Contact March 2016

Fr

ee

འབྲེལ་གཏུགས་གསར་འཕྲིན།

Contact

A Free Monthly Publication For Tibetan Issues and Community Information RGD No. HPENG/2013/51798 Volume: XVIII Issue: 3 31 MARCH 2016

Self-Immolation Inside Tibet

Self-Immolation in Exile

by Meghna Prakash Kalsang Wangdu, an 18 year old monk from the Maretsokha Aryaling monastery, self-immolated at around 4:00pm on February 29 near his monastery in the Kardze region of eastern Tibet. He set himself on fire to protest against the hard line policies and repressive Chinese authoritative hold over Tibet.

by Tenzin Samten Dorjee Tsering, a sixteen year old Tibetan boy, died three days after he set himself on fire in Dehradun in India, the second such protest of the year. Dorjee Tsering died protesting against the Chinese repressive rule in Tibet.

Dorjee Tsering, a student of the Tibetan Homes Foundation

Continued on page 3

Continued on page 3

Demise of the Shugden Community Tibetans Vote in Over 30 Countries

by Mary Trewartha Shugden, also known as Dolgyal, the Buddhist group which has led a global campaign of harassment against the Dalai Lama, has announced on its website that it has disbanded and called off its demonstrations: “The Directors of the International Shugden Community previously announced that from December 1, 2015 they had decided to completely Continued on page 5

W www.contactmagazine.net

by Tenzin Samten Exile Tibetans in over 30 different countries cast their vote to elect their political leader (Sikyong) and 45 members of the 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-exile on March 20, 2016 in their respective regions.With over 90,000 voters registered to vote, this election will decide who will lead the exile Tibetan government for the next five years.

Continued on page 11

Contact News

Contact News

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 18 years.

700 - 1,000 copies are printed per issue and distributed in the Dharamshala area, Delhi, and various diplomatic missions of India. Copies are also sent to various Tibetan schools, settlements, offices and NGOs in India and abroad.

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-levelled 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

Lha Traveller Services and Volunteer Opportunities

Long or short-term, skilled or unskilled volunteers needed at Lha

• English conversation (Mon-Fri, 4-5pm) • English, French and Chinese teachers • Computer teachers • Web designers and IT professionals • Contributing writers • Environmental professionals • Medical and healthcare professionals • Fundraisers and grant writers • Project professionals • Chefs and cooks • And much more!

Share your knowledge and skills with the local Tibetan, Indian, and Himalayan communities whilst gaining hands-on experience working with a social work organisation.

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. Homestays include accommodation, breakfast, and dinner.

*All donations and fees from Lha classes and services directly benefit Lha community social work projects.

Contact

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 MARCH 2016

news & issues Continued from page 1

Self-Immolation Inside Tibet

Whilst burning, Kalsang Wangdu called out for complete independence for Tibet. Witnesses to his protest tried to put out the fire and rushed him to a local hospital for treatment. However, en route, he succumbed to his injuries. Kalsang’s family were able to retain possession of his remains.

The authorities in southwestern China’s Sichuan province are pressuring Kalsang’s family to say that he died in a house fire. The family is being intimidated by the police who want to prevent them from informing outside contacts that Kalsang self-immolated, believing that Continued from page 1

School, Mussoorie, self-immolated in a Tibetan settlement in Herbertpur near Dehradun on February 29. His mother, who was with him, tried to save him and he was taken to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi where it was confirmed that Dorjee was suffering from 95% burns; he died on March 3.

His parents said that Dorjee had repeatedly talked about “doing something” for Tibet. During his three day stay in hospital, speaking to representatives from Tibetan communities, Dorjee said “I did discuss my intentions with my parents earlier, who told me they would kill themselves if I do this.”

“I had the will to do something for Tibet when I was young and thought that I could sacrifice this body for the Tibetan cause,” he added.

Tibetan communities around the world were shattered by the news of a sixteen year old student resorting to selfimmolation as the only way to contribute to the Tibetan cause. “I want to tell everybody that although Dorjee saw his self-immolation as a last resort, I want to urge youngsters that there are other ways to serve Tibet, by educating oneself and working for Tibet,” Phayul quoted Nyima Yangkyi, the boy’s mother, as saying.

The 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, the head of the Kagyu sect Contact

word of the self-immolation could incite more protests. The family is being isolated by police and denied visits from local people, including their relatives. Tight restrictions have been imposed on the movements of people in the area and the government is suppressing information about the incident in an attempt to avoid press coverage and further protests.

The government generally cremates the remains of self-immolators in order to prevent the usual funeral rites being held, again, to avert further protests and publicity.

Tibetans in Dharamshala, India held a candlelit vigil on March 2 for Kelsang,

Self-Immolation in Exile of Tibetan Buddhism, has appealed on Facebook to Tibetans not to selfimmolate in protest against Chinese rule, saying “This week, two young Tibetan children, one in Tibet and one in India, have burned themselves to death…I want

Dorjee Tsering’s parents Photo:Tenzin Dalha

to make a request of my fellow Tibetans at home and abroad.” He continued, “Within Tibetan society, people will applaud them for a few days, saying ‘He’s a hero,’ ‘She’s a heroine,’ or ‘That is incredible.’ But that does not help.”

He also said “In particular, most of those who have immolated themselves have been young. … They are our hope and lifeblood for the future. This nonstop expenditure of life is a severe drain on Tibet as a whole.”

The two self-immolations prompted reactions in Chinese state media. The Global Times said that self-immolations are encouraged by the Dalai Lama “to solicit international support through 3

and to express solidarity with selfimmolators and protestors.

This is the first self-immolation incident this year in Tibet, and it took place on the same day as another, by Tsering Dorjee, a 16 year old Tibetan boy living in the exile Tibetan community in Dehradun, India.

There have been reports of at least 150 Tibetans who have self-immolated to protest for the freedom of Tibet and to demand the return of their exiled spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The self-immolators are looked upon by some as martyrs who have given up their lives for the cause of Tibet.

media and political figures.”

“Encouraging suicide is by no means part of Tibet Buddhism” said their news report. They continued, “Any attempt to separate or split Tibet from China is doomed to fail and it is not the desire of the majority of Tibetan people.”

Human rights groups supporting the Tibetan community in exile pointed to the self-immolation of the two teenagers as an example of the plight of Tibetan people. Images of United States democractic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton holding a picture of Dorjee Tsering while speaking to the president of Tibetan National Congress focussed more attention on the incident.

The Tibetan community in Dharamshala and other parts of India held candlelit vigils and prayers for the self-immolators to show their solidarity and support.

Dorjee’s body was transported to Dharamshala from Delhi for his last rites.

More than a thousand Tibetans showed up to welcome his body and attended a prayer service held at Lhagyalri, below Tsugla-Khang, where statues of past selfimmolators Jamphel Yeshi and Pawo Thupten Ngodup have been erected and where photos of the other self-immolators from Tibet are displayed.

Dorjee is survived by his parents, two brothers and two sisters. He was the youngest person to self-immolate.

MARCH 2016

news & issues

Arrests and Releases Inside Tibet this Month Mar 23: Released After 7 Years Joleb Jigme, aged around 40, a former monk at Ngaba’s Kirti monastery,

has been released from prison after serving his seven-year sentence in southwestern China’s Sichuan province. He returned home to Ngaba where he was greeted warmly by friends and supporters, reports RFA. Jigme was charged with revealing state secrets, an accusation frequently levelled against Tibetans seeking to spread news of political protests to areas outside Chinese control.

March 20: Released After 8 Years Noega, 61, was released after eight years of imprisonment. He is from Sershul County in Kardze in the

Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. He is now unable to walk owing to the injuries to his back sustained during his detention, reports RFA. Noega was one of the Tibetans arrested by Chinese officials on suspicion of leading local protests during 2008 unrest in Tibetan regions. He was also charged for his involvement in distributing photos of the Dalai Lama and organising a long-life offering to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Contact

Mar 13: Another Detention Tashi Wangchuk, 30, a Tibetan entrepreneur, has been reported in the New York Times as being illegally detained by the police since January 27. Wangchuk lives with his parents in Yushu. He wrote

a blog highlighting the dearth of Tibetan language education and his concern that many Tibetan children are unable to become fluent in their native language. His family have been given no information or access to him.

