Page1 75th Birthday of His Holiness Page 2 Test election by the TWA Page 4 Solidarity of Chinese workers Party Page 5 Urged to review the Tibet issue Page6 New words for new world
Mr. Rinchen Samdup an another environmentalist of Tibet
Ven Yeshi Phuntsok
the president of the N.C.A page 6......
Vol. 01, Issue 21, 15 July 2010
NDTV to Broadcast His Holiness
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His Holiness Turns 75: Birthday Celebrations Continue Through the Year By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
DTV the largest Indian telvision Broadcasting channel preparing to internview His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 4 July 2010 in Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI
Dhasa:Talk host Barkha Dutt's interview of His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be telecast at 10:00 p.m. (Indian Standard Time) on 6th July 2010. This interview will be telecast again the following Sunday on NDTV.
Remember Two Dates about Tibet
A Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang. Photo: TPI
Beijing: A Foreign Ministry spokesman insincerely claimed China preferred to ignore His Holiness the Dalai Lama's birthday and instead remember two dates in modern Tibetan history: those of Tibet's "peaceful liberation" and Serf Emancipation Day. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, turned 75 on Tuesday. "I can only remember two dates," the spokesman, Qin Gang, said Tuesday. He said 'one was March 28, 1951, when the Chinese Army took over central Tibet, and the other was May 23, 1959, after the Chinese Army suppressed a Tibetan uprising, a day the government recently designated Serf Emancipation Day.'
Nirupama Rao to meet His Holiness
Dharamshala: Tibet's spiritual and political leader, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama celebrated his 75th birthday on Tuesday in Dharamshala, the Indian hill town and capital of the Tibetan government in exile. Thousands of Tibetans, Indians and Chinese, among many other nationalities, participated in the celebrations. This morning, the young Tibetan girls and boys from Tibetan Institute of Performance Arts beat traditional drums and played bagpipes and flutes as His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived at the main Tibetan temple for the official ceremony. The prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile, Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, raised the Tibetan national flag as Tibetan musicians played the national anthem. The Tibetan prime minister and the speaker of the Tibetan parliament offered traditional ritual Mandral with prayers to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. A colorful cultural programme by members of the Tibetan community was performed to celebrate his birthday. Among the guests was the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Rinpoche, one of Tibet's
Tibetan Govt. Makes a Call for Solidarity and Stoicism on His Holiness’ Birthday
Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, the prime minister of Tibetan government in-exile addressing at the ceremony of the 75th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala, India on 6 July 2010. Photo: TPI By Ben Dunant, The Tibet
Nirupama Raothe, foreign Secretary of India
Dhasa: A week after National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon concluded his significant tour to China as Prime Minister's special envoy, Indian foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao is to meet Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama in McLeodganj, the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile, here Saturday, Gautam Bambawale, Joint Secretary (East Asia), reliable sources in Ministry of External Affairs told Hindustan Times. 'A meeting between the Dalai Lama and Rao has been scheduled at his official palace post lunch, where other high-ranking officials of his administration would also be present,' a ministry official said. His Holiness the Dalai Lama's office did not comment on Rao's visit. Tenzin Taklha, joint secretary at His Holiess the Dalai Lama's office, said: 'Right now we are not making any comments.'
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet attending his 75th birthday celebration ceremony in Dharamshala, India ..... P 3 on 06 July 2010. Photo: TPI/YC. Dhardhowa
Dharamshala: On the occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday celebrations in McLeod Ganj, the Kashag (cabinet) of the Tibetan government in exile delivered a statement that gave thanks to His Holiness for his “service to humanity” and his furtherance of the “teachings of the Buddha Sakyamuni”, alongside his commitment to “secular ethics”, which emphasise the “need to develop universal responsibility through the promotion of basic human values and inter-religious harmony and co-existence”. The Kashag also praised him for the wisdom behind his “mutually-beneficial Middle-Way policy and [the] non-violent means [he advocates] to realise it” and for his success in transforming “the exile Tibetan polity into a genuine democracy”. The Kashag expressed gratitude towards “the assistance and co-operation extended by the central and state governments of India” in ensuring the security and freedom of His Holiness, and urged them to “further intensify” their efforts. But among the thanks and praise was an expression of concern towards His Holiness’ Health: “The physical wellbeing of His Holiness is very important for humanity in general, and for the short and long-term benefits
of the Tibetan people in particular. Therefore, we would like to implore him to kindly see to it that his daily programmes do not come in the way of his good health.” It went to condem the People’s Republic of China, who continue to “issue baseless accusations against and to slander His Holiness”. Chinese “lies and violence” was put forward as “a condition for the Tibetans to remain more united”. With regards to China using “all its political, financial and human powers to create discord among Tibetans and between Tibetans and the local communities where Tibetans live in exile”, the Kashag made a plea for Tibetans inside and outside Tibet to “remain alert to these Chinese manipulations and always be careful in maintaining unity among ourselves and keeping good relations with the local communities”. Also mentioned were the “upcoming elections for the fifteenth Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and the third directly-elected Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister)”. Tibetans were asked to “be careful about the other side's evil designs and infiltrations” and to “sincerely and courageously take part in the election processes by not shirking their democratic responsibilities and rights”. Although a note of great optimism was sounded – “the issue of Tibet is heading towards finding a solution” – the Kashag was emphatic on the need for stoicism among Tibetans: “if the issue of Tibet takes time to resolve, then it is important for the Tibetans in and outside Tibet to preserve their unique character of good moral conduct without losing their spirit. Good moral conduct is not only a symbol of the Tibetans but also a source for the Chinese and the people around the world to have affection for and to support our cause.” The Kashag finished by firmly endorsing His Holiness’ Middle Way policy as “the sole way to resolve the issue of Tibet”, and about which the Parliament-in-Exile was “unanimous”. “May the truth of the issue of Tibet prevail soon!” the Kashag concluded to applause and fanfare.
Project of Translation
Translated DVDs from Institute of Buddhist Dialectics, Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI
Dharamshala: A bold new initiative of McLeod Ganj's Institute of Buddhist Dialectics is a project to translate the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama into different Tibetan regional dialects, in an effort to reach out to the broader Tibetan community from all three ....... P 2
Mass Mock Election for Next PM
Prof Samdong Rinpoche, the Prime Minister of Tibetan Government-in-exile. Photo:TPI
Dhasa: The Tibetan Women’s Association on 6 July will hold a Mass Mock Election for the next Tibetan prime minister in Dharamshala, with the final election of the Kalon Tripa only nine months away. The group said the event "will gear up the Tibetan people to exercise their franchise." “We have deliberately made the ‘Green Book’ as mandatory for voter identification for the Mock Election with a strong intent to allowing the people to procure their ‘Green Book’ and do the registration before August 18 this year” said Tenzin Dolma, TWA’s Joint Secretary.
