The Tibet Post International

His Holiness Awarded Golden Seal

Tibetan

Democracy Day in Photos: page 4......

Vol. 01, Issue 26, 15th September 2010

HH Confers Avalokiteshvera Initiation

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Tibetans Celebrate 50th Democracy Day: His Holiness Awarded Golden Seal

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

His Holiness the Dalai Lama attending the 50th Tibetan Democracy Day in Bylakuppe, on 2 Sept 2010. Photo: TPI By: Jimmy Halliday, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama concluded his teachings on the 37 Practices of the Bodhisattava Septermber 9 and will perform the Avalokiteshvera initiation ceremony tomorrow.

The teachings today in Mcleodganj, north India, covered Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo's famous verses which guide the day-to-day practice of a Bodhisattava.

The concise and clear nature of the text is commonly considered to make it accessible to Western audiences.

Tomorrow's ceremony will provide an opportunity for participants to commit to a set of practices which include striving to liberate all sentient beings from Samsara. His Holiness jokingly noted that, as he is often referred to as a trouble-maker, it seems a contradiction for him to confer an initiation where participants commit not to cause trouble.

Tibetans Under Chinese Guns

China has tightened security in Tibetan capitla Lhasa ahead of the 50th Tibetan democracy Day (Photo taken in August 2010) Photo: TPI.

Dharamshala: The Tibetan capital of Lhasa remains in the state of siege which began in 2008 - full of armed soldiers and Tibetan people living under Chinese guns - according to an article published

by Tibetan writer Tsering Woeser.

Woeser reports that there are still regular arrests, unfair convictions and disappearances. Page 2.

Bylakuppe: Tibetans around the world today (September 2) celebrated the 50th Tibetan D e m o c r a c y D a y, w h i c h m a r k s t h e anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's efforts to transform Tibetan society into a democracy.

In Bylakuppe, south India, thousands of people, including Indian and foreign guests and dignitaries, attended festivities, along with a host of senior Tibetan functionaries.

The Tibetan Parliament-in-exile honoured the 75-year-old Dalai Lama with a gold seal, in expression of the Tibetan people's gratitude for his work. His Holiness expressed his thanks in return.

Around 17 members of parliament from 13 countries joined the celebrations, and His Holiness told them, "Your support has immensely helped the people of the international community to get a better understanding and knowledge about the issue of Tibet. " I t h a s a l s o c o n t r i b u t e d to r a i s i n g t h e awareness of the Chinese people living inside China about the reality of the Tibetan issue, despite the strict restriction imposed by the government on the flow of information. I hope the wholehearted efforts of the international community to support the issue of Tibet will definitely bear fruit."

His Holiness praised the younger Tibetan generation for maintaining their identity and

His Holiness the Dalai lama attending the 50th Tibetan Democracy Day celebration in Bylakuppe, South India on 2nd September 2010. Photo: TPI

adhering to the spirit of non-violence.

"During the last 51 years, many changes have been developed from the old to the new generation," he said. "Thousands of younger Tibetans have been dispersed around the world, including India, USA, Canada, Europe, and Australia.

"Most of the younger generation has

Tibetan Professionals Develop Global Vision

Monitors Proposed for Tibetan Elections

Members of INPaT attending the 50th Tibetan Democracy Day celebrations Photo: TPI

Dharamshala: A group of international parliamentarians has proposed the independent monitoring of the 15th Tibetan parliamentary and prime-ministerial elections in 2011.

Members of the International Network for Parliamentarians on Tibet (INPaT), who attended the 50th Tibetan Democracy Day celebrations in Bylakuppe yesterday (September 2), met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan election commissioner Jampal Chosang. They discussed the possibility of having independent observers from the international community attend the 2011 elections, to monitor first-hand the advances made by the exile Tibetan democracy.

INPaT representatives reiterated the importance of the international community pressuring China to come to the table to negotiate a way of achieving genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people.

