The Tibet Post International

“China ruled by man, not

Nobel Committee Angers China

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I Vol. 01, Issue 29, 30 October 2010

H.H Receives Freedom Award

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Thousands Protest Over Forced Chinese-language in Tibet

By James Dunn, The Tibet Post

Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama is presented with the 2010 International Freedom Conductor Award by the Rev. Damon Lynch Jr. , right, Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010, at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center luncheon in Cincinnati.

Photo: TPI

Ohio: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama was honored yesterday (20th October) in Ohio for his contribution towards world freedom. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Centre presented His Holiness the Dalai Continues on Page 2

Indian Activists Demonstrate for Tibet

Indian Activists Call on UN for Concern about Tibet in Bhopal, MP, India on 23 October 2010. Photo: TPI/ Mahesh Hadav

Dharamshala: Three Indian peace Activists Saturday (23 October 2010) in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, urged the United Nations to concentrate about the Tibet cause. They demonstrated by painting with their own blood, supporting Tibetan people.

Dr Mahesh Yadav, President of World Tibet Congress along with his associates Ajay Jain and Pooja Rai on the eve of United Nations Day demonstrated, by way of writing the message Continues on Page 4

Dharamshala: Protests by Tibetan students over their right to study their own language in school have spread throughout other areas of north-west China, The Tibet Post has learned.

Thousands of Tibetan students from six schools in Amdho region of eastern Tibet took to the streets on Tuesday (19th October) in protest over the new forced study of Chinese language. Since then the protests spread to two adjacent Tibetan prefectures.

On Wednesday (20th October), up to 2,000 students from four separate schools in Chabcha, Tsolho have protested outside government buildings shouting slogans such as "We want freedom for the Tibetan language".

In Dawu town on Thurday (21st October) students also protested on Thursday. Police responded by preventing local residents from going out into the streets.

The area has seen increased numbers of security personnel in the last few days, in an attempt to subdue the student protests.

Chamdo Exhibition Marks 60th Anniversary of Chinese Invasion us to cherish the present, and gives us hope for a better future".

On October 19, 1950, Chinese People's Liberation Army troops marched into Chamdo, the capital of Eastern Tibet, receiving limited resistance from the peaceful Tibetan army. The GovernorGeneral Ngapo Ngawang Jigme quickly surrendered, and the following year all of Tibet was under Chinese rule after the controversial Seventeen Point Agreement signed in Beijing on May 23, 1951. Ngapo, who signed the agreement, proceeded to have a long career within the Chinese Communist Administration of

Second Congress of Tibetan Europe

Paris: 55 Tibetan delegates from 12 European countries met in Paris, the capitla of France, this week, for the second Tibetan Congress in Europe.

The event took place from the 15th till the 17th with the discussion centered on the methods in which to develop Tibetans communities in Europe. There were many workshop focus groups aiming to create new dialogue and cooperation between the different Tibetan communities scattered across Europe.

At the concluding session of Congress, a debate was held concerning the parliamentary election next March, which allowed the candidates to put forward their vision for Tibet's future.

The countries that sent delegates were: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, the Norway, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom..

Tibetan Students Protest Language Change By Chinese Authorities in Rekong region of Amdho, eastern Tibet.

Photo: TPI

File photo taken in the year 1957 shows Military trucks arrives at the Potala Palace in Lhasa to further invasion over whole Tibet. The Tso-Ngon-Lhasa highway and Sichuan-eastern Tibet highway, which opened to traffic in the year 1954. Photo: File

By Matthew Hayes, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: An exhibition has opened in Chamdo Prefecture, Eastern Tibet, to mark the 60th Anniversary of the Chinese invasion of the region.

The exhibition, which opened on Monday October 18, charts the history of Chamdo, and emphasises the region's continued development.

The exhibition, visited by around 1000 people, displays the heritage of Chamdo region with historic photos, multimedia presentations, sand tables, and publications in both Mandarin and Tibetan.

Kelsing, a local Chinese official, praised the exhibition, stating that "a review of the past tells

Tibet.

Chinese media prefer to view these events as a "peaceful liberation", and emphasise economic progress in the region since then. The GDP of Chamdo Prefecture was 5.8 billion yuan last year, 140 times the figure for 1958.

Qi Fei, the chief of the local transport bureau, said that Chamdo "had no roads in the 1950s", but has 9,164km of roads today, linking 72.5% of all villages.

The government is also building an inter-provincial highway to connect Chamdo with major cities in Western China, such as Lhasa, Chengdu, Xining and Kunming.

The exhibition follows the 11th Reba Arts Festival, held in Dengqen County, which featured song and dance celebrating life over the last 60 years. A full celebration of the "peaceful liberation" is to be held on October 23 and is to include art performances and the launching of new construction projects.

Demonstrate in Swiss

Tibetans in Swiss demonstrate to against China's education policy in Tibet, 26, October 2010. Photo: TPI/Mr. Dominik Kelsang Erne, press relations officer TYAE

Zurich: Over 350 people took part in a peaceful demonstration outside of the Chinese consulate in Zurich yesterday (26th October). The protest of solidarity in the Swiss capital was sparked by Continues on Page 4

Supported for students in Tibet

Tibetan students from 3 major Schools in South India holding a candle light virgil in solidarity of the ongoing protests in eatern Tibet, South India on 23 October 2010. Photo: TPI/Lobsang Yeshi

Bylakuppe: Last evening, in Solidarity with the Tibetan school students' ongoing Protest in Tibet, over 655 Tibetan school students from 3 major schools of Bylakuppe namely SOS TCV School, Continues on Page 7

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TPI EDITORIAL

30 October, 2010 Dharamsala

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China Genocides Tibet's Language: Violating UN Law

The Tibet Post

China's Fury Over Nobel Peace Prize Continues Europe Editor - James Dunn

Editor in Chief - YC. Dhardhowa

E-mail: sub_editor@tibetpost.net

E-mail: editor@thetibetpost.com

One of the only surviving original texts of Tibetan, written by ThĂśnmi Sambhota, during the reign of King Songtsen Gampo (c.617-698 CE). Photo: TPI

Dharamshala: In world history, language is maintained as a matter of national identity, language defines a culture. The current genocide of the Tibetan language by the Chinese government aims to make Chinese children out of Tibetan children.

Buddhism and culture depend on the rich and developed language that we call Tibetan.

Standard Tibetan is based on the speech of the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, also Ăœ-Tsang dialect belonging to the Central Tibetan languages. For this reason, Standard Tibetan is often called Central Tibetan. It is in turn one of several branches of the Tibetan languages, the others being Kham (Tibetan: Kham kad) and Amdo ( Tibetan: Amdo kad). Written Standard Tibetan is based on Classical Tibetan and is highly conservative.

It is clear that the Chinese authorities do not accept Tibetan as a mother tongue, and the authorities think that academic reform is the only a solution to solve this issue in Tibet, thus adhering to USSR dictators theory of "to destroy a nation, we must first destroy the language of the nation."

Most of the world's languages are spoken by relatively few people; the median number of speakers of a language is 5,000-6,000.

There are fewer than 300 languages with more than 1 million native users; half of all languages have fewer than 10,000 users, and a quarter of the world's spoken languages and most of the sign languages have fewer than 1,000 users. More than 80% of the world's languages exist only in one country. So, Tibetan language is one of the latest facing linguistical genocide.

The racism by the Chinese communist regime is continuous and abuses the rights of native Tibetan speakers and the other nationalities, such as those in east Turkestan and Inner Mongolia.

The Chinese Government is guilty of "Language Genocide", against the Tibetans for breaching articles of the United Nations Genocide Convention.

The Convention defines genocide as any of a number of acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group. Therefore, the Tibetan people can bring the Chinese Government to justice by complaining in International Court over the injustice done by China for not complying with the UN Articles and the "Genocide of the Tibetan Language".

The Chinese Government should treat all citizens equally within the law and without any discrimination. Every citizen in Han Chinese has a right to be protected under the law equally, and equal protection should be applied to all against any discrimination. I would like to say that the international communities should not allow the Chinese Government to abuse and genocide the Tibetan by branding them for "inciting activities to split the nation."

To conclude, I want to say that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. So everyone should be entitled to all the rights and freedoms and enjoy them without division and distinction of any type, in regard to race, color or national origin as in written article of the Chinese constitution. Genocide of the Tibetan Language is abuse and a humiliation against the Tibetans and humanity in general. The Chinese communist authorities in eastern Tibet do not accept and respect the Tibetan language as a mother tongue; this means that the authorities act like USSR dictators, who prohibited the languages to be used in the occupied states. I strongly believe this is a big mistake and ignorance and negligent to put other factors aside such as freedom of speech, and the other fundamental rights like education.

