indian Football Tourney Youth Group Strongly Condemns Tibetans Carrying Chinese Flag

By Paul Eggers, The Tibet Post

Dharamsala: The 24th annual All India Shaheed Durga Mal Dal Bahadur Memorial Gold Cup Football Tournament wrapped up in Kangra on Thursday.

Before the championship match, the District Football Association, Kangara honored Tibetan nurse Tsering Peldon of Delek Hospital for her outstanding social service work. She serves as the Head Social Advisor for Health.

Due to an official visit to the south of India, Ms. Peldon was unable to accept her award in person.

Tashi Dhundup, Secretary of Delek Hospital, represented Ms. Peldon at the ceremony and thanked the organizers for their recognition of Ms. Peldon's outstanding work inside Delek Hospital.

Featured guests at Thursday's ceremony included Mogru Tenpa, member of Tibet Parliament and the president of National Democratic Party of Tibet Mr. Chime Youngdung. Commander of the Gorkah Army Brigadier G.S. Rathore, Corporate Sports Division Head for Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) V.K Mahendru, plus relatives of Shaheed Durga Mal and Dal Bahadur also served as honored guests at the match.

The tournament features 14 teams from across India.

Dhongbho Kyi (Mother), Lhamo Kyi (sister), and Tseten Dorje himself. Photo: File

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Top leaders of the largest Tibetan organization in exile, 'Tibet Youth Congress' (TYC) on Friday have strongly condemned the Tibetans carrying a Chinese flag along with Tibetan, Indian and Nepali flags. The disappointment came after a peaceful walking movement which started by a three-member Tibetan family from Dharamshala, India in last month, for Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.

The following is a statement issued by the TYC leaders during a press conference being held on Friday, May 4, at their headquarters in Dharamshala.

"The dispute between Tibet and China is not a mere human rights issue but a historical issue of forcible occupation of Tibet by China. Therefore, since 1949 to date, the struggle has been evidently an issue about the sovereignty of a nation and sustaining the essence of our struggle.

The reasons and background provided by the marcher for carrying the Chinese flag is his support for the middle way approach. In fact, TYC has no objection whether he supports middle way or independence. However, at this juncture, there has been no resolution to the Tibet issue with China either at the middle way or independence level. Additionally, under this very red flag more than millions of our Tibetan brothers and sisters have died and continue to die even to this day.

Particularly, while Tibetans inside Tibet risk their lives to bring down the Chinese flag in their act of defiance against the Chinese oppression, here in a free country the action of a Tibetan carrying the Chinese flag completely contradicts the moral responsibilities of a Tibetan towards the struggle and historical legacy of Tibet.

Inside Tibet, Tibetans are either forced or lured

Mr. Tsewang Rigzin, TYC president, Mr. Dhondup Lhadhar, TYC vice president and Miss. Tenzing Choekyi, TYC general secretary during a press conference being held on Friday, May 4, at their headquarters in Dharamshala.

Photo: TPI/Pema Tso

Since there isn't mutual recognition of the two national flags, the government of China - our enemy - accuses Tibetans inside Tibet as ‘splittists' who raise, display or hoist the Tibetan national flag who are subsequently jailed, imprisoned or killed. Similarly, burning the Chinese national flag is our attempt to challenge the occupation of Tibet. As a Tibetan it becomes one's responsibility to express rejection of the Chinese flag until Tibet's independence is restored.

Therefore, for the last couple of decades Tibetans in exile despite challenges have consistently burned the Chinese flag. However, for the first time in 53 years of exile history, Tseten Dorjee and his family members through their recent march to Tibet campaign is seen parading the Chinese flag. This marks a blotch in our exile history.

Initially when the campaign began, the Tibetan Youth Congress supported the initiative based on their demands, their spirit and dedication.

However, their act of parading the Chinese flag is unimaginable and unwarranted. The Tibetan Youth Congress would like to explicitly state that it is disappointed and strongly opposes this act.

Moreover it would like to assert that TYC both at the Centrex and regional level would henceforth refrain from recognizing or supporting this campaign.

through monetary gains to hoist the Chinese flag on the rooftops of their homes and monastic institutions. Additionally, during festivals and large gatherings Tibetans are forced to raise the Chinese flags. Living in a free country we should understand the background of these shrewd attempts by the Chinese. Therefore, we should be mindful not to play into our adversaries' interests. Being a Tibetan safeguarding our historical legacy becomes our responsibility and purpose of life.