Mar 7: Self-Immolator Released Samdup, a Tibetan monk who survived a self-immolation attempt in November 2012, has been released from prison after serving a prison

sentence of three years and three months. Samdup, who comes from Ngoshul Monastery in Gomang in Ngaba, was 16 when he selfimmolated with two other teenagers Dorjee and Dorjee Kyab. Dorjee died during his self-immolation; Samdup and Dorjee Kyab have remained in detention since their protest, their whereabouts unknown.

March 12: Freed After 4 Years Sonam Gonpo, 26, a monk at the Dza Wonpo monastery in Kardze in the Tibet Autonomous Prefecture, was released after four years of imprisonment by Chinese authorities.

March 1: Solo Protestor Arrested Mang-Ga, a 33-year-old mother of one, was arrested in Meruma Township, Ngaba County, in Tibet’s Amdo province, for staging a solo protest against the Chinese government. She held up a portrait of the Dalai Lama

RFA reported that Sonam was charged with removing a Chinese flag at a school and hoisting the Tibetan national flag in its place, as well as scattering leaflets calling for Tibet’s freedom. Sonam’s companion Sonam Choedar was detained at the same time but has not yet been released.

while walking in the main street; within minutes she had been arrested.

Her current condition and location is unknown. Mang-Ga was arrested in 2008 for refusing to fly the Chinese flag in her village and detained for eight months during which time she was interrogated, tortured and beaten.

4

MARCH 2016

news & issues

Demise of the Shugden Community Continued from page 1

stop organising demonstrations against the Dalai Lama. Now, from the 10th March 2016 the International Shugden Community itself will dissolve, including its websites. May everybody be happy.”

Although they give no reason for disbanding on their website, this demise of the Shugden community is credited to a Reuters investigation by Paul Mooney, David Lague and Benjamin Kang Lim which revealed in December last year that the Communist Party of China backs the Shugden community, using it as a key instrument in China’s campaign to discredit His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The Shugden community was made up largely of Westerners who demonstrated vociferously whenever the Dalai Lama appeared in the West.

Maroon-robed monks handed out leaflets and spoke to people coming to see His Holiness, causing confusion and upset. Event organisers usually cordoned off an area for the Shugden crowd near the entrance to events, often allocating a separate space for the Tibetan community to sing mantras and exhibit banners of welcome for His Holiness. However, there were no Shugden protestors to greet His Holiness when he appeared in Geneva on March 11.

Speaking to Reuters in Geneva, His Holiness said: “I am aware of the

decision by the ISC [the International Shugden Community] to disband…

Your article was something complete, a holistic sort of presentation, it was very helpful”. The Dalai Lama told Reuters he had felt it was his duty to warn followers of the dangers of worshipping the Shugden deity. He said that it is the right and the choice of an individual to practise Dorje Shugden, and that “I myself also worshipped out of ignorance. But I came to the realisation that the deity was very negative, very harmful”.

In the United States, the ISC is registered as a charity. Since 2014, its spokespeople have said they are responsible for organising the protests but denied any link with Beijing or the Chinese Communist Party.

The Reuters exposé in December said “The Dorje Shugden movement gets clandestine support from the Communist Party” and continued, quoting an internal Communist Party document issued to Chinese officials last year which said the Shugden issue is “an important front in our struggle with the Dalai clique”.

The Reuters report quoted Lama Tseta, a monk and prominent former member of the Shugden community, who said that China paid him and others to plan and coordinate the activities of the sect’s followers overseas. Tseta said the funding is controlled by a department of the Communist Party

which directed the protests and that one of their jobs was to recruit westerners to the Shugden movement.

“The Chinese are using them as a tool to make the Dalai Lama look fake, to achieve their own ends, to undermine Tibetan Buddhism and to fragment Tibetan society” said Tseta.

In response to questions from Reuters about the Communist Party’s support for the Dorje Shugden followers, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said the Dalai Lama was practising “religious tyranny.”

The popular and widely-read Tibetan writer Woeser said in her blog [translated by High Peaks Pure Earth], “The Dalai Lama doesn’t want to see infighting between the schools lead to the fragmentation of Tibetan Buddhism, and sees the fundamentalism of the Shugden followers as religious intolerance.

“In indicating that followers of the Gelugpa school should drop their Shugden practice, he is effectively handing over greater religious freedom to believers. It is effectively a negation of something negative that yields a positive.”

Woeser continues, “The Shugden issue used to be just a religious one… but other forces had to get involved, both overtly and covertly, turning the Dalai Lama’s reforms into a tug-ofwar, and making what should have been a religious matter political.”

Tibetans Vote in Indian Municipal Election

The Dharamshala municipal election on March 27 provided a first-time opportunity for eligible Tibetans to vote.

The Tibetan Review has published an article drawing attention to the developing story of who can and can’t vote, saying that it is estimated that at least a couple of hundred Tibetans have registered as voters. In previous elections some Tibetans have been blocked from voting.

Their article says that Tibetan participation in India’s electoral Contact

process picked up momentum during the last general election in Apr 2014.

A High Court ruling that Tibetans born in India before July 1987, and their children, are citizens under India’s citizenship law and entitled to passports was followed by the Election Commission of India making provision for them to register as voters.

The Tibet Sun quotes Tsering Yangzom, 36, who has voted for the first time in an Indian election. “I feel proud to be casting my vote today. I have the right to vote and am exercising 5

it,” Yangzom said. “Tibetans in other countries have citizenship and voting rights. I am happy that I too have that in India,” adding, “India has been the greatest help to Tibetans.”

However, the government of India still requires all Tibetans born in India and their children to register as foreigners, they are regarded refugees whose stay in India is temporary, and on humanitarian considerations.

Only His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the article states, has been granted political asylum.

MARCH 2016

news & issues

His Holiness Addresses UN Panel

by Mary Trewartha His Holiness the Dalai Lama addressed a packed auditorium at a United Nations (UN) human rights conference in Geneva in his capacity as a Nobel Laureate, despite China’s attempt to sabotage the event and urging diplomats to stay away.

“One part of the human brain usually develops common sense. Some of these (Chinese) hardliners, that part of brain is missing”, said His Holiness. Hundreds of the Dalai Lama’s supporters, many waving Tibetan flags, rallied outside the nearby United Nations building.

The event, Nobel Laureates on Human Rights - A view from civil society, held on March 11, was a side event of the UN Human Rights Council’s 31st session, sponsored by the United States and Canada, and also featured Nobel laureates from Iran and Yemen.

China’s diplomatic mission in Geneva wrote to diplomats and UN officials raising objections about the presence of the Dalai Lama on the panel of Nobel laureates saying, “Inviting the 14th Dalai Lama …violates the sovereignty and territorial integrity of

China, in contravention of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China resolutely opposes the 14th Dalai Lama’s separatist activities in whatever capacity and in whatever name in any country, organisation or event”. The letter was

dated March 8, the day that the event was announced, and continued, “The Permanent Mission of China kindly requests the Permanent Missions of all Member States, UN agencies and relevant International Organisations not to attend the above-mentioned event, nor meet the 14th Dalai Lama and his clique.”

UN spokesman in Geneva Ahmad Fawzi said, “We take note but of course we are not bound by instructions from

member states.” Philippe Burrin, Director of the Geneva institute, said that “Pressures are being applied from various sides” but the event would not be cancelled. “This is a question of freedom of expression and academic freedom to organise an event,” he told Reuters and continued, “It is not an event on Tibet, it is not on a politically sensitive subject, ie territorial issues, but on the role of civil society in promoting human rights.”

Reuters reported in October last year that China is waging a campaign of intimidation, obstruction and harassment that Western diplomats and activists say is aimed at silencing criticism of its human rights record at the United Nations.