Dharamshala: An article published Monday (25 October) in China's state controlled media, so called "China Tibet Information Center" has once again demonstrated their objection to Liu Xiaobo winning the Noble Peace Prize, calling it "anything but the legitimate judgment of peace."

The opinion article entitled "Nobel Prize has nothing to do with Peace" accuses the rest of the world of not understanding peace, on the contrary it can be seen that China itself does not understand peace as this week diplomats claim that China is attempting to block the publication of a United Nations report which links Chinese weapons with attacks on UN and African Union peacekeepers in Sudan's troubled Darfur region.

The article also contains vast and angry views on Norwegians saying "The fact that Norway has long kept neutral in wars and showed its support for resolution through mediation and arbitration does not mean the Norwegians possess a deeper understanding of the complexity of achieving world peace as well as the essence of maintaining the peace". They state that the jury of five people, all of whom were members of the Norwegian government, have no right to chose the winner, however, the decision being made by a committee of five people chosen by the Norwegian Parliament was prearranged in Alfred Nobel's last will and testament.

In his will he states that the winner should strive for "for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses." Liu Xiaobo has struggled all his life in efforts to uphold such values, through his constant callings for democratic elections, advocated values of freedom, supported separation of powers and urged the governments to be accountable for its wrongdoings. Therefore the article's accusation of the awarding being an "unthinkable and ridiculous decision," is in itself ridiculous.

Stating in the article that the peace prize "does not possess a worldwide significance," the writers seems to be unaware of the fact that Liu Xiaobo's award has received support from Japan, American, The UN and many European countries, which contradict such a statement completely.

Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo is seen in this undated photo released by his family on October 3, 2010. Jailed Chinese pro-democracy activist Liu Xiaobo won the Nobel Peace Prize on October 8, 2010, an announcement that Beijing had anticipated and bitterly criticised. Photo: Reuters

The writer touches on Tibet and His Holiness' awarding of the Peace Prize saying "In 1989, the committee awarded the peace prize to Dalai Lama, a Tibetan slave master involved in armed rebellion and national abruption". However, the human right violations that China has committed in Tibet since 1959 are plain to see with increasing political prisoners, scarred earth and Tibetan culture in dire threat.

This week has seen intense protests inside Tibet as once again China attempts to erode Tibet's ancient language with recent educational reforms in Amdo Province requiring all subjects to be taught in Mandarin and all textbooks to be printed in Chinese except for Tibetan-language and English classes. Other praised winners of the Peace Prize include: Barrack

Obama, Al Gore and Martin Luther King,Jr. They also use the example of Adolf Hitler's nomination of the award stating that it was due to pressure from the German government, however, the nomination was submitted by Erik Brandt, a member of the Swedish parliament. Brandt never intended for this nomination to be seriously considered. Rather, he had submitted it to protest the nomination of Neville Chamberlain for the prize; Brandt retracted the nomination after a few days.

The article may seem hollow and full of Chinese governmental propaganda, however, it does seem a clear indication of the Chinese government's unwillingness to release Liu Xiaobo.

His Holiness Receives Freedom Award

By James Dunn, The Tibet Post

Lama with the "International Freedom Conductor Award" in recognition of his work for Tibet and his promotion of peace and non-violence.

"The Dalai Lama's tireless efforts on behalf of Tibet - and his life-long advocacy of freedom and peace for all

people - are in the finest traditions of those abolitionists who fought for the eradication of slavery in the 18th and 19th centuries," said Freedom Center CEO & President Donald W. Murphy.

In the past the award has been given to Rosa Parks, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Bill Clinton. A $25,000 prize was offered with the award, but the

Dalai Lama donated it back to the center.

His Holiness received the award in front of packed out crowd of nearly 2,000 at the Duke Energy Convention Center. After accepting the award His Holiness spoke briefly to the audience and then answered question posed to him by the audience.

TPI DALAI LAMA

The Tibet Post

Dalai Lama Addresses Thousands in Toronto

Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Rogers Centre on Oct. 22 2010, in Toronto. Photo: National Post

By James Dunn, The Tibet Post

Toronto: Tibet's political and spiritual leaders, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama spoke to a packed crowd of thousands of people, Friday (22nd October) at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, the capital of Canada.

Throughout the 1 1/2 hour long talk, His Holiness connected world peace with happiness and health and called for the world to have a "calm mind." He also spoke on a multitude of topics including; compassion, the new generation, peace and the possibility of a woman Dalai Lama.

Addressing the younger members of the crowd the Tibetan leader said "You, the younger generation who belongs to the 21st century, have many responsibilities to bring some peace to the world, some compassion to the world. The main responsibility is on your shoulders."

In the war-torn first half of the 20th century, His Holiness said, governments used force to settle differences. Too often, national boundaries were used to obscure "the oneness of human beings - that (there is) not much difference between this

Obama's Top Aide Meets with His Holiness the Dalai Lama

President Obama's Aides, Valerie Jarrett (ctr) and US State Department Under Secretary Maria Otero (rt) talking to Dalai Lama. (www.dalailama.com)

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Washington — A top aide to United States President Barack Obama on Monday held talks Monday with Tibet's spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama and voiced support for a peaceful solution with China, officials said, in the first meeting between the two sides in months.

The Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who is on a nine-day trip through North America, met in Atlanta with Maria Otero, the under secretary of state for democracy and global affairs

who serves as the US coordinator on Tibet.

A State Department official called it a "private discussion on issues of mutual interest" and reiterated the US view that Tibet is part of China.

"We do not support Tibetan independence. We strongly support dialogue between China and representatives of the Dalai Lama to resolve differences," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Tuesday's meeting between the Tibetan

nation and that nation."

Overcoming the sometimes violent divide requires dialogue. He added that "Destruction of one part of the world is destruction of ourselves, others are just a part of ourselves."

"We must promote the concept of dialogue for a happy and peaceful century.

Whenever we will see a problem, we should resolve it through dialogue," he said.

The Dalai Lama used his own life as an example - in 1949 China took control of Tibet and in 1959 he was forced to flee to India.

"At 16 I lost my freedom, at the age of 24 I lost my own country. Now, at 75, what I learned is the power of talk. In the spirit of dialogue, you can't (have) one side (that is) defeated and one side win. Open your hearts; consider others."

No one is beyond talking to, he added.

After the 9/11 attacks, he said he urged dialogue with Osama Bin Laden to understand "what really is his complaint."

The Dalai Lama answered questions submitted by people on-line, including whether the next, reincarnated Dalai Lama can be female .He laughed saying "if a female reincarnation is more useful - why not?" He suggested there were two advantages to a female Dalai Lama. One is that "biologically, females are more sensitive (than males) about others' pain." The other, he joked, is that she would be more attractive.

His Holiness was also asked if he would consider retirement, "I'm looking forward to complete retirement," he said, laughing.

"If I have human rights, I should have the right to retire."

leader and Under Secretary Otero was the first occasion for high-level U.S. Government discussions directly with His Holiness in the United States since February 2010 when His Holiness the Dalai Lama met with President Obama at the White House.

Mindful of Chinese sensitivities, the White House did not allow media access to the meeting and said Obama was seeing His Holiness the Dalai Lama in his capacity as a respected religious leader.

Lodi Gyari Gyaltsen, His Holiness the Dalai Lama's chief negotiator with China, said that the monk reiterated to Otero his "Middle Way" of working non-violently to improve the rights of Tibetans while staying under Chinese rule.

"Support for his efforts from the United States has been critical at many levels and His Holiness was very pleased to hear again from Under Secretary Otero that the Obama administration (supports) his Middle Way approach," he said.

Despite his professed support for the Middle Way, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is branded by China as a dangerous separatist. Beijing routinely protests foreign leaders' meetings with the Dalai Lama, who enjoys a wide global following.

Maria Otero was appointed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to be Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues on October 1, 2009. This was her fourth meeting with the Dalai Lama. Maria Otero follows in this position Paula J. Dobriansky (2001-2008) during the George W. Bush Administration, and Julia Vadala Taft (1999-2000) and Gregory B. Craig (1997-1998) during the Clinton Administration.

30 October, 2010 Dharamsala

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His Holiness Honored by Tibet Square in Poland

His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to media persons in Toronto, Canada, on 24 October 2010. Photo: TPI

By James Dunn, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Tibet's political and spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that he is deeply moved after the Council of Warsaw renamed an important street as "Tibet Square" this week.