Based on the aforementioned reasons and to express our resistance to the continued occupation of our country by China, until Tibet restores independence, TYC will continue to burn the Chinese national flag during its major campaigns. This, we believe is essential towards safeguarding historical legacy and sustaining our struggle.

If we refrain from protesting Chinese leaders or burning the Chinese flag and overlook the continued display and carrying of the Chinese flag in order to maintain a policy of appeasement, there may come a day when opportunists and Chinese stooges will misuse the middle way policy thereby eventually posing a threat to destroying our struggle.

Therefore today, TYC not only oppose this act by the marchers but also would like to reiterate that in future it will continue to resist any individual or organization that will engage in such similar acts."

Honoring two Indian revolutionaries executed by the British, the tournament recalls the Indian National Army's struggle for independence from

Great Britain during World War II. The championship team earned 51,000 Rs in prize money with 31,000 Rs handed to the runners-up.

Tibetan Home Kalon Meets Chief Minister of Karnataka State

By Central Tibetan Administration: Tibet Net

Bangalore: - Kalon Gyari Dolma, accompanied by Mr.Sonam Topgyal, Secretary, DOH, and Mr.TashiPhuntsok, Chief Representative, Bangalore, met with Chief Minister and former Chief Minister of Karanataka and also the Chairman of Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) in Bangalore.

Shri D V SadanandaGowda, Chief Minister, hosted the delegation for a breakfast meeting at Krishna his official residence on April 23. The meeting lasted for an hour. A very fruitful discussion occurred prior to the arrival of the Chief Minister with Dr. S. M. Jaamdar, Principal Secretary to the Department of Home, Karnataka. Dr.Jaamdar participated in the meeting with the chief minister as well.

Kalon Gyari Dolma thanked the Chief Minister for his government's recent sanction of Rs 225 lakhs for water, road repair and electricity problem in the Tibetan settlements in Karnataka. She informed that it would go a long way in alleviating the basic and urgent civic amenities of the Tibetans. She further requested the release of the remaining projected estimates as the awarded funds would only give partial relief.

The issues of assistance for increasing the agriculture productivity of the farmers, assistance to the Tibetan Co-operative Societies, RTC and ration card were also raised. The Chief Minister was most gracious and promised to extend all the assistance for Tibetans and made special commitment to support the establishment of milk processing unit (Dairy).

In the evening, the delegation met with Mr. B. S Yeddyrappa, former Chief Minister of Karnataka at his Race Course Road residence. She recalled their meeting in 2009 and thanked him for the steps he had taken to help the Tibetans during his tenure.

Kalon Gyari Dolma and Mr Tashi Phuntsok with chief minister of Karnataka D.V Sadananda Gowda.

Photo: Tibet Net

She informed him that she had met with the Chief Minister and had submitted request for further assistance for Tibetans. She urged him to use his good offices to bring fruition to the request.

Mr.Yeddyrappa assured her that he would do everything possible to enable Tibetans to have basic amenities in the settlements.

The meeting with Mr.Sreenivasa Murthy, Chairman, KERC on April 24 morning was most fruitful. Nangsi Kalon thanked for the recent grant of Rs 54.8 lakhs for Tibetan settlement in Mundgod and discussed about similar relief for Tibetan settlements of Bylakuppe, Gurupura and Kollegal.

It was informed that certain fund was already in the pipe line for release of Bylakuppe and that Dr. Bore,

Managing Director, Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Ltd. in Mysore has kindly decided to inspect personally Gurupura and Kollegal and do the necessary.

NangsiKalon reiterated her invitation for him to visit Tibetan settlements to which he expressed his happiness to accept and decided to schedule the dates with Chief Representative later.

NangsiKalon's short but useful meeting was coordinated by the Office of Chief Representative, Bangalore. The Office also gave instructions to Representatives in Gurupura and Kollegal to liaise with Dr. Bore in Mysore to schedule his visits to the respective settlements to investigate the needs for the power supply relief.

NCCI Pledges Support for Tibetan Cause

By Matthew Singh-Toor, The Tibet Post

Dharamsala: The 27th Assembly of the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) has pledged its support of "the Tibetans' struggle for liberty and freedom against the occupation of Tibet by China ."

