Fr
ee
འབྲེལ་གཏུགས་གསར་འཕྲིན།
Contact
A Free Monthly Publication For Tibetan Issues and Community Information RGD No. HPENG/2013/51798 Volume: XIX Issue: 2 MARCH 31, 2017
Self-Immolation Protest 2017
Pema Gyaltsen, also known as Pegyal, 24, self-immolated near Tsoga monastery in Nyagrong, Kham, eastern Tibet, on March 18 to protest against the illegal occupation of Tibet by the Chinese regime. This is the first reported self-immolation protest inside Tibet since the start of this year. The police removed his charred body from the location of his protest. Initially Continued on page 3
His Holiness to Visit Arunachal
by Tenzin Samten India has dismissed China’s warnings and confirmed His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s week-long visit to Arunachal Pradesh, the most northeasterly Indian state, in early April as scheduled. China considers Arunachal, which has a majority ethnic Tibetan population, to be part of China, calling it “Little Tibet”. Continued on page 4
The Dalai Lama and John Oliver Tibet on the World Stage
by Aparna Kathuria His Holiness the Dalai Lama was interviewed by comedian and satirist John Oliver for the American television network HBO’s show Last Week Tonight which aired on March 6 and became an internet hit, delighting Tibetans and supporters worldwide as it was shared on social media. However, some of His Holiness’s comments enraged Continued on page 5
W www.contactmagazine.net
Tibetan issues have received global recognition this month, with concerns expressed during the United Nations Human Rights Convention in Geneva February 21 - March 24, and in four new reports by prominent Human Rights organisations. See our articles Shadows of Dust across the Sun, Four Reports Highlight Deteriorating HR in Tibet and Tibet on the Agenda in Geneva on pages 3, 8, 11. Continued on page 3, 8, 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 2017
NEWS & ISSUES Continued from page 1
Self-Immolation Protest 2017
it was not known whether Pegyal had survived, but the Tibet Express reported on March 22 that their sources in the region say he is in hospital in Chengdu in a critical condition. Radio Free Asia quotes Pema Gyaltsen as having “called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and for freedom in Tibet”. A video is circulating on social media showing a huge police presence at the self-immolation site. A group of Gyaltsen’s relatives went to Kardze county police station to try and see him but were detained overnight, beaten and forced to spend the night standing up. “Today some of them could barely walk from the beating, but they were released
under the guarantee of a Ngagrong official,” added RFA’s source. Very little information is getting through because of the communication crackdown and block on the use of WeChat (a popular messaging app used across Tibet) in the region. Pema Gyaltsen was the eldest of five siblings and sole breadwinner for his family. This case is the second self-immolation protest in Ngarong. Kalsang Wangdue, an 18 year old monk died in a self-immolation protest there on February 29 last year near his monastery, Retsokha Aryaling monastery. On that same day, Dorjee Tsering, a 15 year old Tibetan student living in India also self-immolated to protest against Chinese occupation of Tibet and
succumbed to his burns after three days. Gyaltsen is the 146th Tibetan to self-immolate in Tibet since the first in 2009 which set off the current spate of self-immolation protests which has continued to this day. Most of these protestors call for Tibetan freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet. His Holiness has been living in exile since escaping from Tibet during the failed uprising there in 1959. The Chinese authorities have criminalised self-immolation and there are many reported cases of people being imprisoned for showing support, however remote, for these protests or protestors.
Shadows of Dust across the Sun by Ben Byrne Shadows of Dust across the Sun, a new report from the Washingtonbased International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), details how expulsions and demolitions at Larung Gar and Yachen Gar in recent months are part of a Chinese government ploy
to curb and manage the growing influence of monks and nuns in Tibet. The report also shows how, in a delicate balancing act, the Chinese are simultaneously trying to exploit growing interest in Tibetan Buddhism to attract domestic tourists. Contact
Larung Gar is the largest Buddhist institute in the world and one of the most influential centres of learning in the Tibetan world. Officials have been demolishing the homes of some of the 20,000 monks and nuns living around the institute. Evictions are also occurring around Yachen Gar which is home to 10,000 nuns. According to the ICT report the demolition work underway at the sites is “part of a push to develop the area with new guest houses or facilities for temporary visitors rather than long staying monastics”. The ICT report, informed by first hand sources and eye witness testimony, shows that the plans for urbanisation and tourism at the sites will present an official version of Tibetan religious culture and a “happy Kardze”, involving an emphasis on non-religious elements of Tibetan culture. It is estimated that following the reconstruction of Larung Gar only 5,000 monks and nuns will remain. They will no longer engage in serious scholarship and study, but “be reduced to a superficial attraction for temporary visitors and spiritual seekers”. 3
Videos have circulated showing heavy vehicles dismantling wooden homes with the sound of chanting in the background. Some footage shows captured nuns with their
Monks and nuns of Larung Gar waiting to be evicted in an undated photo Photo:Radio Free Asia
hands in the prayer position, weeping, or sinking to the ground in despair as their colleagues leave in convoys of coaches. Monks and nuns who have been expelled have been forced to undergo “patriotic reeducation” in their home areas. This involves singing songs dedicated to Chairman Mao and performing a modern dance routine to a famous pop song, The Song of the Emancipated Serfs, which is associated with official Communist Party celebrations. March 2017
NEWS & ISSUES Arrests and Releases Inside Tibet this Month
Mar 22: 200 Arrested Nearly 200 Tibetans in Kardze county have been arrested in connection with the latest self-immolation protest
and her parents are Ngakchung and Wangkyab. Her job was to maintain the grounds near a statue of the Buddha
by Pema Gyaltsen in Ngarong in the traditional Tibetan province of Kham. [see lead article] Sources said that people supporting Gyaltsen’s protest by raising cries of solidarity were taken away and their phones were confiscated. No information on their whereabouts has emerged from Tibet due to the crackdown on communication in the area.
in front of Kirti monastery. Her family has been given no information as to her whereabouts or how she is.
