Condolences
Shoe Project:
for Loss of the Deputy Speaker....
Helping Refugee Community..
Page 5.. Vol. 01, Issue 35, 31 January 2011
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I n t e r n a t i o n a l B o d - K y i - Cha- Trin
Bi-Monthly
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Not to Worry About Retirement
Obama Calls for Dialogue Between China and Tibet By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the prime minister of Tibetan government in exile. Photo: TPI/ Sangay
Dharamshala: Tibetans living inside Tibet should not worry about His Holiness the Dalai Lama's retirement plan said Thursday Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, the prime minister (Kalon Tripa ) of Tibetan government in exile, saying "His Holiness had clearly said he would continue to work for the cause of Tibet". According a report published by the Tibetan official media (Tibet Net), the prime minister was speaking to a large gathering of over 1,800 Continues on Page 3
Resettlement of Nomads in Tibet
Tibetan nomad family in summer pastures near Madoi, Qinghai Province, 15 December 2002. Photo: TPI
Dharamshala: Impulsed by the so called Grassland Law adopted in 1985, and then completed by a series of programs and various guidelines such as the "Tuimu Huancao" ("removing animals to grow grass") and the "Tuigeng Huanlin" ("returning Farmland to Forest") policies, the resettlement of millions of nomads in Tibet is not yet to end. According to the so called regional government, another 185 Continues on Page 5
Washington: US President Barack Obama during a press conference in the East Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on Wednesday called his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao to have dialogue with the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibet's political and spiritual leader, to resolve and address the concerns of the people of Tibet. "Even as we, the United States, recognise that Tibet is part of the People's Republic of China, the United States continues to support further dialogue between the government of China and the representatives of the Dalai Lama to resolve concerns and differences, including the preservation of the religious and cultural identity of the Tibetan people," Obama said on 19 January at a joint news conference with Hu at the White House. U.S. president Obama gave a long answer to a question about human rights only to find out that it had not been translated simultaneously. He appeared visibly frustrated while waiting for an interpreter to finish, and then Hu -- to the astonishment of U.S. journalists -- did not answer the part of the question that had been directed to him. When a second U.S. reporter followed up later, Hu said he had not heard the initial question and gave a prepared reply, glancing down at his podium at
President Barack Obama and China's President Hu Jintao take part in a joint news conference, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011, in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Photo: AP
times to read. White House spokesman Ben Chang said the human rights question had been been translated when it was first asked. Obama said differences on human rights were an "occasional source of tension between our two governments.'' As the two leaders stood side-by-
China Claims Tibet to Promote as a “World Tourism Destination”
side at a nationally televised news conference, he called on China to live up to human rights values that he said were enshrined in the Chinese Constitution, adding that Americans "have some core views as Americans about the universality of certain rights: freedom of speech, freedom of Continues on Page 4
Three Die in Egypt Revolt
Heavy tear gas used to disperse thousands of demonstrators in central Cairo after a day of protests against the government. Ajezera
A School for Tibetan Orphans
Dharamshala: At least three people have been killed in a rare anti-government protest in the Egyptian capital. The demonstrations, inspired by the recent revolt in Tunisia, drew thousands of people to the city centre as protesters in Tahrir Square vowed to See on Page 8
A Tibetan Gril Gets Indian Citizenship
His Holiness the The Dalai Lama asked a doctor in NYC to build a school for Tibetan orphans in India. Photo courtesy of Dr. Kazuko Tatsumura. By Ye-Rinne Park, The Tibet Post
Dharmshala: A Japanese-American holistic healer based in New-York will help build a school for Tibetan orphans in North India. Manjushree Orphanage, located in Tawang in the Himalayan heighs, counts around 180 children. The project has already been endorsed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, whom she had met on many occasions before. Dr. Kazuko Tatsumura, has now the task to raise funds in the U.S. and Japan to build the Tibetan-designed school at a cost of $360,000. Tibet House U.S. has agreed to serve as fiscal sponsor in the U.S. for contributions. This is said to be the first joint project between the U.S. and Japan Tibet House, under the auspices of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Japan.
The red fort called Potala palace viewed from Jokhang temple in Lhasa city, the capital of Tibet. Photo: TPI By Ye-Rinne Park, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: China claimed that it wants to double the annual number of tourists visiting Tibet by the year 2015. According to a state media, more than 20 millions of tourists, among which 1 million of foreigners, have visited the region during the past five years. The number of visits has increased by 30,6% every year since 2006. The local office of tourism announced it will continue to develop its infrastructures and services to fulfill those ambitions. The central government has already spent 53 millions of dollars between 2001 and 2005 to boost tourism in Tibet.
The region hopes to double its income from tourism thanks to this dynamism, with annual receipts of around 2,5 billions of dollars by 2015. According to the report, more than 300 000 jobs will be created in this sector. The rural areas of Tibet are also included in the project, as the government announced it wants to promote tourism in the entire region and wants "all the people" living there to "get rich" from this activity. However, many Tibetans living under Chinese rule believe that all the investments and development projects mostly benefit Han Chinese migrants and state-owned companies, which dominate the economy.
Tibetan women from Dehradun settlement, Dehradun, India performing traditional opera. Photo: TPI By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Chandigarh: — Thousands of Tibetans born in India between 1950 and 1986 may have a reason to cheer. They can now become Indian citizens under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 1986, according to a report in the Times of India. Continues on Page 6
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TPI OPINIONS & COLUMNS
31 January, 2011 Dharamsala
The Tibet Post
Obama and Hu, a Revealing Press Conference I
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Nobel Laureates Liu in Prison, Obama Hosts State Dinner for Hu YC. Dhardhowa E-mail: editor@thetibetpost.com
Dharamshala: Around the world all eyes are on the US-China Human Rights talks, as Obama fails to be the champion of democracy and Human Rights. Unlike the previous meeting, Obama hosted Hu, a dictator with high profile with highest hospitality, unlike when he let the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Tibet's spiritual and political leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama out a service entrance. This meeting was hosted by 2009's Nobel Peace Prize winner, while Hu keeps the most recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Liu Xiaobo in prison under repression, harassment, incarceration and torture. Moreover, it did not appear that US and Chinese leaders' several meetings moved the conversation forward in a substantial way past that of the economical issues to other's welfare and freedom. If Obama raised concerns about Hu of the hundreds of Chinese and Tibetan political prisoners including Liu Xiaobo, a jailed Chinese dissident and Nobel Peace Prize winner, he did so privately. At the senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid called Hu a "dictator" before taking it back and saying it wasn't a good choice of words. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, announced he would not attend the state dinner being held in Hu's honor. Outside the White House gates, hundreds of Chinese and Tibetan protesters massed for two days of demonstrations against Hu's visit and his government's treatment of people in Tibet and China. It is not an unusual concern of US government, as previous presidents have contributed more for human rights and democracy. For a little concern of his part, Obama called on China to engage in talks with Tibet's leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and said he and Hu were "candid" in their discussion about human rights, "I reaffirmed America's fundamental commitment to the universal rights of all people, and that includes basic human rights like freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association and demonstration and of religion -rights that are recognized in the Chinese constitution." In China, the discussion was edited by the government's Xinhua news agency to cut out Pres. Hu's admission on Human Rights, and television screens went blank during the BBC's live report, denying Chinese viewers the right to know the reality of the discussions. The dictator Hu Jintao is holding thousands of political prisoners including activists, lawyers, writers, bloggers and especially the 11th Panchen Lama and the 2010 Nobel
YC. Dhardhowa
Peace Prize winner in prison. Obama who is the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize Winner hosted a dinner for a dictator holding the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize Winner in prison, and both the world leaders and journalists do not understand the irony of this at all. I must say both the government and media are so fraudulent, they're too busy running around chasing negative issues, ignoring the key issues of human rights. On a question about human rights, the communist head attempted to slither out of the answer by saying, "I did not hear the question. I thought President Obama was going to answer that." There's no talk about how they harvest organs from prisoners in eastern Turkestan, Tibet and China and there's Obama, telling the head of this depraved society that we're all pleased with his country's progress. Meanwhile, the very same media is attacking innocent American citizens who have nothing to do with a horrible crime. The moral compass of our media is just stunning, the media laughed when Hu Jintao side-stepped the question about human rights. Former president, Jimmy Carter who also won a Nobel Peace Prize also attended Hu's dinner. So you had two American Nobel Peace Prize Winners effectively honoring the head of a country who's holding 2010's Peace Prize Winner in prison and we had to listen to our fearless leader talk about all the great progress the Chinese are making and how pleased we are with all that progress. Later Hu sought to assuage concerns about his country's rising economic and military power but made clear status of Tibet and Taiwan was off limit as US legislators strongly conveyed their concerns over Beijing's trampling of human rights. Relations between Washington and Beijing need to be governed by a belief in 'equality' and 'mutual respect', and the US must recognize that Taiwan and Tibet are 'issues that concern China's territorial integrity and China's core interests.'
