འབྲེས་གཏུགས་གསར་འཕྲིན།
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Contact
A Free Monthly Publication For Tibetan Issues and Community Information RGD No. HPENG/2013/51798 Volume: XVII Issue: 5 30 June 2015
80th Birthday Celebrations for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet in Dharamshala, India
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about lha & contact Contact, a free monthly magazine published by Lha Charitable Trust, is a recognised and registered publication under the Registrar Office of the Newspaper, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India. The registration number is HPENG/2013/51798. Acknowledged by Lonely Planet and other international travel resources, Contact has been a popular source of news and information on Tibetan issues, and the Dharamshala community, for over 16 years. 700 - 1,000 copies are printed per issue and distributed in the Dharamshala area, Delhi, and various diplomatic missions to India. Copies are also sent to various Tibetan schools, settlements, offices and NGOs in India. 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 Social Work. All comments on this issue should be submitted by email to: editor@contactmagazine.net
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:
Lha is a Tibetan grassroots nonprofit organisation 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 English, French and Chinese classes, cultural exchange programmes, IT classes, vocational training, health and environmental awareness education, distribution of clothes and medicine, a community 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. 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 Facebook: Lhasocialwork Twitter: Lhasocialwork
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RECEPTION & ORIENTATION Our services help smooth your arrival in Delhi and your onward travel to Dharamshala. We also orientate you to the Tibetan community here. Avoid the scams at Delhi Airport! 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. TIBETAN COOKING CLASS Individuals and small groups can learn to prepare a variety of traditional and modern vegetarian Tibetan foods including momos, thukpa and Tibetan bread, with a qualified teacher. For information on cost, times and/or registration, please visit: Lha office, Temple Road, McLeod Ganj-176219 Dharamshala, Distt. Kangra H.P. (Mon-Sat: 9am-1pm & 2-5pm) office@lhasocialwork.org (0) 1892-220992 Websites associated with Lha: www.lhasocialwork.org www.samdhongrinpoche.com www.tibetfairtrade.com www.tibetnature.net 2
Acknowledgement
This issue of Contact is sponsored by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD). TFD’s kind contribution has made this publication possible. We thank TFD for supporting the publication of Contact.
Can you Donate to Lha? Lha collects all kinds of donations in the form of clothing, shoes, books, and language resources, computer and medical supplies, as well as any other useful items. Monetary donations are extremely helpful and are greatly appreciated, large or small. Please contact the office: office@lhasocialwork.org (0) 98823-23455 / 1892-220992 JUNE 2015
news & issues
US and UK statements on Tibet at the UN in Geneva
by Rohini Kejriwal Renewed discussions on the issue of Tibet took place early this month at the Lockdown in Tibet event as part of the 28th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Detailed statements on Tibet were made by both a United Kingdom government minister and the United States State Department’s Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. While both the governments expressed their concern about human rights in Tibet and China’s policies there, neither challenged China’s claim that Tibet is part of China, nor backed the right of the Tibetan people to determine their own political future. Sarah Sewall, the US Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights, and Co-ordinator for Tibetan Issues, began her speech with the need for Tibetans to “be able to enjoy their fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights”. She particularly noted the restrictions on religious freedom in Tibet, saying that Beijing had “tighten[ed] already strict controls on Tibetans’ freedom of religion, expression, assembly, association and movement. Chinese
authorities have also taken actions to denigrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama”. Ms Sewall demanded that the Chinese authorities release Tenzin Delek Rinpoche and other prisoners of conscience, and allow Dhondup Wangchen to be reunited with his family. Calling China’s policies in Tibet “unfortunate and counterproductive”, Ms Sewall raised the issue of restrictions on access to Tibet for United Nations representatives, diplomats and
Sarah Sewall (2nd from right) at the event
journalists. She urged China to commit to “a timely, predictable visa issuance and credentialing process for foreign journalists, unblock US media websites, and eliminate restrictions on journalists in Tibet and other areas”. She made note of the criticism meted out to China’s efforts to control the reincarnation of Tibetan monks, especially the case of the 11th Panchen
Lama, Gedun Choekyi Nyima, who disappeared after being recognised 26 years ago. In a lengthy debate in the House of Commons in the UK, Hugo Swire, the Junior Minister with responsibility for China, was far less direct than his US counterpart. Mr Swire opened his speech by reaffirming that the UK considers Tibet to be part of the People’s Republic of China. He went on to say that the relationship between the two countries had “never been closer”. He repeated language commonly used by Chinese state media, saying that “rapid economic growth has raised living standards across China and has improved access to a range of social and economic rights. In Tibet, investment in education, healthcare and employment has led to a doubling in life expectancy since the early 1950s.” Hugo Swire made no comment about the causes of the numerous selfimmolations in Tibet and on the issue of human rights, he referred to specific and long-standing concerns about religious freedom, freedom of expression and “ethnic minority rights”. His only specific call for action, however, was that political prisoners have proper access to medical care.
25,000 Pilgrims Waiting to Cross into Tibet
by Rohini Kejriwal 25,000 pilgrims have been waiting to cross the border from Nepal into Tibet to embark on the annual pilgrimage, the Kailash Mansarovar yatra. Tour
Mount Kailash in Tibet. Photo: ShutterStock
operators in the area have said that China has closed the border points to ensure the safety of the pilgrims in view of the landslides which followed the recent devastating earthquakes in Contact
Nepal. These 25,000 foreigners, including Indian, Russian, Malaysian and European tourists, have booked their tours for Kailash Mansarovar through 38 tour and travel companies based in Nepal. China has closed border points, including Tatopani, Rasuwa and Hilsa, citing landslides as the reason. Nearly 40,000 pilgrims and tourists, approximately 80% of them from India, annually take part in the pilgrimage to visit Kailash Mansarovar, a popular Hindu and Buddhist shrine, and the nearby Manasarovar Lake, usually during May-July. This pilgrimage is considered to be important, especially for Indians. Kailash peak is regarded as an abode of Lord Shiva and his wife Parvati, and it has been the centre of 3
devotion from ancient times for the Devas, Danavas, Yakshas, Kinners, Vidyadharas, Gandharvas, Apsaras, yogis, Munis, Siddhas and Tapes. It is sacred to Hindus, Jains, Buddhists and the followers of Tibet’s pre-Buddhist Bon religion. The yatra would boost tourism in Nepal, which was badly affected after the quakes. Nepal’s tourism and civil aviation ministry have therefore asked the foreign ministry to raise the issue with the Chinese authorities. “There has been no official statement from China about the closure. But we are requesting our foreign ministry to take up the matter with Chinese authorities to ensure the border points are open for pilgrims,” said a tourism ministry spokesperson. Continued on page 7 JUNE 2015
news & issues
Tibetans Celebrate the Dalai Lama’s 80th Birthday by Tenzin Samten India. Also present were Shri Nabam Tibetans should nurture the Tibetan Dharamshala, the residence of the Tuki, Chief Minister of Arunachal language and give importance to it as Dalai Lama, was in festive mood for Pradesh; Mr Pema Khandu, Tourism it is the only language through which weeks as Tibetans geared up for a Minister of Arunachal Pradesh; the traditions of Nalanda can be mega celebration of the 80th birthday Mr Kagyu Dhondup, Chief Justice explained and studied fully – which of their beloved leader, the 14th can benefit all humanity. He Dalai Lama whose birthday further said that the message falls on the fifth day of the he carries around the world is fifth month of the Tibetan lunar Indian, from the place where the calendar. traditions of Nalanda flourished The three day celebration was first. His Holiness calls himself jointly organised by the Central a son of India, explaining, Tibetan Administration (CTA), “Because I have lived on this Riwo Geden (who represent land for more than 56 years all Gelukpa) and the Domey now, and my body dwelled on Association (who represent the rice and dal grown on this the people of Amdo, where the land.” Dalai Lama was born). As well CM Virbhadra Singh offering a piece of cake to His Holiness The first day of celebrations Photo: Contact/Lha as marking the Dalai Lama’s concluded with His Holiness 80th birthday, the event honoured Commissioner; Mr Penpa Tsering, relishing an open luncheon with his great achievements and tireless Speaker of the Tibetan parliament guests and the public in the courtyard contribution towards humanity at and Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the at Tsuglakhang. large and Tibet’s cause in particular. elected political head of the CTA. The next day was arranged by The celebration kicked off on June Sri Nabam Tuki and Mr Pema members of the Domey Association, 21 at Tsuglakhang, the main temple in Khando presented the Dalai Lama with a traditional Amdo setting for Dharamshala, which was packed with with a statue of Buddha Shakyamuni the celebrations. The Chief Minister thousands of Tibetans and supporters and a citation on behalf of the of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Virbhadra gathered for the event. A ceremony took people of Arunachal Pradesh for his Singh who turned 81 on the same place with a long life prayer offering contribution to the world. for His Holiness in the presence of Sikyong Lobsang Sangay greeted other heads and representatives of the His Holiness on behalf of all Tibetans, four traditions of Tibetan Buddhism those inside Tibet and those in and Bon. A group of Tibetans who are exile, and expressed gratitude for also eighty years old this year received his leadership and guidance, and for a special blessing from His Holiness. promoting universal responsibility to The official ceremony which followed foster religious harmony. Indian Minister Shri Mahesh Sharma said that he has come with the best wishes and prayers of 125 His Holiness having lunch with the public Photo: Contact/Lha crore Indians. Shri Kiren Rijiju said “You don’t represent one religion or day, attended the ceremony and he one community; you represent the and His Holiness cut the birthday entire humanity. And it is our bounded cake together. They also inaugurated duty to ensure that we practice your fifteen thangka paintings based on message of love and kindness in words the life and achievements of the 14th and in spirit.” Dalai Lama. Sri Nibam Tuki presenting gifts to His Holiness The Dalai Lama addressed the Speaker Penpa Tsering, of the Photo: Contact/Lha gathering, thanking the guests and Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile presented was attended by special guests who audience for coming to celebrate his His Holiness with a commemorative included Dr Mahesh Sharma, Union birthday. He said that the best birthday gold medal on behalf of the Domey Minister of Culture and Tourism and gift for him would be following Association. Minister of Civil Aviation and Kiren the teachings of Lord Buddha and The heads of all the Tibetan Rijiju,the Union Minister of State for fostering the rich tradition of Nalanda. religious traditions: Gaden Tripa Home Affairs of the Government of His Holiness also mentioned that Rizong Rinpoche, Sakya Trizin, Menri Contact
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JUNE 2015
news & issues
Tibetans Celebrate the Dalai Lama’s 80th Birthday Trizin Rinpoche, Gyalwang Karmapa, Kabje Khadok Geytsel Rinpoche representing Tsedrul Rinpoche and Dregung Chetsang Rinpoche also addressed the audience to honour the auspicious day. His Holiness and the guests later attended the screening of a documentary film on the life of Virbhadra Singh, Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh,
On the second day of the celebration Photo:Contact/Lha
at Tibetan Children’s Village school. The screening was followed by cultural performances by popular Tibetan singers in exile.