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TPI TIBET IN EXILE
The Tibet Post
Tibetan Lawmaker The TWA Tutors Tibetan Exiles on Expresses Gratitude Their Democratic Responsibility to British PM By Ben Dunant, The Tibet Post
The speaker of Tibetan Parliament in-exile addressing during 2009 session in Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dharamsala: The Tibetan Parliamentin-Exile issued a statement to the British New Prime Minister David Cameron on Tuesday, appreciating their strong support for peaceful solution towards the Tibet problems. The statement issued by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile said: "In response to the felicitation to the newly elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom His Excellency David Cameron by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, His Excellency expressed that: "This Government will continue to urge the Chinese to make progress towards meaningful autonomy for Tibet. We will continue to impress upon the Chinese the importance of
substantive dialogue with the Tibetan representatives in good faith. This is the only way to bring about a lasting and peaceful solution to the problems in Tibet. The Government considers that underlying issues can only be resolved through meaningful dialogue between the Dalai Lama's representatives and the Chinese authorities. Our interest is in long term stability, which can only achieved through respect for human rights and greater autonomy for the Tibetans." On behalf of all the Tibetan people inside and outside Tibet, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile extends its sincere thanks for the supportive response."
Dharamshala: Spread across 40 regions in 6 countries - India, Nepal, Switzerland, England, USA and Canada - the Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) held its first Prime Ministerial (Kalon Tripa) Mass Mock Election on July 6th, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's 75th birthday, to train the Tibetan exile community in exercising their franchise for the third direct election of the Kalon Tripa, to be completed in 9 months time. This initiative was spurred by dismal turnouts in the previous direct elections of the Kalon Tripa, with TWA's vice president Samten Chodon stating that, "TWA is determined to prepare the Tibetan voters [...] the mock election is a wakeup call". "We have deliberately made the ‘Green Book' as mandatory for voter identification," said Tenzin Dolma, TWA's Joint Secretary. "To ensure a non-partisan process, TWA did not endorse any candidates nor reproduce any nomination list presently being circulated. The voters voted for the candidate of their choice," said Dadon Sharling, TWA's Research and Media officer. With the election successfully undertaken, the executive members of regional chapters are to take the ballots to the 10th Working Committee Meeting of the TWA, to be held in Manali (Himachal Pradesh) from July
Members of the TWA organizing the test election for next Tibetan prime minister in Dharamshala, India on 6 July 2010. Photo: TPI
16th to 22nd, for an aggregate and transparent counting. The TWA will
An old Tibetan woman participating in Dharamshala, India on 6 July 2010. Photo: TWA
analyse voter turnout and produce a report to be launched on September 10th, on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of TWA's refounding in
exile. After the primary election of Kalon Tripa on October 3 this year, TWA will convene a televised debate among the endorsed candidates. In the year 2000, the 40th year of Tibetan democracy in exile, His Holiness called for the Kalon Tripa to be elected directly by the Tibetan people, to further the goal that secular Tibetan democratic institutions lead in the democratic governance of Tibetans in exile. Although turnout for the mock election was only 20%, the TWA's report will provide the Electoral Commission with a ‘needs assessment' of Tibetan voters, and in so doing pave the way for a more effective, and inclusive, primary and final election.
Unprecedented Translation Project from the IBD By Ben Dunant and Sangay
Kelsang Yangkyi Taklha, the information Minister of Tibetan government in-exile, at opening the ceremony By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dhasa: A new Tibetan book, "Handbook for Tibetan Journalists" was launched at a press conference on Monday by Kelsang T. Yangkyi, the information Minister of Tibetan government in-exile. All of the carefully collected articles accept the brief history of the Voice of Tibet, related to the freedom of Journalists were translated into Tibetan language. The 12 short chapters published by Voice of Tibet also included the freedom of journalists, particularly how to protect war-journalists. It also provides
technical methods of ideological on how to challenge anonymously and avoid dangerous threats. It describes the contributions from Reporters Without Borders, the well-known International media watch dog. It gives an international perspective of journalism, how to Learn about journalistic protection privacy laws and self defense. This is a new kind of publication for Tibetan media communities in exile to raise public awareness of threats to press freedom around the world.
provinces, many of whom cannot understand standard Tibetan and are thereby denied the wisdom and guidance of His Holiness. So far they have produced a thirty minute film in the Amdo dialect, featuring a 2006 teaching of His Holiness to several thousand youth at the Tibetan Children's Village, McLeod Ganj. Another recent achievement is a documentary on astronomy, The Planets, translated from English into Tibetan. On Wednesday Sangay Dorjee, correspondent for The Tibet Post International, interviewed the Assistant Director of the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics, Ven Kelsang Damdul. He explained how, although His Holiness' teachings cover a broad sweep of issues from religion to politics to education, they are conventionally delivered only in the Lhasa dialect that goes for ‘standard Tibetan'. So, the Institute felt that, only if they could translate them into the broad spectrum of Tibetan regional dialects, his teachings could address the Tibetan community as a whole. First they attempted translations into the Amdo dialect because, a certain Mr. Dranak
Tsondue, who studied at the Institute before moving on to America, independently came up with the idea specifically with the Amdo dialect in mind - and it was he, in collaboration with the Institute, that created the aforementioned video of the 2006 teaching. The film was very much an ensemble effort, with many eminent Tibetans contributing both advice and practical help. But the project wasn't easy, Damdul explained, because they had to remain utterly faithful to both His Holiness' speech and performance: matching all the highs and lows of his cadence, the pauses and crescendos, the hand gestures, the spontaneous chuckles everything which makes him such a distinctive, energetic, inspiring teacher. Recently Mr. Tsundue came to Dharamshala and they worked together for almost ten hours straight, the result of which was a film of only half an hour. Next The Tibet Post International asked him, do you have any plans to translate his teachings into the Khampa dialect? Like the people of Amdo, many from Kham struggle
with the Lhasa dialect. He said, of course, but first we want to gauge the success of the Amdo video. Next he explained how they are in the process of translating scientific documentaries, on subjects ranging from biology to physics, from English into Tibetan for distribution to schools, monasteries and other learning centres. It is inestimably helpful, he said, to have such fundamental scientific knowledge open to Tibetan speakers. The Institute of Buddhist Dialectics has contributed immeasurably to the preservation of the Tibetan linguistic heritage, alongside the promotion of the Tibetan literary and philosophical tradition - something which, despite the experience of exile, is flourishing in such cultural centres as McLeod Ganj and beyond. Since its foundation in the 1970s it has striven to develop the higher education of exiled Tibetans, so that they might contribute effectively to their society in exile, and be fully equipped to return to Tibet as well qualified and conscientious citizens, and achieve positions of responsibility and moral authority within their homeland.
TPI DALAI LAMA 3 Top US Lawmaker Statement on the 75th No Hurry to Appoint Birthday of His Holiness Successor The Tibet Post
15 July , 2010 Dharamsala
Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of US House Representative meeting with Holiness when she was visiting Tibetan society in Dharamshala, India in 2008. Photo: TPI/File By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: Speaker of US House Representatives Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday congratulated the Tibetan spiritual His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his 75th birthday and urged China to hold serious talks with him on his homeland of Tibet. "Today marks the 75th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Tibetans inside and outside Tibet, along with Tibetan supporters all around the world, will be celebrating this occasion and honoring a man of peace and wisdom," Pelosi said, recognizing the Dalai Lama's work
in Tibet, making the human rights situation in the region an international concern,"she said in a statement. "His Holiness often describes himself as a ‘simple monk, no more, no less.' But His Holiness represents much more to many people around the world. For thousands, he is a source of spiritual refuge and a connection to inner peace and harmony. He has traveled the world, building bridges between the different faiths. He has used his position to promote wisdom, compassion, and non-violence as a
solution - not only in Tibet - but to other world conflicts." The head of democratic lawmaker, a frequent critic of China's human rights record, said the exiled spiritual leader "has made the human rights situation in Tibet an issue of international concern, and it is long past time to resolve it. A negotiated agreement would ensure internal stability in Tibet and bolster China's reputation in the world." "His Holiness has expressed a willingness to visit China and engage directly with high level officials. It is my sincere hope that Beijing will send a confident message by inviting His Holiness to China for substantive discussions," said Pelosi. "His Holiness has asked for international support for his nonviolent efforts to engage the Chinese government. I am proud to say the U.S. Congress has been a bedrock of support for the Tibetan cause. In 2007, I stood with President Bush to award the Congressional Gold Medal to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his ‘many enduring and outstanding contributions to peace, non-violence, human rights, and religious understanding,' she continued in her statement. "On the 75th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, I offer my continued appreciation of his life's work promoting compassion, peace, and human rights for all of the people of the world," she concluded.