Mar 18: Solo Female Protester Dukbey, a young Tibetan in her twenties, staged a solo protest on the streets of Ngaba in Amdo. She marched down the main street of Ngaba calling for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life and freedom in Tibet and was immediately arrested by Chinese security forces. Dukbey is a native of Ngaba’s Raru township. She is married with two children
Continued from page 1
a solo protest against the Chinese government. He was seen shouting slogans in the street, calling out for Tibetan freedom and the return of HH the Dalai Lama to Tibet but was
Mar 8: Beaten and Arrested Gedhun, a young Tibetan man, has been severely beaten by Chinese
police before being taken into custody. Gedhun had shared online images of the Tibetan National flag and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Gedhun is from Wonpo Village in Dzamey Township in the Dzachukha area of Sershul, Karze County, in Kham, eastern Tibet. No official details of his arrest have been issued.
His Holiness to Visit Arunachal
Prompted by this forthcoming visit to Aranachal, the China Tibetology Research Centre (CTRC) based in Beijing held a press conference - a rare occurrence - to criticise the visit as well as His Holiness’s reincarnation process and the future of Sino-Tibetan dialogue. The Director of CTRC Lian Xiangmin’s comments were widely covered and circulated in the Indian media. China labels the 81 year old Dalai Lama as a dangerous “separatist” and a threat to the country’s sovereignty. China warned India of “serious damage” on bilateral ties if India allows His Holiness to visit Arunachal. Contact
Mar 18: Lone Protestor Arrested Lobsang Dhargye, a Tibetan monk from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba in Sichuan, was arrested following
overpowered immediately by police and removed from the scene. His protest took place just after Tibetan Uprising Day on March 10 so there was a heavy police presence in the area. Dargye is a second-year student at Kirti and a native of Upper Charu township in Ngaba. His father is Gonpo, his mother’s name is Sonam Kyi, and his relatives are reported as being most concerned about him.
Speaking about the issue, the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren
Rijiju said that Indian Prime Minister Modi’s government has become more assertive and described the change as “behavioural change”. He added that the Dalai Lama is a religious leader and there is no reason to stop him from visiting the state where his devotees are 4
demanding his visit. “India is fully aware of the seriousness of the Dalai Lama issue and the sensitivity of the China-India border question. Against such a background, if India invites the Dalai Lama to visit the mentioned territory, it will cause serious damage to peace and stability of the border region and China-India relations,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang on March 3. The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, met His Holiness in New Delhi in October and officially invited him to visit the state. Tibet’s spiritual leader’s last visit to Arunachal was in 2009. March 2017
NEWS & ISSUES
The Dalai Lama and John Oliver Continued from page 1
Beijing. His Holiness said that Chinese leaders have portrayed short sightedness while dealing with the question of his reincarnation and that leaders in Beijing have only been concerned with the image of the Communist Party. “Without using the human brain properly. It’s harmful… Our brain usually, you see, [has] the ability to create common sense. The Chinese hardliners, in their brains, that part of the brain is missing,” he said. China has retaliated, calling the Dalai Lama a “deceptive actor.” The Dalai Lama was not to be drawn on details concerning his reincarnation while reiterating comments he has made before that he may be the last Dalai Lama in the
long line of his predecessors in the institution revered by Tibetans and Buddhists from Himalayan regions over centuries. There is speculation that China is poised to go down the same road they did with the second highest Tibetan Lama, the Panchen Lama, whom they abducted at the age of six and followed this by appointing their own Panchen Lama and installing him in Tibet. In response to the televised interview, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang has been quoted as saying “The Dalai Lama’s comments in the interview perhaps appeared humorous and funny, but these words are all lies that do not accord with the facts…We often say that the 14th Dalai Lama is a political
exile who wears religious clothing to engage in anti-China separatist activities. Now it seems he is an actor, who is very good at performing, and very deceptively.” In his introduction, Oliver described His Holiness as “of profound importance to the Tibetan people as a spiritual leader and a figurehead”. The show featured a relaxed and casual Dalai Lama who spoke authoritatively, albeit with his trademark humour, on the current plight of the Tibetan people and the spate of self-immolations over the last few years. He addressed the issues raised by Oliver in depth and spoke of his compassion in the face of the Chinese regime imposed on his people.