at monasteries in Gansu province to celebrate the 80th birthday of their leader by displaying the Dalai Lama’s portrait and making offerings and prayers. On June 23, thousands of Tibetans gathered at Jonang Chamda monastery in Qinghai’s Golog prefecture to honour both the Dalai Lama’s birthday and a senior Jonang monk, Khenchen Sherab Salje, whose birthday also falls in the same month. The monks of Chamda monastery brought a portrait of the Dalai Lama, placing it on a throne and reciting a three-day long prayer of blessing for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life. In Kardze prefecture, Tibetan monks and villagers gathered at an open area, set up an altar and offerings in front of a large photo of His Holiness and offered prayers. In other areas of Kardze, both laypeople
Tibetans Defy the Ban and Celebrate His Holiness’s Birthday in Tibet Reports have been coming in from Tibet that in advance of the Dalai Lama’s birthday this month, the Chinese authorities tightened restrictions across Tibetan-populated areas by blocking public gatherings and activities. Despite the threats and tight restrictions of the Chinese authorities, Tibetans there celebrated and honoured the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday in their own ways. A large number of Tibetans gathered
Young Tibetans in Tibet offer prayers in front of the Dalai Lama’s picture on an open altar Photo: Radio Free Asia
and monks marked the auspicious day by engaging in various celebration activities. According to sources who have contacts in Tibet, Chinese authorities have issued serious bans on activities
related to the forthcoming celebration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s birthday on July 6. In Gansu province, two Tibetans were detained for organising a Tibetan horse racing competition which took place June 10 - 13. The
Tibetans gathered to celebrate Dalai Lama’s birthday in a nomadic area in Tibet Photo: Radio Free Asia
only requirement for the participants was that they save the life of at least one animal and dedicate this act of kindness to the Dalai Lama. No further information was provided about the two men after their detention. Radio Free Asia reported that Tsering Dondrub from Rebgong was arrested for posting photos of the Tibetan flag and the Dalai Lama on the popular social media application, WeChat. And in Taiwan, the Taiwan International Convention Centre organised a four-hour long Blessing Concert for His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Taipei. His Holiness spoke live online to over 3,500 people who were present at the concert and said, “Be kind hearted towards others and that would be the best birthday gift for me.”
Focus on Human Rights in China
by Mary Trewartha China’s attitude to human rights was discussed at the 29th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council on June 24 in Geneva. The United States and European Union member states, including Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic, expressed concern over increased arrests, detentions, harassments and Contact
disappearances, and called for the Chinese government to drop charges against political prisoners. An EU statement urged China to address the root causes of unrest and to foster dialogue, especially in Tibet and Xinjiang. China was asked to stop curbing the involvement of international and domestic NGOs, and urged to respect liberation around 5
the Dalai Lama’s birthday to avoid an escalation of protest in Tibet. The Chinese delegation responded under the “right to reply” option saying, “China resolutely refutes unwarranted charges by Switzerland and Czech Republic. These two countries in disregard of their own problems made lots of charges against other countries.” JUNE 2015
news & issues
The Dalai Lama’s Visit to Australia by Vanshika Tripathi His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Sydney, Australia on June 4 for an eleven-day visit. After being greeted with a traditional welcome at the airport from over 200 Tibetans, His
Interview on Network Ten TV in Sydney Photo: OHHDL/Jeremy Russell
Holiness gave an interview to Network Ten’s Waleed Aly. When asked about the role that religion serves in today’s society, His Holiness explained that religion is a means to develop inner peace and equanimity. June 5 marked the first of five days of teachings at Leura. After performing the Vajrabhairava empowerment rituals, His Holiness began his discourse by emphasising that even though the religions of the
world differ in terms of philosophy, they all teach the importance of love, compassion and forgiveness. “There are philosophical differences between them, but these are just different approaches to the same goal. This is why it’s so sad when religion apparently becomes a source of violence” said His Holiness. He then talked about Highest Yoga Tantra and the Nalanda Tradition. In the following days, His Holiness continued his teachings with the Heart of Wisdom recitation, six session Guru-Yoga and the Five Stages of Guhyasamaja. He met around 100 Chinese intellectuals, saying “For the last 30-40 years I have promoted friendship between Tibetans and Chinese. Although we’ve had difficulties for the last 60 years, that shouldn’t harm our 2,000-year-old relationship. I appreciate the efforts of those of you who have made this meeting possible.” His Holiness spoke at the Happiness and Its Causes conference in Sydney Australia, saying that the current
education system places importance on a materialistic way of living, but this is inadequate for building a happy society. Towards the end of his stay in Australia, His Holiness attended a multi-faith service at the Cathedral of St Stephen, speaking on Precious Garland in Brisbane. “Because we don’t want suffering we need to evaluate our emotions and decide
Tibetans welcoming His Holiness at the airport Photo: Rusty Stewart
which to enhance and which to discard,” His Holiness said during the teaching. His Holiness concluded his visit with a talk The Wisdom of Giving and Receiving, and a meeting with around 700 Bhutanese Australians.
The 21st GCM Gold Cup Football Tournament by Tsering Wangdue The 21st Gyalyum Chemo Memorial Gold Cup (GCMGC) football tournament was played out from May 30 to June 10. The biggest sporting event in the Tibetan Exile Community, The GCMGC football tournament kicked off at Upper Tibetan Children’s Village School football ground in Dharamshala. There was one team each from the United States, Canada and Europe, three teams from Nepal and 21 teams from India making a total of 28 qualifying teams. The participating teams gave an impressive and entertaining display of quality football to thousands of Tibetan football lovers, with much sportsmanship spirit shown. The final match was played between Mundgod FC and Tashiling Pokhara FC in front of over 4,000 spectators. Mundgod FC, one of the youngest Contact
teams in the tournament, won the match and was awarded the GCMCG trophy together with the INR 100,000
The winners of the 2015 GCM with Sikyong Photo: Facebook
cash prize. The defending champions Tashiling Pokhara conceded two goals to lose the match in a neck-and-neck contest. Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected political leader of Tibetan people, was in the audience for the finale 6
as the chief guest. He congratulated all the participating teams for making this tournament a success and for conducting it in a fair and sporting spirit. Sikyong also mentioned the importance of promoting sports in the Tibetan exile community as a way of improving general health and also to foster unity between the Tibetan communities scattered throughout the world. The GCMGC football tournament is organised every year by the Tibetan National Sports Association (TNSA) in memory of the late Great Mother (Gyalyum Chemo) of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The general secretary of TNSA, Mr Kalsang Phuntsok, has expressed his satisfaction with the successful completion of 21st GCMGC tournament, overall improvement in the standards of Tibetan football and the favorable support from the general public. JUNE 2015
news & issues
The Bloody Harvest by Sam Ferguson Claims that the Chinese government was harvesting organs from political detainees and redistributing them through their health service emerged in a report in 2006. It was compiled by two journalists, Nobel Peace The Slaughter Prize nominees David Kilgour and David Martas, and entitled Bloody Harvest: the killing of Falun Gong for their organs. In their report, Kilgour and Martas allege that practitioners of Falun Gong were especially targeted for organ harvesting in the wake of the persecution of the movement by the Chinese Government in the late 1990’s. Evidence included eye witness testimony and the fact that organ transfer waiting times were significantly lower in China compared to other modern states. There is also concern for the many Tibetan political prisoners currently jailed in China.