Next year, INPaT will stage an event for parliamentarians from around the world to discuss ways of improving the dialogue between Tibet and China.

Tibetan prime minister, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, speaking to Tibetan perfessionals in Dharamshala, India on 6th September 2010: Photo: TPI/file By: Jimmy Halliday, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala. The inaugural Global Tibetan Professionals Summit began today (September 6) with a speech by Professor Rinpoche, the Honorable Kalon Tripa (Tibetan Prime Ministerin-exile).

Around 90 delegates from around the world gathered for the summit in Dharamsala, north India, which aims to provide an opportunity for networking, the discussion of issues facing Tibetans and the development of a shared vision

of ways to contribute to the community.

The forum promotes the idea of a 'virtuous circle', or mentoring system, and defines the collective power of Tibetan professionals as a weapon in the "struggle against Chinese government and efforts to save unique cultural heritage". Beyond its economic and professional programmes, it also aims to tackle political and social issues, and so help to build "a new type of Tibetan society and a new generation of Tibetans in diaspora and inside Tibet". continued on page 3

maintained their Tibetan sense of self and identify closely with the Tibetan struggle.

Their strengths are remained very strong."

"Even though there are many changes between the old and the new generation, there is no doubt that our struggle for truth, non-violence, compassion and for the Tibet cause will be continued for the generations to come. Regarding Tibetan people inside Tibet, they have suffered and have faced adversity for the last 50 to 60 years. Their l i v e s a r e i n c o n s t a n t d a n g e r, y e t t h e i r strength and struggle remain unshakable."

His Holiness also praised the growing concern among Chinese intellectuals and communist leaders about the political changes happening in China. "These days, Chinese intellectuals and many of party leaders are openly concerned about certain political changes in China," he said.

"This is a big change. If someone expressed this 50 years ago - inviting others to a meeting to discuss these issues - they would surely be jailed. Now it is not like that. Even leaders among the communist party are concerned about changing their political view in general, and particularly the policy toward minority groups in China."

The Kashag (executive cabinet of the Tibetan government-in-exile) issued a statement saying, "Whatever accomplishments we have been able to achieve in attaining greater freedom in terms of rule of law and democracy is all due to the efforts made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama," and included a detailed account of far-reaching democratic reforms initiated and encouraged by His Holiness.

The Tibetan Parliament-in-exile stated that 50 years of successful democratic process in the Tibetan exile community has fully exposed the Chinese government for deluding the international community by lying and leveling groundless accusations against His Holiness of reviving feudal society.

In Dharamshala, north India - home of the government-in-exile - Tibetans performed traditional songs and dances at their main temple to commemorate the occasion.

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15th September, 2010 Dharamsala

TPI VIEWS AND DISCUSSIONS

China and Tibet: Who Will Move Next?

The Tibet Post

Tibetan Prime-ministerial Candidates in Historic Debate

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post.

A Tibetan monk protesting in New Delhi just after heavy crackdowns in Tibet in 2008.

Photo: TPI

By Jimmy Halliday, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Two articles by different authors, published together in the South China Morning Post today (11 September), demonstrate the current impasse in Sino-Tibetan relations and the lack of trust felt around further negotiations. With both sides claiming to have clarified their positions and expectations, and waiting for the other to move, it still could be a long waiting process for either party to get the other back to the negotiating table.

In his article, Hong Kong based political scientist Barry Sautman, analogously with most Chinese Government comments, discredits the Dalai Lama’s honesty in pushing for the Middle Path, claiming the Tibetan spiritual leader’s actions do not match his professed aims.

He also argues that that while Chinese propaganda is often criticized, the same questioning of Tibetan propaganda doesn’t exist, and the world tends to take Tibetan claims on face value.

Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, The Dalai Lama’s Special Envoy and head of the Tibetan negotiations team with China, writes from a very different perspective. He claims their intentions have been made

clearly, and that China appears to be hoping for a resolution through the passing away of the current Dalai Lama, or assimilation as China’s economy and position in the world rises, presumably having a positive effect for the Tibetan people. He writes that viewing the artificial stability in Tibet as acquiescence and waiting for the issue to lose momentum will likely create further discontentment and desperation.

In addition to presenting the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People in November 2008, Gyari notes that in January this year, Tibetan representatives ‘stated in clear and definitive terms that we seek only genuine autonomy within the framework of the People's Republic of China, its constitution and its laws’.

Sautman says that while Tibetan in exile leaders demonstrate a separatist approach, they cannot expect China to negotiate, and notes the preconditions that Beijing has laid out.

With such a wide gap between perspectives, and each side putting responsibility elsewhere, the articles make it seem like effective negotiations are still a long way off.

Tibetans Still Live Under Chinese Guns

China has tightened security in Tibetan capitla Lhasa ahead of the 50th Tibetan democracy Day (Photo taken in August 2010) Photo: TPI.

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: The Tibetan capital of Lhasa remains in the state of siege which began in 2008 - full of armed soldiers and Tibetan people living under Chinese guns - according to an article published

by Tibetan writer Tsering Woeser.

Woeser reports that there are still regular arrests, unfair convictions and disappearances.

She also says parts of Lhasa remain out of bounds to travelers from China and the West, and that armed soldiers are posted throughout the city - even on

the roofs of monasteries and temples.

The Chinese government recently took a group of journalists to Tibet to show them the 'real' situation there. The visit was strongly criticised, with claims that military police were careful to keep certain areas our of sight. China has tightened security in Tibetan capitla Lhasa ahead of the 50th Tibetan democracy Day. Recent photos of Lhasa and neighboring towns on Woeser's blog show the true situation.

Bylakuppe: Four Tibetan primeministerial candidates yesterday (September 3) faced tough questions during a public debate held in Bylakuppe, south India. The audience included many Tibetan monks and members of the younger generations.

The volunteer organisers invited 13 candidates, based on nominations made by exile NGOs, of which the four speakers who came forward were each given five minutes to air their views on the Tibet issue, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Dolma Gyari, deputy speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, told the audience, "Most exiled Tibetans, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, live in India, Nepal and Bhutan.

We should follow His Holiness' advice to hope for the best and prepare for the worst, as we face many difficulties in foreign countries.Therefore, it is essential that we should work harder for the continuation of our cause and to keep our identity alive."

Tenzin Namgyal Tethong, former minister of the Tibetan government in-exile, said the people will choose the next prime minister. "I started to join debates," he said, "because I think all of us should take responsibility nowadays...Even though we don't live in our homeland, we should show our legacy to the world, and show that we are developing...our democratic system."

Dr Lobsang Sangay, legal scholar and expert on Tibet and international human rights, criticized Chinese misconceptions of the future of the Tibetan government in-exile. "I think this is a historic debate," he said, "as no such a debate has previously been organized before the Tibetan preliminary elections.

"It gives a strong signal to the Chinese government and President Hujin Tao that they are totally wrong to arrogantly think the Tibetan government in-exile will completely collapse as the older Tibetan generations-in-exile pass away.

"People inside Tibet are fooled by the Chinese government, who claim the Tibetan government-in-exile is undemocratic and plans to restore the old system, but this debate gives a different signal - it provides a great opportunity to the younger Tibetan generations, like me, who have grown up in exile.

"We have an old saying - the Gaden golden throne belongs to no-one. It means if any mother's son has rich educational qualifications, he has as much right to the throne of the Tibetan prime minister as anyone.

We have a stable democratic system if anyone is allowed to stand for Kalon Tripa (prime minister)."

Mr Penpa Tsering, speaker of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, told the audience, "My promise to contribute to the Tibetan cause has always been unshakable, but I only made my decision to stand for prime minister in the last 15 or 20 days.