By James Dunn, The Tibet Post E-mail: sub_editor@tibetpost.net
London: It was a unique moment in history, rarely does Hu Jintao step into the Western media spotlight, away from the safety of Chinese media that avoids politically sensitive topics and censors anything anti-Chinese. Even when visiting other countries he controls the media agenda, like the cancelling of a press conference during his recent visit to France. However, his political and economic clout weren't enough to avoid the US media during his visit to Washington this month and expectations of what they were going to ask the Chinese leader were feverish in the build up to the press conference, as he had no censorship curtain to hide behind. However, many felt let down and cheated by what was or wasn't said, I'm not one of those. I felt that the press conference and the media attention went a long way to illuminate both Obama's frustration at China's human rights, but moreover, it showed China's irresponsible and arrogant nature on an international level. Across the Pacific, the two medias -American and Chinese- painted exceedingly different story of events. In China, the visit was hailed as a "new chapter in relations", even though the government resorted to censoring its own leader to keep up the facade of success. The BBC in China was airing a clip of the press conference, however, when the topic reached that of human rights, the channel went blank and the feed was cut. The government's stranglehold on printed media as well as broadcasted meant that the Chinese people were blissfully unaware of any talk on human rights. Peoples Daily, China's leading communist newspaper, contained a "full and in-depth" article on Hu's visit, however, it failed to include anything on the topic of human rights. In America, the visit was painted with a
much darker brush, stories of paid crowds of supporters, presidential disapproval and members of the senate labelling Hu a "dictator" and his government "a gangster regime that murders their own people". The payment of up to $80 to Chinese students from the Greater D.C area, is a prime example of Chinese manufactured propaganda, that may well work in China, but failed spectacularly thanks to an investigative journalist from the Epoch Times, catching them red handed. Mary Beth Markey, president of the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) called Obama's statement on human rights at the press conference, "nothing new". I disagree; he brought his views on human rights to the forefront of his political agenda, a risky decision considering most economic analysts say that America now needs China economically to avoid a double dip recession. He talked about human rights, Tibet and the Dalai Lama in his opening address to the collected media, a deliberate and candid statement that these beliefs are paramount to the president. The most revealing moment came when a journalist from the Associate Press questioned Obama and Hu on why America should link itself with a country with such bad human rights record. The American president is known for rarely hesitating, on this occasion however, he was visibly hold himself back, looking at the floor and speaking in a slow and pensive manner, stating that human rights is a source of conflict for the two countries and much is still to do. Hu's answer was more revealing, or rather his lack of an answer, choosing to ignore the question all together. He was pressed upon his avoidance of answering later on during the press conference, blaming the translator for not translating the question correctly. His excuse has now been proved wrong as a White House stated publically that there was no such
James Dunn, European correspondent for The Tibet Post International. Photo: TPI
problem with the translator. When Hu eventually answered (after being questioned by another journalist) his answer was very clearly scripted, constantly stressing the word "development". The use of this word once again illustrates that China measures human rights enhancement as the decrease of poverty, rather than upholding basic human freedoms. Hu is not saying that more needs to be done for people's freedom but for their income, which is not human rights, its economics. This is an exceptionally different definition than that of Obama and the rest of the West, causing Obama to define human rights during the press conference. Hu attempted to defend his differing definition, saying that it is because his country is poorer and its population is larger, yet India, who is in a similar developmental stage as China, strongly upholds its people's human rights. All in all Hu Jintao's visit had a cold reception from start to finish, not only by human rights campaigners but also by journalists, politicians and presidents alike, an atypical occurrence and a unique moment in history.
Obama Calls for Unity: State of the Union '11
Tuesday: President Obama address Congress during his State of the Union Address. Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner listen from behind. Photo: AP By Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: President Barack Obama has called for cooperation between the divided Democratic and Republican parties in the US Congress during his State of the Union address
on Tuesday night. The president advocated the need for action to cut the deficit and meet the challenges posed by competitors China and India to the American economy, claiming the nation was "poised for progress"
following the recession. In order to show unity, Republicans and Democrats broke from tradition and sat together to hear the speech, in which the president urged innovation and cooperation in order for the next generation to counter high unemployment caused by competition from developing economies. He also pledged investment in biomedical research, information technology and cleanenergy technology to help create jobs as well as investment in infrastructure, including internet accessibility. Republicans, however, expressed concern over debt and conveyed their opposition to public spending increases. The president also praised improved relations with both Russia and India and reaffirmed the US commitment in Afghanistan, also commending US combat troops for ending the conflict in Iraq "with their heads held high." Another issue he said needed to be addressed once and for all was that of immigration, though he added that society needed to learn to value the children of undocumented workers and their vital contribution to the nation.
The Tibet Post
Chinese Insult US with State Dinner Song Dharamshala: News is spreading in China that a great victory has been won over America, following the performance of "My Motherland" by Sino-American pianist Lang Lang during President Hu's State Dinner last week. The song was featured in 1956 in "Battle on Shangganling Mountain", a Chinese propaganda movie about the Korean War, and is famous within China for stirring anti-American sentiment. Lang Lang, who lived in China until the age of fourteen, can henceforth count himself as one of millions of Chinese fallen victim to Communist Party manipulation; and they in turn must be so proud of their little comrade. When asked whether he had wanted to "drop a note of nationalism" into the state dinner, Lang Lang feigned innocence, claiming it was "the last thing he wanted to do". However, during an earlier interview with Hong Kong's Phoenix TV broadcast in China he claimed the opposite, saying he had wanted "to help us, as Chinese people, feel extremely proud of ourselves." Lang Lang later posted the following on his blog: "Playing this song praising China to heads of state from around the world seems to tell them that our China is formidable, that our Chinese people are united; I feel deeply honoured and proud." The word ‘formidable' stands out here as an arrogant assertion of China's imperialistic new attitude to the outside world. The young pianist is apparently unaware that translators exist to decipher his comments from Chinese into English. The news received a mixed reaction in China, with some expressing shock and many more displaying an aggressive nationalistic perception of superiority and anti-American sentiment, which must have had CCP propoganda officials proudly celebrating their own victory: that over the minds of Chinese youth.
3 Global Perspective of Tibet Has a Huge Role to Play
TPI VIEWS & ANALYSIS BY Tenzin Yeshi, The Tibet Post
Carly Selby James. Photo: TPI By Carly Selby James
Lang Lang's song choice earned him a surprising hug of gratitude from the Chinese President, who is usually reknowned for his reserved and cool demeanor, but who was obviously so pleased at the smug insult to his American hosts that he couldn't resist. In the words of Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng in a letter to the US Congress and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, "The song is the leading anti-American propaganda by the Chinese Communist Party.(...) Is that not an insult to the USA to play such kind of music at a state dinner hosted by the US President? No wonder it made Hu Jintao really happy." It has been pointed out that the State Dinner was a meticulously planned event, for which every detail was carefully reviewed by both sides. Hu, in that case, would have known about the song choice before the dinner, and still allowed it to be played. It is clear from the actions of organisers, and the immature attitude of the Chinese in matters of diplomacy, that the country is not yet ready to sit at the big table with developped nations. It would appear the CCP, like the song, is still stuck in the 1950s and wrapped up in outdated ideologies.
Wyoming, USA: My roommate set the alarm clock, it rang in the early morning, he silenced it, and then, he went back to sleep. However, it woke me up completely even though I am not an early morning person. I never understood the meaning of "early to bed, early to rise". Maybe this saying was valid back in the time when nothing could be done in the evening. Now, with the overwhelming influence and extraordinary growth of technology, we are glued to this small screen 24/7 where anyone can take a peek at the world by just laying down on their cozy couch. The note I am sharing now is the result of this technology. Yesterday, on my facebook page, I punched this statement as my status, "An act of activism is meaningful only when it helps to provide a significant difference in finding a long-term solution to the struggle of Tibet and its people" - A stateless DY. There were a few 'like's and comments. However, after being pushed to wake up early this morning, I was just reflecting on this statement while still cuddling with my comforter and trying to get back to sleep. Sleep never came by. However, my reflection immediately whispered to my ears to write this short note of elaboration on the statement. I jumped out of bed, threw my comforter aside, came out to my living room, and started tapping my fingers with the laptop on my lap and my back resting on my cozy couch. When I look at this entire act of activism, I always ask the question, "SO WHAT"? President Hu arrived; Tibetans organized a protest; Media loves the hype; Tibetans shouted and performed an impressive Skeleton in Hu's Closet; Press and media flashed the protest on their page, shared video clips, political analyst did the analysis, and the general public read, heard, and enjoyed it. At the end of Hu's visit, Tibetans are back and busy with their work or study; press and media are moving on to other hypes; and the
Holbrooke’s Family Draws Attention to His Connection with Tibet
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 14: (AFP OUT) (L - R) U.S. President Barack Obama, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Former U.S. President Bill Clinton attend a memorial service for Ambassador Richard Holbrooke on January 14, 2011 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Holbrooke passed away in December after undergoing heart surgery to repair a tear in his aorta. (Photo by Kristoffer TripplaarPool/Getty Images) By Tibetan Official Media: Tibet Net
Washington, DC: The widow and two sons of the late Richard Holbrooke made references to his connection with Tibet during a memorial event in Washington, DC on 14 January 2011 attended by President Barack Obama, and a host of American and international dignitaries. The event, celebrated as "A Tribute
Honoring the Life of Richard C. Holbrooke" was held at the Kennedy Center and began with the screening of several photos depicting his life. Among them was one with the Holbrooke family and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Then during her remarks, Kati Marton, Holbrooke's widow, referred to causes from "Cyprus to Tibet" that he was concerned with. Son Anthony Holbrooke, in his remarks, referred to his travel with his father to Tibet and being with the nomads there. Another son, David Holbrooke, recalled a guest commenting that theirs did not seem to be a normal family after seeing photos of the family with His Holiness the Dalai Lama as well as with American leaders at their home. Those who paid tribute included President Barack Obama, stepdaughter Elizabeth Jennings, former State Department official Strobe Talbott, friends like James Johnson and Leslie Gelb, Ambassador Frank Wisner, NSC Senior Director Samantha Power, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Michael Mullen, former UN SecretaryGeneral Kofi Annan, President Bill
Clinton and Secretary Hillary Clinton. Those who attended the event, according to a report, included Vice President Joseph Biden, serving and former American leaders, including National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, State Department policy planning chief Anne Marie Slaughter, Undersecretary of Defense Michele Flournoy, USAID administrator Rajiv Shah, NSC senior director Derek Chollet, NSC senior director Doug Lute, Rep. Jane Harman, Madeleine Albright, Zalmay Khalilzad, Robert Rubin, Pakistani President Asif Zardari, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, ambassadors of various countries and a host of American and international VIPs. One media report said, "Three heads of state, over a dozen foreign ministers, and hundreds more familiar faces from around the foreign policy community were in attendance at the event." Special Envoy Lodi Gyari was invited to the event but as he was traveling, Bhuchung K. Tsering attended on his behalf. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke had passed away in Washington, DC on 13 December 2010.