A later publication, The Slaughter: Mass Killings, Organ Harvesting, and China’s Secret Solution to Its Dissident Problem, written by China expert Ethan Gutmann, supports the findings of Kilgour and Martas. Gutmann spent seven years collecting and collating interview testimony from former prisoners, torture survivors and even doctors who were actively involved in organ harvesting. His research
Ethan Gutman talking to the media Photo: Epoch Times
focusses mainly on the followers of Falun Gong, but also contains interviews from Tibetans who claim to have suffered similarly at the hands of the Chinese government. The three authors joined forces last year to launch Gutmann’s work, travelling around the United Kingdom
and Canada to discuss their findings with the governments of those countries. Falun Gong is an ancient Chinese practise combining meditation and qigong exercises. The movement centres on the tenets of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. Though initially supported by the Chinese government, in 1999, worried by the independence and apparent power of the 70 million strong movement, the government took action and Falun Gong was declared a heretical movement. This was followed by propaganda messages and internet censorship. Mass arrests of Falun Gong followers ensued, and by 2009 at least 2,000 detainees had perished in detention centres, though many claim this figure to be much higher. Human rights groups report that Falun Gong practitioners in China are subject to a wide range of human rights abuses. Ethan Gutman’s previous works include Losing the New China, an award winning look at life in modern China. Both publications have topped best-selling lists internationally and are currently on sale.
25,000 Pilgrims Waiting to Cross into Tibet
Continued from page 3
As an alternative, travel operators have asked the government to allow tourists to visit Kailash Mansarovar by helicopter or on foot from NepalgunjSurkhet in western Nepal, close to the Hindu pilgrimage site. Another option would be to open the Hilsa point in Humla district. Tulasi Gautam, Director General of the Tourism Department, said that initiatives were being taken at ministerial level. “The road to Tatopani has already been opened.We are trying to bring these 25,000 tourists to Nepal by any means,” he said. No tourist had so far cancelled their booking, according to Prakash Shrestha, Chairman of Kailash Tour Association. Tour operators there say that the tourists were ready to come as soon as they received a timetable. Contact
While this story unfolds in Nepal, pilgrims will be able to travel to the holy site from India using the new option of the Nathu La pass, located on Tibet-India border in Sikkim, from this month. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during his visit to Shanghai last month, “The Nathu La route for Indian pilgrims to visit Kailash Mansarovar will become operational in June. I want to thank China for that.” Chinese President Xi Jinping had announced this development in his visit to India in September last year as a means of improving economic relations between the two countries. This new route takes pilgrims from Nathu-La to Shigatse, Tibet’s second biggest city after the capital Lhasa, by road. From there, pilgrims can comfortably travel to Mansarovar and Kailash using the 7
well-laid highway. Though the new route is longer, the journey will be both safer and more comfortable than the existing ones through Uttarakhand state in India, and Nepal. A large majority of the pilgrims will travel via the Lipulekh Pass in Uttarakhand, a 22-day journey connecting the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand with the old trading town of Taklakot in Tibet. This route was badly damaged during recent flooding. The easiest and shortest route for travelling to the Kailash-Manasarovar sites remains via Demchok in Ladakh. This route was used by Indian pilgrims when Tibet was free without the need to apply for a visa, until 1959. People in Ladakh have been demanding the reopening of this route but without success, due to China’s refusal. JUNE 2015
news & issues
A message from the Karmapa by Erin McKissick This June marks the 30th birthday of His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje. Born into a nomad family in Eastern Tibet, the Karmapa was officially recognised by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and enthroned at the Tsurphu Monastery at the age of seven. In order to learn The young Karmapa from the Kagyu Photo: kagyuoffice lineage teachers, many of whom were in exile in India, the Karmapa escaped to Dharamshala in 2000. He has been living as a refugee, continuing his monastic
training and education, and receiving visitors in Dharamshala ever since. Despite many requests for the Karmapa to celebrate his birthday in a manner worthy of a world spiritual leader, he has released a statement indicating that he will not be celebrating this year. Citing a number of reasons, both personal and political, the Karmapa has decided to refrain from any formal celebration, opting instead to thank those who have offered their support and love over the years. In his message, the Karmapa reflects on the precious memories that come to mind as his birthday passes. He comments on “keenly” feeling the absence of his parents, who “created and nurtured” his body,
and writes that he is also thinking of the “sparkling beauty of the pristine natural environment” of Tibet, the land in which he was born and raised. In light of these memories of Tibet’s fragile landscape, the Karmapa incites his readers to “preserve and protect” the planet, saying that the occasion of his birthday is far less important than the state of the environment. He prefers to The Karmapa focus his energies Photo: kagyuoffice on environmental sustainability and expressing gratitude to his followers.
Tibetan Groups Refute China’s Boasts of Human Rights by Erin McKissick A White Paper entitled Progress in China’s Human Rights in 2014 was issued by the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China on June 8. Citing their “tremendous achievements” in human rights issues, the government highlighted accomplishments such as poverty alleviation, freedom of speech, and protections for minorities over the past year. Despite the optimistic tone of the report, many pro-Tibet organisations remain critical of the situation in China, arguing that the White Paper covered up or misrepresented the human rights violations that impact on the Tibetan community. William Nee, a China researcher at Amnesty International in Hong Kong, wrote to the Agence France-Presse that certain details of the White Paper “[seem] to have been written in an alternative reality.” One issue on which the Tibetans and the Chinese government disagree is that of China’s housing relocation project. The White Paper reports that 2.3 million farmers have been moved into “solid and convenient houses,” Contact
and emphasises the resettlement of these citizens from poverty-stricken areas. The Chinese government asserts that the rural impoverished population has decreased by 3.57 million, and maintains that “quality of life in Tibet…keeps improving.” From the perspective of the Tibetan farmers, resettlement occurred by force and has not been an effective
A cartoon depicting Xi claiming “Progress in China’s Human Rights in 2014”
means of alleviating poverty. The traditionally nomadic families, who have been living sustainably off the land for centuries, are now in urban centres where their skills are less relevant. The Tibetans are also concerned that this relocation has left their land vulnerable to potential environmental exploitation. 8
The two sides further disagree on the Chinese treatment of Tibetan cultural relics and historic sites. China maintains that such areas have been respected, and the White Paper highlights preservation and maintenance projects at the Potala Palace, Norbulingka and the Sakya Monastery, which used government funds and relied on “the latest construction techniques.” The Tibetans, however, point to the destruction of thousands of monasteries, religious writings and sacred works of art to refute the point that China has been devoted to cultural preservation. Furthermore, Tibetans claim that any efforts to conserve their historic sites are merely attempts to boost China’s tourist economy. A 2014 Thematic Report from Tibet Watch asserts that “China seems to have realised that [Tibetan culture] may have financial value—if it can be marketed in line with Chinese state political beliefs.” With both perspectives making different claims on a range of issues, it is clear that the matter of human rights in China must be explored further to discover the truth. JUNE 2015
news & issues
Election Process Underway by Mary Trewartha The election process has begun for the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), or Tibetan Government-in-Exile. The post of Sikyong, or Prime Minister of the CTA, is up for election along with the other Chitue, or members of the Parliament-in-Exile. The 14th Kashag, or Cabinet, completes its five-year term in April, 2016. The CTA’s Election Commission has announced the itinerary. Sonam Choephel Shosur, chief of the Election Commission, said “The preliminary election for Sikyong and members of the 16th Tibetan parliament is slated for October 18. The final election will be held on March 20, 2016”. The Commission has announced new rules regarding campaign expenses and activities of the candidates, and has capped candidates’ electoral expenditure. The Sikyong is the administrative head of the exile Tibetan administration
based in Dharamshala. Following the last election in 2011, the present Sikyong, Lobsang Sangay, became the first Tibetan to be elected as the leader of the exile community after the Dalai Lama had devolved his political
Election Commisioners at a press conference Photo: Tibet Sun
authority, bringing to an end the 368year old tradition of the Dalai Lamas being both spiritual and temporal head of Tibet. A Sikyong cannot serve for more than two consecutive terms; Lobsang Sangay can stand for one more term and is expected to do so. The next Parliament-in-Exile will
comprise of 45 members with 10 representatives each from the three traditional Tibetan provinces, two representatives each from the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon religion, two representatives from North and South America, two representatives from Europe and Africa, and one representative from Australia and Asia (excluding India, Nepal and Bhutan). Any Tibetan aged 25 or over has the right to stand for election. Elections are held every five years and any Tibetan who has reached the age of 18 is entitled to vote. The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile was instituted in 1960 by the Dalai Lama to introduce a democratic system of administration for Tibetans. *Contact magazine will be bringing you news of the election process, including profiles of the candidates and up to date coverage of election issues, Look out for next month’s Contact, or visit www.contactmagazine.net.
