The Tibet Post International Online Newspaper

China Released

Torturing &

Two Activist.

Killing

In Tibet!

I n t e r n a t i o n a l

Page 07.

Page 04.

Vol. 01, Issue 44, 30 June 2011

B o d - K y i - Cha- Trin

Bi-Monthly

www.thetibetpost.com

Rs.5

Tibet Days Observed in Moscow

Top Australian Leaders Meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama

By Cornelius Lundsgaard, The Tibet Post

Drepung Gomang Institute in Moscow.

By Tibetan Administration Official media: Tibet Net

Moscow: - The Tibet Days, observed in the capital of Russia from 19th to 26th June 2011, was organised by Moscow State Museum and participated by seven monks of Drepung Gomang Monastery led by Ven. Khentrul Tenzin Choyang Rinpoche. The highlight of the event was the Sand Mandala of Green Tara, which was constructed Continues on Page 6....

TPIE Urges to End Repression in Tibet

Mr. Penpa Tsering, the speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in exile. Photo: TPI

By Tibetan Administration Official media: Tibet Net

Dharamshala: - The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile on Friday, (24 June) has strongly urged the Chinese government to immediately stop end atrocities in Tibet and sought help from the international community to facilitate the release of Tibetans detained in the ongoing peaceful protests in eastern Tibet.

The widespread peaceful protests by the Tibetan people living in all the three traditional provinces Continues on Page 12...

Dharamshala: Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama's current visit to Australia has proven a topic of internal debate in the Australian media reports, not least after Prime Minister Julia Gillard finally declined to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader on June 13, after much speculation about her stance on the issue.

In a statement from Gillard's office it read that, "Australian prime ministers have not met the Dalai Lama on every occasion he has visited Australia" and that "Given the frequency of his travel to Australia, the government believes the current arrangements are appropriate".

Instead, according to news media The Age, the Prime Minister's Office is believed to have proposed His Holliness the Dalai Lama meet privately with the federal Minister for Human Services, Tanya Plibersek, who is not in cabinet.

According to news agency AP, the opposition has earlier accused the Australian PM of "being a puppet of Greens leader Sen. Bob Brown", since the Greens Party is a crucial supporter of Gillard's government.

Commenting on this, Australian National University political scientist Brett Bowden has said that Gillard has been "trying get arms lengths from the Greens" by going against Greens leader Sen.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama meets Opposition Leader Tony Abbott at Parliament House in Canberra. Photo: Alex Ellinghausen

to meet His Holiness." "There will be a great feeling Brown's wishes.

Brown issued a statement earlier Monday saying of pleasure around Australia if she takes 10 minutes he was "working hard to urge Prime Minister Gillard off to do just that," Brown said.

See on Page 4....

Tibetan Thangka Exhibition Opened by 17th the Karmapa

At least 39 Arrested this Month

Tibet Pictures depict tension in Kardze, June 2011.

Photo: TCHRD

Italian MP Takes up Tibet Issue

By Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy

Dharamshala: - The holy Buddhist month of Saga Dawa saw a series of protests in Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) in Eastern Tibet. Atleast 39 known Tibetans have been arrested in June 2011 for staging See on Page 5...

Tibetan Truckers Protest In Tibet

Mr Matteo Mecacci, a member of Italian Parliament and who is also the current president of the Italian Parliamentary Intergroup for Tibet speaking at the main Tibetan temple in Dharamshala, India in 2009.

Photo: TPI

By Tibetan Administration Official media: Tibet Net

Dharamshala: - The Italian Parliament discussed the issue of severe repression imposed by the Chinese authorities on Tibetans in Kirti monastery in Ngaba region of northeastern Tibet's Amdo province since 16 March, which has so far left at least two Tibetans dead and hundreds of monks arrested.

The urgent question was raised by Mr Matteo Mecacci, a member of Italian Parliament and who is also the current president of the Italian Continues on Page 7 ....

The 17th Karmapa visiting the traditional Thangka exihibition at the main Tibetan temple in Dharamshala, India on 26th June 2011. Photo: TPI

By Samuel Ivor, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala- His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa formally opened an exhibition of traditional Tibetan Thangka painting Monday (27th June) at the main Tibetan Temple complex, today in Dharamshala, India. He was accompanied by the minister of the Tibetan department of religion and culture; Tsering Phuntsok, to celebrate the unique paintings by the school of Tsang Menthang - of Tibetan Traditional Arts.

To highlight the beautiful work by the 8 students that graduated from this institution, the revered spiritual leader His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa graced the presence of the rapt audience in the

Temple.

He was led around the room of around 37 beautiful, hand painted deities, with the audience of students watching intently. The Karmapa unveiled the exhibition to the public, and blessed the institute.

The Thangka teacher, Buchung Nugbya, introduced Tsang Menthang and His Holiness the Karmapa to the ancient lineage of Tsang Menthang, of Tibetan Traditional Arts.

He also offered two Thangka paintings, one to the Karmapa, and one as a gift to His Holiness Continues on Page 6.......

By Cornelius Lundsgaard, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: As the Chinese are building a railway between Shigatse and Lhasa, Tibetan truck drivers from the region are being turned down for work in favour of 24 companies from mainland China. According to Radio Free Asia, the Tibetan drivers had been promised work as the railway construction began and so about 60 trucks were Continues on Page 7 .....

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30 June, 2011 Dharamsala

TPI VIEWS & ANALYSIS

The legitimacy and role of the Central Tibetan Administration Article by Kelsang Gyaltsen, Envoy of H. H. the Dalai Lama

Dharamshala: - Once again the small Tibetan world in exile seems to be torn apart by an emotional and political dispute over the devolution of the administrative and political powers of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the democratically elected organs of the Tibetan Administration and over the change of the title of "Tibetan Government-in-Exile" in Tibetan language to "Central Tibetan Administration". The tone of the debate is often agonizing, bitter and selflacerative reflecting the self-pitying and self-dramatizing psyche of some of the debating Tibetans. This way, the discourse has so far been rather selfdefeating and demoralizing than helping to clarify and better understand the issues involved.

The primary objective of these changes is to ensure the continuity of the Tibetan freedom struggle led by the Central Tibetan Administration. The changes demonstrate the political will and determination of the Tibetan leadership to continue the Tibetan freedom struggle as long as it takes by laying the ground and positioning itself in a way that allows it to function and operate in future in spite of any vicissitude in the international political environment. The devolution of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's political powers to the democratically elected leaders of the Central Tibetan Administration is to be seen and understood as a demonstration of his faith in the political maturity and determination of the Tibetan people especially the younger generation of Tibetans inside Tibet as well as in exile.

This is, I believe, the central message that the changes embody and the Tibetan leadership wishes to convey to Tibetans, the Chinese leadership and the international community.

This is clearly an initiative that demonstrates strength, self-confidence, determination and resourcefulness on the part of the Tibetan leadership. This spirit of steely political will and commitment to our freedom struggle is evident from the amendments to the Charter of the Tibetans in exile. The amendments make it clear that His Holiness will fully vest the Central Tibetan Administration and in particular its democratic leadership organs with the powers and responsibilities formerly held jointly by him and the Central Tibetan Administration to represent and serve the whole people of Tibet. The new preamble to the Charter underlines "safeguarding the continuity of the Central Tibetan Administration as the

legitimate governing body and representative of the whole Tibetan people, in whom sovereignty resides".

It also enshrines Tibet's position as a sovereign nation from the early 2nd century BC until the invasion by the People's Republic of China in 1951, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama's efforts in introducing democratic reforms after coming into exile in India since 1959.

Against this background there is absolutely no basis to contend that the Central Tibetan Administration has given up the mandate to represent the entire people of Tibet as a consequence of the recent changes. On the contrary, politically and legally the legitimacy of the Central Tibetan Administration to represent the Tibetan people has been strengthened by completing the process of democratization. Sovereignty resides with the people of Tibet. Consequently, the more complete the Tibetan authority is constituted by a free and fair democratic process the greater its legitimacy to represent the aspirations of the Tibetan people.

On arriving in exile in India in 1959 His Holiness the Dalai Lama stated that wherever he and his Kashag (Cabinet) are the people of Tibet will continue to consider them as their government and true representatives. His Holiness established the Central Tibetan Administration under the direction of his Kashag in order to actively pursue the cause of Tibet, to draw the attention of the world to the tragedy unfolding in Tibet and to seek the international community's help in protecting the Tibetan people as well as to look after about 80'000 Tibetan refugees arriving in India.

The official name of this administration has been "The Central Tibetan Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama". Our official letter-head and seal display this description. In all our external relations we introduce ourselves as the Central Administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We did not seek legal or political recognition as "the Tibetan Government-in-exile" as such confident that the Tibetan people regarded His Holiness and the Central Tibetan Administration as their government and true representatives, this being the continued source of legitimacy.

Right from the beginning of our exile it seems that it has been of great importance to His Holiness to make clear that he is not staking any claims to power and rule for himself and or his administration. The primary task of our exile has always been to seek justice for

Tibet and to restore the basic rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people.

There is no serious dispute about the fact that the people of Tibet will continue to regard the Central Tibetan Administration as their true authority as long as the leadership of the Central Tibetan Administration has the blessing and full backing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama - irrespective of the recent changes. Only the people of Tibet can decide whom they consider and accept as their true representatives. Although Tibetans inside Tibet cannot vote in the democratic elections of the Central Tibetan Administration, they demonstrate their support and adherence to it in in many ways, despite the severe risks of doing so. If an individual Tibetan, living in freedom in exile, decides to consider the Central Tibetan Administration from now on as a non-governmental organisation because of the recent changes - this is his or her personal free choice and decision alone.

Every Tibetan with some sense of political awareness and responsibility knows that one of His Holiness' political credos has always been: To hope for the best and to prepare for the worst. In the past decades of our freedom struggle the Tibetan people and the cause of Tibet have been served well by and have benefited immensely from this wise approach of His Holiness.

It is no news to people with an interest in China that Beijing has been demonstrating in recent time that it won't be shy about playing hardball to safeguard what it claims to be its "core national interest". China watchers attest to a reawakened resolve on the part of the Chinese leadership to do whatever it takes to defend "core interests" such as their claims regarding Taiwan and Tibet. The Central Party School strategist, Gong Li, is quoted as saying "Beijing should not yield a single inch as far as Taiwan and Tibet are concerned". It is an open secret that China uses coercive diplomacy on other countries to assert its position. A good example is, among a growing number of other cases and signs, of the use and impact of China's coercive diplomacy are Nepal's recent policies towards our compatriots in that country. It is common knowledge that the acceptance and adherence to the principle of "One China Policy" is a precondition by China for the resumption of diplomatic relations with any government in the world.

Looking ahead and taking precautionary measures with the aim to coping with any political vicissitudes in the future is an act of responsible and prudent political leadership.

Far from appeasing China these initiatives by His Holiness represent a number of new challenges to the Chinese leadership. First of all they dismember the basic tenets of the Chinese justification propaganda narrative of "liberation", as well as of their claim that the Dalai Lama is bent on the "restoration of feudal theocracy" and they bring into question their calculations on the issue of reincarnation. On a more practical and concrete political level His Holiness the Dalai Lama is once again making unambiguously clear that he has no personal demands to make to the Chinese leadership. He is putting the rights and welfare of the Tibetan people right in the forefront of the Sino-Tibetan dialogue. He is making clear that the fundamental issue that needs to be resolved is the faithful implementation of genuine autonomy that will enable

The Tibet Post

Standing Up for Democracy: Human Rights Defenders and China

The Chinese government has criminally detained since mid-February after anonymous calls for “Jasmine Revolution� protests. Photo: TPI

By Matthew Singh-Toor, The Tibet Post

Brussels, Belgium: Speaking at the first European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights technical forum on implementing operations, on June 14, Renee Xia, International Director of Chinese Human Rights Defenders - http:/ /www.chrdnet.org - delivered the following address: After the Tunisian and Egyptian revolts, China is now one of the few remaining countries ruled by dictatorship or, in this case, by a single party that has monopolized power for more than 60 years. Many Chinese people draw inspiration and encouragement from the Arab Spring. The fall of Ben Ali and Mubarak's dictatorships followed the trend of a wave of democratization that started 22 years ago near here, with the fall of the Berlin Wall. The Arab Spring gives us great hope: undemocratic and

the Tibetan people to govern themselves in accordance with their own genius and needs.

By devolving his political powers His Holiness is once again emphasising that his engagement for the cause of Tibet is not for the purpose of claiming certain personal rights or political positions, nor in order to stake claims for the Tibetan administration in exile. Once a satisfactory agreement with China is reached, the Central Tibetan Administration will be dissolved and it is the Tibetans in Tibet who should carry the main responsibility of administering Tibet.

Even after the amendments of the Charter the political mandate of the Central Tibetan Administration continues to be to serve the people of Tibet by acting as the free voice of our captive nation and representing the people's aspirations in the wider world.

In contrast to the Chinese Communist Party, it makes clear beyond any doubt that the Central Tibetan Administration is not seeking power to rule over Tibet.

The sole task and purpose of the Central Tibetan Administration is no more and no less than to lead the struggle for the rights of the Tibetan people to freely determine their own affairs and to live in freedom and dignity in the land of snow that is our home.

The change of the title in Tibetan of our Administration only reemphasises this basic position of the Central Tibetan Administration without renouncing the legitimacy of representing the voice and aspiration of the people of Tibet.

repressive governments, big or small, will sooner or later be ousted by their own people.

This month we marked the 22nd anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre, when Chinese troops killed hundreds if not thousands of peaceful protesters.

Tiananmen serves as a reminder that popular demand for democracy and human rights also lives in the soils of China. The good news is such desires remain alive and strong toady despite heavy censorship and brutal repression by the government, and no matter how different is the Chinese cultural context.

There is no denial that China has changed tremendously since 1989. It is an economic powerhouse today.

Hundreds of millions of people have lifted themselves from poverty through their own hard work-without union rights, without freedom of expression or legal recourse. But the gaps between the rich and poor have rapidly expanded. By raising the GDP, the regime has not provided guarantee of its citizens' socialeconomic rights. Chinese citizens have no say in policies affecting their lives.

There is no independent judiciary for them to seek remedies when they suffered injustice. Basic civil-political liberties are widely and systematically denied.

The situation has gone from bad to worse during the past few years. Intensified violations include the excessive use of death penalty, torture, arbitrary detention, disappearance, censorship, and broadened repression of religious and ethnic minorities, the Uighurs and Tibetans, Falungong practitioners, and underground Christians.

In the recent crackdown on the "Jasmine revolution" protests, the Chinese government relied on the use of enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and torture to intimidate anyone who might try to start an Arab Spring in China.

Human rights defenders, civil society activists, lawyers, journalists, even artists, like Ai Weiwei, paid great personal price for advocating rights and democracy in China. The assault on human rights defenders and civil society activists is the case in many other countries - in Russia, in Columbia, Nigeria and Burma, to name just a few.

Defenders are targeted for advocating and promoting respect for human rights.

The persecution and harassment defenders face are often horrendous, designed to strike fear, and often targeting their families including children.

Continues on Page 12....

TPI H.H THE DALAI LAMA

The Tibet Post

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Begins Teaching For Vietnamese

Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai lama begins two day teachings for Vitnamese guests at the main Tibetan temple in Dharamshala, India, on 28th June 2011.

Photo: TPI

By Samuel Ivor, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala- His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet addressed an audience of around 5000 people in the main Tibetan Temple Tuesday (28th June), in his home in-exile in Dharamshala, North India. His Holiness said there are many different philosophies in major religions, but what is of basic importance is compassion, love for others, concern for others' suffering, and reduction of selfishness.