.................. celebrations for birthday
A large banner depicting great episodes from his life -- as a child from Kunbhum county of Amdho, as a young monk, as a spiritual and political leader, Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI
highest spiritual leader. The Tibetan Nobel laureate expressed his gratitude to the special guests and heads of different societies including Indians, Chinese and others. His Holiness said, "I would like to thank our Indian friends, associations and specially the Chinese delegation who have offered me prayers and wishes for my birthday." Pointing at a large banner depicting great episodes from his life -- as a child from Kubhum county of Amdho of eastern Tibet, as a young monk, as a spiritual and political leader, as the exiled holy-man who has come to symbolize world peace, human values,
religious harmony and the Tibetan freedom struggle -- he said: "when I see those pictures and can see the development, I know my life has not been wasted. Even at this age, I find time for my Buddhist studies, which gives me strength, peace, happiness and keep me in good health." He urged the crowd to show compassion in their own lives and finished with some practical advice. "Mainly, those Tibetans living inside Tibet have strong feelings about my birthday. They are not allowed to show these feelings, however. I thank them for keeping their unshakable strength, faith and belief," the spiritual leader
addressed the crowd. The 75 year-old Tibetan leader received gifts and traditional white scarves from his Indian and Tibetan followers, sat through a cultural program of songs and dances and watched an exhibition of Tibetan miniature Thangka paintings. Long-life prayers, functions in Dharamshala and other Tibetan settlements in India and other countries, photo-exhibitions, the gold-medal prize of the Tibetan Parliament and other special events will continue through this year of the 75th birthday of His Holiness. Please visit the latest celebration gallery of The Tibet Post.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking to a Tibetan school boy during after the official ceremony of his 75th birthday held in Dharamshala, India on 6th July 2010. Photo: TPI By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dhasa: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama said any Dalai Lama chosen by China would have no moral legitimacy or following. Asked whether he would appoint someone in his lifetime, His Holiness told NDTV that he would continue to guide his community in the coming years. "I have not much concern about
these things," His Holiness said. "Sometimes I think the Chinese communists have more concern about Dalai Lama's successor than me. Silly, silly thinking, like that, so doesn't matter." "On the practical level, no hurry," he added. "I am quite healthy, so for another 10 to 20 years, I think, no problem," His Holiness added.
Presidential Office Rejects Tibetan Leader's Criticism By Taipei Times
Taipei:The Presidential Office yesterday dismissed comments by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who said the Chinese Nationalist (KMT) administration appeared to be "aimless." Presidential Office Spokesman Lo Chihchiang said the direction of the administration was clear. "Our policy is Taiwan is always the focus and the people's interest comes first," he said. His Holiness told the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times' sister paper) during an interview with Chinese-language reporters in Japan on Sunday that he did not know where the Taiwanese government was heading. The spiritual leader made the comment after being asked if he would visit Taiwan again. Tibetan leader said his visit to Taiwan last year seemed to create trouble for the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou. He said some Taiwanese media had produced negative reports about him at first, but that the coverage turned positive after they learned more about the nature of his trip. He said that when he met former KMT chairman Lien Chan in 1997, he told Lien he was not against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Lien, however, told him that his party was. "What about now?" the Dalai Lama asked, adding that he was confused about the direction the KMT administration was adopting. Meanwhile, the Presidential Office declined to criticize former president Lee Teng-hui , who on Saturday called on the public to reject Ma in the 2012 presidential election. Instead, it said that Ma's cross-strait policy had taken a Taiwan-centered approach while protecting public interests. "The public will judge whether former president Lee is bigoted," Lo said. Lo said many business groups and economic strategists in Taiwan and abroad recognized that the economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) the administration is expected to
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama speaks TO journalist during a press conference after a Buddhist ceremonial service at Zenkoji temple in Nagano on June 19, 2010. Photo: AP
sign with Beijing today had more advantages than disadvantages. On Saturday, Lee also said Ma was "not qualified to be the president of Taiwan" because he was bending over backward to cooperate with Beijing's plans to annex Taiwan. He said Ma's policies put Taiwan in an unfavorable position and urged the public to strongly oppose what he called the administration's "erroneous" policies. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmakers rallied behind Lee yesterday. DPP legislators told a press conference that the former president's comments were an accurate reflection of much of the public's opposition to the controversial agreement. "For Lee to say that the DPP should win all five municipalities [due for election in November] and call on the public to boot Ma out the sake of Taiwan shows just how angry and worried he is [about the ECFA]," DPP Legislator Wong Chin-chu said. "Lee sees that from an overall economic perspective, an ECFA will cause Taiwan irreversible harm and danger. This is why he called on the public to boycott the Ma administration." DPP spokesperson Tsai Chi-chang said that both Lee and DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen agreed that the only weapon left for the public to keep the government honest in its push to sign an ECFA with China was through their votes.
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The Chinese Workers Party Publicly Affirm their Solidarity with His Holiness
Exiled Tibetan Women Gears up for the PM Mass Mock Election in Dharamshala, India on 21 June 2010. Photo: TPI By Ben Dunant and Sangay
Dharamshala: On July 5th, the Workers Party's delegation arrived in Dharamsala, some coming from China and some from Australia, to attend His Holiness the Dalai Lama's birthday the following day. Their primary objective was, simply, to offer birthday greetings and express their solidarity. Fanyuang, the president of the party, resident in Australia, and Shiying Kuan, an advisor from mainland China and teacher at Hainan University, headed the delegation. They claimed it was originally to comprise of eleven, but that some couldn't make it due to visa restrictions and other difficulties. This morning at 11am they held a press conference at the staff mess of the Gangkyi (Library) of the Central Tibetan Administration.
