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འབྲེལ་གཏུགས་གསར་འཕྲིན།
Contact
A Digest of Tibetan Issues, News and Community Information RGD No. HPENG/2013/51798 | Volume: XXI
Issue: 3 | April 30, 2019
New Ethical Learning Programme Launched
Contents
by Casey Tait His Holiness the Dalai Lama travelled to Delhi at the beginning of the month for the four-day unveiling and launch of the Social, Emotional and Ethical Learning (SEE Learning) programme. SEE Learning, developed through Emory University, the private research university in Atlanta, Georgia, with Continued on page 3
Where is the Panchen Lama Today?
by Casey Tait The 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima’s 30th birthday was on April 25. Twenty-four years ago, on the May 14, 1995, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was recognised by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama. Three days later, the six-year-old and his family were abducted by the Chinese Continued on page 5
Detained for Speaking Out About Lack of Jobs
by TseringWangdue A Tibetan student named Sonam has been arrested after writing an essay criticising the declining number of government job opportunities for Tibetans living in Tibetan regions. Sonam wrote the essay for his civil service examination. He was a master’s degree candidate at Northwest Minzu Continued on page 3
50,000 Tibetan Nomads Relocated Since 2005
by Nithin Thomas Prasad Over 50,000 Tibetan herdsmen have abandoned their nomadic style of life so as to preserve the fragile ecology in Northwest China’s Qinghai Province since 2005, according to China in a report released mid-April. This came as a result of the Sanjiangyuan Nature Reserve project which was established in Qinghai in 2000 Continued on page 6
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News Features 01-11 Tibetan Headlines 12- 13 International Headlines 14 People Story 15 NGO Profile 16 Volunteer Story 17 Lha News 17 Charities & Organisations 18-19 Activities & Information 20-21 Jobs & Advertisements 22-23 Mcleod Ganj Map 24
Upcoming Events in Dharamshala May 10 - 12, 2019 : Teaching in Tsuglakhang His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give teachings on The Furthest Everlasting Continuum (Sanskrit: Uttaratantra) (Tibetan: gyu lama) at the request of a group of Russians. June 3 -5, 2019 : Teaching in Tsuglakhang His Holiness will teachings on Gyalsey Thokme Sangpos’s Thirty-Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva (laklen sodunma); he will then confer the Avalokiteshvara Initiation (chenresig jigten wangchuk wang) on the third day. June 9, 2019 : Long Life Offering His Holiness will attend Long Life offering prayer given to him by two groups at Tsuglakhang, the main temple in Mcleod Ganj. source: dalailama.com
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Institute for Social Work & Education Lha is an award-winning, grassroot and non-profit institute for social work and education based in Dharamshala, India. It is one of the largest social work organisations providing vital resources for Tibetan refugees, the local Indian population and people from the Himalayan regions. Lha offers free language and IT classes; a community soup kitchen and many other programmes and activities. Through rehabilitation resources and social and educational services, Lha facilitates an easy transition for the Tibetan refugee community to India. For more information about Lha, please visit: www.lhasocialwork.org Facebook: Lhasocialwork Twitter: Lhasocialwork
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Charitable Trust. It has been a popular source of news and information on Tibetan issues, and the Dharamshala community, for 21 years and is acknowledged in Lonely Planet and other international travel resources. It is available free of charge and distributed around Dharamshala, Delhi and various diplomatic missions in India. Copies are sent to Tibetan schools, settlements, offices and NGOs in India and abroad. Contact is updated daily on our website www.contactmagazine.net. Contact is registered under the Registrar Office of the Newspaper, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India; registration number HPENG/2013/51798. Please Note: The articles, stories and other material in Contact represent the views of the authors and are not necessarily the views of the Contact editing staff or Lha Charitable Trust. Please email comments on this issue to: editor@contactmagazine.net
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Contact magazine | April 2019 | Page No 2
“ There is only one important point you must keep in your mind and let it be your guide. No matter what people call you, you are just who you are. Keep to this truth. You must ask yourself how is it you want to live your life. We live and we die, this is the truth that we can only face alone. No one can help us, not even the Buddha. So consider carefully, what prevents you from living the way you want to live your life?” - His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Acknowledgment Contact magazine is a wonderful example of the collaboration between Lha staff and volunteers from all over the world. The team at Lha provide the continuity for the magazine from the office while the majority of articles are written by volunteers, some of whom drop by and write one or two articles while others go on writing for us for months or even years after they have left Dharamshala. Some give us occasional editing help. Our two proofreaders, Clifford Martin and Ailsa Newcombe, have been making a vital contribution from Britain over the last two years. We are deeply grateful to every one of our volunteers, without their commitment, enthusiasm and dedication Contact would not exist: Thank you and tashi delek!
News Features New Ethical Learning Programme Launched Continued from page 1
The Dalai Lama Trust and Vana Foundation of India, was launched globally on April 6. The programme is available in 12 languages and provides an educational framework for students up to K-12, as well as into higher education, for the development and cultivation of character and ethical discernment. The secular programme recognises the need for education in “soft skills” and the psychological, physical and social health that comes from learning basic human values. The SEE Learning mission statement is, “To develop, implement, and evaluate evidencebased educational programmes, grounded in compassionbased ethics, to promote social, emotional and ethical learning through the cultivation of self-regulatory and prosocial behaviours, critical thinking and socially responsible decision-making.” The launch events began with a press conference held on April 4, where His Holiness, educational experts and representatives from Emory University discussed the aim of the programme. SEE Learning Associate Director
Brendan Ozawa-de Silwa said, “SEE Learning consists of a framework that communicates the philosophical and pedagogical foundations of the programme as well as a curriculum that is tailored for different age levels and an online platform for preparing and supporting educators and schools. All these materials are made globally available for free, thanks to the generous support of His Holiness.” The days following the unveiling included a presentation of the SEE Learning Curriculum by His Holiness, multiple panel sessions and a keynote speech also by His Holiness, Preparing Children for a Changing World: Infusing Discernment and Compassion into Education. During each event, the speakers touched on the importance of the implementation of the SEE Learning programme and shared personal experiences about the positive effects this kind of education can bring. His Holiness has stated, “It is vital that when educating our children’s brains, we do not neglect to educate their hearts, a key element of which has to be the nurturing of our compassionate nature.”
Detained for Speaking Out About Lack of Jobs Continued from page 1
University in Gansu province’s Lanzhou city before being driven out of the classroom earlier this month by officials from the Tibet Education Bureau in China. In his essay, Sonam wrote about the annually decreasing number of opportunities available for Tibetans wishing to take the Chinese national civil service exams. His essay was written in the Chinese language and has been widely shared on popular Chinese social media platforms Weibo and Wechat. Although local government officials in the area claim there is an increase in employment opportunities, only 210 Tibetan graduates were selected from the 70,000 candidates who sat the civil service exam this year. Increasing numbers of Chinese graduates coming into Tibet every year, together with the requirement of proficiency in Mandarin Chinese, have contributed to the failure of Tibetans to gain a hold in this competitive job market. “Many Tibetan university graduates say it is increasingly difficult to find jobs in Tibet, and many of
those who graduated in 2018 are still left without jobs,” reports Radio Free Asia, quoting one of their sources. Refuting Sonam’s criticism, China’s state run Xinhua News published an article on April 16; Across China: Favorable ethnic policies bring benefits for Tibetan children. The article profiles a young Tibetan couple working in Beijing, earning a handsome monthly salary and with a high standard of living. The article states that there are many Tibetans who have been benefited from the favourable ethnic policies which enable them to study in better schools and even have the opportunity to go abroad for further studies. Despite China’s constitution providing for equal rights and opportunities for ethnic minorities, many Tibetans find they are not able to find a job, either in private companies or in international corporations, including multinational companies. Tibetans have to compete against the increasing Han Chinese population migrating into Tibet and taking government civil service jobs; the selection criteria and process work in favour of Han Chinese applicants.
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News Features Former Political Prisoner Dies Following a Prolonged Illness by Choeyang Wangmo Lekshey, also known as Yeshe Thupten, a former Tibetan political prisoner, has died in Lhundrub county in the Tibet Autonomous Region after a prolonged illness resulting from years of torture he suffered while in a Chinese prison. Yeshe Thupten was a monk at Phenpo Nalanda Monastery and was arrested by the Chinese authorities in 1995 for protesting against the Chinese government’s propaganda on “patriotic re-education”. Yeshe spent five years in prison and by the time he was released in 2000 his health was critical. Yeshe was held in Gutsa prison for the first two years and later transferred to the notorious Drapchi prison to complete his five year sentence. Yeshe was subjected to severe interrogation and violent treatment in prison which took its toll on his physical and mental health. His family is reportedly under “close surveillance” by the Chinese government and no further information is available about
his death. The families fear persecution by the Chinese government were they to disclose any information about the circumstances surrounding his death. Tibetan political prisoners continue to suffer even after their release from prison. Former political prisoner Dhondup Wangchen, recipient of the Geveva Human Rights Summit’s Courage Award, recounted his experiences in the acceptance speech: “Life for a Tibetan political prisoner after his release is worse than hell. I was under constant surveillance. I couldn’t meet my friends and relatives because it would put them in trouble. I couldn’t find a job because no employer wanted to antagonise the Chinese government by employing a former political prisoner. I was not permitted to go anywhere without the authorisation of the Chinese authorities. I couldn’t afford medical care because we were deprived of medical subsidies.” Freedom House, the United States-based organisation conducting research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights, ranked Tibet as the second least free region in the world in its report Freedom in the World 2019.
Atheist China’s Fear of the Power of Buddhism by Mary Trewartha The row sparked by China concerning the succession of His Holiness the Dalai Lama is gaining momentum with an article published by The Hindu. The International edition of The Hindu published the article on April 21, entitled India’s policy on Tibet is clear: scholar. The article includes an interview with Wang Xiaobing, research fellow at the China Tibetology Research Centre, who said that in the matter of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, he was confident about New Delhi’s positive response and that “India is unlikely to side with Washington”. He continued, referring to “a string of legal documents in the fifties”, and saying, “With regard to the core issues, that are central to national interests on China, the Indian government has a very clear policy. It knows that Tibet belongs to China; so on those central core issues concerning China, India has a very clear position.” The Hindu offers no response from India to this assertion. Initially just a comment in one of China’s directives concerning Tibet, that China has the right to ratify all reincarnations, the row escalated when China asserted that this includes that of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. While His Holiness himself is well and expects to live for many more years, there is international interest in the issue with statements being made at government level and questions
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raised during media interviews with His Holiness. United States Congressional Leader Senator Cory Gardner, Chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific and International Cybersecurity Policy, said on April 9: “Let me be very clear – The United States Congress will never recognise a Dalai Lama that is selected by the Chinese.” This comment was made amid a trade war between the US and China. In an interview with Reuters, His Holiness said recently that his successor could be born in India and that “nobody will trust, nobody will respect” a Dalai Lama chosen by China. The Hindu article reports that analysts are concerned that “if the Dalai Lama enforced his assertion, it could undermine the ‘One China’ principle by compromising the legitimacy of the Beijing approved successor”. China has stated, “The reincarnation system has been there for hundreds of years. The 14th Dalai also was recognised in the religious rituals and was approved by the central government.” Foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang is quoted as saying in March: “The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should be following the national laws and regulations and the religious rituals.” And in Germany, a recent parliamentary statement detailing and criticising China’s human rights abuses in Tibet prompted China to accuse such critics of being “enchanted by the Dalai Lama”.
