Online-Newspaper for Tibet and Tibetan People

52nd Anniv.

Uphold

of Tibetan Uprising Day Statement...

Page 03.

Vol. 01, Issue 37, 15 March 2011 Tibetan Supporters Talk to British Politicians

Tibetan Unity.......

I n t e r n a t i o n a l B o d - K y i - Cha- Trin

Bi-Monthly

Page 11. www.thetibetpost.com

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His Holiness the Dalai Lama Submits Retirement Decision to Parliament

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Tibetans and supporters gathering in London to commemorate the 52nd Anniversary of Tibetan national Uprising Day on 10th March 2011. Photo: Free Tibet

London: A large group of UK based Tibetans and Tibet supporters descended upon the centre of British politics, on Thursday, to lobby their political representatives as part of Tibetan National Uprising Day. A coalition of British Tibet support groups (Free Tibet, Students for a free Tibet and Tibet Society) organised the event, which saw a number of members of parliament (MP) pledging their support Continues on Page 5...

100th International Women's Day

International women's day in 1911. Photo: File

Dharamshala: Today, Tuesday 8 March, marks the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day, a celebration of the political, economic and social achievements of women all over the world, past and present.

The Day was first observed in 1911, and in the hundred years since then many accomplishments have been made for greater women's rights by women across the globe. This year, events will be held in honour of women in over one hundred Continues on Page 10...

Dharamshala: - The political and spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Monday has formally conveyed his retirement Decision to the 14th Assembly of the Tibetan People's Deputies.

The 75-year-old Nobel peace laureate's decision was aimed to devolve his "formal authority" to an elected leader of the Tibet and Tibetan people. The message was read out by Mr. Penpa Tsering the speaker of the 14th Tibetan Parliament, where its last session was started today.

The following is the message of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the 14th Assembly of the Tibetan People's Deputies.

"It is common knowledge that ancient Tibet, consisting of three provinces (Cholkha-sum) was ruled by a line of forty-two Tibetan kings beginning with Nyatri Tsenpo (127 BCE), and ending with Tri Ralpachen (838 CE). Their rule spanned almost one thousand years. During that time, Tibet was known throughout Inner Asia as a powerful nation, comparable in military power and political influence with Mongolia and China. With the development of Tibetan literature, the richness and breadth of the religion and culture of Tibet meant that its civilisation was considered second only to that of India.

By The Tibet Post International

Tokyo: Around 2:46 pm a strong earthquake shook Tokyo city. Epicenter of the earthquake is believed to be around North east Japan of Miyagi prefecture. The 8.9 magnitude earthquake was followed by major tsunami around the east coast of Japan. The earthquake and the tsunami brought a lot of damage to the lives and properties with more than 1000 confirmed death, and many still missing.

Tsunami virtually swallowed a town; many lost Continues on Page 4.......

Following the fragmentation of central authority in the 9th century, Tibet was governed by several rulers whose authority was limited to their respective fiefdoms. Tibetan unity weakened with the passage of time. In the early 13th century, both China and Tibet came under the control of Genghis Khan.

Tibetan Govt.'s Statement on the 52nd Tibetan Uprising Day

Tsunami Tragedy in Japan

Vessels lie in the rubble in Ofunato, Iwate prefecture, northern Japan, Saturday, March 12, 2011, after being washed away by an earthquake-triggered tsunami. The powerful tsunami created by one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded swept away Japan's east coast Friday. Photo: AP

Mr. Penpa Tsering the speaker of the Parliament addressing at the last session of the 14th Tibetan Parliament which was started on Monday. Photo: TPI

Dharamshala: - Today is the 52nd anniversary of the Tibetan people's uprising against the Chinese authorities in 1959 and the third anniversary of the peaceful protests throughout Tibet in 2008. On this special occasion, the Kashag would like to pay homage to all the martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet, those who are still suffering and particularly we would like to express our solidarity with Tibetan intellectuals such as writers, poets, musicians and environmentalists, who have been arrested and incarcerated in recent years. We praise their courage and conviction.

During the last nine years, from 2002 to 2010, the twelfth and the thirteenth Kashag considered the 10 March anniversary as the most important occasion to inform the Tibetan people, both in and outside Tibet, about issues concerning Tibetan politics and the administration. The Kashag has transparently informed the Tibetans about developments, policies, course of actions, principles and future plans regarding the issue of Tibet and its origins, Tibetan people's strength and weaknesses, opportunities and risks, achievements and failures, and the status of Sino-Tibetan talks and the international situation. Particularly, in 2009 during the 50th anniversary of our being in exile, the Kashag commemorated and thanked the

extraordinary achievements of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which spans across the globe and the great accomplishments of the Tibetan people, in and outside Tibet.

Since this is the last 10th March statement of the present Kashag, we would like to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the general public and reiterate some issues as a reminder. As it was mentioned in our 10th March statement of 2009, for more than half a century, Tibet has been subjected to a series of repressive campaigns under various forms and names to annihilate the Tibetan people and its culture. This has pushed Tibet to the brink of extinction. However, at the same time, the strength of Tibetan people's unity and solidarity has gone undiminished, which has enabled us to sustain our struggle from one generation to the next.

Moreover, with the phenomenal accomplishments of His Holiness the Dalai Lama throughout the world, Tibetan Buddhism, culture, tradition and values have gained renewed recognition and interest.

Consequently, the number of Tibet supporters and followers of Tibetan Buddhism and culture, both in the West and East, have grown many fold. Lately efforts to translate Kangyur and Tengyur into various Western languages were initiated, and the speed at which contact and discussions between Tibetan Buddhism and science is taking place today are a matter of great pride and constitute positive changes. Irrespective of the absence of any concrete change in the political situation, the fact that Tibetan religion, culture and tradition are developing paves great prospects for the future.

When future generations look back at our times, they may consider our contemporary times as an era of expansion and spread of the Tibetan culture.

Furthermore, the nonviolent struggle of the Tibetan people and the transformation of the nature of

Although Drogon Choegyal Phagpa restored the sovereignty of Tibet in the 1260s, and his rule extended across the three provinces, the frequent change of rulers under the Phagmo Drupas, Rinpungpas and Tsangpas over the next 380 years Continues on Page 10

Yak Revolution in Tibet

BANGALORE (March, 10) - Oddly 400 Tibetan students in the city commemorated the 52nd anniversary of their forefathers' failed uprising against the illegal occupation of their country, by holding a protest cum press conference today in the city.

"Today is a historical day in the Tibetan history as on this very day of 1959, millions of our country people stood against the illegal occupation of our See on Page 8....

Democracy Not an Option: China

Wu Bangguo, one of the party's top nine politburo leaders, made the strong statements in Beijing during China's annual National People's Congress, making it clear that political reform is not an option under the current leadership. Photo: AP

By Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: China's number two official in the Communist regime that has ruled the country since 1949 has stated that democracy will never Continues on Page 8......

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15 March, 2011 Dharamsala

TPI VIEWS & ANALYSIS

The Tibet Post

Economy vs Human Rights in China's Tibetans' Nascent Democracy in Exile: Writers Play Harmonious Society Article by Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post

Protests demanding the release of imprisoned human rights advocate Liu Xiaobo.

Photo: File

Dharamshala: Ever since the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) victory in 1949 after years of civil war, the authoritarian one-party system imposed on a ‘united' China has met with public resistance, posing a threat to the ruling party's iron grip on power. China is currently facing a difficult time as it struggles with globalisation and opening up its society and economy to the world, while simultaneously trying to keep control of its large population of 1.3 billion people. Basically, it want to have its cake, and eat it too. To maintain power, the party has relied on the use of censorship and secrecy, and committed a great many human rights violations.

The nation now has the world's second largest economy, after the United States, having overtaken Japan earlier this year. Growth has been fuelled by the abundance of cheap labour and ability of the government to exert control over almost every aspect of development, though much of its enormous population still lives in poverty and all citizens within China still live without access to an objective and liberal education.

The costs of industrialisation and the economic ‘miracle', which has seen a recent boom in the country's manufacturing and export industries and caused unprecedented growth in the past few decades, have been great.

There has never been a greater divide between the country's rich and poor, and inflation has risen to 4.9%.

According to the Chinese government there have been a staggering 90 000 'mass incidents' - of public unrest - every year since 2007, and official figures published last year show that the government has spent almost as much on maintaining internal order as on defence. Arrests are common on ambiguous charges such as ‘inciting subversion' or ‘traffic offence', and illegal house arrests of dissidents who have been released from prison are common.

Another issue threatening to fuel unrest is that of forced evictions by the government. Technically under Chinese law all land belongs to the state, making it legal for the government to evict people and sell their land and livelihood to developers for advantageous projects, often offering below-market price compensation and quite often neglecting to pay anything at all.

Reports have surfaced of related violence leading to fatalities at the hands of authorities, and one activist

has created a ‘Bloody Map' recently using Google maps, in order to illustrate the evictions across the country, forming one of the leading causes of instability in China today.

Perhaps globalisation's largest threat to the CCP's so-called ‘harmonious society' has been the spread of the internet in recent years to more than 400 million Chinese people, providing an ever-expanding source of information and communication against which the ruling party of China has waged a fierce censorship war, blocking many websites using the infamous ‘Great Firewall of China'. Material judged too ‘sensitive' is blocled, with particular attention to social networking sites (following recent organised uprisings in Tibet, Xinjiang and other areas) and foreign media. During times of particular sensitivity, such as the recent prodemocracy demonstrations in north Africa, the government blocks foreign news sources and uses the state-run Xinhua agency to distribute a version of events more suited to incite so called ‘social harmony' under one-party rule.

The theory that capitalist development inevitably leads to political democracy will soon be tested in China, where the ruling party still maintains that its Confucian culture is ‘traditionally authoritarian' and not suited to democratic reform. However as globalisation causes more information to seep into the country and capitalism gives rise to a new middle class, democratic change may just, with a little luck, be inevitable.

Refugees and Corruption in Southeast Asia: China and Nepal The term ‘refugee' is generally used widely for victims of any situation of violence from which they are seeking to escape, for whom the significance of this label is greater than most people realise. Without it, they could be forced to return to a war-torn homeland or be put directly back in the hands of those they are fleeing. Refugees are displaced people, relying almost entirely on aid.

Since the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1949 and crack down on Tibetan dissent ten years later, scores of people have fled the region and sought refuge in Nepal and India. These people are mostly poor and travel great distances in harsh conditions, moving on foot through the Himalayas and into Nepal, before often continuing their journey to India. They are received and

processed at the Tibetan Refugee Reception Centre in Kathmandu.

According to the United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), there are currently 20 000 Tibetan refugees in Nepal, most of which are restricted in their movements due to legal and citizenship issues. The Tibetan refugee situation in Nepal is important, as it highlights several key regional issues regarding balances and shifts of regional power and corruption.

The central part of the issue and the aspect which poses the biggest problem for those who enter Nepal is their refugee status. Nepalese officials have in the past defended their actions in sending back many Tibetans by labelling them instead as illegal immigrants, and the distinction can be as vital as life and death for many, who allege that they face imprisonment and torture at the hands of the Chinese, who claim Tibet as their territory.

Furthermore, many Tibetans have trouble finding employment due to a lack of refugee cards and official refugee status, though it is alleged that with the right amount of cash special arrangements can be made. Although refugee cards were issued prior to 1989 by the Home Ministry, the issuing of these cards has now become illegal and incoming refugees are now simply labelled ‘persons of concern' and encouraged to leave to India. This has been blamed on current political instability and lack of coordination with the UNHCR. Nepal has recently been the recipient of an increase in economic and infrastructural assistance from neighbouring China, theoretically in exchange for enhanced cooperation between the two Asian nations. China, who strongly opposes any Nepalese governmental interaction with the Dalai Lama or exile communities in Dharamsala (India) and elsewhere, maintains that there are no Tibetan refugees, only illegal immigrants, and has been training Nepalese forces to deal with them ‘severely'. These events have been a cause for concern for many Nepalese, who believe China is beginning to exercise too much influence over Nepal, with sources also claiming Beijing has been putting pressure on its southern neighbour to step up patrols along their shared border ever since the Chinese government crushed uprisings within Tibet in 2008.

Recent witness reports have made allegations of Nepalese authorities handing refugees back to Chinese authorities, a claim they have denied despite evidence to the contrary. A diplomatic cable recently released by Wikileaks entitled ‘Update on Tibetan Refugee Flow' and sent by the US embassy in New Delhi estimated that 2500-3500 refugees arrive in the Tibetan exile community of Dharamsala in India each year, and that the "Chinese government rewards (Nepali forces) by providing financial incentives to officers who hand over Tibetans attempting to exit Tibet" on their way to India via Nepal. According to the Dharamsala reception centre for Tibetan refugees, 46 620 of the 87 096 refugees processed by the centre between 1980 and November 2009 have since returned to their

Active Role

By Tenzin Yeshi, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: In the midway results of the ongoing "Online Opinion Poll on 2011 Kalon Tripa Primary Election", 23 percent of participants responded "Yes" and 19 percent responded "Don't Know" to the concluding question, "As a result of the entire Kalon Tripa electoral process, do you believe we, as Tibetans, are more divided now than before?"

Even though the poll lacks a good sampling technique to generalise the findings, from my personal experiences so far, I see indicators of what the 23 percent of respondents may be trying to communicate through their responses.

Throughout the process of the Kalon Tripa election, three groups of interested Tibetan electorates emerged: first, the supporters and campaigners; second, the writers; and third, the observers. The supporters and campaigners have been very vocal and clear about their choice of candidates. I see this category not as a problem. They help the general public to learn about their choice of candidate via video footage, fliers, fund raising events, and so on. Most importantly, people in this group generally have faces.