Part one of the two-day teaching divulged on the subject of 'Je Tsongkhapa's Praise to the Buddha for his Teachings on Dependent Origination' (Tibetan: Tendrel Toepa), which was at the request of a group of Vietnamese Buddhists who arranged to visit His Holiness in India.

The audience consisted of some 500 Vietnamese visitors, and it was estimated that around 1300 of the audience were non-Tibetan foreigners. "All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion

and forgiveness ... the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives.

The same goal of benefiting humanity through spiritual practice, and the same effect of making their followers into better human beings."

His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke in depth this morning on Je Tsongkhapa's Praise to the Buddha for His Teachings on Dependent Origination. The speech consisted of preliminary recitations from ‘The Heart of Sutra', ‘Verses of Taking Refuge', followed by ‘In Praise of Dependent Origin', and was met by a rapt audience.

He was thanked warmly by the Vietnamese delegate, who sat in contrast to the red-robed Tibetan Monks and Nuns, in their pale grey uniform.

However, despite differences of appearance, the two spiritual groups gathered below the seat of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and listened intently to his extensive knowledge on the ‘tendrel toepa'.

His Holiness addressed the audience

cheerfully on the overcast, rainy morning in the monsoon period for the region in India's Himalayan foothills.

"Did you all sleep well?" he asked, referring to Dharamshala's high altitude aiding good nights.

He added jokingly: "Did any of you get an upset stomach from the water yet?", to which everyone laughed.

Generous distributions of bread and Tibetan tea were handed to the audience, followed by spiritual monetary gifts to the monks and nuns in the crowd.

"I was sitting in a place next to a walkway, just ten meters away from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. I had a fantastic view. I was touched by all of the different types of people who stopped to look and their various reactions of awe and subdued delight upon seeing him. Everyone from Sikh families to corporate Americans to older ladies with canes to Indian children had wonderful reactions to observe while I listened to the teachings. I feel so very fortunate that I was able to travel to India and to Dharamsala while he was giving a teaching and that I was able to be part of the experience," a 38 year old woman from USA, Elena Wealty told The Tibet Post International.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama drew upon other major religions, stating that they all aimed to end and reduce suffering.

However, he added the main differences between Buddhism, and highlighted the belief of reincarnation, setting Buddhism apart. "All major religious wanted to lead their followers away from the paths of negative deeds caused by ignorance and to introduce them to paths of goodness," said His Holiness.

The talk was concluded with a Mandala offering, a dedication (of merits), a prayer for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and a prayer to generate Bodhichitta. His Holiness shall confer an Avalokiteshvera Permission Initiation (chenresig jenang) in part two of the teachings tomorrow.

His Holiness Speaks on Community Spirit, Never Giving Up

Thousands listen to His Holiness the Dalai lama's public talk on the spirit of never giving up in Brisbane, Australia, on 15 June 2011

By Tibetan Administration Official media: Tibet Net

Brisbane: - The spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness reached Brisbane this morning to begin the Queensland leg of his Australia tour. Upon landing,

he gave his blessing to Shevaune Conry, a local woman with Multiple Sclerosis who inspired the creation of Youngcare, an organisation looking

after young people in aged and nursing homes.

His Holiness began his day with media interviews and later met with members of Tibetan, Mongolian and Bhutanese communities at his hotel in the city.

His message that "China controls our country, but not our minds and while we live in exile, it is our duty to tell the world about Tibet" left the small Tibetan community with a strong sense of responsibility. Addressing the members of all three communities, His Holiness stressed on the importance of promoting the Buddhist culture of love and compassion.

In the afternoon, His Holiness gave a public talk on the spirit of never giving up, a topic of immense value and relevance to the Queensland community devastated by massive floods earlier in the year. The event was organised by local charity organisation Karuna House. It drew a diverse crowd of over 2,000 people, including many youngsters. As His Holiness arrived at the open-air venue,

30 June, 2011 Dharamsala

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His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Teach in US Capital

His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Photo: TPI/file

By Colleen McKown, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: - After his teachings in Dharamshala, the Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will travel to the USA to conduct teachings and rituals from July 6-16 in capital city Washington DC. During the event, "Kalachakra for World Peace", His Holiness will lead ritual prayers, dances, teachings, and chanting in the Kalachakra tradition, an ancient Buddhist Tantric system. On July 9, as well, His Holiness will give a public talk on World Peace.

The event is being organized by the Capital Area Tibetan Association, a Washington nonprofit, and will take place at the Verizon Center in Washington. "Kalachakra for World Peace" begins at 7am on July 6.

Kalachakra, an ancient Indian Buddhist tradition, goes back to the time of the historical Buddha. The complex Tantric tradition revolves around ideas of time and cycles, and involves controlling the breath and the energies within the body.

His Holiness and other senior monks from the Nangyal Monastery, his personal monastery, will conduct ritual prayers and create a sand mandala during the first three days of the event.

The next three days consist of teachings by His Holiness, followed by ritual dancing on July 12, Kalachakra initiation ceremonies on July 13-15, and finally, a life empowerment (Tsewang in Tibetan)

and a prayer ceremony for the conclusion on July 16.

According to the organizers' website, www.kalachakra2011.com, the gathering is valuable for both Tibetans and others. "For Tibetans, such a gathering offers not only an occasion to renew and reinforce our Buddhist spiritual heritage but also has historically provided an opportunity to reaffirm our shared linguistic and cultural identity. For non-Tibetans, it offers spiritual renewal through deepened understanding of Buddhist philosophy, thoughts and practices, the opportunity to open a meaningful connection with the vast and profound Kalachakra practice, as well as the chance to become more acquainted with Tibetan culture."

As part of Kalachakra for World Peace, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give "A Talk for World Peace" at the US Capitol Building on July 9. The talk is part of a "World Peace Event" and also includes a Tibetan cultural performance, a cello performance, and a question-and-answer session. The event is free and open to the public.

After speaking in Washington, His Holiness will continue his travels in the USA, continuing on to Chicago, IL. In Chicago, he will speak on the importance of interfaith dialogue in two talks: "Bridging the Faith Divide", a public talk, and "Building Bridges," a discussion with religious leaders.

everyone rose on their feet.

The crowd was deeply moved by His Holiness who blessed a number of disabled people standing to greet him near the stage. His Holiness said that the Queenslanders have shown the true spirit of a community helping each other, when hit by one of Australia's worst natural disasters in recent times.

He quickly added this goodwill and generosity should transcend our geographical borders.

His Holiness was delighted to know that a large number of students from high schools and universities are part of the public forum. He said, "We saw a lot of bloodshed in the past century.

The youth now have a large role to play in creating the 21st century one of peace. However, peace is not just

freedom from violence. Peace encompasses love and compassion."

The universality of His Holiness' message resonates with all levels of Australian society.

After listening to His Holiness' talk, Jane Roach, a teacher and a Brisbane local, said, "I am not a Buddhist, but the Dalai Lama is a messenger of hope and optimism." 14 year-old Adam Brown thinks, "the Dalai Lama is cool".

State health minister Geoff Wilson welcomed His Holiness to the event and gave his note of appreciation for speaking to the people of Brisbane.

His Holiness will be in Queensland for the next two days. He will spend tomorrow at Chenrezig Institute in the Sunshine Coast.

--Report filed by Tsering Kyinzom

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30 June, 2011 Dharamsala

TPI INTERNATIONAL

Human Rights Issue in China Openly Raised by Britain

The Tibet Post

Chinese Political Dissident Hu Jia Released After 3 Years in Jail

By Samuel Ivor, The Tibet Post

Students For a Free Tibet UK's Photos - More protests during Wen Jiabao's UK visit, 27th June 2011. Photo SFT UK

By Samuel Ivor, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala- Upon a visit to Britain

by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabo, the British Prime Minister David Cameron raised the difficult issue of human rights in China, which has seen a growing number of breaches of international rights in recent months, particularly in Tibet.

The journey of Wen Jiabo through Europe has met a rocky reception in Britain. Upon arriving in London at the weekend, the Chinese Premier was met

by Pro-Tibet campaigners, who have since followed him peacefully on his three day tour of England. Regarding the visit by Jiabo, Students for a Free Tibet stated: "Wherever he travels, Wen Jiabao knows the Tibet issue will follow him, and David Cameron and the UK government must also know that they must put human rights before trade".

British PM Cameron used his words carefully when criticizing China's human rights, admitting that his own country was not perfect or a ‘monopoly of wisdom - or is the perfect society'. He stated that China provides a ‘huge opportunity' for British business, and it was announced on the visit that £1.4bn of trade agreements have been arranged between the two countries.

However, he re-iterated the statement he made in Beijing in November, that the human rights issue needs to be addressed, and that: The best way forward is for ‘economic and political progress to go in step together'.

He added that political progress must go hand in hand with respect for human rights, which was ‘the best guarantor' for prosperity and stability.

In a well timed political move, and despite huge crackdowns across Tibet in recent months, China release political prisoner and world famous artist Ai Weiwei, followed closely by Hu Jia, both political dissidents, who are arguably the most outspoken critics of Beijing.

In response to Cameron's remarks, Jiabo pushed for ‘dialogue' over the issue, which he stated needed the correct facts [on human rights]. He also advised Britain ‘not to finger point'.

Mr Jiabo plans to retire in late 2012, and the business visit to Britain, followed

by Germany, could be one of his last to Europe before exiting the political scene.

Many are hoping for massive reform on Human rights towards the end of his term, however given Mr Jiabo's response to Britain this seems unlikely for the present.

Dharamshala- After serving three years in prison for subversion, Chinese political dissident Hu Jia was released yesterday, on Sunday 26th of June. His release comes among months of human rights suppression in Tibet, and on the same week as the release of political critic and artist Ai Weiwei.

The 37 year old was arrested and detained in 2007, having already spent over 200 days under house arrest in Beijing.

In the lead up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Jia was described as being guilty of writing articles critical of Chinas regime, and of its appalling human rights record. Many of the articles he wrote were posted on international websites, which angered authorities in Beijing.

He was depicted as conspiring to sabotage the 2008 Games. His official sentence was for prison was: ‘inciting to subvert state power' - through speaking to foreign journalists, and writing articles on the subject of freedom.

Mr Hu was also one of the most outspoken among China on Tibetan autonomy, free speech, the environment and AIDs. He was one of Chinas best known human rights defenders, and his arrest sparked outrage from the international community.

Due to fears of a ‘Jasmine revolution', China has created a huge series of crackdowns against critics of the Communist regime recently, and

Former Premier for the Australian state of New South Wales, Mr. Bob Carr, however, believes otherwise as he wrote on his blog that the Dalai Lama's strategy "is to keep coming here and forcing his presence on Canberra, presumably to generate ill-feeling between us and the Chinese" Carr also wrote that "behind the selfeffacing shuffle and the grins he has a mischievous agenda in pursuit of theocratic power." This statement came at a time when His Holiness had just declared he would step down as Tibet's political leader, breaking a 4 centuries old tradition of theocracy in Tibet.

Gillard's move not to meet His Holiness is believed to not only send a signal of independence from the government's support party the Greens, but also to please China who is Australia's most important trading partner, buying huge quantities of Australian raw materials including iron ore, coal and natural gas.

In a press statement His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that Australia must consider the consequences of its actions, referring to the country's mining

particularly in Tibet, which has seen alarming amounts of human rights violations over recent months.

China faces a hugely sensitive period.

The revolution among the Arab spring, and the upcoming 90th anniversary of the Communist regime has created an air of fear among those in power in Beijing.

Hu Jia will be deprived of his political rights for one year, and will surely be under close surveillance form authorities in China.

His wife wrote: "For this one year, the focus should be on treating his cirrhosis, caring for parents and child, and to avoid being arrested again".

Hu Jia was one of 303 signatories of ‘Charter 8', which called for basic human rights in China. It was published on

December 10th 2008; the 60th anniversary of the Universal declaration of Human rights. Over 30 people who signed the charter were also arrested, questioned or put under surveillance.

The Charter had stated that China should allow the most basic of human rights, including the right to assembly, freedom of religion, and freedom of expression.

In 2008, Hu Jia won the European Union's Sakharov Prize. He was also recommended for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Mr Hu is a strong advocate of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and often expressed sympathy for the exiled leader. However, after his arrest and detainment, it is thought that he will find it extremely difficult to express his poignant views.

Chinese Critic Ai Weiwei Released on Bail After 3 Months in Jail

......Meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama Meanwhile, His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with opposition leader Tony Abbott, leader of the Nationals party Warren Truss as well as with Greens leader Senator Brown at the Parliament House in Canberra where more than 80 federal MPs and senators from all parties were expected at today's parliamentary reception for His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

But while the Australia Tibet Council expressed disappointment with Ms Gillard's decision, pointing out no Labor prime minister had met the Dalai Lama since Paul Keating in 1992, the Tibetan Nobel Peace Prize laureate seemed unfazed when asked at a press conference if he was disappointed that he hadn't been able to get a commitment to a meeting with Gillard: "If I had some agenda to discuss with the prime minister, I would be disappointed" said His Holiness. He also said that "if your prime minister has some kind of spiritual interest then of course my meeting would be useful" and added that the goals of his visit were to promote values and religious harmony.

Zeng Jinyan and Mr Hu Jia. Photo: File

Ai Weiwei — artist, blogger, and guy who refuses to shut up — has been posting photos to his new blog. Photo: File

By Samuel Ivor, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala- In what many are calling China's most severe crackdown on human rights abuses in over a decade, Ai Weiwei, political activist and artist, has finally been released on bail from Chinese authorities. After 81 days in detention, during which authorities also performed enormous crackdowns in Tibet, the internationally respected artist

activities.

When asked if he meant that Australian mining companies should boy-cott Chinese customers on behalf of the country's human rights record, His Holiness replied that China should not be isolated or contained.

was released yesterday "because of his good attitude in confessing his crimes" and due to a chronic illness, stated the state controlled news agency, Xinhua.

Weiwei, who is usually a highly outspoken critic authorities in Beijing, looked thinner, and was subdued in his comments, stating: "I'm on bail. Please understand."

The 54 year old artist disappeared on April the 3rd 2011 where he was due to board a flight to Hong Kong from Beijing airport, igniting international condemnation of China. Political leaders internationally called for his release and protests were held throughout the art world.

The official police report at the time stated that Weiwei was detained on suspicion of ‘economic crimes'.

During Weiwei's 81 days in custody, authorities in China have also acted heavily against free speech and human rights in Tibet. These included an enormous crackdown at Kirti monastery, in Ngaba, which sparked an international outcry to respect human rights in the region.

China still claims that the situation in Kirti is ‘normal' and that and that relations between monks and police are "harmonious".

Ai's works included helping design the

Olympic Bird's Nest stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, and last year's Sunflower Seeds installation in Tate Modern's turbine hall, which was still on exhibition at the time of his disappearance.

Despite Ai's release, several are still held in custordy, and many of those who have been freed are understood to have been released under strict conditions.

The decision to bail the artist comes just days before Chinese premier Wen Jiabao is due to visit Europe. It was expected that leaders would press the case for his release.

Mark Toner, the US state department deputy spokesman, told a news conference: "It's always a good thing when an individual who is only in prison for exercising his internationally recognised human rights is released."

The Chinese government has said Ai's case has nothing to do with human rights. However, his family believed it was retaliation for his political activism.

Amnesty International stated: "Ai Weiwei must now be granted his full liberty, and not be held in illegal house arrest as has been the pattern with so many others recently released from arbitrary detention."

The immediate release of the artists four associates; Wen Tao, Zhang Jinsong, Hu Mingfen, and Liu Zhenggang, have also been called for. The four individuals went missing shortly after him, and it is hoped that news will arrive of their condition following the release of Ai.