News Features Where is the Panchen Lama Today? To spread awareness of the situation regarding the government and have not been seen since. His birthday Panchen Lama and to reject the Chinese chosen Panchen was commemorated with events throughout India and the Lama, a bike rally organised by Tibetan pro-independence world, including peace marches, a bike rally, 30th birth groups Students for a Free Tibet India and the Tibetan Youth Congress commenced on April 25. anniversary functions and an unveiling of The route began in Dharamshala a forensic image on the BBC revealing an and is making stops in major cities approximation of what the 11th Panchen before reaching New Delhi. The Lama would look like today. group carries flags printed with the The Panchen Lama follows only the only official photo of the Panchen Dalai Lama in spiritual standing. One of Lama (aged six). They started the primary responsibilities of the Panchen their journey from Pawo Doring, a Lama is to help in the recognition of the monument built for Tibetan martyrs. reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. The Although there has been Chinese government came out with their continued effort by the Chinese own “Panchen Lama” with the hopes of government to wield full power fully controlling who is recognised as over Tibet, there continues to the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, and be internal and international furthering their control over Tibet. recognition that the Chinese The 11th Panchen Lama was the Panchen Lama is false. Shows of youngest political prisoner at the time of support for the true Panchen Lama his abduction and has since become one of the world’s longest serving political Last seen photo of the 11th Panchen Lama include a condemnation of China prisoners. The whereabouts of him and his family are for human rights violations by the European Parliament unknown, though information regarding them has been and an affirmation from the United States Congress that requested throughout the years by Tibetan leaders, human the USA will not recognise a Dalai Lama selected by the rights organisations, governments worldwide and United Chinese government. As another international symbol of recognition, the Nations human rights agencies. To honour the 30th birthday of the Panchen Lama and BBC screened a short film that reveals a digital reckoning highlight the situation between Tibet and China, the Tibetan of what the 11th Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima would look like today at the Women’s Association (TWA) age of 30. This forensically organised peace marches in constructed image, created five places throughout India, by Tim Widden, a specialist all which started on April 25. in age progressions and Over 900 Tibetans between the facial reconstructions, was ages of 30 and 80 signed up shown on the One Show in to participate in the marches, the United Kingdom at 7pm which have routes from on April 23. Dharamshala to Chandigarh, Lobsang Yangtso, the Dehradun to Delhi, Gangtok Asia Regional Coordinator to Salugara, Raipur to Nagpur, for the International Tibet and Mysore to Bangalore. The stated, “The groups plan to cover 19 to 20 Members of the Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) on a peace march Network demanding the release of Gendun Choekyi Nyima significance of this new km a day, with health services Photo: The Tribune image is hard to overstate. It available throughout the journey for those in need. The routes are approximately eight sends a message to Beijing that the world has not forgotten to 14 days in length, and will end with press conferences in about Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, despite all of their efforts to erase him from our history. This image is an important Ghaziabad, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar and Delhi. President of the TWA Dolma Yangchen said, “Turning document of how our Panchen Lama may look at aged 30 for a leader means being ready to lead now. It is both a 30 after we have not seen him for 24 years. It also allows sad and joyous occasion. We, in our hearts, pray that he is Tibetans to continue to hope that he will one day be free again.” healthy and will mark his birthday.”
Continued from page 1
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News Features 50,000 Tibetan Nomads Relocated Since 2005 Continued from page 1
livelihood has reduced the once proud and self-sustaining and was later approved by the State Council in 2004. nomadic community to being entirely reliant on the Under this programme, resettlement played a major role government’s meagre subsidies and limited state aid. in the ecological conservation of the zone. These subsidies go primarily towards buying necessities Sanjiangyuan in Chinese means “source of three like yak milk, cheese and butter which the nomads would rivers”, referring to the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang never have needed to buy earlier, the reports say. (Mekong) rivers. Moving these nomads from under the open skies to However, critics argue that this project was a concrete jungles has done no good towards their social political move by the Chinese government by which it upliftment either. There are no schools apart from the intended to assert control ones that carry over the Tibetan nomads forward stateand to exploit their lands sponsored “Love for mining, tourism, and the motherland” other commercial purposes. propaganda, Olivier Critics have gone as far as to de Schutter, the UN call this forced resettlement Special Rapporteur initiative “a euphemism for on the Right to Food, cultural genocide”. is quoted as saying in In March, 12 families firstpost.com. from Chamdo prefecture’s As a result of this, Gonjo county were forcibly there are very limited evicted after resisting options to educate Chinese orders to move from A map showing the location of Chamdo prefecture in the Tibet Autonomous Region. and train these their resource-rich ancestral nomads to take up modern jobs, provided they wanted to lands, according to sources. These families had held out be educated in the first place. No such programmes appear from moving for months despite being promised new to be in the pipeline either, according to Tenzin Norbu, housing and land in Kongpo prefecture in the south. a senior researcher in the environmental engineering China’s report suggested that the nomads were resettled programme. in better environments with improved living conditions. By relocating these nomads out of their ancestral However, there have been several reports by international homelands under the premise of ecological preservation, human rights groups that contradict these claims. China has effectively played a major hand in the loss of a These reports say that a lack of alternative means of more than 8000-year-old cultural heritage.
Political Prisoner Pema Wangchen Dies in Hospital
by Corinne Dobinson A Tibetan, who was detained in a Chinese prison in 2016 for singing the Tibetan National anthem, died on April 26, 2019 aged 31 years, reports Radio Free Asia. The Ghu-Chu-Sum Movement Association of Tibet, report on their Facebook page that Pema Wangchen passed away at Chengdu hospital. They claim his death was related to life-threatening injuries sustained during a fifteen day detention in 2016. They said that he was treated severely during that time and was released in a very poor state of health. Following his release, he continued to suffer health complications and recently deteriorated. The Facebook post reports that prior to being arrested
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in 2016, he was stopped by police and charged for driving without having a driving license in his possession. However, while being interviewed it became clear that his detention was related to the release of a video-recording of himself singing the banned Tibetan National anthem in February 2016. Phayul.com reports that the video was posted on Chinese micro messaging Wechat and went viral. It is reported by Ghu-Chu-Sum that public benefits have been denied to him since his release in 2016. It is believed this is related to other family members being associated with political protests. Palden Trinley, a monk brother of Pema was imprisoned for seven years in 2008 for marching in the town of his monastery, shouting, “Long live the Dalai Lama.” Pema Wangchen briefly went to school in India but returned to Tibet. He leaves three children from his first marriage and another from his second.
News Features 60 Years of Democratic Reform or 60 Years of Repression?
by Tsering Wangdue In the wake of the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the failed uprising in Tibet in 1959, China published a White Paper last month entitled Democratic Reform in Tibet; Sixty Years On which includes China’s usual message of developments, progresses and prosperities in Tibet and the peaceful liberation of Tibetan people under Chinese rule from its former feudal and serfdom society. The White Paper states that Tibetan people have moved from a dark history of feudal society into a new era and become the masters of their own affairs. It claims that in the last 60 years of democratic reforms under the guidance of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Tibetans have enjoyed a large development of the economy accompanied by religious freedom, with Tibetans during the anniversary of 60th Tibetan together Uprising Day on March 10, 2019 equality and Photo: Sajjad Hussain/AFP respect for all ethnic cultural and language diversity. The paper also claimed huge infrastructure development and improved productive forces thus accomplishing fundamental changes in the economic structure. The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in India says that this White Paper is part of a systematic attempt by the CPC to whitewash their destruction of Tibetan life, culture, language and environment through its policy of continuous repression and cultural assimilation. Over 150 Tibetans from different parts of Tibet have self-immolated in protest against China’s repressive policies. CTA spokesperson, Secretary of the Department of Information and International Relations, Mr Sonam Norbu Dakpo, said China has turned Tibet into “an area of neo-colonialism”. Mr Zamlha Tenpa Gyaltsen, an environment research fellow at the Tibet Policy Institute of the CTA, has rebutted the Chinese accusation of Tibetan people’s inability to exploit their natural resources before the Chinese invasion. He cites a series of events which demonstrate the continued destruction of Tibet’s environment under Chinese administration, including the mass hunting of wildlife, large-scale deforestation and unchecked developments such as large mining projects and the damming of Tibet’s rivers which have resulted in high levels of water pollution leading to an ecological disaster on the Tibetan plateau. The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has reported that Tibetans are highly restricted in their movements within and beyond
the Tibet borders, are denied the right to acquire passports and travel abroad, and experience significant restrictions on receiving teaching in the Tibetan language. Such discriminatory and restrictive policies violate the right to free movement and right to information, which is in direct contradiction to the claims made by China’s White Paper. Freedom House, the United States government-funded non-government organisation that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom, and human rights, has reported Tibet as the second least free country in the world in terms of political rights and civil liberties in its Freedom in the World 2019 report. There were no free and fair elections: a group of unelected Han Chinese officials hold all the decision-making power in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR); in addition, the organisation of any political party or political activity other than the Chinese Communist Party is illegal and harshly punished. China’s economy and infrastructure development, the report says, has marginalised Tibetans from enjoying the benefits of the development that has taken place. “The economy is dominated by state-owned enterprises and private businesses with informal ties to officials. Tibetans
Photo: tibet.net
reportedly find it more difficult than ethnic Chinese residents to obtain permits and loans to open businesses,” the report says. The Tibetan language and culture have been under serious threat by the development of infrastructure and better transport facilities that have flooded Tibet with Chinese migrants, and the repressive policies of the People’s Republic of China. After the successful abolition of the presidential time limit and the elimination of his political rivals through his anti-corruption campaign, Xi Jinping has effectively shrunk political liberty and freedom of speech throughout China.
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News Features Bharat Ratna for His Holiness the Dalai Lama by Ishan Sood A recent campaign pushing for the Indian government to confer the Bharat Ratna upon His Holiness the Dalai Lama has gained momentum across the political spectrum. The Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour in India, is an award bestowed “in recognition of exceptional service/ performance of the highest order”, without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex. Shanta Kumar, a member of the Parliamentary Forum for Tibet and former Chief Minister, said in a press report that 200 members of Parliament from across the party lines had signed a memorandum demanding the Bharat Ratna be awarded to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He also said the memorandum had been submitted to Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Kumar argued that the Dalai Lama had been carrying out a peaceful struggle for the Tibetan people for more than six
decades. “His contribution has been acknowledged across the globe. He was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. The parliamentarians have made a conscious decision to demand the Bharat Ratna for him,” said the former Chief Minister. The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959, has since been staying in Mcleod Ganj in exile. His Holiness sought independence for Tibet and its meaningful autonomy under the sovereignty of China until he retired from active political life in 2011. The reins of the Tibetan government-in-exile were handed to the elected leadership. Since then, the Dalai Lama has desisted from making any political statement even on the Tibet issue. Calls for India’s government to confer the Bharat Ratna upon His Holiness the Dalai Lama date back to 2016 when the BJP MP and Shanta Kumar had demanded the Bharat Ratna for him. Later, in April 2017, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) had started a campaign in Arunachal Pradesh for awarding the Bharat Ratna to the Dalai Lama. However, the RSS later denied the launch of an official campaign.