Tibet has always had close ties with Poland (since the fall of communism in 1989) and this week's dedication demonstrates their bond, for which His Holiness said "I deeply appreciate this further gesture of solidarity and support for us shown by the people and leaders of Warsaw. The dedication of this "Tibet Roundabout" is another means of connecting the city of Warsaw and the Tibetan People" He continued saying that "I am moved to learn of the opening in Warsaw of the "Tibet Square": in commemoration of the 10th March 1959 events in Lhasa and of my being awarded the Honorary

Citizenship of Warsaw in July 2009."

"I consider the opening of this roundabout as recognition of the Tibetan people's non-violent and just struggle, and our efforts in seeking genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people within the framework of the constitution of the Peoples' Republic of China. I deeply appreciate this further gesture of solidarity and support for us shown by the people and leaders of Warsaw. The dedication of this "Tibet Square" is another means of connecting the city of Warsaw and the Tibetan people," he added.

Concluding His Holiness reiterated the sentiments he made last year in his visit to Warsaw, saying "I have always admired the spirit and immense determination show by the Polish people despite the numerous difficulties you have faced."

“Tibet Square” Unveiled in Polish Capital, Warsaw His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressing the gathering to accept Warsaw’s honorary citizenship title on 29 July 2009/ Photo:. Photo: Agence FrancPresse

By James Dunne and Matthew Hayes, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: An important address in Warsaw's central Wola District was renamed "Tibet Square" on Thursday.

At the renaming ceremony, the city's mayor, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, said "this is our tribute to peace loving Tibetan people who are waging a struggle to preserve their identity".

A plaque was unveiled which reads, "In the memory of those great Tibetan fighters who on 10 March 1959 came out on the streets of Lhasa and for the 86,000 Tibetans who lost their lives in the national uprising. Also for those who were forced to live in exile. To the

14th Dalai Lama, who was made an honorary citizen of Warsaw in 2009".

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has made regular visits to Poland since 1989, most recently last year, when he attended three days of events in Warsaw at the invitation of Mrs. Gronkiewicz-Waltz and the city council.

Polish opposition party PIS, led by Jaroslaw Kaczynski, has campaigned for the square to be renamed "Free Tibet" for the past 2 years. Following protests from the Chinese embassy in Warsaw, the decision was taken to change this to "Tibet Square".

TPI INTERNATIONAL 4 East Turkistan Support China Marginalises Tibetans as a People: Tibet Group Language Protests in Tibet 30 October, 2010 Dharamsala

The Tibet Post

By Matthew Hayes

Tibetans and Uyghurs protest together, 2009. Photo: file James Dunn, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Exile students of East Turkistan or Uyghurstan have this week voiced their support for the Tibetans during their current protests over language restrictions. This comes after over a week of protests by Tibetans, through-out the region and also in Beijing. So far over 9,000 people have demonstrated over the educational reforms in Amdo, which will see all classes taught in Mandarin instead of the native Tibetan.

The Uyghur's have experienced similar erosions of their language as the Tibetans by the Chinese government.

The policy began in the 1990s with the elimination of Uighur as a medium of instruction at the university level. In 2006, the authorities initiated policy measures that are making Chinese the primary medium of instruction at the pre-school level. Students and teachers in a town in southern Xinjiang reported that they would be fined if they said one word in Uighur while on school premises.

Although China has attempted to block information about the demonstrations on the internet, details about the protests are still getting through. One student from Xinjiang told The Tibet Post "The local government is controlling the university websites and news about the Tibetan protests in Qinghai but we have already received information from our friends in innerChina about the protests there and at Beijing National Minorities University."

"But right now, every university is tightly restricting the students in Xinjiang and also in inner-China. Even groups of Uyghurs who are studying in innerChina's ‘Xinjiang classes' are being controlled," he added.

Uyghurbiz.net, a popular website and online discussion forum for Uyghur issues, recently reported that nearly every student enrolled in special "Xinjiang classes" for Uyghurs in innerChina has been approached by school security and told to refrain from joining in any protests backing Tibetan language rights. It has also been revealed that parents in Xinjiang have received phone calls from school security staff warning them of the consequences of their children supporting the protests.

Ilham Tohti, an outspoken Uyghur professor at Beijing National Minorities University, and webmaster of Uighurbiz.net, said Uyghur students at his school have been eager to join in protests with their Tibetan classmates.

"From the beginning of the Qinghai protests, Uyghur students studying at my university were all supportive. Some students came to my office and said they want to protest with the Tibetan students, but I advised them that we can support them without protesting," Ilham Tohti said.

A teacher in Xinjiang told The Tibet Post, "Every Uyghur teacher and student is supporting Tibet right now, because we have the same problems

Indian Activists Call on UN for Concern About Free Tibet

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

"Free Tibet" on their faces. They also painted faces with Flags of United Nations, Tibet and China to draw attention of United Nations, World Leaders and Indian people including Media in Bhopal and also conducted an massive public campaign.

Yadav has stated that "if China releases the youngest prisoner His Holiness the Panchen Lama and other Tibetan prisoners and free Tibet, creating it as a place for " Heaven of Peace on earth" like that Holy Vatican City for

Buddhists, then I am ready to undergo any punishment let it be life imprisonment or death penalty, as desired by China".

For nearly half of his life, Mahesh Yadav spent his days painting peaceful and non-violence scenes with his own blood, supporting the Mahatma Gandhi's non-violence idea's efforts in support of the Tibetan people. Now retired from medicine, he continues to study life, birth, and nature - through art.

Dharamshala: On October 19, 2010, in the Amdo region of Rebkong County, Tibet, thousands of students marched in protest against Chinese government plans to require that all teaching be in Mandarin.

The demonstrations quickly spread further, into Chabcha, Trika County and Tsekor Thang.

It is understood that at a recent meeting of the Education Department of Qinghai Province it was decided that the language used in all textbooks should be changed to Chinese, except in Tibetan-language and English classes. It is feared that such a move will further marginalise the Tibetans in China, making the struggle to preserve a Tibetan national identity even more difficult.

The GuChuSum Movement, an organisation dedicated to promoting the livelihood of Tibetan ex-political prisoners in India, claims that limiting the use of the Tibetan language in schools represents a "systematic effort to further marginalise Tibetans as a people".

The Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet and Tibetan Language inheritance Association.

Photo: TPI

Chinese is already the primary language used in schools, and many petitions to increase the use of Tibetan in schools have been submitted to the Chinese authorities in the past. In 1988 and 1989 students at the Tibet University and the Kanlho Nationality school launched campaigns to preserve the Tibetan

language.

In 2007, at a meeting of Tibet Autonomous Region officials in Lhasa, a unanimous consensus was reached that the Tibetan language was under serious threat. Another petition was launched, but to date all such appeals have failed to trigger positive action from the Chinese government.

Exile Youth Sends Plea to US Congress Over Tibet Protests

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: The Regional Tibetan Youth Congress of Minnesota has sent an open letter to the United States House of Representatives requesting them to intervene over the proposed plans to marginalize Tibetan language.

This message to American government comes after a week of protests throughout Tibet and China, that were sparked by recent educational reforms in Amdo Province requiring all subjects to be taught in Mandarin and all textbooks to be printed in Chinese except for Tibetanlanguage and English classes.

The letter entitled “Stop China’s Annihilation of Tibetan Identity, Religion and Culture in Tibet”, reiterates the threat these changes will have to Tibetan culture stating “it (Tibetan language) is the bedrock of Tibetan identity, religion and culture. These measures, which seek to erode Tibet's language in favor of Chinese, strikes a blow at the heart of the Tibetan issue, for without language, culture cannot be preserved.”

The author, Jigme Ugen, president of the Congress has urged the US Department of Education to “submit a proposal requesting China to reassure

More than nine thousand Tibetan students are protesting in Rebkong (Amdo) for Ethnic equality and language preservation. Photo: TPI

the United States that no punitive reprisals are currently or will be taken against Tibetan students, parents or teachers in relation to this protest. If so, current educational exchange programs, which already exist between the US and China will need to be reassessed and suspended until such time as China is able to reassure the international community that the human/educational rights of Tibetan

students are being fully respected.” It continues by highlighting how the recent events are a direct violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that “Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

Concluding that “The annihilation of a culture is a loss to the world.”

Hundreds of Tibetans Demonstrate in Swiss Capital

By James Dunn, The Tibet Post

recent educational reforms in Amdo Province requiring all subjects to be taught in Mandarin.

The large crowd of Tibetans and Tibet supporters marched from the Tessinerplatz to the Chinese consulate calling for the authorities to respect the freedom of language.

In protest of the forced language reforms the protesters marched silently, holding banners and Tibetan

flags. They also shouted in sign language and many attendees covered their mouths with mask, also to draw attention to the measures the Chinese government is taking to erode Tibetan culture and silence their language.