"My father advised me to work for the Tibetan government, but I worked for my family as its situation

Mrs Dolma Gyari, the current deputy speaker of Tibetan Parliament. srd September 2010. photo: TPI

Mr Tenzin Namgyal Tethong, former minister of Tibetan government in-exile. 3rd September 2010. photo: TPI

Dr Lobsang Sangay, legal scholar and expert on Tibet and international human rights.

3rd September 2010. photo: TPI

Mr Penpa Tsering, the speaker of Tibetan parliament in-exile. 3rd September 2010. photo: TPI

was very poor. However, now I am the speaker of Tibetan parliament and have been dedicated to the Tibetan government for last 14 years.

"I worked as director of the Tibetan Parliament and Research Centre for seven years and visited most of the Tibetan settlements. Recently, I have

met Tibetans and had the opportunity to get to know them while traveling to foreign countries.

"When I look back on my experiences, I have had great opportunities, and I have to take responsibility whether in an official post or not."

The Tibet Post

TPI H.H THE DALAI LAMA

His Holiness to Visit Hungary and North America

15th September, 2010 Dharamsala

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His Holiness to Open Religious Freedom Congress

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama will inaugurate the world congress of the International Association for Religious Freedom at the Renewal Centre in Ernakulam, Kochi, Kerala on Saturday (August 4).

The theme of the congress is Beyond Conflict to Reconciliation: The Challenge of the 21st Century.

Shivarathri Deshikendra Mahaswamigalu, head of Suttur Math, Mysore, will deliver the benedictory address, and the critic Sukumar Azhikode will deliver the keynote

address during the first evening.

His Holiness will will be presented with the Albert Schweitzer Award after the inaugural session.

Discussions will then be led by: Swami Agnivesh, president of Arya Samaj; Swami Jitatmananda of Ramakrishna Mission; Sheikh Ali, former vicechancellor of Goa and Mangalore universities; and Steven Leeper, president of the Hiroshima Foundation, Japan.

The congress will continue until September 7.

Teachings on Heart Sutra and 37 Practices By: Jimmy Halliday, The Tibet Post International

His Holiness the Dalai Lama visiting Tibetan settlement in Bylakuppe, South India on 2nd September 2010. Photo: TPI By: Jimmy Halliday, The Tibet Post International

Dharamshala: After focusing his time in India over the last few months, the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama will again travel internationally to give teachings in Hungary at the end of this week, and North America in mid October.

The Buddhist leader will teach An Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism in

Budapest, Hungary on September 18 and 19, followed by a public talk on Compassion: The Art of Happiness on the afternoon of the 19th.

His upcoming tour throughout North America will start in San Jose on October 12 and work its way through a string of appearances in California, Georgia and Ohio before heading up to Toronto,

Canada for October 22 to 24. In addition to speaking on a number of topics, during the trip His Holiness will accept the International Freedom Conductor Award from the National Underground Railroad Freedom Centre. Previous IFCA honourees include civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks and South African Bishop Desmond Tutu.

First Tibetan National General Meeting Concludes: Democracy, the Middle Way and His Holiness’ Future Role

His Holioness the Dalai Lama addressing to the 1st Tibetan National General Meeting on 31 August 2010. photo: TPI

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post International

Bylakuppe: His Holiness the Dalai lama yesterday (August 31) addressed 250 delegates at the first Tibetan National General Meeting, underlining the need for unity and a robust democratic administration-in-exile to keep alive the hopes and aspirations of Tibetans living inside Tibet.

Speaking at the closing of the six-day meeting at Sera monastery, Bylakuppe, south India, His Holiness said unity must be developed between the administration and the public, through trust and transparency. He expressed his appreciation of the meeting and called for more events of this kind.

Mr Penpa Tsering, speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, said, "The participants of the GM unanimously appeal to Your Holiness to remain as the spiritual and temporal leader of the Tibetan people and not to state retirement from leading the Tibetan people, while we reaffirm our absolute faith and allegiance to you as the supreme leader of the Tibetan people and movement."