Fake Letter Sparks Row in Canada
by Mary Trewartha In Canada, a row has broken out over a new group claiming to be a Tibet support group. The Tibetan Association of Canada held a launch event on April 20. A letter of support for the new association was circulated on social media in advance of the launch; this letter claimed to be from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Prime Minister’s office has refuted this claim: “A letter of greeting was not sent by the Prime Minister to the Tibetan Association of Canada. Our office is looking into this matter further,” said Matt Pascuzzo, press secretary for the Prime Minister’s Office, on April 23. The launch was attended by leaders of the Confederation of Toronto Chinese Canadian Organisations, which has close ties to the Toronto Chinese consulate. The Canadian National Post reported, “The new head of the Tibetan Association of Canada explained how China had improved Tibetans’ lives and bolstered their religious freedoms during ‘60 years of democratic reform.” The National Post report went on to say, “Established Tibetan organisations and activists — who consistently decry China’s actions in Tibet — charge that the new group is a front for the People’s Republic government, though they have no direct evidence of Beijing’s involvement.
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Regardless, it has already managed to attract politicians from three levels of Canadian government.” Tsering Shakya, a University of British Columbia professor and expert on Tibet, said, “The association is a threat, as it will now muddy the water for politicians and others who do not look closely at what it really represents [...] People are not able to distinguish between which is a genuine community-based organisation, and which is a foreign-government-funded organisation who’s lobbying on behalf of another government.” The Canada Tibet Committee, an established and bona fide Tibet support organisation, is calling for a criminal investigation of the new association. Executive director SherapTherchin said, “We are shocked at the extent this Chinese government-backed group went to deceive Canadians that they represent Tibetans in Canada [...] We call for a criminal investigation of this association and appropriate actions be taken.” The National Post stated, “Representatives of the organisation — also referred to on Chinese-language websites as the Tibetan Canadian Friendship Association — could not be reached for comment. The Toronto Confederation of Chinese Canadian Organisations, which helped set up the group and co-hosted a news conference for Chinese—Canadian media, also could not be reached.”
News Features Nine Tibetans Sentenced in Rebgong by Corinne Dobinson a petition. The petition, signed on February 21, 2018, and Nine Tibetans from HorGyal village have been sentenced to shown in the TCHRD article, was supported by a “reasons between three and seven years imprisonment in Rebkhong and guarantee” letter. It was signed by 24 khagovas County in the Tibetan Province of Amdo according (leaders), including the seven arrested. According to the to reports by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and letter, the village government office originally relented Democracy (TCHRD) on April 19. The TCHRD reported to repeated appeals by the government to use the land that the nine Tibetans have been to build three brick factories, convicted of creating an illegal which, it was claimed, would organisation with the intent of benefit the people as well as the taking over the two committees government. While functioning, of the village, thus serving to the factories paid taxes to the usurp grass roots political power. village government committee. The Tibetan human rights group However, the factories were said the court claimed that the closed in 2011 due to the nine Tibetans had deliberately implementation of the policy for obstructed the work of the environmental conservation and government and committed the as a result the payments ceased, crime of disrupting social order while the factory owners were by inciting public support. given substantial compensation A copy of the petition According to information for the closures. According to Photo: TCHRD sourced by the TCHRD the nine Radio Free Asia the nine arrested men were detained in July 2018 and then arrested in August. had garnered the support of the villagers, who have since In their article the TCHRD say that the arrests were made to appealed for the land to be returned to them, but no action undermine the authority and influence of traditional village has been forthcoming. The submission of the petition and leadership. The original arrests were made following a letter were an attempt to try to promote action on this long-running campaign by the villagers, which included matter.
Pah-la Premiers at Royal Court After Delays and Controversy
by Nithin Thomas Prasad Pah-la, a play about a Tibetan nun who self-immolated during the 2008 uprising in occupied Tibet, premiered at the Royal Court in London on April 3 after being cancelled last year for diplomatic reasons and amid controversy in the Tibetan community of the United Kingdom. The Royal Court cancelled the play, written by awardwinning playwright Abhishek Majumdar, in March, 2018 because it coincided with “significant political meetings” in China and could jeopardise the theatre’s ability to work there. The theatre had received a warning from a high-ranking British Council official serving as a first secretary in the British embassy in Beijing. The Tibetan community in the UK slammed the play for not auditioning Tibetans during casting and for its inaccurate portrayal of some of the issues, while still
expecting the community to help with media coverage, costumes, props, etc. In response, the theatre said they regretted causing “confusion and disappointment” to the Tibetan community and called it a “communication failure”. Representatives of the theatre and the Tibetan community in the UK met on March 20 this year to address these concerns and a positive outcome was achieved. Pah-La, meaning “father”, is based on real stories from the 2008 riots in Lhasa and is an examination of the future of non-violence, according to the Royal Court Theatre. Reviews of the play have been positive, with The London Theatre describing it as “not only a provocative piece of theatre but an impressive feat of research and the incarnation of the play’s central theme”. The Guardian said the play offered a “philosophical inquiry into the nature of non-violence and the tactics required to counter oppression”.
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News Features The EU Calls on China to Curtail Human Rights Abuses
by Shoshana Zimmerman European Parliament Resolution April 18 The European Parliament passed a resolution calling for action on the human rights issues in China. The resolution, which was passed by an overwhelming majority on April 18, addressed human rights abuses, “notably the situation of religious and ethnic minorities”, and called for specific actions, referring specifically to Tibetans and Uyghurs. Article 2 of the resolution “calls on the Chinese Government to immediately end the practice of arbitrary detentions, without charge, trial or conviction for criminal offence, of members of the Uyghur and Kazakh minority and Tibetans, to close all camps and detention centres and to release the detained persons immediately and unconditionally”. It goes on to call for the immediate release of arbitrarily detained people, prisoners of conscience and for a stop to be put to enforced disappearances, mentioning Tibetan activists, writers and religious figures, including specific detainees by name. Article 8 “calls on the Chinese authorities to uphold the linguistic, cultural, and religious and other fundamental freedoms of Tibetans”, and to stop favouring Han Chinese to the “disadvantage of Tibetans”. Also included is a call to stop forcing nomads to “abandon their lifestyle” and to end “patriotic education”, including control of education in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. Article 13 calls on EU member states “to prevent any activities undertaken by the Chinese in the EU’s territory to harass […] Tibetans”. China was called on to allow unrestricted entry to journalists, diplomats, and international observers. EU–China Human Rights Dialogue April 1–2 The 37th round of the EU–China Human Rights Dialogue took place in Brussels from April 1–2, a session for discussion on human rights related issues in China and in the EU, exploring areas for enhanced cooperation in the future. China promoted its achievements in social and economic rights, particularly in the fields of employment, poverty alleviation and social protection and looked at the outcome of its recent Universal Periodic Review and its interpretation of international laws. The EU insisted equal weight must be given to political and civil rights, and that international laws and standards must be applied. The EU also addressed the detention by China of a significant number of human rights defenders and lawyers; individuals persecuted for their religious beliefs and Tibetan writers and activists. EU–China Summit April 9 Human Rights Watch reported that in advance of the EU– China Summit scheduled to place on April 9, five human rights organisations called for European Union leaders to put pressure on the Chinese for their human rights abuses. HRW reported that the five organisations said that in the
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weeks leading up to the summit, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, and later French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker “failed to publicly reference or call for an end to growing human rights violations in China” despite “multiple opportunities” to raise concerns. Following the Summit, a joint statement was released on April 9 which stated, “The EU and China reaffirm the strength of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership [and] their resolve to work together for peace, prosperity and sustainable development.” Point 10 of the statement stated, “The EU and China reaffirm that all human rights are universal, indivisible, interdependent and interrelated […] and will continue to conduct exchanges on human rights at the bilateral and international levels on the basis of equality and mutual respect.” Apr 18: EU Resolution The European Parliament passed a resolution on the suppression of human rights in China, giving special mention to the plight of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and Christians. The resolution calls on the EU and its member states to actively raise these issues internationally, including with the Human Rights Council. It also called for a resolution to the Tibetan crisis: eight of the 22 substantive recommendations were specific to Tibet. China Retaliates to Criticisms at HRC Session Human Rights Watch said in a report dated April 1 that “China used pressure and warnings to stifle criticism of its poor human rights record throughout the United Nations Human Rights Council session that concluded on March 22, 2019, in Geneva”, and continued, “China provided no credible response to concerns raised about the government’s rights violations.” The HRW statement also detailed nine attempts by China to quash criticism or distort the facts listed in their recent Universal Period Review (UPR) at the United Nations Human Rights Council session in Geneva last month. John Fisher, Geneva Director of Human Rights Watch, said, “It speaks volumes that China felt it necessary to twist arms and mount propaganda displays to try to suppress scrutiny of its rights record […] Now it’s up to governments to take action at the June Council session and show that China is being held to international rights standards.” In advance of the session, China attempted to intimidate ambassadors in Geneva, sending a letter to delegates regarding a side event on Xinjiang. The letter, signed by Ambassador YU Jianhua, said, “In the interest of our bilateral relations and continued multilateral cooperation, I hereby kindly request your delegation, bearing in mind the political motivation behind the above-mentioned side event, not to cosponsor, participate in or be present at this side event.”