Commemorating the 58th Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day by Tenzin Samten Thousands of Tibetans, devotees and supporters gathered to mark the first official celebration of Tibetan Women’s Day on March 12 in Tsuglakhang, the main temple in Dharamshala, to coincide with the 58th Tibetan Women’s Uprising day. On March 12, 1959, the women of Tibet stood up against the Chinese regime’s forced occupation of their country: the first women’s uprising day inside Tibet which has been observed annually ever since. His Holiness the Dalai Lama – the spiritual leader of Tibet – opened the ceremony. Speaking about women’s inborn capability to create a more peaceful and compassionate community, he said, “Peace is not brought about through conflict, but through compassion—creating peace of mind within ourselves. We all need compassion and women can take a lead role in bringing this about. My own first teacher of kindness and compassion was my mother…On this occasion of the 58th anniversary of the Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day and the first Tibetan Women’s Day, I urge women to be more active and courageous in taking the lead.” Contact
His Holiness has broken a Buddhist tradition by accepting women as candidates to achieve the Geshe degree; he conferred historic Geshema degrees to 20 nuns in December last year, a step aimed at paving the way to gender equality in education and economic
Tenphel, the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, and Lisa Singh. Dr Sangay drew attention to the efforts the CTA is taking to empower Tibetan women and improve their status on education, political and religious fronts. In line with this policy, the CTA announced earlier this month that March 12 will be celebrated every year as Tibetan Women’s Day to further the socio-political empowerment of Tibetan women. They also announced that the day marks the “courage and sacrifices”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama with nuns at the Geshema degree award Photo:OHHDL
opportunities. The Geshe/Geshema degree is equivalent to a Western doctorate in Buddhist philosophy and until now has only been open to men. Lisa Singh, the Australian Senator who was among the guest speakers for the event, referred to His Holiness as “the first feminist Dalai Lama”. Dr Lobsang Sangay, the political head of the Tibetan Government-inexile, also known as Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), presided over the gathering along with Khenpo Sonam 5
Photo: Tenzin Jigme
of Tibetan women who have been at the forefront of the Tibetan struggle for nearly 60 years. Following the official event in Tsuglagkhang, the Tibetan Women’s Association – a non-government organisation – commemorated the 58th Tibetan Women’s Day by leading a rally and march from Mcleod Ganj to Dharamshala. March 2017
NEWS & ISSUES
His Holiness Advises on Education to Promote Happiness
by Tenzin Samten His Holiness the Dalai Lama has attended a series of events across India during March. On March 17, he inaugurated the International Conference Buddhism in the 21st Century in Bihar, saying “all religious traditions teach us about love, compassion, forgiveness, contentment and self-discipline. They all carry a similar message of love. Therefore, all these traditions should be able to live side-by-side and work together”. His Holiness continued, “As someone who has studied ancient Indian knowledge for the last sixty years…we should pay more attention to ancient Indian knowledge to solve the emotional crisis prevailing in the world. Therefore, Buddhism is highly relevant in the 21st century and we should start teaching it as an academic subject rather than just treating it as a religion.” Following the Bihar visit, His Holiness travelled to Madhaya Pradesh, arriving on March 18 to participate in the ongoing Namami Devi NarmadeSewa Yatra - a campaign conceived
and coordinated by the Government of Madhaya Pradesh to conserve the Narmada River in Turnal, Madhaya Pradesh. His Holiness said, “India’s prosperity depends on the development of villages instead of developing big cities. So, the journey of development should start from rural areas of the country”.
His Holiness and senior members of Sangha during the plenary session Photo:Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
He called for more participation by women, saying “Women are more sensitive and full of compassion. Their enhanced participation will make the world a better place as they can ensure promoting deeper human values”. Speaking on The Art of Happiness
on March 19 in Bhopal to members of the Legislative Assembly, ministers of the Bharatiya Janata Party Government and bureaucrats at Vidhan Sabha, His Holiness said that today’s world needs education in love, compassion and friendship, and not materialism, “Modern education is oriented around a materialistic way of life. We should ask ourselves if it is really an adequate basis for a happy society”. His Holiness criticised the caste system in India and said, “It is a social evil, cutting across religious lines. The spiritual leaders of India should come out with one voice to get rid of this social evil.” He lauded India’s unique culture of the harmonious co-existence of various religious beliefs. “India is known for its religious harmony. All religions, including those that trace their origins abroad, have co-existed in India over the past 2,000 years,” he said, continuing, “India should tell the world that it stands for compassion and respect for all religions.”