Sangye kyab, editor of the Chinese edition of the Tibetan Bulletin, introduced the delegation and explained their activities, going on translate the proceedings into Tibetan. First, Mr. Fanyuang addressed His Holiness the Dalai Lama, proclaiming his long life as a source of happiness for both Tibetans and Chinese. ‘This delegation of the Workers Party of China came to Dharamsala to wish His Holiness a happy birthday. The remainder of our delegation was prevented from attending by the Chinese government. We all attended the ceremony, where His Holiness greeted us with enthusiasm and hospitality, even those of us who came directly from China. ‘In the afternoon we met with the Tibetan
Prime Minister, Samdhong Rinpoche. The next day we had an audience with His Holiness at his residence, in which Mr. Fanyuang offered him a gift on behalf of his party members. "Our gift is only very small," Mr. Fanyuang said. "But it is a token of the great respect all of our party members have towards you, His Holiness. We all wish you a life as unchanging as a Himalayan mountain and as long as the Yellow River, which bless and provide happiness for Chinese, Tibetans and every human being." ‘The Dalai Lama has previously professed concern for workers within China and sympathy for the party, and affirmed the importance of harmony within Chinese society, something that must derive from harmony of the mind. His Holiness said that, if the problems of the workers are properly addressed, then harmony is achievable in China. "A harmonious society cannot tolerate violence or torture." We thanked him for his concern, on behalf of the workers of China. ‘In conclusion Mr. Fanyuang said, "In China, presently, the poor are facing greater and greater pressures and the rich are losing sleep in the pursuit of money. Mr. Shiyingkang said that, when he returns home to his school, he intends to explain to his students the Tibetan situation and the proposals of His Holiness and the Tibetan government in exile.' This is Fanyuang's second visit to Dharamsala and Shiyingkang's first. The Chinese Workers Party has around 80,000 members in China and abroad and they are resolutely opposed to the continued rule of the Chinese Communist Party. As a result they have, over the years, found much common ground with the His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan struggle. With a free Tibet arguably presupposing a free China, their fates are intertwined.
The Tibet Post
Australia Celebrates His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 75th Birthday
Mr. Sonam Dagpo, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Australia celebrating with special cake. Photo: TIP/Dadon By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Canberra: His Holiness the Dalai Lama may describe himself as a simple Buddhist monk, but his 75th birthday was celebrated by his followers and admirers all over the world with great revelry. In Australia, his birthday was marked with festivities in Canberra, Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Tasmania. In Canberra, a special function was hosted by the Tibet Information Office and the Tibetan Community of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in the National Press Club of Australia on 7th July, 2010. Australian Greens leader Senator Bob Brown and senior Liberal Party member Hon Peter Slipper MP were among the distinguished guests who attended the function. Slipper, a co-convenor of the Australian All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, was also representing Hon Tony Abbott MP, Leader of the Opposition in the Parliament of Australia. More than 200 guests including diplomats, officials, academics, media workers, Tibet supporters, Chinese and Buddhist
a “great and inspiring human being” and “Tibet's greatest gift to the world”. “In a world driven by national interests, economic growth and short-term political games, the Dalai Lama and Tibet offer the inspiration that all humanity needs. There is no greater exponent of the alternative, long-term, compassionate and global view than the Dalai Lama. No one person has offered a more cohesive, optimistic yet practical vision for the future than His Holiness.” As the host of the evening, the Tibetan Community of ACT secretary Tsewang Thupten explained how Tibetans' admiration of His Holiness was based “not just on blind faith but on appreciation of his practical wisdom and compassion”. Mr. Sonam Dagpo, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia gave a moving account of His Holiness's life, achievements, and tireless work towards a peaceful resolution for the Tibetan people.
Tibetans and Supporters in Sydney Celebrate His Holiness' 75th Birthday
Exiled Tibetan Women Gears up for the PM Mass Mock Election in Dharamshala, India on 21 June 2010. Photo: TPI By Ben Dunant, The Tibet Post
Sydney: As virtually every city in the world celebrates the birthday of one of the most respected leaders in the world today, Sydney drew record numbers of friends and supporters to the Festival of Tibet on the Northern Beaches home of the Tibetan community. The day was hosted by the New South Wales Tibetan community, in association with the Dalai Lama in Australia Limited and the Tibetan and Chinese Friendship Association. The day commenced with prayers from the venerable Sangha
members. Guest speakers were Mr Sonam Dagpo, representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Justice John Dowd, Chancellor of Southern Cross University, Mr Bill Crews, Chairman of the Exodus Foundation, the Honourable Peter Slipper MP, Mrs Mei Leech of the Tibetan and Chinese Friendship Association, Mr Paul Bourke, executive director of Australia Tibet Council, Lynn Bain, General Manager of Dalai Lama in Australia Ltd, and Mr Jigme Dorjee, President of the Tibetan community
in NSW. The day saw other eminent visitors such as the Honourable Phillip Ruddock MP, Mr Brad Hazzard MP, the Mayor of Warringah, famous peace activist Steve Killelea, and many friends and supporters from a diversity of Chinese groups. The event ran in conjunction with a photographic exhibition, "A Man of Compassion and Wisdom: The Dalai Lama's Journey", presented by the Dalai Lama in Australia Limited. Over a thousand well-wishers attended the celebration, which included traditional Tibetan song and dance performances, poetry readings, performances by members of the Chinese community, and a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday To You" (with an added Tibetan flavour), before the Tibetan-style birthday cake was carved up between attendees. The afternoon saw the performance of everyone's favourite Snow Lion Dance and the draw of the raffle, which distributed the abundant gifts kindly donated by a network of Tibetan friends and supporters. From everyone in Sydney, we give His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama heartfelt wishes for a Happy Birthday and a long life. Report filed by Sue Bloom on behalf of the Tibetan Community of New South Wales, Australia.
Australian Greens leader Senator Bob Brown and senior Liberal Party member Hon Peter Slipper MP were among the distinguished guests who attended the function. Photo: TPI/Dadon
representatives and Tibetans participated in the function. The celebration featured a rich and diverse cultural program including Tibetan musicians Tenzin Choegyal from Brisbane, Tenzin Yeshe from Melbourne, a Sri Lankan dance troupe, a Nepalese dancer, a Mozart virtuoso violin performance by Mr. Yang Yang of the Chinese Community, and Tibetan dances performed by the Tibetan community of New South Wales. The evening began with a traditional aboriginal “welcome to the country” performed by Mr. Shane Mortimer, an elder of the Ngambri people, the traditional owners of the Australian Capital Territory. In his commemorative speech, Senator Bob Brown, the guest of honour, described His Holiness the Dalai Lama as
Tenzin Lhadhar, President of Tibetan Community of ACT, gave a vote of thanks which was followed by a cocktail reception. Australia is today home to over 900 Tibetans and has grown into a major centre of the global Tibetan Diaspora. Australia's celebrations of His Holiness's 75th birthday continued on 11th July, 2010, with Sydney's “Festival of Tibet”. The event featured another elaborate program of cultural performances and speeches, along with the launch of a unique photographic exhibition, “A Man of Compassion and Wisdom: The Dalai Lama's Journey”. Report filed by Dr. Simon Bradshaw & Tenzin Dolma Dagpo on behalf of TIO. More photos in news, please visit the gallery from The Tibet Post Inteternational
TPI TIBET IN EXILE
The Tibet Post
Exiled Tibetans Play Active Role in Upcoming Elections
Yeshi Phuntsok (C) speaking to Tibetan media at Ngari Chithung Association in Dharamshala, India on 03 June, 2010. Photo: TPI By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: At a press conference in Dharamshala on Saturday, Ven Yeshi Phuntsok, the president of the Ngari Chithun Association, announced its candidates in the upcoming elections for the next Tibetan Prime Minister and the members of the 15th Tibetan Parliament. The association namely announced five candidates for the next Tibetan prime minister and 27 candidates for members of the Tibetan Parliament inexile. The top candidates were selected at the association's 17th national convention held in June, after being chosen by the current and former members of the organization and its regional bodies. "We have decided to announce the candidates without requiring them a pre-condition of our organization, like,
ask them to fill forms and force them (candidates) to sign, but its done by sincerely " said, Yeshi Phuntsok. Various NGOs including Women's Association, National Democratic Party of Tibet, and organizations of the three traditional province in-exile are organizing different initiatives to select better candidates in the upcoming elections. Just a week ago, at a press conference held in Dharamshala, Ms. Dolma Tsering, the president of the Utsang province organization, announced the province's three candidates for prime minister and its 20 candidates for members of parliament in a different way. "All announced candidates for members of parliament have been asked to sign to two pre-conditions," says Tsering. The organization's pre-
conditions are a candidate must support the middle-way approach of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, must not stand on Tibet independent ideology and also must be loyal to his own provential organisation. People are confused by the candidates who signed the organization's preconditions that strongly require that they "must not stand on Tibet independent ideology" because four of the 20 candidates are involved in high level positions in the Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest Tibetan NGO who has been, and currently is, fighting for Tibet independence. A website called "The Prime Minister" (Kalontripa), a private initiative searching for the next Tibetan prime minister, has published 20 nominees for the next Tibetan Prime minister Election, most of them of the younger generation. Many Tibetans raised questions regarding the candidates for the next Tibetan prime minister, as the candidates' names had been published on a website. The Tibetan election commissioner clarified in June that this website is an independent volunteer initiative. Indeed, the website was "not launched by [the] Tibetan government and selection of its candidates are also not official initiative, but those who will elected by people in March this year will be official." "Please note that the kalontripa.org website is a private initiative and should not be mistaken for the official Tibetan Election Commission process," Thupen Samdup said in a recently-issued announcement. Samdup clarified, saying that "since [his] appointment as the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Northern Europe and the Baltic States, the Kalon Tripa project and website is being managed and maintained by a group of volunteers in India and Canada."