Responding to the appeal, His Holiness said the democratically elected leadership of Tibetans-in-exile must be able to take full responsibility in leading the Tibetan quest in his absence. "I am

76 now," he said. "The responsibility should be taken over in a spirit as if I am no longer present. I will continue working for Tibet till I die, but in a different capacity which I will be good and most efficient at."

His Holiness also mentioned his "inevitable" absence in due course and that he is already in semi-retirement.

"One day, I will retire from all present responsibilities in the exile government. In our Tibetan democracy, it is not a necessity that I should be present," he said, adding humorously that he too was entitled to human rights.

In a comment suggesting the gradual transfer of all his responsibilities and power, His Holiness told the meeting that the Kalon Tripa (Tibetan prime minister) has already made several final decisions on important matters during their discussions. He also ventured that important documents of the exile government should require the Kalon Tripa's signature.

However, Kalon Tripa Tsering Phuntsok also appealed on behalf of the Tibetan people for His Holiness the Dalai Lama not to abdicate from leadership, and to decide the course of action on Tibet in accordance with the changing political situation in China and the world at large.

Speaking on efforts to resolve the Tibet issue via a middle-way approach, His Holiness said the policy is strongly supported by the international continued on page 6.............

Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama began three days of teachings at Namgyal temple in Dharamshala today (September 8) on the Heart Sutra (Sherab Nyingpo) and Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo’s 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva (Gyalsey Laklen Sodunma).

Unusually for his teachings in India, His Holiness gave an introduction to Buddhism in English, in which he talked about the interrelatedness of all people

continued from page 1..

and the ways we will all benefit from a world free of conflict. He then switched to Tibetan to discuss the Heart Sutra, a popular Mahayana Buddhist text.

Over the next two days, His Holiness will cover the 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva, which are based on Thokme’s 14th century transcription of an oral tradition.

Over 5,000 people are attending the teachings, held at the request of a Southeast Asian group.

GTPN Summit....

Delegate Dhardon Sharling, a research and media professional, told The Tibet Post International about the challenges she faces in balancing political activism with a large workload, while still trying to interact with other professionals around the world. She noted that politics is an integral part of professional life for most Tibetans.

"This summit is essential to create a breakthrough of sorts," she said, "to create an environment where Tibetan professionals are recognized and there is networking between them, and they

can then reach out to the international community."

During the summit, focus groups will discuss how the community can contribute to key issues, including education, public health care, economic development and international relations. The recommendations will be refined into a draft action plan which will be presented to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile.

The summit concludes on September 8.

His Holiness Donates $50K to Brain Research

His Holioness attending 50th Tibetan Democracy in south India 2rd Sept 2010. photo: TPI

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Madison, US: His Holiness the Dalai Lama has donated $50,000 from his personal trust to support research into the science behind kindness and compassion at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US. According to an Associated Press report, the grant to the school's Center for Investigating Healthy Minds came after His Holiness visited in May to

promote its work.

The center's director Richard Davidson says the gift was completely unexpected and unsolicited, and that researchers are deeply honoured by His Holiness' support.

The center is looking into how healthy human qualities such as kindness, empathy and compassion are developed and might be nurtured.

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15th September, 2010 Dharamsala

TPI 50TH DEMOCRACY DAY AND LONG LIFE PRAYER

The Tibet Post

TPI TIBET

The Tibet Post

Obama’s India Visit Gives Hope to Tibetans

US president Obama Meets with His Holiness at the White House Photo: White House

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: The announcement of US President Barack Obama’s visit to India in November has boosted the hopes of Tibetans living in exile, as speculation mounts that the Tibet issue may be on the agenda of Indo-US discussions.

