Contact June 2013 by Lha Charitable Trust

འབྲེལ་གཏུགས་དུས་དེབ།

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30 June 2013 Volume: XV Issue: 6

contact Magazine A Free Monthly Publication For Tibetan Issues & Community Information

Self-Immolation Toll Reaches 119 June 11: Wangchen Dolma, 31, a Tibetan nun, set herself ablaze at around 5 pm near the Nyatso Monastery in the Tawu region of K h a m , eastern Tibet, in an apparent protest against China’s continued occupation of Tibet. Chinese security personnel arrested her at the protest site and took her to hospital in Dartsedo where she succumbed to her injuries on June 14. The authorities secretly cremated the body at the hospital, denying the family the performance last rites and rituals for the deceased. It has also been reported that an unidentified Tibetan man, who tried to rescue Wangchen Dolma, was severely beaten and arrested by Chinese security personnel. His whereabouts is still unknown. Sources said that all internet lines in the Tawu region have been shut down by regional Chinese authorities, limiting communications, and strict restrictions were placed on the movement of local Tibetans and monks immediately after the incidents. Sources also said that family members of the deceased are under house arrest. Wangchen Dolma was the daughter of Tenzin and Youdon of Gyalbum Tsang (family) in Dragthok village in the Minyag Drapa region of Tawu County, Tibet.

Sikyong’s First Visit to Lithuania

by Catherina Leipold On June 12, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the de facto Tibetan prime minister, arrived in Lithuania with Thubten Samdup, the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Northern Europe. The visit was aimed at raising support for Tibet during Lithuania’s planning of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union which begins in July. Dr Sangay participated in a discussion entitled “Tibet - Present and Future Prospects” with Dalia Kuodyte, Chair of the Parliamentary Tibet Friendship Group. Kuodyte stressed that Lithuania is capable of taking effective action for Tibet. A petition to Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite was initiated, urging her to mobilise support and ask the international community to take action on the situation in Tibet. The Lithuanian MEP, political

commentator and defender of human rights and civil liberties, Leonidas Donskis, said “The tragedy is that today, the Tibetan people have to sacrifice their lives in order to draw the world, the international community’s attention. Unfortunately, it is the highest and most terrible price.” He praised Lithuania’s understanding of the tragedy in Tibet. Dr Sangay compared the situation in Tibet to the occupation of Lithuania during the Second World War. Contrary to the provisions of the Chinese Constitution, Tibetan culture and language are “not only discouraged, but also denied,” he said. During his two-day stay in the capital Vilnius, Sikyong met members of the Lithuanian parliament, non government organisations, and students of the European Humanities University. His Holiness will visit Vilnius in September, marking his third visit to Lithuania.

His Holiness in Australia and New Zealand

by Palden Choedon

where he gave talks in Christchurch, Dunedin and Auckland. He then travelled to Sydney, Australia for a two day teaching on June 1416 The Jewel Lamp, A Praise of Bodhichitta followed the next day by Ethical Mindfulness of Everyday Life at the Sydney Entertainment His Holiness at the Young Minds Conference in Sydney Centre. Photo: Photo: Rusty Stewart DLIA/2013 Speaking to ABC His Holiness the Dalai Lama has journalist Andrew West, His Holiness completed his 9th tour of Australia, said “Over the last 60 years some of the visiting New Zealand on his way there time things have been good, some of Continued on page 5

about lha & contact

Lha Charitable Trust

Institute for Social Work & Education Mission Statement:

Lha is a resource of education and knowledge that provides meaningful, multi-leveled social and educational services for the benefit of others.

Background:

health and environmental awareness education, distribution of clothes and medicine, a community kitchen, and many other programs and activities. Through rehabilitation resources and social and educational services, Lha facilitates an easy transition for the Tibetan refugee community to India. On a daily basis, Lha serves over 250 people, hosts between 15 and 25 volunteers and provides up to 20 different services, including on average 50 nutritious meals per day for financially disadvantaged people. For more information about Lha, please visit: www.lhasocialwork.org

Become a Sponsor for Lha’s Soup Kitchen

On 6 July 2011, Lha opened its community soup kitchen at its new building, Ahimsa House. This is the first soup kitchen in Dharamsala and serves low-cost and nutritious meals to the Tibetan refugee community. Forty to fifty needy refugees can take advantage of this service every day for a nominal fee of 15 rupees per person, per meal. Meals are completely free for those who cannot afford to pay. The kitchen’s primary objective is to provide refugees with low-cost and nutritious meals while educating them about healthy eating and living. The kitchen will also serve as a space where refugees can receive formal training for the service and resaurant industry.

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Contact Magazine is a free monthly publication of Lha Charitable Trust. It contains Tibetan issues, international news and local information that aspires to bring the West and East together in a meaningful and beneficial way. 700 - 1,000 copies are printed per issue and distributed in the greater Dharamsala area and (in the future) in Delhi, Rishikesh, Manali, Goa, and various diplomatic missions to India. Contact keeps readers up-to-date on current issues and events, and provides networking, education and volunteer opportunities, as well as social services information. Contact staff and contributors hope you will enjoy and benefit from our modest efforts to build a community through communication. May peace and love prevail! Guidelines for submission: Contact welcomes submissions of articles, news and photography. We also gladly accept information about upcoming events, volunteer work and special projects. All material intended for publication in Contact must be submitted by the 20th of each month. Your letter may not be printed if it is unsigned, illegible, slanderous or malicious. We reserve the right to edit submissions for spelling, grammar and length. Send your material via email to editor@contactmagazine.net Please Note: The articles, stories and other material in Contact represent the views of the authors and not necessarily the views of the Contact editing staff or Lha Social Work.

Lha collects all kinds of donations in the form of clothing, shoes, books, If you would like to sponsor and language resources, computer Contact please get in touch and medical supplies, as well as any with us. This other useful items. If you would like to contact Contact,

space could be Monetary donations are extremely used to present helpful and are greatly appreciated, your profile, large or small. logo and any Please contact the office: message you want to share. office@lhasocialwork.org We will thank you for many (0) 1892-220992 lifetimes! Contact Magazine

call Lobsang Rabsel at 981-615-5523 or the Lha office at Temple Road (ph. 01892-220992). All comments on this issue should be submitted by email to editor@contactmagazine.net Contact is available at many places around McLeod Ganj including the Lha office, libraries, travel agencies, hotels, restuarants and shops. JUNE 2013

about lha & contact

འབྲེལ་གཏུགས་དུས་དེབ། Contact Magazine

Managing Director Ngawang Rabgyal Editor-in-Chief Jenny James Editor Dukthen Kyi Sub Editor Tenzin Younten Catherina Leipold Assistant Editor Palden Choedon Layout Design Tamdin Yangzom

Circulation Manager Lobsang Rabsel Published by Lha Charitable Trust Web: www.lhasocialwork.org www.contactmagazine.net Phone: 91(0)1892-220992 Email: editor@contactmagazine.net Facebook: facebook.com/contactnews Twitter: contactlha Printed at Imperial Printing, Dharamsala Phone: 222390

Lha’s 8th Clean Water Project Lha Charitable Trust, in collaboration with the Rotary Club Dharamshala, has successfully installed its 8th filter water system at the Gamru village school on June 6, 2013. This is the latest step in the ongoing Lha clean water project. The Gamru village school is a local Indian school, set up in 2004 and aiming to provide education to underprivileged Indian children from migrating families around lower Dharamshala. The school supports 142 students ranging from nursery to 8th grade as well as 13 staff members, including eight teachers. The installation of this filter water tank brings clean and healthy drinking water just in time before the monsoon season. The filter unit is an UV+UF, which is considered one of the best filter water systems available in the area. It has a capacity of 200 liters of safe drinking water per hour. The water can also be used for cooking and washing vegetables to provide healthy food for

this little community of children. Happy to receive such a welcome donation from Lha, the principal of the school, Meenakshi Sharma said, “We are thankful to Lha as this water tank will be very healthy for these children as due to lack of awareness their families cannot provide them with clean water specially in the monsoon season.”