However, the biggest concern I see is the second group of people, i.e. the writers. When I say writer, I mean to include every individual who writes (and comments on) articles, opinions, blogs, notes, pieces, and Facebook statuses.

I agree with the role the writers play in the development of our nascent democracy in exile. On the flip side, however, these writers may also play a covert role in misdirecting our emerging democracy to a degree where the will and interest of the average Tibetan in democracy will be lost in the transition.

homeland, with many who stayed being children seeking an education in their own language which they cannot get inside Tibet.

Nepal is not a signatory to the 1951 Convention or the 1967 Protocol on the Status of Refugees, and thus no laws exist there for the protection of asylum seekers or refugees, which means they must move on from Nepal into a third country such as India.

With China offering poverty relief, investment in infrastructure and other forms of assistance, Nepal has been caught between treating Tibetan refugees in a humanitarian capacity and cooperating with China out of its own interests. It is an issue that has strained diplomatic relations in the region between the three nations.

We can observe an example of such democracy in and around our own country of residence.

The definition of writers has expanded several folds in recent decades with the enormous growth of social networking sites. Scott Galloway in his presentation on "Trends and Impacts on Digital Competence" highlights Facebook and Youtube as the two major sites that shares the highest global online time spent by web users. Therefore, in this social network age, anyone with an Internet connection and a Facebook account can write, post, and comment; similarly, anyone with a smart phone can capture a video for Facebook or Youtube. The most recent and remarkable inspirational example of this digital competence is the uprising in Egypt where protesters connected and organised via Facebook, and shared their videos with the world via their smart phones. Even though the Kalon Tripa election is in no way comparable to the Egyptian revolution, one can see the connection on the popular use of social networking sites such as Facebook and Youtube; that is to share views and opinions on the Kalon Tripa election and candidates among the exile Tibetan Diaspora.

One of the most popular groups in Facebook for the Kalon Tripa election is "The youth's responsibility for Kalon Tripa 2011". On this group's wall, members can see several categories of wall posts, notes, video footage, links, and comments related to the Kalon Tripa election and candidates. Unlike the supporters and campaigners, some of the group members, who write and comment frequently, have no faces. They come with an anonymous profile name and picture which not only makes it easier to be "No One" but also share their opinions with less or no hesitation.

These anonymous members are a concern because they share their views and opinions with no accountability or obligation, yet leave behind a footprint of hatred, disrespect, and division.

Tibetan democracy should not embrace faceless Tibetans who do not share a sense of responsibility towards the larger cause, which is to establish a vibrant society wherein every Tibetan shares responsibility for his or her role in the growth of Tibetan democracy in exile. Remember, democracy is for the people and by the people. It is not for the faceless and by the faceless web users.

Let me share three of the postings of this Facebook group in the last 24 hours.

Continues on Page 11...

TPI H.H THE DALAI LAMA 3 Tibet Leader's Statement on His Holiness the Dalai Lama Offers the 52nd Tibetan National Prayers to NZ, Aus, Japan Uprising Day The Tibet Post

15 March, 2011 Dharamsala

By Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post

His Holiness the Dalai Lama delivering his statement on the 52nd anniversary of the Tibetan people's national uprising day at the main Tibetan temple in Dharamsala, India, on 10 March 2011. Photo: TPI/YC. Dhardhowa

By The Tibet Post International

Dharamshala: Today marks the 52nd anniversary of the Tibetan people's peaceful uprising of 1959 against Communist China's repression in the Tibetan capital Lhasa, and the third anniversary of the non-violent demonstrations that took place across Tibet in 2008. On this occasion, I would like to pay tribute to and pray for those brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for the just cause of Tibet. I express my solidarity with those who continue to suffer repression and pray for the well-being of all sentient beings.

For more than sixty years, Tibetans, despite being deprived of freedom and living in fear and insecurity, have been able to maintain their unique Tibetan identity and cultural values. More consequentially, successive new generations, who have no experience of free Tibet, have courageously taken responsibility in advancing the cause of Tibet. This is admirable, for they exemplify the strength of Tibetan resilience.

This Earth belongs to humanity and the People's Republic of China (PRC) belongs to its 1.3 billion citizens, who have the right to know the truth about the state of affairs in their country and the world at large. If citizens are fully informed, they have the ability to distinguish right from wrong.

Censorship and the restriction of information violate basic human decency. For instance, China's leaders consider the communist ideology and its policies to be correct. If this were so, these policies should be made public with confidence and open to scrutiny.

China, with the world's largest population, is an emerging world power and I admire the economic development it has made. It also has huge potential to contribute to human progress and world peace. But to do that, China must earn the international community's respect and trust. In order to earn such respect China's leaders must develop greater transparency, their actions corresponding to their words. To ensure this, freedom of expression and freedom of the press are essential.

Similarly, transparency in governance can help check corruption. In recent years, China has seen an increasing number of intellectuals calling for political reform and greater openness.

Premier Wen Jiabao has also expressed support for these concerns. These are significant indications and I welcome them.

The PRC is a country comprising many nationalities, enriched by a diversity of languages and cultures. Protection of the language and culture of each nationality is a policy of the PRC, which is clearly spelt out in its constitution.

Tibetan is the only language to preserve the entire range of the Buddha's teachings, including the texts on logic and theories of knowledge (epistemology), which we inherited from India's Nalanda University. This is a system of knowledge governed by reason and logic that has the potential to contribute to the peace and happiness of all beings. Therefore, the policy of undermining such a culture, instead of protecting and developing it, will in the long run amount to the destruction of humanity's common heritage.

The Chinese government frequently states that stability and development in Tibet is the foundation for its longterm well-being. However, the authorities still station large numbers of troops all across Tibet, increasing restrictions on the Tibetan people.

Tibetans live in constant fear and anxiety. More recently, many Tibetan intellectuals, public figures and environmentalists have been punished for articulating the Tibetan people's basic aspirations. They have been imprisoned allegedly for "subverting state power" when actually they have been giving voice to the Tibetan identity and cultural heritage. Such repressive measures undermine unity and stability.

Likewise, in China, lawyers defending people's rights, independent writers and human rights activists have been arrested. I strongly urge the Chinese leaders to review these developments and release these prisoners of conscience forthwith.

The Chinese government claims there is no problem in Tibet other than the personal privileges and status of the Dalai Lama. The reality is that the ongoing oppression of the Tibetan people has provoked widespread, deep resentment against current official policies. People from all walks of life frequently express their discontentment.

That there is a problem in Tibet is reflected in the Chinese authorities' failure to trust Tibetans or win their loyalty. Instead, the Tibetan people live under constant suspicion and surveillance. Chinese and foreign visitors to Tibet corroborate this grim Continues on Page 10.......

Dharahshala: The spiritual and temporal leader of Tibet and Tibetan people, His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, opened his annual two days of Buddhist teachings this morning (Monday March 14) with an acknowledgement of those suffering in the aftermath of natural disasters in New Zealand, Australia and Japan, which he recognised as a fellow Buddhist nation.

Thousands of people gathered for the teachings at the main temple in Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala, seat of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, to hear the words of their leader, who is the reincarnation of the Buddha of Compassion.

The day opened with a special call to prayer by His Holiness, who said that since the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan late last week, he had proposed the chanting of the Heart Sutra 100,000 times in order to help prevent such an enormous natural disaster from reoccurring.

The Heart Sutra was then chanted for several minutes in honour of the victims, before tea was served by monks and nuns to the mass of people seated on the two levels of the temple.

His entrance on foot as he smiled and waved to the adoring crowd was a testament to the great humility which was a strong theme in the day's readings and discussion, as was compassion and the Four Noble Truths. As many devotees gathered on the lower level in front of a large television screen showing the live broadcast, dozens of foreigners listened to an English translation of his words - though at

Monday morning (14 March 2011) opened with a special call to prayer by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who said that since the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan late last week, he had proposed the chanting of the Heart Sutra 100,000 times in order to help prevent such an enormous natural disaster from reoccurring. Phot: TPI

times he chose to speak in English, making several jokes along the way using hand-held radios.

His Holiness advocated in his speech the acceptance of all people, saying "I always say to respect all the religions of the world. (...) It is important for us to respect all other religious traditions", and explaining that although people of other faiths may have different philosophies and ideas about creation, we all share the same essential principles of love and compassion.

In his speech the Dalai Lama spoke of the uniqueness of Buddhism in teaching Selflessness, and the importance of preserving the Tibetan language, the

language of the Buddha's teachings. He also stressed the significance of studying the Dharma and leading a humble life, and clearing the self of negative emotions in order to better understand and help others, and alleviate suffering.

Throughout the day His Holiness seemed well and in high spirits, encouraging the audience to laugh with him as he explained some of the finer points of his teachings in both Tibetan and English. Those gathered included monks and nuns, who were given priveleged seating, and lay people from many countries. The teachings will conclude after another half-day tomorrow.

Tibet's Leader Sends Condolence Over Quake and Tsunami in Japan

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: The political and spiritual leader of Tibet His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on Saturday expressed his sadness over a massive earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan.

In a letter sent on 12 March to H.E. Naoto Kan, the Prime Minister of Japan, Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed his shock and sadness on hearing the news of yesterday's earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama "offered his prayers for those who have lost their lives and offered his sympathy and condolences to their families and others affected by it."

The spiritual leader's reaction came as the Japanese government said it believed more than 1,000 people had been killed by Friday's 8.9-magnitude temblor and tsunami which devastated swathes of Japan.

"We must all be grateful that the Japanese government's disaster preparedness measures prevented the death and destruction from being much worse," the Buddhist leader and 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner said.

"Finally, as a Buddhist monk who daily

Tibet's Leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama Sends Condolence Over Quake and Tsunami in Japan. Photo: TPI

recites the Heart Sutra, His Holiness felt it would be very good if Japanese Buddhists were to recite the Heart Sutra on this occasion. Such recitation may not only be helpful for those who have lost their precious lives, but may also help prevent further disasters in the future. Prayers to recite the Heart Sutra one hundred thousand times were being organized in Dharamshala for this purpose."

The Epicenter of the earthquake is

believed to be around North east Japan of Miyagi prefecture. The 8.9 magnitude earthquake was followed by major tsunami around the east coast of Japan. The earthquake and the tsunami brought a lot of damage to the lives and properties with more than 1000 confirmed dead, and many still missing. The Tsunami virtually swallowed a town; many lost their homes and are sheltered in temporary shelters.

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15 March, 2011 Dharamsala

TPI INTERNATIONAL

Nepal Quashes Tibetan 52nd Uprising Commemoration

The Tibet Post

Top US Leader Calls on Int'l Community to Stand by Tibetan People

By Tibetan government official media: Tibet Net

Hundreds of Nepalese Police abusive actions including physcally harmful beating Tibetan refugees, students, Buddhist monks and nuns on 10th March 2011 after over 3000 protesters gathering at the Boudha Stupa in Kathmandu. Photo: TPI

By Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Thousands of authorities in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, have used undue force to intimidate and disperse over 3000 members of the Tibetan refugee community in the country as they gathered on March 10 to commemorate 52nd Tibetan National Uprising Day. The day marked the 52nd anniversary of the brutally supressed peaceful demonstrations against Chinese rule held in Lhasa on March 10, 1959, which left thousands dead and many more injured by communist government forces, who had invaded Tibet ten years earlier.

Thousands of Nepalese police officers decked out in riot gear showed up at Tibetan schools and monasteries at around 3am Thursday to prevent the Tibetan community, and in particular its students, from gathering and showing solidarity with the Tibetan cause. Police interrupted proceedings including a reading of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Uprising Day speech and only withdrew under repeated calls from local human rights monitors.

Video footage posted on Euronews.net and on the UK Telegraph's website clearly shows unarmed Tibetan demonstrators being kicked and beaten

by Nepalese officers, with reports

claiming at least 20 were injured and 15 detained by authorities.

Mr Jamyang Tenzin, a Tibetan journalist who is currently living in the country told The Tibet Post International that "a great abusive actions including physically harmful beatings taken by Nepal police against a peaceful gathering of over 3000 Tibetan refugees at the Boudha stupa to commemorate the uprising day."

In a statement issued the day before the incident, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Commission of Jurists warned Nepal against breaches of its own domestic law and its international obligations, namely "preventive arrests and policing restrictions on demonstrations and freedom of movement that deny the right to legitimate peaceful expression and assembly during anniversaries and festivals marked by the Tibetan community."

Nepal has come under fire recently for its treatment of Tibetan refugees, amid claims that immigration officers have been accepting cash bribes to turn refugees over to Chinese authorities, and the accusation that the Nepalese government has been taking orders from the Communist regime of China.

Earthquake and Tsunami Tragedy in Japan their homes and are sheltered in temporary shelters.

The damage in Tokyo city was mild compared to Miyagi and Iwate prefectures. But the earthquake sent the Tokyoite rushing in panic. Office files, equipments, books and the goods in the shelves went haphazard and crashed on the floors. In Shunjuku city of Tokyo, people poured out and crowded at Shinjuku Gyoen Park for safety from where the people watched in horror the skyscrapers in pendulum motion. All train service came to a halt, people crowded for bus and taxi. Roads were jammed, telephone and mobiles stopped working. The streets were full of people trying to find their way out to their homes. Many had to walk for more than four to five hours to home.

Overall damage to the nation is great, fires destroyed dwellings and properties. Many are rendered

homeless. The government has confirmed the safety of its nuclear stations, and is doing its best to rehabilitate the people and bring normalcy. Starting from United States, many countries have promised relief fund and services.