His Holiness Teaches in Dharamshala
by Aparna Kathuria Tsuglagkhang, the main Tibetan temple in McLeod Ganj, and its surrounding verandas, as well as the courtyard below, were filled with people on the morning of March 13, waiting for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to arrive for his three day teaching. On the first day, His Holiness explained that 2,600 years ago in India there were many other religious and philosophical traditions. They were all beneficial to their followers in their way, and many continue to be so. He remarked that this is illustrated in paintings of the Wheel of Life. In the outer rim are depictions of the twelve links of dependent arising which begin with ignorance. On the second day of the teaching, His Holiness spoke of the difficulties of preserving traditions in Tibet in recent years, particularly in the great Contact
monasteries of central Tibet. Speaking of the first text for the teaching, from Kamalashila’s three part Stages of Meditation, he said that it had been written in Tibet at
Photo:Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
the request of Trisong Detsen, then a man of great influence in Tibet. His Holiness said he felt that work has a special connection with Tibetans. On the final day, he gave a teaching on the empowerment of Avalokiteshvara. He said, “Avalokiteshvara is praised by all the Buddhas. He is the embodiment of 6
the compassion of all the Victorious Ones. As Chandrakirti wrote in his Entering into the Middle Way, compassion is important at the beginning, middle and end of the path. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have great qualities of body, speech and mind based on minds that are rooted in compassion. To begin with all the Buddhas generated the awakening mind of bodhichitta based on their having a courageous heart of compassion. By serving others they fulfil their own purposes—because they have compassion.” His Holiness ended by telling devotees that whether they took the vows or not, killing, stealing and other offenses would definitely lead them to trouble. “For lay people abstaining from drinking may be hard. So my advice is that you drink but to a limit and not till you are totally intoxicated,” he advised. March 2017
NEWS & ISSUES
Hong Bao and Cricket as China Meets Australia
by Ben Byrne China’s Premier Li Keqiang was met by Tibetan protestors as he arrived in Canberra for the start of his five day Australian tour on March 22. Tibetan Australians, along with Chinese Falun
Photo: Australian Tibetan Community
Gong practitioners, waited outside the Hyatt Hotel until after midnight to greet Mr Li with placards calling for religious freedom and an end to political repression. The following day a large crowd of protestors, including former political prisoners and their families, gathered on the lawns of Parliament House with members of the Australian Green and Labour parties. To highlight growing concerns about the Chinese influence on Australia’s economy and society, the Tibetans symbolically tossed small Chinese hong bao– red envelopes traditionally by Rohini Kejriwal The 15 members of the Tibet Women’s Soccer Team have been denied visas to travel to Texas for the Dallas Cup soccer tournament by the United States Embassy in New Delhi – a decision which hit the international press and sparked a media campaign which has gone viral. This was an opportunity which would have enabled the women to be the first sports team to represent Tibet on American soil and to lead the opening day parade into the Cotton Bowl stadium, carrying the Tibetan flag for the world to see. The team members, all aged between 15 and 19, were invited to spend ten days in Texas as VIP guests at one of the most important friendly youth tournaments in the world with an alumni list boasting the likes of Contact
used to offer cash gifts – during the protest. This gesture was intended to implore the Australians not to let their institutions and values be undermined by the influence of Chinese finance. Mr Li, flanked by a large Chinese business delegation, is visiting both Canberra and Sydney during his tour. He will focus on pushing Chinese free trade initiatives and promoting China as a stable partner in “a disorientated era beset by uncertainties”, an apparent reference to the recent election of Donald Trump in the United States of America and Trump’s rejection of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Representatives from both countries will also discuss the ratification of an extradition treaty which was signed in 2007. Ratification by the Australian parliament could lead to the extradition of Australian Tibetans back to China. Whilst there is speculation that the Australian government is likely to engage in some rhetorical platitudes about human rights before complying in the face of Chinese financial muscle, the Australian cricket team is expected to put up more of a fight during their
Soccer Furore
David Beckham and Wayne Rooney. Despite having produced all necessary documentation and fulfilling all mandatory requirements in the US visa guidelines their visas were denied because they did not have a “strong reason” to go to
Dallas. Team members protested by standing outside the US Consulate in New Delhi, dressed in their football jerseys. The team has called on the authorities to reverse the decision. To this end a petition to the United 7
test match with India in Dharamshala in mid March. The team met His Holiness the Dalai Lama on March 24 with Captain Steve Smith rubbing
His Holiness with the Australian Cricket team Photo by Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
noses with His Holiness and receiving some advice on how to get a better night’s sleep. Tibet Lobby Day On March 27 and 28, Tibet Lobby Day, members of the Australia Tibet Lobby met Australian politicians from all sides of the political spectrum in Canberra and briefed them on the key issues, calling for stronger political support from Australia. The Tibet Lobby delegates are young activists, local community leaders and former political prisoners from Tibet who have made Australia their home. States Department of State at the US Embassy in New Delhi, has been started on Change.Org, and the team has gained the support of two prominent US Congressmen, Christopher H Smith and Thomas McArthur, who on March 6 wrote to the newly appointed US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson requesting he review the situation and grant entry to the US for the team. And in another angle for this story, the Tibetan National Sports Association (TNSA) based in Dharamshala has distanced itself from the team saying, “The Tibetan Women Soccer team led by Cassie Childers which has been denied visas by the American Embassy in Delhi recently is not affiliated with the TNSA programme. TNSA has its own women’s football team.” March 2017
NEWS & ISSUES Tibetan Parliamentary Budget Session
by Aparna Khathuria The budget session for the financial year 2017-2018 of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile began on March 14. This was the third session of the 16th Tibetan Parliament. In his opening remarks the Speaker, Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, offered his deepest gratitude and heartfelt devotion to the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama for his tireless efforts towards restoring freedom for Tibetans and peace in the world. The Speaker also expressed his hope of improvement in the situation in Tibet, with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping in his second term and the recent mention of Tibet at the fifth session of China’s 12th National People’s Congress by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. On the first day, Parliament passed resolutions to mourn the demise
of former members of the Tibetan parliament: Mr Namgyal Wangdu, Mr Rigzin and former Secretary Mr Ngawang Dhondup Narkyid. Also remembered was Tibetan selfimmolator Tashi Rabten. A resolution was passed to express solidarity with the sufferings of Tibetans inside Tibet. On March 18 the Tibetan Electoral Review Committee, chaired by Kalon Karma Yeshi of the Department of Finance, proposed a series of recommendations for amendments to the Tibetan electoral system. A set of amendments to more than 29 articles in the Tibetan Electoral rules and regulations was tabled together with suggestions for the Tibetan Charter. Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the political head of Tibetan Governmentin-exile, called for a debate on the prospects and benefits of a single
general election to replace the current two-step election process. The issue was deferred to the next session at the request of Finance Minister (Kalon) Karma Yeshi, when a revised form will be submitted. The issue of electoral reform became a major talking point after the Kashag, led by Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay, walked out of the proceedings on March 18 because the Committee had not included a recommendation for a single phase election instead of the existing two-round system. The 2017-18 budget session of the 16th Tibetan Parliament in exile concluded on March 25 with the legislative body of the Tibetan Government-in-exile (officially known as Central Tibetan Administration) approving a consolidated budget of INR 2,43,98,02,997 ($37.48 million / £29.8 million) for the next fiscal year.