Tibetan Religious Heads Unite by Wendhe Choetsoe The heads of all four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the Bon tradition gathered in McLeod Ganj on June 18 for the 12th Religious Conference. The three-day conference was organised by the Central Tibetan Administration’s (CTA) Department of Religion and Culture. His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressed the conference on the final day saying, “As a Buddhist we say
His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaking at the 12th Religious Conference Photo: OHHDL/Tenzin Choenjor
‘whole sentient beings’, not ‘ours’ or ‘yours’, and we always pray for the happiness of all sentient beings including the smallest living creature. Contact
Yet…most of the time we give more importance to improving our Lama’s residence or our religious sects which contradicts our basic ideology of whole sentient beings. Therefore it is very important to have unity between all the different schools as we all are followers of the one Buddha and Masters of Nalanda.” Speaking on unity among the different religious schools, the 17th Karmapa said that focusing on the importance of developing and maintaining unity among the traditions, while learning from our past experiences and history, is extremely important. Nearly 150 people participated in the conference, looking at the preservation and promotion of Tibet’s rich and unique Buddhist and cultural heritage. Eminent spiritual leaders attending included Gaden Tripa Rizong Rinpoche, Sakya Trizin, Karmapa Rinpoche, Menri Trizin and Shabdrung Rinpoche. Representatives 9
of the CTA included Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, Religion and Culture Kalon (Minister) Pema Chhinjor, Finance Kalon Tsering Dhondup, Education Kalon Ngodup Tsering and Security Kalon Ngodup Drongchung. The conference concluded with the participants pledging to condemn the allegations and campaign carried out by Dolgyal followers. Dolgyal practitioners protest publicly against the Dalai Lama because he considers their practice to be detrimental, and explains to people the harmful effects of propitiating the Dolgyal spirit. The Gelukpa sect, one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, held its first International Gelug Conference a few days later on June 23. Around 300 representatives of the sect from nearly a hundred monasteries and nunneries gathered at the Upper Tibetan Childrens Village School in Dharamshala. His Holiness the Dalai Lama presided over the closing ceremony of the two-day conference. JUNE 2015
news & issues
China Refuses to Give Relief Aid to Earthquake Victims by Tashi Jackson Chinese officials have threatened to cut relief aid for Tibetan villagers whose homes were destroyed by the recent earthquakes there, while using the disaster as a propaganda opportunity. In late April and early May, a series of earthquakes devastated Nepal, with the effects being felt in areas of
Dust clouds the air as the earthquake hits the Nepal-Tibet border Photo: internet
neighbouring Tibet. The populations of Dram and areas in Nyalam county have been moved 300km away to Shigatse. However, Voice of America reports that the people of a village
in Rongshar in Dingri County have refused to leave. According to Wangbhumo, a native of Rongshar who now lives in Dharamshala, “The Government has informed the villagers that if they refuse to move to Shigatse they will be denied any relief aid. The villagers, however, did not adhere to the order and refused to move anywhere”. Chinese officials have informed the villagers that new houses will be built in their absence. However, the planned location for these houses is the barley fields which the villagers rely on as their main source of food. Following the earthquakes, local media in Tibet launched a campaign of praise for rescuers. The media campaign was supported by Wu Yingji, Vice Secretary of the Tibetan Autonomous Region, who called for a “continuous increase” in propaganda to praise the “heroes and exemplary people” as part of a six point plan for post-earthquake action.
Chinese Leader Xi Jinping commented that the Chinese response was evidence of the “warmth of the motherland’s great family and the advantages of the socialist system”. The head of the Border Works
A temporary tent classromm in Kyirong, TAR Photo: Reuters
Committee in Nyalam, speaking on Chinese state-owned Tibet TV, Shilog, admitted that the “Earthquake caused great damage”, but went on to say of the natural disaster, which killed over 8,000 people, “Perhaps it was a good thing. When we went to Kathmandu... they cried upon seeing us and expressed their gratitude to the communist party”.
Supporting Victims of Torture by Lucy Chapman A crowd of around one hundred people gathered to watch the debut of a documentary film Through Flesh and Bones, screened on June 26, the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 2015. The screening was set up by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) in conjunction
DVD cover of the documentary “Through Flesh and bones”
with Students for a Free Tibet (SFT)India. The film, which follows the story of four Tibetan detainees, was Contact
produced by local journalist Abhishek Madhukar who said he was inspired by speaking to Tibetan victims of torture “face to face”, adding “I want to be the voice of the voiceless”. In the film, Palden Choeden, a Tibetan nun detained at a peaceful protest in the late 1990s said, “If I tell you about how I was beaten up, I think people would not believe it really. Who would believe someone would beat a human being like that? If I had not seen it, even I would not believe it.” All four detainees spoke of the physical and emotional pain they went through in prison, including being beaten with sticks, being shocked by electric batons and being forced to denounce His Holiness the Dalai Lama. They also spoke of the nightmares they endured after getting out of prison. The documentary stressed the need for victims to get together and talk about their experiences as too many 10
are “carrying around the weight of the past.” One Tibetan audience member, Tselho Gyal said, “It’s important to me to keep both eyes on the Government and watch lots of things like this documentary.” TCHRD and SFT-India aim to put pressure on China to follow the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and end the torture of Tibetan people. The International Day in Support of Victims of Torture was set up in 1997 by the United Nations General Assembly, with a view to “the total eradication of torture and the effective functioning of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment”. The theme this year was the Right to Rehabilitation which focusses on the physical and psychological elements of recovery from torture. JUNE 2015
news & issues
Arrests and Releases in Tibet this month Jun 26: Paltop, age unknown, a Tibetan businessman, has been released from jail after completing his sixyear sentence. He returned to a warm welcome in his hometown Palyul in Kardze. Paltop was detained in 2009 after conducting a juniperburning ceremony before a portrait of HH the Dalai Lama. He is strongly devoted to the cause of the Tibetan people and known for supporting the Dalai Lama’s wishes. Jun 20: Five monks from Karma Monastery in the Chamdo prefecture have been detained on unknown charges. Four were later released, one with strict restrictions on his right to travel. Karma monastery has seen protests a g a i n s t Chinese rule and has been the frequent target of police harassment. The monks are Kargyal, Tenzin, Barma Kunkyab, Shedrub Dawa and Tashi Gyaltsen. Kargyal remains in detention. Jun 19: Security is reported to have been increased in Gansu province in advance of a forthcoming major religious ceremony, the Kalachakra,
which is scheduled to be held there at the end of June, and the politically sensitive 80th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. A preliminary blessing ceremony there was attended Contact
by several hundred devotees, which attracted large numbers of armed police. Jun 16: The husband of 36-year-old Sangye Tso who died after setting herself on fire last month near Tashi Choekhorling monastery has been arrested. Tamding Wangyal and his wife Sangye owned businesses in Chone County. Their two children are staying with their grandfather. Three
From left to right: Tenzin Sopa, Samten Gyatso and Lobsang Samten
Tibetan monks from the monastery, Samten Gyatso, Lobsang Samten and Thinlay Gyatso, have also been arrested but it is not clear if their arrest in connected with Sangye’s selfimmolation. Sangye’s nephew Tenzin Sopa, 28, was detained days after her protest. Jun 10: Four monks from Labrang Tashikyil monastery in Gansu’s Sangchu county in the Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Chunggey Jinpa, Kalsang and Jamyang, have been taken into custody, seized while
out in the market. A fourth, Kalsang Monlam, also from Labrang, was detained separately. Their families have not been informed despite a Chinese law requiring authorities to inform detainees’ relatives within 24 hours. Jun 7: Yonten Rabgyal, 26, who was arrested on March 13 this year in Golok 11
Chigdril County in Qinghai province, is still in detention, whereabouts unknown. He has told a friend that he has done nothing illegal. Yonten, who comes from a poor family, may have been arrested on suspicion of sending information to exile sources. It is Yonten’s second arrest, last time he was released on payment of 5,000 Yuan. Jun 6: Two people, Jamyang and another unidentified Tibetan, have been arrested in Machu County for planning a horse racing event to mark the 80th birthday of the Dalai Lama. They were arrested after leaflets and posters for the event were circulated around the county. The authorities have banned all public gatherings at the venue of the horse race and heavy deployment of Chinese security forces has been reported. Jun 4: At least 10 people were detained when police dispersed a group of Tibetans protesting against construction work in Alak village in northwestern China’s Gansu province. The protest started when heavy earthmoving equipment was brought in for road construction on land owned by Tibetans. The land had been used by the local Tibetan community for dances and performances, reported Radio Free Asia. Jun 3: Phakma and her nephew Jigme, two Tibetans from Ngaba, have been released from Chushul prison near Lhasa. Hundreds of Tibetans welcomed them home, shouting “Bhod gyalo, lha gyalo” (victory to Tibet, victory to gods). They were arrested in connection with two selfimmolation protests in 2012, along with Phakma’s husband Karkho who was sentenced to life imprisonment. They come from Lota village in the Shoegu division. JUNE 2015