The assembly, held in Bangalore, south India, from April 25 to 28, adopted a statement saying, "The NCCI is deeply concerned about the denial of basic human rights of Tibetans, such as learning their own language, promoting their culture, selfaffirmation, etc."

At a pre-assembly meeting, held from April 20 to 23, two members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, Mr Karma Yeshi and Ms Yangchen Dolkar, spoke about the ecological crisis in Tibet, curtailment of religious freedom and human rights abuses.

At the main assembly, the NCCI was mandated to lobby the Indian and Chinese governments, and other international and ecumenical bodies, to urge China to resume dialogue with Tibetan representatives.

It was further mandated to raise the Tibet issue with the Christian Conference of Asia and the World Council of Churches.

Fr. Dr. Jerry Kurian presented a Paper on Public Witness at the NCCI Assembly in Bangalore. Photo: Jacobite Online

TPI NEWS

15 May, 2012 Dharamshala

WPCT Urges China to Resume Dialogue For Tibetan Autonomy

INTERNATIONAL

The Tibet Post International

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Four Tibetans Killed, Four Monks ' Disappeared', in Drakgo County, Kham

By Matthew Singh-Toor, The Tibet Post

By Tibetan Official Media: Tibet Net

OTTAWA: Parliamentarians from around the world today adopted the Ottawa Declaration.They had gathered in Ottawa for three days of intensive deliberations on the worsening situation in Tibet at the invitation of the Parliamentary Friends of Tibet, Canada.Legislators from Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa and Oceania were joined by prominent speakers from China, Tibet, India, the USA, Canada and elsewhere, including the democratically elected Tibetan political leader, the Kalon Tripa, Dr. Lobsang Sangay.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama opened the conference and the Honourable Joson Kenney, Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism welcomed the participants.

The Ottawa Declaration draws attention to the repressive policies of China in Tihbet and the serious pattern of human rights vioaltions there and to China's destruction of the Tibetan people's identity, as evidenced by the attacks on Tibetan Buddhism, language, culture and the forced relocation of Tibetan nomads, which entail elements of cultural genocide.It expresses deep sorrow for the many Tibetans who self-immolated to protest these policies and calls for Tibetan freedom and the return of H. H. the Dalai Lama.

The Declaration emphasizes the importance of resuming the dialogue between H. H. the Dalai Lama and commends the newly elected Tibetan political leader for reaffirming his commitment to the vision of H.H. the Dalai Lama's Middle Way approach as an honourable solution to the Tibet issue.

In the light of the long standing position of H. H. the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration (the Tibetan Government in Exile), the Declaration emphatically rejects the persistent allegations of the Chinese Government that H. H. the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan political leaders are seeking to separate from China.

Noting with concern at recent calls by persons of standing and influence within the Chinese Communist Party for the scrapping of China's constitutional and legal provisions on autonomy for Tibetans and other minority peoples in the PRC, the parliamentarians gathered in Ottawa warn the

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Chinese Government and the international Community of the potential serious consequences of such a regressive move.

The Declaration expresses solidarity with the nonviolent struggle of the Tibetans and support for the growing movement among the Chinese people to bring about democratic change in China and the release ofNobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo.At the same time, all the parliamentarians at this conference genuinely extend a hand to the Chinese National People's Congress to work with China's legislators to identity ways to honourably settle the Tibetan dispute.

Dharamshala:- Two students from the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, northern India, have reported the names of three of the four Tibetans who were killed during and in the aftermath of a protest in Kham region, eastern tibet, in January.

They have also reported the names of four monks who were arrested and 'disappeared' after the protest.

Rinchen Wanggyal and Palden have received information from inside Tibet that, during a peaceful demonstration in Drakgo County Town on January 23, Norpa Yenten and the unnamed son of Logyal were killed by Chinese police.

The Chinese military then descended on Drakgo on January 24 and instructed all local people to return to their places of abode.They subsequently arrested many of the participants, accusing them of having produced leaflets that were displayed and distributed during the demonstration.

30 of the demonstrators were later sentenced to prison.