Four Reports Highlight Deteriorating HR in Tibet
by Dorji Kyi The latest report from Freedom House, the non-government organisation funded by the United States Government which conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights, states that Tibet is the second least free country in the world after Syria. Of the 50 countries and territories designated as “Not Free”, the worst aggregate scores for political rights and civil liberties are Syria, Tibet, Somalia, North Korea and Uzbekistan. The countries were classified on a scale from one to seven, with one being most free and seven being least free. Tibet was rated a seven for both political rights and civil liberties. Three other reports published in February and March this year disclose the limited human rights for Tibetans inside Tibet. A second Freedom House report entitled The Battle for China’s Spirit: Religious Revival, Repression, and Resistance Under Xi Jinping analyses the situation for seven religious groups in China: Chinese Buddhism; Taoism; Catholicism; Protestantism; Contact
Islam; Tibetan Buddhism and Falun Gong (Falun Gong has been banned in China since 1999). The key findings of this report state that controls over religion in China have increased since 2012 and an estimate of the numbers of people in China who belong to religious groups shows that nearly one third face “high” or “very high” levels of persecution. This particularly applies to Protestant Christians, Tibetan Buddhists, Uighur Muslims and Falun Gong practitioners. The report states that “President Xi Jinping has largely continued the repressive policies and campaigns of his predecessor, Hu Jintao, while deepening and expanding certain controls. New measures include punishing assistants to self-immolators, cancelling previously permitted festivals, increasing intrusive restrictions on private religious practice and, more proactively, manipulating Tibetan Buddhist doctrine and the selection of religious leaders.” The Government of the United States of America released its annual report on human rights around the world on March 3. This report confirms a wide range of 8
human rights violations in Tibet and also states that the outcome of China’s policies in Tibet is severe repression of Tibet’s unique religious, cultural, and linguistic heritage by, among other means, strictly curtailing the civil rights of the Tibetan population. The same situation is reported by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) in their 2016 Annual Report Human Rights Situation in Tibet. At a press conference on February 23, Tsering Tsomo, the director of TCHRD, said that the report demonstrated an increase in control over the right to freedom of expression, opinion, privacy, religion and assembly in Tibet. The TCHRD report shows that impact of China’s policies in Tibet is very clearly highlighted by the number of self-immolations in Tibet. 145 Tibetans have burned themselves since 2008; 25 of these people were aged 18 or under – young people who have been raised under the current Chinese regime. Most of them have clearly stated their wish for freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet. March 2017
NEWS & ISSUES Discontent in Switzerland by Ben Byrne Switzerland places human rights at the core of the nation’s value system; it is the depository state of the Geneva Conventions and the place where several human rights-related nongovernment organisations (NGOs) have been established or headquartered, including the Red Cross. Switzerland hosts around 4,000 Tibetan refugees, the largest Tibetan exile community in Europe. However, recent events have caused some to question whether Switzerland remains steadfast in its commitment to human rights, particularly those of Tibetans. In July last year, the Swiss government mandated that Tibetan refugees would no longer be able to state their nationality as “Tibetan” or “stateless”. They would instead have to change to “Chinese”. This policy was lauded by the Global Times, an organ of the Chinese State in
an article last month. The Chinese are using their increasing wealth to manipulate policies and silence opposition to its human rights abuses.Investments by Chinese companies in Switzerland quadrupled last year to reach $4.8 billion (£3.9 billion), investments which are helping to develop the Swiss urban system, particularly in Zurich, Geneva and Basel. There is speculation that this is what is behind the arrest last month of Tibetan activists protesting during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Switzerland. And it was claimed that, unlike the Tibetans at the protest, a Chinese group was given freedom of expression. This has led to Wangpo Tethong, a Tibetan activist based in Switzerland, filing a complaint against Berne City Council and the police for “violating the constitutional right of freedom of expression during the
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Switzerland”. An article in swissinfo drew attention to the ongoing discontent during the Bern Tibetan Uprising Day rally on March 10 this year. “400 Tibetans gathered in the Swiss capital Bern to commemorate the 1959 uprising against Chinese forces in Lhasa. They also expressed anger at being categorised as Chinese nationals by the authorities.” Swiss Parliamentarians Visit Six Swiss parliamentarians visited Dharamshala on March 27, meeting Sikyong Lobsang Sangay at the Kashag secretariat. Sikyong spoke of deteriorating human rights in Tibet and the 2017 “Year of Campaign” aimed at galvanising the global Tibetan movement. They also discussed ways in which Switzerland can support Tibet.