Tibetan 10th March uprising anniversary was observed on the day [Thursday] at two places in Tokyo at Joenji Temple and Nihonbashi.

Japanese monks for Tibet and M/s Open Sense organized the events respectively. The main event scheduled on 13th March by Tibetan Community and the Japanese Support groups to conduct peace march in the city, and Students for Free Tibet's plan to demonstrate before Chinese embassy had to be cancelled because of the earthquake tragedy. As of now, no report has come about Tibetans being affected by the tragedy.

Dharamshala: A key supporter of Tibet in the US Congress has called on the international community to stand with the Tibetan people in their peaceful struggle to resolve the issue of Tibet, saying the Tibetan people have accumulated legitimate grievances from decades of heavy-handed Chinese government policies in Tibet.

Nancy Pelosi, a top Democratic Leader and former speaker of the US House of Representatives, reaffirmed her support for the just cause of Tibet on the 52nd anniversary of the Tibetan people's national uprising day against the oppression of the People's Republic of China.

"Today, on the 52nd Anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day, we honor the many brave Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives fighting for freedom. We remember the Tibetan people who peacefully assembled to call for an end to harsh Chinese rule - and we recall the ensuing crackdown that devastated Tibet and forced His Holiness the Dalai Lama into exile," Pelosi said in her statement.

"The Tibetan people have accumulated legitimate grievances from decades of heavy-handed Chinese government policies in Tibet. Tibetans have been economically marginalized in their own land, imprisoned for peaceful expression, and barred from the free

Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama, left, gestures as he talks to US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, right, in Dharmsala, India, Friday, March 21, 2008. Pelosi, called on the world community Friday to denounce China in the wake of its crackdown in Tibet, calling the crisis "a challenge to the conscience of the world." Photo: TPI

practice of their faith. So powerful is the image of the Dalai Lama that Tibetans are imprisoned for simply owning pictures of him.

"It is a tribute to his extraordinary commitment to democracy that His Holiness the Dalai Lama recently announced that he will voluntarily hand over his last governmental responsibilities to the democraticallyelected leadership of the Tibetan Government In Exile. The bond between the Dalai Lama and Tibetans is unbreakable, and attempts by the Chinese government to dictate Tibetan Buddhist teachings and drive a wedge

between the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people will continue to be counterproductive.

"We continue to call for the release of Tibetan political prisoners of conscience including Gedun Choekyi Nyima (the 11th Panchen Lama), Dhondup Wangchen, Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, Norzin Wangmo, Runggye Adak, and many others who are imprisoned for exercising their right to free expression.

"On this anniversary of Tibetan Uprising Day, we must heed the Dalai Lama's transcendent message of peace. And we must stand with the people of Tibet in their ongoing struggle," Pelosi said.

China at War with Biggest Enemy, the Free Press

By Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: China is in the midst of a frustrated censorship race as security and police forces muscle in and regime frontmen scurry to come up with new regulations to counter the foreign press.

Tibet is one place where restrictions on foreign media were recently put into overdrive, and the region is now virtually closed to foreign visitors. In justifying the tighter controls, authorities in China have cited 'safety concerns' such as overcrowding and cold weather, despite the fact that Tibet is a 'minority' region of China with a low population compared to major cities such as Shanghai and Beijing, which experience a constant crush due to overpopulation, and the fact that Beijing is an average of 10°C cooler than Lhasa, or up to 20°C with the wind-chill.

Foreign media have been informed that they will now have to seek special advance permission to film or operate in public areas or risk having their visa revoked, in an apparently nervous attempt by the government to roll back press freedoms awarded in the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At the time, Beijing faced strong opposition in its bid for the games due to concerns over human rights abuses and lack of media freedom, only managing to secure support by making shallow promises of reform which it clearly never intended to keep.

In the past two weeks, attempts by anonymous organisers to stage nationwide protests have not yielded the anticipated results, as the government's well-oiled censorship machine has launched a vicious offensive against the free-flow of

Military present in Shanghai on 20 February 2011. Photo: AP

information within its borders, blocking 'sensitive' websites and deleting 'politically inappropriate content' almost instantly. Foreign news from the BBC and other sources is frequently blacked out and 'technical disruptions' help filter content for television and radio audiences.

The call to protest has been renewed and Chinese citizens are being urged to gather in 41 cities across the country on Sunday to demand their rights and greater freedoms, as the government announces an ever more invasive strategy which includes tracking all residents through their mobile phones and increasing surveillance of the population.

The credibility of the threat the protesters pose however is hindered by the isolation of individuals and prevention of communication to bring people together. The recent calls for demonstration, which urged people to 'stroll by' protest sites, were quashed by an unprecedented show of force in the major cities of Shanghai and Beijing, with several bystanders arrested for unknown reasons and news crews from the BBC and CNN detained at local police stations for attempting to

photograph the stifling security presence. One reporter suffered a broken rib, and another sustained a hand injury after receiving kicks and punches to the head and body.

Calls on the internet for the public 'Jasmine Revolution' have sparked a violent crackdown by government forces, fearful of a Middle-east inspired uprising that would topple their oneparty dictatorship in the name of democracy. The communist regime's information war on its own people, who remain virtually blindfolded and in a dark oblivion to the outside world, is now showing signs of falling apart as the spread of news through the internet threatens the credibility of government propaganda.

According to the 2008 regulations governing foreign media – which formalised the temporary freedoms granted to foreign reporters during the Beijing Olympics – foreign correspondents are allowed to interview any consenting individual without official permission. The regulations do not apply in Tibet, where Chinese authorities continue to ban independent reporting.

The new restrictions put places like Beijing's People's Square and Wangfujing street on par with Tibet as out-of-bounds areas where foreign reporters need special permission to work, and come after journalists were attacked and harassed in the same areas over the weekend.

Propaganda in China is led by the government agency 'Xinhua', which sets the pace for all other news outlets and journalists to follow. Those who do not are quickly silenced and face termination and even imprisonment.

TPI TIBET

The Tibet Post

A Leading Protester of 2008 Tibet Uprising Dies

Sangay Gyatso (1st left) speaking to foreign journalists about repression of human rights by the Chinese government during a peaceful protest in Labrang in Amdo Province in northeastern Tibet on 9 April 2008

By Tibetan Oficial Media Agency, Tibet Net

Dharamshala: Sangay Gyatso, who was among the leading peaceful protesters during the widespread protests in Tibet in 2008, succumbed to his physical and mental trauma suffered during a year-long escape in the hills to evade government persecution, according to a report received by the Central Tibetan Administration.

Sangay took leading role in the peaceful protests that occurred in Labrang in Tibet's northeastern Amdo Province in 2008. Defying intense restriction by the Chinese government on 4 April 2008, he and his colleagues from Labrang Monastery spoke to a group of visiting foreign journalists about the "suppression of fundamental human rights in Tibet by the Chinese government".

Fearing arrest by the Chinese government he fled and spent more than

a year in hills facing insurmountable hardships. Lack of proper food compounded by mental trauma left him debilitated and bedridden. Every possible help to recover him through medication by his family and relatives failed and his health condition grew bad to worse. He was eventually admitted to a hospital in Siling and as there was not much improvement in his health, he had to undergo a surgery in another hospital.

Ironically, the Chinese government did not arrest him after knowing that there was no hope of his recovery. Even the hospital discharged him for the same reason.

Sangay spent his remaining days in his home and passed away on 26 February 2011. He is survived by his old parents, both of whom are above 70 years old.

Sangay was born in 1969 in a nomadic family in Labrang Tashikhyil. He was ordained at the age of 16 and began his

religious studies at Labrang Monastery.

In 1991 he went to Drepung Loseling Monastery in India to pursue his studies. Unfortunately, he had to return to Tibet to continue his studies as his health could not adapt to the environment in India.

Like Sangay Gyatso, many Tibetans living in Tibet are forced to leave their homes for hills to escape torture by the Chinese authorities. The death of Sangay Gyatso has reinforced the danger to the lives of many Tibetans who are losing their strength to live in insuperable harsh circumstances.

An estimated 227 Tibetans have died under China's crackdown since March 2008, out of which 153 could be identified. The deaths were caused by to indiscriminate firing by the PRC forces during the demonstrations; severe beatings and torture of detainees during arrest, interrogation and detention; and a built-up of insurmountable repression and suppression that drove some Tibetans to commit suicide. One death was caused either by starvation or suicide in the initial phase of the March 2008 protests when the major monasteries were sealed off and closed for days. (Read 2008 uprising in Tibet: Chronology and Analysis] Over 6,810 Tibetans have been arrested and detained and at least 510 Tibetans sentenced since 10 March 2008. The judicial process was devoid of fair trial and independent legal representation.

A total of seven Tibetans have been sentenced to death since then - two with immediate death sentence who were subsequently executed and five are currently facing suspended death sentence or death sentence with a twoyear reprieve. All defendants are young Tibetans below the age of 30. Lobsang Gyaltsen and Loyak, both 25-year-old, were executed on 20 October 2009. The other five facing suspended death sentences are Tenzin Phuntsok, 27; Kangtsuk, 22; Penkyi, 21; Pema Yeshi, 28; and 23-year-old Sonam Tsering.

China Closes Tibet for Foreign Tourists Ahead of 52nd Anniversary

Chinese armed military forces in the Barkhor Square of ancient Jokhang temple in Lhasa, capital of Tibet on 13 Januray 2011. Photo: TPI

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: China has closed off Tibet to foreign tourists, according to the state controlled media 'Xinhua', two days before the 52nd anniversary of the Tibetan national uprising in the Himalayan region. In recent months, hundreds of police and armed Chinese military personnel were also deployed to Tibet's capital of Lhasa and other major cities and towns in Tibet.

The closure was "mainly due to the current cold winter weather, limited accommodation capacity and safety

concerns," the official Xinhua news agency quoted Zhang Qingli, the regional secretary for the ruling Communist Party, as claiming on Monday. Zhang claimed the suspension was also due to "lots of religious activities" which were planned and said the region was preparing for a "grand ceremony commemorating the 60th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet".

Thursday is the 52nd anniversary of a Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule

on March 10, 1959. The anniversary protest on March 10, 2008 in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, escalated into mass protest that left over a hundred people dead after China's deadly military crackdowns on peaceful Tibetan protesters, according to the Tibetan government-in-exile.

Ahead of the anniversary, China has increased the deployment of military forces in Lhasa city, particularly in the Barkhor Square of the ancient Jokhang temple of Tibet, where hugely armed military forces are usually deployed.

China closed all tours to Tibet following the 2008 rioting and has suspended foreign tours at least twice since then.

Foreign tourists need a special permit in addition to a Chinese visa and they must register with a travel agency, while the region has always been closed to foreign journalists except for government-run tours.

Thursday is also the third anniversary of mass Tibetan peaceful demonstrations in all parts of Tibet.

Some travel agencies have told AFP that overseas visitors won't be allowed into the heavily restricted region until April.

Foreign tourists were banned from traveling to the Himalayan region for more than a year after the peaceful demonstrations in March 2008, which left more than 220 dead and thousands

15 March, 2011 Dharamsala

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China Claims Aid for Rural School Development in Tibet

A modern high school in Lhasa-Tibet, more than 60% student were Chinese in 1970s-Lhasa, capital of Tibet. Photo: TPI

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: An official of the socalled government of Tibet Autonomous Region has claimed that China "plans to raise a new educational subsidy and expand its coverage to include more than 500,000 school-aged children, mostly from herding families, in rural areas of Tibet."

Dorjee Tsering, a spokesman with the Chinese Bureau of Education of Tibet told reporters on Monday that the "regional government has doubled the budget earmarked for the rural educational subsidy scheme this year to 1.01 billion yuan (USD 152 million)."

"Children in rural Tibet from kindergartens to senior high schools will receive 2,000 yuan per person to cover annual expenses on food, clothing, and school supplies while they stay in boarding schools. Those who live in remote areas will receive extra subsidies," Dorjee Tsering claimed.

Chinese state-controlled media Xinhua claims that China also provides free education for school-aged children in Tibet and has been providing subsidies to children of herding families since 1985. Previous subsidy schemes did not include kindergarten children. The government also plans to provide scholarships amounting to more than 10 million yuan for students from lowincome families who study in kindergartens and primary and middle schools in Tibet.

However, Tibetan experts explain a different aspect of the face of education. In the schools supposedly established before 2005 for Tibetans and located in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region, 446 (71%) of the total 630 students were Chinese and only 184 (29%) were Tibetan. In the Tibet Nationalities Institute in Xianyang, 938 out of the total 1,165 students were Chinese and only 227 were Tibetan, according to Tibetan scholars. The Tibetan experts also claim that the Chinese government maintains that only 4% of the population in the TAR is Chinese. but, if 4% of the

of others missing, imprisoned and sentenced after deadly crackdowns by the Chinese armed forces.

Human rights groups have accused Chinese authorities of killing antigovernment protesters during the brutal crackdown. The communist regime however has denied that violence was used on the Tibetan population during the failed uprising.

population takes more than 70% of seats in educational institutions, these figures evoke the questions: who is really being educated in Tibet, and how honest are the figures?

Tibet University in the capital city Lhasa in 2005 reported a majority of Tibetan students (1,018) and a Han Chinese minority (208). Still, on closer examination of the data, even at Tibet University one finds that Han Chinese made up the majority in science and technical courses, with Tibetans constituting only 26% of the students in these areas. In contrast, Tibetans are heavily concentrated in the humanities, representing 70% of the students enrolled in those courses.