China has attempted to disrupt the Dalai Lama’s engagements in his capacity as a Nobel Laureate in the past. In 2014, the venue for World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates was moved from Cape Town in South Africa to Rome, Italy so that His Holiness could attend. Objections from China had resulted in South Africa refusing a visa for him to visit the country.

China’s Relentless Quest for Media Control

by Charlotte Wigram Evans Chinese authorities have arrested 16 people in conjunction with an anonymous letter that was published online demanding President Xi Jinping’s resignation. Alongside senior editors, journalists and technicians, family members of high profile writers suspected of involvement have also been imprisoned.

Chang Ping, a Chinese journalist living in Germany, recently learnt of the abductions of his two younger brothers and sister from their home in Chengdu. As well as denying involvement in the letter, Chang Ping stated: “My family in China have no understanding of my political beliefs… they will be unable to meet the unreasonable demands of the police.”

Wen Yunchao, an exiled Chinese activist, told the New York Times that despite also having nothing to do with the publication, his parents and younger Contact

brother have been missing since Tuesday.

The letter was posted on the state-run website Wujie News on March 4 and was taken down almost immediately, but not before going viral when it was picked up and disseminated by the Washington Post.

It includes a point-by-point criticism of Xi’s policies and is signed by “Loyal Communist Party Members.” He is accused of causing “political, economic, ideological, and cultural” crises and attempting to create a cult of personality, similar to Mao Zedong. The tone is mildly threatening, mentioning the risk to his own “personal safety and that of [his] family,” if he doesn’t step down.

The letter seems to be a backlash against the many high-profile visits made to media posts by Xi last month in which he declared that all publications must give the “correct guidance of 6

public opinion,” proclaiming official party lines and “transmitting positive energy.”

Many writers took to the internet to express their indignation but every outburst has been censored. Ren Zhiqiang, a celebrity of Chinese social media site Weibo, had his account shut down after criticising Xi’s disregard for free speech. Later, the South China Morning Post also had its blogs removed and its website blocked.

President Xi has been admired by many ordinary citizens for advancing the “Chinese Dream” and a vision of a united nation, but using his power to tackle corruption has snowballed into penalising anyone who questions party politics. The country is going in a “frightening, reactionary [and] ideologically driven direction,” Chinese student Jasmine Yin wrote in The Australian newspaper.

MARCH 2016

news & issues

Tibetan Political Prisoner Hospitalised

by Mary Trewartha Chinese prison authorities have hospitalised high-profile Tibetan political prisoner Jigme Gyatso. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) reports that Gyatso, who is eligible for release in six months, is hospitalised in Lanzhou city, capital of Gansu Province.

Jigme Gyatso, also known as Jigme Guri, was a monk at Labrang Monastery in Sangchu County, Kanlho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province.

In February 2012, TCHRD obtained a copy of Gyatso’s August 2011 arrest warrant. This was his fourth arrest in five years.

After years of speculation it was learned in September 2014 from exile Tibetan sources that Gyatso had been sentenced to five years in prison for “splittist activities”; the monk had

by Sam Ferguson China has announced plans to build a new railway linking the Tibetan Capital Lhasa to the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu. It will be the second Chinese rail link to Lhasa and is part of a five year development plan for the region.

The announcement has been met with protests amid concerns for Tibet’s environment and culture. According to the Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), the track will cross “some of the most culturally significant areas,” and the fragile high-altitude landscape is already experiencing global warming nearly three times fasterthan the rest of the earth.

“It will facilitate further large-scale exploitation of Tibet’s mineral resources as well as enabling greater population migration into Tibet, both seasonal… and permanent settlers,” said Matteo Mecacci, President of ICT. The first line, which opened in 2006, spurred an influx of long-term Han Chinese migrants and Mecacci spoke Contact

exposed Chinese methods of torture to the world.

Before his hospitalisation, Jigme Gyatso had appealed for a reduction of his term due to his accumulation of points

for prison labour, but his appeal was not considered. According to a relative living in India that consideration would have granted Gyatso release last month.

A source with contacts in Tibet states that Gyatso was probably admitted to the Da Xia Ping Prison hospital in late February or early March this year.

Before that, Jigme Gyatso’s family had

Railroading Tibet

of widespread unease that a second will encourage more incomers, destroying the local culture, language and religion.

ICT also expressed alarm that the track will serve strategic and military objectives, saying: “The Lhasa-Nyingtri

Lhasa Liuwu Railway Station in the TAR Photo:Reuters

Railway would provide convenient access for the China’s military in a region with extremely difficult terrain and very limited road access”.

India shares this concern as the railway will enable troops to be deployed near the India-Tibet border.

Regular incursions by the Chinese onto Indian soil in Ladakh have resulted in this being a constant cause for disquiet.

7

been allowed monthly, twenty-minute visits; in February the visit was denied with no explanation given and the family learned of his hospitalisation from prison authorities earlier this month. Gyatso’s family doubts that the hospitalisation is due to any serious medical condition.

They last saw him on January 25 when he told them that there was talk among prison authorities about hospitalising him, but he gave no indication of any need for hospital treatment.

In 2008 Jigme Gyatso gave an interview to Voice of America describing his and 180 other monks’ treatment.

Gyatso said that during an interrogation he lost consciousness for six days and was returned to his family, near death.

During the VOA interview he said that his main hope was that the international media and the United Nations would come to Tibet and report on what is happening there.

China’s Vice Party Secretary of Tibet, Padma Choling, responded to critics by maintaining that, “The ecological environment will not be harmed…The railway will be well built under the condition of environmental protection.

That is for sure.” Talking of the suspected military motivations he said:“The border belongs to our motherland, we Tibetans have the responsibility to guard it well.”

The Governor of Tibet, Lobsang Jamcan, highlighted the economic opportunities the track will create.

He declared that a second line to the capital will bring higher incomes and better infrastructure to the country, saying: “When built, we’ll see even more economic benefits, even more prosperity.”

China claims the existing rail link brought major increases in both tourism and trade and that the new track will do the same. According to official figures, last year 20 million tourists visited Tibet - a 29% rise from the previous year.

The Chinese government consistently denies any human rights abuses or cultural disrespect in Tibet.

MARCH 2016

news & issues

Compassion in Health Care

by Tenzin Samten His Holiness the Dalai Lama brought his teachings to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester in the United States, where he was undergoing treatment. The Tibetan Spiritual leader spoke to a crowd of 500 Mayo Clinic staff on February 29; his talk, Compassion in Health Care, lasted about an hour and a half.

He was introduced by Mayo Clinic President John Noseworthy who said “Each time we are privileged to hear His Holiness speak is a gift”.

His Holiness thanked Mayo Clinic staff for their “kind and caring gestures” towards him during his month-long stay, saying their care went beyond exercising their professional skills.

In his speech His Holiness said “All the seven billion human beings should be just treated as human beings and shouldn’t be categorised based on race, rich and poor, educated and uneducated. If we look at the fundamental sameness of all human beings, many of the problems in world today can be reduced”.

“Faith brings hope and optimism even to the dying,” he continued. When

asked if developing compassion requires religious faith, he said that believing in, and feeling close to, a personal god inspires compassion and courage for some people; “in fact, love and compassion are basic human values”, he added.

His Holiness with the staff of the Mayo Clinic Photo: OHHDL

Speaking about the nature of compassion, he explained that there are two kinds of compassion, saying that one is a biased concern for those we know, but the other has the scope of recognising that each of us is a human being and has the same goal to be happy. It’s on the basis of such warmheartedness that we can contribute to others’ welfare.

In conclusion, His Holiness said that basic human nature is kind and positive, and cultivating kindness and compassion is something we all can do.

On March 5, the Dalai Lama spoke to about 300 Tibetans and Americans who gathered at the Deer Park Buddhist Centre at Madison to welcome him, and three days later gave a teaching on Geshe Langri Thangpa’s Eight Verses for Training the Mind at Madison Masonic Centre at the invitation of the Wisconsin Tibetan Association. The teaching was primarily about altruism, attended by over 1,000 people, including 700 Tibetans.