Also present at the installation ceremony were other members of the Rotary Club Dharamshala: the former president, the zonal chairman and also the acting president and members.

Lha Traveler Services & Volunteer Opportunities

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Long- or short-term, skilled or unskilled volunteers needed at Lha • English conversation Mon – Fri, 4pm – 5pm • English, French, and Chinese teachers & tutors • Computer teachers • Web designers and IT professionals • Contributing writers • Environmental professionals • Medical & healthcare professionals • Fundraisers & grant writers • Project professionals • Chefs & cooks • Human rights & legal professionals • Personal assistant (PA) • And much more! Lha offers you the opportunity to share your knowledge and skills with the local Tibetan, Indian, and Himalayan communities whilst gaining hands-on experience working with a social work organisation. Lha volunteers will develop friendships, learn about issues facing the Tibetan refugee community, and become immersed in the fascinating cultures of the people they are serving. Contact Magazine

Classes and Services

TIBETAN LANGUAGE CLASS Learn more about the Tibetan people, culture, and Buddhism by learning the Tibetan language! Beginner and intermediate class levels with qualified teachers for individuals and small groups. TIBETAN COOKING CLASS Individuals and small groups can learn to prepare a variety of traditional and modern vegetarian Tibetan foods including momo, thukpa and Tibetan bread with a qualified teacher. TIBETAN ARTS CLASS Learn the basic traditional Tibetan form of painting, drawing, and how to use colour with a qualified artist. For individuals and small groups. TIBETAN HOME-STAY 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. 3

RECEPTION & ORIENTATION Our services help smooth your arrival in Delhi, and your onward travel to Dharamsala, and also to orientate you to the Tibetan community here. Avoid the scams at Delhi Airport! These services are highly recommended for people who want a stress-free arrival, especially if you are arriving late at night or early in the morning and can be purchased online in advance of your travel to India There is a discount for people travelling together. *All donations and fees from Lha classes and services directly benefit Lha community social work projects. For information on cost, times and/or registration, please visit: Lha office, Temple Road McLeod Ganj-176219 Dharamshala, Distt. Kangra H.P. (Mon-Sat: 9:00am-12:00pm & 1:00-5:00pm) office@lhasocialwork.org (0) 1892-220992 www.lhasocialwork.org www.contactmagazine.net www.tibetnature.net JUNE 2013

news & issues

Tibet: View Through the International Lens

by Catherina Leipold Tibetan advocacy groups faced “deep disappointment” on June 18 at the conclusion of the two-day annual G8 summit, as the international assembly had failed to bring up the situation in Tibet. The final joint communiqué also withheld mention of China’s bullying of individual nations who show support towards His Holiness the Dalai Lama. This exclusion of Tibet occurred despite an earlier 10,000 strong petition calling on G8 leaders to take the initiative on new diplomacy towards Tibet. Regardless of the apparent setback, other international leaders have not hesitated to voice their support for Tibet. On June 4, the governor of the US state of Washington, Jay Inslee, expressed his deep concern for the Tibetan situation. He spoke in favour of House Resolution 1077, demanding that the Chinese government end its

crackdown in Tibet and enter into a dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama to resolve the problems. Inslee met the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala in 2008 as part of a bipartisan Congressional delegation.

Protesters wearing giant heads depicting the G8 leaders Photo:Phayul

Two days earlier, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) adopted a resolution at its 38th World Congress in Istanbul, Turkey, requiring the Chinese government to amend its approach in discussing the issue of Tibet. In light of the recent self-immolations, FIDH called on the

international community “to press the new Chinese leadership to end the military buildup and limit the dominance of the security apparatus in the Tibetan areas.” The situation in Tibet has also appeared in the spotlight on a domestic level, following a call on June 18 for a review of Tibet policy by Indian political parties. Preceding next year’s general elections, the Arunachal Pradesh unit of the Nationalist Congress Party urged the central and state governments to conduct an “early review” of India’s policy towards China, and to support the Tibetan cause. Party leaders pointed to the recent selfimmolations as a grave situation that must be addressed. A Tibet support group has been formed within the state by prominent cross-party leaders to pledge their unconditional support for Tibet.

Light in the Darkness?

by Francesca Leaf Is China beginning to re-evaluate its Tibet policy? This could be a future possibility. In a recent interview with Asia Weekly, Jin Wei, Director of Ethnic and Religious Studies at the Central Party School, a think-tank in Beijing, stated that the Communist Party needs to reassess its strategy for

Surveillance in Tibet Photo: advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org

Tibet. The current Communist Party approach to the Tibet issue involves the promise of economic development and the repression of Tibetan political and cultural expression. This repression includes the use of stifling surveillance. Since April Contact Magazine

2012, a grid surveillance system has been used to monitor Tibetans, first in Lhasa and now across most of the Tibet Autonomous Region. According to Human Rights Watch, grid surveillance consists of the construction of “convenience policeposts” with high-tech equipment to monitor the daily activities of Tibetans and to suppress potential displays of dissent. Ms Jin follows the standard Party belief that Tibet is part of China. However, when interviewed, she stated that categorising every expression of Tibetan culture as subversive alienates Tibetans who may have otherwise been sympathetic to the Communist Party’s goals. Ms Jin also suggested that former party chiefs in Tibet are “biased against the practice of religious affairs” which “foreshadowed the accumulation of grievances today”. Ms Jin indicated that a new approach to the Tibet issue is necessary. She recommended that China should 4

resume talks with the Dalai Lama’s representatives. Jin also suggested inviting His Holiness to visit one of China’s semi-autonomous cities and to eventually allow him to return to

Prof. Jin Wei Photo: claudearpi.blogspot.in

Tibet. While Ms Jin’s comments may not foreshadow immediate policy changes, they are significant. The fact that Jin shared her views publicly implies that she has highlevel support. Furthermore, her interview demonstrates that, within China, discussions regarding the government’s policies in Tibet have re-emerged. JUNE 2013

news & issues

“Fire in the Land of the Snow” by Olivia Engel The news channel Voice Of America (VOA) released their documentary Fire in the Land of Snow on June 6 seeking to answer the question: “What is causing Tibetans to protest through one of the most terrifying and painful ways to die?”.

Looking at the history of the Chinese invasion of 1949 to present day policies, Fire in the Land of the Snow puts today’s fiery protests into context, with past and current video footage and interviews. It paints a full picture of why Tibetans are setting themselves alight and concludes that the reason is desperation to change an era of occupation and harsh control. The documentary highlights the ways in which China’s policies in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) and the surrounding ethnically Tibetan areas of Kham and Amdo have created severe restrictions on freedoms of religion, mobility and cultural preservation. Testimonies from Tibetans, scholars, and activists describe why the self-immolators

Continued from page 1

His Holiness in Australia and New Zealand

the time they have been bad and some of the time, like now, they have been very serious”. Of the self-immolations, he said that they are very, very sad and that Tibetans have suffered a lot, and reiterated that they are symptoms of a cause that is the Chinese authorities’ responsibility to investigate and address. His Holiness visited Melbourne from June 18-19 and gave a public talk Ethics for the Whole World at the Sydney Peace

Contact Magazine

feel driven to these extreme protests, Fire in the Land of the Snow also and how policies restricting Tibetan shows how China’s policies have liberties have been harsher than the targeted Tibetans in schools and norm in China. businesses. In the spring of 2011, new Ngawang Norphel, 21, who self- Chinese policies making Mandarin immolated alongside his friend Tenzin the compulsory language in Tibetan Khedup in Kham on June 20, 2012 , schools resulted in a wave of student was able to speak on camera about his protests. A relative of self-immolator goal: Tsering Kyi, 19, who was a student “If we don’t have freedom, in Gansu, describes her as being cultural traditions and language, it’s passionate about her heritage: embarrassing for us. We absolutely “She took a special interest in must learn them. As a nationality, Tibetan language and literature… freedom, language, traditional religion Some students were expelled and are essential. My friend, without some were taken into detention for language, what is our nationality? protesting. A principal and some Should we call ourselves Chinese, or teachers had been fired for resisting Tibetan? …I have only one wish in the policies… She said that life wasn’t my heart. I wish to raise the prestige worth living under these conditions.” of my people. My friend, other than that, I have no wish.” Ngawang Norphel appears heavily burned in the video, his voice trembling, lying on a bed and unable to move. Ngawang Norphel, Tenzin Khedup and Tsering Kyi Many clips display (from left) the heavy police presence Tsering Kyi, who self-immolated and surveillance in Tibet’s holy capital, Lhasa, and viewers can on March 3, 2012, was also reported see the police backlash against the to have told friends that “life was monasteries since 2008′s uprising. meaningless if we didn’t do something Lobsang Jinpa describes the nun for Tibet”. Authorities imposed a Palden Choetso’s self-immolation severe lock-down on her school in 2012, in Tawu: “She told another and town, Machu, in reaction to her nun that ‘the Chinese government is protest. intensifying repression on us’”.