China says the population of the socalled TAR had reached more than 2.9 million at the end of 2009, which it said was a 140% increase over the figure of 1.228 million in 1959. Another report released in 2009 as claimed the local Tibetan population in TAR had increased from one million in 1956 to 2.7 million in 2008.

Tibet Supporters Talk to British Politicians to the Tibetan cause. MP Fabian Hamilton said to the lobbyists, "thank you for all the work you do and we have to continue this campaign."

This year's lobby is the first since the 2010 General Election and many of the recently elected MPs promised to aid the Tibetan plight. Some MPs including, Mary Macleod and Jeremy Corbyn stated that they would meet with the next Kalon Tripa, following the elections this month. A member of Free Tibet also met with Prime Minister, David Cameron's representative to discuss what the British leader could do for the future of Tibet.

The Tibetans and British nationals flew Tibet flags outside the Houses of Parliament and chanted slogans. The event held on Thursday is part of the UK's commemoration of the 52nd Uprising Day, they will conclude today with a march through London and an afternoon of Tibetan dance, words, music and food to showcase and celebrate Tibet's unique culture.

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15 March, 2011 Dharamsala

TPI TIBET IN EXILE

Tibetan Govt.'s Statement on the 52nd Tibetan Uprising Day

Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, the prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile delivering his statement on the 52nd anniversary of the Tibetan people's national uprising day at the main Tibetan temple in Dharamsala, India, on 10 March 2011. Photo: TPI/Sangay Dorjee

By The Tibet Post International us. We offer our solidarity for all those

Tibetan polity into a democratic system are two achievements that are source of pride and the strength for the Tibetan people. As a result, the issue of Tibet has been able to be sustained around the world and these have become reasons why the People's Republic of China is unable to ignore the issue of Tibet.

As this miracle the Tibetans have achieved in exile is a result of the profound accomplishments of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. We express our deepest gratitude to him.

Since the PRC occupied Tibet, the Tibetan people have had not even a fleeting moment of peace and joy.

Furthermore, policies were implemented that aimed to annihilate not only Tibetan religion and culture and natural resources, but even the trace of Tibetan identity as well. Since repression across Tibet worsened in 2008, the Tibetan people have been languishing in an environment of constant fear and suspicion. The recent campaign, targeted at Tibetan intellectuals, scholars, writers, artists and environmentalists, has resulted in their arbitrary incarceration on concocted charges. This further validates the existence of a definite objective to wipe out Tibetan identity and heritage. As Tibetan language is the bedrock of Tibetan identity and culture, the recent move to phase out Tibetan as the main medium of instruction in schools also constitute an aspect of the strategy towards the objective of annihilation of Tibetan identity. Under such circumstances, the people in Tibet have been struggling for the preservation and promotion of Tibetan language and culture by disregarding even at the risk of losing their lives. For this, they deserve our heartfelt gratitude.

The Tibetan and the Chinese people are neighbours and share close social, economic and commercial relations.

However, if enmity between the two people grows and the relationship is strained due to manipulations by the Communist leaders then this is highly undesirable. Tibetans living in exile are trying their best to create a good relationship with the Chinese people.

Likewise, the Kashag wish to request the Tibetans inside Tibet to maintain friendly relations with Chinese and other nationalities. Particularly, we would like to urge Tibetans not to engage in any violent act with other nationalities.

A series of recent peaceful people's protests in the Middle East and North Africa to move towards freedom and democracy is a source of inspiration for

who take part in these protests and extend our support and stand with them in unity as long as their actions remain non-violent. These events prove the fact that suppression by authoritarian regimes anywhere cannot last forever.

Presently, a major cause of concern for Tibetans in and outside Tibet is that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will relinquish his role as the political leader of Tibetan people, and transfer his political and administrative responsibilities to the elected leadership. As a result, a great number of Tibetans in exile from the various settlements, organisations, monastic institutions and individuals and particularly many Tibetans from inside Tibet collectively and individually have been ardently supplicating His Holiness the Dalai Lama not to take such a step.

We, the Kashag, would like to make the same request in the strongest terms.

Since the institution of the Dalai Lama, as an emanation of Avalokitesvara, and the inhabitants of the Land of Snows, the spiritual domain of Avalokitesvara are intimately connected by a pure karmic bond, the Tibetan people must make all efforts to ensure that this relationship continues to last forever without change.

The Tibetan people need to make great efforts to keep this bond between the successive Dalai Lamas and Tibet. In order for this to happen, we request the Tibetan people to make even more efforts to increase their collective merits.

To fulfil His Holiness the Dalai Lama's wish to relinquish the temporal

responsibilities, His Holiness will issue a message to the coming session of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. And all future course of action will depend on how the members of the legislative body intelligently formulate legislation regarding this. The Kashag would like to urge the members of the exile parliament to consider this a matter of utmost importance and accordingly think carefully to take the right path.

Even though there are no major achievements during the tenure of the Twelfth and Thirteenth Kashag for the last nearly 10 years, we have been able to complete our tenure without any major failures and controversy. This has been achieved because of the kind guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and the sincere hardwork of the officials of the Central Tibetan Administration, the cooperation and support of the general public. I and all my fellow members of the Kashag deeply thank and extend our gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

At the same time, with deep regret we offer our sincere apology for our inability to work in accordance with your vision during our tenure. We beseech His Holiness to continue to lead us until we attain liberation. Similarly, we wholeheartedly thank the Tibetan people in and outside Tibet for their consistent cooperation and support. Likewise, we profusely thank all the officials of the Central Tibetan Administration who have worked with sincerity and devotion for the exile Tibetan administration only because of their commitment to the cause inspite of inadequate salary and facilities.

Taking this opportunity, we thank and extend our gratitude to all the Tibet Support Groups, heads of the governments and members of parliaments across the world who support the just struggle of the Tibetan people, and especially the general public, the leadership of central and state governments of India, for their unwavering support for the welfare of Tibetans, the preservation and promotion of Tibet's cultural and spiritual heritage and for the realization of the Tibetan people's aspiration.

Finally, the Kashag prays for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the spontaneous fulfilment of all his wishes. May the truth of the issue of Tibet prevail soon!

The Kashag 10 March 2011 NB: This is the English translation.

Should any discrepancy arise, the original Tibetan should be considered the final and authoritative.

Tibetan Parliament Statement on the Tibetan Uprising Day

Mr Penpa Tsering the speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in exile delivering his official statement of the 52nd Tibetan National Uprising Day, Dharamshala, India on 10th March 2011. Photo: TPI/Sangay Dorjee

By The Tibet Post International

Dharamshala: Over half a century ago, adhering to the letter and spirit of 17point agreement, the then Governement of Tibet had explored all possible avenues for a peaceful co-existence between Tibet and China. In contrast to that, the Chinese troops stationed in Tibet exposed their colonial deigns when they carried out a brutal campaign to sabotage and subvert the terms of the 17-point agreement. The Chinese troops eventually went so far as to posing a serious danger to the safety and life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.Thus, in what was a desperate act of final despair, the people in Lhasa from all three Tibetan provinces were forced into chanting the slogans of restoring Tibetan independence and waging an extensive campaign to fend off colonial encroachment.

The Chinese government has since then unleashed a tsunami of Strike Hard oppression through a series of political campaigns that caused unprecedented catastrophes to both the land and people of Tibet, including the untimely deaths of over 1.2 million Tibetans and destruction of over 6 000 monasteries.

This day of 10 March not only renews our resolve to keep the harrowing memories of our past ordeals forever etched in our hearts and minds, but presents an occasion to pay homage to the brave Tibetan men and women who have sacrificed their lives and properties for the sake of Tibetan cause.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, followed

Tibetans and Taiwanese Commemorate the 52nd Tibetan Uprising Day

Tibetan national uprising against Chinese rule, 12 March 2011. Photo: TPI/Keary Huang

By Keary Huang, The Tibet Post

Taipei: -- Some 200 exiled Tibetans currently residing in Taiwan and Taiwanese supporters participated in a peaceful demonstration in Taipei to mark

the 3rd Anniversary of the 2008 peaceful protest in all parts of Tibet and the 52nd anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan national uprising against Chinese rule.

The Tibet Post

Shouting various slogans "Free Tibet" and "Tibetan people need freedom and human rights, " about 200 Tibetans and Taiwanese including members of Taiwan based Tibet Support groups marched through the streets of downtown Taipei Saturday to commemorate the 1959 Tibetan uprising against China's invasion.

Participants sang the national anthem of Tibet and performed a skit that depicted the 1959 uprising before starting to parade down Zhongxiao E. Road in Taipei City.

"What we can do for Tibetan people is very limited. Through the parade, we want Tibetans to know that we have not forgotten about them, " Chow Meili, president of Taiwan Friends of Tibet, which co-organized the annual event, told the crowd. Continues on Page 10.....

by some 80 000 Tibetans, was thus compelled to escape into exile in India, where His Holiness established the Tibetan administration in exile and managed resourcefully settlements and schools, as well as centers of Tibetan religious studies. As a result, the voice of Tibetan movement today gets amplified on a global scale. For this tremendous accomplishment, we must not only have a great sense of pride and fulfillment, but also express our deepest gratitude to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and our senior generation that realized it with great dedication and courage of sacrificing for the betterement of Tibetan cause.

Presently, as the giant tide of global economic recession reached new heights, China became increasingly far more assertive in brandishing its hard and soft powers on all avenues of international politics, most notably by trumpeting China's GDP growth rate that has sustained over decades. In order to build its international image and prestige, China tries to project an appearance of being committed to a more inclusive participation and consultation in resolving global issues.

Similarly, great efforts are also put into promoting Chinese culture by establishing ties and cultural exchanges with foreign countries. While one can view these actions as necessary and vital for a great nation, China has also a tendency to brandish its might as a global power whenever it is required to muzzle unsavoury qustions like those about its freedom of speech. Whereas on the other hand, when the issue is about sharing the burdens of global responsabilities, China evades them by feigning to be merely a developing country. Despite the label of "worshop of the world" sustained on a cheap labour and production cost, China aparently has still quite a long way to go before it reaches the status of a real global power.

In order to sustain the dictatorship of Chinese Communist Party by all means necessary, be it propaganda or administrative and control mechanisms, the present Chinese regime has put on the backburner the issue of fundamental freedoms like democracy, rule of law and human rights that are enjoyed by the people in the free world. However, instead of addressing its basic social problems through fair and lawful measures, China's spending on domestic stability has been far greater than on its national security. China also Continues on Page 8...

TPI INTERNATIONAL 7 Call For Global Protest to China to Increase Police Commemorate the 52nd Presence in Beijing, Media Tibetan Uprising Day Crackdown The Tibet Post

15 March, 2011 Dharamsala

Struggle for Free Tibet. Photo: TPI/file

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Oakland: - More than six decades after Communist China's invasion of Tibet the sad reality remains that Tibet still is not free but continues to be terrorized by its invaders. United Nations for a Free Tibet, along with Tibetan exiles, many other Free Tibet groups/organizations and their supporters in dozens of countries, shall once again march on March 10th to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising of 1959 and to show solidarity with the nonviolent and democratic movement of Tibetans in Exile. This is the most politically significant day in the Tibetan calendar.

A press statement released on March 1st, 2011 by United Nations for a Free Tibet said "about 86,000 Tibetan men, women and children were slaughtered

by Communist Chinese troops after an uprising in 1959 against Communist

China's illegal occupation of Tibet, and the total figures are well in excess of 1.2 million Tibetans who have lost their lives over the years against the Communist Chinese regime. However, as said by Jigme Norbu, Nephew of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, "We have nothing against the Chinese people.

They're human beings just like us. It's the Communist policies we are totally against." Tragically, Norbu was killed by a car accident during his most recent *Walk for Tibet* in Florida.

Tibetans and Tibet supporters in the USA, Belgium, Germany, India, Australia, and many other countries of the world are uniting for a day of peaceful demonstrations to draw attention to the dire Tibetan situation.

To this date, Governments of the world still do not speak against the increasing acts of violence by the Communist

China Increases Economic 'Assistance' to Nepal

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: The Chinese government's Xinhua news agency is reporting that a series of agreements have been signed on Monday by officials in Kathmandu, Nepal, to increase financial assistance given to Nepal by neighbouring China.

The sharp increase of Chinese 'assistance' to Nepal has set off alarm bells for the Nepalese public, who fear China's influence is becoming too great, as well as refugee organisations following recent reports of Chinese authorities using bribes to have Tibetan escapees handed back over to them.

A fresh release by whistleblower website Wikileaks suggests such a possibility.

China has been increasingly concerned about Tibetans attempting to enter Nepal since the Tibet uprising in 2008. But this is the first indication that money is being offered to thwart such attempts.

The confidential diplomatic cable created

by US embassy in New Delhi on February 22 last year and released last week by Wikileaks is titled 'Update on Tibetan refugee flow'. "Chinese government rewards (Nepali forces) by providing financial incentives to officers who hand over Tibetans attempting to exit Tibet," the cable quoted an unnamed source as

Chinese army against defenseless Tibetans inside their own country.

Freedom of speech, press, association, jobs, and religion have all been taken away from a nation which was never a part of China.

The destruction of Tibet's culture and oppression of its people was brutal during the 20 years following the uprising. 1.2 million Tibetans, one-fifth of the country's population, died as a result of Communist China's policies, according to an estimate by the Tibetan government in exile. Many more languished in prisons and labor camps, and more than 6000 monasteries, temples and other cultural and historic buildings were destroyed and their contents were pillaged. Tibetan political prisoners endure harsh prison conditions, including torture, deprivation of food and sleep, and long periods in isolation cells. Reading an autobiography of the Dalai Lama or talking about freedom to friends in Tibet can be classified as ‘endangering state security'.