31 January, 2011 Dharamsala
general public are back to reading and listening to something else. At the end, I think it is important to ask ourselves, "SO WHAT" of this act of activism? Here is my take on it by looking at this question as the driving framework. The first and immediate question that always comes to my mind is of the impact of an act of activism. Tibetans have been protesting since long back and we are getting better in making our voices heard. We have hardly missed the opportunity to protest against any of the visiting Chinese politburo members. However, the question that matters the most to me is - does an act of activism contribute towards the longterm resolution of Tibet and its struggle? Okay, now let me take a glance at the global perspective of Tibet as a nation. The world, including its super powers and our immediate neighbours, firmly stood by the One China policy where Tibet is considered a part of China. Forget about recognizing Tibet as an independent country. These countries are not even recognizing Tibet as a disputed land. The United Nations is no exception here. I am not a fan of this organization. So, the question that now comes is - what does this have to do with an act of activism? This global perspective of Tibet has a huge role to play. While Tibet is considered part of China, no country will be directly involved in resolving any kind of issues or problems related to Tibet. As China has been saying, Tibet is an internal matter. You can compare this with the situation in India's Kashmir. Even though Kashmir is considered a disputed land, India never welcomes third party (or country) involvement. This is even more true with China when it comes to Tibet. So What? Does it matter? It does matter, a lot. No matter how press and media help us to spread the word and no matter how the general public takes a look at the Tibet issue, the final ball of Tibet will always fall in the court of China and ONLY China (having said that, I am not disregarding the role of Tibetans in this entire struggle). As previously said, Tibet is an 'internal matter'. So, for me, what matters most is China and not the media/press or the general public. If we are going to find a solution to any issues concerning Tibet, it is only China that can help or bring the needed change. So, I believe we need to respect more of this global perspective of Tibet. Many of us believe that press and the media matter a lot to us. In some way they do; they help spread the words out. It is the same with an act of activism. It has its own advantage. However, as you know by now, the question I am raising is on the long-term impact. Some of the recent slogans were very direct and personal to President Hu and obviously will be the same to many
Mr Tenzin Yeshe . Photo: TPI
Chinese fellows. How do we react when someone says anything against His Holiness the Dalai Lama? The level of the feeling between Tibetans and the Chinese may not be the same but there is definitely a feeling of anger and hatred for such personally directed protests, slogans, or statements. I consider President Hu as a person who can resolve the problem of Tibet if he wishes to. However, are we not enraging him with these personally directed slogans? As a person, how would you react when someone shouts against you by disrespecting your name and position? Would you work with that person? Would you help to resolve the problem by negotiating with that person or a group of people? Would you care? The list of questions goes on.... The point I want to make here is that China and the Chinese people are what matter the most to us. There is no way we can beat them, so why not join them? Let's respect them as our Chinese fellows and if need be, protest against the CCP and its policies. Let's not enrage them. Let's ENGAGE them. The final point I want to make is: If ever the CCP breaks down (and I think it will sooner or later), and if we ask for independence at that particular moment, what will matter the most is the will and support of the Chinese people. If they agree, then no one can deny independence to Tibet. Are you hearing me? Finally, this note is in no way meaning to disrespect my fellow Tibetans who are very involved and dedicated in this entire act of activism. However, I hope, as my writing always does, this note will make you THINK and DISCUSS. To conclude, I dedicate this note to my roommate and his alarm clock without which this note would have never existed. :-) About the author Tenzin Yeshi is a graduate student in the Department of Professional Studies at the University of Wyoming, US. You can reach him at tyeshi@uwyo.edu
.....Not to Worry About His Holiness' Retirement, PM Tells People inside Tibet By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Tibetans who have come from Tibet to receive His Holiness the Dalai Lama's teachings in Sarnath. Rinpoche said His Holiness the Dalai Lama had spoken about taking complete retirement from the administrative work of the Central Tibetan Administration in exile in March this year. The Tibetans living inside Tibet expressed their deep concerns over his remarks, he added.
"His Holiness the Dalai Lama has recently clarified his statement on retirement during his visit to Sikkim and Kalimpong. He made it clear that except some changes in his day to day administrative obligations, he would never dis-associate from the Tibetan people as 99 percent of them pin their hope and faith in him. He said he would continue to work for the cause of Tibet," Kalon Tripa said.
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31 January, 2011 Dharamsala
TPI INTERNATIONAL
The European Parliament to offer Internships for Tibetans
The Tibet Post
Chinese Embassy in US Pays students to Welcome Hu By Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post
The European Parliament. Photo: musically.com By James Dunn, The Tibet Post Europe
London: Two Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have announced that they are to offer two separate internships solely for Tibetan youths in Europe. The announcement comes after constant requests from the Bureau du Tibet Brussels. The internships, aimed at Tibetans who are over the age of 20 and have completed high school, start separately on March 1st and May 23rd and both last four weeks. They aim to provide Tibetan youths with a firsthand exposure to working in a multi-cultural environment, which is often denied to them, according to many Tibetan organizations in Europe. The interns will work alongside the MEP staff members to give them an in-depth understanding of the inner working of the European Parliament and the other EU institutions at large. They will also get to travel to the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France once or twice during the four weeks for the plenary sessions there.
Rigzin Choedon Genkhang, from the Bureau du Tibet, told The Tibet Post International that internships aim to provide Tibetans crucial opportunities to succeed in the struggling employment market in Europe, "As Tibetans are stateless, many opportunities are out of reach to even the most brilliant of our youths and through such small initiatives as this internship opportunity, we would like to address these needs in an effective way and to empower them with valuable working experiences." "We would like to hope that this will be a great stepping stone for our interns' future work prospects and that they will be able to use the experience gained in this multi-cultural organization and the network they have developed during the four weeks in their future careers and why not in the development of our community," she added. For more information, or to apply for the internships email Rigzin Choedon Genkhang at chgenkhang@aol.com
Dharamshala: The visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao to Washington, D.C. last week was heralded as a major step in China-U.S. relations, with the State dinner held in his honour being the first of its kind in thirteen years. The President's four-day trip was the subject of much planning and anticipation for the White House, and as it has been revealed, also caused a few headaches for the Chinese authorities. The Chinese Embassy in Wasington was forced to pay between US$20-$80 to each of a large number of Chinese students to convince them to show up and welcome their own President, reports have revealed. Photos taken by Tibetan activists and posted by The Epoch Times (TET) show students receiving money from Chinese officials, and interviews with students by undercover journalists revealed that they had been paid to wave flags and chant slogans. One young man even claimed he was fearful of consequences for his family back in China, and only agreed to come to Washington so as not to displease the Chinese authorities. It was established by TET journalists in phone conversations with Chinese Student and Scholar Associations (CSSA) that the Chinese government also paid the students' transportation and food costs, though officials kept this information secret, as they wanted the welcoming to seem natural and spontaneous. It is not clear if U.S. authorities actively cooperated in the farce or simply allowed it so that Hu's arrival would go smoothly. Organising convincing welcome parties for their political envoys is obviously an important job for the Chinese
A photograph of a photograph that shows money being apportioned to several individuals in the welcoming group mobilized for Chairman Hu Jintao's visit. A woman in a brown coat on the left is holding a name list, while a man in a black jacket stands in front of her with a handful of cash. The photograph was taken surreptitiously by a Tibetan activist and shared with The Epoch Times. This image is a photograph of the original image the Tibetans took. (Lisa Fan/The Epoch Times )
authorities. Photos of a joyful and festive nature are needed as fuel for the Xinhua propoganda machine within China's borders, and photos of angry protesters holding placards and waving Tibetan flags would cause a great deal of embarrassment for the Chinese leader. In a democratic country, however, you cannot control the views of the public nor prevent them from being expressed. As the bribed Chinese students put on their best false welcoming faces, the Tibetan activists who witnessed the transaction held up the incriminating photos, shouting "Shame! You were paid!" as a number of other protestors were shielded from the President's view. The high profile of Hu's visit clearly made the Chinese Embassy nervous, knowing that on foreign soil they could not control public opinion as they can in China. They know well that Hu is
largely seen outside of China as a communist dictator, albeit a slightly awkward and ridiculous one. Obama and Hu may have shaken hands, posed for lovely photos, and made a bold statement of cooperation to the world, but the people waiting voluntarily to greet the State visitor showed a far different reaction. While Obama was cautious with his words on the subjects of Tibet and Taiwan and failed to engage with Hu on any real issue, the protesting public voiced their true opinions and opposition to China's continued human rights violations. It is not the first time a State visit from China has caused problems, for both American organisers and the Chinese Embassy, and it certainly won't be the last. After all, fooling 1.3 billion people is not an easy thing to do.