Foundation, and met Chinese scholars and friends in a panel discussion at the forum Happiness and its Causes, as well as giving two further talks. In Adelaide on June 20, he gave a public talk The Quest for Happiness and on the final leg of his visit His Holiness travelled to Darwin and gave teachings on The Four Noble Truths and a public talk Ethics in Our Shared World at the Darwin Convention Centre. The organisers reported that 5

more than 50,000 people heard His Holiness speak during his ten days in Australia, in the course of 20 events. Of these, 25,000 people heard him speak about compassion, kindness and secular ethics. Almost 10,000 people attended Buddhist teachings in Sydney, Melbourne and Darwin. He met 2,500 Tibetans, Mongolians and Chinese people in different parts of the country and online streaming reached a further 100,000. JUNE 2013

news & issues

Presidents’ Meeting by Nicoletta Primo US President Barack Obama met Chinese President Xi Jingping for the first time last month in Rancho Mirage, California. The two day summit consisted of an informal meeting along with a working dinner, setting the foundations for the future relationship between the two states. It is understood the main issues for discussion included cyberhacking, North Korea, climate change and intellectual property rights. Amidst US allegations of Chinese government-related cyber abuses, President Obama stated the US would not tolerate cyber-hacking. “We had a very blunt conversation about cyber security”commented Obama on the Charlie Rose show, a television show which interviews prominent thinkers, writers and politicians. The main points of concern are believed to be

the possible theft of new Apple software and unauthorised access to US weapons systems. Taking a more diplomatic stance President Obama welcomed the “peaceful rise” of China, while stressing the importance of co-operation and

Obama and Xi Photo: theaustralian.com.au

balanced competition, along with the need for “economic order, where nations are playing by the same rules.” Outside the informal discussions, human rights protesters along with

representatives from Falan Gong, a spiritual discipline, literally “Dharma wheel practice” which originated in China around 20 years ago, and Vietnamese exiles, highlighted the oppression and marginalisation they faced from the Communist Party of China. Human rights activists urged President Obama to call for the release of 16 high profile prisoners, including the Chinese Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo who was jailed for 11 years in 2009 after circulating a charter calling for democratic reforms. It is believed the informal meeting shows an improvement on the previous tense relations with former Chinese leaders. The international community awaits the results of the summit, and the development of future relations between the two superpowers.

Monsoon: Destruction and Hope

by Tenzin Younten India’s monsoon is a complex weather phenomenon which is not yet completely understood, making it difficult to accurately predict its behavior, and the amount and distribution of its precipitation. Usually, the monsoon in India is expected by mid-July, but this year monsoon rains have lashed India one month ahead of schedule bringing an economy boost to some, and destruction to many.

Flooding in Northern India Photo: The Hindu

The whole of northern India has been affected: worst hit were the states Contact Magazine

of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand where flashflooding hit the Ganga and its tributaries. At the time of going to press the death toll from flooding and landslides is over 830 and expected to rise to thousands. Hundreds of buildings in Uttarakhand have been damaged and around 75,000 pilgrims in the region were stranded. The army and paramilitary troops are leading efforts to rescue scores of people from the rooftops of their flooded homes, and the state government is preparing food and drinking water supplies to be air dropped to villages which were cut off when roads were washed away. In other areas of India, this early monsoon has brought very real benefits. Indian agriculture contributes about 15% of the gross domestic product, but its economy is slowing. The early onset of the annual monsoon has boosted hopes for the country’s farming sector, and the livelihood of hundreds of millions of Indians living in rural areas who depend on it. In Kerala, the monsoon set on 6

schedule on June 1, and advanced fast, covering the southern, eastern and central states within two weeks. Analysts said the early rains should

Roads Damaged by Floods Photo: Deccan Chronicles

help boost the output of summer crops by giving them more time to mature, leading to higher yields. Heavy showers will also help soften soils in drought-hit areas, including the major cane-growing state of western Maharashtra. According to Sudhir Panwar, president of farmers’ group Kishan Jagriti Manch, farmers expect to see power costs fall as the early monsoons reduce the need for irrigation. JUNE 2013

news & issues

India, China and “The Tibet Card” by Miranda Hall The past few months have seen rising tensions between Indian and Chinese troops in the much-disputed Ladakh border region. For the Tibetan exile community, whose fate hinges on the relationship between these two countries, such conflict could have its advantages. As prominent Indian political analysts have argued, whenever China indulges in anti-India activities, Indian authorities play “The Tibet Card” – with gestures such as meeting the Dalai Lama, or actively omitting endorsement of the “One China Policy” from diplomatic statements specifically intended to wind up Beijing. India and China have had 15 rounds of fruitless border talks since the 1990s but the recent dispute is the most serious in 25 years. Earlier this year, Indian generals discovered a platoon of Chinese soldiers camping 10km across the border, sparking a standoff. In a recent diplomatic visit between Chinese Prime Minister, Li Keqiang and Indian PM, Manmoham Singh, no apology was made by the Chinese side for the recent incursion and India has since pledged to add 40,000 troops to the b o r d e r. Relations Li Keqiang and Manmoham Singh Photo: news.yahoo

between the neighbours have also been strained in recent years as China has developed military infrastructure near the border in Tibet and constructed dams on rivers that flow into India. So how has, and critically how will, this relationship affect the 120,000 Contact Magazine

Tibetan exiles living in India? India has long played a delicate balancing act between its loyalty, and role as host, to the Tibetan exile Community, and its pragmatic need to forge good economic relations with China as trade between the two countries is expected to reach $100

Tents erected by intruding Chinese troops inside Indian territory in Ladakh Photo: Hindustan Times

billion by 2015. Currently, Tibetan refugees in India are granted the right to own land (in specific areas), to work, and to have access to healthcare and education. Indian officials and political experts frequently openly criticise China’s actions in Tibet. Under pressure from Beijing, Indian authorities do not allow Tibetans living in India to engage in “anti-China political activities” and the media is controlled from “irresponsible” dissemination of Tibet-related issues However, this situation is not simply a question of moral versus economic concerns – some political analysts have argued that this situation has its advantages for India, giving them political leverage and a negotiating point against China. Srikanth Kondapalli, Chair for East Asian Studies at Nehru University, has said “Whenever there is a problem between India and China, India plays the Tibet card”. An example of this is the Indian Foreign Secretary’s meeting with the Dalai Lama in 2010, which 7

has been linked to China’s disclosure the previous week of plans to build nuclear reactors for Pakistan. Following the recent diplomatic visit between the Chinese and Indian Prime Ministers, the omission of the “One China Policy” from their joint statement is possibly another subtle way of playing “the Tibet card”, and could be indicative of persisting mistrust between the two countries. China seeks from every country, without exception, a commitment to the “One China Policy” (which states that Tibet is an “inalienable part of China”). It is described as a “fundamental Chinese core concern”. However, since 2010, India has actively omitted it, making the point that Kashmir is as much a core concern to India as Tibet is to China, and that China’s policies in the region violate this core concern. “We won’t make a unilateral commitment to Tibet without getting anything in return” said an Indian official. “If they had insisted on Tibet, then we would have asked for something else [Kashmir] to be included”. Frosty Sino-Indian relations, highlighted by the recent border disputes, seem to maintain for now the secure position of the Tibetan exile community. However, if the countries’ mutual economic interests begin to outweigh political disagreements, this position could become less stable. Last year when Singh met the then Chinese President Hu Jintao and other market leaders to discuss their aims for trade between the two countries, Tibetan communities in Delhi were put under a virtual lockdown and hundreds of protesters were arrested. The current situation in Nepal, with China pumping money into the economy in exchange for brutal crackdowns on the Tibetan community, also provides a chilling warning. JUNE 2013