The atrocities China lashes onto a defenceless people never stopped but in fact have increased the last 10 years a 100 fold: they are truly on a road to annihilate all Tibetans and make Tibet a Chinese province.

"March 10 is Tibet Uprising Day and everywhere this shall be a day to raise awareness for Tibet. Sadly, we need to add, again. Everyone longs for the day that no more marches of protest shall be necessary, but only marches of celebration for a Tibet that has regained its freedom from great oppression" said Brigitte Graefin von Bulow, Chair of United Nations for a Free Tibet. Not with violence but with peaceful demonstrations, we encourage everyone to join, to raise the Tibetan flag, wear a Free Tibet shirt and become part of an ever faster connected world via FB and internet to get the world involved in helping Tibet."

disclosing this information.

The agreements were signed by Fu Ziying, the Chinese visiting Vice Minister of Commerce, and Rameshore Prasad Khanal, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, pertaining to a loan of RMB 640 million (about Rs. 7 billion) from the Export-Import Bank of China (EXIM Bank) for the 'Upper Trisuli 3A Hydropower Project of Nepal'.

China has also decided to provide RMB 50 million in assistance for 'mutually agreed projects', as well as a grant for the upgrading of Kathmandu's Ring Road.

Nepal is currently hosting a Chinese delegation led by Fu, from Feb. 26 to March 1, during which the Chinese officials will visit various Chinese projects in Nepal including the National Ayurveda Research and Training Centre.

A military present in Shanghai on 20 February 2011. Photo: AP

By Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: The presence of police officers in Beijing is set to be amped up following recent calls to protest in the nation's capital. The communist regime also appears to be rolling back some press freedoms it introduced ahead of the 2008 Olympics, barring foreign journalists from working near a popular Shanghai park and along a major Beijing shopping street after calls for weekly protests in those spots appeared online.

Patrol booths, similar to those the Chinese have erected on every corner in Lhasa, Tibet, will be installed in the city's downtown CBD and major traffic hubs. The booths will be set up by June, and will be equipped with 3G cellular technology enabling them to receive photographs taken from police cars.

The new booths are said by a Public Security Bureau spokesman to be an attempt to ensure that "there will always be police patrolling the streets 24 hours a day".

Foreign journalists who tried to take photos or shoot video footage on Beijing's Wangfujing shopping street on Sunday were told they needed special permission to work there, and an AP photographer was told Tuesday that the area near People's Square in Shanghai was also off-limits. The restrictions put the popular leisure spots on par with Tibet as out-ofbounds areas where foreign reporters need special permission to work, and come after attacks and harassment of journalists working in the areas to cover possible Jasmine revolution events.

The tighter restrictions follow anonymous online calls for peaceful protests in 35 Chinese cities, inspired by the demonstrations that have swept the Middle East. The rules go against a pledge made in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics allowing reporters to

Home Dept. Offers Training Opportunities for Tibetan Youth Dharamshala: The Department of Home (Youth Empowerment Support) of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamshala is offering a range of skill training opportunities, available for unemployed Tibetan youth.

The list includes diverse courses such as hairdressing, carpentry, cooking, computers, tailoring, mechanics and multi-media, and a start-up soft loan

will be provided for the setting up of micro-enterprises following the training. The course durations vary from 3-18 months.

Application close March 31, 2011 and training is set to begin in May 2011.

Applicants should contact local Tibetan Settlement Offices or the Dept. of Home for details, or log onto the website www.tibetgov.net for more information.

work freely anywhere in China as long as they had the permission of the interviewee.

However, before and during the Olympics, foreign journalists were blocked from covering potential protests and were forcibly taken away from some areas. Security in the capital is always very tight in early March when the country holds its annual twoweek legislative session, and dissidents are routinely put under house arrest or taken in for questioning around this time. The reporting rules conveyed this week, however, are new.

Beijing is now demanding that foreign media "must cooperate with China", and the consequences of not cooperating are being made very clear. The Foreign Correspondents' Club of China said journalists from 15 news organisations "experienced serious interference" on Sunday near Wangfujing. Journalists from five news organisations reported having their equipment confiscated or reporting material destroyed, the FCCC said in a statement Monday, with one reporter receiving medical treatment after being punched and kicked in the face.

A foreign Ministry spokeswoman cited a breach of 'reporting restrictions' as the reason for what the US ambassador to China has condemned as 'harassment' of foreign media, saying they had been blocking the traffic flow. It is not clear what traffic flow she was referring to, however, as Wangfujing is largely a pedestrian shopping and leisure street.

The spokeswoman's refusal to specify which restrictions the reporters had actually breached were unsurprising, as Chinese authorities often make arrests on very ambiguous charges without any requirement to explain.

Also on Sunday, police near Shanghai's People's Square blew shrill whistles nonstop to keep people moving, while street-cleaning trucks in Beijing drove repeatedly up Wangfujing, spraying water to keep crowds pressed to the edges. U.S. and European diplomats and an overseas media rights group have criticized Chinese authorities for the harassment.

Online posts of unknown origin that first circulated on an overseas Chinese news website nearly two weeks ago have called for the Chinese to gather peacefully at sites every Sunday in a show of people power meant to promote fairness and democracy. A renewed call Monday expanded the target cities from 27 to 35. China's extensive Internet filtering and monitoring mean that most

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15 March, 2011 Dharamsala

Continues from Page 8... employs other measures like repression and incarceration of dissenters, incessant crackdown against the so called separatism in minority regions, condoning the corrupt exploitation of national resources by rich business people and officials, imposing stringent restrictions on internet and media, and persecution of religious leadres and communities. The way China has been whipping up nationalistic sentiments amidst a great majority of its own population that goes against the general progression of human society in the 21st century.

The recent string of protest movements that jolted North Africa and Middle East Asia relays a clear message about the universality of human rights. For a country like China with a long history of civilization, dictatorship cannot sustain itself merely by force and oppression; there is no other way than to eventually tread the path trodden by international mainstream.

Since China unrolled its Western Development Campaign and introduced the policy of mutual support between east and west, the buzzword has always been that the western regions, including the entire Tibetan areas, should provide raw materials and work opportunities to the people in the eastern part of China. In order to build new towns, Tibetan nomads were forcefully evicted and resettled from their ancestral land. There are also a whole host of other issues involving the environmental consequences of wanton resettlement of Tibetan households, building of a vast network of railways, highways and airports and related auxiliary projects. Under the guise of so-called Aid-Tibet projects, an overwhelming number of Chinese high-skilled professionals - including those specializing in the construction of dams and extraction of mineral resources and those working in the state-run business entreprises were increasingly assigned strategic positions in the administration of Tibetan counties and townships.

Furthermore, the families and relatives of these officials also feast on the work opportunities presented by a meriad of aid-Tibet projects. After studies reported that the Tibetan plateau has some of the Asia's largest reserves of mineral resources, the Chinese staterun mining industries have been running amok exploring and extracting mineral reserves from across Tibet. The four largest electric power industries of China have plans to construct dams on all major rivers of Tibet. Even the Chinese private enterprises have been liberally exploiting the minerals resources of Tibet as wild card game without any form of restraint or regulation and concern over the natural environment. Similarly, the wild life of Tibet has also been irreversibly victimized by extensive poaching.

Thus, the chilling question of just how many more years before the entire Tibetan environment is ripped to tatters shivers down our spines.

Because of the years of Chinese population influx into Tibet, driven mainly by state-sponsored economic opportunities, the social resources in Tibet are today controlled by the Chinese people, while the native Tibetan nomads and peasants are further marginalized to the edges. This makes it amply clear that China's malafide intention is to annihilate both the habitat and inhabitants of the land of snows.

In addition to imposing a whole new range of rules and regulations on

TPI TIBET IN EXILE

monasteries and reincarnation of lamas, the Chinese authorities have installed special "work teams" in the monasteries to undertake forced education campaign of "love your country, love your religion". In fact, there are also many monasteries wherein the authorities have installed special unites of local public security. These security officers closely monitor and regulate the daily life at the monastery and also resort to intimidation of monks and nuns. Disregarding the language aspirations of Tibetan teachers, students and intellectuals, and in total contravention of China's own laws and regulations. The authorities have imposed a policy of instituting Chinese as the main language of instruction in all Tibetan schools. Beginning from the preschool.

Eminent Tibetan people including writers, singers, and environmentalists were persecuted by arbitrary detention and incarceration on concocted charges. Without adequate legal representation, some of them were sentenced for a fixed term, while some others were sentenced for life imprisonment. There were also many cases of torture deaths, missing people and those in terrible physical health as a result of beatings in detention. As of now, at least 831Tibetan prisoners of conscience are reported to be languishing inside Chinese prison. The Tibetan parliament-in-exile condemns in the strongest terms the colonial wrongdoings of China and ardently urges it to revoke all its oppressive policies in Tibet.

For all those who perished during the recent disasters in Kyigudo and Druchu, the Tibetan government and the people held special prayer services and raised relief funds by mobilizing public donations. Even though it is impossible to prevent natural calamities, there were nonetheless clear indications of human blunders being a major contributing factor in triggering those disasters. The Chinese authorities are therefore well-advised to be seriously concerned about the likely ramifications of their excessive exploitation and devastation of Tibet's natural environment.

The Tibetan struggle headed by His Holiness the Dalai lama is founded on the cardinal principles of non-violence and truth. Since our approach of pursuing the mutual interest of both Tibet and China serves as a model framework for the resolution of global conflicts, with the passage of time, the international support for our approach has been increasing by leaps and bounds, including the support from foreign governments and parliaments, NGO's and individuals. As a result, the Tibet issue today has become virtually a mandatory topic of discussion for the world leaders.

From as far back as the 1980's, the exile government has consistently pursued the middle-way approach by engaging in a series of talks to resolves a mutually beneficial solution to the Tibet problem.

Furthermore, after the revival of contacts between Beijing and Dharamsala in 2002, the memorandum on genuine autonomy for the people of Tibet that outlines the aspiration of the Tibetan people and formulated in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of PRC, Was proposed to Beijing during the 8th round of Sino-Tibetan talks. Similarly, in January 2010, Dharamsala further issued an exhaustive clarification to China's misinterpretation of the memorandum. As the Chinese

The Tibet Post

Tibetan Women's National Uprising Commemorated in Exile

By Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Sataurday, March 12, many Tibetan women of the Dharamshala Exile community gathered at the main temple to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the 1959 Women's Uprising in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.

During the ceremony a minute's silence was observed to honour those women who were beaten, tortured and degraded by the Chinese government as they peacefully voiced their opposition to Chinese oppression in Tibet's capital, and in particular those who gave their lives to the cause.

The event was held by the Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) and featured speeches from prominent women in the community, and also served as the release for Jamyang Kyi's book 'A Sequence of Tortures: A Diary of Interrogations' on the demonstrations that swept the three provinces of Tibet in 2008.

It was the second time this week that the Tibetan community has commemorated the 1959 uprisings, following Thursday's National Tibetan Uprising Day ceremony and rally which saw a turn out of several thousand Tibetans march from the main temple down to Lower Dharamshala, after an important speech made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Tibetans and supporters have rallied in cities all over the world this week to commemorate the March 10 and 12 anniversaries and show their unwavering conviction and demands for greater freedom in Tibet. government still tries devious means to prolong the process, we urge the Chinese leadership to broaden its horizon of intellectual acumen and have the courage to seek a meaningful solution to the issue of Tibet.

In just a few days, the final elections of both the Kalon tripa and the Tibetan parliament will be held. We urge all the Tibetans to value their democratic responsibilities and participate in this great celebration of democracy by casting their votes.

Regarding the implementation.

Everybody should therefore be aware of the fact that the implementation of all those recommendations are as of now in full swing.

As we have already spent over half a century in exile, we should express our heartfelt gratitude to the government and people of India for providing us a second homeland, as well as the governments, organizations and individuals across the globe for their consistent support to the Tibetan cause.

In conclusion, we pray for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai lama and as per the existing democratic practices beseech him to continue to lead us as the political and religious leader of Tibetan people. We also pray for the day when His Holiness the Dalai lama will grace the land of snows with his footprints and Tibetans in and outside Tibet are reunited in glory.

The Tibetan parliament-in-exile 10 march 2011 Translated from the original Tibetan test by Dhundup Gyalpo.

Exile Tibetan women in Dharamshala, India commemorating the 52nd Anniversary of Tibetan Women's Uprising Day on 12th March 2011. Photo: TPI

In New Delhi- On the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of the National Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day, the group dedicated this day to honor the indomitable literary spirit of the Tibetan Women inside Tibet. TWA organized an exclusive literary event, “Honoring the Literary Spirit of Tibetan Women Inside Tibet”. The event held at the Deputy Speaker Hall of Constitution Club of India, featured a book launch and a panel discussion.

"Post 2008 national protests inside Tibet, the world is witnessing a cultural and intellectual renaissance in Tibet where intellectuals, thinkers and artists are reasserting their Tibetan identity and patriotism in a creative way. Tibetan Women like Tsering Woeser and Jamyang Kyi have written fiercely under oppression and their works have contributed largely to amplifying the suppressed voices in Tibet," said a report released by the women group.

Democracy Not an Option....... reach China while the one party remains in power.

Wu Bangguo, one of the party's top nine politburo leaders, made the strong statements in Beijing during China's annual National People's Congress, making it clear that political reform is not an option under the current leadership.