News Features Is China on a Mission to Achieve Global Internet Domination?
by Shoshana Zimmerman China is using new technology in measures which are raising concerns that China is attempting to dominate the internet worldwide. They have installed three high speed operational 5G networks in Lhasa in Tibet, are developing a worldwide free internet system and are penetrating the fibre optic seabed cable systems that carry around 95% of the world’s internet traffic. The high speed 5G system is up to 100 times faster than the 4G system that currently powers the internet. This 5G system can be used for facial recognition, spying and surveillance. Huawei, the Chinese multinational telecommunications equipment and consumer electronics manufacturer, opened an operational 5G system in February and installed facial recognition on Lhasa streets and in taxis in advance of March 10 – the day when Tibetans remember the uprising on that day in 1959 when the occupying Chinese shot and killed thousands of Tibetans. The Times of India, in an article dated March 2, says that “experts believe the 5G system can be used for military purposes” – especially for weapons deployment and monitoring mountainous borders between India and Tibet. The Chinese maintain their purpose is simply to enhance communication for the local population, one local government official asserting that 5G technology can “help farmers enjoy modern, advanced communication systems”. However, the Times of India article goes on to point out that, “The low level of economic development in the Tibetan Autonomous Region may not require the world’s most sophisticated communication technology.” In December 2018 China announced plans for Linksure, their new service which will provide internet access worldwide for free by 2026 via 272 satellites. On April 16 the Times of India reported that the first satellite was successfully launched; ten more are scheduled to go into orbit by 2020 enabling people with smartphones in remote areas to have internet access for free. According to Wikipedia, 56.1% of the world’s population has internet access; in the developed world this figure is 81%. Linksure will provide free internet access worldwide and could enable China to become the dominant provider worldwide unless the major internet giants offer the same. The authoritarian approach China has used in Tibet to control internet content, distribute fake news and expand surveillance and espionage could thus be applied internationally, especially in developing countries. The 2018 Freedom House Report stated, “A confident Chinese President Xi Jinping proclaimed China is ‘blazing a new
trail’ for developing countries to follow. It is a path that includes […] intolerance for dissent.” The report said that China, under new laws, is increasing censorship and surveillance while restricting online and mobile communication. An example of how China works can be found in the article published in the Chinese Global Times, quoting Chinese state media Xinhuanet, on April 17, saying, “China’s Internet regulators have launched a special campaign to clean up instant messaging tools that are involved in spreading illegal information, fraud, and other malpractices. Authorities have closed the first batch of nine instant messaging tools…” The article continues, saying, “Some of them have severely threatened public security and undermined the legitimate rights and interests of Internet users.” It added that “the administration also encourages tip-offs on malpractices of instant messaging tools”. China is also making inroads into the internet fibre optic global networks. Fibre cable systems on the ocean seabed carry about 95% of the world’s internet traffic. Now Huawei is seeking to embed itself into this system and is working on about 90 cable network projects. There are about 380 active submarine cables and Huawei has extensive knowledge of, and access to them. Western countries, particularly the United States, are concerned about the vulnerability of submarine cables to surveillance, espionage or attack. By law Huawei is required to assist Chinese intelligence operations. Should Huawei attach devices that could monitor or divert network traffic, or cut or destroy cables, it would have worldwide impact, as reported by the Business Standard on March 13, “Britain’s national security advisor, Mark Sedwill, told a parliamentary hearing in 2017 that attacks on undersea cables could have “the same effect as used to be achieved in, say, World War II by bombing the London docks or taking out a power station”. In the United Kingdom, the BBC reports that the “government has approved the supply of equipment by Chinese telecoms firm Huawei for the UK’s new 5G data network despite warnings of a security risk”. The report goes on to say that the United States “wants its allies in the ‘Five Eyes’ intelligence grouping – the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – to exclude the company”, citing “serious concerns over Huawei’s obligations to the Chinese government and the danger that poses to the integrity of telecommunications networks in the US and elsewhere”. Australia has said it is siding with Washington.
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Tibetan Headlines Apr 30: Military Buildup The Tibetan Review has reported a steady and ongoing increase in China’s military capacity in Tibet and along the border with India. Airfields are being upgraded for military use and the H-6, one of China’s most deadly aircraft, is now deployed in the Tibet Autonomous Region, with that airfield now under full military control. There are also reports of a secret guided missile unit near the border with Arunachal Pradesh. Apr 26: His Holiness Meets Young Tibetans His Holiness the Dalai Lama met a group of young Tibetans at the Tibetan Youth Hostel in Delhi before returning to Dharamshala after his short spell of ill health. Students and other Tibetans from all over Delhi gathered to get his blessing and to hear him speak. He encouraged them to become proficient in the Tibetan language, saying that logic and philosophical views can be best explained and understood in Tibetan. Apr 23: “Totally Fine” His Holiness the Dalai Lama has shifted to his residential apartment in the Tibetan Youth Hostel in North-West Delhi’s Rohin district. He had been staying in a hotel to rest after being discharged from hospital last week. His Holiness told the Tibetans at the hostel not to worry about him. “Look at my face, do you find anything wrong? I am totally fine now. You do not need to worry,” he said. Apr 22: Good News from USA Congressman Jim McGovern and Senator Marco Rubio have been appointed Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)– news which has been welcomed by the Tibetan community as Mr McGovern is a long time friend of the Tibetan cause and the instigator of the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act which was recently made into law. The Commission monitors China’s compliance with international human rights standards. Apr 20: Larung Gar Closes Doors The Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, once the largest Buddhist learning centre in the world but now much reduced by China, has closed its doors to new residents and students. A government order
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has decreed that no further enrollments will be permitted, reports Radio Free Asia. RFA also reports that walls have been erected around much of the Academy preventing access for outsiders. Apr 18: News Bureau Launched The new Tibet News Bureau has been launched by the Central Tibetan Administration’s Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR). DIIR is the CTA’s communication channel with international media and Tibet support groups globally; the new bureau will build on the existing tibet.net website and TibetTV. The bureau was part funded by the government of South Tyrol and the Office of Tibet Japan and Taiwan. Apr 14: Dr Yeshi Retires Dr Yeshi Dhonden, the former personal physician to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and recipient of the Padma Shri award, has retired aged 92. He fled Tibet in 1959 and became one of the founding members of Men-Tse-Khang, the Tibetan Medical Institute, in Dharamshala. He was renowned for his treatment of cancer, practicing the Tibetan medicine Sowa-Rigpa, one of the oldest living and well documented medical traditions of the world. Apr 13: Tibetan Vice Chair Tenzin Dargyal Khangsar has been elected as Vice Chair of the Asia Pacific Democrat Union (APDU) – the first Tibetan to represent in the Union. He is committed to advance and advocate on Human Rights for Tibetans inside Tibet. He has a long and distinguished international career in government, banking and the media. The APDU is an international association of centre-right parties close to the International Democratic Union. Apr 12: New Houses 80 new houses for Tibetan refugees in India have been declared ready for occupancy at the Lugsung Samdupling (LugSam) Tibetan settlement in Bylakuppe, Karnataka. A ceremony to consecrate the houses was performed by monks from Tashi Lhunpo monastery. LugSam was the first settlement established in India in 1960, it is one of the biggest Tibetan settlements in India with a population of 4,900.
Tibetan Headlines Apr 12: His Holiness Well His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been discharged from hospital in Delhi where he was staying while undergoing treatment for a minor chest infection. He has been pronounced well and has moved to a hotel in Delhi where he will stay and rest for a few days. His Holiness says that he feels “almost normal” and thanked well-wishers around the world. Apr 10: Sera Monks’ Directive Monks at Sera Monastery in Lhasa, Tibet, have been ordered to “stand against separatism” and strictly follow Chinese laws. Lhakpa Tsering, a Tibetan official working for the Chinese administration in Tibet, announced the new directive at a press conference. Monks have been told to “repay China’s generosity” in Tibet with loyalty to Beijing and to “watch their behaviour online”, especially on social media platforms WeChat and Weibo. 20 prohibitions included avoiding use of networking to organise, participate or incite the subversion of the country. Apr 9: Swine Fever in Tibet The first ever case of African swine fever has been reported in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs confirmed the outbreak and said that the disease was found in two counties and one district in TAR, including the city of Linzhi near the border with India. African swine fever is believed to infect only pigs; no humans or other species have been infected so far. Apr 8: A State Secret Lodoe Gyatso, 57 has been sentenced to 18 years in prison, becoming the longest serving Tibetan political prisoner. When asked about his recent sentencing, VOA has been reportedly told by an official at the Intermediate People’s Court in Nagchu prefecture that it is “a state secret”. Gyatso was arrested after his solo protest in Lhasa on January 28, 2018. He was formerly arrested in 1991 and spent 21 years in prison. Apr 4: Book Launch Former political prisoner Ven Bagdro has launched his 15th book, Bodh Bodhyul dhu Kyi, Gya Gyayul dhu Kyi, which, he said, was motivated by
an incident which happened during a talk he gave in the United States in 1997 when around 40 Chinese students interrupted him, saying that Tibet was a part of China. He promised to write a book to prove Tibet’s independence. Apr 4: Brief for UN The Foreign Correspondents Club of China has released a brief to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on state surveillance of journalists in China summarising the “rapidly expanding surveillance in China and government interference with reporting”, with particular reference to the restrictions in place in Tibet and East Turkestan, or Xinjiang. The UN Special Rapporteur is expected to report to the General Assembly in October 2019. Apr 3: New Initiative The Youth Employment for Tibetans Initiative has been launched by Tibet Innovations in collaboration with the Central Tibetan Administration’s Tibetan Entrepreneurship Development and Tibet House Trust, London. The new major initiative is a business contest aimed at finding a Tibetan entrepreneur with the vision and skills to create a sustainable business employing young Tibetans in an Indian settlement. Apr 2: New Power Station Construction has started on a major new 2.24-GW hydropower station on the Yangtze River in the Tibet Autonomous Region, reports Chinese state media Xinhua, saying that the station will significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions and that more than 1.5 billion yuan (US$223/ £173 million) will be invested in environmental protection projects. 240 km of new access roads have already been constructed. 13 hydropower stations are planned for the region. . Apr 1: Support from America The American Indian Foundation (AIF), a nonprofit organisation working to accelerate social and economic change in India, has pledged support by funding two of their fellows to work with the Central Tibetan Administration’s Social and Resource Development Fund (SARD) for ten months from September this year. The New York-based AIF was co-founded by former US President Bill Clinton. The fellows will be young American or Indian citizens.
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International Headlines Apr 28: Hong Kong Protests Thousands of people took to the streets of Hong Kong to protest against a proposed new law that would allow people to be sent to mainland China for trial. Officials want the change to enable them to extradite a murder suspect to Taiwan but demonstrators fear that Beijing is aiming to increase its power in Hong Kong. Police estimated the crowd at 22,000, organisers say 130,000 were there.
Cathedral in Paris. The 12th Century building is famous for its stained glass, flying buttresses and carved gargoyles; thousands of people gathered in the streets around the Cathedral, weeping, standing in silence or singing hymns, watching it burn. It is seen as a symbol of Paris, and of France. Apr 14: Plane Crash A plane crash at Lukla Airport in Nepal has left three dead and three more injured. The airport lies at an altitude of 2,845m (9,333ft) and is the main gateway to the Everest region. It is regarded as one of the world’s most dangerous airports and Nepal has a poor flight safely record generally: no Nepalese airlines are allowed to fly in European Union airspace.