India Urged to Review of it's Policy Towards Tibet
Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao listens to a question during a joint press conference with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir at the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad on June 24, 2010. Photo: FIle/Reuters By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: A group of 21 young Tibetan artists, intellectuals, writers, translators and activists living in Dharamshala has presented a letter titled "memorandum" to Ms Nirupama Rao, the Foreign Secretary of India on her visit to Dharamshala this weekend. "Some of us were born and raised in India, while others have escaped from Tibet and have since then lived on this side of the Himalayas. We welcome you to Dharamshala as you arrive with the fresh rain of the monsoon," the group
said in thier letter. "When Tibetans first sought asylum in India, following the footsteps of our leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan freedom struggle was in its formative phase; there was neither international awareness nor was there political education and understanding within the Tibetan community. It was the kindness of India and her people, opening the doors of their homes to us, who made it our second home," the letter said.
In their letter, the group said, "Today, after 50 years of being in exile, Tibetan youngsters grow up in India like most young Indians with a modern education and outlook, but we are always aware of our identity and responsibilities towards our struggle and our leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It is partly because of India's support of our cause that the Tibetan struggle not only survived the difficult period but got resurrected to this level of international awareness, and confidence within the struggle. We are grateful to the government and people of India. Please accept our deepest gratitude." "The Tibetan struggle is not just to find a temporary arrangement for the exiled Tibetans to return home, but to seek a long-term interest for the survival of the Tibetan people and the nation. And therefore whatever may be the policies held by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the exile government, we believe very strongly that the goal of the struggle cannot be anything less than Independence. Only an independent Tibet can guarantee the survival of the Tibetan people, our culture and the nation. The 2008 uprising in Tibet is a clear public mandate that the Tibetans in Tibet are willing to even die, but not to live under Chinese colonial rule," the group stated in the letter. "We understand that His Holiness the Dalai Lama - the Buddha that he is - is
15 July , 2010 Dharamsala
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China Uses Religious Figures for Political Purpose; says Tibetan Govt.
Ven Tsering Phuntsok addressing during an official event in Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI/File By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: The Tibetan government said in a statement on Monday that "using religious figures for political purpose, therefore, goes against religion." The communist regime of China claimed on Sunday that a four-year-old Tibetan boy, Losang Dorjee, was selected as the 5th reincarnation of Dedrug Rinpoche, one of respected spiritual leader of Drepung Monastery. "Recognising the incarnations of Lamas/Trulkus is a unique Tibetan practice related with Buddhism. It has nothing to do with politics. Using religious figures for political purpose, therefore, goes against religion," said Tsering Phuntsok, the minister of Religion and Culture in the statement. "On 18 July 2007, the State Administration of Religious Affairs of the People's Republic of China issued the Regulation on Management Measures for the Reincarnation of Living Buddhas in Tibetan Buddhism by transgressing the bounds of both religion and politics. The heads of the four religious schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional Bon religion as well as the Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration issued a sevenpoint joint declaration on 2 September 2007, repudiating this regulation," said Phuntsok.
In his statement, the minister said that "likewise the Special Meeting of the heads of the four religious schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the traditional Bon religion held on 3 May 2008 passed a resolution, which not only rejected it but also declared that in future no reincarnated Lamas/Trulkus of the Tibetan Buddhist and Bon religions shall be considered as true unless they have the final approval of the heads of the respective religious traditions." "Under the supervision of the Chinese Communist government, the so-called reincarnation of the Gyalrong Dedrug Rinpoche, belonging to Loseling of the Drepung Monastery in Tibet has apparently been recognised on 4 July 2010 through the 'golden urn procedure'. As well as going against religion, this action of the Chinese government is a politically-motivated one. Therefore, as mentioned in the above declaration and the resolution, no Tibetan will ever accept this," the minister stated. He also added that "the previous Dedrug Rinpoche was a prominent religious figure who had contributed much to the maintenance and promotion of Tibetan religion and culture. Therefore, his reincarnation should be recognised according to tradition with the consent of the Gaden Throne Holder, the head of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism."
guided by his universal concern and therefore he has not been insistent on the independence of Tibet, and the exile government's policy of seeking autonomy within China is bound by its relationship with the Government of India, which still supports the One China policy." "The difference in the political stands between His Holiness and us doesn't divide us on our belief in Nonviolence. The Tibetan freedom struggle is based on the Buddhist principles of nonviolence, and when we hit the streets with our direct action campaigns we are inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's Satyagraha." "We understand that the Government of India is dealing with the People's Republic of China as a neighbour today. We are also aware that the Indian government still holds its decades old policy on Tibet stating, " The Autonomous Region of Tibet is a part of the People's Republic of China", and that this has not been reviewed while there are mounting Chinese military, political and environmental
pressures on India," they added. The group also said that, "Between the 1947 achievement of Indian independence and the 1949 Chinese invasion of Tibet, India and Tibet shared two years of friendly relationship as independent nations. So long as China continues its occupation of Tibet, India will never be able to solve its border issues amicably with China. Therefore we urge you to take this petition to the Government of India - our plea for a review of India's policy towards Tibet. Only by recognizing the historical independence of Tibet - with whom the Himalayan borders were decided through bilateral treaties - can India validate its legal and historical claim over its Himalayan states which have been challenged time and again by the People's Republic of China." "We the younger generation of Tibetans see in India a significant role in re-establishing the independence of Tibet and maintaining a brotherly relationship with a future Tibet," the letter concluded.