The demonstration was organized by the Tibetan Youth association in Europe (TYAE), Swiss Tibetan friendship association (STFA) and the Tibetan Woman's organization in Switzerland (TWOS) and held under

the slogan 'Equality of People, Freedom of Language'. The goal of the protest was to show their support for the Tibetans in Tibet as well as to show solidarity with their co-citizen.

A banner with the aforementioned slogan was created and signed by many of the demonstrators. At the end of the event, two representatives of the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe handed the banner to the Chinese consulate.

TPI TIBET

The Tibet Post

Tibetan Language Protests Spread

More than nine thousand Tibetan students are protesting in Rebkong (Amdo) for Ethnic equality and language preservation. Photo: TPI James Dunn, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Over 9,000 Tibetan students from six schools in Amdho region of eastern Tibet took to the streets on Tuesday (19th October) in protest over the new forced study of Chinese language.

The Tibetan students from Amdho region, Rebkong County (also known as Tongren) called for respect of their ancient culture, according to information received by The Tibet Post on Tuesday. The protesters carried banners, written in both Tibetan and Chinese, reading "Equality Among minorities" and "freedom of the Tibetan Language," sources said.

The anger was sparked by recent educational reforms in Amdo Province requiring all subjects to be taught in Mandarin and all textbooks to be printed in Chinese except for Tibetanlanguage and English classes. Tibetan teachers are also now required to attend workshops on the change of the language used in class from Tibetan to Chinese.

"The Chinese are enforcing reforms which remind me of the 10 year Cultural Revolution," said one unnamed former Rebkong teacher.

"This reform is not only a threat to our mother tongue, but is in direct

violation of the Chinese constitution, which is meant to protect our rights."

The protests began on Tuesday morning at the First Nationalities Middle School and continued until about 2 p.m. The students marched from one school to the next, as they gathered a mass protest which then gathered around the county government building.

The schools that took part in Tuesday’s protests were: First Nationalities Middle School of Rebkong Tongren, the Tongren County Yifu Nationalities Middle School, the Tongren District Residential School, the Tongren Modern Medicine College, the Malho National Teacher Training Institute and the Malho Nationalities Middle School.

London based human rights group, Free Tibet put the number of demonstrators at between 5,000 and 9,000, citing witnesses. However, source’s figures vary, some stating that there were only about 1,000 protestors.

Monks from nearby Rebkong Rongpo monastery joined in the protest after it began, though the students at first asked them not to take part, fearing that their involvement may incite armed Public Security Bureau officers to crack down on the protesters.

The students and monks dispersed in the early afternoon after government officials came out and talked with them, attempting to reassure them that their concerns have been noted by the authorities.

It has been reported that no detentions or arrests have been made in relation to the protest and as yet there are no signs of stepped up policing in Rebkong following the incident.

However, reports say it is likely that arrests will take place in the days and weeks ahead

China to Open Fifth Civil Airport in Tibet's 2nd Largest City

Test flight lands successfully at new Tibetan airport, Ocotober, 2010.

Photo: Carnog.com Matthew Hayes, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: A new civil airport is due to open at Shigatse (Ch: Xigaze), Tibet's 2nd Largest City of the Center Tibet next month. The terminals,

furnishings, facilities and flight tests at Xigaze Peace Airport, 48km from Shigatse City, are now completed.

This should allow the airport to become operational this November,

according to Kelsang Tsering, Chinese communist party chief for Shigatse region, the so called Peace Airport. No definite opening date has yet been set.

The airport, where construction first began on April 29 2009, represents an investment of 489 million yuan, or 74 million US dollars. It is estimated that by 2020 the airport will handle 230,000 passengers and 1,150 tonnes of cargo annually, with 2,580 take-offs.

The Shigatse Peace Airport will become the 5th civil airport in Tibet, after the Gonggar airport in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, Med-Ling airport in Nyingtri, Pamdha airport in Chamdho region, and the Gunsa airport in Ngari. There are also plans to build another airport, the Nagchu Dagring airport, at Nagchu region.

This would become the highest airport in the world, at 4,436m above sea level.

It is hoped that the new airport will stimulate investment and increase tourism into Shigatse. The city is famously close to Mount Everest, known locally as Jomolangma, and to the tri-junction of India, Bhutan and Tibet. A rail to link between Lhasa and Shigaze is also already under

30 October, 2010 Dharamsala

5

China Sentences Three Buddhist Monks in Tibet

Monks of Drepung Monastery marching towards Lhasa Barkhor on 10 March 2008.

Photo: TPI James Dunn, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Three monks from a Monastery in Dhingri, south western Tibet have been sentenced by the Chinese authorities to severer time in prison, the Tibet Post International has learned.

Under the Shigatse the 3 monks were officially given their sentence, however, they were arrested on May 19th, 2008 during a forced patriotic reeducation on the monks in Shelkar Choede Monastery by Chinese work team officials. During this re-education the monks were forced to denounce the Dalai Lama as their spiritual leader, their failure to do so resulted in the arrest.

Since the incident the local Chinese authorities have stopped admission of

new monks to the monastery.

Tenzin Gephel and Ngawang, were sentenced to 12 years in prison and another monk from the same monastery was sentenced to five years. However, the dates of trial and verdict announcement are still not known.

Since March 2008, over 224 Tibetans have been killed, 1,294 injured and 290 sentenced, more than 5,600 were arrested or detained and over 1,000 disappeared after the Chinese armed military deadly cracked down in all parts of Tibet. Moreover, many major Tibetan websites have been forced to close down and all of the web-blogs in Tibetan are censored and shut-down.

Twenty Arrested in Tibet as Language Protests Continue James Dunne and Matthew Hayes, The Tibet Post

Tibetan Students Protest Language Change

By Chinese Authorities, Amdho region, eastern Tibet. Photo: TPI

Dharamshala:TwentyTibetan students were detained by Chinese authorities following protests in several counties in Amdho region, eastern Tibet to against the possible introduction of Mandarin as the only language of instruction, in the first arrests reported so far. They were among the demonstrators marching in Chabcha County, Amdho region of Eastern Tibet, on Saturday morning. Teachers and school staff also joined the protests, The Tibet Post International has learned.

The first protests took place in Rebkong County on 19 October, as Tibetan students from 6 schools demanded "Equality of People, Freedom of Language". Last week, there were no

reports of arrests or violence.

There was at least one further protest on Sunday, in Chentsa County, as over 2000 students and teachers from Middle Schools 1 and 2 marched to the local Chinese government offices in the Tibetan region.

As classes resumed on Monday, there were no reports of visible disruption.

"Let's not talk about the Tibetan language. We can't talk about it", one male teacher told the Associated Press in Rebkong County.

The past few days saw protests by thousands of students in several Tibetan amdho counties including Chabcha, Chentsa, Khrigha, Golok counties of eastern Tibet and Beijing where 400 Tibetan students held protests against the forced replacement of Tibetan language. Meanwhile, a letter of appeal signed by several teachers was submitted to the Qinghai government on October 15 urging the Chinese authorities to reconsider their decision to change the medium of instruction from Tibetan to Mandarin.

Sources said the letter contains signatures of about 300 teachers.

6

TPI INTERNATIONAL Real Danger to Preserve Meaningful New Book Revisits Tibet Culture in Tibet, Says His Holiness Events of 1959 The Tibet Post

30 October, 2010 Dharamsala

Toronto Mayor David Miller receives a Tibetan traditional white scarf from His Holiness the Dalai Lama during a ceremony at the Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto on 23 October 2010. Photo: TPI/S.R Jrene James Dunne and Matthew Hayes, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: On Saturday, the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama inaugurated and blessed the new Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto, as part of his weekend visit to the city.

The centre, in Etobicoke district, has been built on the site of a former factory, which was bought for $3.2 million, half of it contributed by Tibetans living in Canada. His Holiness inaugurated the centre, which is due for completion in March 2011, alongside Toronto Mayor David Miller, and Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff.

As part of the ceremony, His Holiness unveiled three 4.5-metre tall statues of Buddha, crafted by monks in Nepal.

The Buddhist leader went on to talk

about the importance of preserving Tibetan heritage and culture, and the difficulties faced in doing so. "In our own land, there is a real danger [for Tibetan culture] if the present situation remains for a long period", he said, "Without freedom, it is difficult to have meaningful preservation of Tibetan culture".

He also spoke of the benefits to the world of preserving Tibetan and Buddhist values: "It's a culture of peace, a culture of non-violence, a culture of compassion".

The building is intended to function as a new focus for the 7000 Tibetans now living in Toronto. The first Tibetan refugees to the country were accepted in 1971.