Apr 24: Miracle Recovery Munira Abdulla, a woman from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has woken after being in a coma for 27 years. She regained consciousness in a German hospital where she has been receiving treatment – she had previously been treated in London and back in UAE before being transferred to Germany. Apr 12: Black Hole She was seriously injured in a traffic accident The first-ever image of a black hole in space in 1991, aged 32, and suffered a brain injury was released yesterday. It shows a halo of dust and gas 500 million trillion km from Earth. Apr 23: Earthquake hit Philippines The discovery has sparked interest in Katie A 6.1 magnitude earthquake has struck Bodega Bouman, the 29-year-old female computer in the Philippines killing at least 11 people and scientist from Massachusetts Institute of causing the collapse of buildings. CNN reports Technology who led the team who developed that about 52 aftershocks were recorded. The the algorithm that created the image. She had earthquake was felt in the capital of Manila as worked on the programme since she was a well and many flights were rescheduled as a graduate student three years ago. pre-emptive measure. The Philippines is in the world’s most active earthquake zone. Apr 11: Snub for Confucius Bronwen Bonney and Parker Coates, a Apr 22: Bombs in Sri Lanka Canadian couple, have removed their daughter Bomb blasts in Sri Lanka have left over 290 from the Confucius Institute programme people dead and the country in lockdown. at Fredericton school in New Brunswick, Easter church services and luxury hotels were reports the Epoch Times, saying they called targeted in the bombings which left about 500 the CI programme “inherently propoganda”. injured in addition to the dead. At least 35 CIs are Chinese Communist Party funded foreigners are the among the dead. 24 people institutes associated with schools and colleges have been arrested but no motive has emerged. claiming to provide cultural education. They are coming under increasing scrutiny and Apr 19: Robot News Presenter criticism as agents of Chinese propaganda. A robot is now presenting some news bulletins on Russia’s Rossiya 24 channel. The anchor Apr 10: Wolves Return robot, Alex, is reported to be regarded as a Wolves are reported to have been seen in temporary stunt to inject some fun and promote the De Hoge Veluwe park in the east of the innovative Russian technology in TV news. Netherlands; the first since the 19th Century. The channel said on its website: “It is for TV The wolf population in the country has been viewers to decide how he performed. Could growing since a wolf arrived in 2015 from robots replace journalists?” Eastern Europe via Germany. A “Wolf Plan”, with designated habitats, has been established Apr 18: Afraid to Go Home to protect the animals. It is believed they could Sadaf Khadem, the first Iranian female boxer, help the ecological balance. has refused to return home after contesting an amateur boxing match in France. A warrant has Apr 9: Umbrella Movement been issued for her arrest in her home country; A Hong Kong court found the nine proKhadem said she believed she has violated democractic activists who started the Umbrella Iran’s compulsory dress code by boxing in a Movement in 2014 guilty on a charge of vest and shorts. She wore green, red and white causing a public nuisance. The movement – the colours of Iran’s national flag. demanded the right to choose their own leader instead of accepting a candidate picked by Apr 16: Notre Dame Ablaze Beijing. The activists could be jailed for up Fire has partially destroyed Notre-Dame to seven years for their part in the movement.
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Thousands of people demonstrated in 2014 and used umbrellas to shield themselves from tear gas. Apr 8: First Protest Hundreds of Cubans have held a demonstration against animal cruelty which is reportedly the first independent protest allowed in the country. The activists walked with their pets and chanted slogans calling for an animal protection law. The demonstrators ended the march near the tomb of an American woman who is seen as the founder of animal rights in Cuba. The government of Cuba until now has allowed only government-sanctioned marches. Apr 5: Four-legged Whale The fossil of a four-legged, web-footed and hoofed whale living 43 million years ago has been found near the Pacific coast of Peru. Palaeontologists believe the four-metre-long whale could walk on land as well as swim in the sea. They have named it Peregocetus pacificus, meaning “the travelling whale that reached the Pacific”, saying its discovery could shed light on the evolution of the whale. Apr 4: Myanmar Denies Atrocities The United Nations has announced the appointment of international criminal justice lawyer Nicholas Koumjian to head the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar which will scrutinise evidence that Myanmar has perpetrated crimes against humanity over the last eight years. Myanmar’s government and military, however, deny the atrocities and Myo Nyunt of the ruling National League for Democracy said the political party disapproves of the new UN investigative mechanism. Apr 3: Gay Sex Law People engaging in gay sex will risk being stoned to death under a new Islamic law being introduced in Brunei. The new laws cover a range of crimes including punishment for theft by amputation. Brunei is a tiny country on the island of Borneo and is ruled by superrich 72 –year – old Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Muslims make up about two-thirds of the country’s population of 420,000. Apr 1: Japan’s New Era Japan’s emperor Akihito, 85, is to abdicate this month – a move which will launch a new imperial era, Reiwa, which signifies order and harmony. Each Japanese emperor’s reign, or “gengo”, is given a name which sets the tone for the upcoming decades. Akihito is the first Japanese emperor to abdicate for more than two centuries, he hands over to his son Crown Prince Naruhito.
People Story From Amdo to Winsconsin
by Tsering Lhamo I was born in a small village in Amdo in eastern Tibet. When I was four, my mother passed away, leaving nine children behind for my father to nurture on his own. At the age of eleven, I went to India, walking on foot through the Himalayas with other Tibetan refugees for 28 days. The journey was cold and perilous. In some ways this journey made me stronger and increased my tolerance for hardship. It has made me believe that a bright future is attainable if I work hard. I still vividly remember arriving in Nepal with swollen feet but with great inner strength and hope. As I grew up in the Tibetan exile community in Dharamshala, I always dreamed of becoming a nurse – this was connected to my family’s experience of my mother’s time in hospital – the doctors and nurses there were exceptional and my family’s gratitude and respect for the medical profession has influenced me a great deal in my choice of career. In India Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) school was my home away from home, and gave me food, clothes, education and lifetime friends who I will cherish for the rest of my life. TCV prepared me well both academically and personally – most importantly for the easy-going personality that I gained from the TCV community which helps me to find lots of friends wherever I go. My family was so proud when I told them of my decision to choose nursing as my career in America, where I arrived in 2006. I am the only one of nine siblings who has had the opportunity to go to school and receive a college education and this has always motivated me to do well and strive to succeed. I began my career working full time as a nursing assistant at the State of Wisconsin Care Centre while going to college as a pre-nursing student. At the Centre, I took care of people with mental illnesses and aggressive behaviour, and some with extreme difficulties in communicating.
I have learned how important it is for an individual to have effective communication skills in the healthcare profession. In the fall of 2011 my dream of becoming a nurse finally came true. I became a full-time student in the very complex and diverse American society. I graduated in May 2013 and now work as a primary nurse in Madison Hospital. However, nursing as a profession in America is always changing and I want to implement change on a larger, more critical scale in the healthcare system. I am now studying for my doctorate alongside my job, determined to gain the best education I can. Tibetans have a unique and diverse cultural background. Using myself as an example, I was born in Tibet, grew up in India, and now live in the United States. I am now very independent and friendly with all kinds of people and this makes me believe that what lies before us are tiny matters compared with what lies within us. I left everything behind – my country, my family, and friends when I was only eleven years old. I survived the journey through the Himalayas with the help of others and my strength of believing in myself to complete the journey. From this hardship, I have learned the importance of teamwork and realised that individual success would not happen without people helping each other. My daughter was born in July 2015. She is the best thing that has happened in our lives and because of the full-hearted support of my husband and great helping hands from others I can consider myself as a successful Tibetan – American citizen with a full-time professional job as a nurse, a beautiful daughter to raise and a small happy family living far away from our homeland of Tibet. Living in America as an immigrant is not easy, but I have great support from friends and family. Although I have lived in a foreign country for the last 11 years, I keep my identity as a Tibetan and always introduce myself as Tibetan – American. I live the life of a Tibetan inside my house and live an American–style life at work.
Every month we feature somebody from the Tibetan community on our Dharamshala Voices page as well as the occasional profile of one of the many NGOs in Dharamshala who do so much to help the Tibetan Community You can read more Dharamshala Voices stories on the Contact website: http://www.contactmagazine.net/dharamasla-life/
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NGO Profile Preserving and Promoting Tibetan Medicine and Astro-science by Lodoe Gyatso Tashi Tsering Phuri is the Director of Men-Tsee-Khang, the institution whose primary objective is to preserve, promote and revive the traditional system of Tibetan medicine (Sowa Rigpa) and Astro-science. He explains that Men-Tsee-Khang was originally established in Tibet in 1916 by the thirteenth Dalai Lama. Today there are 55 branch clinics throughout India, based at their headquarters in Dharamshala. Following the Chinese invasion of Tibet and the succeeding attempts by Chinese authorities to suppress Tibetan medicine, His Holiness the Dalai Lama reestablished Men-Tsee-Khang in Dharamshala in 1961. It started with one doctor and two students, but His Holiness made a prophecy that within 40 to 50 years Tibetan medicine would be a major force. This prophecy has come to pass and it is now a significant organisation employing 160 doctors and 24 astro-science practitioners alone. The Indian government has recognised Tibetan medicine since 2010 and a growing proportion of product sales is to foreign countries. China has changed its stance about Tibetan medicine and now actively promotes it, vying with India for the title of “origin of Tibetan medicine”. This is an exciting time for Men-Tsee-Kang. The college is moving to Bangalore. Building of the new facility is almost complete and classes are due to start there in April. The annual intake of doctor students is 40–48 and the corresponding astro-science intake is 24. A new five-year course, the Men-Pa Duer-Wa degree for non-Tibetans, is being offered in Dharamshala. It covers Tibetan language, Buddhist Science, medicine and astro-science. His Holiness the Dalai Lama gives strong direction to Men-Tsee-Khang. In 2016 he personally directed Tashi Tsering Phuri to go out more and since then outreaches have been held throughout the world including the United States, Europe and Russia. The Dalai Lama’s emphasis on prevention being better than cure is addressed in 17 booklets on preventative medicine. They were written in Tibetan and are being translated into English. Hindi translations are planned. Tashi Tsering Phuri describes the different departments in Men-Tsee-Khang. He describes the College as being like the army that is the practice of Tibetan medicine. The ammunition consists of the medicines provided by the pharmacies. The Astro-science Department produces various publications such as the annual calendar and astrological readings. They also provide the Astro-science of Natal Horoscope, Astro-science of Marital Compatibility, Astro-science of Obstacle Year, Astro-science of Illhealth, Astro-science of Death and various other minor
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astrological readings. The Body, Mind and Life (BML) Department aims to promote mental health issues. An important annual event is the annual BML conference where speakers of different backgrounds such as western medical science, Ayurveda and Tibetan medicine discuss mental health topic. This year’s topic is Nurturing a child’s mental health and the conference will be held in November of this year. Materia Medica is concerned with the publication of works surrounding the herbs used in Tibetan medicine. It also directs the quality control of herbs used. Herbal Product Research produces natural herbs for a variety of conditions such as headaches, respiratory problems and anaemia. The Documents and Publications Department publishes a variety of books, including those by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. A great source of pride for Men-Tsee-Khang is their partnerships with the American universities of Madison and Emory. Tashi Tsering Phuri waxes lyrical about their co-operation. An example of this is that the head of Emory taught at Men-Tsee-Khang and went back to the USA with a very positive view of the Institute. Men-Tsee-Khang sends six students to Emory each year. Last year this was not possible because the students’ visas were denied, but they are full of hope that the next group will be able to go. A major development is the establishment of a pharmacy in South India which is expected to become bigger than the existing ones in Dharamshala and Delhi. The Director notes that 80% of the customers of the branches in cities are Indian, with the remaining 20% being split between foreigners and Tibetans. He proudly notes that the male:female staff gender ratio is 55:45, and hopes that gender parity will be achieved soon. There are some challenges for Tashi Tsering Phuri. Firstly, there is a shortage of herbs to meet the growing demand. Some herbs are cultivated, but many must be collected in the wild. Bhutan has come forward as a source during the past two years and the supply is expanding. The second problem is that impostors pass themselves off as experts in Tibetan medicine selling fake remedies. This is something that they are constantly working on. The expanding product sales to foreign countries has led to a third problem, namely that sometimes the goods fall afoul of customs. When this happens, the goods sometimes are confiscated or are not forwarded or returned. Tashi Tsering Phuri has been director of the organisation twice, first from 1994 to 1998, and then for the last eight years. He has a finance background and comes across as a man who values hard work and careful organisation. Men-Tsee-Khang certainly appears to be thriving under his leadership.