news & issues
Tibetan Headlines Jun 28: His Holiness at Glastonbury The Dalai Lama appeared at Glastonbury, one of Europe’s largest music festivals. The crowd sang “Happy Birthday” and His Holiness gave a speech in the festival’s Peace Garden. He also took part in a climate change debate as well as commenting on the Middle East conflicts. Jun 24: Potala Road The road from McLeod Ganj down to Dharamshala via Gangchen Kyishong (CTA) has been renamed Potala Road in honour of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday. Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the democratically elected political leader of the Tibetan people, initiated the renaming. The road, which has recently been reconstructed, was opened by Shri Virbhadra Singh, the honourable Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh. Jun 13: Monks Expelled Chinese authorities are expelling monks from Nyatso Zilkar monastery in the Yulshul prefecture’s Tridu county. They are limiting the number of monks by expelling monks who are not officially enrolled, and pursuing suspects thought to have been involved in activities challenging Beijing’s rule. One, Tsultrim Woeser, was detained and then released after two days. Jun 12: Activists Disrupt Meeting Tibetan Youth Association of Europe activists succeeded in disrupting a meeting of the Beijing Olympic Committee in Lausanne in Switzerland where the Chinese were presenting their case for the 2022 winter games to be held in China. Tibet campaigners sent a report to Olympic Committee Contact
members, saying the 2008 Beijing Games failed to bring any improvement in human rights in China, and that China intensified its repression. Jun 9: Water Pollution The only water supply for Shadrang Village in Rebkong County has been polluted by a road building project which started in April and has dug up land at the village’s drinking water source, reports the British campaigning group Free Tibet. Authorities have refused to take action, with local sources saying that appeals by villagers to authorities have been met with “reprimands”. Jun 8: Miss Tibet 2015 The 13th Miss Tibet Pageant was held at TIPA, Dharamshala. There were three contestants this year, with Pema Choedon, 24, from Dekyiling Ti b e t a n Settlement, Dehradun winning the title and INR 100,000 as prize money. Jun 7: Left to Starve A large number of Tibetan mastiffs have been abandoned and left to starve in Tibet’s capital Lhasa, reports Radio Free Asia. Traditionally domesticated by Tibetan nomads as guards dogs. Tibetan mastiffs fetched prices of up to US$ 250,000 but the gradual decrease in demand and the subsequent price fall resulted in many dogs being abandoned. Jun 5: New Chinese Laws The International Campaign for Tibet, based the USA, has expressed concerns over new laws being drafted in China on security, counter-terrorism and non-government organisations. Matteo Meccaci, the ICT President said the “new legislation…would 12
curtail even more basic human rights”, and that new laws will heighten tensions further still in Tibet. Jun 5: Nepal Earthquake The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) sent a further 30 million Nepali rupees to the earthquake relief effort following a visit to assess the damage. The funds come from the CTA’s emergency relief and rehabilitation fund-raising campaign carried out after the earthquake. Jun 2: Tibetan Grasslands Report The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy has published a new report Wasted Lives: A Critical Analysis of China’s Campaign to End Tibetan Pastoralist Lifeways. The report looks at China’s use of Tibetan grasslands and the possible consequence of Tibet losing its food security, together with the removal of nomads from their traditional grazing lands. Jun 1: Sikyong Scholarship Recipient Tenzin Damdul, a student from TCV Suja school, was announced as the recipient of the Tibetan government sponsored Sikyong Scholarship. Students who secure above 95% in the Central B o a r d ’s class XII examination are eligible for this scholarship - an award of INR 1 lac. Damdul secured 95.8% for his best five subjects. Jun 1: Monasteries Under Pressure Large sums of money are being paid to Tibetan monasteries in the Sichuan province which have avoided participating in protests challenging Beijing’s rule in Tibetan areas. In addition, “patriotic reeducation” classes are being imposed on monasteries that have taken part. Payments of 30,000 to 50,000 yuan [U.S. $4,841 to $8,069] have been reported. JUNE 2015
news & issues
International Headlines Jun 26: Setback for Democracy Myanmar’s parliament has voted over whether to remove the army’s veto over constitutional change, which would lead to fuller democracy. The vote received a majority but fell short of the 75% needed to win. It is expected that Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy will see big gains in the forthcoming election – their 1990 election win was ignored by the military junta who ruled at the time. Jun 21: Religious Repression As Ramadan gets underway, Uighur Muslims in north western China’s Xinjiang district face repressive restrictions on their religious practices: Muslim party members, civil servants, students and teachers have been banned from fasting during the holy month, and restaurants are being penalised for shutting during the day. An Uighur spokesman said “the increase in controls could cause sharp resistance” and that China is attempting to control the Islamic faith. Jun 19: Protect the Planet Pope Francis has published the encyclical, a 192 page letter, which aims to inspire everyone to protect the Earth. The encyclical, which is the highest level teaching document a pope can issue, lays much of the blame for global warming on human activities. The Pope blames human selfishness and urges the rich to change their lifestyles to avert the destruction of the ecosystem Jun 16: Paris Festival About 5,000 Parisians visited the twoday Himalayan Festival in Paris over the weekend. The 15th annual festival focused on Himalayan culture, with special emphasis on Tibet. The theme for the fist day was His Holiness the Contact
Dalai Lama and for the second day, Tibet’s environment and Tibet-related organisations. France Tibet celebrated its 25th year of work for Tibet. Jun 15: Comet Contact The European Space Agency comet lander, Philae, which was dropped on to the surface of Comet 67P last November, has reactivated and contacted Earth. Philae is the first spacecraft to land on a comet and worked for 60 hours before its solarpowered battery ran flat. The comet has since moved nearer to the Sun and Philae started working again. Jun 13: Toddler Shoots Himself A three-year-old toddler has killed himself while playing with his mother’s gun. He shot and fatally wounded himself in the chest after finding the gun in his mother’s purse at their home in Ohio. Prosecutors are considering whether to charge his mother. Jun 12: Financial Crisis The International Monetary Fund (IMF) representatives who have been negotiating to end Greece’s financial crisis say that major differences remain and they are “well away from an agreement”. Greece is seeking a cash-for-reform deal, to avoid defaulting on a €1.5bn debt repayment to the IMF. The IMF bailout deal with Greece runs out at the end of June. Jun 11: PhD After 80 Years Ingeborg Rapoport, a 102-year-old German woman, has been awarded the doctorate she completed nearly 80 years ago. At the time the Nazi antiSemitic race law prevented her from sitting her final oral exam - her mother was a Jewish pianist. Three professors from Hamburg University’s medical faculty tested her on the work she completed on diphtheria in 1937. 13
Jun 9: Maggi Noodles Banned Nestle’s Maggi noodle brand has been banned by East Africa’s biggest supermarket chain Nakumatt. They have become the latest company to ban the brand following the allegations by regulators in India that Maggi noodles are “unsafe and hazardous”. The product, which is extremely popular, has been partially banned in India and many African countries; Nestle maintains that it is completely safe. Jun 5: Tiananmen Remembered Tens of thousands of people gathered in Victoria Park in Hong Kong to commemorate 26 years since the prodemocracy demonstrations in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square that ended in the massacre of protestors by Chinese authorities. People gather in Hong Kong because such demonstrations are banned in China. Jun 4: Polio in Pakistan Troops in Pakistan are gaining ground in the north west against militants opposed to polio vaccination programmes, resulting in a 70% drop in polio cases. Militants accuse doctors of being spies and say the vaccinations are part of a Western plot to sterilise Muslims. So far this year there have been about 25 cases, while last October there were more than 200 cases across the country. Jun 3: IS Debate Ministers from 20 countries debated the Islamic State issue in Paris. Iraq’s Prime Minister had said that other countries have a duty to support Iraq in its struggle against IS, calling the advance of IS a “failure” of the world, and said he had received fresh commitments of help from allies. IS has recently made gains in Iraq despite US-led coalition air strikes. JUNE 2015
lha news and projects
One Step Closer to a Cleaner Community! Contact magazine is published by Lha Charitable Trust. Lha also works hard to provide many services for the Tibetan exile community, the local Indian community, people from the Himalayan region and volunteers from different parts of the world. These pages will tell you more about our work. Lha organised a mass clean-up in McLeod Ganj in collaboration with the Clean Upper Dharamshala Programme (CUDP), Tibetan
with volunteers, students and Lha staff members distributing brochures in Tibetan, Hindi and English on environmental awareness and the management of waste material in the town. There were more than 135 participants, everyone eagerly joining in to make the town cleaner and greener. We covered the area from McLeod Ganj to Upper Tibetan Childrens Village school campus, and the area around Tsuklagkhang, the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Lha has been working with the CUDP (a department of the Central Tibetan Administration) and other organisations to keep the town clean for several years. Our major environmental initiatives are educating the public through our environment website www.tibetnature.net, distribution of pamphlets and organising mass cleanups. Lha very much appreciates the cooperation and support of everyone who participated. We would like to thank you all and to say that we will appreciate your support in future! We will be organising similar clean-ups once a month.