His Holiness arrived in Toronto on Friday, and was met by mayor Miller at the airport. "His [the Dalai Lama's] work around the world promoting peace, understanding, tolerance, social justice and equality for all is beyond compare", said Miller as he welcomed the Tibetan leader.

His Holiness participated in a science symposium at Toronto University in the morning, before speaking for 90 minutes to the tens of thousands gathered at the Rogers Centre in the afternoon, on the subject of "Human Approaches to World Peace".

He noted that 200 million people were killed in war and violence in the course of the 20th century, and urged those gathered to "promote the concept of dialogue for a happy and peaceful century". He emphasized the oneness of humanity, and asked for "human warm heartedness". "The meaning of human approach is more compassion, and genuinely consider others as brother and sister", he said.

On Sunday, the Dalai Lama will give teachings on mind training at the new cultural centre, which will be webcast live around the world for the first time.

His Holiness, whose last visit to Toronto was in 2007, was presented with the key to the city by the mayor. "You're a true friend of this city", commented Miller.

On his last visit to Canada, in 2009, the Dalai Lama visited Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver, and he met with then Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin in 2004.

The Dalai Lama is also one of only three people to have been granted honorary Canadian citizenship, along with Nelson Mandela and Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenby.

China: Nobel Committee Motives Anti-Chinese

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu during a news conference on Tuesday 12, Ocober 201. Photo: Alexander F. Yuan/Associated Press James Dunne and Matthew Hayes, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: In an article published on 24 October on the China's state controlled news agecy "Xinhua", the Norwegian Nobel Committee was accused of antiChinese motives in awarding the 2010 Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo earlier this

month.

Liu is currently incarcerated in China, having been sentenced in 2009 to 11 years imprisonment and 2 years deprivation of political rights for "inciting subversion of state power". He has long

been a vocal advocate of human rights, taking part in the 1989 Tiananmen protests and being a leading author of Charter 08, a manifesto for human rights for China published in 2008.

Xinhua describes the Committee's decision as "a brazen challenge to China's judicial authority which...raises serious doubts to the motivation, sincerity and credibility of the Nobel Peace Prize".

According to the terms of his will, Alfred Nobel instructed that the Peace Prize should be awarded to those who "shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses".

Xinhua claims the Prize's latest recipient demonstrates that it has become "a political tool" and "a sharp weapon for the Western countries to spread their values".

However, the Nobel Committee justified its decision by expressing its belief that "there is a close connection between human rights and peace. Such rights are a prerequisite for the "fraternity between nations" of which Alfred Nobel wrote in his will".

Book Cover: Escape from the Land of Snows by Stephan Talty. Photo: Amazon.com James Dunne and Matthew Hayes, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Stephan Talty, author of several successful books, has taken His Holiness the Dalai Lama's escape to India as the subject of his latest work, to be released next year. ‘Escape from the Land of Snows: The Young Dalai Lama's Harrowing Flight to Freedom and the Making of a Spiritual Hero', follows the story of the 24-year old Dalai Lama who, confronted with overwhelming Chinese political pressure and military might, made his daring journey across the Himalayas in 1959. The book includes interviews with Tibetan Leader the Dalai Lama, his family, survivors of the escape, and CIA agents involved in the covert mission to assist members of the Tibetan volunteer army.

Talty has contributed to prominent publications including the New York

Times Sunday magazine, GQ, the Chicago Review and Empire magazine.

His previous books have dealt with the famous privateer Captain Henry Morgan, Napoleon's Invasion of Russia, and race relations in the United States.

Praise for his latest book includes the following from bestselling author Greg Mortensen: "We watch as a cloistered, teenage monk is thrust onto the world stage, finds himself in the path of Mao's juggernaut, and then rises beyond all expectations - to the monumental task before him. This wonderfully rich narrative should be required reading for anyone who cares about Tibet, the Dalai Lama, or the power of spiritual integrity". ‘Escape from the Land of Snows' is due to be released on Jan 18, 2011.

Free China from CCP Alliance Europe Formed

By James Dunn, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: On the 11th of October the "Free China from CCP Alliance Europe" was founded in Amsterdam.

The alliance sees the cooperation between a multiple of representatives coming together for the fight for freedom and human rights in China.

Members of the alliance include; Gairatjan Rozi (Support Uyghur Group The Netherlands), Lobsang Nyima (representative of the Tibetan government-in-exile Europe), Guoxing Wang (representative of Chinese Democracy Party Benelux and representative of Weijing Sheng in The Netherlands), Lobsang Wangdu (President Chinese-Tibetan Friendship Society Europe), Behtiyar (Support Uyghur Group The Netherlands), Mona

Zhimin Tang (Chinese-Tibetan Friendship Society Europe, Chinese Human Rights and Benifits Defenders International), Dennis Barbion (Chinese-Tibetan Friendship Society Europe and United Nations for a Free Tibet).

The Alliances first action was to create a petition for the immediate release of Liu Xiaobo. Liu Xiaobo was arrested in 2009 by the Chinese government and sentenced to 11 years in prison and two years' deprivation of political rights for "inciting subversion of state power".

Liu, one of China's leading dissidents, took part in the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, has been an outspoken critic of China's treatment of Tibetans and was the leading author of Charter 08. Charter 08 called for a multi-party democracy and respect for human rights in the entire of China, the document was signed by more than 300 Chinese intellectuals, academics and writers. Liu has consistently maintained that his sentencing to prison violates both China's own constitution and fundamental human rights.

To sign the petition, which will be submitted to the European Parliament in Feburary, please go to http:// w w w. i p e t i t i o n s . c o m / p e t i t i o n / freeliuxiaobo/

The Tibet Post

TPI INTERNATIONAL

30 October, 2010 Dharamsala

7

US Band Campaigns For Freedom in Tibet MEA Objects to Jamia’s Honouring of His Holiness The Dalai Lama

Vice Chancellor handing the JMI Logo as a gift to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Delhi on January 17, 2009. photo: My Perfect Picture/file

By James Dunne, The Tibet Post International

Dharamshala: Jamia Millia Islamia, the National Islamic University in New Delhi, is facing serious objections from central government to its plan to confer an honorary doctorate on His Holiness the Dalai Lama later this month. The ceremony was intended to take place on 23 November.

On Friday, media reported that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was blocking Jamia's attempt to honor His Holiness. Jamia's media coordinator, Seemi Malhotra, commented, "The vice chancellor spoke to the Foreign Secretary today, and the University has written a letter to the Ministry seeking a review of their stance".

The foreign secretary told reporters that the "Dalai Lama is a very respected religious and spiritual leader for millions of Indians...The matter is receiving our attention".

The proposed honour comes at a time of heightened tensions between India and China, and ahead of a planned meeting between Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, and his Chinese

counterpart Wen Jiabao, on the sidelines of the India-ASEAN summit in Hanoi at the end of October.

It had been speculated that concerns over the state of Sino-Indian relations have motivated MEA's caution on this issue. Last year, China objected to His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims as its territory, while Delhi protested Beijing's denial of a visa to Lt. Gen. BS Jaswal.

After a meeting between Singh and His Holiness in August, Beijing lodged a strong protest, while China issued stapled visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir, apparently questioning India's claim to sovereignty in the region.

On Friday, Rao attempted to calm these tensions: "There is enough space for India and China to grow together".

This latest development emerged after the human resources development ministry had forwarded Jamia's proposal to the MEA for clearance. The MEA responded by stating that the conferral of such an honour would be

Dharamshala: American punk-rock band Street Dogs have recorded a new track to support the work of Built on Respect, a non-profit organization which seeks to raise awareness of human rights issues in Tibet.

They have released a video where the lyrics of the song "Freedom" have been changed to reflect Tibetan issues. Built on Respect was founded by Heidi Minx, who travels between New York and Dharamshala helping exiled Tibetans.

Street Dogs singer Mike McColgan comments, "We enjoy certain freedoms living in a democracy, and one of them is using our voices for human rights. We are particularly appalled at the charges and sentences against filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen and singer Tashi Dhondup".

Dhondup Wangchen was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment in December 2009 for "subversion". In the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he entered Tibet and conducted a series of interviews with ordinary Tibetans, discussing their feelings about the Chinese occupation.

The footage was smuggled out of Tibet, made into the film "Leaving Fear Behind", and released in 30 countries worldwide.

Tashi Dhondup was sentenced to 15 months of "re-education through labour" in January 2010 for releasing an album of "subversive" songs. He had previously been arrested in 2008, and his music had been officially banned. The album, "Torture Without Wounds", voiced support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and expressed the suffering in Tibet following a Chinese crackdown in the wake of the 2008 protests.

inappropriate at the present time.