news & issues

Remembering Tiananmen Square by Tenzin Younten The fourth of June this year marked the 24th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing. Hundreds of pro-democracy protestors, mainly students, were killed in this crackdown by hardline leaders who ordered the military to enforce martial law in the country’s capital. Twenty four years later it is apparent that nothing much has changed. People in China still struggle with limited human rights. Their 1989 protest – one of the major protests of the 20th century – was declared a “Counter revolutionary riot” by the Chinese government, which has since prohibited all discussion or commemoration of the event. Beijing-based human rights activist Hu Jai is currently under restriction following his online appeal for people to wear black T-shirts on June 4, or to light a candle in their homes on the evening of June 3, to remember the event. As protest in mainland China is still off-limit, in recent years tens of thousands of people have been gathering in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park to mark the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Hong Kong, returned to China by the British in 1997, operates

under a separate political system that promises freedom of speech and other western-style civil liberties.

Candlelight Commemoration Photo: globalnews.ca

“More and more people would like to know the truth about the incident, which makes the authorities more nervous” said Ai Xiaoming, an academic from Guangzhon, a city about 75 miles north of Hong Kong. “Although it’s difficult for people to get access to publications in China, they are able to get information through channels such as social media. People face suppression, detention, arrest and even conviction, but the information can’t be completely blocked.” The Tiananmen protest was triggered in April 1989 by the death of former Communist party general Secretary, Hu Yaobang,a liberal reformer, who was

deposed after losing a power struggle with hardliners over the direction of political and economic reform. University students marched to gather in Tiananmen Square to mourn Hu and to voice grievances against inflation, limited career prospects and corruption of the party elite. They also called for government accountability, freedom of press, freedom of speech and restoration of workers’ control over industry. A student-led hunger strike galvanised support for the demonstration and the protest spread to 400 cities. Party authorities declared martial law and mobilised 30,000 troops. The result was widespread arrests of protestors and their supporters, expelled foreign journalists and strictly controlled coverage of the events in the domestic press. The Chinese government was condemned internationally for the use of force against the protesters, and western governments imposed economic sanctions and arms embargoes. The Chinese response by Hong Lei, Foreign Ministry spokesman, has been: “We hope the relevant country will discard prejudice, respect facts and not use the issue to interfere in China’s internal affairs or affect the growth of China-US relations”.

Complying with the Chinese? by Sune Petersen

The political scientist Robert Dahl defines relational power as when ‘‘A has power over B to the extent that he can get B to do something B would not otherwise do’. Sadly, this definition is fitting for the unequal relationship between the Chinese Government and the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in which the former is in the position of power. And the effect of this position of power is evident in the recent statements made by the democratically elected Tibetan leader, Dr Lobsang Sangay, on the Middle Way proposal. During his four day official visit last month to the United States of America, Dr Sangay participated in a talk Contact Magazine

organised by The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Here, the leader of the CTA made statements which have been seen as contradicting key provisions of the Middle Way proposal as understood by the Tibetan community: 1) that democracy within Tibet was out and Communist Party rule was acceptable; 2) that Tibetan autonomy could be for a limited duration only;and 3) China would have control over military deployment within Tibet. These statements suggest a changing view of the content of the Middle Way proposal as they can be seen to beat variance with the spirit of theinitial proposals formulated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the 1988 Strasbourg Proposal. This first attempt 8

at a negotiated settlement with China called for genuine Tibetan democracy and self-determination.Seeing the proposals proved fruitless, in 2008 the CTAupdated the Strasbourg Proposal with the submission to the Chinese Governmentof the Memorandum on Genuine Tibetan Autonomy. This Memorandum called for genuine Tibetan autonomy for all three regions of Tibet under one administration within the framework of the Chinese Constitution. As such, this 2008 proposal was an attempt to moderate the content of Tibetan independence in order to reach a compromisewith China. Beijing blatantly rejected every proposal. In 2010, the CTA issued a follow up Continued on page 9 JUNE 2013

news & issues

Economic Slowdown in China

by Eric Goh Speculation about China’s economic slowdown is escalating as foreign investment and industrial production have not grown as predicted. China’s bond market, where people trade and sell debts to fund business ventures, expanded by 39 per cent signalling greater access to credit. However, this did not translate into higher profitability as businesses are struggling to be competitive. This economic slowdown has been fuelled by a decrease in global demand for Chinese exports accompanied by an increase in the value of the Renminbi, the official currency of the Peoples Republic of China. The primary unit of the Renminbi is the Yuan. According to figures released by the National Interbank Funding Centre based in Shanghai, Chinese banks have to pay an interest rate as high as 13.44 per cent when conducting loans with each other, as compared to an interest rate of less than 4 per cent last month.

Continued from page 8

Renminbi banknotes Photo: en.wikipedia.org

economic expansion required to reach the government’s development targets for 2020 from 7.5 per cent to 7 percent. This is in stark contrast to the average annual growth of 10.5 per cent witnessed in China over the past decade. Currently, the exchange rate of

the Renminbi against the US dollar is roughly 6.2 but the Beijing-based West Brothers Economic Research Institute expected it to decrease further to 5.7 by 2017, so a US dollar would be able to buy fewer Renminbi. Consequently, Chinese exports would become undesirably expensive for foreign buyers. The Chinese government has hesitated to provide stimulus packages to fix the unstable economic situation. There is concern in the government that pumping money into the economy would increase inflation, repeating the incident that occurred during the previous global financial crisis. However, subsidies have substantially risen as 90 per cent of the 2,400 companies in mainland China received support from the government in 2012. The worsening economy would make it hard for the Chinese government to justify its military spending on Tibet when its people are troubled by economic uncertainty.

Complying with the Chinese?

proposal stating that the “Memorandum also does not challenge the socialist system of the People’s Republic of China (PRC)”.This proposal still did nothing to change the Chinese politics within occupied Tibet. Dr Sangay’s recent statements have prompted an extensive public outcry within the Tibetan community as they see this as one step too far in the attempt to reach a compromise with China. However, Dr Sangay’s statements and the apparent changing view of the Middle Way must be seen in the light of those unsuccessful previous attempts to reach a negotiated peace. To date, the Middle Way proposal has not proven effective in changing the unbearable status quo within Tibet, as conditions for domestic Tibetans have worsened in recent years with crackdowns intensified, new surveillance procedures,and selfimmolationsincreasing each month. Contact Magazine

The Bank of America recently readjusted its 2013 prediction for China’s economic growth from 8 per cent to 7.6 per cent. Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase also fixed their predictions for this year to 7.8 per cent. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang lowered his expectation for the average annual

It would appear that Dr Sangay, as a firm believer in a non-violent solution to the liberation of Tibet, is taking what he sees as a more realistic path to the negotiation table with China, and the new proposals are not in direct contradiction to either the 2008 Proposal or the 2010 followup.However, this is the first time an elected Tibetan leader has publicly stated that the CTA is not seeking democracy for Tibetans inside Tibet and will accept Communist Party

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay Photo: Council on Foreign Relations

rule in Tibet. Communist rule within Tibet 9

would pose many questions about the genuine autonomy of Tibetans, and Dr Sangay is facing many dilemmas in his attempts to reach a compromise with China. The CTA has not disclaimed Dr Sangay’s remarks, so it is safe to assume that they are in line with the CTA’s current Middle Way policy and reflect the official view of the Tibetan Administration – and would suggest that the CTA has abandoned one of the key provisions of the original Middle Way Proposal. Acceptance by the Tibetan people is key to the democratically elected CTA, and it is uncertain what form any official proposal to the Chinese will take. As the prominent online journal The Tibetan Political Review has commented: “it remains to be seen whether the Tibetan people, in exile and in Tibet, will accept the Middle Way in its present form”. JUNE 2013

news & issues

Tibetan Headlines Jun 27: US Ambassador in Tibet The US Ambassador to China, Gary Locke, is in Tibet on a rare official threeday visit. He met residents and government officials, and raised concerns about the “deteriorating human rights situation,” specifically the self-immolations by Tibetans in protest against Chinese rule. Jun 26: Torture in Tibet On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, the Tibetan Centre for Human Right and Democracy held a discussion on torture and released Ancestor’s Tomb a Tibetan manuscript by a young writer in Tibet. Jun 25: For Uttarakhand HH the Dalai Lama, having just returned to India, expressed his deep condolences to the families who suffered losses in the unprecedented flooding and landslides in Uttarakhand. As a token of sympathy, The Dalai Lama Trust is making contributions to the relief efforts of both state and central governments. The Central Tibetan Administration has also offered prayers and donation for relief work.