.......Calls for Dialogue Between China and Tibet US Democratic Leader Calls for Subreligion, freedom of assembly.'' The Tibetan issue along with that of the human rights was strongly raised by Obama and his team during talks with the Chinese delegation led by Hu. However, according to the U.S media reports, there was no mention of Tibet in the joint US-China statement issued later in the day. Just ahead of the Obama-Hu talks, as many as 39 Tibetan associations and support groups in the US had urged Obama in a letter to raise the issue of Tibet in particular human rights condition there with Hu. "President Obama understands the Tibet problem as a trespass against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and a challenge to China's peaceful rise," said Mary Beth Markey, President of the International Campaign for Tibet. Observing that Tibet is an integral part of the US-China relationship for moral, historical and strategic reasons, the letter said the position the US has adopted on Tibet creates an incumbent duty on this Administration to continue to raise the issue with Chinese leaders at the highest levels. "Tibet must be on the agenda of your summit with President Hu," demanded
the US-based Tibetan organisations. The Tibetan organisations also urged Obama that the Administration should continue to press China's leadership for results-oriented negotiations to achieve a political solution for Tibet and engage China in topical areas, including education policies pertaining to Tibetans and regional discussions on water security. Meanwhile, a number of Tibetan organisations held a day long demonstration in front of the White House protesting against the alleged Chinese brutalities in Tibet. Displaying banners and shouting slogans; saying "Hu failed leader", "CCP dead prarty", "free Tibet now", they were demanding freedom and human rights for Tibetans in Tibet. "Since the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989, there has been bipartisan concern in the Congress about the human rights situation in China and Tibet, the support of the Chinese government for rogue states, and China's unfair trade practices, which have ballooned our trade deficit from USD 5 billion a year to USD 5 billion a week. "In recent years, climate change and clean energy has also been a key focus
of our relationship with China," said Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Leader in the US House of Representatives. "It is my hope that Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the US is marked by candor and progress on these issues," said Pelosi in a statement. Pelosi, the former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, has been a strong supporter of the cause of the Tibetan people. Earlier at a Congressional hearing, Congressman Christopher Smith alleged that Hu was responsible for massacre of people in Tibet. "Let's not forget that in 1989, just a few months before the massacre at Tiananmen Square, Hu Jintao was Beijing's iron fist in Tibet, the man who ordered the savage beating of Tibetan nuns and monks, even children," said the US lawmaker from New Jersey. "There are eyewitness accounts of children being pummeled to death and the murder of hundreds of Tibetans. Hu Jintao presides over a gulag state, clearly a dictatorship," he said. "President Hu is directly responsible for the systematic detention and torture of millions of peaceful Chinese, Tibetans and Uighurs," Smith alleged.
stantive China-Tibet Dialogue
Speaker Boehner and Congressional leaders meet with President Hu Jintao of China. January 20, 2011. Photo courtesy of Speaker John Boehner's office By Ye-Rinne Park, The Tibet Post
Washington: During his state visit to the United States, Chinese President Hu Jintao would have sorely avoid the Human Rights topic. After President Obama publicly raised the issue few days ago, Hu had to face interjections concerning China's policy during an hour-long meeting with White House leaders on last Thursday. "We raised our strong, ongoing
concerns with reports of human rights violations in China, including the denial of religious freedom, and the use of coercive abortion as a consequence of the ‘one child' policy. When it comes to guaranteeing the freedom and dignity of all her citizens, including and especially the unborn, Chinese leaders have a responsibility to do better, and continued on page 8..........
TPI TIBET
The Tibet Post
Human Error Caused Deadly Mudslide in Drugchu, Tibet
31 January, 2011 Dharamsala
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Quake-struck Eastern Tibet Reconstructed Under Chinese Name By Ye-Rinne Park, The Tibet Post
A view shows the landslide-hit Zhouqu County of Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province August 9, 2010. Chinese rescuers armed with little more than shovels and hoes on Monday hunted for survivors of a huge mudslide, as relatives of the near 1,300 still missing trekked into the disaster zone to look for their loved ones. REUTERS/Aly Song (CHINA - Tags: DISASTER IMAGES OF THE DAY) By Ye-Rinne Park, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: Human development was at the heart of last year's deadly mudslide at Druchu, in the province of Amdo, eastern Tibet, said recently a Chinese top researcher, Jiang Giaoming. The disaster, which happened last August, killed 1,239 people while more than 505 went missing. The mudslide was perceived as a consequence of heavy rainfalls, though some bloggers citing Chinese official reports have already pinpointed the role of human activities. In an article published on the website China Dialogue, Jiang declared that "extreme weather played a central role in this series of tragedies, of course. But the ability of humans to increase the risk and impact of such crises should not be overlooked." Druchu "was once known for its forests, rich water resources, fertile land and pleasant climate. But after the felling of tens of billions of cubic metres of timber and the construction of huge numbers of hydropower dams, the area's hills have been left barren and unable to
absorb rainfall", he explained. The article, entitled "Human Error", denounces deforestation, construction of hydropower dams and lack of urban planning as the three main reasons of the disaster. "Unchecked tree felling and trading eventually led to the county's forestry resources diminishing by 100,000 cubic metres per year", Jiang declared. "The rapid flow as the [Bailong] river passes down through the mountains makes this an ideal area for building hydropower facilities - and many have been built. But with no thought given to upstream ecologies, such projects have increased the likelihood of mudslides", he added. Quoting the mudslide in Drugchu as a "powerful example" of the risk of human development, Mr Jiang concluded by saying that the region "exploited its mountains, its water and its rivers and, in return, suffered a powerful mudslide. (...) It is time for an approach to human development that avoids putting environment, lives and property at risk simply for the sake of economic growth."
....Forceful Resettlement of Nomads Still Ongoing in Tibet By Ye-Rinne Park, The Tibet Post
000 families are expected to move into new homes by 2013. Around 300 000 families in Tibet, involving 1.43 million nomads and farmers were moved into new or fixed settlement homes since 2006. Quoted by the Annual Report 2010 published by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) this month, this vast initiative led by the Chinese government has been criticized by a bunch of associations as a threat to the Tibetan nomadic culture. Also known as the Western Development Strategy, those programs are presented by Chinese as a way to respond to the degradation of pasture lands and to control disasters in the low lands of the country. If the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Olivier De Schutter, notes that
there is little doubt about the damages, he however pointed out the limits of this very process in a recent report. Highlighted as a "vulnerable group" in the document, Tibetan nomads have no other option than to sell their herds and resettle. The association Free Tibet explains on its website that the "livestock are seized, and often slaughtered. Compensation is often small and nomads' attempts to complain against the arbitrary measures are ignored by the local authorities". Tibetan nomads are said to have complained that after one year of payment following their settlement, most of them have remained without any means, or government aid, to sustain themselves. For the newly settled nomads, their "lack of education and skills to find employment in Tibet's increasingly urban economy" often leave them in a
Dharamshala: Cities from the Tibetan area of Yushu, eastern Tibet (Tib: Kham) destroyed after the earthquake of April 2010 will soon be rebuilt under new Chinese names, said a report released by a Chinese official media. According to Xinhua, Qinghai provincial governor Luo Huining announced last week that "in light of the post-quake rebuilding work and Qinghai's urbanization drive", Yushu County will be transformed "into a city with a new temporary name of Sanjiangyuan [The Three River Sources]." Among the cities of that area, Chinese authorities are said to be focusing on Gyegu, where 3000 people died and more than 100 000 resident were left homeless after the 7.1 magnitude earthquake. "We will strive to build Gyegu Town into a commerce and logistics center and a tourist city", said Mr Wang. This initiative causes more than a little concern to the Tibetan inhabitants who
A mother and son, victims of Kyigudo quake hit on 14th April2010. Photo: TPI
constitute 90% of the population. Despite their strong presence, Tibetans have been excluded from the reconstruction process, controlled by Chinese authorities. Mary Beth Markey, President of U.S. based NGO the International Campaign for Tibet, explained that
"this contravenes [the Chinese] own ‘ethnic autonomy' laws and creates further distress among those already devastated by loss and dispossession. There is also a danger that historic Tibetan buildings that survived the quake may now be razed in the reconstruction."
Tibetans and Indians Discuss Tibet's Environmental Issues By Ye-Rinne Park, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: The newly established Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society (ITFS) in Aurangabad passed a resolution seeking a 'Legislative Forum for Tibet in the Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly' during its first meeting this month. Over 400 people, including the mayor of Aurangabad city and representatives of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile discussed major issues concerning Tibet on that occasion. The meeting especially highlighted environmental concerns, as Mrs Ngawang Lhamo, member of the Tibetan Parliament-inExile, denounced the deteriorating situation of Tibet's environment and its impact on neighbouring countries including India. The topic has been at the core of debates concerning Tibet for many years. His Holiness the Dalai Lama already tackled the problem in 1996, during a conference called "Endangered Tibet" held in Australia. He especially underlined the importance of preserving forests and rivers. "Many of the rivers
situation of poverty. Beside the practical issues and the number of critical consequences of the resettlement process, associations also point out motivations that are not only environmental. Nicholas Bequelin, a China researcher for Human Rights Watch, and author of a report concerning the topic, said Chinese spent hundreds of millions of dollars on resettling Tibetan nomads, partly to better control them. "The baseline, of course, is that China has a problem with the Tibetan population, Bequelin said. "They fear that their political loyalties are not with the Chinese state,
Mrs Ngawang Lhamo, member of the standing committee of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (3rd R) with members of Maharashtra state legislative assembly at the first-ever meeting of Indo-Tibetan Friendship Society in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India, on 2 January 2011/TPiE Photo
which flow through large areas of Asia, through Pakistan, India, China, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, rivers such as the Yellow river, Brahmaputra, Yangtse, Salween and Mekong, all originate in Tibet. (...) The pollution of these rivers has a drastic effect on the down-stream
and that they stand in the way of exploiting the natural riches of these areas, natural riches that are needed to fuel China's economic development." In his recent rapport, UN Special Rapporteur, De Schutter, underlined the contradictions of Chinese attitude, as they ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights that prohibits depriving any people from its means of subsistence, and the 1992 Convention on Biodiversity which acknowledges the importance of indigenous communities as guarantors and protectors of biodiversity (Art. 8 j).
countries", he explained. Recently, a conference held in Delhi described Tibet's environment as crucial for the survival issue of India and other countries irrigated by those rivers. Mrs Jaya Jaitley, a social activist, raised awareness on dams built on the Brahmaputra: "If India doesn't voice out against this then the whole of northeastern region of India could one day become a desert if India is deprived of the water flowing from Tibet's glaciers", she said, adding that "it is in India's interest to see that Tibet's grazing lands are protected and that Tibet's waters are preserved". During the ITFS meeting in Aurangabad, Mrs Lhamo also spoke on the current status of the dialogue process between the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Chinese authorities. She appealed for the support of the people and both the state and central government of India for the realisation of a constructive dialogue process.