Sources within the university expressed their dismay at this decision: "The Dalai Lama's presence in the campus would have made a positive impact on students". After appealing to the foreign secretary, vice-chancellor Jung said, "She [Rao] assured me that she would be happy to take a fresh look on the matter".

His Holiness has previously received such honours from universities around the world, but Jamia would have been the first Indian university to honour him in this way.

Exile Students Support Ongoing Protests in Tibet

Activist for Tibet, Heidi Minx and Street Dogs singer Mike McColgan talking Tibet in New York. Photo: TPI

By James Dunne and Matthew Hayes, The Tibet Post

Freedom concerts.

The proceeds from the Street Dogs' new track will support the work of Built on Respect.

Heidi Minx drew inspiration for her new collaboration from the movement started

by American band the Beastie Boys in 1993, which resulted in a series of Tibetan

China Attempts to Block UN Darfur Report found at sites where attacks on UN troops took place appears to be causing great concern to the Security Council.

Conflict broke out in Darfur in 2003, sparked by the oppressive rule of the Khartoum government and a widespread feeling that the administration favoured Arabs over black Africans. The UN estimates that, since then, the fighting has forced some 2.7 million civilians from their homes, and has claimed the lives of up to 300,000.

The present report is being discussed by a UN Committee charged with regulating sanctions against Sudan, and after a meeting on Wednesday, Chinese diplomat Zhao Baogang expressed Beijing's objections: the document "lacks confirmed facts" and "is full of flaws".

Yang Tao, a member of China's Permanent Mission to the UN, told the Security Council that the report left "much room for improvement" and urged the panel of experts "to conduct its work under the principles of objectivity and responsibility".

China, as a permanent member of the Security Council, can exercise considerable influence in modifying or blocking the report.

Exhibition Deepens Understanding Between Taiwan -Tibetan Community

By James Dunne, The Tibet Post

Dharmshala: Diplomats claim that China is attempting to block the publication of a United Nations report which links Chinese weapons with attacks on UN and African Union peacekeepers in Sudan's troubled Darfur region.

Darfur has been the subject of an international arms embargo for 6 years, although the sale of weapons to the Sudanese central government in Khartoum remains legal. The report does not claim that Chinese arms dealers knew that the weapons were intended for use in Darfur, but at least a dozen types of Chinese ammunition have been used by Khartoum against rebels in Darfur.

That Chinese casings have also been

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post I

CST Main School and CVP CST School staged a Candle Light Vigil protest against the Chinese Government in the Lugsam 1st Camp.

The 'Candle Light Vigil Protest' which was solely organized and coordinated by the school captains and the senior students of the 3 schools began around 5 p.m, with the raising of slogans including "We support the Tibetan students' movement in Tibet", "Equality of Nationality, Equality of Language", "Protect the Language of Tibet" and "Stop Cultural and Language Genocide in Tibet". The students also displayed huge banners with photos of Tibetan students' Protest in Tibet and also carried placards with various protest messages.

Later, Ms Dekyi Tsomo, the School Captain of CVP CST read out the programme details and commenced the Vigil with a singing of Tibetan National

Anthem, 1 minute silence to mourn the martyrs of Tibet followed by invocation prayers.

Mr. Wangyal, a senior student from SOS TCV School gave an introductory speech in Tibetan regarding the ongoing protest in Tibet. He stressed the need to support the protest in Tibet by the exile school students and highlight the Chinese Government's vicious campaign to wipe out the Tibetan culture and language through the introduction of new restrictions on Tibetan language beginning 2015 in Tsinghai and other parts of Tibet. "This is in gross violation of not only the UN Declaration of Human Rights but also the PRC'S so-called Constitution's article 10 and 47 on National Regional Autonomy Laws," he said.

Mr. Wangyal's speech was followed by a speech in English by Ms Tenzin Lhamo of SOS TCV School who

stressed that after Chinese Government's curbing of Tibetan language in Senior Schools and Colleges in Tibet, this new restriction might even happen in primary and high schools and would mean an end to the survival of Tibetan language in Tibet.

This is a direct threat to our identity and the Tibetan as a race, she emphasized.

Following this was a thank you speech

by Mr. Tenzin Wangjor, School Captain of CST Main School. Later slogans were raised and a Candle Light Vigil around the Jangchup Chorten continued for several minutes. During the protest, the students also signed a petition condemning PRC's violation of the Chinese Constitution Article 10 and 47 that specifies the right to language in National Regional Autonomy Laws. The students also demanded the immediate release of the arrested students in Tibet.

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Mr. Thomas Keimel Dr. Vincent Brucel Mr. YC. Dhardhowa Mrs. Sangay Dorjee Ms. Keary Huang Ven Yangchen Mr. Tenzin Kunga Mr. James Dunn Ms. Pema Tso Mr Jatuk Jamyang

Contributors for this Editon

James Dunn Mathew Hayes James Dunne YC. Dhardhowa Sangay Dorjee Pema Tso The Tibet Post International Press of Tibet (Head Office) 1st Floor, Dolkhang House, Jogiwara Road, Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala, Distt.

Kangra H.P 176219 India

UK UK UK India India India Tele: 0091-1892-224641 Moble: +91-9882423566 E-mail: editor@thetibetpost.com www.thetibetpost.com

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30 October, 2010 Dharamsala

TPI TIBET IN EXILE

Next Round of China-Tibet Talks Will be Soon

Tibetan prime minister talks for ANI at the main Tibetan temple in Dharamshala, India.

Photo: File

By James Dunn, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Samndhong Rinpoche, Prime Minister of Tibet's government in exile, said yesterday (14th October) that the next round of talks, tenth in the series held since 2002, are likely to take place in the recent future.

Hindustan Times newspaper quoted the Tibetan Prime Minister as saying "We have made full preparations for talks with China, which could be held anytime," in its Thursday's edition.

However, Rinpoche was cautious saying "it is for them to decide the venue and time for talks".

Indications are that Tibetan delegates

have stepped up efforts "through private channels to pursue Chinese leaders to engage in a dialogue" according to Hindustan Times.

Nine previous rounds of talks have been held so far between Chinese and Tibetan delegates, nevertheless, no concrete or positive results have been produced thus far. The last bout of talks took place in Beijing in January 2010, 15 months after the 8th session took place.

Two-time PM, Rinpoche heads the task force constituted by the Tibetan government-in-exile to assist the Dalai

Lama's talks on Tibet with China. The Tibetan side has stated that this time compared to the previous times they have "proposed to work jointly with the Communist government to improve situation inside the Chinaadministered Tibet", the paper said.

"Talks would primarily focus around 13-point charter of demands submitted to the Chinese counterparts during the eight rounds of talks," said a member of the Tibetan delegation to China who requested not to be named by the Hindustan Times. The paper also stated that the Tibetan administration would submit a letter at these talks for clearing the doubts raised during the time of the ninth talks.

During the eighth round of talks two years ago China had rejected the Tibetan people's memorandum for genuine autonomy. The memorandum discussed Tibet's position on genuine autonomy and how the specific needs of the Tibetan nationality for autonomy and self-government could be met through application of the principles on autonomy of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China. It was met with derision, as the Communist leaders accused it of a demand for ‘half-independence' and ‘disguised independence' or ‘covert independence'."

The Tibetan side maintains that the articles of the proposed memorandum were prepared in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of People's Republic of China and its laws on national regional autonomy.

However, it resulted in a unsuccessful round of talks and an even large divide between Chinese and Tibetan officials.

China is Ruled by Man, Not by Law, Says Top Exile Official

Dharamshala: Ven. Tsering Phunstok, minister of the Department of Religion and Culture, held a press conference in Dharamshala today (27th October), to emphasize his objection to the regulations by Chinese officials regarding religious practice in Tibet. Photo: TPI

By James Dunn, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Ven. Tsering Phunstok, minister of the Department of Religion and Culture, held a press conference in Dharamshala today (27th October), to emphasize his objection to the regulations by Chinese officials regarding religious practice in Tibet.

The statement came in reaction to the State Administration of Religious Affairs of the People's Republic of China who on the 30th September

2010 issued "a regulation on the administration of Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries." The regulation relates to the how China will manage the reincarnation of living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism.

Tsering recounted the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, which states that "Religious bodies and religious affairs are not subject to any foreign domination," calling the recent regulation "proof of the

fact that the citizens of the People's Republic of China do not have religious freedom and that the country is ruled by man and not by law."

He continued by saying "The religious heads and scholars of Tibetan Buddhism as a whole are, currently, living outside Tibet. Hence, the lineage of the sacred Buddhist teachings and initiations can be said to be existing in the exile Tibetan community."