Houses swept away by floods in Uttarakhand Photo: bbc.co.uk

Jun 21: House Arrest Award winning Tibetan writer and poet Tsering Woeser has once again been placed under house arrest in Beijing. Writing in her blog, Woeser said this is to prevent her from speaking the truth about Tibet to foreign journalists due to visit Tibet shortly on a rare statesponsored trip. Contact Magazine

Jun 20: Tibet’s Daughter Thousands of Tibetans welcomed the late Panchen Lama’s daughter, Rinchen Wangmo, and her mother during their secret visit to Jokhang Te m p l e i n Lhasa. Unusual and unexpected large crowds gathered to welcome Wangmo. Immediately, large numbers of military personel were deployed to control the huge public gathering. Jun 19: Karmapa’s New Book The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa’s latest book, The Heart is Noble: Changing the World from the Inside Out, was released in New Delhi. Karmapa said, “I may have certain responsibilities because I received the name and position of ‘Karmapa’ but we all have responsibilities based on what we receive from the world.” The book tackles major issues faced by the world in the 21st century. Jun 16: Beaten to Death A Tibetan man is reported to have died after he was “brutally beaten” by police personnel in Sershul County in Eastern Tibet. A Tibetan man accused of stealing “Yartsa Gunbu” (a herbal remedy, Cordyceps Sinensis, known in English as “caterpillar fungus”) was beaten so severely by police authorities that he died the following day but local police declared that the man’s death was suicide. Jun 12: Tibet’s Environment A conference on Tibet’s environment entitled “Tibet’s Environment: Denuding, Degrading & Depopulating” was held in Brussels to coincide with the European Parliament’s Tibet Intergroup’s 97th meeting. The conference, jointly organised 10

by the Office of Tibet in Brussels, the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) and the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), was an occasion for all to “discover the multiple facets of Tibet’s struggle against the degradation of its land, air and water.” Jun 8: China Threatens Austria China has reportedly threatened to take away all pandas loaned to a zoo in Vienna because of the “mistake” committed by Austrian leaders of meeting HH the Dalai Lama more than a year ago. Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymanne dismissed warnings from Beijing that its relations with Vienna could be threatened by the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader’s visit to Austria. Jun 7: Student Protest “Illegal” China’s representative at the United Nations Human Rights Council session has termed a mass students’ protest an “illegal” act requiring prior permission according to Chinese law. The protest took place in the Chabcha region of eastern Tibet last year, and many students were hospitalised. Jun 3: Hong Kong Invites Dalai Lama The Hong Kong Tibetan and HanChinese Friendship Association sent an invitation to the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama to visit Hong Kong, the Special Administrative Region under PRC, this September. However, it seemed that the visit is unlikely to happen. Jun 1: His Holiness Teaching From June 1- 4, His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama gave four days teaching in Tsuklakhang main Temple, Dharamshala. The four days teaching was on Shantideva’s A Guide to the Boddhisattva’s Way of Life (Chodjug) at the request of a group of Indian Sanghas.

JUNE 2013

news & issues

International Headlines Jun 29: Mandela Clings to Life Former South African president Nelson Mandela has been in a Pretoria hospital since June 8. The 94-year-old is being treated for a recurrent lung infection that has put him in hospital for the fourth time since December.

Jun 18: Brazilian Protests Tens of thousands of people marched through the streets of Sao Paulo and at least nine other cities, protesting against rising public transport prices and the costs of hosting the 2014 World Cup. Despite rubber bullets and tear gas, the protesters set fire to cars and climbed onto the roof of the National Congress building. Dozens of people were injured.

Jun 28: US Immigration Reform The US Senate has passed a broad immigration reform bill that will enable an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants to obtain citizenship. The bill passed with a 68-32 vote in the Senate, but faces much stronger opposition in the more conservative House.

Jun 17: China Pressured NYU Chen Guangcheng, the Chinese dissident who fled his home country to become a visiting scholar at New York University, has accused the university of asking him to leave because of “unrelenting pressure” from China. NYU denied the claim, saying that it only offered the blind dissident a fellowship of up to a year, which ends this June.

Jun 24: Dissident in Taiwan Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng has arrived in Taiwan for an 18-day trip that is likely to anger Beijing. He is expected to meet opposition lawmakers and discuss human rights in China, and has said that democracy is “an important treasure”. Mr Chen sparked a diplomatic row last year when he escaped house arrest and sought refuge in the US embassy in Beijing. Jun 21: Singapore, Malaysia Haze Air quality has reached “hazardous levels” in both Singapore and Malaysia over the past few days due to forest fires in Indonesia. The haze has disrupted business and travel in the affected regions. “It can easily last for several

weeks and quite possibly longer until the dry season ends in Sumatra,” said Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Contact Magazine

Jun 16: Military Airport Explosion A huge explosion rocked the Syrian Mezze military airport, which serves as a major base for President Bashar al-Assad’s elite forces. A car exploded at a roadblock near the airport, killing or injuring around 20 members of Assad’s forces. Jun 15: Iran Election Millions of Iranians have voted to choose a new president. Voters had a choice between six candidates to replace Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Reformistbacked Hassan Rouhani has won securing just over 50% and so avoiding the need for a runoff. Conservatives have dominated Iranian politics for the past eight years. Jun 12: China Threatens Journalist C h i n e s e diplomats have threatened and harassed a French journalist after he visited Tibet and secretly filmed a documentary Seven 11

days in Tibet which was broadcast last month on France 24. Cyril Payen was able to obtain a seven-day visa to Lhasa, Tibet’s ancient capital, which has been off limits to journalists since the 2008 uprisings against China’s rule. Jun 8: US Spy Agency Leaks Edward Snowden, the ex-CIA worker turned whistle-blower who revealed numerous US surveillance programs, and is now in Hong Kong, has said of the comfortable life he left in Hawaii. “I’m willing to sacrifice all of that because I can’t in good conscience allow the US government to destroy privacy, internet freedom and basic liberties for people around the world.” His actions created a security breach similar to that of the Pentagon Papers and WikiLeaks. Jun 7: Kenyans Compensated British Foreign Secretary William Hague confirmed that Britain will compensate Kenyans who suffered abuse during the 1950s Mau Mau uprising against colonial rule. The government will pay $30.8 million to 5,228 clients represented by a British law firm. Britain will also cover the expenses of the erection of a special memorial in Nairobi. Jun 1: Anti-government Protests Hundreds of protesters gathered in Istanbul on Friday to protest against

their government after Turkey’s PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan insisted on a controversial park redevelopment plan. The protest turned violent after police used tear gas and water cannons on demonstrators. Violent clashes between police and the public left many injured. Mr. Erdogan blamed “wild extremists” for the protests and asked them to end the protests. JUNE 2013

around town

Charities and Organisations

Central Tibetan Administration

The CTA serves in Dharamsala 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. WEB: www.tibet.net LOCATION: Dharamsala – 176215 PHONE: 01892-222218 HOURS: Mon-Sat: 9:00 am-5:00 pm EMAIL: kashag@tibet.net