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The Tibet Post TPI TIBET Study: Tibetans Underwent the Fastest China Sentences Another Tibet Environmentalist to 5 Years in Prison Evolution in Human History 15 July , 2010 Dharamsala
This issue of Science shows that high altitudes forced ancient Tibetans to undergo the fastest evolution -- away from their Han heritage -- ever seen in humans: Photo: AFP By Jessica Beaton, www.cnngo.com
According to a new study published in Science, 3,000 years ago ethnic Tibetans split off from the Han Chinese -- China's largest ethnic group making up 92 percent of the mainland Chinese population -- and, forced by high altitudes, developed "extraordinary physical adaptations" that we now see in today's Tibetan population. According to the study, "Life at high altitudes forced ancient Tibetans to undergo the fastest evolution ever seen in humans." Not an accolade you hear every day. The study compared the genetic make-up of a group of Tibetans and
Han Chinese, and found that the Tibetans had DNA mutations that let them better use oxygen. The gene helps regulate the body's response to a low-oxygen environment. The mutated alleles occur in only nine percent of the Han, but were present in 87 percent of all Tibetans. This mutated alleles are often called the "super-athlete gene," because of their association with better athletic performance. In light of China's showing -- or lack thereof -- at this year's World Cup, maybe they should start looking more at their Tibetan citizens? Noting this genetic difference,
scientists found that the people we now know as Tibetans split off from their common Han ancestor only 2,750 years ago. The Tibetan example of human evolution beats the previous record holders in northern Europe, who evolved lactose tolerance over approximately 7,500 years, according to LiveScience. "The Han Chinese and Tibetans are as different from one another as if the Han completely replaced the Tibetans about 3,000 years ago," says Rasmus Nielsen, the University of Berkeley biology professor who led the statistical analysis for the study. Although scientifically interesting -and who know if this will indicate a new direction of China's athletic hopefuls -- Nielsen points out that "the study has no relevance for the ongoing debate over whether Tibet belongs as part of China. Ethnic groups define themselves by culture and history." Phew. "I'm from Denmark and probably genetically indistinguishable from someone from Sweden, but doesn't mean they're the same country," Nielsen says. "I'd argue that genetics is irrelevant to Tibetan selfdetermination." For those 90 percent of us who are missing the high altitude gene, you don't have to miss Chinese Tibetan culture (or risk altitude sickness), a Tibetan homestay off the plateau in Jiuzhaigou is a pretty good alternative.
Gelek: A Personal Account of a Chinese Crackdown on Tibetan Dissent
YC. Dhardhowa, editor of The Tibet Post talking with Gelek, a monk and ex-political prisoner newly arrived from Tibet at TPI office on 2 July. Photo: TPI By Ben Dunant, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: Gelek was a monk from the eastern part of Tibet, and was pursuing a life of contemplation in Sera monastery near the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, before an irreversible brush with the Chinese state on March 2008. On March 10th, as anti-Chinese sentiment was brewing across the plateau in the run up to the Beijing Olympics, thirteen monks marched through Lhasa demanding human rights and freedom of expression and religion. All were arrested. The situation escalated: the next day five hundred monks from Sera monastery, Gelek included, marched on Lhasa shouting for the release of the arrested monks alongside the aforementioned calls for greater freedom. Fifteen minutes into it they were met by almost a thousand Chinese
paramilitary troops with tear gas, riot shields, electrical batons and guns. The monks were forcibly escorted back to Sera and surrounded in the monastery yard while negotiations were undertaken between the state and monastery officials (a proportion of the latter being state-appointed). As a result they were allowed back into their monastery, only with prison-like strictures imposed: none were allowed to make contact with the outside world, let alone leave. On the 12th, between 3 and 5pm, around a hundred monks began shouting protest slogans. The act was repeated the next day, and on the 14th the monastery authorities warned that, if they continued, Chinese troops would storm the monastery and search their possessions for defamatory material -
anything that might warrant arrest, pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama included. And so the monks stopped. But the troops would not disperse from outside the monastery. The monks remained in effective house arrest for a month, denied any outside contact. Many become sick, and were helpless to remedy themselves. On the 10th of April, at 3am, paramilitary troops burst in with the common armoury of guns, tear gas, electrical batons - and in this case axes, to splinter the door of any monk who would deny them entry to their room. Gelek opened the door to one soldier and three policemen, who immediately fell to beating him with their electrical batons. Phones, wallets and rosaries were confiscated and 400 monks, Gelek included, were bundled into trucks and taken to Tsal Gongthang Detention Centre, 3km from Lhasa. Monks such as Gelek from the so-called Autonomous Region were detained for eight months, with monks from elsewhere carted off to detention centres in their respective provinces. Alongside meagre food rations and a draconian regime of rules and regulations, Gelek was subjected to daily ‘patriotic' re-education: Chinese development tales of shiny new bridges and bountiful food provision were told, and their ‘crime' of protest was condemned as a dangerous act of separatism with the probable backing of foreign anti-Chinese forces - in much the same manner as His Holiness the Dalai Lama is condemned as a lackey of Western imperialist powers. The monks were interrogated one by one, and Gelek was firm that he protested neither for His Holiness the Dalai Lama nor foreign intervention but simply to bemoan the
Rinchen Samdup la before the trial. Photo: Woeser Blog By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: A Chinese court on Saturday morning sentenced another Tibetan environmentalist, who organized villagers to pick up litter and plant trees, to five years in jail for inciting to split the nation. Rinchen Samdup, the third brother in his family to be jailed, ran an environmental NGO in the mountainous Gonjo county of eastern Tibet. The NGO mobilized about 1,700 local villagers to reforest the area and report poaching, and even to run a small magazine. It worked with international conservation groups and was praised by the Chinese media. The so called Chamdho Prefecture Court found Samdup guilty of incitement to split the country, lawyer Xia Jun told Reuters. The Tibetan environmentalist had pleaded not guilty but was convicted and deprived of his political rights for three years. He was accused of posting a pro-His Holiness the Dalai Lama article on his website, the lawyer said. He has 10 days to appeal the sentence. Exile Tibetan groups say he ran afoul of powerful local interests after accusing a local police officer of poaching. In June, the 2006 Environmentalist of the Year, Tibetan businessman and Rinchen's elder brother, Karma Samdup, was sentenced to 15 years
imprisonment on tomb-raiding charges. Samdup is one of the founding members of the award winning environmental NGO Three Rivers Environmental Protection Association and a respected philanthropist throughout the community. His supporters believe that Samdup is being made an example of because of his public activism. This case is significant because it precedents the Chinese government's stance on torture. Karma had tried to defend his brothers. Late last year the youngest brother, Jigme Namgyal, was sentenced to 21 months of reeducation through hard labour for 'endangering state security' by assisting Rinchen Samdup in running his NGO. The court found he had helped compile three audio-visual disks on the ecology of the region, possessed materials regarding exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, incited locals to interfere with government work and tried to register the NGO with the government. Several Tibetan journalists, writers, artists and intellectuals have been detained or have disappeared in recent months in what activists say amounts to the broadest suppression of Tibetan culture and expression for years.