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31 January, 2011 Dharamsala
TPI TIBET IN EXILE
Brussels Based Tibetan NGO Gives the Exile Community New Mobility
Coordinators of this project are Dennis Barbion with a Tibetan student from TCV, Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI By Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: A new project has been announced to provide Tibetan refugees with a basic need that has gone unfilled for some time- shoes! The shoe-drive is being led by the Belgian organisation "Tibetaanse Vlaamse Vriendenkring" (Tibetan Flemish Circle of Friends), which involves itself in work of a cultural, educational and social nature for Tibet. The coordinators spear-heading the project, Dennis Barbion (former UNFFT Ambassador for Belgium and Europe) and Marijke Reynaer, first discovered their love of the Tibetan community in October 2007, during a three-week Buddhist pilgrimage through India. The pair began their journey in Dharamsala, the largest outpost for Tibetans-in-exile, and were deeply moved by the stories they heard there about life in Tibet under the Chinese occupation, and the escape of many to Nepal and India. They discovered that life will never be easy for people who have been forced to escape their own country and deal
with the repercussions of an unjust war and invasion, and who then seek refuge in a foreign land in search of freedom, the preservation of their culture and education in their own language. In 2008, Dennis and Marijke returned to Dharamshala to visit their Tibetan friends. Upon asking those they met what they could bring for them the next time they visited the town, the reply was unanimous: "shoes"! So this was their project: to organise a small fund-raising project to raise money for shoes. The project, though modest, raised enough cash to provide 80 pairs of shoes to the community, an unexpected success! Pictures of the project can be seen on Flickr at http:// w w w. f l i c k r. c o m / p h o t o s / dennisbarbion/ New Year, New Initiative Refugees often spend months or even years traveling through the Himalayas searching for safe passage to Nepal and India, and the long journey is often undertaken in a state of poor health
and without adequate clothing and footwear. Life in Dharamshala is also challenging, as the roads and paths are rocky and in poor condition, and everything must be done on foot. The refugees often arrive with nothing and a new pair of shoes can be expensive. For just $ 20,00 (• 15,00 or £ 13,00) you can donate a new pair of shoes and help give someone a new start. Put yourself in a refugee's shoes, and you might not be very comfortable! The contribution you make will be greatly appreciated by whomever gets to wear your shoes, which will be bought and delivered in April 2011 beginning at the "Jampaling elder's home", a home for elderly Tibetans. It is difficult to start all over again and providing even one pair of shoes can help put someone 'back on their feet', so to speak! Tibetan refugees are ordinary people faced with incredible hardships and obstacles, and overcoming them is made infinitely more possible by a simple pair of shoes. To donate a pair of shoes, please send $ 20 (or the amount you wish to give!) to the special "Shoe Project 2011" account: BE25 9795 9253 2282 (BICcode: ARSPBE22 - name of the bank: ARGENTA). Please add "Shoe project 2011" to the transfer. If you wish to make a transfer via Western Union, or know more about the project, please contact Dennis: dennis.barbion@telenet.be This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , tel. 0032-50.78.17.55 We are hoping to raise more funds in the 2011 project than before, and we hope you can find it in your heart to help us out. Make a donation of $ 20 and do your part to support refugees. Provide a Tibetan refugee with a pair of shoes, and help get them back on their feet !
........India-Born Girl First Tibetan to Get Indian Citizenship These Tibetans have 25-year-old Namgyal Dolkar to thank, who although born in India was declined citizenship and termed 'stateless'. Dolkar became the first Tibetan to get Indian citizenship after Delhi High Court ruled in her favour last month. ''I am a Tibetan at heart, but now I am an Indian citizen. I believe one should be aware of one's rights, and I got my rights due to my awareness,'' she told TOI. Dolkar said she hoped her case would help others Tibetans struggling for an identity in India. ''For one year, Dolkar's queries went unheard. We sent a legal notice, but after it failed to get a response, we approached the Delhi High Court,'' said Roxna S Swamy, Dolkar's lawyer. ''I found that Tibetans, who are eligible for citizenship as per the amended 1986 Citizenship Act, were not aware of it,'' she said. ''According to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 1986, any person born in India on or after January 26, 1950, but prior to the commencement of the 1986 Act on July
1, 1987, is citizen of India by birth.'' Born in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, on April 13, 1986, and brought up in Dehradun, Dolkar never thought her quest for national identity would lead to a legal battle that would turn out to be a milestone for her exiled community. The battle began after she applied for an Indian passport in March 2008 in Delhi. The passport office rejected her application, saying her parents were Tibetans. In response to her application, the passport office wrote back on September 1, 2009 that the ministry of external affairs had decided that she could not get a passport and be treated as an Indian. Dolkar then approached the high court. Justice S Muralidhar on December 22, ruled Dolkar was entitled to citizenship. The court had also ordered MEA to pay her a compensation of Rs 5,000, and give her a passport within two months. Dolkar is no ordinary Tibetan. She is the oldest of four siblings who claim descent from Tibet's 33rd King
Songtsen Gampo, ruler of Tibet in the 7th century. In June 2004, during a coronation ceremony presided over by the Dalai Lama, her younger brother, Namgyal Wangchuk Trichen Lhagyari, was ordained descendent of the first dharma King Songtsen Gampo. Dolkar said she hoped her case would help others Tibetans struggling for an identity in India. ''For one year, Dolkar's queries went unheard. We sent a legal notice, but after it failed to get a response, we approached the Delhi High Court,'' said Roxna S Swamy, Dolkar's lawyer. ''I found that Tibetans, who are eligible for citizenship as per the amended 1986 Citizenship Act, were not aware of it,'' she said. ''According to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 1986, any person born in India on or after January 26, 1950, but prior to the commencement of the 1986 Act on July 1, 1987, is citizen of India by birth.'' Born in HP and brought up in Dehradun, Dolkar never thought her quest for national identity would lead to a legal battle.
The Tibet Post
The Tibet's Football Team Invited to Join 2012 VIVA World Cup
Tibetan National Football Teme Photo: TPI files
By Ye-Rinee Park, The Tibet Post Dharamshala: The Tibet National Football Team will perhaps be part of the 2012 VIVA World Cup. Organised by the NF-Board (Nouvelle FédérationBoard, unofficially Non-FIFA-Board), the international event seeks to gather "teams that represent nations, dependencies, unrecognized states, minorities, stateless peoples, regions and micronations not affiliated to FIFA." On January 22, the Tibetan National Sports Association (TNSA) attended the 7th meeting held by the NF-Board in Barcelona, alongside France, Italy, Spain, Kurdistan, and many other nations. Ven. Thupten Wangchen, of the Casa del Tibet in Barcelona, introduced the TNSA through an audiovisual production presenting the Tibetan sports body's functioning and its history. He talked about the tournaments and matches in which the Tibetan national football team had participated in the past and the selection processes for the team. According to Ven. Wangchen, the representatives at the meeting appreciated the progress
the Tibetan football team had made in the past considering its strict financial constraints. Already a candidate for the VIVA World Cup in 2010, the Tibet National Football Team, also known as ‘The Forbiddens", failed to be part of the event. The NFBoard explained that only 12 teams (8 men's and 4 women's) were selected among the 18 registered that year. The selection is said to be done mostly on an economical basis, and "teams like Tibet or Groenland for example will find some difficulties paying out 55 000 dollars to come and play." Launched for the first time in November 2006 in Occitania (South of France), the VIVA World Cup was organised every year until 2010, before the NF-Board decided to hold it every two years, alternately with the Island Games, another international sporting competition. The Tibetan football team has participated in two international tournaments in the past, the FIFI (Federation of International Football Independents) Wild Cup and the ELF (Equality, Liberty, Fraternity) Cup.