He added that "this regulation is an evil design on the part of the Chinese government to obstruct the Buddhist teaching and its sacred transmissions inside Tibet and makes it extremely difficult for the monastic institutions to undertake important religious activities. This is also a means employed by the Chinese government to not only destroy the tradition and study of Tibetan Buddhism but also uproot the monastic institutions and the transmission of Buddhist teachings in these centers of learning by diluting the spiritual bond between teacher and pupil."

He concluded his statement with a clear message to the Chinese officials, saying that they repudiate "this injunction of the Chinese government" and "express our strong opposition to it."

The Tibet Post

Swami Ramdev Preaches Yoga in Dharamshala

(from left to right) Thamthog Rinpoche, the abbot of Namgyal monastery based in Dharamshala, India, Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, the prime minister of Tibetan government in-exile and Swami Ram Dev, the famour Indian Yoga master and spiritual leader visiting the main Tibetan temple in Dharamshala. Photo: TPI

By James Dunn, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Over 10,000 people took part in a yoga session, yesterday morning(14th October), led by world renowned guru Swami Ramdev. The two hour long event took place near the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Stadium in Dharamshala and was attended by the Tibetan prime miniser Prof Samdhong Rinpoche. In Prime Minister's brief speech to the crowd at the conclusion of the event he said that "Swami Ramdev has made a great

realization of the effectiveness of Yoga such as Pranayama in the interest of the humanity and peace in this world."

Later in the day, Swami Ramdev addressed a gathering of Tibetans at the main Buddhist temple. In which Ramdev praised the universal values His Holiness upheld calling him "a symbol for the whole world."

His Holiness was not present at the event as he is currently visiting the USA. For more photos please visit our gallery....

International Symposium on Tibet - Mongolia Treaty of 1913

Participants to the international symposium on "1913 Treaty between Mongolia and Tibet" held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, on 13 - 14 October 2010 Photos by Chung Tsering/TibetNet

By James Dunn, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: A two day International symposium was held In Mongolia,last week, concerning the "1913 Treaty between Mongolia and Tibet".

The event held from the 13th-14th October and was organized by the editorial board of the journal "The Impendence" of the National Intelligence Academy of Mongolia. It was attended by experts from Mongolia, India, America, Korea, Russia, Canada, Taiwan, Japan, Holland and Germany.

The symposium included a combination of research from 27 Mongolian and foreign scholars on the

reasoning for signing and the implications of the 1913 Treaty of Friendship and Alliance between the two countries. In the treaty, Mongolia and Tibet declared mutual recognition and allegiance At the conclusion of the conference, there was a unanimous agreement from all countries involved that 99% of the Treaty was factual and official, which created more questions on the implication of the treaty in today's political climate.

The Government of Mongolia publicly stated it is not involved in any way in the symposium, nor it takes any position on this issue.

TPI TIBET 9 Release of Tibetan Intellectuals Tibetan Writer ‘Shogdung’ The Tibet Post

Kelsang Tsultrim, Pen name Gyitsang Takming from Gansu Province, Amdo Ringion of East Tibet. Photo: TPI

By Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy

30 October, 2010 Dharamsala

Dharamshala: The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) received the news that, Kalsang Tsultrim, pen name Gyitsang Takmig from Kanlho "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture" (‘TAP'), Gansu Province, who has been arrested on 27 July 2010 on the ground of committing Political Error, has been released on 15 October 2010.

He composed and distributed VCDs on the history of Tibet and the lack of freedom in Tibet. The VCDs has been widely distributed in many Tibetan areas

in Gansu, Qinghai and Sichuan Province.

In September around 40 friends and family members went to ask about his whereabouts to the local officials, to which they were told to go back and that they would ask the leaders and inform them. He has been taken to different prisons since his arrest and was released from Kanlho Prefecture prison.

On 15 October 2010, Kalsang Tsultrim was released on the condition that he would not participate in any politics related work.

Released on Bail

His Holiness Promotes Compassion at Emory

By James Dunn, The Tibet Post

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is visiting Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, from October 17th to 19th.

Atlanta: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness spoke to a crowd of over 3,000 at the University of Emory yesterday, teaching the value of compassion.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama received a warm welcome from the full Woodruff Physical Education Centre, which was transformed to look like a Tibetan Buddhist Temple. He taught the importance of compassion and moral

Tibetan Language in Danger, Protests Reach China

Tibetan students protesting against China's education policies brought their campaign to Beijing, with some 400 of them holding demonstrations at the Beijing National Minorities University on 22 October 2010.

Photo: TPI

By James Dunn, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Tibetan Students in Beijing yesterday protested over plans to change the main language of education to Chinese. Yesterday's protests reveal the growing unrest from Tibetan peoples, who fear their culture is once again at threat.

The protest at the Minzu University of China -a leading institute for ethnic minority students- was attended by over 400 Tibetans. The protesters carried banners, written in both Tibetan and Chinese, reading "Equality of ethnicities, freedom of Language," sources said. School officials, including the university's chancellor and Communist Party secretary, met with the students and asked them to submit their concerns on paper, which they then promised to forward to higher authorities.

Photographs showed a large group of students gathered on a concrete walkway lined with shrubs. Other photos showed uniformed guards milling around some students.

However, the rally was broken up peacefully after about two hours and

no arrests or sanctions have been so far.

The traditional mission of Minzu University is to train students from ethnic minority regions of China who might then return to those regions and work for the government. Departments in the university specialize in scholarship on various cultures in China, and more than 600 Tibetans study on the campus. Telephone calls on Friday afternoon to several offices at the university went unanswered.

Yesterday's protests came as Chinese officials made their first statement relating to the educational reforms and the protests it sparked off.

Wang Yubo, head of the Qinghai education department, said that the plan aimed to boost both Chinese and the native languages of minorities.

This statement is seen by many Tibetan campaigners as an effort to subdue the media's attention. One Free Tibet campaigner called yesterday's statement as "A lie to turn the media away from Tibet, after that the arrests and reforms will happen behind closed doors" In the report made late on Friday night, Wang Yubo stated "The plan is aimed at strengthening whatever is weaker and the purpose is not to use one language to weaken another."

Changes won't be forced in areas where "conditions are not ripe," cited Wang Yubo. The report did not elaborate on how officials would make that determination.

The official Xinhua News Agency gave the first public report about the Tibetan protests that have spread through-out China and been attended by thousands of people. The agency stated that students had "expressed their dissatisfaction" in at least four Tibetan prefectures in Qinghai between

ethics, saying that scientists and religious practitioners can learn a lot from each other if they work together.

Sunday was the first of a three-day visit by the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, who was named a presidential distinguished professor at Emory University three years ago. During his visit the Dalai Lama plans to teach, lecture and receive an update on the development of the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative. The program seeks to establish a science curriculum to be included in the regular monastic education throughout India. Faculty and students from Emory University travel each year to Dharamshala to work with Tibetan community.

Tibetan famouse wrighter Mr Tagyal pen name (Shogdung) . Photo: TPI

By James Dunn, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Tagyal, who uses the pen name ‘Shogdung' has been released on bail pending trial by the Chinese government. The Tibetan writer was arrested on April 23rd 2010 from his workplace at Qinghai Nationalities Publishing House in Xining. He was charged of "instigating to split the motherland" and jailed for almost six months before being allowed bail Friday (October 14th).

Tagyal's lawyer, Li Fanping informed the media of the bailout, saying "he (Tagyal) is in good health and with his family now." Meanwhile, Jampal Monlam of the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said the "bail pending trial" does not give him immunity to future arrest. Jampal told the Voice of Tibet radio that the longest period that "bail pending trial" can last is a year.

Exhibition Deepens Understanding Between Taiwan -Tibetan Community Dharamshala: Taiwan's second city, Kaohsiung, is currently playing host to a month-long exhibition organised by the Tibet Religious Foundation.

The exhibition, which includes a series of lectures; displays of traditional Tibetan arts and crafts; and the presentation of 22 documentary films with Tibetan themes, is taking place at a series of prestigious venues, including the Kaohsiung Museum of History. The events are intended to raise awareness of Tibetan history and culture among the Taiwanese, and to encourage greater cultural exchange between the two peoples.

Keynote speakers have included Mr Dawa Tsering, representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and Professor Pen Mei Li of Jiaotong University, Taiwan, who spoke on the manifold challenges faced by the Tibetan community in exile.

The present exhibition represents a further strengthening of understanding between Taiwan and the Tibetan community, and follows a series of lectures and film screenings held at Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, in February and March of this year. Mr Dawa Tsering also spoke at that event, taking as his

last Sunday and Wednesday.

The Tibet Post has learned that the local governor and education department visited a teacher's college in Tongren on Wednesday and threatened to expel students who organize additional marches.