TPI TIBET

The Tibet Post

Protests Continue Among Crackdown in Eastern Tibet

Chinese soldiers in full riot gear gather on Potala Square at the base of the Potala Palace in the Tibetan capital Lhasa on 21 March, 2008 after violent protests broke out following days of demonstrations against Chinese rule. Thousands of soldiers have been transported into Lhasa on amid reports of a huge military build-up as China admitted for the first time it had shot Tibetan protesters. Photo: TChinese soldiers in full riot gear gather on Potala Square at the base of the Potala Palace in the Tibetan capital Lhasa on 21 March, 2008 after violent protests broke out following days of demonstrations against Chinese rule. Thousands of soldiers have been transported into Lhasa on amid reports of a huge military build-up as China admitted for the first time it had shot Tibetan protesters. Photo: TPI

By Samuel Ivor, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala- Tibetans peacefully protesting in Eastern Tibet continue their call for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and for freedom in Tibet, despite arrests and beatings by police. Raids have also occurred in the Eastern town of Karze, amid a month of heavy crackdowns in the region. On the 19th June, two nuns belonging to ‘Nyimo Getsul Nunnery' peacefully demanded the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and for freedom in Tibet on the streets of Karze.

The identity of the two peacefully protesting nuns, are Jamtuk Dolma of Lhopa Township, and Dolma Palmo aged 20 from Lhopa Township in Karze County.

According to sources form the Central Tibetan Administration, the two nuns were arrested by Chinese police after a severe beating. The current location of the two nuns however is currently unknown. Both the Lay and Monastic communities have witnessed a step-up in restrictions by the Chinese authorities in the region. Monks and nuns in Karze are no longer allowed to go out to the town without prior permission from the Chinese authorities.

On the 18th of June, the Chinese authorities raided some of the monastic communities in Karze. During the raid, they registered the mobile numbers and telephone numbers of many of the monks and nuns. The situation in Karze remains highly tense. On the 6th and 7th of June, three monks were beaten and detained for protesting against Chinese rule. The 17th of June witnessed two monks of Khangar monastery, Rinchen Gyatso and Lama Tsering, being detained and forcibly taken away by the police after raising slogans. They stated: "Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama," "Tibet is an independent nation."

Seventeen more Tibetans, monks and nuns from different monasteries have also protested in Karze lately, and were soon detained by Chinese authorities.

Among those included were four nuns from the Lamdrak nunnery, three monks of Beri monastery, one monk from Khangar monastery, three nuns from Getse nunnery, and six monks from Karze monastery. According to news sources, attempts to reach the Karze

area authorities for comment on Monday were unsuccessful.

The Tibet Post International has been informed by Tsultrim; a monk from Depung monastery in South India that ‘on the 14th of May this year, Chinese authorities arrested a 37 year old Tibetan woman from her house in Dhadho Karze County Eastern Tibet. The local police accused her of being related to helping a Tibetan Buddhist nun on the 12th/ 13th of May of this year. Disputing documents, stating ‘Go back China' ‘Invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama', ‘China and Tibet are separate nations' and similar articles.

According to Tsultrim, she was detained in Karze, however, the authorities are not allowing anyone to meet her,

including her own family. Therefore, nobody knows where she is detained, and of her current condition.

The arrested subject is a businesswoman. She has computers, a printer, DVDs and many documents in her home. Some of them were destroyed by the Chinese authorities, some were taken.

(Tsultrim): "Those documents were not that important-however, the Chinese have destroyed them, and her house is full of broken things now, a man from this area has told me" "She has a mother (70) and two children (12 and 7). The local people only know the accusations against her; they do not know the reality of the situation. It is difficult, her mother is very old and her children are very young".

In further news of human rights breaches in Tibet, Chunyi Lhamo; a nun from Gaden Choeling Nunnery, held a peaceful protest in the main market of Karze County at 8am (Beijing ST) on 20th June.

The brave nun had a hand drawn Tibetan national flag, and shouted: "We want Freedom in Tibet ", [there is] "No Freedom in Tibet. Long live of His Holiness the Dalai Lama."

She also distributed pamphlets calling for freedom in Tibet. In response, she was immediately arrested by Chinese police. There is sadly no further information regarding her whereabouts.

In a response from the Tibetan community in exile, the TWA stated that: "TWA is concerned by the actions of the Chinese authorities and appeals to the international community and the United Nations to urgently issue intervention to stop the ongoing security clampdown, arbitrary arrests and detentions of Tibetans in Karze County of the Tibetan Autonomous Region. TWA calls on the Chinese authorities to lift the restrictions of movement and immediately release political prisoners that have been detained for arbitrary reasons".

30 June, 2011 Dharamsala

Buddhist Saka Dawa Festivities Prohibited in Tibet

Young Tibetans in free country India during the Saga Dawa Buddhist festival in Dharamshala, India on 16th June 2011.

Photo: TPI

By Samuel Ivor, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala- Amid a blanket media ban in Tibet and among an enormous armed military presence in the city of Lhasa, the sacred Tibetan Saka Dawa ceremonies were prohibited by Chinese authorities on the holy celebrations that mark Buddha's enlightenment this month.

Despite pleas from the Tibetan community, the Chinese Government stopped and prohibited the usual practice of observing Nyung Ne (fasting) during the sacred month of Saka Dawa.

For fifteen days, beginning from the 1st of the fourth Tibetan month, monks, nuns and lay people fast to mark the holy period.

However, since the 2008 uprising in Tibet, the Chinese Government has put a stop to this practice. Drepung Monastery, Lhasa, has repeatedly appealed to the Chinese Government to allow them permission to continue with the practice, which was apparently accepted by authorities in Beijing.

were half the number of police/army.

The second time, a week later, it was quite tense. There were rumours of monks calling for Free Tibet so perhaps that's why the numbers had increased.

On the way back into Ganzi the second time, our vehicle was stopped twice on the outskirts -- looking for monks/ nuns and foreigners. They were taking down ID card details of all monks/nuns entering Ganzi.

There is a large prison in town full of Tibetan political prisoners. In the evenings, they show a segment on TV of the prisoners repenting their crimes, after being beaten into submission. One was an old nomad lady -- about 80, crippled and bent over. Her three sons had been killed and she came into town to shout Free Tibet. My friends in Ganzi, who I won't name to protect them, had several members of the family in prison in the past. The father was in for two years and repeatedly tortured. The two neices, who are nuns, were most recently in prison in 2008 for writing an open letter asking the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet and in support of him.

They are young nuns in their 20's and were locked up for two and three years successively. As they described their torture to me, they started crying, the

From the 30th of May, Tibetan Buddhists started flocking to the monastery. The entire area also filled with worshippers preparing for the festival and the prayer sessions.

However, a group of Chinese work teams and the Drepung Monastery's police arrived, and they were ordered to immediately stop all preparations for the Nyung Ne. All people attempting to celebrate were notified to return to their homes. The majority of worshippers, many of whom had travelled great distances to Lhasa, were elderly.

Fearing the risk of possible protests, the People's Armed Police and the Drepung Monastery police were stationed around the monastery.

In an attempt to win hearts and minds however, authorities simultaneously held free medical care units outside the Potala Palace, and at Jokhang Temple a famous site that has witnessed previous Tibetan protests.

Two official meetings regarding religion and monastic practices have been over the past two weeks by the authorities of the so called Tibet Autonomous Region. However, no monks or nuns were present at the meetings.

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy released a statement today, highlighting: "(TCHRD) is appalled at the level of intrusion into the religious life of the Tibetan people and the blatant disregard to Tibetan people's right to freedom of religion and expression, and calls on the Chinese government to immediately revert this outrageous procedure".

Highway in Eastern Tibet Reopens After landslide

Dharamshala: - A crucial highway in Tibet was reopened to traffic on Tuesday, after a massive land slide the day before had resulted in the trapping of more than 100 people in nearly 60

vehicles. The landslide is believed to have occurred due to heavy rain in the past few days.

The highway links the so called Tibetan Autonomous Region with Eastern Tibet, the road was reopened to the public at 8:20 local time after rescue teams cleared the debris from the landslide that have coved almost 30 meters of the road. This is a mountainous of the country. Twenty five officers were mobilized to clear up the almost 900 cubic meters of debris, with an excavator and two loading machines.

In 2010, over 700 people are reported dead and 2,000 more were missing after devastating overnight floods and landslides hit Drugchu (Chinese name: Zhouqu), eastern Tibet.

emotional/mental wounds were still fresh.

In addition to earlier reports of nuns and monks staging demonstrations in Kardze, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) received confirmed information that two more nuns have been arrested for protest.

On 18 June 2011 two nuns, Choesang and Peltruk, of Dhargye Nyagye Nunnery, Kardze County, staged a demonstration around 9 am in the main market of Kardze calling for the "Long Life of the Dalai Lama", "Freedom in Tibet", and "Return of the Dalai Lama

to Tibet" while distributing leaflets.

Around 10 minutes later the police arrived and immediately handcuffed the two and started to beat them severely.

It is highly probable that the nuns are being tortured in the prison. Their families have been denied visitation as well as prohibited from giving food and clothes to them. Choesang (31) was born in Rangpa-Tsachung Village, Shitse Township, Kardze County to Kelgah (father) and Ngodup Dolmo (mother) of Chunangtsong family. Peltruk (34) was born to Ngepa (father) and Dechen Yangtso (mother) in Reedha Village, Shitse Township, Kardze County.

Atleast 39 Arrested, Tibet Pictures Depict Tense Situation demonstrations calling for a "Free Tibet", "Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama" and "Return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet". Situation in the area is very tense and people live in a climate of fear. In the wake of protests, security troops in thousands have been deployed in the area to instantly crush any sort of a popular protest. A foreign tourist who recently visited Kardze gave following account of the situation in the area.

There were thousands of police and army, in riot gear, in trucks patrolling the streets, and on foot in formation patrolling the streets. As well as many standing on street corners, and many more in plain clothes.

The nuns I was walking with were stopped and told they could not walk on the streets. They were very brave and told the police to get lost and kept walking. There was something like armoured vehicles with big guns on the roof, trucks full of army personnel, police cars, unmarked police cars driving constantly around the streets at a rate of one vehicle every minute or two. There were police every few metres on the main road and many on each corner.

I was in Ganzi twice. The first time, there

5

Last year floods and landslides hit Drugchu (Chinese name: Zhouqu), eastern Tibet.

Photo: File

By Guatham Ashok, The Tibet Post

6

30 June, 2011 Dharamsala

TPI TIBET IN EXILE

Special Screening of 'Tibet in Song' for Tibetan officials

By Tibetan Administration Official media: Tibet Net

Dharamshala: - Multiple-awardwinning 'Tibet in Song', a film by a former political prisoner was shown to the officials of Central Tibetan Administration at a special screening in Gangkyi hall in Dharamshala where the Central Tibetan Administration based.

Ngawang Choephel, who is a professional musicologist, went to Tibet in 1995 to capture the state of traditional Tibetan music in Tibet.

His film weaves together a compelling story of the rich musical heritage in Tibet and how it is facing systemic destruction under the Chinese communist rule.

He showcased Tibet through the rich traditional folksongs of Tibet in the countryside and the resilience of the Tibetan people to preserve their unique musical heritage.

"I wondered how the Tibetan music was destroyed by the Chinese government and how much of it has remained in Tibet since the Tibetans fled into exile," he thought prior to undertaking his harrowing journey to Tibet.

"I was constantly blasted by Chinese propaganda music and pop songs, which is eroding the identity of our musical heritage in Tibet," he recalls

his arrival in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.

"But I was determined to find folk songs. So after one week, I went to the countryside and found what I was looking for," he said.

But his quest to find traditional singers was shattered when he was arrested for alleged spying and sentenced to 18 years in prison.

One of the more moving aspects of the film was how the tireless efforts of the international community paid off in releasing Ngawang Choephel in 2002.

He says he is a music aficionado as he reminisces growing up listening to Tibetan folk songs and later pursuing a profession in music.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Returns to India

By Samuel Ivor, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet has returned to his residence in exile last night after a successful 11 day tour of Australia.

He was greeted on the streets of Dharamshala, North India this morning by the Tibetan community upon his arrival at a meeting in the main temple complex.

The tour of Australia proved highly successful for exiled spiritual leader, who visited the cities of Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Perth.

He was greeted by traditional Aboriginal dancers, met with politicians, and gave speeches to audiences totaling over 65,000 people.

His intimate speeches ranged from his personal main commitments in life, an avocation of living a happy life, an awareness of indigenous rights, and the issue of suppression and suffering in his homeland of Tibet.

His Holiness also met with business leaders on the east coast, who have strong trade links with China; raising the Tibet issue with them.

Two weeks before His Holiness' visit to Perth, the Chinese consulategeneral has reportedly put pressure on state members of parliament not to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In his media release, Senator Ludlam said: "As strange as it may seem that the

Candlelight Vigil in Exile Community for Suppressed Tibetans

Tibetan community in exile hold protest for supressed Tibetans in Karze county, eastern Tibet in Dharamshala, H.P, India on 15th June 2011. Photo: TPI

By Samuel Ivor, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala - A peaceful candlelight protest was conducted in the Tibetan exile community of Dharamshala; North India last night in aid of those suffering in Karze County, Eastern Tibet. The event coincided with the Buddhist spiritual event Saga Dawa; which celebrates Buddha' enlightenment, and was co-ordinated by the Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet.

Crowds gathered in the main square of Tibet's exiled community of Dharamshala in the Himalayan foothills of India on the evening of June the 16th. The ex-political prisoners association had organised the event to coincide with the Saga Dawa holiday, a day which was also marked by a full moon and lunar eclipse.

The protest of at least 300 peacefully led its way through the narrow streets

of the Indian town, led by Buddhist monks and local Tibetans, to the Main Temple, which sits panoramically perched overlooking the plains of Himachal Pradesh below.

Chants rang out across the temple and members of the Gu-Chu-Sum movement addressed the crowd; who held aloft candles in the warm scenic evening.

The issue being raised was of the arrests and crackdowns witnessed in Karze county of Eastern Tibet.

Information leaked by the Karze Association to the exile community reveals that since June 2011, a total of 17 have been arrested in Karze county.

These are largely due to peaceful demonstrations calling for a Free Tibet from Chinese rule, and there were rallying calls for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to return, and for the mass influx of Han migrants to ‘go back to China'.

The Tibet Post

As a result of the demonstrations, the 17 peaceful protesters-consisting of Monks, Nuns and Laymen aged between 17 to 32 years old, have been arrested and not seen since.

In addition to the crackdown on the recent events, Gu-Chu-Sum also raised the alarming issue that since the 2008 uprising in Tibet, the following people have been killed due to protests against Chinese rule; Dhamtsig Khadro, Sherab Yangtso, Pema Gyaltsen and Yangkyi Dolma. The movement hopes to raise international awareness on the appalling human rights record China is performing in the region.

Gu-Chu-Sum highlighted the tragic death of Dhonden, a local farmer, who passed away at home due to torture from Chinese authorities on March the 3rd 2011.

In an exclusive interview for the Tibet Post International, Sonam of the Gu Chu Sum movement commented that: "In recent days there have been continuous protests in Karze County [East Tibet]. Two nuns were arrested on June 10th; they were protesting at the local market. Goyang, a thirty year old monk was also arrested. People in the region are calling for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet".