Volunteer Story & Lha News Lha could not provide the services we do without the support of our wonderful volunteers who help in so many ways and inspire us with their enthusiasm. Every month we ask a volunteer to share their story. This month, Martina von der Brüggen shares her story with us.
Volunteer job at Lha: English Conversation Teacher
My Biggest Dream
Travelling to Asia was one of my biggest dreams for many, many years. Just for a laugh I used to say to my family, “I´m sure that I must have been a rice farmer in a former life because I like it so much!” when we had rice for lunch or dinner. There was a sea change in my life pretty well exactly two years ago. By thinking “now or never” I jumped at the opportunity and went to Kathmandu for four weeks to work at a leprosy hospital (I am an alternative practitioner). In retrospect I have to say that it was the best decision in my life because it opened so many unknown doors. I met a young woman in Kathmandu who had just returned from India. She talked about her experience at Lha and I knew at once that I wanted to go there too. At the beginning of this year I applied to Lha for volunteer work and about eight weeks later I was on the plane to Delhi full of happy anticipations and nervousness at the same time. Thankfully Lha offers a reception and orientation
service for Indian newbies like me and I was clever enough to sign up for it. My plane arrived at Delhi airport in the middle of the night. But with the instructions I received by email some weeks before I left Germany everything was easy-peasy – and I never felt lost. Tsering picked me up at the agreed meeting point at the airport and brought me to a hotel in MajnuKa Tilla for a nap. Later he did some sightseeing with me which I really enjoyed and in the evening he brought me to my bus to McLeod Ganj. As stupid as it may sound, coming to McLeod Ganj was like coming home. The staff at Lha took care of me and I didn´t feel alone one single moment. They put me in contact with people looking for German tutoring, which I gave two times a day for the entire time of my stay. In addition it was a pleasure for me to join the English conversation class every afternoon. Because most of my students were male and I was interested in exploring the life of Tibetan women I applied for homestay with a young Tibetan family – a mother with her two small children. I got the OK and lived with this family for the entire rest of my time in McLeod Ganj. We had a great time together – went hiking and shopping, did Koras, visited a Puja and enjoyed the intercultural exchange. Before I left I felt like I was already missing all my new friends, my guest family and the Lha staff and decided to return to Dharamshala as soon as possible – next year at the latest.
Keeping Dharamshala Clean This month, Lha Charitable Trust joined Clean Upper Dharamshala to clear out an illegal dump site in the forest area below Jogiwara road near Gu Chu Sum. Over 100 sacks of garbage were collected from the area. Lha organises a monthly cleanup
drives to keep Dharamshala clean and green. These cleanup programmes are made possible with active participation from Lha’s students, volunteers and staff. We welcome anyone to join us on these monthly cleanups.
Contact magazine is published by Lha Charitable Trust
Lha Charitable Trust is an award-winning, grassroots, non-profit organisation and one of the largest Tibetan social work institutes based in Dharamshala, India. Lha has been striving to provide vital resources for Tibetan refugees, local Indian communities, and people from the Himalayan regions for over 20 years. For more information, please visit www.lhasocialwork.org Contact magazine online www.contactmagazine.net Facebook: Contact News / Twitter: Contact News
Contact magazine | April 2019 | Page No 17
Charities And Organisations Central Tibetan Administration
Tibetan Library (LTWA)
TCHRD
The CTA serves in Dharamshala as the government in exile of Tibet. It is democratic with judiciary, legislative, and executive branches. Within the Executive branch there is the Kashag, consisting of the departments of Religion and Culture, Home, Education, Finance, Security, Information and International Relations and Health, and Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay. Location: Near Library Phone: 01892-222218 Hours: Mon-Sat: 9:00 am-5:00 pm Email: kashag@tibet.net Web: www.tibet.net
The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives has the purpose to restore, protect, preserve, and promote Tibetan culture in all its aspects. They offer courses in Tibetan and Hindi language and Buddhist philosophy and can provide affordable accommodation for those enrolled in two or more courses. Location: Gangchen Kyishong Phone: 9882255047 Email: ltwa1970@gmail.com Web: www.tibetanlibrary.org
Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democrac (TCHRD) advocates for human rights and provides education on the human rights situation in Tibet. The centre publishes journals and articles, as well as conducting workshops and campaigns. Location: CTA, Dharamshala - 176215 Phone: 01892-223363 Email: office@tchrd.org Web: www.tchrd.org
Delek Hospital
Lha Charitable Trust
Delek Hospital is a small, Tibetan run hospital in Dharamshala. It has 45 inpatient beds, holds outpatient hours from 9am to 12pm Monday through Friday, and can handle most small procedures. Patients are responsible for a 10 Rupees registration fee. The hospital has a pharmacy on site. Location: Kharadanda Rd, Dharamshala; Delek Clinic, Bhagsu Rd, Dharamshala Hours: Outpatient, Mon-Fri: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm; Specialist clinics, Mon-Sat: 2:00 pm-4:30 pm; Emergencies, 24 hours daily Phone: 01892-222053 / 223381 Email: delek@bsnl.in, hospitaldelek@yahoo.com Web: www.delekhospital.org
Lha, a Tibetan grassroots NGO based in Dharamshala, is one of the largest social work organisations providing vital resources for Tibetan refugees, the local Indian population, and people from the Himalayan regions. Lha offers free English, French and Chinese classes, cultural exchange programs, IT classes, vocational training, health and environmental awareness education, distribution of clothes and medicine, a community kitchen, and many other programs and activities. (see back page) Location: Temple Road, McLeod Ganj, Opposite State Bank of India Phone: 01892-220992, 988-2323-455 Email: office@lhasocialwork.org Web:www.lhasocialwork.org
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama The Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama (OHHDL) is the personal office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The office organises his schedule, including appointments and travel plans, diplomatic and personal correspondence, and liaises with officials of the Central Tibetan Administration. Location: McLeod Ganj, Phone: 01892-221343 / 221210 Email: ohhdl@dalailama.com Web: www.dalailama.com
Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) The TYC is an advocacy and political action organisation with chapters around the world. The TYC organises cultural exhibitions, educational campaigns and social welfare activities. Location: Tipa Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala -176219 Phone: 01892-221554 Email: president@tibetanyouthcongress.org, tyc@tibetanyouthcongress.org Web: www. tibetanyouthcongress.org
Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) The TWA conducts workshops on gender sensitisation and domestic violence throughout Tibetan settlements in India, provides Tibetan women with education scholarships and connects women with international sponsors. Location: Bhagsu Road, McLeod Ganj Phone: 01892-221527 Email: tibwomen@gmail.com Web: www. tibetanwomen.org
Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) TCV provides care to Tibetan children by creating a nurturing environment and fostering Tibetan values and culture while delivering a modern education. There is an Upper and Lower residential school in Dharamshala and day school in McLeod Ganj, with other branches throughout India. Location: Dharamshala Cantt.176216 Phone: 01892-221354 / 221348 Email: headoffice@tcv.org.in Web: www.tcv.org.in
Tibetan Medical & Astro Institute Men-Tsee-Khang, also called Tibetan Medical & Astro Institute, is a facility for research, training and practice of traditional Tibetan medicine. Patients may seek treatment at Men-Tsee-Khang for both acute and chronic conditions. The facility provides extensive training and produces traditional pharmaceuticals. Location: Gangchen Kyishong, Phone: 01892-223222 / 223113 Email: info@men-tsee-khang.org Web: www.men-tsee-khang.org
Sambhota Tibetan Schools Society The society was established in 1999 to provide educational and administrative guidance to all Tibetan schools in remote areas of India and Bhutan that do not fall under the guidance of Tibetan Childrens Village. Today there are 65 schools under this organisation after the take over of CTSA Schools. Location: Khanyara Rd, Dharamshala176215 Phone: 01892 - 246422 / 246423 Email: stss1999@gmail.com Web: www.sambhota.org
Tong-Len Charitable Trust Tong-Len’s mission is to help displaced communities in North India achieve a secure and sustainable future. Tong-Len projects include educational and health programmes, childhood education and sponsorship, primary and nursery tent schools, and children’s support hostels. Volunteer opportunities available. Location: Top Floor, Bank Of Baroda, Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamshala-176215 Phone: 01892-223930 Email: jamyang@tong-len.org Web: www. tong-len.org
Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) SFT is an international NGO that promotes the Tibetan cause among the non-Tibetan community. The organisation attempts to build international solidarity by advocating for a free Tibet through chapter organisations at Universities around the world. Location: Jogiwara Road, McLeod Ganj Phone: 9882786875 Web: www.sftindia.org, Web: www.studentsforafreetibet.org
Tibet Charity Tibet Charity provides programmes including English and computer classes, an animal care programme and a variety of medical and educational financial support programmes. Location: Temple Road, McLeod Ganj Phone: 01892-221790 / 221877 Email: director@tibetcharity.in Web: www.tibetcharity.in
Contact magazine | April 2019 | Page No 18
The Kangra District Red Cross Society The Kangra District Red Cross Society renders its humanitarian services, projects and activities with the help and the co-operation of people at all levels of society by donation. Location: Red Cross Bhawan, Dharamshala Phone: 01892-224888 / 9418832244 Email: sharmaopl12345@gmail.com Web: www.redcrosskangra.org
Gu-Chu-Sum Gu-Chu-Sum Movement Association of Tibet is an organisation of former political prisoners of Tibet and former activists currently in exile that engages in their complete assistance including medical, financial, basic education and vocational training. It also organises lobbies and advocacies about human rights abuses in Tibet. Web: www.guchusum.org Location: Jogibara Road, McLeod Ganj, Phone: 01892-220680 / 220679 Email: guchusum1991@gmail.com