Lha Gives More People Access to Clean Water Lha installed its 20th reverse osmosis water purification system under the Lha Clean Water Project at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA) on June 10. The LTWA was founded by His Holiness the Dalai Lama to preserve the precious manuscripts of Tibet.
The cornerstone for the Library’s impressive Tibetan-style building was laid on June 11, 1970, within the premises of the Central Tibetan Administration.The LTWA has been accorded the status of National Waiting for the truck to pick up the loads of Library, Museum and Archive by the garbage collected on the day Parliament-in-exile. Footpath Association, and Tibetan The Library began its life with Women’s Association. This joint humble collections of manuscripts and event, which took place on June 19, books in Tibetan and English. It is now was to honour and show gratitude to a repository for a significant collection His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on of artifacts, manuscripts and other his 80th birthday. records, while also serving as a centre The programme started at 10am for language and cultural education. At present there are more than 95 Lha Observes National HIV Testing Day staff members and 300 students, and it attracts more than 20 visitors daily. Lha held an awareness talk on HIV/ conducting more workshops in the This water purification system is AIDS for the adult students who community, and to include awareness considered one of the best systems attend Lha language classes. of the counseling which is available. available in the area. The system can The talk was held on June 27, We would like to extend our deepest provide 22 litres of hot and cold safe National HIV Testing Day, which is appreciation to our former volunteer drinking water per hour to the visitors, observed annually to remind people students and the staff members of the to get the facts, get tested, and get LTWA. involved, and to take care of oneself We hope this water purification and one’s partner. system will help to alleviate major Around 45 students attended the waterborne illnesses, eg typhoid and awareness talk and Lha distributed cholera, thatcommonly afflict residents condoms, and brochures in three in this region, especially during the languages: Tibetan, English and monsoon season. We believe that Hindi. our water purification system will HIV/AIDS is a serious issue in Ellen Vermes for giving the talk to our contribute to maintaining a high level Tibetan settlements, both as an illness students. Lha thanks all supporters of general health among the public. and as a source of discrimination and volunteers who have contributed So far 7,950 people have benefited which Lha aims to address by to this awareness project. from the Lha Clean Water Project. Contact
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JUNE 2015
lha news and projects
Americans and Tibetans Team up to Share Cultural Experiences This month, Lha welcomed two student groups, one from Tulane University and another from the Rustic Pathway. The Tulane group stayed at Lha’s Ahimsa House in McLeod Ganj and during their time with us they explored the town and the Tibetan refugee community and learned about Tibetan culture, Buddhism and the Tibet issue. The students from both groups took part in different activities around town, including the mutual learning programme. They were introduced to Lha’s students and teamed up with their Tibetan learning partners. Every
Students from Tulane University at Ahimsa House Photo: Contact/Lha
day, the mutual learning partners spent around three hours together, discussing topics of interest and sharing information about each other and their cultures. They also visited different Tibetan organisations to learn about Tibetan issues and government, and how the exile community works to address the human rights abuses and hardships suffered by the people living in Tibet, as well as preserving and promoting the Tibetan religion, language and culture. Lha wishes all the students the very best for their future studies. Lha hosts between 150 and 320 students each year under the cultural exchange programme. Last year, Lha hosted 17 different groups from the USA, Mexico and Australia. Contact
“We Plan to Return as Often as We Can” Lha could not provide the services we do without the support of our wonderful army of volunteers who help in every way imaginable and inspire us with their enthusiasm. Some people stay and help us for months, some just come for a day. Every month we ask a volunteer to share their story. This month Lucy McKormick from England, who was with us for two months, shares her story. Name: Lucy McKormick Volunteer Job at Lha: Advanced English Teacher, Writer for Contact When my husband Arham and I first met, we discovered that we had both lived in the same part of China, and had both spent time in the Tibetan areas of what is now called Sichuan province.We’d been drawn therefrom the provincial capital of Chengdu, as they seemed to us pockets of warmth, compassion and cultural depth in a country that was suffering the effects of having had its own culture so brutally destroyed decades before. We also bore witness to the oppression and violence that hung over the Tibetan areas like the smog over the great grey cities of Western China. Arham, whose native Korean culture also bears the scars of colonisation, continues to identify with this deeply. Chinese restrictions on foreign visitors to Tibet meant that it was August 2014 before I managed to get a permit to visit. I have still not fully processed what I saw and felt during my time there: it remains one of the most beautiful and painful experiences of my life, only articulable in images: the armed police on the roofs of the Barkhor; the long lenses in the faces of prostrating pilgrims; the troupe of performers in cheap reproductions of Khampa dress, brought out to dance for tourists. The tour groups giggled as they posed for photos with them, joining their hands in mock-prayer. I’d been conflicted about the ethics of travelling to Tibet; unsure of lining the pockets of a regime that was systematically destroying the Tibetan land, culture and people. Eventually, I decided to make the trip but, through doing so, to raise as much awareness as I could about the Tibetan peoples’ struggle. After my trip, both Arham 15
and I felt that we wanted to give what time and skills we had to the Tibetan people directly. For this reason, when my teaching contract was up we spent two months in Dharamshala teaching Lha’s Advanced English course, writing for Contact and attending protests and talks. Singing “Happy Birthday” to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and being there to see him welcome newly arrived refugees are among
Lucy and Arham
our fondest memories, but when we think of our time in Dharamshala, it is of our Tibetan friends, students and colleagues, their warmth, strength and resilience that remain in our minds, and our thoughts turn to the next time we’ll see them – we plan to return as often as we can.