The Office of His Holiness The Dalai Lama (OHHDL)

OHHDL is the personal office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The office organizes his schedule, including appointments and travel plans, diplomatic and personal correspondence, and liaises with officials of the Central Tibetan Administration. When His Holiness is in Dharamsala, his schedule includes daily religious practice and studies, meeting with private audiences, and congregating with the Tibetan Kashag and senior Tibetan governmental officials. WEB: www.dalailama.com LOCATION: Thekchen Choeling, McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala – 176219 PHONE: 01892-221343 / 221879 EMAIL: ohhdl@dalailama.com

Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC)

The Tibetan Youth Congress is an advocacy and political action organization with chapters around the world. The Tibetan Youth Congress organizes cultural exhibitions, educational campaigns and social welfare activities. The organization publishes a series of periodicals and magazines on the Tibetan cause. WEB: www. tibetanyouthcongress.org LOCATION: Tipa Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala -176219 PHONE: 01892-221554 / 221010 EMAIL:info@tibetanyouthcongress.org, gensec@tibetanyouthcongress.org

Tibetan Women’s Association

The Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) conducts workshops on gender sensitization and domestic violence throughout Tibetan settlements in India, provides Tibetan women with education scholarships, and connects women with international sponsors. WEB: www. tibetanwomen.org LOCATION: Bhagsu Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala – 176219 PHONE: 01892-221527 / 221198 EMAIL: twa@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 Dharamsala and day school in McLeod Ganj, with other branches throughout India. WEB: www.tcv.org.in LOCATION: Dharamsala Cantt.176216 PHONE: 01892-220356 / 221348 EMAIL: headoffice@tcv.org.in

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Tibetan Medical & Astro. Institute (Men-Tsee-Khang) Men-Tsee-Khang is a facility for research, training and practice of traditional Tibetan medicine. Patients may seek treatment at Men-TseeKhang for both acute and chronic conditions. The facility provides extensive training and produces traditional pharmaceuticals. WEB: www.men-tsee-khang.org LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamsala – 176215 PHONE: 01892-223222 EMAIL: tmai@men-tsee-khang.org

Tibetan Library (LTWA) (Centre for Tibetan Studies)

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. WEB: ltwa.net, tibetanlibrary.org LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong Dharamsala - 176215 PHONE: 01892-222467 / 226181 HOURS: Mon-Sat: 9:00am-1:00pm, 2:005:00pm. Closed 2nd and 4th Sat. every month EMAIL: office@ltwa.net

Delek Hospital

Delek Hospital is a small, Tibetan run hospital in Dharamsala. 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, although this is waived for those who fall under the poverty line. The hospital has a pharmacy on site. WEB:www.delekhospital.org (Friends of Tibetan Delek Hospital) LOCATION: Kharadanda Road, Dharamsala -176215; Delek Clinic, Bhagsu Road, Dharamsala -176219 PHONE: 01892-222053 / 223381 HOURS: Outpatient, Mon-Fri: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm; Specialist clinics, Mon-Sat: 2:00 pm-4:30 pm; Emergencies, 24 hours daily EMAIL: delek@sancharnet.in

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 12 schools under this organization. WEB: www.sambhota.org LOCATION: Session Road, Dharamsala 176215 PHONE: 01892 - 228877 | 226877 EMAIL: stsa1999@yahoo.co.in

Students for a Free Tibet (SFT)

Students for a Free Tibet is an international nongovernmental organization that promotes the Tibetan cause among the non-Tibetan community. The organization attempts to build international solidarity by advocating for a free Tibet through chapter organizations at Universities around the world. WEB:www.sftindia.org, www.studentsforafreetibet.org

LOCATION: Jogiwara RoadMcLeod Ganj, Dharamsala - 176219 PHONE: 01892-220589

Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) TCHRD advocates for human rights and provides education on the human rights situation in Tibet. The centre publishes journals and articles, as well as conducts workshops and campaigns. WEB: www.tchrd.org LOCATION: Top Floor, Narthang Building Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamsala - 176215 PHONE: 01892-223363 EMAIL: office@tchrd.org

Lha Charitable Trust (Lha)

Lha is a Tibetan grassroots nonprofit based in Dharamsala, India. It is one of the largest social work organizations 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 page 2) WEB:www.lhasocialwork.org LOCATION: Temple Road, McLeod Ganj PHONE: 01892-220992 EMAIL: office@lhasocialwork.org

Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet

(Ex Political Prisoners Association) Gu-Chu-Sum is a social service organization that provides financial and medical support for ex political prisoners and political activists from Tibet. In order to join Gu-Chu-Sum, one must register as a political prisoner or political activist through the Department of Security. WEB: www.guchusum.org LOCATION: Jogibara Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala -176219 PHONE: 01892-220680 / 220679 EMAIL: guchusum1991@gmail.com

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 programs, childhood education and sponsorship, primary and nursery tent schools, and children’s support hostels. Some volunteer opportunities available. WEB: www. tong-len.org LOCATION: Top Floor, Bank Of Baroda, Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamsala-176215 PHONE: 01892-223113 / 223930 EMAIL: jamyang@tong-len.org

Tibet Charity

Tibet Charity provides programs including English and computer classes, an animal care program, and a variety of medical and educational financial support programs. WEB: www.tibetcharity.in LOCATION: Temple Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala – 176219 PHONE: 01892-221790 / 221877 HOURS: Mon-Fri: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm EMAIL:mail@tibetcharity.in, tibccharity@gmail. com

JUNE 2013

around town

Charities and Organisations

KUNPHEN Centre for Substance Dependence HIV/AIDS&HRD

KUNPHEN is an Open door Policy drop in Centre providing support, advice, advocacy, counseling, group and alternative healing therapies to those in the Tibetan community suffering from addiction issues. Volunteers needed to carry out action plans. WEB: www.kunphen.org LOCATION: Near Delek Clinic, Bagsunag road, P.O Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala 176219 PHONE: 01892-220565 / 985716806 EMAIL: kunphen@mail.com

Tibetan Centre for Conflict Resolution (TCCR)

Tibetan Centre for Conflict Resolution is a nonprofit, 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. WEB: http://tccr.org LOCATION: Session Road, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamsala 176215 PHONE: 0189-2226627 EMAIL: tccroffice@yahoo.com

The Active Nonviolence Education Center (ANEC)

ANEC facilitates trainings, workshops and open forum discussions on nonviolent strategies to help resolve disagreements and differences at all levls 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 for volunteers. WEB: www.anec.org.in LOCATION: No. 262, 1st floor, Khajanchi -Mohalla, Khunyara Rd, Lower Dharamsala PHONE: 981-632-7158 / 867-990-4767 EMAIL: tcsamkhar@gmail.com, executive_directoranec@yahoo.com

National Democratic Party of Tibet

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

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. WEB: www.gamruschool.com LOCATION: Village Gamru, P.O Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamsala, Distt Kangra 176215 PHONE: 9816105554 EMAIL: (check website)

Clean Upper Dharamsala Project

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 Center are part of the Clean Upper Daramsala Project. Weekly guided tours are offered on Wednesdays at 3 pm. WEB: www.tsodhasa.org LOCATION: Bhagsu Rd., McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala - 176219 PHONE: 01892-221059 EMAIL: office@tsodhasa.org

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Nyingtob Ling (Realm of Courage)

Nyingtob Ling supports Tibetan children from disadvantaged families. The children make handicrafts and paintings. They are so friendly and love to have visitors. WEB: www.nyingtobling.org LOCATION: Near Norbulingka, Sidhpur PHONE:01892 211042 / 9816028149 EMAIL: nyingtobling@hotmail.com

Women’s Team

Volunteers needed to teach English to Indian women and children in the village of Kaniyara near Dharamsala. Contact Jitender. EMAIL: jagori@yahoo.com PHONE: 9817105035 / 08894435595

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: 4:45am, 6pm, 6:45pm, 8:15pm and 8:30pm (Rs330) Semi Deluxe Bus: 6pm (Rs355) AC Volvo Semi-Sleeper: 8pm (Rs1035) AC TATA: 8:30pm (Rs840)