His final American appearance was on March 9 when His Holiness attended a discussion, The World We Make, at the Overture Centre for the Arts in Madison. While at the Centre, he expressed his admiration for Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Murtin Luther King and Bishop Desmond Tutu.

His Holiness returned home via Geneva where he spoke at a panel of Nobel Peace Laureates on March 11, arriving home to a rapturous welcome in Dharamshala on March 13.

Escalating Row over “Living Buddhas” List The row over China’s list of “living Buddhas” is escalating, with claims of corruption in the South China Morning Post.

The Chinese government has compiled a database of 870 “verified” living Buddhas, saying that anybody claiming to be a living Buddha who is not on the list should be considered a fake. They also Zhu Weiqun claim the right to verify any future incarnations of lamas. The list, which was published earlier this year on the website of the State Administration for Religious Contact

Affairs, does not include His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The Chinese government says it is the first database that can be accessed and searched by members of the public.

Now the overseas Chinese website Bowen Press has said that Zhu Weiqun, a senior official known for his harsh criticisms of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is under investigation for allegedly granting the status of “living Buddha” in exchange for cash.

Zhu has denied accusations that he received huge bribes, dismissing the claims as a “vulgar smear”. He told the Chinese state-run Global Times newspaper he had no idea who was 8

behind the smears, but he believed the accusations were targeted at his “long-term battle with the splittist Dalai clique”, which only made him “proud” of his work. He is known to assert that the Chinese government has sole authority to decide on the next reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.

Zhu told state media that fake “living Buddhas” have posed a threat to national security as they use money they collect to sponsor illegal and separatist activities in Tibet.

Zhu has been China’s chief official with responsibility for Tibetan issues and Chairman of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of the government’s top political advisory body.

MARCH 2016

news & issues

Worldwide Observance of Uprising Day

by Hannah Dellabosca Tibetan supporters around the world marked Tibetan National Uprising Day on March 10, with protest rallies in major cities - both a call for renewed attention to the human rights violations in Tibet, and a mark of solidarity with the cause of Tibetan freedom.

Events organised by official proTibetan groups such as Students for a Free Tibet and Tibetan Youth Congress were held at Chinese embassies in London, Delhi, San Francisco, New York, Nepal, Hyderabad, Ottowa, Burlington, Vermont, Czech Republic, Brazil. Independent rallies were also organised by Tibetan communities in smaller cities.

The majority of events featured commemorations for Tibetans who have self-immolated since 1959, with the self-immolations of Tibetan teenagers Kelsang Wangdu and Dorjee Tsering in late February used to highlight the ongoing importance of the Tibetan freedom movement.

In Taipei, Democratic Progressive

by William Trevelyan Tibetan residents of western Chinese provinces have been blocked from travelling to Tibet’s capital Lhasa for the duration of March, a month of politically sensitive anniversaries, Tibetan sources say.

Restrictions include bans on travel both by rail and by air, a Tibetan living in Australia told Radio Free Asia’s Tibetan Service, citing contacts in the region. “China is profiling Tibetans and denying them rail tickets from Xining and Lanzhou,” RFA’s source said, referring to the capitals of Qinghai and Gansu provinces respectively. “No plane tickets are being sold to Tibetans travelling from Sichuan’s capital Chengdu to Lhasa until the end of April”.

“They were asked by ticket officials to show their IDs, and after being identified as Tibetans they were told that no tickets would be sold to them.”

Contact

Party legislator Tsai Yi-Yu used a 200 person rally to state that China’s relationship with Tibet should be viewed as a warning of Taiwan’s own precarious position with their neighbour China.

Yi-yu spoke for Tibetan solidarity based on the fact that Tibet and Taiwan are “both originally independent nations,

Tibet supporters march in Taipei Photo:Taipei Times

but have been losing our political systems, social structures, religious beliefs and languages ever since colonising powers came”.

Whilst the majority of National Uprising Day events were peaceful, 220 Tibetan Youth Congress activists were arrested by the Chanakyapuri police

Out of Bounds

Tickets were freely sold to members of other ethnic nationality groups, the source added.

Another source for the story was quoted as saying that Tibetans in Qinghai wishing to travel by rail to Lhasa had been told to wait for a week to purchase their rail tickets. “But then they were told that no tickets would be sold to Tibetans for the rest of the month,” the source said, adding that anyone who had attempted the journey had been forced to return home.

China now regularly blocks travel to Lhasa by Tibetans living in western Chinese provinces each March, a month when Tibetans around the world remember the Lhasa uprising of March 10, 1959. On this day, Tibetans rose up in protest against Beijing’s tightening political and military control of Tibet, sparking a rebellion in which thousands were killed.

In addition to the travel restrictions, Chinese authorities have intensified 9

in New Delhi after they attempted to enter the Chinese Embassy. According to social media accounts, riot police detained the majority for a few hours.

Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, the elected leader of the Tibetan Government-inExile, spoke at the Uprising Day rally in Tsugla-Khang, the main temple in Dharamshala, issuing a statement thanking Tibetan supporters around the world for their ongoing efforts.

“The Kashag would like to take this opportunity to remember the kindness of the leaders of various nations that cherish justice, parliamentarians, intellectuals, scholars, human rights organisations and Tibet Support Groups, who have been steadfast in their support for the Tibetan people. In particular, we will always remember the kindness and consistent support of the people and government of India and state governments for generously helping us preserve and promote our religion and culture and ensuring the welfare of the Tibetan people in exile.”

their ban on monasteries displaying photos of the Dalai Lama, particularly in Rebgong’s Rongwo Monastery in the Qinghai province. Radio Free Asia have reported a source as saying “During the month of March this year, the Chinese authorities imposed unprecedented restrictions on the display of the Dalai Lama’s photograph”.

For the last eight years, during March Tibetans also remember the 2008 unrest in Lhasa, which sprung from that year’s Uprising Day demonstrations.

Events were exacerbated by increased Chinese crackdowns and restrictions.

From there the protests escalated with the involvement of many monasteries and lay people, and led to a brutal crackdown by Chinese police.

The riot then sparked a wave of mostly peaceful protests against Chinese rule that spread across Tibet and into Tibetan-populated regions of western Chinese provinces.

MARCH 2016

news & issues

Celebrating 100 Years of Men-Tse-Khang

by Mary Trewartha and Tenzin Samten Men-Tse-Khang, also known as the Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute, has celebrated 100 years since it was established in Lhasa, Tibet by the great 13th Dalai Lama. The anniversary was celebrated on March 23 in the courtyard of Tsugla-khang, the main Tibetan temple in Dharamshala. The institute was also celebrating 55 years since it was re-established in India by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1961, following his escape from Tibet.

His Holiness took part in the celebration and presented souvenirs to people who have made special contributions to Men-Tse-Khang.

Crowds of Tibetans and supporters thronged the courtyard of TsuglaKhang, enjoying cultural songs and dances performed by Men-Tse-Khang staff, students and supporters.

Guests included Forest Minister Sri Thakur Singh Bharmouri; Ayurvedia Minister Sri Karan Singh; Member of Legislative Assembly Sri Ravi Thaku; Prime Minister and Speaker of the Tibetan government-in-exile Lobsang Sangay and PenpaTsering, and other representatives of the exile

government.

Men-Tse-Khang Director Mr Tashi Tsering Phuri paid tribute to the Dalai Lama who recognised the need to establish Men-Tse-Khang in exile, and quoted His Holiness as saying, when setting up Men-Tse-Khang in

His Holiness with other dignitaries at Men-Tse-Khang’s centenary celebration Photo:Contact/Lha

Dharamshala in 1961, that mankind needed a healthy mind and body and that “we Tibetans could contribute substantially although we live as refugees”.

His Holiness said that everyone has “worked hard and sincerely...It has now been 57 years...We have all put our heart and soul into the work with honesty and transparency and the result is considerable.”

Amidst the praise, however, His

Holiness did point out the shortfalls of the Health Department of the Tibetan Government-in-exile and the Mentse-khang’s Tibetan medical section in providing healthcare to poor and needy people in Tibetan communities.