As the event drew to a close the sounds of resident Buddhists at the temple and the surrounding walkway could be heard chanting on this sacred, holy day. The freedom of religion that Tibetans can express in the exiled community of Dharamshala cannot be performed freely in their homeland, and all thoughts for the evening turned to the brothers and sisters suffering in Karze county; Tibet.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama arriving at the main Tibetan temple on 21st June 2011, Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI

Chinese government is terrified of a 76 year-old Buddhist monk, this is not the first time they've tried this tactic.

It would be useful for them to explain why they are urging democratically elected members of Parliament to not hear His Holiness speak."

The tour concluded in Perth with a "Songs for the Dalai Lama" concert.

Some of the big names in the music industry joined to celebrate His Holiness' journey and support Tibetan charities.

A photo exhibition of the Dalai Lamas life journey that began before his visit will continue for the next few weeks.

His Holiness shall be performing teachings in Dharamsala, India on June 28 & 29 on the subject of ‘Je Tsongkhapa's Praise to the Buddha for His Teachings on Dependent Origination' (tendrel toepa) and also confer an ‘Avalokiteshvera Permission Initiation' (chenresig jenang), followed by a visit to America in July.

Tibet Days Observed in Russian Capital Moscow

by Drepung Gomang monks.

On the opening day of the event in Moscow on 19th June, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Russia & CIS, Nawang Rabgyal, while introducing the Drepung Gomang Monastery, spoke on the Tibetan cultural and spiritual heritage. He also touched on the long historical and spiritual contacts and connections between the peoples of Tibet and three traditional Buddhist Republics in Russian Federation - Buryatia, Kalmykia and Tuva.

The film in Russian on the daily activities of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from early morning to evening entitled as THE DALAI LAMA: SUN RISE AND SUN SET was screened. And other documentary video films on Tibetan culture and arts were also shown to the public. A series of talks on Tibetan Buddhism, culture and arts were organised during the eight-day event

in the capital of Russia.

The Sand Mandala of the Green Tara was witnessed by several hundred of devotees and visitors and its dismantling ceremony was attended by Telo Tulku Rinpoche, Shajin (Head) Lama of Kalmyk Buddhist Temple and Buddhist Union of Kalmyk Republic.

During the ceremony, Telo Rinpoche, while speaking on the importance of Tibetan Buddhist tradition, touched on the current situation in Tibet. He also narrated on the long religious and spiritual contacts and connection between the Drepung Gomang and traditional Buddhists in Russian Federation.

A group of seven Drepung Gomang monks toured not only Moscow but several Russia's cities: Omsk, Novosibirsk, Barnayul, Biysk, Kemerova, Ekatirinbyrg, and St. Petersburg and exhibited Tibetan cultural arts and talked on spiritual tradition.

Tibetan Thangka Exhibition ...... the 14th Dalai Lama.

Tsering Phuntsok presented certificates to the 8 students of the school, who had recently graduated. The two main guests then gave speeches.

Tsering Phuntsok stated to the audience that: "It's important to keep the good lineage of the skill of Tsang Menthang traditional arts. If we stay in one place like Dharamshala, people will come to us to buy our Thangkas. If we do this only for money, and the skill and quality deteriorates, we may find ourselves going to the market in the future

attempting to sell our work, and find nobody wishes to buy this. If the skill and quality remains as good as before, we can stay in one place, and people will come to us, wishing to buy our fine art".

His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa, who celebrated his birthday yesterday, drew upon the need to retain a Tibetan culture in exile, highlighting: "Usually in a Thanka painting, we only paint Buddha's and other deities. I usually feel that it is important to paint the life story of Tibetan people. We can keep our culture in this manner".

The Tibet Post

TPI INTERNATIONAL

EU Asks China on Whereabouts of Detained 300 Tibetan Monks

Late Phuntsok's Funeral at Kirti Monastery on 19 March, Ngaba county, eastern Tibet. Photo: TPI

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: - European Union officials pressed the authorities of Chinese government on Thursday (16th June) concerning the recent disappearance of the 300 monks from Kirti Monastery of Ngaba county of eastern Tibet. They also questioned the rights of the people in Eastern Turkestan and Southern Mongolia as well as Christians and members of the Falun Gong sect. But critics say that after 16 years of lowprofile human rights talks, the Chinese regime is more repressive than when the process began.

British official James Moran, the EU foreign service's top man on Asia, during this year's round of discussions asked his Chinese counterpart Chen Xu, a director general in the Chinese foreign ministry, about the recent monks' disappearances after the Chinese crackdowns, he also forwarded a list of "all recent cases" of disappeared persons including the 300 Buddhist monks who were taken away from the Kirti monastery on 21 April.

Diplomats from the two sides held an 'indepth discussion on the rights of minorities' during an EU-China Dialogue on Human Rights, the European Union delegation to China said in a statement on the talks. "The EU called on the

Chinese authorities to provide full information on the fate and whereabouts of the persons who have disappeared from Kirti Monastery," the EU delegation in Beijing for the 30th EU-China Dialogue said in a statement.

In April this year, the Chinese authorities have prohibited the faithful local Tibetans from offering food to the monks of Kirti Monastery. Many reports from ground indicate that if the situation remains same, over 2500 monks in the monastery will face starvation which most probably lead to a mass revolt. In such an event security forces will unleash its deadly assault leading to extrajudicial killings as it happened three years ago on 16 March 2008 in Ngaba County.

Around 9 pm on April 21, Hundreds of armed soldiers, police officers and ‘special forces ' (Duijing) were deployed around all of the monastic residences in the Kirti compound to seal them off, and then arrested over 300 monks, following a preconceived plan. They put them into 10 trucks, and took them away. According to what local people have heard, they have been taken either to Dujiangyan or to Tashi Ling (Li Xian), Ngaba town of Tibet. The U.N. Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearance in June strongly expressed to the Chinese authorities that they reveal the whereabouts and fate of more than 300 Tibetan monks since they were allegedly arrested in April. Journalists were banned from the region and communication with Ngaba is heavily restricted.

Thursday's EU-China meeting took place amid what rights groups have called China's harshest crackdown on dissent since the ruling Communist Party sent troops to suppress the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy movement. It also followed anti-government protests last month by people in Southern Mongolia.

However, the EU statement said the dialogue was "conducted in a frank and open atmosphere' and provided an 'opportunity to express concerns about the implementation of international human rights standards."

Topics included the rule of law and freedom of expression, while the EU officials 'sought further information about reports of torture of people in detention' and urged China to reform its 're-education through labour' system.

'The EU side expressed its concerns about the use of forced disappearances and extra-legal detentions,' the statement said.

"It stressed the importance of an independent judiciary and protection of the rights of lawyers to exercise their profession." The dialogue has generally taken place twice a year since 1995, and the two side agreed to meet again in the second half of this year, the EU said.

But some international rights groups doubt the usefulness of the talks and have criticized EU officials for failing to raise individual cases publicly. 'From the Chinese government's perspective, these human rights dialogues are a means to limit and isolate any discussion about its dismal human rights record at relatively low diplomatic levels,' Sophie Richardson, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch, said in a statement on Thursday.

"The EU has gone along with the script, largely treating the dialogues as business-as-usual talk shops, despite China's escalating crackdowns, detentions, and disappearances of activists," Richardson said.

"It looks great on paper. But there is no transparency. There are no benchmarks and no opportunities for public input or oversight," the NGO's rapporteur on China, Phelim Kine, told EUobserver.

"The talks are used as a public relations exercise that allow the EU to isolate human rights issues from other top-level negotiations."

Italian Parliament Takes up Questions on Humanitarian Crisis in Tibet Parliamentary Intergroup for Tibet.

"I wish to thank one by one the thirtyeight colleagues from the various political groups with which I submitted this urgent question to the Government, for witnessing the attention of the Parliament towards what is happening Tibet, particularly in the county in which a severe humanitarian crisis has been taking place for some weeks or months," Mr Mecacci told the parliament.

He expressed concern over the reluctance

by Western Governments, including the Italian Government, in dealing with tens and thousands of Tibetans suffering under a strong and lasting repression inflicted by the Chinese government.

He apprised the parliament by giving a comprehensive account of how the situation worsened and culminated in the military siege of Kirti Monastery in Ngaba after a monk burned himself to death on 16 March in protest against the Chinese government's brutal suppression of peaceful protests across Tibet in 2008.

He likened the 'patriotic education' enforced upon the Tibetans by the Chinese authorities as ways to control a society through repression and ideological approach known to Italians as contained in the black book of Communism.

He said the Italian government maintaining silent over the repression in Tibet jeoperdises the interests that Italy and other European Countries intend to start with China.

"I hope that the Government might mirror the attention showed by the Parliament, and have a feedback that is not just formal but that leads to concrete results," he told the House..

Responding to the urgent question, Undersecretary for Economic Development Stefano Saglia said the government had decided to promote a joint action to express with a single voice the unease of the EU in relation to the news coming from Ngaba.

"The EU Foreign Service summoned the Ambassador of China at the EU to express the deep concern of the Union for the news of violence perpetrated by the Chinese authorities against the Tibetan monks," Saglia said.

He said Italy would continue to follow this delicate matter with the highest level of attention.

"We obviously intend to keep our constant commitment in monitoring - in general - the situation of human rights in China. We actively support those instances that, inside of the European Union and in other international

frameworks, might be addressed to the Chinese authorities, asking them for more openness towards the protection of religious freedom and freedom of thought," he added.

"It must be stressed that, on the occasion of his visit to China last May, the President of the European Council indicated the respect for human rights, including religious rights, as a parameter to evaluate the role and the contribution of China as a global responsible actor.

The President reminded the Chinese interlocutors that human rights represent one of the founding values of the European construction," he said.

"The Italian Government, in the full respect of the territorial sovereignty and integrity of China, supports the common position expressed at European level to foster a constant and constructive dialogue between Beijing and the Tibetan representatives. The latter obviously represent fundamental interlocutors to find a shared solution to the Tibetan issue, a solution that - in the framework of the Chinese Constitution - ensures the level of protection and autonomy needed to preserve the culture, the century-old tradition and the religion of Tibet," Mr Saglia said.

30 June, 2011 Dharamsala

7

Chinese Government is Torturing & Killing Tibetans: Richard Gere

Hollywood star Richard Gere strengthened his Buddhist beliefs Tuesday (21st June) with a visit to the Jogye temple, a Koean temple in South Korea. Photo: TPI.

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Hollywood star Richard Gere on Wednesday, (22 June) has expressed his deep concern over the ongoing crackdowns, torture and killing in Tibet, during a visit to South Korea to promote an exhibition of photos he took in the Himalayan territory. Gere said some of the images in the exhibition illustrated what he called the political oppression faced by his 'Tibetan brothers and sisters'.

Gere is a longtime campaigner for the rights of Tibetans and a vocal critic of the Chinese government's treatment of Tibetan activists. 'I think it's impossible to look at these photographs and not realise the extraordinary suffering of the Tibetan people,' he said.

Gere is in the capital Seoul promoting an exhibition of photographs of Tibet and India taken by the Hollywood actor and other photographers including Annie Leibovitz, Steve Meisel and Jerry Uelsmann. He has been joined on the visit by his wife, Carey Lowell, and the couple's on Homer. He said China's government is torturing and killing people in Tibet.

One photo shows several drawings depicting the torture of Tibetan nuns

by Chinese authorities. Gere said he found the drawings on the wall of a convent in Dharamshala, the Indian city where Tibet's government in exile is based. 'The same kind of torture, the same kind of deaths... in Chinese

prisons in Tibet are still taking place today,' said Gere, who appeared before Congress early this month to urge greater US support for Tibetan rights.

According to the Mail-online, Gere strengthened his Buddhist beliefs Tuesday (21st June) with a visit to the Jogye temple, a Koean temple in South Korea. After burning incense, he signed the temple's guest book with a message that wished 'peace and happiness' for all beings in the world. The practicing Buddhist the spoke saying that that he appreciates Korean Buddhism's traditions and wants them to stay strong.

Gere's interest in Buddhism began during 1978 when he travelled to Nepal with Brazillian painter Sylvia Martins.

He is a fierce supporter of Tibetan people and His Holiness the Dalai Lama and has been a persistent advocate of human rights in Tibet. In last week he called on the United States' Government to give more to support the right of people in Tibet.

Appearing before Congress, he said President Barack Obama 'has found new footing on how to deal with the Chinese' but would 'like to see him go further.' He also warned that the Tibetan language was under threat and called for Obama to encourage U.S. students in China to study the language. Gere currently has two films in the pipeline. He is starring in a movie titled 'The Double' while 'Arbitrage' is in the early stages of filming.

Tibetan Truckers Deprived of Promised Jobs On Chinese Railway purchased with borrowed money.

A source inside Tibet by the name of Dondrub told RFA: "When construction began on the rail line, the local Tibetans were given the task of moving materials," he said and added "The Tibetan truckers were gradually given fewer assignments, and the other trucks were given more loads. Soon the Tibetan truckers were without jobs."

Another Tibetan source, Gawa, living in India and citing contacts in Tibet, told RFA that about 100 Tibetan drivers had protested in front of Lithang county headquarters, "because improvements to a section of the highway connecting Chengdu in China's Sichuan province with the Tibetan capital Lhasa were planned for their area, they felt the work should be given to them," he said.

Chinese authorities responded by sending riot troops and police to contain unrest in Shigatse in Central Tibet and Lithang in the east. "A large number of Chinese riot troops and police were sent to subdue the protesters, who were not successful in their demands," said Gawa.

In April, Tibetan truck owners in Rinpung county near Shigatse in Central Tibet clashed with drivers working for Chinese owners, according to local resident Dondrup.

"The Tibetans were severely beaten before they were taken away," he said.

Dondrub added that Tibetans in the area have become concerned that the rail line being built may eventually link to a Chinese-owned mining project near Bumri, a sacred hill located near Jewa township in Rinpung.

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30 June, 2011 Dharamsala

TPI TIBET

The Tibet Post

As Tibetan Demonstrations Continue, Protests Continue in Eastern Tibet Despite Heavy Protestors are Arrested

Ven. Passang Rinchen, Ngawang Lobsang and Ms. Tenzin Lhatso from Karze county, eastern Tibet. Photo: Tibet Net

By Tibetan Administration Official media: Tibet Net

Repeated protests by Tibetans in Kardze in eastern Tibet reinforce the Tibetans' indomitable courage and deep yearning for freedom and return of the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet.

Dharamshala: - Peaceful protests against the repressive policies of the Chinese government have continued unabated in Kardze since 6 June. The Tibetan protesters are being subjected to severe beatings, arrests and incarceration. Over 20 Tibetans have been arrested and thrown into jail during the past 10 days of protests.

In a latest incident, a monk of Dhargyal Monastery in Kardze took to the streets on Saga Dawa, one of the holiest religious festivals marked by Buddhists this year on 15 June. "Ngawang Lobsang, 37, shouted slogans of "freedom for Tibet" "long live His

Holiness the Dalai Lama" and distributed leaflets amidst a large gathering in the street of Kardze on Saga Dawa," a monk in Sera monastery in south India with knowledge of the incident said.

"He knelt down and, with hands in supplication, raised high-pitched shouts of "long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama" and "Tibet demands freedom." No sooner the slogans raised he was severely beaten by the police with iron batons and taken away for detention, the monk said.

Earlier on 14 June, Ngawang Lobsang went to the main market in Kardze and spent 800 Chinese Yuan to print many copies of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's photo. During the morning prayer assembly, fellow monks saw him praying for success in his action the next day.

Separately on 11 June at around 4 pm, Passang Rinchen, a monk of Khangmar Monastery in Kardze, chanted slogans of "long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama" and "Tibet wants freedom". Like Ngawang Lobsang, he was also severely beaten and forcibly whisked away in a police van.