Lha Charitable Trust is working to provide services for the Tibetan and the local Indian communities in Dharamshala. To find out more about Lha’s work and projects, please visit our website: www.lhasocialwork.org. JUNE 2015
around town
Charities and Organisations
Central Tibetan Administration
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. WEB: www.tibet.net LOCATION: Dharamshala – 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 organises 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 Dharamshala, 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, Dharamshala – 176219 PHONE: 01892-221343 / 221210 EMAIL: ohhdl@dalailama.com
Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC)
The TYC is an advocacy and political action organisation with chapters around the world. The Tibetan Youth Congress organises cultural exhibitions, educational campaigns and social welfare activities. The organisation publishes a series of periodicals and magazines on the Tibetan cause. WEB: www. tibetanyouthcongress.org LOCATION: Tipa Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala -176219 PHONE: 01892-221554 EMAIL:president@tibetanyouthcongress.org, tyc@tibetanyouthcongress.org
Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA)
The 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, Dharamshala – 176219 PHONE: 01892-221527 EMAIL: tibwomen@gmail.com
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. WEB: www.tcv.org.in LOCATION: Dharamshala Cantt.176216 PHONE: 01892-221354 / 221348 EMAIL: headoffice@tcv.org.in
Contact
Men-Tsee-Khang: Tibetan Medical & Astro. Institute
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, Dharamshala – 176215 PHONE: 01892-223222 / 223113 EMAIL: info@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 Dharamshala - 176215 PHONE: 98822-55047 EMAIL: ltwa1970@gmail.com
Delek Hospital
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. WEB:www.delekhospital.org 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
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 organisation. WEB: www.sambhota.org LOCATION: Session Rd, Dharamshala176215 PHONE: 01892 - 228877 | 226877 EMAIL: stss1999@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. Volunteer opportunities available. WEB: www. tong-len.org LOCATION: Top Floor, Bank Of Baroda, Kotwali Bazaar, Dharamshala-176215 PHONE: 01892-223930 EMAIL: jamyang@tong-len.org
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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. WEB:www.sftindia.org, www.studentsforafreetibet.org LOCATION: Jogiwara Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala - 176219 PHONE: 9882786875
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: CTA, Dharamshala - 176215 PHONE: 01892-223363 EMAIL: office@tchrd.org
Lha Charitable Trust (Lha)
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 page 2) WEB:www.lhasocialwork.org LOCATION: Temple Road, McLeod Ganj, Opposite State Bank of India PHONE: 01892-220992, 988-2323-455 EMAIL: office@lhasocialwork.org
The Kangra Distt. 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. WEB: www.redcrosskangra.org LOCATION: Red Cross Bhawan, Dharamshala PHONE: 01892-224888 / 9418832244 EMAIL: sharmaopl12345@gmail.com
Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet
Gu-Chu-Sum is a social service organisation that provides financial and medical support for ex-political prisoners and political activists from Tibet. WEB: www.guchusum.org LOCATION: Jogibara Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala -176219 PHONE: 01892-220680 / 220679 EMAIL: guchusum1991@gmail.com
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 PHONE: 01892-221790 / 221877 EMAIL: director@tibetcharity.in
JUNE 2015
around town
Charities and Organisations
Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA)
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). WEB: www.tibetanarts.org LOCATION: TIPA Road, McLeod Ganj Dharamshala-176219 PHONE: 01892-221478 EMAIL: tibetanarts2012@gmail.com
Learning and Ideas for Tibet (LIT)
Learning and Ideas for Tibet (LIT) is a nongovernment, non-profit adult education centre in Dharamshala, North India. LIT provides Free Education, Health Care and Skills Training to Tibetan Refugees to help eradicate poverty and illiteracy amongst the Tibetan population. WEB: www.learningandideasfortibet.org LOCATION: Jogiwara Road, Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala 176219 PHONE: 01892-220690 EMAIL: learningandideasfortibet@gmail.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, Dharamshala 176215 PHONE: 01892-226627 EMAIL: tccrteam@gmail.com
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 their parents can work. The centre needs volunteers to help with art, games, singing and other tasks including diaper changing. WEB: www.tibetrogpa.org LOCATION: Jogiwara Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala- 176219 PHONE: 9857973026 EMAIL: rogpa2004@yahoo.com
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, Dharamshala, Distt Kangra 176215 PHONE: 9816105554 EMAIL: tashu72004@yahoo.com
Contact
Clean Upper Dharamshala 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 Centre are part of the Clean Upper Daramsala Project. Weekly guided tours are offered on Wednesdays at 3 pm. WEB: www.tsodhasa.org LOCATION: Bhagsu Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala - 176219 PHONE: 01892-221059 EMAIL: cudpswm@gmail.com
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: nyingtob_ling@hotmail.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: 9817105035 / 08894435595
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 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: 98051-47048 / 94180-94476 EMAIL: tcsamkhar@gmail.com, Facebook: Anec Peace
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 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: Dharamshala–176219 EMAIL: tibetparty4@gmail.com PHONE: 9882787633 / 9882673330
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 (Rs524) Semi Deluxe Bus: 6pm (Rs544) , Full Deluxe Bus: (Rs683) AC Volvo Semi-Sleeper: 8pm (Rs1121) AC TATA: 4pm (Rs830) Amritsar: Ordinary Bus: 5am (Rs245) *from Dharamshala Dehradun: Ordinary Bus: 8pm (Rs524); AC Deluxe: 2pm (Rs664) Manali: Ordinary Bus: 7:10am (Rs676) *from Dharamshala Pathankot: Ordinary Bus: 10am, 11am, 12:10pm, 12:30pm, 2:10pm, 3:50pm, 5pm(Rs150) Shimla: Ordinary Bus: 5am, 5:30am, 6am, 8am, noon and 4:55pm (Rs360) *from Dharamshala, Semi-Deluxe Bus: 8:22am, 7:45pm and 9:30pm (Rs450) *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.
TAXIS
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 Rs15.
IMPORTANT CONTACTS
Ambulance: 01892-102, 222189
Police Superintendent: 01892-222244
Tibetan Delek Hospital Location: Gangchen Kyishong, CTA Hours: Outpatient services: 9am-1pm, MonSat; 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
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McLeod Ganj Post Office Location: Jogiwara Rd, past 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
JUNE 2015
activities and information Upcoming Events Jul 2: Universal Prayer Day
MEDITATION Ocean of Harmony
Aug 15: Independence Day of India
Taught by an experienced and qualified coach WEB: www.oceanofharmony.org PHONE: (+91) 99798-94585 EMAIL: ohlifeandwellness@gmail.com
Sep 2: Democracy Day of Tibet
Tushita Meditation Center
Jul 6: Birthday of HH the Dalai Lama
Sep 7-10: HH the Dalai Lama’s Teaching (topic to be decided) at the Main Tibetan Temple, Dharamshala, at the request of a group from Asia.
BUDDHIST PHILoSOPHY Library of Tibetan Works and Archives WEB: www.ltwa.net/library LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong, between McLeod Ganj and Lower Dharamshala HOURS: Mon-Sat: 9-10 am, 11-12noon PHONE: 921-842-2467
Public Audience with HH Karmapa WEB: www.kagyuoffice.org LOCATION: Sidhpur HOURS: Wed & Sat: 2:30pm PHONE: 01892-235307
yoga and reiki Om Yoga, Meditation and Reiki Centre LOCATION: Ketan Lodge, behind Akash Hotel, on Jogiwara Rd HOURS: 8:00am-5:30pm PHONE: 980-569-3514
Sunita Singh Yoga Class
LOCATION: Singh Corner, nr Magic Tree Upper Bhagsu PHONE: 98058-89060 WEB: www.maashakktiyoga.com
Siddhartha Retreat and Yoga Centre LOCATION: Upper Bhagsu PHONE: 098165-65138 WEB: www.siddharthayogacentre.org
MASSAGE Nature Cure Health Club
Shiatsu massage LOCATION: Near Tibetan Ashoka, Jogiwara Road PHONE: 941-813-0119 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
Traditional Thai Massage
LOCATION: Opposite the Himachal Govt. Tourist Information Centre, Hotel Surya Rd PHONE: 981-633-9199 EMAIL: jite02@yahoo.com jitthimalaya@gmail.com
Contact
WEB: www.tushita.info LOCATION: Dharamkot HOURS: Mon-Sat: 9:30-11:30am PHONE: 0898-816-0988 EMAIL: spc@tushita.info
Siddhartha Retreat Centre
WEB: www.siddharthayogacentre.org LOCATION: Bhagsu Nag, Near High Sky PHONE: 09816565138 EMAIL: yogi_shivam@yahoo.co.in
Taxi services Rinku Taxi Services
LOCATION: Opposite Club House, near Tourist Information Office, Hotel Surya Road PHONE: (+91) 9418687343, 9857030707 WEB: www.rinkutaxihimachal.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
LANGUAGES Tibetan Language Courses
WEB: www.thosamling.com LOCATION: Thosamling Institute, Sidhpur (near Norbulingka) PHONE: 9882455065 EMAIL: thosamling@gmail.com *see ad on opp. page for more information
LRZTP Tibetan Language Program LOCATION: near Mentsekhang, VOT building EMAIL: Lrztp108@gmail.com WEB: www.LRZTP.org *see ad on pg 23
Rita Thakur Hindi Classes
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, 98055-96741 EMAIL: sunilsharma81in@yahoo.co.in
Tibetan Language
LOCATION: The Tibetan Library *see Buddhist Philosophy Listing
Hindi Lessons with Kailash
LOCATION: At Bhimsen’s Indian Cooking Class 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
art and museums
Indian Cooking and Knitting with Ms Rita Kapoor
Tibet Museum
Indian Cooking Classes
Tibet Photo Exhibit: 50 Years of Struggle and Oppression
LOCATION: Old German Bakery, 1st Floor, Room No. 2, Opp. Buddha Hall, Bhagsunag PHONE: 94592-06586 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: The flourishing flora, Opp. TIPA, Dharamkot road, Mcleodganj HOURS: 4:00-6:00pm PHONE: 9882599093 EMAIL: nishaanilsarin@hotmail.com
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
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LOCATION:Near the Main Temple and Namgyal Monastery gate, McLeod Ganj HOURS: Tue-Sun: 9:00am-5:00pm
LOCATION: Gu-Chu-Sum hall, Jogiwara Rd HOURS: Mon, Wed & Fri: 2:00pm-5:00pm
The Tibetan Institute for the 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 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 and 4th Sat
Form Gallery
LOCATION: Jogiwara Rd. near Oasis Cafe PHONE: 8894-060602 HOURS: Daily, 12:00pm-6:00pm
JUNE 2015
activities and information HEALTH SERVICES
Tibet-Related Websites
Perfect 32 Dental Clinic Dr Natasha Mehra
News:
LOCATION: Near Hotel Mount View, Jogiwara Road, McLeod Ganj PHONE: 09218742046 EMAIL: perfect32dentalclinic@gmail.com
Dadon Physiotherapy Clinic
LOCATION: 310, Geden Choeling Nunnery, Jogiwara Road, Mcleod Ganj HOURS: 9am - 7pm PHONE: 9882323598 EMAIL: dadonphysio@gmail.com
Dr Kumar Ayurvedic - Panchkarma
WEB: www.kumarayurveda.com LOCATION: Hotel Surya Rd., opp 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: 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: 94181-30119 / 97363-33888 EMAIL: mahinder_m@hotmail.com
Tibetan Delek Hospital
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 contactmagazine.net - Contact magazine online phayul.com -Phayul is published in Dharamshala,also has opinion, reviews, photos, etc 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 thetibetpost.com and tibetexpress.net are both sources of news and information
News, information and campaigning :
tibet.net - official website of the Central Tibetan Administration in exile 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 nongovernment organisation and a research centre to protect the human rights of Tibetan people and promote the principles of democracy tibetanyouthcongress.org - an international non-government 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 - 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
Writings:
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: 2:00-4:30pm; Emergencies: 24 hrs daily
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.