Tibet World Tibet World is a charitable trust (Reg No 136/2015) “Where Tibet meets the world & the world meets Tibet”. Education programmes: international language courses, training, workshops and a winter programme for schoolchildren. Cultural programmes: folk show, talks, sharing stories, monk chat, compassion + wisdom = happiness workshops, cultural tours, engaging volunteering options, cultural exchange and collaboration programmes. Location: Jogiwara Road near Post Office, McLeod Ganj Phone: 9816999928/8353005268 Email: info@tibetworld.org
Charities And Organisations Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA)
Clean Upper Dharamshala Project
National Democratic Party of Tibet
Established in 1959, under the vision of HH the Dalai Lama, TIPA strives to preserve and promote Tibetan theatrical tradition. The Insitute imparts comprehensive training and lessons on Tibetan folk dance, folk song, traditional instruments and tradition of Tibetan opera.TIPA also hosts a beautiful theatrical museum which remains open during working days. We organise a special group tour of our campus every Wednesday (10 am). Location: TIPA Road, McLeod Ganj Dharamshala-176219 Phone: 01892-221478 Email: tibetanarts2012@gmail.com Web: www.tibetanarts.org
Founded in 1994 to provide a waste management system in and around McLeod Ganj, the Green Workers, the Handmade Recycled Paper Factory, the Green Shop and the Environmental Education Centre are part of the Clean Upper Dharamshala Project. Weekly guided tours are offered on Wednesdays at 3 pm. Location: Bhagsu Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala - 176219 Phone: 01892-221059 Email: cudpswm@gmail.com Web: www.tsodhasa.org
The NDPT is currently the only Tibetan political party. With 5000 members in 36 regional chapters throughout the world, the main aim and objectives of the NDPT are to prepare for the establishment of a political party in a future Tibet, to promote democracy, to educate the Tibetan people about the significance of political parties and to create awareness among the people about Tibetan issues. Location: Dharamshala–176219 Phone: 9882787633 / 9882673330 Email: tibetparty4@gmail.com Web: www.ndp4tibet.org
Nyingtob Ling (Realm of Courage)
Norbulingka Institue
Nyingtob Ling supports Tibetan children from disadvantaged families. The children make handicrafts and paintings. They are so friendly and love to have visitors. Location: Near Norbulingka, Sidhpur Phone: 01892 211042 / 9816028149 Email: nyingtob_ling@hotmail.com Web: www.nyingtobling.org
Norbulingka Institue is a centre for Tibetan culture with studios and artists at work. The institution is dedicated to the preservation of the Tibetan culture in its literary and artistic forms. Guided tours are available. You can visit temple, workshops, garden and the showroom of Tibetan arts and crafts. You can take a free tour of the studios and observe artists at work. The tour guides will explain each art form in depth. There is a restaurant on site. (See back cover inside) Location: Sidhpur, Dharamshala Phone: 9882144210 Email: info@norbulingka.org Web: www.norbulingka.org
Learning and Ideas for Tibet (LIT) Learning and Ideas for Tibet (LIT) is a nongovernment, non-profit adult education centre in Dharamshala. LIT provides Free Education, Health Care and Skills Training to Tibetan Refugees to help eradicate poverty and illiteracy amongst the Tibetan population. Location: Underground Hotel Akash, Jogiwara Road, Mcleodd Ganj, Dharamsala 176219 Phone: (+91) 7590025915 Email: learningandideasfortibet@gmail.com Web: www.lit-dharamsala.org
Tibetan Centre for Conflict Resolution Tibetan Centre for Conflict Resolution is a non-profit, educational organisation dedicated to the non-violent management of conflicts in the Tibetan Community and the world as a whole. They work to promote the approaches and tools of non-violent conflict resolution and democratic processes in the Tibetan community in exile and elsewhere. Location: Session Road, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala 176215 Phone: 01892-226627 Email: tccrteam@gmail.com Web: www.tccr.org
Rogpa Baby Care Centre The Rogpa Baby Care Centre helps low-income Tibetan families to become self-sufficient by providing free child care for infants so that their parents can work. The centre needs volunteers to help with art, games, singing and other tasks including diaper changing. Location: Jogiwara Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala- 176219 Phone: 9857973026 Email: rogpa2004@yahoo.com Web: www.tibetrogpa.org
Gamru Village School Gamru Village School is a successful NGO that provides free high-quality education to any children who encounter serious barriers to education and who have a low standard of living. Location: Village Gamru, P.O Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamshala, Distt Kangra 176215 Phone: 9816105554 Email: tashu72004@yahoo.com Web: www.gamruschool.com
Women’s Team Volunteers needed to teach English to Indian women and children in the village of Kaniyara near Dharamshala. Contact Jitender. Email: jitenderje@gmail.com Phone: 7831956680 / 08894435595
The Active Nonviolence Education Centre ANEC facilitates trainings, workshops and open forum discussions on nonviolent strategies to help resolve disagreements and differences at all levels of human society. ANEC welcomes volunteers from western countries to participate in informal panel discussions on ideas of regional and global peace and nonviolent strategies. Free lunch and tea and many more benefits for volunteers. Location: No. 262, 1st floor, Khajanchi -Mohalla, Khunyara Rd, Lower Dharamshala Phone: 9882077708 / 9882921477 Email: wangduemiddleway@gmail.com Website: www.anec-india.net
Tibetan Dubbing Society Tibetan Dubbing Society, founded in 2015, is a non-profit organisation working towards preserving the Tibetan language through various forms of entertainment and dubbing animation movies into the Tibetan language for Tibetan children. Location: Near Norbulinga Institute Phone: +91-8629837735 Email: savetiblang@gmail.com Web: www.tibetdub.org
BUS SCHEDULE * Times and prices may vary. Please check with the bus stand ahead of departure. Leaving from the McLeod Ganj bus stand, unless otherwise stated: DELHI: Ordinary Bus: 4:00am (Rs 554), 6pm (Rs 580), 7:30 pm (Rs 570) Semi Deluxe Bus: 5pm (Rs 590) , 6:30pm (Rs 590) Full Deluxe Bus: (Rs683) AC Volvo Semi-Sleeper: 8:15 am (Rs 1243), 5:35pm (Rs 1275), 7:00pm (Rs 1275), 8:50pm (Rs1275) AC TATA: 5:50pm (Rs 972) AMRITSAR: Ordinary Bus: 5am (Rs257) *from Dharamshala DEHRADUN: Ordinary Bus: 2pm (Rs 560) 8pm (Rs 551); VOLVO: 7pm (Rs 1199) MANALI: Ordinary Bus: 7:10am (Rs358 *from Dharamshala / VOLVO: 11:30 pm (Rs 782) PATHANKOT: Ordinary Bus: 5am (Rs 136) * from Dharamshala SHIMLA: Ordinary Bus: 5am (Rs 408), 6am (Rs 360), 7:50am (Rs 375), 8:am (Rs 520) 7:45 pm (Rs 363), 12pm (Rs 367) *from Dharamshala, Semi-Deluxe Bus: 9:30pm (Rs455) *from Dharamshala FOR BOOKINGS: Location: Ticket stand under McLLo’s, McLeod Ganj Main square Hours: 10am-5pm, daily Phone: 220026 (McLeod bus stand), 224903 (Dharamshala) For deluxe buses, book through any travel agency. TA X I S A private taxi to Lower Dharamshala will cost you Rs 200. Cram into a jeep (from the bus stand), and it’ll only cost you Rs 20.
Contact magazine | April 2019 | Page No 19
Activities And Information Livelihood Programme Lha Charitable Trust in collaboration with Tibetan Health Spalon based in Dharamshala has announced a four month traditional Tibetan massage and spa course for Tibetans as part of their Livelihood programme. The programme is funded by the Tibet Fund, USA. The course covers: • Tibetan Traditional Massage • Introduction to Swedish massage and Aromatherapy massage • Course weightings: Theory 30% and Practical 70% • Two month on-the-job training • Personality development, financial literacy, basic English and other complementary courses
Buddhist Philosophy Library Of Tibetan Works And Archives Web: Www.tibetanlibrary.org Location: Gangchen Kyishong, Between
Mcleod Ganj And Lower Dharamshala Hours: Mon-Fri: 10:30 - 11:45 Am Phone: 9882255047
yoga and reiki Yoga & Reiki Courses Location: Om Yoga Ashram,Near Dal Lake Mob: 9805693514 /981649432 Email: om.yoga@ymail.com Web: http://www.omashram.in Shivam Neelkant Yoga Kendra Location: Upper Bhagsu Phone: 098165-65138 Web: www.shivamneelkant.yoga.com
MASSAGE Nature Cure Health Club
Shiatsu Massage Location: Near Tibetan Ashoka, Jogiwara Road, Phone: 07833047078 Email: mahinder_m@hotmail.com Men-Tsee-Khang Location: Mcleod Ganj Branch Clinic,
1St Floor, Tipa Road (2 Mins From Main Square) Phone: 98828-60505 Email: therapycenter@men-tsee-khang.org Dorjee Spa Location: Pema Thang Guest House,
WHotel Bhagsu Road Phone:9816393673 9857108408 Whatsapp: 9816393673
Meditation
Languages
Tushita Meditation Centre Web: www.tushita.info Location: Dharamkot Hours: Mon-Sat: 9:30-11:30Am Phone: 0898-816-0988 Email: spc@tushita.info
Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translators Programme Location: Rato Chuwar Labrang,
Shivan Neel Kanth Yoga Website: www.shivamneelkant.yoga.com Location: Bhagsu Nag, Near High Sky Phone: 09816565138 Email: Yogi_shivam@Yahoo.co.in
Tibetan Language Location: The Tibetan Library
Om Meditation Ashram
Location-Om Yoga Ashram,Near Dal Lake Mob: 01892 220333 /9805693514 Web: www.himalayanashram.com
Cooking Lha Tibetan Cooking Classes - For Groups Location: Lha Soup Kitchen, Temple Rd, Just
Below The Dalai Lama’s Temple Hours: Registration, 9:00-11:00Am Phone: 01892-220992
Indian Cooking And Knitting With Ms Rita Kapoor Location: Old German Bakery, 1St Floor,
Room No. 2, Opp. Buddha Hall, Bhagsunag Phone: 94592-06586 Indian Cooking Classes Location: jogiwara Rd, Next To Tibetan
Ashoka Guesthouse Hours: 10:00Am-6:00Pm Phone: 07833047078 / 0988230136 Email: mahinder_m@hotmail.com
Lhamo’s Kitchen: Tibetan Cooking Classes Location: Bhagsu Rd, Near The Green Shop Hours: 8:00Am-9:00Pm Phone: 981-646-8719 Sangye’s Kitchen: Traditional
Tibetan Cooking Classes Location: Lung-Ta Restaurant, Below The Tashi Choeling Monastery On Jogiwara Road Hours:10:00Am - 4:00Pm Phone: 981-616-4540 Email: sangyla_tashi@yahoo.co.in
Computer Classes Tibetan Career Centre, Dharamshala Location: Jogiwara Road, Mcleod Ganj Hours: 9:00Am-6Pm
Phone: 9882321424 /9880969175 Email: yesheadconsultant@tibet.net Lha Charitable Trust Location: Near Dolma Chowk, Mcleod Ganj Phone: 9882323455 / +91 (0)1892 -220992 Web: www.lhasocialwork.org
Contact magazine | April 2019 | Page No 20
Phuntsok Gatsel Session Road Hours: 10:45-5Pm Email: lrztp.manager@gmail.com
*See Buddhist Philosophy Listing Hindi Lessons With Kailash Location: Hotel India House, Bhagsu Rd Phone: 01892-20063, 941-816-1947 Esukhia Online Tibetan Courses And Tibetan Immersion Spoken Location:tilak Ray Building, Bhagsu Rd Phone: 8679502538 / 98820-04965 Email: contact@esukhia.org Sanskrit Language Study Program At Vikramashila Foundation India (Vfi) Location: Vikramashila Center, 1St Flr, Ketan