lack of religious freedom and the Chinese state limitation of monk numbers in monasteries. The interrogator, however, was a sympathetic Tibetan who advised him to exercise caution in everything he said. As time went on many monks became sick, and were only allocated medical help if they successfully coughed up blood. The ‘beds' provided - raised plinths of concrete on the cell floor gave rise to agonising swelling conditions, not least for Gelek. After the eight months they were transferred to detention centres in their own respective districts - Chamdo county, in Gelek's case. Much the same rigmarole continued for Gelek for the next month and eleven days, after which he was finally released on the 12th January 2009. Gelek returned to his village, but life could not return to how it was. He was forbidden for two years to travel beyond his village without official permission, he was kept under regular surveillance and, most galling of all, he could never again practice as a monk. Increasingly frustrated at the half-life he was forced to lead, he made contact, through a series of discreet
connections, with an outfit dedicated to smuggling Tibetans across the Himalayan divide. He paid the mandatory 16,000 Chinese Yen (2,362 US Dollars) and his escape began on the 27th of May 2010, travelling in a taxi for three days and a night and walking the rest of the way. Thanks to an expert guide with a knowledge of hidden routes, he evaded capture from the Chinese border guards and arrived in Nepal on the 4th of June. After a stint of rehabilitation in the reception centre in Kathmandu, he was conveyed to Delhi on the 18th of June, arriving two days later in McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala. Since then Gelek has been staying in the reception centre for recent arrivals on Jogiwara road, and he looks forward to his meeting with the Tibetan leader, whose presence drives so many Tibetans to brave the escape over the high Himalayan passes. Reduced circumstances may still plague Gelek in McLeod Ganj, and his future remains uncertain - but for now he can enjoy an environment of relative freedom among his own kind, in a society where his rights are respected and his ancient culture is permitted to flourish.
TPI INTERNATIONAL
The Tibet Post
Journalist Refused Entry to China
15 July , 2010 Dharamsala
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Foreign Secretary Heading to Himachal By Yc. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Konrad Godlewski a journalist of Polish. Photo: File By Yc. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dhasa: A Polish journalist regarded as an authoritative and experienced writer on Chinese affairs has been refused an entry visa to China. Konrad Godlewski, a freelance commissioned by Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland's largest daily newspaper, was denied entry to the country to cover the China-Europe forum in Chengdu. He told IPI that he believes his blacklisting may have been sparked by his acting as a translator for an interview in May between Wang
Lixiong, a prominent Chinese writer and critic of China's Tibetan policy, and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The rejection of Godlewski's visa application comes three months after another Polish journalist, Maria Kruczkowska, was denied a Chinese visa. She reported on China for 11 years, and had previously visited the country several times without incident.But she was blacklisted for writing a critical article about China and the 2008 Olympic Games.
Journalist Refused Entry to China
ia Qinglin (L, front), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with representatives of the second congress of the China Association for the Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture, in Beijing, capital of China, on June 30, 2010. Photo: (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: Despite heavy international criticism that the ancient Tibetan cultural heritage has faced serious danger since the Chinese occupation, a top Chinese political advisor, Jia Qinglin, on Wednesday insincerely claimed that "the preservation and development of Tibetan culture bears on the inheritance of the centuries-old Tibetan history." According to the Chinese state controlled media, Xinhua's report, further quoting Jia Qinglin, the preservation of Tibetan culture impinges also on "the advancement of social and economic development in Tibet, and the unity of the nation". So Jia said at a meeting with so called representatives of the second congress of the China Association for the Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture in Beijing. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, has occasionally condemned China's "rule of terror" in Tibet and criticized it as "cultural genocide".
"Some respected international organization can investigate the situation is in Tibet and the underlying cause," the Tibetan leader told reporters in Dharamshala, after deadly crackdowns taking place in all parts of Tibet in 2008 caused the deaths of more than 200 Tibetans. Whether the Chinese government admits it or not, there is a problem in Tibet, said His Holiness the Dalai Lama. "Whether intentionally or unintentionally, some kind of cultural genocide is taking place." Between 1949-1959 more than 1.2 millions Tibetans, including women and children, were killed or murdered in Tibet, particularly during the so called 10 year Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), which saw the mass destruction of Tibetan buildings and religious artifacts. More than 6,000 monasteries were destroyed, many of them used as target practice by Chinese artillery. A thousand years' worth of priceless Buddhist literature, religious paintings and artifacts were either destroyed, burnt and stolen.
Dhasa: Indian foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao is visiting Dharmashala, where Tibetan government in-exiled based, Saturday but it is not known if she will meet the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama. 'Nirupama Rao is visiting Dharamsala for two days from July 10,' Bhim Sen, principal secretary to Prem Kumar Dhumal, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, told IANS. She is a former Indian ambassador to China. Sen could not say if Rao would meet the Tibetan leader. 'She has been declared a state guest by the (Himachal) government,' Sen said. 'She will arrive July 10 and depart for Delhi the next day.'
Indian foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao. Photo: File
China Respond Strongly to Rao's Meeting with His Holiness By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dharamsala: On Tuesday, the Communist Regime of China strongly responded to the Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao's meeting with Tibetan Spiritual Leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The Chinese government claim that, they hope India to "honor its' commitments and cautiously handle issues related to exiled Tibetans in India". Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang told a media "China has expressed its' position clearly to the Indian side over Tibet issue", when asked about the meeting between Rao and Dalai Lama on July the 10th held in Dharamsala, a northern hill-town where Tibetan government in exile administered for the last 50 years. Mr. Gang further added, "The Indian government has expressed on many occasions to China that it recognizes Tibet Autonomous Region as part of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and would not allow exiled Tibetans in India to conduct anti-China political activities. So we hope India could abide by its commitments on Tibet-related issues and properly handle all the issues," Ms Rao's meeting, which came close on the heels with the national security adviser Shivshankar Menon's visit to China, as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's special envoy from July 3 to 6 during which he held talks with Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and foreign minister Yang Jiechi, sparked off speculation that China may have sent a message for His Holinesss the Dalai Lama, just after days the celebration of his 75th birthday. The Tibetans in-exile has also expressed contentment over India's Foreign Secretary Rao's talk with His Holiness and other top Tibetan officials last week. On July the 12th, Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, the Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile, told ANI that the
China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang made the remarks in response to Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao's meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Saturday at a regular news briefing. Photo: Xinhua
meeting was held behind closed doors, and was a routine. "This is nothing special; it's a regular annual visit. She couldn't come last year in 2009, because of various (reasons). His Holiness was usually abroad, so this time she made the visit," the Tibetan prime minister added. However, under one country and two systems, China has granted autonomy to Hong Kong and Macau though the two regions are part of I
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the mainland. But, they are averse towards the whole part of Tibet who holds the same status. His Holiness, the Dalai Lama has been approaching with his Middle-Way concept of "A Meaningful Autonomy for Tibet" incorporating the eastern parts of Tibet, like the Tibetan traditional province Kham and Amdho which China has divided to its' Qinghai, Gangzu, Yunnan and Sichuan provinces. t
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Mr. Thomas Keimel Dr. Vincent Brucel Mr. YC. Dhardhowa Mr. Sangay Dorjee Ms. Keary Huang Ms. Phuntsok Dolma Mr. Tenzin Kunga
Contributors for this edition Mr Ben Dunant Ms Melissa MacEwen Mr Erwin L Molier, Ms Dadon The Tibet Post International Himalayan Literacy Trust (Head Office) 1st Floor, Dolkhang House, Jogiwara Road, Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala, Distt. Kangra H.P 176219 India
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TPI VARIETY
15 July , 2010 Dharamsala
New Words of the New World: A Dictionary for Tibetans
A new dictionary "Chinese-Tibetan-English Dictionary of New Daily Vocabulary" was launched on Thursday by Thupten Lungrig, the education Minister of Tibetan government in-exile. Photo: TPI By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: A new dictionary written by Tibetan scholars inside Tibet titled ,
"Chinese-Tibetan-English Dictionary of New Daily Vocabulary" was launched at a press conference on Thursday by
Thupten Lungrig, the education Minister of Tibetan government in-exile. More than 10,000 new Tibetan words derivatives, arranged in English alphabetical order and homonyms. Appended with a table for locating Tibetan words and it has 975 pages wth Chinese and English terms and longer Tibetan explanation. This dictionary is also dedicated to the younger generation of new Tibet who are facing the difficulties with using the new Tibetan words of the new world. The famous Tibetan scholar, Mr. Tsultrim Lodoe from eastern Tibet and about 50 other Tibetan scholars from the three traditional provinces of Tibet took three years to complete the modern dictionary. The comprehensive dictionary for Tibetans also includes the new word for Science, history, geography, calendar calculation, modern medicine, plants, rhetoric, documents, customs, handicraft industry, daily use vessels, clothing, architecture, law, taxes, corvee, lease and loan. The Dictionary was re-published by Khawa Karpo Tibet Culture Centre Charitable Trust based in Dharamshala, India.