T H O S A M L IN G ’s Tibetan Language Program 2015 MODULE 1
MODULE 2
22 June – 11 Sep 5 days/week, total 4.5 hrs/day
28 Sep – 11 Dec 5 days/week, total 4.5 hrs/day
Beginner Course
Start with the alphabet and learn to read and write basic Tibetan in two weeks! Audio and video materials ensure quick progress. Private time with teachers is available.
MODULE 3
Intermediate Course
Dharma Language Course
MODULE 4
Introduction to Debate
28 May–17 Jul / 19 Oct –11 Dec 3 Aug – 9 Oct 5 days/week, total 2.5 hrs/day 5 days/week, total 2.5 hrs/day & afternoon debate sessions. Main focus is on colloquial Tibetan Main focus is on literary and
and first stages of literary Tibetan.
All c ou r s a re f re ee s fo r S a n gha !
colloquial Tibetan. We work with audio materials, transcripts and translations of oral teachings and c a nyo u s their root texts. j o i nti l l
Debate opens many doors to the Dharma and sharpens the mind.
T H O S A M L I N G I N S T I T U T E For International Buddhist Women CONTACT US: Contact
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fi ve pe op le Fo r a mi nimum of eo d Ga nj: cL M co mi ng fr om an sp or t tr ily da ve si en ine xp . ed ng ra ar ca n be
thosamling@gmail.com • www.thosamling.com • Sidhpur • 176057 Dharamsala • mob 9882455065 19
JUNE 2015
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Best taxi & car rental services in Himachal, Tour Packages Pick-up & Drop-in to Airports, Rail station, Bus stop Opp. Club House, near Tourist Information Office Hotel Surya Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala - Map#16 PHONE: (+91) 94186-87343, 98570-30707
Free movies on Saturdays at 7.30pm Live Tibetan music every Wednesday at 6.30pm
Jogiwara Road (near post office), McLeod Ganj – Map # 8
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• • •
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We offer: Affordable dormitories, well-appointed rooms, boarding, and McLeod Ganj’s FINEST hospitality! Jogiwara Road - Map #11 Mobile - 981 623 5648 Hotel - 01892 22 1559
Dr Mobile Shop
Pema Thang Guest House
and Restaurant
Your Communication Partner
Mobile Sales, Mobile Repair, Sim Cards, Purchase and Recharge Phone Service
Black Magic Building (underground), Jogiwara Road, Map # 8 McLeod Ganj Phone: 9857011101 Contact
Unique Garden restaurant and “HOMESTAY” home cooked wheat porridge, fluffy pancakes and paranthas, BBQ, kababs, Naans and many more Enjoy our garden café with fibre roof and amongst unique plants surrounded with pine trees Neat & clean rooms with beautiful valley view High speed Wi-Fi
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Charming, comfortable, and scrupulously clean; minutes from the Main Temple and McLeod Ganj Market; Hotel Bhagsu Road, McLeod Ganj: Map #15 Phone: 221871/221001 www.pemathang.net JUNE 2015
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Contact
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JUNE 2015
advertisements Locations of important places around McLeod Ganj
BHAGSU NAG
Map not to scale
See Advertisement Pages for details of advertisers
TIPA
21
DHARAMKOT
Vipassana Centre
Naddi Village
Tushita Centre
12
11 3
McLEOD GANJ 4
6 7
5 MAIN SQUARE
Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV)
Cantt Police Post
Main Bazaar
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89
1 Lha
16
10 15 14
2
13
Road to Dharamshala
1. Lha Headquarters 2. Namgyal Cafe 3. Common Ground Cafe 4. Dream Holidays Travel 5. Shangrila Hotel 6. Nature Cure Health Club 7. Dr Mobile, Woeser Bakery 8. Black Tent Cafe 9. Carpe Diem Restaurant 10. Perfect 32 Dental Clinic 11. Hotel Ladies’ Venture
12. 8 Auspicious Him View Hotel 13. Ahimsa House & Lha Soup Kitchen 14. Chonor House 15. Pema Thang 16. Rinku Taxi Service 17. Central Tibetan Administration, Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Tibetan Library 18. LRZTP Tibetan Language Program 19. Tibetan Museum and Temple 20. Tibetan Handicraft Centre 21. Taste of India
Our specialty: Chocolate Vegan cake, Gluten free cake, Fresh Coffe Beans, cappaccino, Chocolate chilli lollipop
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17 18
Road to Dharamshala
Namgyal Cafe
9am to 7pm - Closed on Monday Below “Black Magic Hotel” on Jogiwara Rd - Map # 7 The famous and popular Namgyal Cafe has merged
Dream Holidays
with Om Hotel right off the main square - Map # 2 • • • •
Since 1998
Ground Floor of Asian Plaza Hotel, Main Square, McLeod Ganj (3rd office inside Mall) - Map #4 +Worldwide Air Travel Arrangements +AC/Non-AC cars jeeps for tours +Flight/Rail tickets, hotel reservations contact: 98160-87878 / 94180-97149, vineet_dream@yahoo.com
Open every day from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm
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Extensive vegetarian menu Terrace dining with beautiful view Best pizza in McLeod Ganj Good music and friendly staffs Mobile: 9816150562
Nature Cure Health Club
Jogiwara Rd, next to Tibetan Ashoka Guest House - Map # 6 Mobile: 07833047078 Email: mahinder_m@hotmail.com,
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Enjoy traditional Taiwanese and Chinese food and peaceful environment, just one minute from the Bus Stand, just behind Asian Plaza! (Map # 3) JUNE 2015
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JUNE 2015
ལྷ་བོད་ཀྱི་ལུགས་མཐུན་བཟོ་ཚོང་ལས་ཁང་།
Lha Tibet Fair Trade Regd No.U74140HP2013PTC000540 IEC No. 2213006741 TIN: 02060101641 CST: 02060101641 PAN: AACCL5897M
What’s LTFT?
Lha Tibet Fair Trade (LTFT) is a certified Fair Trade company to support Lha’s charitable work through the sale of traditional Tibetan goods made by local craftspeople.
What we have? What we do?
Handmade woollen carpets, Singing bowls, Jewellery, Goods made from recycled papers, Tibetan home decor pieces and many more!
Retail outlet, Manufacture, wholesale, import & export, Support local artisans, Tours and travel. The LTFT is pleased to welcome any businesses wishing to form partnerships and set up exhibition tours.
Why LTFT?
Your shopping and support will contribute to Lha’s numerous social projects and help Lha become more sustainable and self-sufficient.
Drop-in at our store at LHA office, Mon-Sat Phone: +91 (0) 98823-23455 / 1892-220992
W www.tibetfairtrade.com
Lha Tibet Fair Trade To advertise call Lha office: 01892-220992 or visit Lha office at Temple Rd, McLeod Ganj Map #1
Follow Contact website using the QR code!
Tibet Fair Trade འབྲེས་གཏུགས་གསར་འཕྲིན།
Contact Newsletter
Managing Director Ngawang Rabgyal Editor-in-Chief Jenny James Editor Dukthen Kyi Assistant Editor Tsering Wangdue 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: ContactNews Twitter: @ContactTibet Printed at Imperial Printing, Dharamshala Phone: 222390