Recent overtures by the Obama

government to the exiled community have been encouraging - especially the submitting of the US State Department’s Report on Tibet Negotiations: March 2009 - February 2010 to Congress in August. The report called for a better dialogue between Beijing and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

"We continue to encourage representatives of the PRC (People's Republic of China) and His Holiness the Dalai Lama to hold direct and substantive discussions aimed at the resolution of differences, without precondition," the report read.

On the same day as the report - August 18the US government also called on Nepal to honour a past commitment to allow Tibetan refugees the freedom to travel to India through Nepal. In a meeting with Nepal's home minister, the visiting US Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Atul Keshup, expressed concern over the "violation of a gentleman's agreement".

Many Tibetans feel the Obama visit will further the cause of the exiled community and that the US will play a larger role in negotiating a better dialogue between China and His Holiness.

There have been nine rounds of talks since 2002 but none have produced major results, and there was a hiatus of almost 15 months before the last round in January 2010 in Beijing.

China Arrests Two Writers in Tibet

15th September, 2010 Dharamsala

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His Holiness Inaugurates Dorzong Buddhist Institute

His Holiness (c) lights butter lamp during the inauguration of Dorzong Monastic Institute. Also seen in the picture is Gyalwang Karmapa (R). photo: Tibet Net

By Jimmy Halliday, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: On Sunday (September 12) His Holiness the Dalai Lama inaugurated the Dorzong Monastic Institute, a Buddhist learning centre surrounded by scenic cedar forests, situated near Gopalpur, India.

The institute plays an important role in the region by giving Buddhist teachings, and by providing a local centre for the translation and publication of works on Tibetan Buddhism, ethics, arts and language. It benefits students in various Himalayan regions including Zanskar, Lahaul and K i n n a u r, a s w e l l a s Ti b e t a n s residing in India, who are interested

in the study and practice of Buddhism.

The ceremony was attended by over 100 followers, who heard speeches from Tibetan leaders including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Eminence Gyalwang Karmapa and Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche.

During his address Kalon Tripa Rinpoche noted the unique role the institute played saying it was "markedly different and noteworthy from other monasteries as it aims to provide opportunity to young Tibetans and people of Himalayan regions to study their traditional Buddhist religion". (Tibet.net)

16th GCM Football Tournament Begins in Bylakuppe By: YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post International

Chinese armed military personnels arrested two Tibetan writers in Tibet. Photo: TPI/file

By YC. DhardhowaThe Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Two Tibetan writers have been arrested by Chinese Security Bureau officials in Siling, eastern Tibet (Chinese name: Xining, Qinghai). The news comes from Ka-Nyak Tsering, a Tibetan living in exile, who said Buddha (34) and Kalsang Jinpa (35) were charged with incitement to split the nation through articles about Tibet and the 2008 Chinese crackdown.

Kanyak Tsering, who also lives in exile, told the Tibet Post International that

Buddha is the son of Jamyang Tsakli and Tsering Dolma from Trin-Kan town, Ngaba District, eastern Tibet.

He completed his medical studies at Yegao Medical School, Chuan Chi town, China, and later worked as a village doctor around Ngaba county.

Kalsang was arrested on 21 June 2010 on charges of incitement to split the nation, encouraging Tibetan scholars to participate in 'splittist' activities, and writing articles about the 2008 Chinese crackdown, published in the Tibetan magazine Eastern Conch Hill.

Detained on 19 July this year on similar charges, Kalsang Jinpa is the son of Garmi and Kharmo Kyid from Tsayu town, also in Ngaba county. He studied as a monk at Tsayu Monastery and in 1993 went to India to study at the Suja Tibetan school for one year. He later jointed Kirti monastery in Dharamshala, before returning to Tibet 1996.

No official statement has been issued by the Chinese authorities and the exact location of the detainees is unknown.

Tibetan Protesters Detained in Nepal

By Jimmy Halliday, The Tibet Post

Kathmandu: Two Tibetan activists were detained by Nepalese police on Thursday (August 26) for posting anti-Beijing leaflets ahead of a planned protest.