Next day at around 4:30 pm, a 27-yearold woman named Tenzin Lhatso took to the street in Kardze demanding ‘return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet" and "ensure human rights in Tibet". A group of armed police and paramilitary personnel brutally beat her before being taken away for detention.

Tenzin Lhatso, daughter of Dorjee Dudul and Wangmo, is a native of Lha Kyidong village in Thingka township in Kardze.

Again on 13 June, two nuns from Gemadrak nunnery, Namgyal Lhamo and Tashi Choedon staged peaceful demonstration. They were mercilessly beaten and thrown into prison.

That was followed by a similar protest by three other nuns, Jampa Choedon, Lhamo and Yangchen. The trio took to the street shouting slogans of "long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama", Tibetans demand freedom in Tibet" and "invite His Holiness the Dalai lama to Tibet".

Consequently, they were beaten by the police and taken into custody.

Moreover, the public security bureau in Kardze has completely barred monks and nuns from traveling to the main town.

Those needing to visit hospitals should be accompanied by a government official with a written permission from the local and township authorities. Anyone caught without fulfilling these preconditions would be arrested, the authorities have ordered.

Restriction

Rinchen Gyatso, 21, is a native of Gyurga village, Sungo township, eastern Tibet.

Photo: Tibet Net

By Tibetan Administration Official media: Tibet Net

Chinese authorities arrested two monks of Khangmar monastery in Kardze in eastern Tibet on last Friday (17th June) after staging a peaceful demonstration calling on the Chinese government to respect human rights in Tibet, a monk from Sera Jey monastery in India said.

According to a report by Tibet Net, an official media of the Tibetan Administration, The two monks, Rinchen Gyatso and Lama Tsering, took to the street in Kardze town at around 12:30 pm on 17 June. The duo raised a series of slogans such as 'long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama', 'Tibet is a independent nation', 'invite Kalon Tripa Lobsang Sangay to Tibet' and 'ensure human rights in Tibet'. They were immediately detained and forcibly taken away by the police.

Lama Tsering, aged 22, is a native of Shilamnang village, Sungo township in Kardze. He was born Phurba and Choedon in 1989. Rinchen Gyatso, 21, is a native of Gyurga village, Sungo township. He was born to Namgyal Rinchen and Dolma in 1990.

Meanwhile, the Chinese government has stepped up restrictions in both lay and monastic communities. The authorities have also ordered the monks and nuns in Kardze not to go out to the town without prior permission.

Those who need to visit hospitals for medical checkup could do so only with a written permission from the local authorities and must be accompanied by a government official. Failure to conform to the diktat would result in arbitrary arrest, the authorities have warned.

China Plans to Divert Tibet's River: Feasible?

A map for Yarlung Tsangpo, Asia's largets river. Photo: File

By Gautham Ashok, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: - As Tibet's Yarlung Tsangpo (Hindi: Brahmaputra) - Asia´s biggest river -experiences its worst drought in the last 50 years, there are now reasons to wonder whether the western lifeline of the so called SouthNorth Water Transfer Project will transport enough water for feeding the thirsty Northern China Plain.

The Water transfer project aims to transport enough water for feeding the thirsty Northern China Plain. In this light, Chinese scientists - spearheaded by a certain Wang Guangqian, an

academic at CAS - have proposed to go beyond diverting the tributaries of the Yangtze and also diverting YarlungTsangpo, along a course that follows the Tibet-Qinghai railway line to Golmud, through the Gansu corridor and, finally, to Xinjiang in north-west China.

This however is not a new idea, it actually dates back to back to red nationalist Li Ling, author of Tibet´s Water Will Save China. From the Indian point of view however, it is important to note that a fundamental element in

these proposals that will likely extend for the foreseeable future. At the core of these proposals is the advantage of diverting waters upstream, because it has an altitude of 3,600 metres above sea level, thereby reducing the need for pumping uphill.

Although water diversion schemes that highly depend on pumping and storage may not be given a green-light

by Beijing if they do not make sense from a cost-benefit perspective.

The reasons behind the project China's water policy is neither driven by geopolitics nor by ideology, but rather by rationalism. The Chinese say that if national interest demands major water diversion projects on the Brahmaputra river, China will indeed undertake such a project if the price of transferred water is and would be cheaper than conservation or getting water from the sea.

Sceptics within the Government The plan so far has failed to secure the backing of the Ministry of Water Resources, Wang Guangqian insists it is "feasible" and has described the proposal as something "everybody gets really excited when they hear about it". But not everyone is enthusiastic. A friend and colleague of Wang, who wishes to remain anonymous, dismisses the proposal as unfeasible: "the far west routes will not

be feasible, mainly because of the high cost of water diversion compared with alternatives".

The Indian side remains quite ill prepared for such a course of action, the knowledge India has of the river basin is rudimentary compared to the Chinese. As B.G. Verghese emphasized in an interview in 2010: "We are locked in ignorance, they have knowledge and we are not aware of the implications and we are not aware of the geography, the hydrology and the topography.

The degree of illiteracy on this is frightening." However, two things complicate any major intervention in the river.

The effect of Public Pressure China's leaders have acknowledged that the Three Gorges Dam is facing geological, human and ecological problems. Even if China plans to build a 38 GW dam at Motuo on the Indian border, the decision to make an official statement admitting the negative impacts of the 18 GW dam gives the public a "structural hole" to put pressure on high-risk industrial projects.

This in turn gives more ammunition to environmentalists and Premier Wen Jiabao who have been arguing against aggressive plans for large-scale hydropower plants. The economy sees the acknowledgement by the Party that

mistakes have been made as an important step toward the public´s right to question future policies.

Another factor that could complicate any major intervention in the river is that China´s engineering policies are facing backfire in neighboring countries as well: its 3,600 MW hydropower plant at Myitsone along the Irrawaddy River carries conflictpotential on its border with Myanmar if the negative impacts of the project are not fully addressed.

The project abuts territory controlled by the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO), one of a plethora of ethnic insurgencies that have battled the central government for decades. Last year several bombs exploded at the dam site and in May the KIO warned that if the dam were not stopped it would lead to civil war.

Another thing that could deter Beijing's relentless push for dominance over Himalayan water sources are sky-high political costs if India, along with Bangladesh, were to proactively engage China within a river-basinframework which seeks to safeguard the river basin. In that light, External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna's decision to set up a task-force at the Indian mission in Beijing and take appropriate diplomatic steps are encouraging to say the very least.

TPI ENVIRONMENT

The Tibet Post

No Time To Waste for the Himalayan Town of Dharamshala

Workers and volunteers from the CUDP and the Mountain Cleaners in front of the CUDP office. Next to them are the Mountain Cleaners' brand new street-bins.

Photo: TPI

By Cornelius Lundsgaard, The Tibet Post

This is the third and final article in a series called Cleaning Up Dharamshala - When Garbage Builds Bridges. In the spirit of World Environment Day on June 5, The Tibet Post International explores the pioneering waste management projects taking place in His Holiness the Dalai Lama's town of residence, McLeod Ganj. For a more detailed introduction, see Cleaning Up Dharamshala - When Garbage Builds Bridges. To read the first part, click here.

To read the second part, click here.

Dharamshala: I am in the middle of an interview with Jodie Underhill, from the Mountain Cleaners, in a cafĂŠ in Dharamshala's satellite town, Bhagsu, where changes are happening on the garbage-scene.

Jodie has been explaining to me how she founded the Mountain Cleaners and how they run their weekly clean-up trips on the surrounding trekking paths and about their community education events.

The impressive results of the Mountain Cleaner's work has caught my inner sceptic off-guard, but I still have a few critical questions left: I wonder what she will say about the miserable condition of the local dumpsite? And is it really so easy to get people from different cultures to work together?

Not an Ideal Situation Over the past decade, the estimated amount of waste in McLeod Ganj, and surrounding areas, has doubled to an annual 650 tonnes. Approximately half of that is being recycled or composted by the CUDP and the Mountain Cleaners, leaving the ill-equipped local dump-site as the only option for the remaining 325 tonnes of waste.

In the world of waste management there are several ways to go about garbagedumping. One of the better options is to establish a so-called land-fill, where the waste is typically compacted and sealed into the ground. This is not the case for the Dharamshala dump-site.

Here, the garbage is left on the naked ground until, presumably, it is piled up too high and another site must be found.

Jodie agrees, "it's not an ideal situation at all, but at least it's all being kept in one place rather than being left absolutely everywhere."

Rolling Around in Money Even though Himachal Pradesh, where McLeod Ganj is located, was the first Indian state to pass an act on waste management, there still seems to be ample room for improvement. I ask the

dedicated Garbage Girl, as she is fondly called, what she would wish for if she could pass a new state-law. Her answer falls immediately, "that waste segregation was compulsive, without a doubt!"

The reality is that there are no recycling stations in all of Himachal Pradesh and illegal dump-sites are a common sight.

"If they were giving out fines for littering and dumping they'd be rolling around in money", Jodie comments dryly.

Engaging the Refugees Just then, Thinley Namgyal, the Mountain Cleaners' Tibetan employee,

education material has been in Tibetan, and for most of the Tibetan refugees, eking out a living often leaves little time for volunteering.

"When my friends ask me what I do, I make a point of explaining that we need more volunteers, every day I talk about this", says Thinley and adds a little impatiently, "I don't know why they haven't come yet, i am trying all I can."

A Dirty Profession Recruiting Indian volunteers, on the other hand, is a little easier, but local Mountain Cleaner Manu, who is from the Gaddai tribes of Himachal Pradesh' mountains, is facing other cultural obstacles.

Working with garbage is not exactly considered a high status profession in India: "My family is from a high caste, but I want to change things", Manu told me on World Environment Day, "sometimes people ask me; what are you doing, you are well educated?"

But Manu doesn't care much about prejudice, as he said with a smile and a shoulder-shrug, "it's no problem, education can be a help for anything, it creates awareness."

Another issue is the unfamiliarity with non-recyclable waste. Manu told me that, "15 years ago we did not have disposable plastic cups, chips-packets, biscuit packets and so on. Everything has changed very quickly in India".

Where are the bins?

Although there are some bins in McLeod

30 June, 2011 Dharamsala

people to warm themselves by in the winter.

No Time to Waste Jodie is about to take another bite of her lunch when I ask her my ultimate question, with a lead-up of hard facts and indignation; "where are the bins in this place?" Her whole face lights up as she drops the fork to the plate. To my great confusion she replies, "we've just had some beautiful dustbins made! I can't wait, you really got to see them, they are like works of art!"

In 2010 Jodie was awarded the "Green Hero" award for, as she puts it herself, "trying to find solutions for pressing social problems and finding methods without waiting for the government to do something."

In upper Bhagsu, the Mountain Cleaners have thus begun to implement their ideas with public bins and composting sites.

Another project underway is the "Green Book" which will feature environmental friendly local businesses and a guide to safe waste management.

In time, Jodie hopes to influence local authorities by showing viable alternatives. Perhaps it won't be long after all, before street-bins are a given in Dharamshala.

Our Mess, Their Job Speaking of the Mountain Cleaners' good results with educating the local children, Jodie leaves me hanging on a hopeful note: "They have come along, the penny has dropped for them and they understand it" she says. As for the adults, Jodie says, "I see all these people bringing their waste down, that never used to happen, there'd be fires burning every where, I don't see that anymore."

"Garbage Girl" is by now a known face in the area, and people are appreciating

9

her work; "a lot of people speak to me and say, I always dropped the garbage, I never ever thought about it all my life, and now after seing you guys, I don't do that anymore" she says and adds, "I see a lot of positivity in this area."

She concludes the interview with an instruction: "The children are the next generation and they are the ones who are going to fix this mess that we've made, and it is our job to give them the tools they need to be able to do that."

The Need to Know While garbage persists to pose a threat to our health and the natural environment, proper waste management is as adamant as ever. Useful legislation is, however slowly, being passed, and new ways to recycle waste are continuously being invented.

The, universally used, Tetra-Pak cartons can now be turned into colorful construction sheets and plastic-bottles are being used as building materials and made into T-shirts. With new markets opening, even money can be made from garbage.

But for all the progress made, one factor stands above the rest: Education. To create and sustain change, a heightened awareness is crucial, and education is key to that.

On World Environment Day, June 5, after explaining in great detail the particulars of the Mountain Cleaners' work, Manu from the Mountain Cleaners told me, "before getting this job, I had no idea about waste management, I just learned everything from here."

My surprise must have read clearly in my face because he nodded reassuringly and added in conclusion, "we can change the garbage situation for sure.

Day by day, year by year, it is improving."

China Bans Foreign Tourists in Tibet

The bins and containers around Dharamshala are often feeding places for hungry animals and provide an easy fireplace for homeless people to warm themselves by in the winter.

Photo: TPI

enters the cafe with a big smile in the midst of a pre-monsoon rain-fall. His long hair is dripping and he removes his glasses to wipe off the water. He has been a Mountain Cleaner for little more than 6 weeks but his enthusiasm is tangible.

32-year-old Thinley is a trained teacher and talks of the value of education. "If tibetans had good facilities and more knowledge, then there could be no more pollution, but the chinese occupying Tibet are building factories and making businesses and making pollution and producing garbage", he says.

"Because my family sent us to school we know about garbage at home and so on, but we don't segregate", Thinley continues as Jodie and I listen attentively, "some Chinese collect plastic and paper. Me and my brother sold our used school-papers to them for a little money."

One of Thinley's most important tasks as a Mountain Cleaner is to recruit Tibetan volunteers. Until recently, hardly any of their environment

Ganj, it is not nearly enough to meet the need. Obviously used to the question, Tenzin Choedon from the CUDP had readily given me several reasons for the lack of bins: "Coming up with a plan of putting up bins is easy, but maintaining the bin, which someone has to do, keeping it safe from animals and looking after it so it doesn't become an illegal dump site again, is a different story."

With no jurisdiction, the CUDP must apply to the municipal council before putting up bins. So far there has been little progress. Much too narrow streets, animal raids and people setting fire to the bins have been among the council's arguments, but also theft of bins is a problem.

"Even today we had news that a bin near Dal Lake was missing a lid because somebody ripped it of", Choedon told me. The high price of scrap iron is tempting to some and without lids, the bins and containers are like an open invitation for hungry animals and provide an easy fireplace for homeless

China Banns Foreigner Tourists in Tibet, photo taken in 2006 shows foreign woman in Lhasa. Photo: TPI

By Cornelius Lundsgaard, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Ahead of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, Tibet will be closed to foreign tourists as well as nonChinese researchers and scholars.

According to reports from RFA and AFP news agency, foreigners will not be admitted into Tibet until at least the end of July.

"At the moment we're not admitting foreign tourists," a representative from the China Travel Service in Tibet's capital of Lhasa told AFP. A separate travel agent from Lhasa told RFA: "No travel agencies will take foreigners into Tibet. There must be something political, something the government does not want them to see."

In Lhasa, even Tibetans who are not registered as residents there, were

reported being expelled. "Many Tibetans who came from Qinghai and Yunnan were told to return home by the end of June, and Tibetan businessmen without official permits have also been told to leave Lhasa and return to their hometowns,"RFA quoted an anonymous Tibetan residing in the city as saying.

The current ban marks the second time this year that Tibet has been closed off to foreigners. During the politically sensitive month of March where Tibetans marked the 52nd anniversary of China's brutal suppression of a Tibetan national uprising, a ban on foreigners visiting to Tibet was imposed.

Also, the birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which falls on Jul 6, is a particularly sensitive occasion to the Chinese government.