Mr. Wu claimed that China's leaders had "made a solemn declaration that we will not employ a system of multiple parties holding office in rotation", showing a poor knowledge of democratic electoral systems, and warned of the consequences of

change, saying "It is possible that the state could sink into the abyss of internal disorder" if democratic reforms were introduced.

His words seem to contradict earlier statements by premier Wen Jiabao, who suggested that democratic reforms may be possible in the interests of ensuring that state power would truly be held by the people.

It is well known that for the past 62 years China has been subject to domination by the sole legal political party, the CCP, under which any dissent is quickly silenced and frequent episodes of unrest are crushed by authorities.

“Yak Revolution in Tibet,” urge Tibetans in Bangalore

By Tendar Tsering, The Tibet Post

country by the Chinese communist party, and since then, every year on the same day, thousands of brothers and sisters sacrifice their lives for our country, and today, our families and siblings might be risking their lives back in Tibet voicing their resentment against the Chinese government," said Youngdrung Tenzin, vice president of Regional Tibetan Youth Congress in Bangalore.

Tibetans in Bangalore marked the 52nd anniversary of their failed but historical revolutionary day by holding a seminar at Mount Carmel College, and a press conference at the Bangalore Press Club followed by a peace march for three kilometers in the city.

Tibetans working in the city also joined the Tibetan students in the protest, and they shouted slogans like "Free Tibet, Free Tibet", "China go back to China", "Tibet belongs to Tibetans."

"This year is the year of revolution, and the courage to stand against guns and

brutality. Revolution is in the air, and we are dreaming of fanning the flame of ‘Yak Revolution' in Tibet, sooner or later," said the vice president. "On this day of 1959, millions of our people have lost their lives in their fight for our freedom, and every year, on this same day, thousands are being jailed and hundreds are losing their lives. Yet we honor this day, we commemorate this day, and we inspire ourselves to carry on the spirit of struggle for a free Tibet," he added.

Today, Tibetans all over the world are marking the anniversary of their forefathers' failed revolution against the Chinese government in 1959.

"A new uprising is underway in Tibet.

Tibetans are boldly asserting their identity and desire for freedom. A new generation is determined to finish what was started half a century ago when Tibetans defiantly rose up against China's occupation," says the website of Students for a Free Tibet.

TPI

The Tibet Post

UN Commemorates 10th Anniversary of Afghan Giant Buddha Statues

One of Afghanistan's New Beginnings Programme’s Mobile Disarmament Units (MDU), which are tasked with disarming soldiers throughout Afghanistan, parks in front of the caves that once housed the two ancient Buddha statues as the DDR programme starts in Bam. Photo: FIle

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: - On the eve of the 10th anniversary of the destruction of the giant Buddha statues of Bamiyan, in Afghanistan, by the then-ruling fundamentalist Taliban ten years ago, the United Nations cultural chief Monday called on the world to protect the heritage of humanity from damage, turmoil and theft. monumental statues had stood for one and a half millennia as proud testimonies to the greatness of our shared humanity," the Director-General of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, said in a statement. "They were destroyed in the context of the conflict devastating Afghanistan and to undermine the power of culture as a cohesive force for the Afghan people."

Ms. Bokova noted that UNESCO and

the world "watched helplessly" ten years ago as Taliban Government leader Mullah Mohammed Omar ordered tanks and artillery to bombard and dynamite the huge statues carved in enormous mountain niches, beginning on 2 March 2001.

"Since then, we have witnessed other instances where cultural heritage has fallen prey to conflict, political turmoil and misappropriation," she added, calling on governments, educators and the media to raise awareness of various international accords preserving cultural properties and banning looting, smuggling and the illicit trade in cultural objects.

Tolerance and cultural rapprochement will be the theme of a commemorative forum at UNESCO's Paris headquarters on 2 March, followed by the 9th

Bamiyan Expert Working Group on 3 and 4 March - both of which are being organized with Afghanistan's Permanent Delegation to UNESCO. Formed in 2002, the Expert Working Group brings together Afghan officials, international experts, donors and other stakeholders with the aim of safeguarding Bamiyan. The future of the niches and options to present the remains of the Buddha statue will be among the subjects to be examined by the group next month.

UNESCO does not favour rebuilding the Buddha statues, but the experts will examine other ways to present the remains and niches while maintaining research and preservation at the site, which testifies to the region's rich Gandhara school of Buddhist art that integrated different cultural influences from East and West during the 1st to 13th centuries. The holy site in the region contains numerous Buddhist monastic ensembles and sanctuaries, as well as fortified edifices from the Islamic period.

However, China has cheered the U.N. silence on its human rights record for last 50 years. It seems that the UN will likely keep silent about China's religious freedom in Tibet. The Tibetan people were unwilling to accept Chinese occupation. Unrest escalated throughout the decade after 1950, culminated in the Tibetan Uprising of 1959. According to various sources 80,000 Tibetans killed in Central Tibet alone during and immediately after the uprising. It is estimated that since 1959, 1.5 million Tibetans have killed as a direct result of Chinese incursion into the country.

During 1959 many thousands of Tibetans, including the Dalai Lama, sought asylum in India. The exodus of Tibetans from Tibet continues to this day. In the decades following 1959, particularly during the so called Cultural Revolution, there was wholesale destruction of Tibetan buildings and religious artifacts. All

Jasmine Protests in Communist China have Officials Scared

Police keep watch along the Wanfujing shopping street in Beijing after protesters gathered on Feb. 20, 2011. (Peter Parks/ AFP/Getty Images)

By Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: Attempts to stage mass protests in China have again been thwarted by police, as hundreds of officers swarm the designated protest spots in Beijing and Shanghai.

In a similar fashion to the 'Jasmine Uprising' attempt last week, calls were made online for people to gather in the two major cities and protest against the communist regime. Authorities, however, had fenced off those areas chiefly the McDonalds restaurant in Wangfujing, Beijing- and employed street cleaning trucks and rough physical force to prevent anyone from lingering.

At least five people have been taken into police custody in Shanghai, one for taking photos and the others for unknown offences, while members of the foreign press were 'manhandled' and news crews from both BBC and CNN were detained at a local police station in Beijing for trying to film what was happening.

Law enforcement authorities at Wangfujing, Beijing, reportedly beat press photographers and harassed journalists and bystanders and tried to prevent them from taking pictures or speaking to anyone in the crowd, though there were no obvious signs of protest and for the most part the large crowd gathered there simply seemed confused.

Tension has clearly been rising among officials in China following recent riots in northern Africa, as top members of the Chinese regime worry about similar uprisings occurring there and toppling them from power. Information on the internet and in the press is tightly controlled so as to keep the Chinese people in the dark, and the government is quick to crack down on dissent despite promises to curb its blatant disregard for human rights.

Internet searches for the words 'jasmine', 'Wangfujing' or the Chinese name of US Ambassador Jon Huntsman jr., who attended last week's jasmine protest, are being blocked by China's 'Great Firewall', and internet users are met with the message: "According to relevant laws and policies, search results cannot be shown".

With such a show of force at the anticipated protest sites, nobody dared do more than grumble quietly about the regime that has suppressed the Chinese people for the last 60 years.

However, despite the heavy controls on personal freedoms in Mainland China, protesters in Hong Kong demonstrated to show their support for those in China not able to voice their dissent, as well as their opposition to the 'corrupt' Chinese regime, holding placards that read "Freedom and Democracy. End One Party Rule. Push for Political Reform."

The last time a mass protest took place in China was in 1989 in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, with the brutal response of the government killing hundreds (some estimate thousands) of students. It seems the public has not yet gained the confidence of success necessary to try again.

15 March, 2011 Dharamsala

9

Ethnically I am a Tibetan-Burmese, Says Prince of Tripura

Gelek Namgyal, the Tibetan coordinator presenting a gift to the king of tripura. Photo: TPI

By Tendar Tsering, The Tibet Post

The forum was initially initiated by some of the north east and Tibetan students in the college, 2007, and this year, it was the fourth time that this north east and Tibetan forum was show casing their own cultural differences and uniqueness at the college.

Out of the college ground, these students created a world of their own, and all of them look same with their small eyes, but they proved that they are different and unique from their own respective food and cultural music and dances.

There are around 1000 north eastern students and one hundred Tibetan students in the college.

"I am often questioned by many people that how I admitted such a huge number of north east people, and I told them that north east is not a one state, there are many states. Students from north east studying here belong to the different tribes and communities consisting of eight states and 150 tribal languages." The principal of the college, Dr. (Fr.) Ambrose Pinto Sj said "Tibet, of course is different. There is no Tibetan state as yet. People of Tibet are rootless and homeless. It is necessary to provide them the support they need to create a home as they struggle."

Tashi Phuntsok, the chief representative of Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) was also found in presence as one of the distinguished guests at the program.

Bangalore (Feb.27)-Many people not be aware of this, but ethically I am a Tibetan-Burmese, indigenously I am a person of Tripura, and constitution puts us as tribal. I would like to see as indigenous but we are ‘tribals,' said Kirit Pradyot Deb Barman, the current king of the Royal House of Tripura, yesterday evening here in the city.

The king was the chief guest for the day where north east and Tibetan forum at the St. Joseph College for Arts and Science, held the mini international cultural and food festival on its college campus, and oddly three thousand people gathered there for the mini international program.

but 12 of more than 6,000 monasteries were destroyed. Many of them were used as target practice by Chinese artillery.

A thousand years' worth of priceless Buddhist literature, religious paintings and artifacts were either destroyed or have fetched millions of dollars on the international market in an effort by the Chinese to raise foreign currency and to wipe out Tibet's rich heritage. Today, more than 200,000 Tibetan refugees, including Tibet's political and spiritual leader His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, live in exile in India, Nepal, Bhutan, Switzerland, the United States and Canada, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere.

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Mr. Thomas Keimel Dr. Vincent Brucel Mr. YC. Dhardhowa Ms. Keary Huang Mr. Sangay Dorjee Ven Phuntsok Dhondup Mr. Tenzin Kunga Mr. James Dunn Ms. Pema Tso

Contributors for this Editon

Keary Huang James Dunn Mathew Singh Toor Carly Selby-James YC. Dhardhowa Sangay Dorjee Pema Tso The Tibet Post International Himalayan Literacy Trust (Head Office) 1st Floor, Exile House Road, Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala, Distt.

Kangra H.P 176219 India

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

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15 March, 2011 Dharamsala

TPI DALAI LAMA

.......Retirement Decision to Parliament or so resulted in a failure to maintain a unified Tibet. The absence of any central authority and frequent internal conflicts caused Tibet's political power to decline.

Since the Fifth Dalai Lama's founding of the Ganden Phodrang Government of Tibet in 1642, successive Dalai Lamas have been both the spiritual and temporal leaders of Tibet. During the reign of the Fifth Dalai Lama, all the 13 myriarchies or administrative districts of Tibet enjoyed political stability, Buddhism flourished in Tibet and the Tibetan people enjoyed peace and freedom.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Tibet not only lacked adequate political governance, but also missed the opportunity to develop effective international relations. The Thirteenth Dalai Lama assumed temporal power in 1895, but was compelled to flee to Mongolia and China in 1904, due to the invasion of British forces, and to India in 1910, when the Manchu China invaded.

Once circumstances allowed him to return to Tibet, the Thirteenth Dalai Lama reasserted Tibetan sovereignty in 1913. As a result of what he had learned in exile, the Thirteenth Dalai Lama introduced modern education and made reforms to strengthen the government of Tibet.

Although these steps produced positive results, he was unable to fulfil his overall vision, as is evident from his last political testament of 1932, the year before his death. Despite the lacklustre political leadership and short-comings of the regents and their administrations, the Ganden Phodrang Government has on the whole provided stable governance for the last four centuries.

Since I was young, I have been aware of an urgent need to modernize the Tibetan political system. At the age of sixteen, I was compelled to assume political leadership. At that time I lacked a thorough understanding of Tibet's own political system, let alone international affairs.

However, I had a strong wish to introduce appropriate reforms in accordance with the changing times and was able to effect some fundamental changes. Unfortunately, I was unable to carry these reforms any further due to circumstances beyond my control.

Soon after our arrival in India in April 1959, we set up departments with Kalons (Ministers) in charge of education, preservation of culture and the rehabilitation and welfare of the community. Similarly, in 1960, aware of the importance of democratization, the first Commission of Tibetan People's Deputies was elected and in 1963 we promulgated the Draft Constitution for a Future Tibet.

No system of governance can ensure stability and progress if it depends solely on one person without the support and participation of the people in the political process. One man rule is both anachronistic and undesirable. We have made great efforts to strengthen our democratic institutions to serve the long-term interests of the six million Tibetans, not out of a wish to copy others, but because democracy is the most representative system of governance. In 1990, a committee was formed to draft the Charter for Tibetansin-Exile and a year later the total strength of the Assembly of Tibetan People's Deputies (ATPD), the Tibetans in exile's highest law-making body, was increased.

In 1991, the Eleventh ATPD formally

adopted the Charter for Tibetans-in-Exile and assumed all legislative authority.

Given the limitations of our life in exile these are achievements of which we can be proud.

In 2001, the Tibetan people elected the Kalon Tripa, the political leader, directly for the first time. Since then, I have been in semi-retirement, no longer involving myself in the day-to-day administration, but able to dedicate more time to general human welfare.

The essence of a democratic system is, in short, the assumption of political responsibility by elected leaders for the popular good. In order for our process of democratization to be complete, the time has come for me to devolve my formal authority to such an elected leadership. The general lack of experience and political maturity in our democratic institutions has prevented us from doing this earlier.