According to an Associated Press report, the activists have been identified as Kelsang Nordup and

Tashi Dawa, both members of the New Age Network, a group involved in anti-China protests in Kathmandu.

Both are being held under public security laws which would usually allow for their release after the protest. However, Nordup also faces

charges of resisting arrest and assaulting police officers which could lead to a jail term of several months.

Tibetan exiles have staged regular demonstrations in Kathmandu since 2008, and Nepal is under increasing pressure from China to crack down on the political protests.

The 16th Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup football tournament kicked off yesterday (September 9) at Bylakuppe Tibetan settlement Photo: TPI/file

Bylakuppe: The 16th Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup football tournament kicked off yesterday (September 9) at Bylakuppe Tibetan settlement, south India. Chief guest Tashi Phuntsok Bylakuppe's Tibetan welfare officer presided over the opening ceremony, which was attended by several other local dignitaries.

The opening match ended with a 1-0 victory for Bylakuppe Golathala against Karnataka Youth United. The Madras Tibetan Student team proceeded to beat Goa Tibet.

The tournament is being played on a specially prepared ground, which yesterday thronged with schoolchildren and local residents.

18 teams from Tibetan settlements across India and Nepal are competing for cup, held in memorial of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 'Great Mother’.

Kalsang Dhondup, manager of the Tibetan National Football Association (TNFA), told The Tibet Post International that it is difficult to organize an annual tournament due to the lack of financial resources but that TNFA aims to stage the event every two or three years.

The winning team receives Rs 50,000, with Rs 30,000 going to the runner-up and Rs 10,000 to the third-place and best-behaved teams.

The final will be played on September 19.

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TPI EXILE NEWS First Tibetan National General The Creative and silent Meeting Concludes Protest In-Exile The Tibet Post

15th September, 2010 Dharamsala

Dechen Tsering and her colleagues at action in McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, India on 12the September 2010. Photo: TPI/Minu

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Half a century has gone by since the Chinese first rolled into Tibet and occupied the territory. And Tibetans-in-exile have protested through demonstrations both peaceful and aggressive. But, increasingly to keep the Tibetan cause alive the protesters have had to resort to creative hues to catch the imagination of the public and attract media attention. So The Ti b e t a n Wo m e n ' s A s s o c i a t i o n (TWA) and the Tibetan Association of Northern California (TANC) pays tribute to Tibet's martyrs in unique and creative ways.

The Tibetan Memorial Quilt Project is one such innovative form of protest that has been travelling around India. It commenced its exhibition in Bylekuppe, Coorg and the exhibition will conclude at the Ti b e t a n C h i l d r e n ' s Vi l l a g e , Mcleodganj on the September 14.

(The public can view it from 9 am to 5 pm at TCV.)This creative project was initiated by the Tibetan Association of Northern California (TANC), U.S.A. The quilt project is a tribute, and a memorial to the more than 1.2 million Tibetans who have died in the struggle for justice and f r e e d o m . T WA a l o n g w i t h t h e Tibetan Nuns Project (TNP) is hosting the Indian launch of the 'Tibetan Memorial Quilt Project.

Says Dechen Tsering, the president

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o f t h e TA N C , " We w a n t e d t o involve as much Tibetans as possible in this creative protest. We have borrowed this silent and creative protest from the Black American women slaves who made quilts to protest against White supremacy. We have adapted that form of protest to our context. We have used the colours of Tibetan prayer flags to make the quilts." She adds, "Anyone around the world can participate or donate to the cause. You may choose to crate a panel privately or with your community as a personal memorial to the Tibetan hero. You can contact tibetanquiltproject@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to join in.