He said: “there are many people suffering from illness. It shows negligence on the part of the preventive carers. It shows failure from the Health Department and the Men-tse-khang’s Tibetan medical section.”

He emphasised that the Tibetan medical institute’s research and findings should go hand in hand with scientific approaches rather than sticking to the ancient theoretical texts. His Holiness also stressed the importance of Tibetans taking on proper responsibilities and warned them not to take things easy.

Other speakers paid tribute to the ever-increasing contribution that Tibetan medicine makes locally, in the Himalayan region, and globally, and the prominent role played by Men-Tse-Khang.

The event was rounded off with lunch, served to all the guests and public in the temple and then to people in the streets of McLeod who enjoyed an unexpected meal served to them from vans out and about in the town.

What the Voters were Saying on Election Day “A vote is like a rifle: its usefulness depends upon the character of the user.” - Jigme Thinley, TCV “Whoever wins today I hope they keep their promises - I am just happy that it’s over. The past few months have been crazy. This election was all everyone spoke about everywhere we went.”

- Dorji Kyi, Bhagsu Road “My feelings are hopeful for the coming elected Sikyong to take concrete steps for the cause of Tibetans both in Tibet and in exile.

I am very much hoping Tibetans in exile have voted for the best leadership who can reopen Tibet and China negotiations and will Contact

arrange dialogue between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Chinese Premiere.” - Tenzin Jigme, McLeod Ganj

sect. To make ours a better democratic society I hope there will be a change in this regard.” - KalsangDamdul, Gangkyi

“May the winners from this election fulfil the aspirations of the Tibetan people, especially of the Tibetans inside Tibet. I am proud to have voted today, our unique Tibetan democracy [is]sending a strong message to Communist China that I believe is the only legitimate Tibetan Government in Exile.” -NyimaLhamo, McleodGanj

“I have exercised my right to vote for the second time; it was great to see so many youngsters in the queue. The social media aspect has been great, it feels like; everyone’s discussing it on WecChat and Facebook. Even this morning people were sharing status about voting and updating photos on their way to the polling station. It wasn’t like this five years ago. I voted for people from my province based on their integrity, commitment, experience and intellectual calibre. After all, I feel proud to have accomplished my democratic duty soundly.” – Tenzin Dalha, Gangkyi

“Every individual gets one vote.

That’s universal. Sadly in the Tibetan community, some people get to vote twice in the name of their province and also in the name of their religious 10

MARCH 2016

news & issues

Tibetans Vote in Over 30 Countries Continued from page 1

The final Election Day arrived with much excitement and enthusiasm with both the public and candidates campaigning and debating relentlessly till the end.

Dharamshala, the capital of the Tibetan exile community, saw ten polling stations at different locations across the town. The polling station in the courtyard of Tsugla-khang, the main temple in Dharamshala, was the most crowded with hundreds of people queuing to cast their vote.

Members of the International Network of Parliamentarians on Tibet

Members of the panel of election observers Photo: Contact/Lha

came to Dharmshala to observe the election. The panel was made up of lawmakers from the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and European Union.

The panel spoke highly of the Tibetan election process, saying it was successfully conducted despite the voters being scattered all over the

world. In a statement issued on March 21, they praised the enthusiasm of the voters, “We are pleased to see how Tibetans all over the free world have once again strongly embraced democracy as the best way to achieve the aspirations of a better future for the Tibetan people, which unfortunately continue to be denied to six million Tibetans in Tibet.”

The panel announced that they will publish their report of the election assessment with recommendations after the election process is completed on April 27.

Meanwhile, it is also reported that the first elected head of the exiled government, Samdhong Rinpoche, aged 77, boycotted the election saying that he feels the entire process of the Tibetan democratic system is heading the wrong way.

“I didn’t cast my vote as the exiled government was based on the principles of Swaraj of (Mahatama) Gandhi Ji. It didn’t involve competition or opposition. But, nowadays, representatives are involved in opposing each other through their individual campaigns. Therefore, I think, the exiled government is not heading in the right direction,” Rinpoche told the Times of India.

He said he was hurt by the practices adopted by exile leaders to compete

for the post.

“The next generations of Tibetans, however, must know that the exile set-up, which was founded in April 1959, was based on the principles of co-operation and not of competition.

The practices being adopted by our contenders now are the same as regular political parties. These are not going to benefit us any way”, he said.

Rinpoche was the first democratically elected head of the Tibetan cabinet, the post which was then known as KalonTripa, now

Two Tibetan women praying before they cast their vote Photo: Contact/Lha

Sikyong (political leader).

This 2016 election is the second democratic election for the political leader of the exile Tibetan government.

In 2011, the Dalai Lama completely devolved from political authority and the incumbent Sikyong Lobsang Sangay became the first political leader of the exiled Tibetan government, based in Dharamshala, India.

Keep up to date with Election 2016 news at http://www.contactmagazine.net/category/election-2016/

Former Kalon Dicki Chhoyang’s Resignation

by Tenzin Samten Former Kalon (Minister) Dicki Chhoyang, issued a statement on Voice of America on March 6 regarding her resignation three weeks prior to the Tibetan election - a move which prompted much speculation.

Dicki Chhoyang, who headed the Central Tibetan Administration’s Department of Information and International Relations for four and half years, said she was under no Contact

external pressure and resigned so that she could express her personal opinions on the coming election.

She also shared a list of personal character traits she feels people should look for in the new Sikyong.

Dicki Chhoyang said that she remains fully committed to the Tibetan cause and the Central Tibetan Administration.

11

Unofficial Results The official final result of the election will be released on April 27.

However, regional vote counts are available on news sites and social media platforms. According to Phayul’s unofficial report, the incumbent Sikyong, Lobsang Sangay, has a substantial lead over Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament Penpa Tsering - at the time of going to press, the count was: Lobsang Sangay 33,511 Penpa Tsering 24,358 MARCH 2016

news & ISSUES

Tibetan Headlines Mar 29: Protests in Prague Pro-Tibetan demonstrators have been out to greet Chinese President Xi Jinping on his arrival in Prague. They erected a giant picture of HH the Dalai Lama with the late Czech president Vaclav Havel, a human rights activist. China supporters scuffled with Pro-Tibetan activists as they tried to hang Tibetan flags to replace Chinese flags, which had earlier been hung in anticipation of the visit and then defaced.

Mar 28: Country of Origin?

FCI, the World Canine Organisation, have responded to the Chinese Kennel Club’s contention last year that the origin of breeds of Tibetan dogs should be officially recognised as China and not Tibet. The following breeds are to have their country of origin changed from Tibet to China: Tibetan Mastiff, Tibetan Terrier, Tibetan Spaniel, Lhasa Apso and Shih-Tzu. The breed societies are petitioning the FCI not to make the change.

Mar 26: David Snellgrove David Llewellyn Snellgrove, 95, the prominent English Tibetologist and author has died. He was Professor of Tibetan studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, and instrumental in the development of Tibetan studies in Europe. He studied Sanskrit, Pali and Tibetan as well as Himalayan culture over many years.

Mar 22: Budget Session The budget session of the 15th Tibetan Parliament-in-exile for the financial year 2016-2017 is in progress. The session will approve this year’s budget for the Central Tibetan Administration.

This is the final session of the 15th Tibetan Parliament and is due to finish on April 1.

Mar 21: Gyaye Phuntsok Gyaye Phuntsok, 85, a former political prisoner, has died at home in Serchen County in Tsolo Autonomous Prefecture in Tibet, the Tibet Times has reported, saying that he was a true patriot who Contact

dedicated his life for the Tibetan struggle.

His death was due to injuries sustained while in prison. He was arrested in 1998 and spent two years in prison. He had been bedridden since early 2012.

Mar 18: Golog Jigme Golog Jigme, the human rights acitivist and former political prisoner, testified before the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights in Brussels. Jigme described his three arrests and subsequent torture by Chinese authorities for his part in making the documentary film Leaving Fear Behind and for his involvement in the 2008 protest in Labrang.