Tibetan Prime Minister Election Opinion Poll Now Open
Kalontripa election poll banner. Photo: TPI By Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: Following the official announcement of the final three Kalon Tripa (Tibet's prime minister) candidates by the Election Commission on January 19, an opinion poll has been opened online to provide a forum for Tibetan electorates to share opinions and generate statistical data for analysis. Participants in the poll must be Tibetan and registered to vote, and are allowed to make ONE
contribution each. It takes only 2-3 minutes to complete, and responses are anonymous, so you will not be required to identify yourself at any point. The closing date for the poll is the 10th of March 2011, and participants are encouraged to spread the news to as many others as possible to increase the amount of data available. The poll can be accessed with the following link: https://survey.uwyo.edu/ TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=m6KI953ML Anyone wishing to know more about the poll, or to help by serving as a volunteer, should contact the poll coordinator Denzi Yishey by email: E-mail: tenyeshi@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Website: http:// tenyeshi.blogspot.com
TPI INTERNATIONAL
The Tibet Post
Obama Urged to Press Hu Jintao to Release Nobel Peace Laureate
Cartoon by Kichka. Photo: RSF By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Paris: Reporters Without Borders reiterates its call for Nobel peace laureate Liu Xiaobo's release and urges the US government to firmly raise the issue of media freedom with Chinese President Hu Jintao and his delegation during the visit to U.S. that they are due to begin this evening. Just four days ago, US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said: "America will continue to speak out and press China when it censors bloggers and imprisons activists, when religious believers, particularly those in unregistered groups, are denied full freedom of worship, when lawyers and legal advocates are sent to prison simply for representing clients who challenge the government's positions." Reporters Without Borders hails Clinton's statement and calls on the Obama administration to put these good intentions into action. "China is the world's biggest prison for journalists," Reporters Without Borders said. "This is an opportunity to criticise censorship's increasing hold over Chinese society and to ask President Hu Jintao directly to free Liu Xiaobo and the 106 journalists and netizens detained in China. The US government must seize this opportunity. This is how it can demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression in China and elsewhere in the world." Reporters Without Borders also deplores the fact that the US government allowed the Chinese delegation's press centre to organize the joint news conference that will be given tomorrow, as only "official reporters" will be allowed to ask questions. The latest developments affecting freedom of expression in China: The start of 2011 has brought no sign of any improvement in respect for free expression. This was highlighted by the directives that the Propaganda Department has been giving to journalists in the past few weeks. Control of news and information is being tightened, Internet censorship is being reinforced, and the authorities have been broadening the range of methods used to harass those who defend free speech. The renowned writer and cyberdissident Li Hong (real name Zhang Jianhong), died on 31 December as a
result a disease that that was not treated during his three years in prison. A recently published interview has revealed that Gao Zhisheng, a human rights lawyer who has been missing since April 2010, was cruelly tortured during detention in 2009. His wife, Geng He, will be in Washington tomorrow. Three Tibetan writers, Kalsang Jinpa, Jangtse Donkho and Buddha, were sentenced to three or four years in prison on 30 December for articles they had written for the magazine Shar Dhung-Ri (Eastern Conch Hill). Tenpa Lodoe, a Tibetan writer who edits the magazine Dhunkyod (WalkForward) and who is better known by the pen-name of Gang-ga Champo, was arrested in Lhasa on 29 December because of his writings and his active defence of Tibetan culture. He is still being held illegally and his family is without news of him. Han Han, the world's most widely read blogger with 440 million visits to his blog (http://blog.sina.com.cn/ twocold), announced on 28 December that he would no longer publish his magazine, The Party, following pressure from the authorities. Finally, Liu Xiaobo, now the world's most famous prisoner of conscience, is still serving the 11-year sentence he was given for campaigning peacefully for democracy in China. His wife, Liu Xia, is still under house arrest, and his relatives and supporters are still subject to all kinds of harassment by the authorities. Amnesty International, Freedom House, Human Rights First, Human Rights Watch, International Campaign for Tibet, the Uyghur American Association and Reporters Without Borders sent a joint letter to US President Barack Obama on 13 January urging him to raise the issue of human rights with his Chinese counterpart (http://www.hrw.org/en/ news/2011/01/...). Reporters Without Borders today launched an international campaign in support of Liu Xiaobo in which people are urged to take pictures of themselves in the "Free Liu Xiaobo" T-shirt in recognizable locations all over the world. You too can support the appeal. For more information contact clc@rsf.org
31 January, 2011 Dharamsala
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Hu Jintao: Failed Leader, CCP: Dead Party: Tibetan Protesters By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Washington: Hundreds of Chinese, Tibetans and supporters loudly demonstrated outside the White House on Tuesday as Mr Hu Jintao, the President of communist China began a state visit to the United States. An array of delicate issues will be on the table for discussion during Hu's visit. The Obama administration has vowed to express concerns over China's currency, national security stance and human rights record. "We will continue to have difficult conversations" with Hu, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Tuesday. "We are here today to cry out for our human rights," Liu Tongxing, leader of the China Democracy Party, told AFP, as activists chanted slogans in Chinese. The protesters held up banners urging President Barack Obama to "admonish Hu" over human rights abuses and the conflict over Tibet when the two leaders meet at the White House. "We came here to live because in China we were deprived of our human rights. We want China to be like the United States, where everyone can express their opinion freely," Liu said through an interpreter. "We want people to be judged by the legal system, not by someone's personal opinion," he added, as the Chinese and US flags lining Pennsylvania Avenue rippled in the chilly winter breeze. As Tibetan activists have planned three days of protests in Washington during Hu's visit. Tibetan protesters marched up and down the pavement outside the White House under an icy rain as they brandished placards reading: "Tibet will be free" and called on Obama to raise the issue with Hu. The two leaders are due to hold talks in the Oval Office on Wednesday, the first full day of Hu's visit. "The activities of the Chinese government, the economic exploitation in Tibet and the resulting environmental
Hundreds of Chinese, Tibetans and supporters loudly demonstrated outside the White House on Tuesday as Mr Hu Jintao Photo: TPI
devastation of Tibet have consequences beyond Tibet's borders," Tenzin Dorjee, executive director of Students for a Free Tibet, told AFP. He accused China of damming rivers in Tibet that irrigate much of Asia, stripping the region of its mineral riches and killing off the nomadic and religious way of life on the remote plateau. "It is the responsibility of the entire world, and particularly the US government under the leadership of President Obama, to speak directly to the leadership responsible for these actions, to ask President Hu Jintao to speedily negotiate a resolution to this issue," Dorjee said. Standing across the road in Lafayette Square, where icicles hung from the statues of heroes of the 18th-century US revolutionary war, Sonam Wangdu handed out leaflets calling Hu a "failed leader." "There's no question the White House hears us," he said as the protesters used megaphones and wireless microphones to amplify their chants. "But they don't take action, because economically the US is under China. They can't do
anything," he said. US-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) last week released a scathing assessment of China's human rights record and dismissed a plan presented by Beijing two years ago to address such issues. The Chinese government still "tramples on many of the most basic rights," HRW's Asia advocacy director Sophie Richardson said, urging Obama and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to raise the thorny issue with Hu. She slammed a 2009 statement by Clinton that rights concerns would not "interfere" with US-China cooperation. Clinton said last week that human rights were at "the heart" of US diplomacy, and stressed that China, a founding member of the United Nations, "has committed to respecting the rights of all its citizens." Gibbs on Wednesday, also said that US officials would forcefully address the issue of human rights during talks with Hu. He added that they would discuss the plight of Obama's successor as Nobel peace laureate Liu Xiaobo, who is serving an 11-year jail term for coauthoring a petition on political reform.
British Govt. Accused of Sidelining Chinese Human Rights Violations By James Dunn, The Tibet Post
London: The British organisation, Free Tibet yesterday delivered a scathing statement on the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue, calling it, "a cosmetic, box-ticking exercise aimed at deflecting criticism" rather than dealing with the human rights violations occuring in Tibet. The statement follows a visit this week by China's super trade mission to the UK, led by Li Keqiang, a prominent member of the Chinese government, in which human rights has received little political attention. Free Tibet has been highly critical of this prioritisation, saying that the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue has been used as an excuse to sideline human rights talks both during British Prime Minister, David Cameron's visit to China and the recent Chinese visit. The Director of Free Tibet, Stephanie Brigden branded the British coalition government as a failure for not standing firm on human right's violations in China despite their manifesto commitment to, "seek a closer engagement with China, while standing firm on human rights". In
British Prime Minister David Cameron. Photo: File
a recent press release she also adds that the British government's focus on strengthening economic relations rather than China's human rights abuses, "betrays both the British public and people who are repressed by the Chinese regime". The betrayal of the British people, according to Ms Brigden, is based upon an opinion poll by ICM research last November, which
concluded that 74 per cent of Britons thought that human rights in China were "as important as" or "more important than" the question of boosting trade between the UK and China. London: The British organisation, Free Tibet yesterday delivered a scathing statement on the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue, calling it, "a cosmetic, Continues on Page 9
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31 January, 2011 Dharamsala
TPI TIBET IN EXILE
Tibetan EC Announces the Final list of Candidates for 2011 Elections
Chief Election Commissioner Mr Jamphel Choesang (C) and the two additional election commissioners, Ven. Geshe Rigzin Choedak (R) and Mr Jeper Yangkho Gyal, (L) during a press conference which held in Dharamshala, India, Wednesday, 19 Jan 2011. Photo: TPI/ Sangyal Dorjee By Ye-Rinne Park, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: Two months before the final round of the Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-inExile) election, three names are still in the running for next Tibet's PM. Wednesday, the Central Election Comission presented Mr Lobsang Sangay, Mr Tenzin Namgyal Tethong and Mr Tashi Wangdi as the remaining candidates for the elections. The preliminary polls, held on October 3, offered Mr Lobsang Sangay a comfortable first position with 22,489 votes out of the total 47,000 votes cast. Mr Tethong, Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile from 1993 to 1996, registered 12 319 votes, while Mr Wangdi, who served the Government-in-Exile as a cabinet minister, collected 2101 votes. "Initially, there were six candidates, but today, only three remain. We could have allowed them to contest for the final elections but some of them withdrew, some of them resigned", explained the Chief Election Comissioner, Mr Jamphel Choesang. For instance, Mrs Dolma Gyari, who was on the third position with 2733 votes, gave up after the preliminary round, justifying her decision by "the huge gap in the number of votes" she received, adding that she feels "very strongly that the public has given [to the first and the second candidate] the mandate for the run". Alongside the Kalon Tripa election, the Tibetan community in exile will vote for
the Parliamentary elections. 94 candidates are running for 44 seats. "The role of Tibetan Parliament is more important than the one of the Kalon Tripa", explained Mr Choesang. "If the Kalon Tripa doesn't perform his duty according tho rules of regulation (written in the election statutory book), the Parliament can impeach him and ask him to resign before the completion of his five years of duty. On the other side, the Kalon Tripa doesn't have the power to desolve the Parliament. Moreover, the Kalon Tripa is the head of our executive but he has to seek people's mandate, according to the democratic system. He cannot do anything individualy, unless he consultes the Tibetan Parliament, or, at a larger extend, the Tibetan people at large. That's why the Kalon Tripa's political role is more limited than our Parliament's one", he added. During the press conference held on Wednesday, Mr Choesang also raised the question of the participation, as abstention spectacularly went down from 73,2% at the last elections in 2006, to approximately 39% this year at the preliminary polls. The Election Comission announced it is still expecting more voters for the last polls on March 20, as it presented fresh registration dates from November 30, 2010, to January 17, 2011, for eligible voters who didn't go to the polls on the preliminary round in October.