A n d T h e Ti b e t a n Wo m e n ' s A s s o c i a t i o n ( T WA ) a l s o p a y s tribute to Tibet's martyrs on its 26th re-founding anniversary in e x i l e . To c o m m e m o r a t e t h e occasion, they issued a statement announcing the Indian launch of Jamyang Kyi's "Twenty Six Years in Exile", an account of the grave situations in Chinese prisons i n s i d e Ti b e t . T h e T WA i s t h e second largest Tibetan NGO, with 52 regional chapters and over 15, 000 members outside Tibet, and aims works to empower Tibetan women both in exile and in Tibet.

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First Tibetan National General Meeting Concludes: Democracy, the Middle Way and His Holiness’ Future Role, Bylakuppe Tibetan settlement, South India on 31st August 2010. Photo: TPI/Sangay Dorjee continued from page...3

community, including the US government, European Parliament and the government of India. "With a strong commitment to a mutually beneficial solution for both China and Tibet, I feel very confident to express our approach when meeting with the Chinese people," he said.

His Holiness pointed out the grave dangers currently posed to Tibetan identity, culture, environment and religion, saying this is a "critical moment". He also spoke about the need for progress in education, the preservation of Tibetan culture and the maintenance of the moral behaviour of the Tibetan people.

31august20108183Mr Penpa Tsering, speaker, read out a 32-page final recommendation to strengthen democracy and develop settlements, finance, education, health care,

awareness of political affairs and the publicisation of the Tibetan cause.

90% of the resolutions were passed unanimously and 10% by majority.

The sub-committee on Sustenance of Tibetan Settlements recommended the establishment of a field research office to investigate the decline in the three primary means of livelihood in Tibetan settlements agriculture, vocational jobs and handicrafts.

Meanwhile, the sub-group on Status of Tibetans Living in Foreign Lands Other than India, Nepal and Bhutan, called upon the education department to address the deterioration of Tibetan values among exiled Tibetans, as well as the lack of cultural understanding, especially among the younger generation in the West.

The speaker said the Kashag

Monks Start Month Long Preparations in Toronto

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Mr. Thomas Keimel Dr. Vincent Brucel Mr. YC. Dhardhowa Mrs. Yangyal Sham Mr. Sangay Ms. Keary Huang Ven Phuntsok Dhondup Mr. Tenzin Kunga Contributors for this edition

Matthew Singh-Toor Ye-Rinne Park Jimmy Halliday Minu The Tibet Post International Press of Tibet (Head Office) 1st Floor, Dolkhang House, Jogiwara Road, Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala, Distt.

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(central government) and the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile will do its utmost to implement the meeting's recommendations, even though they have yet to become law, and called for the cooperation of intellectuals, non-government organisations and the community in doing so.

A traditional long-life prayer offering to His Holiness the Dalai Lama was later held at Sera monastery.

Tomorrow (September 2) there will be a ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Tibetan democracy, during which the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile will honour His Holiness with a golden seal.

Over 30 parliament members from 14 different countries, together with legislators and dignitaries from the south Indian state of Karnataka are expected to attend.

Two Namgyal monastery’s monks arriving Toronto airport on 13 September 2010. Photo: TPI

By Jimmy Halliday, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Ye s t e r d a y (September 13) two Tibetan Monks from the Namgyal Monastery arrived in Toronto, Canada to begin the long ceremony to prepare the new Tibetan Canadian Cultural

Centre (TCCC) ahead of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit in October..

L o b s a n g Te n d a r a n d Te n z i n Kunchok will perform a range of special ceremonies at the centre,

which is currently being renovated, with the assistance of 15 to 20 volunteers.

It is expected to take the team around a month of seven day shifts to complete the preparations, which include filling three 13 foot statues of Lord Buddha, Padmasambhava and Avalokiteshvara, plus a six foot statue and 21 one and a half foot statues of Tara. Relics used to fill the statues will include mantra scrolls, incense and juniper leaves.

The TCCC is a not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to preserving and sharing Tibetan culture and traditions in Canada while fostering cross-cultural understanding through the practice of the Tibetan values ofaltruism, compassion and harmony.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama will inaugurate the centre on October 23 as part of his North American visit.