Mar 16: KFC in Lhasa The giant fast food company KFC has opened its first branch in Lhasa, Tibet after years of speculation. HH the Dalai Lama wrote a letter in 2004 to Yum Brands, which subsidies KFC, saying that raising chickens to be killed and eaten at KFC “violates Tibetan values.”

Mar 15: Water Theft Students for a Free Tibet marked International Day of Action for Rivers by drawing attention to the plight of the many countries downstream of the Brahmaputra river which rises in Tibet as the Yarlung Tsangpo. SFT India Campaigns Director Joytsna Sarah George called attention to “China’s blatant stealing of our collective natural resources.”

Mar 12: Women’s Uprising Day The Tibetan Women’s Association held a rally to mark Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day at the martyr’s memorial near Tsuglakhang Temple in Dharamshala in torrential rain. TWA President Dolma Yangchen paid tribute to “the brave Tibetan Women…who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet”, recalling the women who died in Lhasa in 1959, and others who have since died for Tibet.

Mar 6: Rinpoche Dies The 10th abbot of the Dzongsar Tashi 12

Lhatse Monastery, Khenchen Pema Dhamchoe Rinpoche, died on February 26 aged 83. He stayed for a week in the Thuk-dam state - believed to be the final meditative stage before Nirvana.

It is said that although clinically dead the body sustains warmth and does not decay during Thuk-dam. Mandala prayer and ceremonies will be held for the next 16 days.

Mar 3: Film Nomination A Tibetan-themed film, Pawo [“martyr”], has been nominated for the Best Feature category at the prestigious Palm Beach International Film Festival.

The film is loosely based on the life of Jampel Yeshi, who self-immolated in 2012 at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The film’s co-directors are Sonam Tsetan and Marvin Litwak, who is German. Shavo Dorjee, who plays the lead, was present at Jampel Yeshi’s self-immolation.

Mar 2: Sikyong Candidates’ Debate The first debate between the two Sikyong candidates for the upcoming election was broadcast on Voice of America/Tibet, The debate is available on the VOA website. News of the debate has been reported by the world media.

Mar 2: Tibet Conference The International Tibet Network, a global coalition of Tibet support groups, held its three-day North America regional meeting at Washington DC. Eighteen Tibet support groups from five countries took part in workshops and training, as well as campaign and project planning projects include Tibet’s environment and Confucius Institutes.

Mar 1: Music Legend Dies Dubey, 49, also known as the Cuckoo of the Snowland and one of the foremost contemporary Tibetan musicians, has died in Chengdu in the Sichuan Province after a long illness. Originally from Amdo, he wrote and recorded thousands of songs including Faraway Friend, a tribute to the Dalai Lama, and The Sound of Unity which was banned by the Chinese authorities.

MARCH 2016

news & issues

International Headlines

Mar 27: Easter Uprising Hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets of Dublin, Ireland where parades, speeches and a military flypast marked the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising. The 1916 rebellion was an attempt to overthrow British rule. It failed, and 14 of the 16 leaders were publicly executed. But their deaths marked the beginning of an organised movement that would see the creation of the Republic of Ireland.

Mar 26: Czech Protestors Protestors in the Czech Republic have defaced Chinese national flags which have been erected in the capital Prague for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the country today. They are protesting against the Czech government’s embrace of the government of China and its brutal human rights record. Dozens of the flags were blackened. Czech Tibet supports are planning to demonstrate during Xi’s visit.

Mar 25: Guilty of Genocide Former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic was sentenced to 40 years in jail by United Nations judges. He was found guilty of genocide in the 1992-95 war that caused the collapse of Yugoslavia. Judges said he was responsible for the siege of Sarajevo and that he had intended to eradicate Bosnian Muslim males in Srebrenica town. More than 8,000 Muslims died there; Europe’s worst war crime since World War Two. Mar 23: Explosions in Belgium More than 30 people have been killed and hundreds injured in bomb explosions in Belgium’s capital Brussels. Twin blasts hit an airport and a metro station during rush hour. Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attacks and it is thought that while several terrorists blew themselves up, others could be on the run. The assault triggered security alerts across Europe and drew global expressions of support.

Contact

Mar 21: A New Chapter Cuba gave United States President Barack Obama a red-carpet welcome to the country. He is to meet President Raul Castro, burying the hatchet in a more than half-century long coldwar conflict. For Cubans dreaming of reinvigorating their threadbare economy, the visit has created huge excitement.Obstacles remain, however, and while trade and travel restrictions have been loosened, America’s economic embargo of the country has not been rescinded.

Mar 20: The Zika Effect Panama says a baby has been born with a brain disorder believed to be caused by the Zika virus. This is thought to be the first such case outside Brazil in the current outbreak. The baby was born with an underdeveloped brain and died four hours after being born.

The baby’s mother had not reported any symptoms of Zika during her pregnancy. Microcephaly cases have been centred in north-east Brazil.

Mar 12: On the Move Morgan the elephant stunned conservationists by walking 215km through Kenya to Somalia, solely under the cover of darkness. He crossed plains at night and hid in thickets during daylight. This behaviour has never been recorded before and the charity Save the Elephants believes it must be caused by poaching. Morgan is looking for a mate but is unlikely to have much luck in Somalia; he’s the country’s first elephant in 20 years.

Mar 9: 15-Old Raped A 15-year-old girl is fighting for her life in a Delhi hospital after being raped and set alight on her family’s terrace.

Taboos against speaking out about sexual assault make India’s female population particularly vulnerable to attacks. A man has been arrested and remains in custody. The attack occurred on International Women’s Day while 40 countries around the world, including India, celebrated women’s progress.

13

Mar 6: Ship Seized The Philippines has impounded a North Korean cargo ship. The move comes after a nuclear and ballistic missiles test in Pyongyang prompted the United Nations to impose the toughest sanctions on the country in two decades.

The vessel is being held at a port northwest of the Philippine capital Manila, where it is being unloaded and the 21 crew members prepared for deportation.

Mar 4: Rebel Forces in CAR The rebel force the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in the Central African Republic (CAR) has abducted 217 people since January, nearly double the number abducted in 2015. The abductees include 54 children who may be forced to become soldiers or sex slaves. The LRA was formed in northern Uganda but retreated to CAR and other countries as it came under military pressure; it has recently suffered military setbacks and defections.

Mar 3: Wildlife for Sale Facebook is being used as an online trading space for endangered species.

Traffic, the wildlife monitoring network, found hundreds of protected animals for sale in Facebook groups in Malaysia and says this type of illegal trading is a growing threat around the world. They identified 236 posts, involving 106 different sellers, all trading illegally. Facebook said it “will not hesitate” to remove content promoting such trade.

Mar 2: Bin Laden’s Legacy Osama Bin Laden, the late AlQaeda leader who was behind the bombing of the World Trade Centre on 9/11/01, left $29m (£21m) in his will, to be spent on “jihad, for the sake of Allah”. Bin Laden urged his family to “obey my will.” He referred to the money as being in Sudan but it is not clear whether it was cash or assets.

MARCH 2016

lha news and projects

Lha Celebrates World Storytelling Day World Storytelling Day (WSD) is a global celebration of the art of oral storytelling. It is celebrated every year on the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere, the first day of the autumn equinox in the southern. On WSD, as many people as possible tell and listen to stories in as many languages and at as many places as possible, during the same day and night.

Story telling is seen as one of the best means to promote early childhood literacy. The World Storytelling Day project in Dharamshala is organised by Lha Charitable Trust in collaboration with the Tibet Fund and Petoen School Parents and Teachers Association. It aims to raise awareness amongst parents about the importance of storytelling, and encourage and motivate them to start reading and telling stories to their children on a regular basis. The ultimate goal of the project is to revive the culture of storytelling in the Tibetan community

Mr Gyaltsen speaking to the audience

so as to enhance the literacy skills, creativity and imaginative power of young Tibetan children in exile.

With funding from the Tibet Fund, Lha is organising a programme of two events, the first of which was held on March 19 in Dharamshala. A second event is planned in Mcleod Ganj in either in April or May this year.