Rogpa Baby Care Center

The Rogpa Baby Care Center helps low-income Tibetan families to become self-sufficient by providing free child care for infants so their parents can work. The center needs volunteers to help with art, games, singing and other tasks including diaper changing. WEB: www.tibetrogpa.org LOCATION: Near Tibetan Ashoka Guest House, Jogiwara Rd., McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala - 176219 (near no.13 on map) PHONE: 9816659549 HOURS: Mon-Sat: 8:00 am-12:00 pm or 1:00 pm- 5 :00 pm EMAIL: rogpa2004@yahoo.com

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. WEB: www.ndp4tibet.org LOCATION: Dharamsala–176219 EMAIL: tibetparty4@gmail.com

Amritsar: Ordinary Bus: 4:45am (Rs165)

*from Dharamsala

Dehradun: Ordinary Bus: 9pm; AC Deluxe: 5:30pm Manali: Ordinary Bus: 5:40pm, 8:40pm *from Dharamsala Pathankot: Ordinary Bus: 11am, 12:10pm, 12:30pm, 2:10pm, 3:50pm, 5pm(Rs75)

Shimla: Ordinary Bus: 5am, 5:30am, 6am, 8am, noon and 4:55pm (Rs235) *from Dharamsala Semi-Deluxe Bus: 8:22am, 7:45pm and 9:30pm (Rs???) *from Dharamsala FOR BOOKINGS: Location: Ticket stand under McLLo’s, main square Hours: 10am-6pm, daily Phone: 221750 For deluxe buses, book through any travel agency.

TAXIS

A private taxi to Lower Dharamsala will cost you Rs 200. Cram into a jeep (from the bus stand), and it’ll only cost you Rs10.

IMPORTANT CONTACTS

Ambulance: 01892-102, 222189

Police Superintendent: 01892-222244

Tibetan Delek Hospital Location: Gangchen Kyishong, between McLeod Ganj and Lower Dharamshala Hours: Outpatient services: 9am-1pm, Mon-Sat; Specialist clinics: 2-4:30pm, Mon-Sat; 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

Post Office The McLeod Ganj Post Office is located Kangra Airport: 01892-232374, 232324 on Jogiwara Rd, past Peace Cafe Hours: 9:30am-1pm and 2-5pm, Mon-Fri; Bhagsu Taxi Union: 01892-221034 9:30am-noon, Sat. Phone: 221 924 Tourism Office: 01892-23107 Parcels and money orders can be Rail Booking & Enquiry: 01892-265026 sent in the mornings only. 13

JUNE 2013

activities and tourist info Upcoming Events Jul 6: Birthday of HH The Dalai Lama Jul 13-14 HH The Dalai Lama teaching in Hunsur, Karnataka. His Holiness will confer a two day Yamantaka Initiation (dranak chusum wang) at Dzongar Chodhe Monastery.

BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY

Library of Tibetan Works & Archives WEB: www.ltwa.net/library LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong, between McLeod Ganj and Lower Dharamsala HOURS: Mon-Sat: 9:00-1:00pm, 2:00-5:00pm PHONE: 921-842-2467

Public Audience with HH Karmapa WEB: www.kagyuoffice.org LOCATION: Sidhpur HOURS: Wed & Sat: 2:30pm PHONE: 981-631-5336

YOGA & REIKI Om Yoga, Meditation & Reiki Centre LOCATION: Ketan Lodge, behind Akash Hotel, on Jogiwara Rd - Map #11 HOURS: 8:00am-6:00pm PHONE: 980-569-3514

MASSAGE Lha Healing Oil Massage Courses & Treatment LOCATION: Lha Office, Temple Rd PHONE: 01892-20992 HOURS: Registration, 9:00am-11:00am

Om Yoga Center

WEB: www.omyogaindia.com LOCATION: Ketan Lodge, Jogiwara Rd. HOURS: Daily, 8:00-9:30pm & 4:00-5:30PM PHONE: 980-569-3514 EMAIL: om.yoga@ymail.com

Nature Cure Health Club

Shiatsu massage LOCATION: Near Tibetan Ashoka,Jogiwara Rd PHONE: 941-813-0119 EMAIL: mahinder_m@hotmail.com

Shiatsu & Swedish Massage LOCATION: Lha Office, Temple Rd PHONE: 01892-20992

Synergy Ayuredic Massage Center LOCATION: Near Tibetan Ashoka, Jogiwara Rd PHONE: 941 80 8488 EMAIL: mcleodganj@gmail.com

Traditional Thai Massage

LOCATION: Opposite the Govt. Tourist Information Centre, Hotel Surya Rd PHONE: 981-633-9199 EMAIL: jite02@yahoo.com

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MEDITATION

LANGUAGES

Om Yoga, Meditation & Reiki Centre

Tibetan Language Class

Tushita Meditation Center

Hindi Classes

WEB: www.omyogaindia.com LOCATION: Ketan Lodge, Jogiwara Road PHONE: 980-569-3514 EMAIL: om.yoga@ymail.com WEB: www.tushita.info LOCATION: Dharamkot HOURS: Mon-Sat: 9:30-11:30am PHONE: 0898-816-0988 EMAIL: spc@tushita.info

Vipassana Meditation

WEB: www.sikhara.dhamma.org LOCATION: Dharamkot HOURS: Mon-Sat: 4:00-5:00pm PHONE: 01892-21309 EMAIL: info@sikhara.dhamma.org

Rishi Yoga & Meditation Center

LOCATION: Lha Office, Temple Rd HOURS: Registration from 9-11am, Mon-Fri PHONE: 220 992 See ad on pg 3. LOCATION: Ketan Lodge, Jogiwara Rd, beside the Korean Restaurant PHONE: 981-649-4732

Hindi Lessons with Sunil

LOCATION: Kunga Guesthouse, Bhagsu Rd and in Dharamkot PHONE: 01892-21942, 941-818-7281 EMAIL: sunilsharma81in@yahoo.co.in

Tibetan Language

LOCATION: The Tibetan Library See Buddhist Philosophy Listing

WEB: http://.rishiyogaindia.com/reach.php LOCATION: Jogiwara Rd, opposite Gaden Choeling Nunnery PHONE: 9736184741, 9882228502 EMAIL: Yogarishi2001@yahoo.co.in

Hindi Lessons with Kailash

School of Life and Spirituality

Tibetan with Pema Youdon

Meditation and teachers’ training LOCATION: behind Hotel Akashdeep, Bhagsu, Mcleodganj, please all before coming WEB: web: www.devom.org PHONE: 09569221047, 09971608310 EMAIL: dev@devom.org

COOKING Lha Tibetan Cooking School LOCATION: Lha Office, Temple Rd HOURS: Registration, 9:00-11:00am PHONE: 01892-20992

Indian Cooking Classes

LOCATION:Jogiwara Rd, next to Tibetan Ashoka Guesthouse HOURS: 10:00am-6:00pm PHONE: 941-813-0119 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

Nisha’s Indian Cooking Class

LOCATION: Hotel Lotus Leaf, Jogiwara Rd HOURS: 4:00-6:00pm EMAIL: nisha@indiancookingcourse.com

Sangye’s Kitchen Traditional Tibetan Cooking Classes

LOCATION: Lung-ta Restaurant, below the Tashi Choeling Monastery on Jogiwara Rd HOURS:10:00am-12:00pm & 4:00-6:00pm PHONE: 981-616-4540 EMAIL: sangyla_tashi@yahoo.co.in

Indian Cooking and Knitting with Ms. Rita Kapoor LOCATION: Old German Bakery, 1st Floor, Room No. 2, Opp. Buddha Hall, Bhagsunag PHONE: 94592 06586

LOCATION: At Bhimsen’s Indian Cooking Class PHONE: 01892-20063, 941-816-1947 HOURS: Daily, 4:00-6:00pm LOCATION: Jogiwara Rd, opposite the post office HOURS: 1:00-4:00pm, or leave a message.