Given that the line of Dalai Lamas has provided political leadership for nearly four centuries, it might be difficult for Tibetans generally and especially those in Tibet to envisage and accept a political system that is not led by the Dalai Lama.

Therefore, over the past 50 years I have tried in various ways to raise people's political awareness and encourage their participation in our democratic process.

In my 10th March statement of 1969, for instance, I stated, "When the day comes for Tibet to be governed by its own people, it will be for the people to decide as to what form of government they will have. The system of governance by the line of the Dalai Lamas may or may not be there. In particular, the opinion of the forward-looking younger generation will be an influential factor."

Similarly, in my 10th March statement of 1988, I stated, "As I have said many times, even the continuation of the institution of the Dalai Lama is for the people to decide." Since the 1980s, I have repeatedly advised the Kashag, ATPD and the public that Tibetans should take full responsibility for the administration and welfare of the people as if the Dalai Lama were not there.

I informed the Chairman of the Thirteenth ATPD and the then Chief Justice Commissioner that I should be relieved of functions related to my political and administrative status, including such ceremonial responsibilities as the signing of bills adopted by the legislative body.

However, my proposal was not even considered. On 31st August 2010, during the First Tibetan General Meeting (organized by ATPD), I explained this again in detail. Now, a decision on this important matter should be delayed no longer. All the necessary amendments to the Charter and other related regulations should be made during this session so that I am completely relieved of formal authority.

I want to acknowledge here that many of my fellow Tibetans, inside and outside Tibet, have earnestly requested me to continue to give political leadership at this critical time. My intention to devolve political authority derives neither from a wish to shirk responsibility nor because I am disheartened. On the contrary, I wish to devolve authority solely for the benefit of the Tibetan people in the long run. It is extremely important that we ensure the continuity of our exile Tibetan administration and our struggle until the issue of Tibet has been successfully resolved.

.......52nd Tibetan Uprising Day in Taiwan "The announcement was a clear message that the Dalai Lama wanted Tibetans to be prepared for the time when he is no longer with them, and that every Tibetan should be aware that the future of their country is in their hands, rather than dependent on any one person" she further said.

"Sooner or later, Tibetans have to face the reality, whether or not they choose to continue with a moderate approach, Tibetans living outside their country may not be strongly affected by His Holiness the Dalai Lama's announcement of retirement, but for those people still in Tibet, the move could be very disheartening, she added.

"We will continue our event, 'Walk for Tibet' in every upcoming years until people of Tibet gain their freedom from Chinese rule, said Mr. Zhuyin Cheng, the vice president of Taiwan Friend Of Tibet.

Mr. Tashi Tsering, the president of the regional chapter of Tibetan Youth Congress has thanked the people of Taiwan, particularly the Taiwanese supporters and members of Taiwan based Tibet Support groups for their participation in Tibetan freedom movements and their strong support and solidarity to the people of Tibet.

If we have to remain in exile for several more decades, a time will inevitably come when I will no longer be able to provide leadership. Therefore, it is necessary that we establish a sound system of governance while I remain able and healthy, in order that the exile Tibetan administration can become self-reliant rather than being dependent on the Dalai Lama. If we are able to implement such a system from this time onwards, I will still be able to help resolve problems if called upon to do so. But, if the implementation of such a system is delayed and a day comes when my leadership is suddenly unavailable, the consequent uncertainty might present an overwhelming challenge. Therefore, it is the duty of all Tibetans to make every effort to prevent such an eventuality.

As one among the six million Tibetans, bearing in mind that the Dalai Lamas have a special historic and karmic relationship with the Tibetan people, and as long as Tibetans place their trust and faith in me, I will continue to serve the cause of Tibet.

Although Article 31 of the Charter spells out provisions for a Council of Regency, it was formulated merely as an interim measure based on past traditions. It does not include provisions for instituting a system of political leadership without the Dalai Lama. Therefore, amendments to the Charter on this occasion must conform to the framework of a democratic system in which the political leadership is elected by the people for a specific term. Thus, all the necessary steps must be taken, including the appointment of separate committees, to amend the relevant Articles of the Charter and other regulations, in order that a decision can be reached and implemented during this very session.

As a result, some of my political promulgations such as the Draft Constitution for a Future Tibet (1963) and Guidelines for Future Tibet's Polity (1992) will become ineffective. The title of the present institution of the Ganden Phodrang headed by the Dalai Lama should also be changed accordingly."

The Tibet Post

Tibet Leader's Statement on the 52nd Tibetan National Uprising Day reality.

Therefore, just as we were able to send fact-finding delegations to Tibet in the late 1970s and early 1980s from among Tibetans in exile, we propose similar visits again. At the same time we would encourage the sending of representatives of independent international bodies, including parliamentarians. If they were to find that Tibetans in Tibet are happy, we would readily accept it.

The spirit of realism that prevailed under Mao's leadership in the early 1950s led China to sign the 17-point agreement with Tibet. A similar spirit of realism prevailed once more during Hu Yaobang's time in the early 1980s. If there had been a continuation of such realism the Tibetan issue, as well as several other problems, could easily have been solved. Unfortunately, conservative views derailed these policies. The result is that after more than six decades, the problem has become more intractable.

The Tibetan Plateau is the source of the major rivers of Asia. Because it has the largest concentration of glaciers apart from the two Poles, it is considered to be the Third Pole. Environmental degradation in Tibet will have a detrimental impact on large parts of Asia, particularly on China and the Indian subcontinent. Both the central and local governments, as well as the Chinese public, should realise the degradation of the Tibetan environment and develop sustainable measures to safeguard it. I appeal to China to take into account the survival of people affected by what happens environmentally on the Tibetan Plateau.

In our efforts to solve the issue of Tibet, we have consistently pursued the mutually beneficial Middle-Way Approach, which seeks genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people within the PRC. In our talks with officials of the Chinese government's United Front Work Department we have clearly explained in detail the Tibetan people's hopes and aspirations. The lack of any positive response to our reasonable proposals makes us wonder whether these were fully and accurately conveyed to the higher authorities.

Since ancient times, Tibetan and Chinese peoples have lived as neighbours. It would be a mistake if our unresolved differences were to affect this age-old friendship. Special efforts are being made to promote good relations between Tibetans and Chinese living abroad and I am happy that this has contributed to better understanding and friendship between us. Tibetans inside Tibet should also cultivate good relations with our Chinese brothers and sisters.

In recent weeks we have witnessed remarkable non-violent struggles for freedom and democracy in various parts of North Africa and elsewhere. I am a firm believer in non-violence and people-power and these events have shown once again that determined non-violent action can indeed bring about positive change. We must all hope that these inspiring changes lead to genuine freedom, happiness and prosperity for the peoples in these countries.

One of the aspirations I have cherished

since childhood is the reform of Tibet's political and social structure, and in the few years when I held effective power in Tibet, I managed to make some fundamental changes. Although I was unable to take this further in Tibet, I have made every effort to do so since we came into exile. Today, within the framework of the Charter for Tibetans in Exile, the Kalon Tripa, the political leadership, and the people's representatives are directly elected by the people. We have been able to implement democracy in exile that is in keeping with the standards of an open society.

As early as the 1960s, I have repeatedly stressed that Tibetans need a leader, elected freely by the Tibetan people, to whom I can devolve power. Now, we have clearly reached the time to put this into effect. During the forthcoming eleventh session of the fourteenth Tibetan Parliament in Exile, which begins on 14th March, I will formally propose that the necessary amendments be made to the Charter for Tibetans in Exile, reflecting my decision to devolve my formal authority to the elected leader.

Since I made my intention clear I have received repeated and earnest requests both from within Tibet and outside, to continue to provide political leadership. My desire to devolve authority has nothing to do with a wish to shirk responsibility. It is to benefit Tibetans in the long run. It is not because I feel disheartened. Tibetans have placed such faith and trust in me that as one among them I am committed to playing my part in the just cause of Tibet. I trust that gradually people will come to understand my intention, will support my decision and accordingly let it take effect.

I would like to take this opportunity to remember the kindness of the leaders of various nations that cherish justice, members of parliaments, intellectuals and Tibet Support Groups, who have been steadfast in their support for the Tibetan people. In particular, we will always remember the kindness and consistent support of the people and Government of India and State Governments for generously helping Tibetans preserve and promote their religion and culture and ensuring the welfare of Tibetans in exile. To all of them I offer my heartfelt gratitude.

With my prayers for the welfare and happiness of all sentient beings.

10 March 2011 Dharamsala

.........International Women's Day countries.

In some places including China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a public holiday, despite the lack of many other freedoms in some of these countries for the population as a whole.

The Tibetan Women's Uprising Day will be held on March 12, commemorating those who gave their lives for the national cause in 1959, after being beaten to death by Chinese forces in Lhasa.

The Tibet Post

TPI INTERVIEW

Upholding Tibetan Unity in the Wake of H.H the Dalai Lama

By Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: A press Conference held on 10th March by Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile, after the commemoration of 52nd Tibetan National Uprising Day at the main Tibetan temple in Dharamsala, India.

Today we are recalling the 1959 uprising, the peaceful uprising in Tibet and this is the 52nd anniversary of the '59 uprising. And the Kashag statement, His Holiness' statement, all these I believe are in writing, and I hope each one has got a copy of His Holiness' statement, and apart from those written statements I do not have any particular thing to mention to you, so it is for you to ask questions. Thank you.

What's your reaction to His Holiness' statement; that he wants to hand over power; more of his temporal authority?

Our reaction is already mentioned in the Kashag statement. We do understand what His Holiness is planning, and if he is asking the people to be independent of the Dalai Lamas, and which he was trying to make Tibetan people independent of Dalai Lamas, since the 1960s he's trying to educate and make the people able to manage themselves.

And now I think this is a political time, since the political leadership is also beginning to elect democratic leaders by the people in the Diaspora, directly, to Kalon Tripa. So, therefore, he's trying to transfer the entire traditional functions and powers of the Dalai Lama to the elected political leadership. But to lead the people, whilst the majority of the Tibetan people inside and outside still do not feel competent to take over and to become independent of Dalai Lama, that is very difficult to think. So we are still asking His Holiness to postpone it, and the ceremonial functions may be reduced, but as guidance, or as the spiritual leader of the temporal and religion both, for the entire Tibetan people. The people still continue to request.

If His Holiness says that he can give up his responsibility, and he still keeps supporting the ‘Middle-Way' Approach, how does the dialogue with China proceed? Because China does not recognise the Government-in-Exile.

This is one of the basic questions all the people are asking: if His Holiness does not shoulder any responsibility of a political nature, then there's no question of dialogue with the PRC. The PRC is only engaged with His Holiness as an individual. So, in the event of transferring all political traditional authority to the elected leadership, then we shall have to find a way to continue the dialogue process. And for that matter, as we mentioned in the Kashag statement of today, that the legislative body shall have to find a very innovative and constructive way to handle the situation carefully. I do not have any ready-made solution for this.

Would you please explain the kind of power His Holiness now holds under the Tibetan Charter?

In accordance with the Charter for Tibetans in Exile, His Holiness is head of the nation, and also head of the administration, the executive. And whatever executive decisions are taken, whatever executive actions are implemented, all of these are done in the name of His Holiness, and for the legislative part, whatever legislation is adopted by the people's deputies,

Dharamshala: A press Conference held on 10th March by Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, the prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile, after the commemoration of 52nd Tibetan National Uprising Day at the main Tibetan temple in Dharamsala, India. Photo: TPI

finally His Holiness has to give his consent to those legislations, and he also takes charge of all the elected leadership including the Speaker, Deputy Speaker, and the Justice Commissioners, and also the Kalons and Kalon Tripas. Therefore he has responsibility of giving a sign to the legislations, rules and evaluations, whatever is adopted by the legislative assembly, and also he has to approve the executive side, whatever decisions and policies are adopted by the executive side; that also needs his formal approval. So these are the provisions in the charter; his functions and responsibilities.

You said that the Kashag has requested His Holiness not to retire from his political duties, how has His Holiness responded?

His response is very clear in his statement. He says he has received many requests but he will not be able to accept those requests, and he hopes that the people will understand the importance of this decision. So until now, he has not accepted any of the requests, including the Kashag's request.

As for the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, what exactly does he envisage, if he's giving up these political responsibilities, will he continue to remain the supreme spiritual leader of the Tibetans or is he planning to abdicate that role as well?

As far as the spiritual leadership is concerned, this is not by appointment, nor by election, his spiritual duty to serve is evident and there's no change of course, as far as his supreme spiritual leadership is concerned. And his supreme spiritual leadership is not only for the Tibetan people, it encompasses all the boundaries and there are many Tibetan Buddhist followers in the Himalayan regions, and in Mongolia, in China, in many other Southeast Asian countries and also in Russia, so all the followers of the Tibetan Buddhist people, Tibetan Buddhism, they consider His Holiness as the supreme head of their spirituality. So that will never be changeable, what His Holiness is envisaging is that political leadership should not be a permanent one, nor it should be confined to one individual.

So that is his main argument: that there must be a changeable political leader, which is popularly elected by the people, and which can be also abruptly changed by the people, so there should not be any leadership which is by a kind of hereditary, or tradition, which is not able to change easily. So he is leading into the modern democratic system, so in that modern democratic system, the people is supreme, and the people should have the ability, whenever they want to change the leadership they can change, when they want to elect a

leadership they would elect. So this facility should be available to the people.

So does that mean that he would no longer be the head of state, or would he still have a symbolic role as the head of state?

No, no. He says he will not hold anything; not hold any authority. He will not be head of state, he will not be head of the executive, he is wanting to transfer both of these responsibilities.