The first event was held in Nyatri Hall at the Central Tibetan Administration

compound, and was crowded with over 300 children and parents. The day started with an introduction from Lha’s General Secretary Tsering Wangdue. Mr Jamyang Gyaltsen (an education specialist) followed with a presentation to parents focusing on the importance of storytelling.

The audience was then entertained by two students from Peteon School who performed a story reading and a poetry reading, and five more students from the same school performed a skit entitled Who is Tenzin’s Best friend? The first session culminated

Storytelling session

with storytelling sessions from two experienced storytellers and a promotional video on storytelling was screened. Tea and refreshments were served to all participants, following which about 1,000 children’s books were displayed and distributed to the children free of charge. Later, four small group storytelling sessions were held.

This first event has given us valuable experience and feedback which will enable us to tailor our second event more specifically to the needs of the community here in McLeod Ganj.

We are highly indebted to the Tibet Fund for supporting many of our ongoing projects and especially for funding our World Storytelling Day events; their funding makes these

events possible. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Mr

Free storybook distribution

Jamyang Gyaltsen for leading us on this project. With his guidance and support, our first event was a great success. Our thanks and appreciation also goes to our two storytellers and the students of Petoen School who entertained our audience with their stories and dramas. Finally we are most grateful to every one of our volunteers who always stand with us in all our events and activities.

Our grateful thanks go to the Tibet Fund for your continued trust in our organisation and we look forward to working on many projects with you in the future.

Lha’s Director Visits North America Lha’s Director Ngawang Rabgyal is on a visit to the United States and Mexico where he is meeting our partner organisations and sponsors.

He has been giving presentations and distributing Contact magazine to people there as well as taking the opportunity to personally thank our many generous donors, friends, volunteers and supporters. We look forward to hearing his full report when he returns, and to hearing about the exciting new partnership programmes that he is planning.

Contact Magazine is published by Lha Charitable Trust, a registered charity in Dharamshala offering support and services to Tibetan refugees and people from the surrounding Himalayan communities. Lha helps Tibetan refugees settle in India by offering language and computer classes as well as individual tuition, and Lha’s soup kitchen provices healthy food to needy Tibetans on a daily basis.

To find out more about Lha’s work and projects please visit our website www.lhacharitabletrust.org

Contact

14

MARCH 2016

lha news and projects

Clean Water Project Evaluation Since the inception of the Clean Water Project in 2010, Lha has installed water filteration systems in a total of 24 institutions, benefitting over 13,700 people. Following on from an initial study in 2014, two public health students are conducting a follow-up study assessing the impact of the Clean Water Project.

Tine Niklasson and Ashley Summers study Global Nutrition and Health with a specialisation in Public Health Nutrition and Food Policy at VIA University College in Aarhus, Denmark.

The study is being conducted in areas of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and involves

Tine Niklasson and Ashley Summers

surveying teachers, students, and other community members who have access to the water filters. The questionnaire centres around themes of health awareness, water safety knowledge and personal hygiene practices. The initial findings reflect the results of the previous study, that following the installation of the water filters in institutions, the general health of recipients increases and they experience a decrease in the frequency of illnesses.

The ongoing maintenance of the water filters has been identified as an area in which the project could be improved. This could involve seeking further funding from generous sponsors and also providing training to the staff in the institutions in which the water filters are installed.

Contact

A Peaceful Place Lha could not provide the services we do without the support of our wonderful volunteers who help in so many ways and inspire us with their enthusiasm. Every month we ask a volunteer to share thir story. This month Natalia Luzuriaga from Ecuador who is currently teaching English at Lha, shares her story.

Back home, in Ecuador, I got caught up in stress and the normal anxiety of a busy life. I felt I needed a break to get some perspective so I decided to leave it all, listen to my heart and pursue a crazy dream I have had for a couple of years: come back to India. I had been in India before. Eight years ago I came for the first time to visit the Buddhist monasteries of Ladakh and the Spiti Valley. It was an incredible experience and I became even more fascinated than I already was with Buddhism and Tibetan culture.

This time around I knew I wanted to volunteer and spend time in a place where I could learn more about Buddhist philosophy, so Mcleod Ganj seemed like the perfect place. I got here at the beginning of February. It was really cold and the town seemed much more busy than I expected. In my head I imagined McLeod more like a village with a Ladakhi landscape. I spent my first week here exploring the place and getting more familiar with my home to be for a few months. Even though McLeod turned out to be different from what I had expected, I found here a peaceful place, filled with generous people and an amazing landscape.

I started my volunteer job at Lha with the conversation classes and was fascinated by the eagerness of Tibetan refugees to learn English and about different cultures around the world. They were very curious about my way of life back in Ecuador, my religious beliefs and why I had come here. I was in the same way curious about them and their culture, so it was a very rewarding experience.

After a few days I started teaching the beginners course in English, which was a very different experience from the conversation classes, but for me, even more rewarding. When I’m teaching I feel I am really making a difference in some of these people’s lives. They are so invested in the learning process and they give their all to improve their abilities, so 15

I feel I have a big responsibility. I know most of them have gone through very difficult experiences getting out of Tibet and coming to a country where most of them have to face life on their own, sometimes at a young age. I think all these circumstances make them take the

opportunities that institutions like Lha give them very seriously, but I’m always impressed about how in spite of all the hardships, they seem to be able to keep this joyful look on their faces.

The experience of being a volunteer and the contact with the refugees has helped me overcome all the stress I was having back home, specially because volunteering means working for the benefit of others without expecting anything in return. This is exactly the opposite of how many of us experience life. Usually working means getting money, enhancing our resumé, getting recognition, and so on, which are normally related with what we think constitutes being successful and happy.

Now I think that the more we do things to help others, the happier we become.

What has been an amazing experience for me as well is meeting people from all around the world, other volunteers, each one on his or her own journey. Our stories, even though each one is unique, every time I am more convinced that they are the same. We are all seekers. Most of us have left our home countries looking for something we can’t describe. At least for me, this place and my experience as a volunteer has helped me discover what I was looking for: that happiness is to be found within oneself.

MARCH 2016

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: Near Library 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.

WEB: www.dalailama.com LOCATION: McLeod Ganj, 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 TYC organises cultural exhibitions, educational campaigns and social welfare activities.

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 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

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.

Contact

WEB: www.men-tsee-khang.org LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong, 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 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

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 PHONE: 9882786875

16

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, 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

Norbulingka Institue

Centre for Tibetan culture with studios and artists at work.

Temple, tour guides of the workshops, and gardens.

LOCATION:Sidhpur, Dharamshala PHONE:9882144210 EMAIL: info@norbulingka.org WEB:www.norbulingka.org

MARCH 2016

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: 7831956680 / 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

17

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

MARCH 2016

activities and information Upcoming Events

MEDITATION Ocean of Harmony

April 7 : World Health Day June 1-3 : His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give teaching to Tibet youth at Upper TCV school auditorium May 21 : Sakadawa (15th day of fourth Tibetan month)

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

Taught by an experienced and qualified coach WEB: www.oceanofharmony.org PHONE: (+91) 99798-94585 EMAIL: ohlifeandwellness@gmail.com

Tushita Meditation Center 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

18

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

MARCH 2016

activities and information HEALTH SERVICES Perfect 32 Dental Clinic Dr Natasha Mehra LOCATION: Near Hotel Mount View, Jogiwara Road, McLeod Ganj PHONE: 09218742046 EMAIL: perfect32dentalclinic@gmail.com Tibetan Physiotherapy Clinic Specialised in Muscle and Joint Pain LOCATION: Near Delek Hospital, Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala 176215 HOURS: 10am - 5pm (Appointment Bases) PHONE: 9882322783 / 9882321532 EMAIL: jigten17@yahoo.co.in WEBSITE : tibetanphysiotherapy.com 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: 7833047078 / 9882320136 EMAIL: mahinder_m@hotmail.com Tibetan Delek Hospital LOCATION: Gangchen Kyishong, between McLeod Ganj and Lower Dharamshala PHONE: 01892-22053 / 223381 HOURS: Outpatient services, Mon-Sat: 9:00am-1:00pm; Specialist clinics, Mon-Sat: 2:00-4:30pm; Emergencies: 24 hrs daily

Tibet-Related Websites

News:

rfa.org/english/news/tibet - Radio Free Asia’s mission is to provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries whose governments prohibit access to a free press voatibetanenglish.com - Voice of America’s Tibet pages - VOA is an international multimedia broadcasting service funded by the US government 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:

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 I N G ’s Tibetan Language Program 2016 Beginner’s Course

• 15 Feb – 13 May • 29 Aug – 18 Nov 5 days/week, total 4.5 hrs/day

Start with the alphabet and learn to read and write basic Tibetan in two weeks! Our new textbook as well as audio and video materials ensure quick progress.