Kaohsiung Exhibition Deepens Understanding Between Taiwan -Tibetan Community.

Photo: TPI/Sodor la

By James Dunne, The Tibet Post

subject the "Sino-Tibetan relationship".

Ties have been reinforced by His Holiness the Dalai Lama's several visits to Taiwan, in 1997, 2001, and, most recently, in August last year, when he was invited by several southern Taiwanese leaders to deliver Dharma sermons for the victims of Typhoon Morakot.

The current programme includes a display of photographs, currently occupying the third floor of the Kaohsiung Museum of History, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of democracy in the Tibetan community in exile. His Holiness the Dalai Lama introduced democracy to the

community in 1960, and the Tibetan Parliament in exile (then known as the Commission of Tibetan People's Deputies) first met in September of that year.

At the unveiling of this display, the Tibet Religious Foundation expressed, in a statement, their profound gratitude to His Holiness for "his extraordinary efforts to transform the Tibetan polity into a genuine democracy".

A common Tibetan and Taiwanese interest in democracy and cultural preservation, evinced by this exhibition, will contribute to the relationship between the two peoples.

The exhibition is due to close on 28 November 2010.

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30 October, 2010 Dharamsala

TPI INTERNATIONAL

The Tibet Post

Buddhist Leader Debates with Students at His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Visit Ireland Next Year Miami University, Ohio

Emory students and staff present His Holiness the Dalai Lama with a card on October 18th, 2010. Photo/Kay Hinton/Emory

By James Dunne, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Tibet's spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama Thursday (20th October) held a debate about peace and nonviolent struggle with thousands of students from Miami University, Ohio. He was presented with an honorary doctorate of laws from the University.

Dr Hodge awarded His Holiness with the degree in “recognition of your persistent nonviolent struggle to preserve the cultural rights of the people of Tibet; to explain the basic tenets of Buddhism to the world; to promote a greater understanding of our collective obligations to one another”.

Later in the day, around 10,500 people,

mostly students, filled Millett Hall to hear His Holiness speak. He talked about compassion and understanding, and impressed those gathered with his sense of humour, and by speaking without notes for over an hour.

He said that respecting all peoples and religions is the first step to achieving understanding; that “Each of you and myself, we are the same”, and drew similarities between the values of Buddhism and other religions.

He urged the students to make the 21st century a time of peace. “Ten years past, 90 years left to come”, he said, “You have the responsibility to create this century [to] be a peaceful century”.

Having delivered the lecture, His Holiness was given a standing ovation.

During the question and answer session that followed, His Holiness was addressed by a Chinese student, who challenged his opinions on conditions within Tibet. 21-year old Yue said that she had visited the country recently, and had seen no evidence of oppression, but noted that “Tibet is peaceful” and that people there seemed to be benefiting from the relative lack of economic insecurity.

His Holiness responded by drawing Yue’s attention to the current protests

by Tibetan students, sparked by fears that Chinese will become the exclusive language of education establishments there. He said, “These do not come from happiness…Something is lacking…some grievance there”.

Miami University had been creating an electronic database of Tibetan documents and linguistic resources to contribute to the preservation to Tibetan culture and heritage. His Holiness experienced a 3-D virtual mandala, an aid to meditation, created by students at the college, and expressed his appreciation of these efforts.

Miami University works in partnership with the University of Buddhist Dialectics, the Tibetan University, in Dharamshala, of which His Holiness is a patron. Together, they organised summer workshops in Tibet from 20042008, and Miami University now offers a Tibetan Studies programme.

By James Dunne, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: It has been announced that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is due to visit the Republic of Ireland in April 2011, to take part in a series of events with three Irish-based NGO’s: Children in Crossfire, Afri and SpunOut. His Holiness is a patron of Children in Crossfire, an organisation dedicated to defending the rights of children suffering from “the injustice of poverty”. Representatives of Children in Crossfire extended the invitation to visit the Republic during a trip to Dharamshala earlier this year.

Children in Crossfire was founded by Richard Moore, who was blinded at 10 by rubber bullets fired by British soldiers in Northern Ireland. At the announcement of the visit, Moore praised His Holiness, “There is perhaps no greater advocate for peace and compassion as respected worldwide as the Dalai Lama. He is a man of great warmth, depth, knowledge and insight”.

Afri, of which Archbishop Desmond Tutu is patron, has promoted peace and development in Ireland and around the world for 35 years. SpunOut is a youth

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet offering a special prayer at Sera Monastery, Bylakuppe, South India. Photo: TPI/File

organisation which seeks to empower young people and help them to engage with health and social issues.

His Holiness has twice previously visited the Republic of Ireland, in 1973 and 1991, as well as making 3 visits to Northern Ireland, in 2000, 2005 and 2007, for the promotion of peace in the region.

The announcement stated: “the visit comes at an important time when Ireland, North and South, are looking at important questions of identity, peace and progress”.

More detailed information about the visit will be available in due course on the website: dalailamaireland.com

Richard Gere, Pulitzer Winner A Walker Join His Holiness in Debate about the Arts

Tibet's Female Writer Receives “2010 Courage in Journalism” Award

Tibetan female writer, Mrs Tsering Woeser. Photo: Tsering Woeser's Facebook

By Matthew Hayes, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Tibetan writer and blogger Tsering Woeser has received a "2010 Courage in Journalism" award in recognition of her efforts to report on human rights abuses in Tibet. Woeser, who is based in Beijing, could not receive her award in person because the Chinese government refuses to grant her a passport. The awards ceremony, hosted by the International Women's Media Foundation, took place in New York this week.

The awards, held annually, are intended to recognise "heroic women journalists" around the world, highlighting the importance of free press and the hardships endured to

obtain it. All forms of journalism are eligible, and 56 women have received awards since they were started in 1990.

Woeser, born in Tibet in 1966, originally worked as a journalist in China before moving to Lhasa. She rose to fame after the publication of her second book, Notes from Tibet, and her subsequent refusal to self-criticise, resulting in the loss of her job as an editor for the Tibetan Literary Association. Since then, she has increasingly explored the use of social media. Her blog, "Invisible Tibet", found at woeser.middle-way.net, is one of the best known in China today.

Woeser also commentates for Radio Free Asia, communicates via Facebook

and Skype, conducts interviews with Tibetan refugees, and continues to write books for publication in Taiwan. Today, Woeser lives in self-imposed exile in Beijing.

Woeser has faced Chinese government opposition to her work for years. Most notably, in August 2008, during a trip to Tibet to visit family, Woeser was detained, accused of photographing the army and police presence in Lhasa. She was interrogated for 8 hours, but eventually released without charge.

Today, Woeser's movements are monitored, her books banned, and her blog and Skype account have been hacked and shut down multiple times.

She is still prevented from travelling abroad.

During her acceptance speech, presented at the awards ceremony in the form of a pre-recorded video message, Woeser stated she "will keep [her] one-person media operation going, for it is the weapon of the powerless".

Three other women journalists were honoured at the ceremony: Vicky Ntetema, a Tanzanian who reports on the killing of albinos there for the use of their body parts in potions; Claudia Julieta Duque, a Colombia-based journalist who has been abducted, robbed and received death threats in the course of her work; and Alma Guillermoprieto, who reports on civil wars, drug wars and politics in Latin America.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama smiles during a conversation with Richard Gere and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker at Emory University on 19 October 2010 Photo: TPI

By James Dunne, The Tibet Post

Emory: His Holiness the Dalai Lama participated in a talk entitled "The Creative Journey: Artists in Conversation with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Spirituality and Creativity" with Richard Gere and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker on Tuesday (19th October).

The panelist discussed the topic to a crowd assembled at Emory University, where His Holiness is an honorary professor. They all seemed in ready agreement that the arts play a large role in promoting compassion throughout the world. His Holiness urged the people of world to use their creativity to uphold democracy, liberty and individual freedom. He also discussed admiration of America calling the country the champion of democracy, liberty and freedom. However he discussed the risks of the role America has as the world's leading country staying that "if American's become

demoralized it would have a negative impact through-out the world."

Both Richard Gere and Alice Walker talked about His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a role model for them and a source of inspiration. They also discussed the story of the Tibetan saint, Milarepa and the message of despair and redemption that it illustrates. Alice Walker, who won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for her book The Coulor Purple, said that the trials and tribulation of Milarepa echoed the experience of her community. She added that she would be very happy for the story to be known to Americans in the south of the country At the conclusion, Dr Rosemary Magee, Emory Vice President and Secretary, thanked His Holiness the calling him "Our Professor" and everyone else involved with the programme saying it has been an extraordinary spiritual, academic and scientific journey.