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30 June, 2011 Dharamsala

TPI TIBET IN EXILE

Drug Use, HIV/AIDS, Alcohol Abuse on the Rise Amongst Youngsters

Mr. Gautham Ashok interviwing Mr. Tenzin Legphel, the Director of Kunphel Organisation based in Dharamshala, India, 18th June 2011. Photo: TPI

By Gautham Ashok, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: The Tibet Post International is in conversation with Mr. Tenzin Legphel from Kunphen, the first and only Tibetan run nongovernmental organization (NGO) that provides programs focusing on treatment and care for alcohol and drug abusers. The centre also provides assistance to HIV/AIDS victims as well as developing human resources by promoting education and carrying out awareness campaigns in communities.

Soft spoken, yet eloquent, Legphel did his schooling from upper TCV in Dharamshala, and went on to earn his Bachelor's degree from Punjab University in Chandigarh. For the past six years, he has worked at Kunphen , with the last two years in a directorial capacity.

Legphel says that he first came to Kunphen as a volunteer, and later joined the organisation because of a close personal reason: "My cousin had died earlier of a drug overdose, and due to this I became more involved in Kunphen and its activities."

Legphel says that the HIV/AIDS and drug abuse are connected because most of the cases of HIV/AIDS come from drug users who inject themselves using unsafe methods and unsterilized needles. The Kunphen office normally deals with this issue in two different ways.

Methods and Treatment The first method is to send affected patients to different rehabilitation centres that are being run by the Indian government and other private institutions. As far as possible, these patients are sent to these facilities free of cost, because most of the addicts are poor and live on the street.

According to the NGO 's website "The entire expenditure for treatment is being paid through Kunphen. Fifty percent of the total cost of each user's rehab is being donated by the Tibetan Government in Exile's Department of Health. The cost for each user's treatment varies according to the severity of the addiction and the participant's health. Through our rehabilitation program we help more than 20 addicts each year."

Legphel also talked about the "After Care Program" saying that "this is the second step in assisting a drug addict or user with recovery. After-care is a unique program and it holds a very important place in our efforts to ensure users recover successfully and completely."

The "After Care Program" is used to

help drug addicts who are normally ostracized by society. This is a way for people like this to go back to their normal life with their family and in society. In the program, sufferers are given basic vocational training to help them find jobs after a life of addiction.

Sadly most of these patients are High school dropouts, most of whom do not even get past the Eighth grade.

Spreading awareness and reaching out Legphel talks about Kunphen's "Awareness and Outreach Program", where volunteers and staff members travel to Tibetan settlements, schools and other public places to sensitize and educate the general public, youth and educators about drug addiction and its dangers.

PowerPoint presentations are made, and also to make it more interesting, video clips are shown from various documentaries to showcase the evils of addiction. In schools, children in the age group of 13 to 20 are specifically targeted, because Legphel believes that this demographic segment is the most vulnerable to peer pressure that cause them to use or try drugs.

He tells us of past efforts such as music concerts. These events have been a huge success in the past and become a very popular and effective way of addressing HIV/AIDS and drug abuse, while disseminating information in a more socially acceptable yet fun way.

Success Stories and Hope for a Better Life Kunphen has so far helped 125 people to get out of drug addiction, but Legphel says that these 125 were willing to help themselves and give themselves a fighting chance for a shot at a new life.

When asked about the countless others who are too afraid to help themselves, and what is Kunphen's strategy to these people Legphel says: "The first step would be to just talk to these people and mingle with them, become one with the crowd. Most times, this is undertaken by the staff at Kunphen, but if the situation is too difficult, then former drug addicts are used, to help the current sufferers open up about their condition and state of mind. It's a form of counseling, but it's done by a former drug addict."

Worrying Trends When asked about the possible trends in drug abuse and the profiles of drug abusers, Legphel had some alarming points. He said that, "earlier on, drug addicts would be older, around the ages of 30 and above, although now that is changing. Addiction has started from a

The Tibet Post

A Cross-Cultural Community Keeps It Clean

By Cornelius Lundsgaard, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: - This is part two in a series of three articles called Cleaning Up Dharamshala - When Garbage Builds Bridges. In the spirit of World Environment Day on June 5, The Tibet Post International explores the pioneering waste management projects taking place in His Holiness the Dalai Lama's town of residence, McLeod Ganj.

For a more detailed introduction, see Cleaning Up Dharamshala - When Garbage Builds Bridges.

I have been promised a ride to the local dump-site by the Clean Upper Dharamshala Project (CUDP), to see for myself where the worst-of-the-worst garbage, the non-recyclables, find their final resting place.

The garbage truck picks me up in the middle of the chaotic morning traffic of McLeod Ganj's narrow market streets.

Quickly, I climb onboard the truck and say hello to the Green Workers who operate it.

43 year old driver, Jigmey Dorjee, has been working with the Tibetan run CUDP for the past 8 years and judging by his relaxed attitude he seems comfortable in his position. So does his Indian counterpart Preetam who is half Jigmey's age but only one year his junior as a CUDP Green Worker. younger age, i.e. the teenage years from the ages of 14 to the late 20's. The addicts who were older, were able to think for themselves and are later on able to battle addiction on their own, but teenagers do not have that capacity" He said that more and more teenagers have started using pharmaceutical drugs, which really have an adverse effect, mentally and physically. Earlier, drugs like marijuana, which is readily available across the state and neighbouring areas, were used. But now, also pharmaceutical drugs like Spasmo and some psycho-pharmaca pills are beeing used. These pills are a mix of other powerful drugs and are therefore extremely dangerous. When taken by mental patients, these pills may help, but when taken by people who do not need them, they can be immensely dangerous.

Gender Ratio Legphel says that the gender ratio of addicts remains almost wholly in favour of men, although this is not to say that there are no women addicts. The women who do suffer are normally too scared to come out into the public with their problems.

Making Ends Meet Mr Legphel tells us that when Kunphen had first started out ten years ago, they received a generous donation of 25 lakhs from The Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. This money was then used to setup the clinic and the office for the organization.

Kunphen now runs on Donations from volunteers and other charitable means.

Contact Them If you know anyone who is interested and willing to donate to a worthy cause, they can do so by contacting Kunphen by email to; kunphenk@yahoo.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or kunphen@mail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by referring to their website which is www.kunphen.org

Volunteers from across the globe joined with Tibetan and Indian volunteers to paint an unsightly wall between Bhagsu and McLeod Ganj. The environmental messages read Keep Himachal Clean and Green in English, Respect Nature in Tibetan, Please Use the Dustbins in Punjabi and Keep the Mountains Clean in Hindi. Photo: TPI

In the back of the truck is a full load of "wet" waste, collected by the Green Workers directly from households, businesses and institutions around McLeod Ganj. The waste has been segregated leaving only non-recyclable items for the dump-site.

Divine Delivery As we navigate the hair-pin bends of the mountain roads, Preetam hangs out the window to check for close encounters, while Jigmey, in perfect Hindi, patiently tells the holy cows to move out of his way.

Taking my eyes off the scenic snow-clad Himalaya peaks, I notice several images of Hindu gods and the Buddha on the dashboard. Jigmey, who is originally from Bhutan, explains with a smile; "my gods, his gods" and points from himself to Preetam who is joking with a friend over the phone.

The two of them communicate with only a few words as we approach the dumpsite on the outskirts of lower Dharamshala. On the site, a handful of men are picking through the smelly debris, looking for plastic-bottles and other recyclable items to sell.

Among the motley crew, a pack of dogs are also prodding the trash, looking for scraps of food. Cakes of cow-dung tell their own story and the flies are swarming everywhere. A ragged man sips on a beer and automatically asks for a cigarette as the truck grinds to a halt.

Hell On Earth?

While Jigmey and Preetam tip off their load over the edge of the site, I get out onto the layers of garbage and realize a little concerned that the ground is wobbly to stand on - like a sea of thickly flowing trash ,with smoke around the edges from little fires.

Here are all sorts of familiar items; ballpens, lighters, broken buckets, wrappings, half a radio, an old broom and thousands of other odd left-overs from a modern lifestyle. The whole place stinks and I find myself more than happy to leave again when Jigmey starts the truck after a quick cigarette break with the guys on the dump-site.

Feeling heavy from the sight, I soon forget my worries, however, when Jigmey spots a fancy car on the road, littering from its tinted window. He shouts at it from his high-up seat, like a schoolmaster to a naughty child and I am more than just amused; I am impressed with his dedication. "Maybe there is hope still" I reflect as we return to McLeod Ganj.

A Helping Hand Arrives Promisingly, others have also joined the the CUDP's efforts to clean up around His Holiness' headquarters. An international group, called the Mountain

Cleaners, appeared on the scene in 2009 when the founder, 35 year old Jodie Underhill, and some of her friends decided to take on the daunting task of cleaning up the litter-strewn trekking paths around the area.

A twenty minute walk from McLeod Ganj lies the once sleepy village of Bagshu now a booming tourist town with hotels and restaurants on every corner. It is in Basghu that the Mountain Cleaners recruit a lot of their volunteers, and it is also here that I meet with Jodie in a cafe, to find out who these self-established cleaners are, and what they think of the miserable sight I saw at the dump-site.

The Volunteer Path Jodie's smallish frame belies the strength of her engaging eyes and the force with which she conveys her views. She tells me her story: "I lived in a really dreary little village where kids had smashed the phone box, there'd be dog-muck everywhere and nobody'd say hello to each other", Jodie says in her strong Northern English accent.

But Jodie and some of the villagers formed a group to save the local community centre and got people together through social events and communal activities. She shakes her head; "in the beginnning they all thought I was mental, but now they are doing stuff they never thought was possible!" she says and adds very convincingly "I am a big fan of the volunteer sector".

Keeping It Clean Besides Jodie who is the unpaid director, the Mountain Cleaners has 3 salaried staff - Manu, who is from the area, Thinley from Tibet and Lok Man from Bengal who is in charge of emptying dustbins and collecting recyclables in Bagshu.

Between them they run the weekly cleanup trips with the volunteers and organise well attended children's and community education events. "I've got the best team I could ever wish for in all the world" Jodie beams.

Through a long-term effort, and with help from hundreds of volunteers, the Mountain Cleaners have turned Triund, McLeod Ganj's popular, high-altitude trekking spot, into a role model for tourist destinations, laboriously collecting and transporting every piece of non recyclable waste down to the CUDP's containers with mules carrying the heavy loads.

They pass on high value recyclables such a bottles and metal to local rag picker Gudo Devi and the lower value items to the local scrap dealer or the CUDP segregation centre in McLeod Ganj. All Continues on Page 11....

The Tibet Post of these items will be sent to Punjab for recycling.

These days at Triund, the chai-shop keepers are overseeing that visitors don't litter the ground, but only a few years back things were quite different.

In fact, on World Environment Day, Mountain Cleaner Manu told me that he used to work on Triund when there was no waste management system and every business had a dumpsite. "I also had one" he said, "but now, everyone is collecting the garbage and there are no dumpsites up there anymore. Amazing, isn't it?"

Influential Tourism Jodie tells me, "I get emails from all over the country saying please come to my place, I've seen Bagshu it's much cleaner, can you come here?". But she is not about to leave the Mountain Cleaners behind. "If I spread my work out too much I can't make it sustainable, you only get one chance, you have to make it work."

Several hotels and restaurants in the area are displaying the Mountain Cleaner's English-language leaflets made of recycled paper from the CUDP's workshop. I question her about the sustainability of having tourists clean up everybody's mess, but Jodie reassures me, "It was never meant to be about foreigners cleaning up, that's not why it started. It is about us all working together."

She continues, "with the tourists we actually have some influence, which is why a lot of our work is targeted at them.

What happens then is that the locals see all these people getting involved and now we are getting quite a few Indian volunteers, which we have never had before.

In It For The Long Run Even in the face of obvious success, however, my inner sceptic won't give up.

I tell her that I keep seeing heaps of garbage in all the wrong places and that my land-lord simply pointed at a pile of ashes on the lawn, when I asked him where the nearest container was. "Don't you ever feel discouraged when you do the clean-ups?", I ask her mischieviously.

"Look", she says plainly, "I'm not going to just clean up and say, oh what a lovely job we've done. I'm a realist, that's going to be dirty in a weeks time. We do cleanup's to raise awareness and highlight the need for change."

But in the big picture every little help is valuable she explains, "I see it like the ocean is made of tiny little droplets of water and individually they are nothing, but put them all together and there is nothing more powerful."

I try a different angle and ask her what will happen when, eventually, she leaves? "This is the first time in my life that i have been somewhere and thought; I don't want to go, my work is really not done here" she replies and adds laughingly, "they'll be carrying me up to Triund on a donkey before I quit this for sure!"

The waiter arrives with our food and I take the opportunity to re-organize my thoughts. I have yet to tell her about my experience at the dump-site and surely there must be something more critical I can ask her. Suddenly I remember the big question: Where are the bins!?

Will Jodie reveal the mystery behind the missing bins? And what will she think of the dump-site? Join the TPI again next week for the last episode of Cleaning Up Dharamshala - When Garbage Builds Bridges, where we will also talk to Mountain Cleaners Manu and Thinley about the cultural problems related to working with garbage.

TPI PRESS AND STATEMENTS

30 June, 2011 Dharamsala

11

Successful Shoe Project for Tibetan Refugees in India thanks and appreciation for their work for the Tibetan people, also from Tibetans who didn't receive shoes at all and westerners. Apparently many people were touched and inspired by this shoe project.

On Saturday 16th April 2011, Norbu Entertainment organized a Tibetan music concert at TIPA Hall in McLeod Ganj. The concert hall was very crowded and everyone enjoyed the Tibetan performers. Before the concert started, Mr. Chime Youngdung, President of the National Democratic Party of Tibet, gave a welcoming speech. To their big surprize, Dennis and his wife Marijke were called on the stage. Mr. Youngdung spoke about the shoe project and offered the couple some gifts for their work for the Tibetan cause and the Tibetan refugees in Belgium and India during the last 4 years.

Dennis Barbion was also asked to share a few words with the public. He told that he found it his duty as a human being and as a Buddhist to be helpful for other people and to help the Tibetans who suffer so much and already for such a long time. Dennis also called upon the hundreds of Tibetans in the concert hall to stick together as one big Tibetan family and to help each other out too, and to continue their faith and support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Dennis ended his small speech by saying that he and his wife will continue their support for Tibet until Tibet is free. For the Belgian couple, this attention during the concert was not necessary at all, but as Mr. Youngdung told them, it's important to know and also most encouraging for the Tibetan people.

The Belgian couple started a modest shoe project in 2009 and they never expected this success and impact of this simple initiative.

As Dennis and Marijke also said to the people in Dharamsala, the most thanks goes to the sponsors of the project.

Without sponsors there would be no project at all, and the couple would not be able to donate shoes. And in fact they only see themselves as a bridge between the sponsors and the Tibetan refugees. The Belgian couple wants to express their sincere thanks to all the people who contributed in this project.

By Dennis Barbion, The Tibet Post

Brussels: - When Dennis Barbion and his wife Marijke Reynaert visited India for the second time in October 2008, they asked their Tibetan friends in Mc Leod Ganj (Dharamsala) how they could help them in the best way, or what they needed most. Each time the answer was "shoes!". As shoes are too expensive for them, the Belgian couple decided to set up a shoe project for the Tibetan refugees in Dharamsala.

With all the money raised they could give a new pair of shoes to 80 Tibetans in October 2009.

Due to the poor conditions of the roads, the rocky paths and the need for ordinary people to do everything on foot, good quality shoes are necessary. Therefore, Dennis and Marijke decided to start a new fundraising for the purchase of good quality shoes in Mc Leod Ganj in Spring 2010.

In April 2011, the couple spent 3 weeks in Dharamsala. They have just finished the project and with the money they have collected during the last year, they were able to give a new pair of shoes

Mr. Dennis Barbion and his wife Marijke Reynaert in Dharamshala, India in April 2011.