Cabinet and MPs Discussed 12 Points of 1st General Meeting
By Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: The Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Mrs Dolma Gyari, presided over a meeting held on January 15 at the Parliamentary Secretariat, regarding the implementation of the First Tibetan General Meeting's final recommendations, approved by the Parliament during its 10th session. The 12-point recommendation consisted of matters relating to the political situation in Tibet, sustenance of Tibetan settlements in exile, economy and education and the advocacy of the Tibetan cause. It is the result of extensive parliamentary disscusions between 1618 December, during which time the Parliament's Standing Committee
Nancy Pelosi also tackled the detention of 2010 Nobel Peace Price, Liu Xiabo. "I had the opportunity to relay the concerns by Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle that Chinese human rights activist Liu Xiaobo was not permitted to travel to Norway to accept the Nobel Peace Prize in December, and about the continued detention of Liu and his wife Liu Xia, for peacefully exercising their rights to free expression", she said in a statement. Due to her positions and involvment for human rights, China is said to have been "scared to death" over her visit in the country two years ago, and rejected her request to visit to Tibet, according to files recently displayed
The members of the Parliament's Standing Committee and the Kashag during a meeting on the implementation of the First Tibetan General Meeting's final recommendation at the secretariat on 15 January 2011/ Photo by Tenzin Gyaltsen/TPiE
finalised its implimentation. 12 of these final recommendations were presented
and discussed with the Kashag during the January 15 meeting.
Condolences for Loss of the Deputy Speaker of Sudtirol Parliament By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: In being a voice for the Voiceless Tibetan people, The Tibet Post International is sad to hear the news about the passing away of Seppl Lamprecht, the former vice president of South Tyrol Parliament, Italy. The Tibet Post International remembers his long-term supports for Tibetan people and Tibet cause in general. Responding to a condolence letter to South Tyrol Parliament, Italy, the Tibetan parliament in exile on Sataurday (15 January) says "we, the standing committee of the Tibetan parliament, are thankful to receive the copy of condolence letter from The Tibet Post International, with its great attention of sending condolences for the passing away of Mr. Seppl Lamprecht, the former vice president of South Tyrol Parliament, Italy." "Unfortunately, my successor Seppl Lamprecht was passed away on Dec 28, 2010, after a heart-attack. He had gone to for medical checkups, and later died after he suffered heart-attack. It's a big lost for all of us, late Mr. Lamprecht was also good friend of Tibetan people and the cause of Tibet," said in a letter sent on 10 January by Dr Franz Pahl the former president of South Tyrol Parliament. We are deeply grieved to learn about passing away of Mr. Seppl Lamprecht, my colleagues in The Tibet Post International and Tibetan people convey our deepest and profound condolences to the family
............US Democratic Leader Calls for Substantive China-Tibet Dialogue the United States has a responsibility to hold them to account", declared speaker John A. Boehner after the meeting. Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi also asked China's President about the Tibetan freedom movement. Known as a strong supporter of the cause of the Tibetan people, Mrs Pelosi repeatedly pinpointed China's abuses and crackdowns in Tibet in the past. Last July, the former House Speaker called for a negociated agreement on Tibet and expressed her hope for "substantive discussions" between Chinese authorities and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. During the meeting held last Thursday,
The Tibet Post
by Wikileaks. As an answer to critics against China's policy, Hu Jintao denied his country had any expansionist intentions. He also said that Taiwan and Tibet "concern China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and they represent China's core interests" during a luncheon with senior US officials and business leaders. "A review of the history of our relations tells us that US-China relations will enjoy smooth and steady growth when the two countries handle well issues involving each other's major interests," Hu added. "Otherwise our relations will suffer constant trouble or even tension," he warned.
Late Seppl Lamprecht, the former vice president of South Tyrol Parliament, Ital. Photo: file
members of late Mr. Seppl Lamprecht and share this moment of sorrow and bereavement. Seppl Lamprecht served many years in the South Tyrolean parliament, has been the youngest MP and after elected simultaneously in the Regional Council of Trentino-Alto Adige. In the legislative period from 2003 to 2008 he was chairman of the SVP-Regional Group and in the parliamentary elections in 2008; he scored 10 713 preference votes and was elected as Vice President of the Regional Council. The 1-page resolution, passed on April 16 2008, further expresses the regional parliament's solidarity to the Tibetan people, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan Government and the Tibetan Parliament in exile, saying it "supports the values of democracy and non-violence also in a context of globalization".
The Regional Council of South Tyrol supports for many Tibet initiatives for many years. The former Regional President Dr. Franz Pahl expressed his strong support for Tibet many occasions, saying "Tibet is always at my heart", for example, in 2008, approved a resolution for Tibet under his chairmanship table that reaffirms the solidarity with the Tibetan people. In 2010, Seppl Lamprecht, met with Mr. Penpa Tsering, the speaker of the Tibetan exile parliament in exile at the Regional Council of Bolzano. During their meeting, the late Seppl Lamprecht said despite the national and regional parliaments close economic ties with the People's Republic of China, his people and government will support for the freedom expression of the Tibetan people and the Regional Trentino - South Tyrol will also continue its efforts in the future support for the people of Tibet."
...........Three Die in Egypt Revolt By Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post
camp out all night and made appeals on Facebook for food and blankets. Police forces moved in around 0100 local time and began using tear gas and water canons to disperse the crowds, who had pushed their way through to the parliament building, with reports of beatings occurring during the conflict. Eyewitnesses say demonstrators stormed the city chanting calls for the demission of President Hosni Mubarak, who has ruled since 1981.
Reports have surfaced that many news and social networking websites had been blocked by Egyptian authorities, with one Swedish site accusing officials of trying to control the news agenda. Riots also broke out in other cities with crowds in Alexandria shouting "Revolution, revolution, like a volcano, against Mubarak the coward." By dawn the protesters had been cleared, and cleaners were seen sweeping litter and debris from the streets.
TPI INTERNATIONAL 9 Tibetans and Supporters Urge EU Internships on Offer to Tibetan Youths The Tibet Post
31 January, 2011 Dharamsala
Obama to Raise Tibet with Hu
US President Barack Obama. Photo: Center for American Progress Action Fund By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: - A coalition of 39 Tibetan organizations and Tibet support groups across the United States sent a letter today to President Barack Obama asking that Tibet be a substantive part of the agenda during his meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao on January 19th. "President Obama and his administration must publicly and vigorously raise Tibet and human rights when he meets Chinese President Hu Jintao," said Tenzin Dorjee, Executive Director of Students for a Free Tibet. "Human rights and freedom for Tibetans - and indeed all people - are universal values that Americans hold dear and want championed when our leaders talk to China." The letter states that the United States' "long-standing history of supporting the Tibetan people creates an incumbent duty on this Administration
to continue to raise the issue with Chinese leaders at the highest levels." The visit comes at a time when Chinese leaders are escalating their violent and repressive policies in Tibet, including a full-scale attack against Tibetan writers, artists and intellectuals. The letter argues that China's failed policies in Tibet have consequences far beyond Tibet's borders. China's wide-scale construction of dams on the upper-reaches of Asia's largest rivers originating on the Tibetan plateau that flow into India, Cambodia and other neighboring countries, are fast becoming a potential source of regional instability. Students for a Free Tibet is planning a series of protests from January 18th20th in Washington, D.C. to coincide with Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit. A full schedule of the protests is available at: http:// www.studentsforafreetibet.org/hujintao
By Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post
Brussels: Two internships of four weeks each are being offered by Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to Tibetan youths in Europe: the first starting on March 1 and the second in late May. The internships were attained by the Bureau du Tibet Brussels, in the aim of giving Tibetan youths the opportunity to gain an understanding of the European Parliament and other EU institutions, working in a multicultural environment. Applicants must be over twenty years old (25 for Internship 1) and must have completed high school, and be able to provide a CV with cover letter in English to: Rigzin Choedon Genkhang Special Assistant Representative of H.H. the Dalai Lama Bureau du Tibet Avenue des Arts 24
MEPs voting in Strasbourg,plenary session 22-25 November 2010 Photo: www.europarl.europa.eu
1000 Brussels Belgium Email: chgenkhang@aol.com This e-mail address is being protected from
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Tibet's Cause Was Part of the Mumbai Marathon 2011 By Ye-Rinne Park, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: The Mumbai Marathon welcomed three pro-tibetan activists in its rows for its eight edition last sunday. Gandhian Peace Activist, Dr. Mahesh Yadav, along with Siddharth Bhatia and Bharat Mewade, created awareness among participants while holding pictures of Mahatma Gandhi and Tibet's spiritual and political leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They also distributed brochures on Tibet among the public and to the Indian and foreign tourists. "52 years have passed since the bloody capture of Tibet by the Killer China and still the Mahesh Yadav team for Tibet and peace. Photo: TPI
......Accused of Sidelining Chinese Human Rights Violations box-ticking exercise aimed at deflecting criticism" rather than dealing with the human rights violations occuring in Tibet. The statement follows a visit this week by China's super trade mission to the UK, led by Li Keqiang, a prominent member of the Chinese government, in which human rights has received little political attention. Free Tibet has been highly critical of this prioritisation, saying that the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue has been used as an excuse to sideline human rights talks both during British Prime Minister, David Cameron's visit to China and the recent Chinese visit. The Director of Free Tibet, Stephanie Brigden branded the British coalition government as a failure for not standing firm on human right's violations in China despite their manifesto commitment to, "seek a closer engagement with China, while standing firm on human rights". In a recent press release she also adds that the British government's focus on strengthening economic relations rather than China's human rights abuses, "betrays both the British public and people who are repressed by the Chinese regime". The betrayal of the British people, according to Ms Brigden, is based upon an opinion poll by ICM research last November, which concluded that 74 per cent of Britons thought that human rights in China were "as important as" or "more important
than" the question of boosting trade between the UK and China. The UK-China Human Rights Dialogue, which will conclude it's 19th session today, in London, has also been highly criticised by Tibetan campaigners, due to its apparent lack of results. British officials say the dialogue allows the government to "raise the UK's most serious areas of concern about the treatment of Chinese dissidents, while also presenting opportunities for more detailed, technical-level exchanges". A Foreign and Commonwealth Office official added: "Its main advantage is that it enables us to engage directly with policymakers in a constructive way." However, the Foreign Affairs Select Committee in its most recent annual report stated, "there is little evidence that the British Government's policy of constructive dialogue with China has led to any significant improvements in the human rights situation." The results of the dialogue, according to Ms Brigden, are unimportant to the British government, as she says the existence of the dialogue "allows both governments to say they address human rights concerns." This has led to the director of Free Tibet to call for the immediate suspension of the dialogue "until China demonstrates that it takes the process seriously," adding that such a move "would send a strong message to the Chinese regime that Britain means business when it comes
to human rights".The UK-China Human Rights Dialogue, which will conclude it's 19th session today, in London, has also been highly criticised by Tibetan campaigners, due to its apparent lack of results. British officials say the dialogue allows the government to "raise the UK's most serious areas of concern about the treatment of Chinese dissidents, while also presenting opportunities for more detailed, technical-level exchanges". A Foreign and Commonwealth Office official added: "Its main advantage is that it enables us to engage directly with policymakers in a constructive way." However, the Foreign Affairs Select Committee in its most recent annual report stated, "there is little evidence that the British Government's policy of constructive dialogue with China has led to any significant improvements in the human rights situation." The results of the dialogue, according to Ms Brigden, are unimportant to the British government, as she says the existence of the dialogue "allows both governments to say they address human rights concerns." This has led to the director of Free Tibet to call for the immediate suspension of the dialogue "until China demonstrates that it takes the process seriously," adding that such a move "would send a strong message to the Chinese regime that Britain means business when it comes to human rights".