So, up until now your dealings with China have centred on the non-violent approach and have centred on dialogue, now the elections are due on the 20th March, do you think the future Kalon Tripas will maintain that, or will they get more aggressive?

I cannot make any prophecy for the future Kalon Tripa, nor would I like to make any statement which would influence the thinking process of the new Kalon Tripa. The people have the authority to choose their own leadership, and their chosen leader should be free to think, free to decide what kind of policy they should adopt, so it is not for me to say anything. But generally, the Tibetan people, inside and outside, are very much committed to non-violence. And I do not think that this commitment will ever be changed.

What about the younger people?

Younger people are more non-violent than the older people (audience laughter). This is only the media; they think the younger people are more aggressive. A few younger people (...) they do not represent the youth of the Tibetan people. They are exceptions.

Even then, those people you may consider as aggressive, they are not violent. They are especially bitter and aggressive but they cannot be considered as violent. They also believe in non-violence.

Is it fair to say that ethically it's possible, due to the overwhelming majority and demand of the people, that legislation for the request of His Holiness to devolve of his powers may not be passed?

It appears to me that it may not be passed; it is most likely it may not be passed, but there would be a deadlock, if His Holiness is not accepting the people's request not to devolve his responsibilities, and then the legislative body could not find a suitable way out, then there would be a deadlock, constitutional deadlock. That is why we are urging the legislative assembly to find a very wise way, so that the people's expression could also be upheld and His Holiness' decision also; I don't know how to phrase it, to accommodate His Holiness and the public wish both, so we shall have to think in a very innovative way.

So apart from the new prime minister, for all the other positions His Holiness is talking about giving up, will there be another person appointed then?

That I cannot pre-empt, so a wise formulation and some new kinds of things shall have to be considered and come out from the legislative body, and, at this moment I have no suggestion.

Are you worried at all that you might have an issue of legitimacy if the Government-in-Exile is no longer led by the Dalai Lama?

Definitely, that is the biggest issue. The Exile body, we do not call it Exile Government, officially, but the body which is respected by all the 6 million

15 March, 2011 Dharamsala

people of Tibet, inside and outside, as their legitimate representative. And that faith and that emotional binding is only due to His Holiness' leadership. When he goes away from this function, then the organisation in exile will not have any legitimacy in the eyes of the Tibetan people. That is the real question with which no-one has an alternate way to suggest. That is very true.

Does this mean the Dalai Lama will spend less time in Dharamshala from now on? And do you think that will affect relations with the non-Tibetan refugee community?

His Holiness is already spending less time in Dharamshala for the last many years; he's always on demand everywhere. His Holiness spending time in and around Dharamshala is not related to his political leadership. This is a different issue, even if he is able to devolve all his functions to someone else, he may not have much leisure time that I can foresee.

Without the sort of protective halo of His Holiness, whether you're concerned that disunity may emerge among the Tibetan people, and also whether the position of the Tibetan people in India, and their status in India could be threatened in any way?

The status of Tibetans in India will not

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be affected by this change, because we are refugees in India, registered as foreigners, and there's no problem- we are very much comfortable, and this status has nothing to do with the set up administration. So it will not be one of the big problems.

Is it fair to say that it's time for separation between state and church?

Separation between state and church was done, quite long before; I think separation between state and church is almost in practice since the 1960s, as long as the Assembly of the Tibetan People's Deputies are set up, and that the representation of ‘church' becomes only a representation of the spirituality. So the combination of spirituality and policy does not mean the church rules. Even in the past, Tibet never had been a theocratic system, so therefore I think separation of church and state is not related in today's issue.

Are you going to make any changes to the political system?

When His Holiness devolves the political functions and powers, then of course there would be a number of changes necessary; it will necessitate a number of changes, particularly in the executive side.

Thank you all for coming today. Thank you.

.........Writers Play Active Role These writings are self-explanatory. One member said, "don;t embarrass urself by abusing me again and again, and please, no half truths..if u got an answer..reply..if u don;t know much about it..reasearch well and answer"; the next one said, "don't try to be slimy and twist the workds, do us a favor ..... if you can't do that then damn you"; and another said, "you brought up the drama so the question should be directed towards you". These three postings are each directed towards members of the group.

I chose not to quote postings directed towards individual Kalon Tripa candidates. When I read postings and comments in this Facebook group, I reflect on what President Obama said at a press conference on Feb 9, 2009: "The strongest democracies flourish from frequent and lively debate, but they endure when people of every background and belief find a way to set aside smaller differences in service of a greater purpose".

On this Facebook group's page, I don't see a debate. But, regretfully, I see frequent and lively arguments where a majority of the group's members engage in accusing or belittling each other's views and opinions while keeping their biases firm. It seems every member is trying to prove his or her views, generally based on assumptions, as the absolute truth. I don't see learning by debate or discussion among the group members, setting aside their differences in service of a greater purpose. Rather, they dislike each other and are using Facebook as a medium to press their opinions. Is this the reason why a quarter of the poll respondent thinks Tibetan are more divided now? Or are there other reasons? I will leave that for you to think about and analyse.

Also, please remember it is not only President Obama but also the "Basic Education Policy for Tibetans in Exile" that embraces the importance of setting aside small differences and focusing on working for a greater purpose. The meaning of education is not to be defined

as merely grasping what is heard from others. Instead, it is to be recognised as a realisation of what is heard through the power of self-confirmation and actualisation of what is realised through persistent contemplation (Article 2.2 of Basic Education Policy for Tibetans in Exile). I hope Tibetans recognise and embrace this meaning of education to help our democracy in exile flourish and grow in the right direction, bringing Tibetans closer to each other. Tibetans need to grow with the popular saying, "Unity in Diversity".

The final group is the observers. Literally, they are the people causing no harm.

They restrain themselves from writing, commenting, or speaking for anyone or on anything. However, the group is a concern for a democratic society.

Democracy works best when it hears the people's voices. In other words, in a democracy, there should not be a space for a "Voice of the Voiceless".

On a side note, the entire problem with Tibetan democracy in exile may be its origin. Democracy for Tibetans in exile was not earned. Instead, the Dalai Lama, regardless of resistance from the general Tibetan public, bestowed democracy upon the exile Tibetan populace. The problem, associated with blessed democracy, is the lack of shared responsibility by Tibetans to study the democratic principles, ideals, values, and citizen's responsibilities, among others.

This observation seems true among Tibetans, as a large number do not share these responsibilities or embrace and respect their differences. It remains to be seen how Tibetans will accept the will of the majority when a candidate wins the Kalon Tripa position.

Looking at the problems of this blessed democracy as well as the divisions created by the Kalon Tripa election, the questions that lingers is - Do Tibetans need a democracy in exile? How will Tibetan democracy in exile develop and flourish? Will the future exile Tibetan Diaspora strengthen with democracy in exile?

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15 March, 2011 Dharamsala

TPI TIBET WORLD

The Tibet Post

Tibetan National Uprising 11th North American Tibetan Associations Day Commemorated in Conference Concludes Berlin

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Berlin, March 10th, 2011 - The Tibet Initiative Deutschland (TID) remembered the victims of the Tibetan Uprising in 1959 with a demonstration of solidarity in front of the Chinese embassy in Berlin. Photo: TPI

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Berlin, March 10th, 2011 - The Tibet Initiative Deutschland (TID) remembered the victims of the Tibetan Uprising in 1959 with a demonstration of solidarity in front of the Chinese embassy in Berlin. "Even today people in Tibet are risking their lives if they speak out for their legitimate rights", said Wolfgang Grader, chairman of the TID. "We demand, that our politicians advocate loud and clear the Tibetan people's right to self-determination and the improvement of human rights in Tibet. " There are currently over 830 political prisoners in Tibet. Last year saw 188 new arrests. „The fact that journalists, writers and environmental activists have been singled out lately for persecution demonstrates that the Chinese Government is trying to destroy the Tibetan identity", Grader said. In light of the Tibetan people's nonviolent resistance, the actions of the Chinese administration deserve even more condemnation.

Along with the protest in Berlin, TIDGroups all over Germany organized demonstrations to highlight the situation of human rights in occupied Tibet. 1150

german cities, municipalities and counties participated in the TID's call to raise the Tibetan Flag at town halls, public buildings and on their websites.

Participants included the regional capitals Bremen, Hannover, Magdeburg, Potsdam SaarbrĂźcken, Stuttgart and Wiesbaden.

Every year people all over the world highlight the illegitimate occupation of Tibet on March 10th. With the Uprising of 1959, the Tibetans protested against this occupation and also tried to save the Dalai Lama from imprisonment. The Dalai Lama had to flee to Indian exile and tens of thousands of Tibetans died. In 2008, there were again uprisings in Lhasa. They spread over the entire country and were violently supressed by the Chinese government.

The Tibet Initiative Deutschland (TID), founded in 1989, advocates for the Tibetan people's right to selfdetermination and the protection of human rights in occupied Tibet. With 60 regional groups and nearly 2,000 members througout Germany, the TID is a strong voice for Tibet. Primary funding for the TID comes from membership dues and private, individual donations.

Central Tibet Admin. Receives Visit of Minorities Commission

Spalzes Angmo with top functionaries of the Central Tibetan Administration at a luncheon hosted in her honour by the Kashag in Dharamsala on 24 February 2011. Photo: TPI

By Carly Selby-James, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) received on 24

February a visit from Spalzes Angmo, a member of India's National

Dharamshala: - The eleventh conference of North American Tibetan Associations concluded on February 27th, according to a report of Office of Tibet. The twoday conference (Saturday, February 26th and Sunday, February 27) took place at the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel in Flushing, New York.

The conference discussed a wide range of issues from advocacy on Tibet to ways and means of challenging PRC's effort to sow dissension among the Tibetans; from Chinese outreach to outreach to Mongolian and Himalayan peoples; from preservation of Tibetan culture and language among the younger generation to cultural activities during the upcoming Kalachakra Sermon in July this year in Washington DC. In his inaugural speech, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Americas Mr. Lobsang Nyandak, commented that the main responsibilities of the Tibetan Associations are to preserve Tibetan cultural identity, look after the welfare of the Tibetans under their respective jurisdiction, and create better political awareness among the Tibetans as well as others on the Tibetan issue.

Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama Mr. Lodi Gyari traveled from Washington D.C. to hold a Q&A session with the conference delegates on the dialogue process.

Kasur Lodi Gyari, special envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Kasur Lobsang Nyandak, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in New York address the participants at the 11th North American Tibetan Associations' Conference in New York

The conference delegates finally resolved, among others, to strengthen Tibetan advocacy including lobbying among the State legislatures as well national legislatures in both Canada and United States; to organize workshops for the executives of the Tibetan Associations on His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Middle Way Approach; and to widen Chinese outreach with special emphasis on promoting joint programs between Tibetan and Chinese college students.

The delegates also resolved to create an apex committee to streamline curriculum and functioning of the Weekend Tibetan language and cultural schools in the

North American Tibetan communities, and to offer an award of thanks and appreciation to Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche for his many achievements and contributions as Chairman of the Kashag.

The conference organized by the Office of Tibet was attended by the delegates from 25 Tibetan Associations in North America and they included Tibetan associations from Ontario in Canada to New York, Minnesota to New Mexico, and British Columbia in Canada to California. After the conclusion of the conference, the delegates departed for Washington D.C. to participate in the National Tibet Lobby Day activities.

North America Tibetan MP Political Debate Held in California

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Berkerley, CA: - San Francisco Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (SFRTYC) organized the first ever debate on members of Tibetan Parliament in Exile on Feb 20, 2011 with four of the current candidates from North America.

SFRTYC in conjunction with Ngodup Tsering, as the moderator asked the Chitue candidates to discuss the four following topics: Politics, Democracy, Central Tibetan Administration, and their involvement inside the various North American Tibetan Community.

"We organized this debate with the local Tibetan community in mind," said Tashi Namgyal, President of the San Francisco Regional Tibetan Youth Congress. "It was imperative that the Bay Area community get a chance to meet their MPs candidates and engage in discussions concerning the future of our Tibetan movement."

Tashi Phuntsok of Calgary, Kunga Thinley of New York, Norbu Tsering of Toronto, and Tashi Namgyal of Seattle were present for the debate.

Dickyi Chhoyang of Montreal was

unable to attend due to a previous commitments. Member of the community received the chance to generate interest and gain knowledge on what the Chitue general election 2011 means to the Tibetan democracy.

"Watching the Chitue debate yesterday I wanted to vote for all of them, unfortunately we have to short list to two," said fellow community member Tsewang Khangsar.

Commission for Minorities, according to a statement from the Tibetan Parliamentary Secretariat.

Mr. Angmo attended a luncheon hosted by the Kashag where he met with Kalon Tripa prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile Mrs. Dolma Gyari and other senior functionaries

of the administration. Also present was the Revenue Officer of Kangra, Mr. Gyan Negi.

The luncheon meeting was followed by a brief interaction between Mr. Angmo and the Deputy Speaker and members of the Standing Committee of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile at the Parliamentary Secretariat.

The four Tibetan MP candidates from North America in order of their address. Photo: TPI

It is the belief of SFRTYC that such events benefit our community members and the Chitue candidates vice-versa. Members of the public received the opportunity to better understand each candidate's goals for the future. It also granted the Chitue candidates access to what the Tibetan people are expecting from them as their representatives.

In addition, this event was a platform for each candidate to showcase their strengths, achievements, accomplishments, and capabilities to get themselves for the North American Chitue and serve North American Tibetans.

This event was held in Berkeley, CA with over 200 attendees from the Bay Area Tibetan community not including the online community via LiveStream.

The final elections date is March 20, 2011.