Photo: Dennis/TPI

to 426 people in total, a very big and unexpected success!

When the project was announced on Facebook in 2010, several friends abroad started a fundraising on their own initiative: two in the USA and one in Mexico, Italy and Hong Kong.

Donations were given from all over the world: Belgium, The Netherlands, France, England, Schotland, Germany, USA, Canada, Mexico, Italy and Hong

Tibetans and Supporters in UK Rattle Chinese Premier

Kong...

A new pair of shoes was donated to: - the elderly people at the Jampaling Elder's Home in Dharamsala (143 pairs) - the elderly people at the Dhonden Old People's Home in Chauntra (21 pairs) - the Tsechokling monastery in Dharamsala (57 pairs) - the Tsawa Association in Dharamsala (102 pairs) - the Tibetan Women's Association in Dharamsala (48 pairs) - the monks who are meditating for years in the mountains near Dharamkot (18 pairs) - poor Tibetan families and individuals (37 pairs).

In the beginning of their stay in Mc Leod Ganj, Dennis and Marijke contacted the Tsawa Association and the Tibetan Women's Association.

They presented their shoe project and asked the organizations to make a list of the most poor people who could definitely use but can never buy a good pair of shoes.

All the shoes were purchased on the spot in a Tibetan shoe shop in Mc Leod Ganj.

The reactions of the people and organizations who received shoes were most grateful. They all realize that the purchase of a new pair of good quality shoes is too difficult for them and that good shoes are really very necessary.

Many had tears in their eyes and a big smile on their face when they received the shoes.

During their stay in Mc Leod Ganj, the Begian couple received many words of

Protest outside Wen Jiabao's hotel, 26th June 2011

By Samuel Ivor, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala - Upon a three day visit to Great Britain to discuss trade and business, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabo received a wakeup call from pro-Tibet demonstrators, organised by the coalition of UK Tibetans and Tibet support groups, who peacefully protested for human rights in Tibet.

Banners reading ‘Tibet will be Free' and: "Cameron and Wen - Human rights before trade," were some of the slogans met by the Chinese delegation upon their arrival in London over recent hours.

Sunday the 26th of July saw protestors outside the Chinese leaders' hotel in Knightsbridge. Jiabo and his delegation were greeted with peaceful human-rights demonstrations as they arrived, howver no comment was made on the protest.

Around forty activists chanted "Shame on China". Banners held aloft read "Tibet will be free".

Downing Street stated that it 'regards freedom of speech and the rule of law as essential to the long-term prosperity

and stability of the world's fastest growing major economy'.

The Chinese delegation is expected to discuss monetary bailout issues for Britain, and to open new trade deals between the two nations.

Protests were also witnessed in Birmingham, a huge manufacturing region for trade links, and at Stratford Upon Avon, which Jiabo visited to see the historic birthplace of William Shakespeare. During a photo-shoot for the visiting delegation, protesters flags could be seen in the background, raising awareness for the human rights issue in Tibet.

In a statement on their website, Students for a Free Tibet stated: "Wherever he travels, Wen Jiabao knows the Tibet issue will follow him, and David Cameron and the UK government must also know that they must put human rights before trade".

Protests are planned to follow the Premier on his itinerary to Downing Street and the Royal Society.

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Keary Huang Cornelius Lundsgaard Samuel Ivor Gautham Ashok Aniket Dasgupta Mathew Singh Toor YC. Dhardhowa Sangay Dorjee Pema Tso Carly Selby-James Colleen McKown The Tibet Post International Himalayan Literacy Trust (Head Office) 1st Floor, Exile House Road, Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala, Distt.

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30 June, 2011 Dharamsala

TPI HUMAN RIGHTS

Standing Up for Democracy: Human Rights Defenders and China I want to highlight the case of the AIDS activist and environmentalist Hu Jia, who has served almost four and a half years in prison, and is due for release in 12 days. The European Parliament awarded Hu Jia the Sakharov prize in 2008. His wife, Zeng Jinyan, is facing growing pressure from police in recent days. She fears that she and her three-and-a-halfyear-old daughter will be put under house arrest with her husband soon after his release. Releasing from prison followed by detention at home has become the fate of China's well-known prisoners of conscience. The most horrific case is that of Chen Guangchen, who is blind. Mr. Chen was housearrested with his wife and two young children after he was released from prison last year. Many efforts to visit them in their village, including attempts by activists, journalists and EU diplomats, have been blocked by security guards, often violently. And of course there is the case of lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who had disappeared after his release from prison where he was severely tortured.

Authoritarian governments target human rights defenders because such governments fear that they would organize others and voice their discontents, which would undermine the governments' grip on power.

International pressure can make a big difference - by exposing or condemning abuses, conditioning access to military aid, imposing targeted sanctions on abusers, and calling for prosecution of those responsible, the international community can increase the cost to these governments for violating human rights and harassing defenders.

Repressive governments, especially those with growing power and influence, will fight back. They would threaten with economic sanctions of their own against governments that are tough on their human rights. That should be expected.

But that is not the reason to give up public pressure and replace it with closed-door ‘dialogue' and ‘strategic partnership' with such governments.

The government-to-government ‘human rights dialogue' does more to appease critics of complacency than to secure change - it's a diversion from the fact that nothing of consequence is being accomplished, because governments know there is nothing to fear from delivering no concrete results.

Authoritarian governments welcome closed-door dialogues because they remove the spotlight from exposing their human rights abuses. They love to cite the mere annual affair or resumption of dialogue as sign of ‘progress' in human rights.

It is encouraging that Western governments are willing to apply pressure on behaviorally outrageous states, such as North Korea, Iran, Sudan, Zimbabwe and Libya. Such pressure should be consistently applied to big powers that behave outrageously even though they might threaten to undermine EU or US economic and strategic interest.

There should not be double standards in human rights implementation.

Defending human rights can be inconvenient. It may sometimes interfere with the interests of governments.

When governments choose to trade human rights for the pursuit of other interests, they leave human rights defenders without support. Our experiences tell us international pressure helps create space for local activists to push their governments to reform, allows

defenders to know they do not stand alone, and discourages repressive governments.

When repressive governments clearly lack any political willingness to curtail their violations, any ‘quiet diplomacy' and behind-the-door engagement with them must be coupled with public pressure. Dialogue and cooperation can be useful, but only when the abusive government shows political willingness to improve. Human rights dialogues must be tied to concrete and publicly articulated benchmarks, which would make participating governments accountable for concrete outcomes.

These benchmarks should not be ignored when they prove inconvenient.

If bilateral trade or cooperation agreements with repressive governments are conditioned on basic respect for human rights, then any such agreements must comply with such conditions.

Sanctions imposed for human rights violations should not be lifted if the conditions for lifting them are not met.

Governments pledged to promote human rights must have a strong public voice, especially when abusive governments are raising their own voices to undermine human rights principles and enforcement. For example, in the past two years, the Chinese government mounted vigorous lobbying efforts in pressuring countries to suppress a report to the UN Security Council on the discovery of Chinese weaponry in Darfur despite an arms embargo, and in another case to block a proposed UN commission of inquiry into war crimes committed in Burma.

Many have argued against publicly criticizing rising economic powers on human rights because, they contend, economic marketization will lead to greater political freedoms. Enough time has passed for critically examining this position. 30 years of economic development in China has not brought fundamental changes in human rights.

An unaccountable government is more likely to be corrupt and irresponsible to their people's most urgent needs. In China there have been rising numbers of protests, some 90,000 annually for the past few years by the government's own count. The protests are fueled by growing discontent over corruption and arbitrariness of official policies.

Moreover, China has used its economic clout to strengthen its censorship, increasing police surveillance and political repression domestically and internationally, boosting its lobbying efforts to undermine human rights standards and weaken their implementation. China tries to take any teeth out of the international human rights system that might one day be applied to its own shameful records.

The Chinese government is aggressively replicating its ‘economic growth at the expense of human rights' to other developing countries - in Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America. You may have heard that, a few years ago, China bought a key sea port in Greece and hired local workers. However, it has apparently also brought Chinese labor practices to Greece, and these practices are clearly in violation of Greece's labor laws and the EU labor standards. The story raises the question, how far will the Greek government and the EU want to pursue economic interest at the expense of their citizens' rights?

Standing up against human rights abusers is not just a matter of protecting

The Tibet Post

Governments Voice Strong Concern Over Situation in Tibet

Tenzin Samphel Kayta, speaking on behalf of Society for Threatened Peoples, Nonviolent Radical Party and International Educational Development, apprises the UNHRC on the grave human rights situation in Tibet

By Gautham Ashok, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: - Various governments on Thursday, 16th June expressed their deep concern about the current situation in Kirti Monastery in Ngaba county of Eastern Tibet. The delegates of various countries were all gathered at the UN Human Rights Council where discussions are being held under agenda Item 4 which deals with Human rights situations that requires the Council's attention.

Delegate's statements The Hungarian delegate on behalf of the European Union said that "EU is deeply concerned at the deterioration in the human rights situation in China. The EU calls on the Chinese authorities to immediately end arbitrary arrests and disappearances, to clarify the whereabouts of all disappeared persons and to release all of those who have been detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression. The EU also calls on the Chinese authorities to refrain from the use of force in dealing with the situation at the Kirti monastery, and to allow independent observers to the site."

The delegate from The United States of America said that "China's growing number of arrests, detention of lawyers, bloggers, activist, religious believer and their families and use of extra legal measures undermines the rule of law" going on to state that "The government restricts freedom of religion and expression including criminalizing dissent on the internet. The government has reportedly removed 300 Buddhist monks from the Kirti Monastery."

The Belgian delegate from Brussels said that "Human right in China has not improved since last month. Internet censorship has increased and obstacle placed on foreign media workers in Beijing. Belgium appeals Chinese authorities to end these measures; to clarify on peoples disappeared of the event which took place in the Kirti Monastery. Chinese authorities should explain themselves on that. Belgium urged china to ratify ICCPR." Continuing with this trend, the Swedish delegate further enhanced the point by saying rather directly that "Sweden concerns on China's setback on the rule

people ruled by abusive governments far away. Increasingly, it is also about protecting the rights of citizens in democratic countries, and always about defending universal values that the EU, US and other democratic governments are committed to do.

of law, freedom of expression and increased harassment of Human Rights defenders. Sweden called on China to refrain from use of force at Kirti Monastery; allow independent observer to visit the site and to allow all Tibetans to exercise their rights without hindrances."

Finally the delegate from the Czech Republic said that "Czech Republic is concern about tense situation in the Kirti Monastery in Sichuan Province in China.

We strongly call upon government to establish an environment where human rights such as freedom of expression and assembly and rights of national minorities including Uyghur and Tibetans are fully respected".

The Tibetan Standpoint.

Mr Tenzin Samphel KAYTA, later spoke on behalf of The Society for Threatened Peoples, Non-violent Radical Party and International Educational Development highlighted the grave human rights situation in Tibet.

In his statement Mr. KAYTA recalled many international statuettes like the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities resolution 1991/10 entitled, "Situation in Tibet" adopted on 23 August 1991 in which the expert body alerted the international community and expressed "concerned at the continuing reports of violations of fundamental human rights and freedoms which threaten the distinct cultural, religious and national identity of the Tibetan

people" and called upon the Government of the People's Republic of China "fully to respect the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people."

He spoke of the many Tibetans who had lost their lives during 2008 Uprisings on the Tibetan Plateau for exercising their rights of free speech and assembly.

In response to this The Committee against Torture and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions urged the Chinese authorities to conduct investigations to bring those responsible to justice.

In its last follow-up communication to the Chinese authorities, the Committee said: "The State party should conduct a thorough and independent inquiry into the reported excessive use of force, including against peaceful demonstrators and notably monks, in Kardze county, Ngaba county and Lhasa.

The State party should conduct prompt, impartial and effective investigations into all allegations of torture and illtreatment and should ensure that those responsible are prosecuted. The State party should ensure that all persons who were detained or arrested in the aftermath of the March 2008 events in the Tibetan Autonomous Region and neighbouring Tibetan prefectures and counties have prompt access to an independent lawyer and independent medical care and the right to lodge complaints in a confidential atmosphere, free from reprisal or harassment."

KAYTA spoke of the double standards of the Chinese Government when he quoted from the Chinese constitution saying that ""Article 35 of China's constitution guarantees right to freedom of opinion and expression; freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association, of procession and of demonstration. However, in practice, the Chinese authorities have been targeting and harassing human rights defender, journalists and bloggers by using spurious and vague national security related charges to silence their critic views."

The Growing voices of concern for the human rights situation in Ngaba and Tibet as a whole comes as a breath of fresh air, for those hoping for a concerted effort on the part of the international community to step up pressure on the Chinese government, to uphold and protect the Human rights of the Tibetans and other oppressed minorities.

Tibetan Parliament Urges China to End Repression in Tibet of Tibet since 2008 are the expressions of their genuine resentment against the Chinese government's wrong policies in Tibet, the Standing Committee of the Parliament said in a statement yesterday.

Instead of looking into their grievances, the Chinese government is leveling baseless allegations against the Tibetans in order to suppress, intimidate, beat, arrest, imprison and sentence them to death without fair trials, the Parliament said.

The series of ongoing peaceful protests by Tibetans in Karze in eastern Tibet's Kham province are repercussions of the Chinese government's wrong policies, it said.

The Parliament expresses deep concern over the fate of over 22 Tibetans who are arrested and tortured

since the protests have begun in Karze since 6 June.

The Chinese government must immediately stop the policies that it inflicts on Tibetans to terrorise and provoke them, it said.

We also called on the governments and organisations across the world, and the international community to urge the Chinese government to release all those Tibetans who have been detained and languishing in prisons, it added.

Braving brutal crackdown by the Chinese authorities in Karze, the Tibetans, including monks, nuns and lay people, have been making strong demands for return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and fundamental human rights in Tibet.

TPI INTERNATIONAL

The Tibet Post

Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen attends Tibet conference at French Senate

Mr Kelsang Gyaltsen, His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Envoy and Acting Representative for Paris (2nd left) addressing senators and journalists at the French Senate on 8 June 2011. Photo: TIbet Net

By Tibetan Administration Official media: Tibet Net

Paris: - On 8th June 2011, hosted by Tibet Group at the French Senate, Mr Kelsang Gyaltsen, Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Acting Representative for Paris, has given a talk on Tibet at the French Senate. The talk was attended by French senators, journalists and a number of friends and activists. Mrs Sofia Stril Rever, writer and linguist is another speaker who has recently authored a book which analyses the political context of the 10th March Uprising Day speeches of His Holiness the Dalai Lama given from 1960 upto 2009.

Mr Jean Pierre Plancade, Vice President of the Tibet Group, welcomed both

speakers and attendees. As an envoy in charge of the negotiations with PRC, Mr Kelsang Gyaltsen gave a summarised brief about the Sino-Tibetan relations since its resumption in 2002. Having attended the Second General Assembly in Dharamsala where over 400 Tibetan delegates from the world over attended, Mr Kelsang Gyaltsen gave vital information about the recent major institutional reform with an adoption of amended Charter. He declared that a third generation of Tibetan people is spearheading a Tibetan struggle movement in occupied Tibet as well as in exile. He explained many similarities between the spirit of French resistant

movement of 1940s against the occupying German Nazi forces led by the then charismatic leader General De Gaulle and the current Tibetan peoples struggle against the on going Chinese repression except that the Tibetans have chosen the path of non armed peaceful method to regain their freedom, dignity and basic rights.