March 10: Tibetan National Uprising Day
by Simone Zhang On March 10, thousands of Tibetansin-exile, along with friends from nations around the world, gathered at Tsuglakhang Temple to commemorate the 58th anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day. Members of the Kashag, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Tibetan Justice Commissioners, and Central Tibetan Administration, along with dignitaries from Italy, France and Canada took part. Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the leader of the Tibetan Parliament-inExile, said that the violation of human rights that happens today in Tibet is ranked second only to the current crisis in Syria in terms of political and civil rights and yet the media coverage of Syria far surpasses that of the Tibetan struggle. Dr Arno Kompatscher, President of South Tyroll, an autonomous region in northern Italy, said that South Tyroll could demonstrate hope that a peaceful diplomatic solution is possible as well for Tibet. The event was followed by a march Contact
down to lower Dharamshala, with people raising slogans, “We want freedom, we want justice”, “Long live the Dalai Lama” and “Tibet belongs to Tibetans”. In New Delhi, when Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) activists gathered near the Chinese Embassy more than 150
TYC activists being detained by Delhi Police during the protest outside the Chinese embassy Photo: Indian Express
people, including TYC Vice President Tamdin Sichoe, were detained by Delhi police and later released. Around the world, Tibetans marked the day with peaceful protests in major cities including London, New York and Paris. In Berkeley, California, the City Council raised the Tibetan national flag 9
on its city flagpole for the 21st time while in Geneva, the Swiss Parliamentary group for Tibet raised a large Tibetan flag in front of the Bundeshaus (Swiss Parliament House). However, in Nepal the application by the Tibetan welfare office based in Kathmandu to hold a public gathering was turned down by the district authorities once again. The Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office in Kathmandu issued a circular dated March 7 stating, “Nepal has denied permission from holding any kind of public gathering this year on March 10, the 58th Tibetan National Uprising Day.” The circular urged Tibetans not to hold public gatherings and peaceful protests as well as encouraging them to abide by the laws of the land and resort to prayers and ritual activities at home. And in Tibet, the authorities blocked internet connections ahead of the day, reported Radio Free Asia, in a measure to prevent people organising events to mark Uprising Day, or to communicate with the outside world about events taking place there. March 2017
NEWS & ISSUES
Losar Celebrations Around the World
by Tenzin Samten Tibetans across the world celebrated Losar (Tibetan New Year), the FireBird year of 2144, from February 27 to March 1. In Dharamshala, the seat of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, the Losar celebration started early in the morning following the traditional gathering of officials of the exile government headed by Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay for a prayer session at Tsuglakhang, the main temple. Local Tibetans in and around Dharamashala visited the temple after the official gathering to offer and receive blessings. Tibetan New Year is traditionally celebrated based on Tibetan calendar which is made up of twelve lunar months: the first day of the first month is considered to be Losar, or New Year. Traditionally in Tibet, Losar celebrations go on for 15 days or more. However, Tibetans living in exile mostly celebrate Losar for the first three days and in some regions, for one day only, depending on their lifestyles. The United States (US) State Department celebrated Losar with an event which was attended by over 70 dignitaries including State Department officials, Washington-based Office of Tibet Representative Penpa Tsering, International Campaign for Tibet staff, and executive members of the Tibetan Association. Ms Laura Stone, Director
of the Economic Policy Office at the Bureau of East Asian and Economic Affairs, greeted the audience saying that the US State Department’s Losar celebration exhibits respect and recognition for Tibet’s rich culture and religion on the part of the US. To mark the Losar festival, the people of the Samyeling Tibetan Colony in Majnu Ka Tilla, Delhi gathered on March 1, the third day of Losar. The
programme started off with prayer offerings and singing the Tibetan and Indian national anthems. The gathering was presided over by both Indian dignitaries and Tibetan officials. To show their spirit of unity and support, Russian Buddhist Republicans gathered in Moscow to celebrate Losar. Over seven hundred people attended the event where the key speaker was Telo Tulku Rinpoche - His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s honorary representative in Russia, Mongolia and the Commonwealth of Independent States countries. Rinpoche gave an extensive explanation of the spiritual side of Losar.