Esukhia Online Tibetan Courses and Tibetan Immersion Spoken

Location: Esukhia Office,Tilak Ray Building, Bhagsu Road, Dharamsala Web: www.esukhia.org Phone: 8679502538 E- mail- esukhiacontact@gmail.com

ART & MUSeums Naam Art Gallery

LOCATION: Main Road Sidhbari Dharamsala PHONE: 9816043708

Tibet Museum

LOCATION:Near the Main Temple and the 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 on Jogiwara Rd, next to the Lung-ta Japanese Restaurant HOURS: Mon, Wed & Fri: 2:00pm-5:00pm

Kangra Art Museum

LOCATION: Near Bus Stand, Kotwali Bazaar PHONE: 01892 224214 HOURS: Tue-Sun: 10:00am-1:00pm & 2:00pm-5:00pm

The Tibetan Institute for the Performing Arts (TIPA) WEB: www.tibetanarts.org LOCATION: Kotwali Bazaar PHONE: 1892-221478 EMAIL: tipadhasa@hotmail.com

Form Gallery

LOCATION: Jogiwara Rd. near Oasis Cafe PHONE: 8894-060602 HOURS: Daily, 12:00pm-6:00pm

JUNE 2013

activities & services HEALTH SERVICES Dr. Sant Marwah Clinic

LOCATION: In front of Main Temple, McLeod Ganj, Dharamsala HOURS: 9:30am-6:30pm, Closed Monday PHONE: 01892-21106, 981-602-1106 EMAIL: smarwahin@yahoo.com

Dr. Kumar Ayurvedic and Panchkarma WEB: www.kumarayurveda.com LOCATION: Hotel Surya Rd., opposite the the Club House HOURS: 9:00am-2:00pm & 2:30-7:00pm; Emergencies: 24 hrs daily PHONE: 8894492837 EMAIL: SATINDER3737@gmail.com

Maanav Health Clinic

LOCATION: Main Square HOURS: 10:00am-12:30pm and 2:00-5:00pm PHONE: 941-815-5795 EMAIL: maanavcare@yahoo.co.in

Men-Tsee-Khang

LOCATION: Between McLeod Ganj and Lower Dharamshala PHONE: 01892-22618 / 223113 EMAIL: tmai@vsnl.com

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: : 941-813-0119 EMAIL: mahinder_m@hotmail.com

Tibetan Delek Hospital

LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong, between McLeod Ganj and Lower Dharamsala PHONE: 01892-22053 / 223381 HOURS: Outpatient services, Mon-Sat: 9:00am-1:00pm; Specialist clinics, Mon-Sat: 2:00-4:30pm; Emergencies: 24 hrs daily

Ayuskam Health Care

WEB: www.ayuskama.com LOCATION: First floor Hotel Anand Place, near Bhagsu taxi stand and near Tibetan Hotel Ashoka Guest House McLeod Ganj PHONE: 980-592-8923, 973-621-1210

Reflections of a Volunteer Tashi Delek!

Name: Shraddha Gupta Jobs at Lha: English tutor, contributing writer People have different reasons for grasslands there. volunteering – my reason for living As a tutor getting to know my this opportunity was to “experience and student, a Buddhist nun who fondly learn”. My thanks go to Lha, because calls me ‘teacher’, I learned to although from the outside, what Lha understand the meaning of many does might look like a drop in the ocean, Buddhist rituals and traditions, making I found here a power of global resource me a tiny part of this magnificent which comes from the heartfelt passion religion, and in return I gifted her the of the countless skilled volunteers skill of becoming fluent in a language from different parts of the world, who that for her will remain important in work together to be a part of the ever the future. progressing Tibetan cause. Today I look back at how little I A month within the mysterious knew, and what came along for me Tibetan community here has opened were thirty days of learning more and my eyes to a world resting peacefully more. To me, India, my homeland, among the mountains of Dharamshala, is much more beautiful now, as the and a community who live their lives travellers I met made me look at her through practicing Buddhism. through their eyes. Now I know that I found the many interesting people people visit Varanasi and Rishikesh in I have met here have inspired my idea search of spirituality and to experience of a global “family”, I have realised that our culture. I have learned to see our compassion is the one thing that binds architecture as a mesmerising art and humans around the globe, and that to learn that we as a nation are more English is the one language common to developed than suggested by the every nation and every religion. international media reports. As an Indian, it has been fascinating And I can only hope that Delhi for me to learn how my own country will become a better experience for has opened her doors to the increasing people who visit in times to come. numbers of Tibetan in exile, and has My experience as a volunteer become their home. The discussions I started when I left behind the life I had in Lha conversation classes touched had in order to shake things up in my my heart as I heard stories of people life, meet new people, and create new crossing ice cold mountains in search stories, and ends with the thought that of safety and peace, and of many who “if only” more people could do what still yearn for Tibet, and whose biggest a bunch of us just did! dream is to go back and visit the lush

More Protests in Tibet by Palden Choedon Over 4,500 Tibetans gathered near Naglha Zamba in the Driru region of eastern Tibet last month as Chinese mining activities there sparked a massive protest. Naglha Zamba is a sacred hill and a prominent pilgrimage site in the region, while being rich in mineral resources. The protest was triggered when a Chinese company arrived at Naglha Zamba to start work. The authorities tried to win over the protesters by Contact Magazine

telling them the project would bring development and other benefits to the region. “Actually they were there to mine minerals” one of the locals said. Three Tibetans were reportedly killed by a landslide while on the way to the protest site. The Chinese authorities deployed over 50 military convoys at the protest side. Mining operations in Tibet have led to frequent standoffs with Tibetans accusing Chinese mining companies of disrupting sites 15

of spiritual significance, and polluting the environment. Mining projects in Tibet are planned and implemented without consultation, consent or the knowledge of local Tibetans. The Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala has continuously argued that Beijing should stop such activities and give priority to the Tibetans who live there, and who are becoming marginalised by Chinese “development” undertakings. JUNE 2013

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Professor Samdhong Rinpoche Speaks at Ahimsa House Lha was delighted to welcome Professor Samdhong Rinpoche to Ahimsa House on June 23. He delivered a lecture on Buddhism and nonviolence to the outgoing student group from Tulane University. The group had been staying in Ahimsa House on a cultural exchange. Prof S Rinpoche is an eminent scholar who is respected throughout the world in the areas of Buddhist philosophy, science, and politics. In addition to being an outspoken proponent of nonviolence, he was Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-inExile twice, and was the first directly

elected Kalon Tripa (prime minister). Dalai Lama’s renunciation of political Prof Samdhong Rinpoche is the first power in 2011. He currently serves as His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s highest representative and has published several books on the subjects of nonviolence and Buddhist philosophy. Prof Samdhong Rinpoche was also appointed as the Chancellor of Sanchi University of Buddhist-Indic Studies based in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on April 25, 2013. We were greatly honoured to receive Prof Samdhong Rinpoche a visit and lecture from the Professor, with Tulane group and delighted that he was able to find person to have exercised political time for us in his extremely busy authority following His Holiness the schedule. Tibet meets the world and the world meets Tibet! Tibet World is an organization devoted in educating people in various skills and encourage youths to take part in social service. It engages in a wide variety of activities to solve the most urgent social and educational problems for Tibetan refugees.

a) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED b) TRADITION TIBETAN FOLK SONGS EVERY THURSDAY 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm AT NGO TIBET WORLD, Pop House, Bhagsu Rd., McLeod Gang All funds are going to NGO Tibet World

Rs 100

Tickets available at Green Hotel & Tibet World

Cultural Events with Traditional Tibetan Folk Songs & Dances from Kham, U-Tsang and Amdo areas!

Shivani Clinic and Panchakarma Centre

Bhagsunag - map # 22 Empower Yourself Ayurvedic consultations for acute and chronic diseases with ayurvedic therapies, herbs and panchakarma, with world renowned doctors working in collabration with naturopaths in Europe and America. Treatments starting from one hour to three weeks, depending on your problems. Contact Magazine

visit : www.ashoayurvedahealing.com email: drshivani.mahehskumar@gmail.com call: 9418069406 weekdays 5- 7pm JUNE 2013