He related a consistent effort made by His Holiness whose long standing aim has been to implement full democratic system in the administration which is now coming into force after fifty years of exile. However, he said the Tibetan people despite their strong determination in upholding human values and democratic principles, needs a support of the international community including from such importation nations as France.

Mrs Sofia Stril Rever who has recently released a book LAppel au monde which presents an analysis of the 10th March speech from 1960 upto 2009 putting them in political context, has recollected her own years of interactions with Tibetan leaders and people. She insisted on the extraordinary courage and absence of hatred in the peace struggle of the Tibetan people, especially those who have gone through torture like Venerable Palden Gyatso. Sofia however has expressed her doubt on the efficacy of the dialogue process which has been frequently used by PRC in order to calm the international community whereas the status quo is there with the Tibetan situation worsening over years. In her moving recollection, she urged all especially the governments of countries like France to translate into action the strong sympathy and solidarity of the French people and their elected parliamentarians to help advance the legitimate cause of the Tibetan people.

Question and answer session followed after the talk.

Tibetan Refugees Arrested in Katmandu, Nepal's Capital

Nepali authorities arresting a Tibetan nun during a protest in Kathmandu, on 8th February 2011. Photo: TPI

By Samuel Ivor, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala- Over a dozen exiled Tibetans have been arrested in Nepal this week, in a crackdown against refugees while attempting to celebrate a Buddhist religious festival in the capital Kathmandu. Over 70 individuals gathered to celebrate Saka Dawa; the birthday of Buddha, in the capital Kathmandu.

"A total 13 Tibetans were arrested when they came out the monastery after the ceremony," Tshering Nyima, a spokeswoman with Tibetan Youth Club, told AFP. It is understood that all of the

individuals arrested were male, and remain in custody in the Capital. This comes as disturbing news for activists and human rights groups, as the country has witnessed an increasing crackdown instigated by Beijing against Tibetan refugees fleeing the Communist regime.

In March, during the democratic elections for the Tibetan Government in Exile, Nepalese Police trashed ballot boxes and voting systems to the horror of the international community. The Tibetans in exile in Nepal were thus rendered unable to vote.

Nepal acts as a corridor for fleeing

Tibetan refugees, who seek refuge in India. Many seek the home of the exiled Dalai Lama in Dharamshala, in Himachal Pradesh, North India. This breach of human rights by Nepalese authorities this week will surely anger the International community. Only this month the United States expressed a wish for Nepal to honor its ‘gentleman's agreement', and allow the refugees safe passage to India.

The news of the human rights abuse comes amid news that there has been a new voluntary co-ordinator appointed in Nepal for the welfare of Tibetan refugees in the Himalayan republic this month. Thiley Lama, 55, was appointed by the Central Tibetan Administration, and is the first Nepali co-ordinator for the welfare of Tibetan refugees. Lama told TNN: "Dharamshala has recognised the One China policy that acknowledges Tibet ," "We are urging all Tibetans in Nepal not to take part in any anti-China rhetoric or hold demonstrations before the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu."

Nepal is home to around 20,000 exiled Tibetans, and is under growing pressure from Beijing over the Tibetan exile situation. Beijing has made clear it will not tolerate ‘anti-China activities'.

Furthermore, the Chinese Government invests millions in Nepal with ‘Aid' packages. In March, China gave Nepalese military and weapons with a value of around US $ 20 million.

30 June, 2011 Dharamsala

13

His Holiness the 'Dalai Lama should Return to Tibet’: Australia

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, left, is greeted by the Australian Greens leader Sen. Bob Brown, center, and independent Sen. Nick Xenophon at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, Tuesday, 14 June 2011.

By Samuel Ivor, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala- Australian senators have called for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to return to Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.

Having recently toured the country, the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has apparently made a deep impression on the nation, despite the fact he did not meet the Australian Prime Minister.

A motion was passed from Senators Bob Brown and Nick Xenophon, supporting the Tibetan people to have His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet to return to his homeland. The statement passed in the Senate on the 15th of June, 2011.

The motion "wishes the people of Tibet well in their aspiration to have His Holiness the Dalai Lama return home to Tibet's capital Lhasa."

Among pressure and criticism from Beijing, and from within her own party, the Australian PM Ms Gillard did not meet His Holiness on his recent visit. A statement was issued, which: "...expresses disappointment that neither the Prime Minister (Ms Gillard) nor the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Rudd) were available to meet His

Holiness the Dalai Lama" [during his visit to the Parliament House].

Two weeks before His Holiness' visit to Perth, the Chinese consulate-general has reportedly put pressure on state members of parliament not to meet the Dalai Lama. In his media release, Senator Ludlam said: "As strange as it may seem that the Chinese government is terrified of a 76 year-old Buddhist monk, this is not the first time they've tried this tactic. It would be useful for them to explain why they are urging democratically elected members of Parliament to not hear His Holiness speak."

The pressure that Australia is putting on Beijing comes as refreshing news for the Tibetan community, and for the Dalai Lama himself. In recent weeks the region has witnessed enormous crackdowns, and international pressure on the Chinese regime is mounting.

"This recognition of the lost freedom of Tibetans to have their spiritual leader at home will be welcomed by seven million Tibetans, including those in exile around the world," Bob Brown of the Green party said in Canberra.

His Holiness Ends Australian Tour with Indigenous Rights Speech

His Holiness the Dalai Lama giving a public talk on "Spirituality in the Modern World" in Perth, Australia.

By Samuel Ivor, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala - His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet addressed a sell-out crowd who gathered in Perth yesterday to watch the spiritual leader speak. His eleven day tour of Australia was concluded with a ‘Songs for the Dalai Lama Concert' on Sunday the 19th of June.

The final leg of His Holiness the Dalai Lamas' Australia tour has ended in Perth, and saw thrilling performances

from local Aboriginal dancers, who raised awareness on indigenous rights; a subject His Holiness is highly familiar with, as well as a music concert for Tibetan charities.

His Holiness divulged to the Perth audience his three main commitments in life. He also spoke of his interest in studying the relationship between Buddhist science and modern science, and stated that Tibetan monasteries Continues on Page 14....

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30 June, 2011 Dharamsala

TPI H.H THE DALAI LAMA

The Tibet Post

His Holiness the Dalai A Common Message to Scientists, Business Leaders and the Public Lama Gives Interview to Chinese-Australians

By Tibetan Administration Official media: Tibet Net

Mandarin News Australia interview with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

By Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post

Melbourne: The spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama has appeared this evening in a televised interview with Mandarin News Australia, which airs on the country's Chinese-language station SBS Two, speaking on such topics as Tibetan autonomy, the next Dalai Lama and the unbalanced relationship between Australia and China.

The "charismatic Tibetan leader" was interviewed by Amy Chien-Yu Wang during what was recently his eighth visit to the country, and the young ChineseAustralian journalist asked him a range of questions aimed at clarifying his position on these issues for the show's mostly Chinese audience. Among those questions was a particularly relevant one about the current close relationship between Australia and China in the AsiaPacific zone, to which His Holiness answered that while good relations were important, only a friendship based on respect and not on appeasement would produce a win-win outcome.

When asked how he felt about the Chinese government labelling him a troublemaker, His Holiness laughed and joked that "in order to justify that accusation, I have to create little problems!", adding that such accusations do not worry him because common sense allows most people to see that what he stands for is Truth. He said however that "communist hard-

liners" who were narrow-minded and full of ignorance failed to see this reality and did not know what it was. Speaking on his view of Tibetan autonomy, His Holiness claimed that to escape the current disastrous "one side win, one side lose" situation in Tibet, genuine autonomy should involve handing control over religious and educational affairs to the Tibetan people.

Miss Chien-Yu Wang also raised the subject of the Dalai Lama's recent devolvement of political power to the elected Kalon Tripa Lobsang Sangay, and asked whether this was a move on his part to prevent the Chinese government from assigning their own Dalai Lama. This question seemed to amuse His Holiness, who stated that he still had at least fifteen or twenty years ahead of him, and that it would be quite difficult for Beijing to appoint a young boy to his position while the existing "quite popular" Dalai Lama was still there. He also confirmed that his reincarnation would most likely occur outside of Tibet and could even be a little girl, particularly as females are more capable of showing affection and compassion, and concluded that only time would tell how the next Dalai Lama's role would be different from his own.

His Holiness lastly reiterated his position that today's society is in need of moral education, based on compassion and the idea that people must show others affection in order to serve humanity. When asked how it felt to be a refugee, he gave one of his characteristic chuckles and said that Tibetan exiles had found a new home where they had plenty of freedom, something they do not have in their Tibetan homeland, and that those in exile in India had returned to the birthplace of Buddhism and thus had many opportunities to learn new things.

The interview and other related news can be found on SBS Australia's webpage: http://www.sbs.com.au/chinese/.

His Holiness Ends Australian Tour with ...... have institutionalized science education in the last few years.

"The world has made great material developments in 20th century and in the last decade of 21st century. What is now needed is advancement in spirituality," said the Dalai Lama, adding, "it should be taught as a subject from kindergarten to university."

His Australian tour has witnessed 65,000 people attending his events across four cities in the past 11 days.

A further 100,000 people have watched a live webcast of the visit.

A local Aboriginal dancer and activist welcomed thye spiritual leader playing traditional songs with his didgeridoo.

Moved by his performance, His Holiness spoke for equality and human rights for the indigenous people in this country.

At lunch, His Holiness met with a group of business leaders in West Australia, the state with the strongest trade ties with China. He also took an opportunity to meet with the local

Tibetan, Mongolian and Bhutanese communities.

Two weeks before His Holiness' visit to Perth, the Chinese consulategeneral has reportedly put pressure on state members of parliament not to meet the Dalai Lama. In his media release, Senator Ludlam said: "As strange as it may seem that the Chinese government is terrified of a 76 year-old Buddhist monk, this is not the first time they've tried this tactic. It would be useful for them to explain why they are urging democratically elected members of Parliament to not hear His Holiness speak."

The day concluded with the "Songs for the Dalai Lama" concert. Some of the big names in the music industry have given their time to celebrate His Holiness' journey and support Tibetan charities.

A photo exhibition of the Dalai Lamas life journey that began before his visit will continue for the next few weeks.

Tibetan leader His Holiness leaves Australia Monday, 20 June 2011.

Brisbane: Whether it's a discussion with scientists on the science of mind or an address at a business luncheon or a public talk, the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama shares the same core message of love and compassion. This, he does, by tapping into our inherent positive qualities and intelligence. He says, "We are all human beings. Each one of us has the same desire and the same right to be happy.

Today's new reality is that we are all deeply interdependent, therefore it is our responsibility to care for each other."

This morning, His Holiness participated at Science of the Mind Forum as part of the Happiness & Its Causes conference.

Now in its sixth year, the conference brings leading scientists and thinkers in spirituality, science and the arts from all over the world on a common platform.

His Holiness has been part of the conference on a few previous occasions.

Today, he spoke on transforming our minds to achieve a happy life. He was joined by Dr Paul Ekman, a pioneering emotions researcher from the US, Prof Marco Iacoboni from University of California and Prof Pat McGorry, an advocate for mental health and last year's

His Holiness the Dalai Lama greets members of the audience during a conference on happiness and its causes in Brisbane, Australia, on 17 June 2011.

Photo: TPI

Australian of the Year. The three presented their latest work with His Holiness - Dr Ekman argued on the emotional nature of compassion, Prof Iacoboni talked about how mirror neurons function and Prof McGorry discussed the need for moral leadership in dealing with mental health. His Holiness then addressed a business luncheon and shared his thoughts on values in leadership, environmental thinking and the action required.

He then proceeded to give his public talk to the largest audience on his current tour to Australia. 0ver 8000 people flocked to the Riverstage at Brisbane's Botanic Gardens to hear him speak on "Finding Happiness on Life's Journey

and Overcoming Loss". The talk was of great value to a community devastated by massive floods earlier this year. Just before the talk, His Holiness met with a group of people from the Lockyer Valley, one of the worst-hit towns. The mayor of Ipswich, another badly-affected town, joined him on stage.

His Holiness' insights on love, compassion and grief were a source of great comfort and inspiration to the crowd, who have gathered on a sunny afternoon. He fielded questions from a number of people, some of whom face great emotional challenges in their lives.

A woman who has undergone nine brain surgeries asked in tears how she can deal with her sense of isolation. His Holiness offered her to come on stage, gave her a warm hug and reminded that she is not alone. He said, "We human beings have the capacity to share other's sufferings.

You are one of the six billion human beings." He then asked her to take his address and contact him to share her problems with him in future.

On the subject of grieving, His Holiness said we can transform this feeling into a renewed energy and commit ourselves towards creating a meaningful life.

His Holiness leaves for Perth tomorrow morning before returning to India on 20 June.

China Should Allow More information Freedom, Transparency in Govt.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama (c) at the parliamentary reception hosted by All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet in Canberra on 14 June 2011/ Photos/Rusty Stewart/DLIAL

By Tibetan Administration Official media: Tibet Net

Melbouene: - The spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama Tuesday, 14th June said the world should help China to become a good member of the international community and that China must also understand its own responsibilities.

"As a responsible member, China should allow more freedom of information and develop transparency in the government," His Holiness the Dalai Lama said in his address at a parliamentary reception hosted at Australian Parliament in Canberra Tuesday.

Around 80 Members of Parliament and Senators along with a large number of advisers of parliamentarians and ambassadors from five countries attended the reception.

Prior to speaking at the parliamentary reception, His Holiness met with 15 members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, which organised his visit to the parliament. Four core members of the group - Mr Michael

Danby MP, Mr Peter Slipper MP, Senator Bob Brown and Senator Nick Xenophon - accorded warm welcome to His Holiness on his arrival at Parliament House this morning.

They discussed a wide range of issues including the evolution of Tibetan democracy and its significance for the Tibetan people.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama congratulated Mr Ken Wyatt, first indigenous person to be elected in the House of Representatives. Mr Wyatt has recently joined the Tibet parliamentary group and has shown great interest in understanding the Tibet issue.

Mr Peter Slipper, MP and co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, read out a cross-party statement on behalf of the group and applauded His Holiness for his success in establishing a modern Tibetan democracy in exile.

The parliamentary group for Tibet said "it recognises the dire threats to Tibetan culture and livelihoods, and supports the Tibetan people's aspiration for genuine autonomy within the framework of the

Chinese constitution."

Acknowledging that a stable and prosperous China is important to Australia's future, the group affirmed that the resolution of Tibet issue is in Australia's national interest.

The All-Parliamentary Group for Tibet currently consists of 26 members and some of them were part of the first Australian parliamentary delegation that visited Dharamsala in 2009.

His Holiness also held private meetings with Greens leader Senator Bob Brown, a long-time supporter of Tibet, Mr Tony Abbott MP, Leader of Opposition, and Mr Warren Truss MP, Leader of the Nationals.

"This was a rare opportunity for the diplomats and parliamentarians from both houses to hear His Holiness speak on the situation in Tibet and China and the importance of upholding moral principles in politics," Ms Tenzin Kyinzom Dhongdue, research and government relations manager at Australia Tibet Council, told this website.

His Holiness also joined five representatives of major religious groups for an inter-faith prayer service for world peace at the Parliament House.

A brief visit to the House of Representatives during Question Time was an interesting highlight of His Holiness' day in the Parliament. Speaker Mr Harry Jenkins, MP, welcomed His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a "distinguished guest to the House as His Holiness watched the proceedings from the gallery".

Apart from his meetings in the Parliament, His Holiness gave a public talk on "Happiness, Life & Living" to a packed audience in the Royal Theatre at National Convention Centre. In the morning, he also took the opportunity to meet members of the Tibetan, Bhutanese and Mongolian communities.