Rinchen and Palden further reported that, on February 9, three groups of Chinese military and police surrounded the nomad area of Norchong township, and shot dead the brothers Yeshe Samdhup and Yeshe Rigsel. Their mother, Sanglha wife of Garab Nyima - was shot in the hand, and another brother, Yunten Sangpo, was shot in the neck. Sanglha, Yunten Sangpo and his daughter were then arrested. Two orphaned female cousins of the brothers were also injured and arrested when they returned from school.

Local Tibetans believe that Yunten Sangpo is likely to have succumbed to his injuries.

The military and police reportedly confiscated 6,200 yuan, earned from the sale of cheese and butter, from Samdhup and Rigsel's family home. They also set fire to three motorbikes, and killed the family's

dog and took away its body.

Three or four days after the January protest, Chinese police also arrested four monks in Chengdu city, all residents of Drakgo Gochen Monastery. Rinchen and Palden have named them as Tulku (high lama) Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche, Geshe (academic doctor) Tsewang Namgyal, business affairs manager Thinley, and secretary and treasurer Dalha.

The monks' current location and wellbeing is unknown. Some sources in Tibet report that one of them has been killed. Many local Tibetans are worried that, because there has been no news of the monks being sentenced, they may all have been killed.

Three military camps have been erected in Drakgo

County, occupied by around 5,000 Chinese military, police and 're-education' instructors.

The county's annual prayer festival, which is usually attended by 40 to 50 thousand Tibetans, was this year banned by the Chinese authorities. Drakgo Gochen Monastery's school was also forcibly closed when the January protest started. The school has more than 100 students.

Internet access has been shut down in the area, but some mobile phone access is currently available.

Most calls are reported to be intercepted by the Chinese authorities, leaving people afraid to communicate by phone.

Local Tibetans described their situation to Rinchen and Palden as being that of prisoners.

Annual Tibetan Representative Meeting Convened in Canada

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Ottawa: The annual Tibetan representatives meeting organized by the Department of Information and International Relations convened in Ottawa, Canada from 29 April to 1 May. Marking the first meeting of the Office of Tibet (OOT), Kalon Tripa Lobsang Sangay and Kalon Dicki Chhoyan of the Department of Information and International Relations led discussions on various agenda items of the Central Tibetan Administration, including the new Kashag's guidelines for the various offices of Tibet and policy and budget measures for the CTA. The annual meeting came on the heels of the successful World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet (WPCT) in Ottawa. 12 OOT representatives based around the world already gathered for the WPCT meetings met for the discussions.

After The Tibetan Representatives Meetings, Kalon Tripa and Kalon Dicki Chhoyan shared their insights with the next generation of Tibetan leaders in comments to a gathering of 7 Tibetan students

interning in carious offices of the Parliament of Canada.

In the meeting, facilitated by Parliamentary Friends of Tibet, Canada, Kalon Tripa explained the desperate nature of the current situation inside Tibet, including a series of self immolations.

Stressing the importance of being a true Tibetan through maintaining Tibet's strong cultural heritage, Kalon Tripa encouraged students to learn the history of Tibet, to study its rich language and culture and recognize the growing importance of the Tibetan environment and its impact on both South Asian countries and global climate change.

Optimistically looking to the future, Kalon Trip drew lessons from Tibet's past. Reminding the students of the hardships of the older generation, Kalon discussed the successful return of the 13th Dalai Lama to Tibet in 1913, adding that Tibetans all must work together diligently to successfully restore freedom inside Tibet through guiding the return of the 14th Dalai Lama to the nation.

Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay (C) and Kalon Dicki Chhoyang (Ms) with the representatives of the various offices of Tibet based around the world. Photo: tibet.net

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Mr. Thomas Keimel Dr. Vincent Brucel Mr. YC. Dhardhowa Ms. Keary Huang Mathew Singh Toor Mr. Sangay Dorjee Ms. Pema Tso Ven Phuntsok Dhondup Mr. Sonam Sangay Mr. James Dunn Mr. Sangay Dorjee

Contributors for this Editon Keary Huang Mathew Singh Toor Paul Eggers Carly Selby-James Samuel Ivo Liz Delehant Dennis Barbion Rajeshwari K Kris Krupa YC. Dhardhowa Sangay Dorjee Pema Tso

The Tibet Post International Himalayan Literacy Trust (Head Office) 1st Floor, Exile House Road, Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala, Distt.

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Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay and Kalon Dicki Chhoyang with Tibetan interns at the Canadian Parliament. Photo: tibet.net