Lodge,Jogiwara Road, Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala, HP Email: vikramashilafoundation@gmail.com
Art And Museums Tibet Museum Location: Near The Main Temple And
Namgyal Monastery Gate, Mcleod Ganj Hours: Tue-Sun: 9:00Am-5:00Pm Tibet Photo Exhibit: 50 Years Of Struggle And Oppression Location: Gu-Chu-Sum Hall, Jogiwara Rd Hours: Mon, Wed & Fri: 2:00Pm-5:00Pm Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) Web: www.tibetanarts.org Location: Tipa Road, Mcleod Ganj Phone: 1892-221478 Email: Tibetanarts2012@Gmail.com Kangra Art Museum Location: Near Bus Stand, Kotwali Bazaar in
Lower Dharamshala Phone: 01892 224214 Hours: Tue-Sun: 10Am-1Pm & 2Pm-5Pm
Men-Tsee-Khang Museum Location: Near CTA, Gangchen Kyishong Phone: 01892-223222 / 223113 Email: Info@Men-Tsee-Khang.org Hours: 9Am-5Pm. Closed On Sun, 2 & 4Th
Sat
Centre For Living Buddhist Art Location: Khanyara Road Website: Www.livingbuddhistart.com Email: sarikalochoe@hotmail.com Phone: 9418655401 Hours: 9 Am- 5 Pm
Activities And Information Health Services Perfect 32 Dental Clinic Dr Natasha Mehra Location: Near Hotel Mount View, Jogiwara Road, Mcleod Ganj Phone: 09218742046 Email: perfect32dentalclinic@gmail.com
Tibetan Physiotherapy Clinic
Specialist in muscle and joint pain Location: Near Delek Hospital, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala 176215 Hours: 10Am - 5Pm (Appointment Bases) Phone: 9882322783 / 9882321532 Email: jigten17@yahoo.co.in Website: tibetanphysiotherapy.com
Tibetan Delek Hospital
Location: Gangchen Kyishong, Between Mcleod Ganj And Lower Dharamshala Phone: 01892-22053 / 223381 Hours: Outpatient Services, Mon-Sat: 9:00Am-1:00Pm; Specialist Clinics, Mon-Sat: 2:00-4:30 Pm; Emergencies: 24 Hrs Daily
Maanav Health Clinic
Location: Main Square Hours: 10:00 -12:30 Pm & 2:00-5:00 Pm Phone: 941-815-5795 Email: maanavcare@yahoo.co.in
Men-Tsee-Khang
Location: Below Delek Hospital, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala 176215 Phone: 01892-223222 / 223113 Email: info@men-tsee-khang.org
Primary Health Centre
Location: Jogiwara Rd, Main Market Hours: 9:30Am-4Pm, Mon-Sat
Nature Cure Health Club
Location: Jogiwara Rd, Next To Tibetan Ashoka Guest House-Map #10 Hours: 9:30Am-6:30Pm Phone: 7833047078 / 9882320136 Email: mahinder_m@hotmail.com
Dr Tandon Advanced Dental
Orthodontic & Implant Centre Location: Opp. Ap Travels, Mcleod Ganj Phone: 9418462936 Email: dr.rahultandon@gmail.com
News:
Tibet-Related Websites
tibet.net - official website of the Central Tibetan Administration in exile phayul.com -Phayul is published in Dharamshala,has opinion, reviews, photos, etc contactmagazine.net - Contact magazine online news rfa.org/english/news/tibet - Radio Free Asia’s mission is to provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries whose governments prohibit access to a free press voatibetanenglish.com - Voice of America’s Tibet pages - VOA is an international multimedia broadcasting service funded by the US government thetibetpost.com - Tibet Post International online news tibetexpress.net - Tibet Express online news guardian.co.uk/world/tibet - the UK Guardian newspaper’s Tibet pages scmp.com/news/china - the South China Morning Post – one of the more independent news sources in China
News, information and campaigning:
dalailama.com - for broadcasts of His Holiness’s teachings, his schedule and information about Tibet and the Dalai Lama tchrd.org - Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy - a nongovernmental organisation and a research centre to protect the human rights of Tibetan people and promote the principles of democracy tibetanyouthcongress.org - an international non-governmental organisation that advocates full independence for Tibet from China studentsforafreetibet.org - a global grass roots group campaigning for full Tibetan independence tibetanreview.net - news, opinions, reviews and information freetibet.org: - UK-based campaigning organisation, also a good news source savetibet.org - Website of the International Campaign for Tibet and a good resource for news, campaigns, fundraising and projects tibetnetwork.org/home - a coalition of more than 190 Tibet organisations dedicated to campaigning to end human rights violations in Tibet and restoring rights to the Tibetan people tibetanjournal.com - Tibetan Journal - news, reviews and opinions rukor.org - a discussion site on Tibetan nomads and their fate bitterwinter.org - A magazine on religious liberty and human rights in China
Writings:
highpeakspureearth.com/category/woeser - occasional translations of Woeser’s enormously popular blog – Woeser lives in Beijing and is continually harassed by the Chinese government for her courageous writings.
DHARAMSHALA CONTACTS Ambulance: 01892-102, 222189 Tibetan Delek Hospital Location: Gangchen Kyishong, Central Tibetan Administration Hours: Outpatient services: 9am-1pm, Mon-Sat; Specialist clinics: 2-4:30pm, Wed only; Emergencies: 24-hrs, daily. Phone: 222 053,223 381
Police Contact Information Location: Past St.John’s Church on the road to Dharamshala in Cantt. area. Phone: 221 483 Kangra Airport: 01892-232374 Bhagsu Taxi Union: 01892-221034 Tourism Office: 01892-224430 , 223325 Rail Booking & Enquiry: 01892-265026 Police Superintendent: 01892-222244
McLeod Ganj Post Office Location: Jogiwara Rd, Before the Peace Cafe Hours: 9:30am-1pm and 2-5pm, Mon-Fri; 9:30am-noon, Sat. Parcels and money orders can be sent in the mornings only. Phone: 01892-221 924
Contact magazine | April 2019 | Page No 21
Jobs And Advertisements Job Opportunities Central Tibetan Administration (CTA)
Postion: 33 job vacancies in posts Mode of Selection: Tibetan and English Exam Deadline: June 3, 2019 Email: psc@tibet.net For details, check: tibet.net
The Department of Health, CTA Location: Ngoenga School for Tibetan Children with Special Needs in Dehradun Postion: Secretary cum Cashier Qualification: Any graduate Deadline: May 15, 2019 For more details, check: tibet.net
Library of Tibetan Works & Archives
Position: Tibetan Teacher (1 Vacancy) Qualification: BA, B.Ed Mode of Selection: Tibetan and English Exam Deadline: May 18, 2019 Email: ltwa1970@gmail.com
Scholarship Opportunities Sponsorship Announcement for 2019 Pestalozzi Children’s Village, Dehradun is a charitable and non-religious UK based organisation providing sponsorship to bright and intelligent children for schooling in English-medium schools in Dehradun. The organisation plans to select 8 Tibetan children this year. (5 girls and 3 boys) Criteria for Selection: • The child should be a bonafide Tibetan • The child hould be born between April 1, 2008 March 31, 2009 • The child should have scored 75% or above in final exams of class 3, 4, and 5 • The child should be attending one of the Tibetan schools • Parents should prove that no real parents/ siblings of the candidate are living abroad Application for the scholarship should be emailed to PestalozziWorldindia@gmail.com by May 21, 2019.
Contact magazine | April 2019 | Page No 22
Our specialty: Chocolate Vegan cake, Gluten free cake, Fresh Coffee Beans, cappaccino, Chocolate chilli lollipop 9am to 7pm - Closed on Monday
Below “Black Magic Hotel” on Jogiwara Rd -Map#4
8 AUSPICIOUS HIM VIEW HOTEL
8 beautiful rooms with balcony facing the Himalayan Range. Enjoy the sunrise from your bed! Phone: 01892-220567 Cell: 9418236603 Jogiwara Rd (Map #12) Email: tseringd@aushimview.com
Nature Cure Health Club
Jogiwara Rd, next to Tibetan Ashoka Guest House - Map #23 Mobile: 07833047078 /09882320136 / Email: mahinder_m@ hotmail.com 20+ yrs’ experience: Swedish massage courses & treatment, Zen Shiatsu courses, treatment, reflexology treatment, SPA, Singing Bowl Treatment and many more!
NEED A DENTIST?
For all your dental requirements under one roof, in a sterile and state of the art clinic
Dr Natasha Mehra @ Perfect 32 Dental Clinic Location: Near Hotel Mount View Jogiwara Rd, McLeod Map #10 Email: perfect32dentalclinic@gmail.com /Call: 09218742046 Website: www.perfect32dentalclinic.in
Enjoy traditional Taiwanese and Chinese food and a peaceful environment, just one minute from the Bus Stand, just behind Asian Plaza! (Map # 3)
KUSHI BOUTIQUE
We are on Google maps as Kushi Boutique, Bhagsunag Location: Lower Bhagsunag, below Raku’s Facebook: Kushi shop / Instagram: Kushicollection Whatsapp: +91 8390060421
Contact magazine | April 2019 | Page No 23
Map Of McLeod Ganj
01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06. 07. 08. 09. 10. 11. 12.
Lha Headquarters Namgyal Cafe Common Ground Cafe Dream Holidays Travel Shangrila Hotel Nature Cure Health Club Dr Mobile, Woeser Bakery Black Tent Cafe Carpe Diem Restaurant Perfect 32 Dental Clinic Hotel Ladies’ Venture 8 Auspicious Him View Hotel
13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.
Ahimsa House & Lha Soup Kitchen Chonor House Pema Thang Rinku Taxi Service Central Tibetan Administration, Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Tibetan Library LRZTP Tibetan Language Program Tibetan Museum and Temple Tibetan Handicraft Centre Taste of India SnowLion Custom Tattoo
Lha Traveller Services and VolunteerOpportunities Long or short-term, skilled or unskilled volunteers needed at Lha • Teachers: English conversation, English, French and Chinese language classes • Computer classes: IT and web designers • Environmental professionals • Medical and healthcare professionals • Fundraisers and grant writers • Project professionals; chefs and cooks • Writers....And much more! Share your knowledge and skills with the local Tibetan, Indian, and Himalayan communities whilst gaining hands-on experience working with a social services charity Tibetan Homestay Lha arranges home-stays with refugee families giving visitors the chance to experience the Tibetan life style and a chance to connect and learn about each others’ cultures. Homestays include accommodation, breakfast, and dinner.
Reception and Orientation Service Our services help smooth your arrival in Delhi - avoid the scams at Delhi Airport! - and your onward travel to Dharamshala. On arrival here we will orientate you into the Tibetan community. Highly recommended for people who want a stress-free arrival, especially if you are arriving late at night or early in the morning, you can buy online in advance of your travel to India. To find out more please visit www.lhasocialwork.org Lha office, Temple Road, McLeod Ganj 176219 Dharamshala, Distt. Kangra H.P. (Mon-Sat: 9am-1pm and 2-5pm) office@lhasocialwork.org +91 (0) 1892-220992 www.tibetnature.net www.samdhongrinpoche.com www.tibetfairtrade.com www.tibetnature.net
འབྲེལ་གཏུགས་གསར་འཕྲིན། Contact Newsletter
Managing Director Dorji Kyi Editor-in-Chief Jenny James Editor Tenzin Samten Circulation Manager Tsering Wangdue Designed by Karma Ringzin Topgyal Published by Lha Charitable Trust Web:www.lhasocialwork.org
www.contactmagazine.net Phone: 91(0)1892-220992 Email:
editor@contactmagazine.net Facebook: ContactNews Twitter: ContactTibet Printed at Imperial Printing, Dharamshala Phone: 222390 Email:ippdsala@gmail.com