In Belgium, Tibetans celebrated the first day of Losar in Antwerp at an event organised by the Tibetan community there with much fun and frolic. According to the official website of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, Antwerp has the largest Tibetan population in Belgium, thus most of the Tibetan community activities take place there. Also reported is the Losar celebration in America of the New York-based Tibet Fund, a non-profit organisation working to preserve the culture, religion and national identity of Tibetan people. The Tibet Fund celebrated Losar at Baruch College in New York City on February 21. Mr Penpa Tsering, the representative of the Office of Tibet based in Washington, was the chief guest along with sponsors and longtime supporters of the Tibet cause. Speaking about the purpose of such an event, the Executive Director of the Tibet Fund told Voice of America’s Tibetan service, “...there are many in the United States who are interested in the Tibet cause, Tibetan culture and religion, yet the opportunities to directly participate in cultural events are rare for them. This led to our decision to initiate the annual celebration of Tibetan New Year three years ago.” Tibetans both inside and outside Tibet celebrate Losar with prayers and parties to welcome the new Tibetan calendar year.
Man Arrested for Spying on Tibetan Refugees in Sweden
by Aparna Kathuria Sweden has arrested a man suspected of having “engaged in refugee espionage” on Tibetan refugees, for an unnamed foreign power. The Swedish intelligence service SAPO made an announcment about the arrest, saying “The arrested man is suspected of having, at the request of another country, illegally gathered information about people in the Tibetan community in Sweden”. “Refugee espionage is a method to try to prevent refugees from expressing criticism of the regime in the country they have fled. It is also a way for the regime to try to get control over who has Contact
fled from home,” the agency statement continued “The information has been passed on to intelligence officers working for a foreign power.” The man was arrested on February 26. SAPO would not disclose the suspect’s name or nationality, nor which country he was working for or where in Sweden he was spying. SAPO refused to say whether the foreign power involved was China. Beijing claims to have “peacefully liberated” Tibet in 1951 and considers it an inseparable part of China. According to the Swedish news agency TT, the suspect has lived in Sweden for several 10
years. The country’s security service also stated that the agency has been “actively working” to prevent and combat the refugee espionage occurring in the country. Shocked over the news of the Tibetan community in Sweden being the subject of espionage, Nyima Sherlho Kangsar, head of the organisation Tibetan Community in Sweden, told Sveriges Radio, a Swedish radio channel, “We, the Tibetans in Sweden, have a good community but it will now be broken when you hear such terrible news.” Over 130 Tibetans live in the country. March 2017
NEWS & ISSUES
Tibet on the Agenda in Geneva
by Tenzin Samten, Sean Fitzpatrick and Mary Trewartha The issue of Tibet has been on the agenda of the 34th session of the Human Rights Council (UNHRC) held February 27 to March 24 in Geneva, and Tibetan lobbyists and parliamentarians have been working to ensure that the issues have been raised and considered at the session.
Nyima Lhamo Speaks at the Geneva Summit In the runup to the session, Tibetan delegate Nyima Lhamo, niece of the late Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche attended the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy session The Fight for Freedom and Democracy. She addressed the Summit on February 21 as one of the “human rights heroes”, telling of the human rights situation inside Tibet and the story of her uncle Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s death in a Chinese prison under suspicious circumstances. Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was a highly respected Lama in Tibet, well known for philanthropy and for promoting social and environmental causes. “The prison authorities repeatedly beat him up and ridiculed his title of ‘spiritual leader’ and asked him to display his spiritual prowess by deflecting the beatings,” said Nyima. Despite international and human right groups’ calls on China, Rinpoche was denied a fair trial or medical parole, and his family was denied their right to perform the traditional Buddhist rites. Nyima called for international support saying, “No country, including China, is immune to international pressure. Therefore international pressure alone can make China accountable for its gross human rights violations in Tibet”. The Summit is sponsored by a coalition of 25 human rights nongovernment organisations from around the world and was held this year during the week before the UN Human Rights Council opened its 2017 session. Contact
China’s Human Rights Record Condemned by UN Investigators Prior to the commencement of the UNHRC, six United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteurs revealed the results of their investigation into the demolitions and evictions taking place at the Tibetan Buddhist centres of Larung Gar and Yachen Gar in the Sichuan Province. They condemned China’s human rights record in their report. A report released alongside the Special Rapporteurs’ statements highlighted several “severe restrictions” of religious freedom across the Tibetan Autonomous Region and surrounding areas, including the demolitions and expulsions taking place at Larung Gar and Yachen Gar, and the “Environmental impacts of the mining activities at the Holy Gongngon Lari Mountain as well as excessive use of force against, and arbitrary arrest and detention of, peaceful protestors”. The Special Rapporteurs’ concerns were echoed by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid Raad Zeid AlHussein, speaking on day nine of the UNHRC. “I am also disturbed by cases of restrictions on cultural and religious rights, particularly in Xinjiang and Tibet, and I will continue to reach out to China for an effective dialogue on important human rights issues”. Prince Zeid Raad Zeid Al-Hussein continued, “The Government of China had stated its intention to play a leadership role in the Human Rights Council…it should respect the rights of human rights defenders, and cease to restrict cultural and religious rights, particularly in Xinjiang and Tibet.” Expressions of Concern The United States of America, the European Union, Canada, France, the Czech Republic and Germany spoke of China’s disregard of the 11