Private time with teachers is available.

Intermediate Course

30 May – 26 August 5 days/week, total 4.5 hrs/day

Dharma Language Course combined with Introduction to Debate (Dudra-Lorig-Tarig) 16 May – 11 November

Re fo r a g ist rati o n ll c n o w oo u rs e s is pen

Main focus is on colloquial Tibetan 5 days/week, total 2.5 hrs/day & afternoon debate sessions and first stages of literary Tibetan. Main focus is on literary and colloquial Tibetan. We work with audio materials, transcripts and translations of oral teachings and their root texts. Debate opens many doors to the Dharma and sharpens the A ll c mind. f re e fo r o u rs e s For a minimum of fi ve people o rd Sa n g h a a i ned coming from McLeod Ganj: ! inexpensi ve daily transport can be arranged.

T H O S A M L I N G I N S T I T U T E for International Buddhist Women

TO REGISTER: thosamling@gmail.com • Info: www.thosamling.com • Sidhpur • 176057 Dharamsala • mobile 9882455065 Contact

19

MARCH 2016

advertisements

DR TANDON’S ADVANCED

Ocean of Harmony

DENTAL

Programmes for Wellbeing

ORTHODONTIC & IMPLANT CENTRE

Meditation Intensives Meditation Therapies Intensive Yoga Courses/Retreats Stress Management Integrated Healing Therapies Wellness Retreats

Mcleod Add: Downstairs Opp. AB Travels Temple Road Mcleod Ganj Dharamshala Add: Opp. Canara Bank Kotwali Bazaar Dharamshala

A centre with multispeiciality dental treatment facility since 2000.

website: www.himachaldentist.com Email: dr.rahultandon@gmail.com Appointment/Emergency call: 9418462936

For upcoming events, visit

www.oceanofharmony.org

HIMALAYAN YOGA RETREAT

For intensive trainings around the world (any country) contact: Shalu Patel (experienced & qualified life and wellness coach for international trainings)

Yoga Time: 8:30 am to 9:30 am 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Drop-in Classes/ Weekly Courses/ Reiki Course & Treatment Teacher Training Course (200 hours) Mobile no: 988222502 - Surinder Address: Jogiwara Road, Green View House after Youngling Schoo Mcleod Ganj, Opposite Pink House

Phone: (+91) 9979894585 Email: ohlifeandwellness@gmail.com

BLACK TENT CAFE

RINKU TAXI SERVICE

Free high-speed Wi-fi

Delicious coffee, authentic homemade Tibetan and western cuisine Best taxi & car rental services in Himachal, Tour Packages Pick-up & Drop-in to Airports, Rail station, Bus stop All food washed in clean filtered water

Free movies on Saturdays at 7.30pm Live Tibetan music every Wednesday at 6.30pm

Opp. Club House, near Tourist Information Office Hotel Surya Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala - Map#16 PHONE: (+91) 94186-87343, 98570-30707

Jogiwara Road (near post office), McLeod Ganj – Map # 8

CARPE DIEM

www.rinkutaxihimachal.com

Stress Free Arrival in India!

RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA

MEXICAN, ITALIAN, INDIAN, CHINESE, Lha’s Reception and Orientation Services CONTINENTAL, & THAI FOOD, No MSG can take the stress out of your arrival.

• Everything washed with sterilized water • Wood-fired pizza oven & clay Tandoori oven We can meet you at the airport, look after you • Relaxed atmosphere & Japanese-style seating in Delhi and put you on the bus to McLeod.

• Live music every Sunday - Map#9 Bookable online at: http://www.lhasocialwork.org/ Located on Jogiwara Road, volunteer/203-reception-and-orientation-services across from the Tibetan Reception Center (down from Post Office) - Map # 9

HOTEL LADIES’ VENTURE

“The most suitable place for foreigners, holidaymakers, honeymooners, trekkers, and those who wish to commune with nature!”

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

8 beautiful rooms with balcony facing the Himalayan Range.

Enjoy the sunrise from your bed!

Phone: 01892-220567 Cell: 9418236603 Jogiwara Rd (Map #12) Email: tseringd@aushimview.com

Pema Thang Guest House

and Restaurant

Your Communication Partner

Mobile Sales, Mobile Repair, Sim Cards, Purchase and Recharge Phone Service

Charming, comfortable, and scrupulously clean; minutes from the Main Temple and McLeod Ganj Market;

Black Magic Building (underground), Jogiwara Road, Map # 7 McLeod Ganj Phone: 9857011101 Contact

8 AUSPICIOUS HIM VIEW HOTEL

Hotel Bhagsu Road, McLeod Ganj: Map #15 Phone: 221871/221001 www.pemathang.net 20

MARCH 2016

advertisements

Contact

21

MARCH 2016

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

Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV)

12

11

McLEOD GANJ

22

4

6

5 MAIN SQUARE

3

Cantt Police Post

7

Main Bazaar

20

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. Shambala Coffee Meal 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 22. SnowLion Custom Tattoo

19

17 18

Road to Dharamshala

Our specialty: Chocolate Vegan cake, Gluten free cake, Fresh Coffe Beans, cappaccino, Chocolate chilli lollipop

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

NEED A DENTIST? For all your dental requirements under one roof, in a sterile and state of the art clinic

• • • •

Extensive vegetarian menu Terrace dining with beautiful view Best pizza in McLeod Ganj Good music and friendly staffs

Open every day from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm Mobile: 9882649768

Shambala Coffee Meal Jogiwara Roadd, next to Tibet Kitchen

A vegetarian restaurant specialising in variety of Japanese meals: Sushi Rolls, Special noodle Udon, Omthai Rice Coffee / Free Wifi Open every day from 7am to 8pm Mobile: +91 (0) 9882611796

Dr Natasha Mehra @

Perfect 32 Dental Clinic CONTACT

Near Hotel Mount View Jogiwara Rd, McLeod Map# 10

Enjoy traditional Taiwanese and Chinese food and peaceful environment, just one minute from the Bus Stand, just behind Asian Plaza! (Map # 3)

Call: 09218742046

perfect32dentalclinic@gmail. com

Contact

22

MARCH 2016

advertisements

Advertise in Contact

Advertise Here!

To advertise on this page Call Lha office: 01892-220992 or visit the office at Temple Rd,

snowlion customArtist

tattoo

PASSANG

Location: near Hotel Tibet

Professional Tattoo Artist Traditionally Trained Tibetan Thangka Painter 100% Safe & Hygienic Contact: 9459160626-9805286528

Opp State Bank of India Mcleod Ganj - Map#1

2016 snowlion custom tattoo : facebook will reopen from march

Contact

23

MARCH 2016

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 which supports Lha’s charitable work through the sale of traditional Tibetan goods made by local craftspeople.

What we have?

Hand-made woollen carpets, singing bowls, jewellery, goods made from recycled paper, Tibetan home decor pieces and many more!

Why LTFT?

Your shopping and support will contribute to Lha’s numerous social projects and help Lha become more sustainable and self-sufficient.

What we do?

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.

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 འབྲེལ་གཏུགས་གསར་འཕྲིན།

Contact Newsletter

Managing Director Ngawang Rabgyal Editor-in-Chief Jenny James Editor Tenzin Samten Assistant Editor Tsering Wangdue Reporter Dorji Kyi 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 Email:ippdsala@gmail.com