World Community is silent over the Tibet issue whereas we shout loudly over the rights of meek animals and birds," explains M. Yadav. The Mumbai Marathon is known as one of the biggest road running competition in Asia. Thousands of participants, among which dignitaries and celebrities, participate every year to the event with banners supporting various causes. For M. Yadav, this event was an occasion to pursue a series of actions, as he aslo took thousands of signatures from the general public and dignitaries
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on a 52 feet long banners in the support of Tibet Freedom in a press conference organized on January 13th. He is also on a Global Peace March and Signature Campaign for Free Tibet from Sanchi to Lumbini to UN Office, Geneva. This Peace March started on the eve of Human Rights Day, December 09, 2010 from Sanchi and will conclude on March 10th, 2011 with a Satyagrah in front of the UN Office in Geneva. The 52 feet banner will be presented to the United Nations to gain support for the Tibet Cause by all the World Leaders.
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Contributors for this Editon James Dunn Matthew Singh Toor Ye-Rinne Park Carly Selby James YC. Dhardhowa Sangay Dorjee Pema Tso The Tibet Post International C/o Exile House (Head Office) 1st Floor, Exile House, Temple Road, Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala, Distt. Kangra H.P 176219 India
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TPI H.H DALAI LAMA Tibet's Leader Condoles Tibet's Leader Graces the 220th founding anniv. ceremony of SSU Families of Brazilian 31 January, 2011 Dharamsala
The Tibet Post
flood Victims
His Holiness the Dalai lama of Tibet. Photo: TPI By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual and political leader of Tibet on Friday, has sent Brazil his condolences, prayers and solidarity following the recent floods that engulfed some parts of that country this week. In a letter sent to President Dilma Vana Rousseff dated 14 January, "His Holiness the Dalai Lama offered his prayers and condolences to those who lost their lives and the families and others affected by the recent devastating flooding in Brazil." Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama said "he is deeply saddened by the loss of so many lives and property as a result of what is considered the worst natural disaster in Brazil's history that has ravaged the south-eastern parts of the country". President Dilma Rousseff visited the affected areas and described the
catastrophe as "overwhelming and shocking." Thousands of people have been rendered homeless as ravaging flood waters inundated thousands of residential homes. Rescuers are using helicopters to search for survivors in the worst hit areas of Teresopolis, Nueva Friburgo and Petropolis. Heavy rainfall continues to hamper rescue operations and the fear of increase in death toll keeps on mounting. At least 350 people were killed as torrents of water and mud swept through the several mountain towns near Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, burying many families as they slept. The heavy rains also killed 13 people in Sao Paulo state on Tuesday. The total official number of people killed in the floods is not clear, but media reports from that country indicate that it might have climbed to 500.
By YC. Dhardhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: Sampurnanand Sanskrit University celebrated its 220th foundation day in Varaanasi on January 17, 2011. A three-day seminar was organized to commemorate the occasion. Tibet's political and spiritual leader His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama inaugurated the function. Sampurnanand Sanskrit University vice-chancellor V Kutumb Shastri delivered the keynote address on the importance of Sanskrit learning and contributions of the university. According to a report by Times of India, under a proposal of Jonathan Duncan, the then resident of East India Company and the approval of Governor General Lord Cornwallis, this institution-- then Government Sanskrit College-- was established in 1791. In 1956 Varanaseya Sanskrit University Act was passed Objectives of the university: To establish an international centre for the study of and research in the Sanskrit literature To co-ordinate the oriental and occidental currents of thoughts while preserving the ancient tradition To provide for the traditional method of study, teaching etc, of the Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit Languages and the subject connected with them on the ancient India To study and do researches in the comparative critical study of Indian culture as well as the cultures connected therewith so that is may be co-ordinate, as far as possible, with the human culture To produce new and talented scholars who are well-versed in the knowledge of traditional Sanskrit and who are fully acquainted with modern thoughts, and are capable of carrying on comparative study on modern lines
St. Joseph College Gears up for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Visit By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Bangalore; January, 23-Tibt's spiritual and political leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the noble peace prize laureate is scheduled to visit St. Joseph college of Arts and Science, Bangalore on coming Sunday. "His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been invited to attend S. Nijalingappa memorial function at Chitraduga 500
Kilometers from Bangalore on coming Saturday." Said Tashi Phuntsok, the chief representative of Central Tibetan Administration in South India (CTA). It is said that Mr. Nijalingappa was the first Karnataka chief minister, and the one who initially welcomed the Tibetan refugees into Karnataka state. The address at the college will be followed by a public talk on "Finding
KAGYU OFFICE ANNOUNCEMENT Our lineage and His Holiness the Karmapa enjoy the love, trust and faith of millions across the world. We have a rich history of public service made possible through financial dealings that are entirely transparent. We will certainly answer all questions that the press and the public have, but for now we respectfully request you to allow us to concentrate on complying fully with the investigation that is underway. Karma Chungyalpa General Secretary and Spokesperson, Karmapa Office of Administration
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Happiness in Troubled Times," organized by the Foundation for the preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) and Choe Khor Sum Ling at the National College Ground, Basanavagudi in the afternoon. Being asked, how the idea of inviting Dalai Lama came up, Dr. (Fr.) Ambrose Pinto, the principal of St. Joseph College said that the Dalai Lama is the symbol of love and peace and a universal leader. "Our college is open for all communities irrespective of sex, caste, color, race and nationality, and we have 116 Tibetan students in our college as of now, " The principal said. "Supporting Dalai Lama means denouncing the oppression, and suppression, and as well as announcing hope, determination, and brotherhood." "Entry for the talk at both the places in the city on Sunday is open for all, and after the talk, His Holiness will leave for Mungud; one of the biggest Tibetan refugee settlements in India." Said Tashi Phuntsok. About the author Tendar Tsering is a graduate student in the the Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media (IIJNM), Bangalore, India. You can reach him at tendar.t@iijnm.org
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama inaugurates foundation day function of Sampurnanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi, India on 17 January 2011. Photo: TPI
To expend, spread and enlarge the Sanskrit language and the Indian culture in all directions
To collect and publish rare Sanskrit books and to revise, edit and publish important Sanskrit manuscripts
Tibetan Leader Thanks People of Himalayan Region For Support
His Holiness the Dalai Lama waves to the audience before the teachings in Sarnath, India, on January 15th, 2011. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: Tibet's spiritual and political leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed his gratitude to the people of the Himalayan region for their efforts in preserving Tibet's cultural heritage, which he said is facing destruction under the Chinese government's wrong policy, on Thursday, 13 January 2010 in Varanasi, India. His Holiness was speaking to an exclusive gathering of over 7,000 Buddhist devotees from the Himalyan regions of Ladakh, Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Nepal, Kalimpong, Darjeeling, and Sikkim. His Holiness described genuine autonomy as the solution to the survival of Tibet. "The issue of Tibet is not only political, but also related with Buddhism. The latter cannot exist unless Tibet gets freedom on genuine autonomy. The Chinese government last year tried to bring about an education policy to teach all subjects in Chinese, thereby making Tibetan language ineffective. The Tibetan culture is rooted in its language
and to weaken the source of Tibet's religion and culture is a long-term malicious intention." His Holiness commended the growing number of students from India's Himalayan region such as Ladakh, Kinnaur, Tawang and others joining Tibetan monasteries in India to study Buddhism. His Holiness recounted how in earlier times people of the Himalayan regions faced great difficulties to go to faraway Tibet for study. "It is good for them that Tibetans are in exile, as they get easy access to many Tibetan Buddhist learning centres in India," he said. His Holiness emphasised the importance of developing inner values along the material progress. "Even scientists are showing keen interest on moral ethics as the need of today's world," he said. His Holiness told the devotees to study Buddha's teachings to bring positive changes within themselves. He also told them follow and preserve one's own ancestral Buddhist religion.