Art in Uncertainty: Peak Art Gallery and the Tibetan Artists of McLeod Ganj
Setting Up for July 6th Exhibition at Peak Art Gallery, Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI/Melissa MacEwen By Melissa MacEwen, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: With the combined stresses of paying for materials, finding a workspace, and balancing one’s personal interests with audience appeal, being an artist is never a profession for the faint of heart. But to survive as an artist, while simultaneously holding a status as a Tibetan refugee in India? Doing so would surely be incredibly difficult, if not impossible. Nevertheless, in McLeod Ganj of Upper Dharamshala, a small community of artists is doing just this, with the help of Tashi Gyatso’s Peak Art Gallery. After noticing with his girlfriend, Sarah Hartigan, that there were no local contemporary Tibetan art museums, Gyatso had an idea. “If we could build an art gallery, it would be good for the artists and [we] could show to other people [what] Tibet contemporary art is [like].” He notes that contemporary art is not a focus of Tibetan culture, but that this same art could have international appeal if displayed and marketed correctly. With the profits of their successful jewelry importing business and a small loan from Hartigan’s parents, the couple founded Peak Art on April
2, 2010 in an attempt to “put Tibetan art on the world platform of art,” as Gyatso says. The gallery appeals primary to Western visitors, whose
Exhibit Opening, July 6th at Peak Art Gallery, Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI/Melissa MacEwen
patronage will hopefully help to expand the gallery’s international reputation and appeal. Though Gyatso notes that finding adequate numbers of artists and artworks to
display was originally an issue, the gallery is doing quite well now, and is showing around 35 pieces by eight artists. Two of the themes commonly observed in the artwork are aspects of Buddhism and scenes from Tibetan life; this is hardly surprising considering Buddhism’s importance to Tibetans, and the refugee status of McLeod’s Tibetans. Having come to India from Tibet at the age of six, Ngawang Dorjee is a perfect example of the artists Peak Art has come to represent. Inspired by the artists around him and his rich cultural heritage, Dorjee states that “[he] want[s] to show more Buddhism things to other people. It’s all about Tibet.” Like the vast majority of the artists shown by Peak Art, Dorjee creates art in addition to holding a stable day job. “The thing is that I want to do more paintings but I can’t do it. I have to make a living to do paintings and I have to keep it all together. I can’t keep more paintings for myself; most of the time I do it for other people.” Indeed, it is the desire to maintain a steady income and lifestyle that prevents most artists in Dorjee’s position from focusing more on their art. Unlike many of his fellow artists, however, Dorjee had previous exhibition experience before he began exhibiting at Peak Art: “I had one [exhibit] in London with a small art gallery [Sweet Tea House]; [Gonkar Gyatso] used all my pictures at his gallery. I worked with him as an assistant,” he says. Dorjee adds that this experience allowed him to pursue art in a way that diverged from his traditional, fine arts training. Given the similar training of many of Dorjee’s peers, it is impressive how well the artists have adapted to contemporary styles and themes. Even as the future looms uncertainly for Dorjee and his fellow artists in McLeod, their commitment to the arts remains unbroken. “I like [art]; the more I do it the more I like it,” Dorjee says with a smile.
The Tibet Post
Which Team Win For The Semi Finals?
FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa: Photo: Author: silva17 By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post
Dhasa: The first of the two semi finals will be played between Netherlands and Uruguay on 7 July. These two teams have met on four occasions previously, with Uruguay winning three of those meetings and Netherlands only one. The second semi final will be played between Germany and Spain on 8 July.
Germany and Spain have met twenty times in the past, Germany have won eight of those matches and Spain have won six. Its also worth noting that this is the first time Spain have managed to reach the semi finals at the World Cup. Which team will be managed to fight for final, some say Germany and other say Spain?
China Faces One of the Worst Catastrophes
GUIYANG, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Rain-triggered landslide disrupted the Sichuan-Guizhou Railway at Tongzi County in southwest China's Guizhou Province at around 8 a.m. Friday, said local authorities Friday. photo: Xinhua By Erwin L Molier, The Tibet Post
Dharamshala: China fights torrent which raged in the Southern and Eastern province. The flood has killed more than 600 people and still the dead count is on the rise, with hundreds on the missing list. It has affected more than 29 million people and evacuation of more than 997,000 people leaving them homeless and starving. Deputy County Official Zhou Yingbin said, "There is little hope of survival for the missing villagers". The Chinese Educational Ministry ordered for safety measures to be ensured to all the students in the flood affected area. He also ensured rescheduling of exams, suspending schools, relocating classrooms etc. A report claim two more landslide and 14 lives in Sichuan and 10 lives associated with two landslides in Hunan. Hundreds of soldiers and police rushed to dig a drainage to prevent an overfilled reservoir from bursting and destroying a town 3,960 meters about the sea level
in northwest of China. Continuous rainfall and the snow-melt caused violent flow of torrent water into the reservoir causing serious stress to the government and people living around the area. In addition to the flood and heavy rain, China suffers massive landslide and soil erosion which needs immediate attention. The flood has damaged an estimate of US $ 2.89 billion (19.75 billion Yuan). It has also destroyed a total of 93,000 houses and 252,800 hectares of crops. But, the Health Minister on a press said, that the flood hit regions has not reported any case of epidemics disease or public health related emergencies. The matter get worse as Chinese meteorological authority forecast rainstorm in Guizhou, Sichuan, Hubei, Jaingsu, Zhejiang and Anhui region in Central and Eastern China. This is one of the worst natural catastrophes China ever has to face in the history. It has affected 90 regions and it's still on the rise.