international standard of human rights and the widespread human rights violations taking place in China, specifically mentioning Tibet and Xinjang. The United States’ delegation said, “We remain concerned about… China’s arbitrary detention and torture of lawyers and activists as well as its general ongoing efforts to silence criticism, unduly constrain civil society and religious practices, and deny rights to Tibetans and Uighurs.” A German statement said they remain “deeply concerned about the human rights situation in China… human rights abuses remain widespread.” Several civil society organisations and concerned governments sent a joint letter to Permanent Missions to the UN in Geneva calling for greater accountability of the Chinese government. Detention of Human Rights Defenders On March 17, various human rights violations in China were brought to the attention of the UNHRC including the widespread cases in Tibet and Xinjang. European Union representatives expressed profound concern over the arrest and detention of human rights defenders and called for their immediate release, including that of Tashi Wangchuk, a 31-year old Tibetan language rights advocate. ICT Tibet Lobby The campaigning continued at the conclusion of the session. On March 27, the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) Brussels started its three-day Tibet Lobby briefing and campaign. Representative Tashi Phuntsok of the Bureau du Tibet spoke on the activities and responsibilities of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). The Office of Tibet facilitated a meeting with a select group of Parliamentary Assistants, some of whom will be visiting India in May. March 2017
NEWS & ISSUES Mar 29: Monasteries Awarded The Chinese authorities in Sichuan have presented awards to Tibetan monks and Muslim leaders deemed to have cooperated with Communist Party rule. The event was held in Zungchu county in Ngaba as part of a Chinese campaign to foster Tibetan loyalty to Beijing. Tibetan monasteries receiving awards included Muge, Nyenyul Kharlak, Tsotsang, Nateng Chakdu, Gamel, and Drakkar Yungdrung Ritro. Mar 24: Larung Gar Demolition At the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Sichuan, currently undergoing partial demolition and a reduction in size, the forced eviction of monks and nuns is reported as almost complete. Nearly 5,000 people have been expelled during the past year. Demolition of the remaining 2,000 homes is ongoing. Mar 23: Sent Away Foreigners are being refused access to Yachen Gar Tibetan Buddhist academy in Kardze in Sichuan. Like nearby Larung Gar, Yachen Gar is being partly demolished and its population of monks and nuns reduced. Brice Pedroletti, a reporter for the French Le Monde, and his companions were stopped, searched, questioned and kept under armed guard when they tried to visit recently, and sent away despite having the correct visas. Mar 23: Horse Festival Cancelled An annual horse festival held in Chamdo county, eastern Tibet, normally held in the winter, was cancelled two months ago by the Chinese authorities.Voice of America reported that the news has only just emerged from Tibet and that two Tibetans who organised the festival were arrested about a week ago. One was later released and the whereabouts of the other remains unknown. Mar 16: Security Blockade Rebkong county in Eastern Tibet has been under a security blockade since March 10, reports Radio Free Asia. Large numbers of armed police and security officers have been deployed Contact
Tibetan Headlines
there and public places are being closely watched. Visitors from India are prohibited from going anywhere without permission. Local sources say that the show of force is to intimidate the public. Mar 14: Chinese Disruption Thwarted A Chinese delegation has disrupted a briefing on Human Rights in China at the United Nations Human Rights Council currently being held in Geneva. A team of Tibetans was reporting to the meeting; a Chinese representative requested that their video material be confiscated and deleted but this request was turned down by UN security authorities. Mar 11: Year of Campaign The Kashag, or Cabinet, of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile have declared 2017 to be a “year of campaign for Tibet” to galvanise the global Tibetan movement. Speaking at the Tibetan Uprising Day event in the temple in Dharamshala, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, the political leader of the Tibetan people, condemned China for its continued repression in the face of the Tibetan people’s resilience and commitment to non-violence. Mar 9: Martial Law Remembered A prayer service was held in Dharamshala to mark the 28th anniversary of the Martial Law imposed on Lhasa by China and enforced by Hu Jintao, then party secretary of the Tibet Autonomous Region in 1989. Hundreds of Tibetans lost their lives during the year that the Law was in force, and thousands more were arrested and imprisoned. Tibet was closed to outsiders for a further few years. Mar 9: Norbulingka Anniversary Norbulingka Institute in Sidhpur, lower Dharamshala, celebrated its 21st anniversary at an event in which Thangka paintings of all fourteen Dalai Lamas of Tibet and the great Tibetan emperors, as well as 11 volumes of the Tibetan encyclopedia were unveiled. HH the 12
Dalai Lama spoke of the importance of an “unwavering dedication to preserve our culture, identity and religion for many years to come”. Mar 9: Property Seizure Rongwo Monastery in Rebgong county is appealing for the return of their property and land which was leased to a teacher’s college and then seized by local authorities last year. The monastery, which is very short of resources, has received no reply to their petition. Security is tight in the region with edicts for monasteries to work in strict compliance with Chineseinfluenced management committees. Mar 8: Rewards for “Loyalty” The Chinese authorities in Qinghai are handing out awards to Tibetan monks and monasteries deemed to have cooperated with Communist Party rule. Radio Free Asia reports a source as saying that awards of around 10,000 yuan [US$1,450 / £1,200] were recently made to individuals at a meeting in Rebgong, while at the same time threatening punishment for monks who had recently travelled to India and Nepal. Mar 7: Shri Rabi Ray Shri Rabi Ray, the former Speaker of Lok Sabha, former Union Minister and Tibet supporter, has died. The exile Tibetan political leader Sikyong Lobsang Sangay said, “His death comes as a huge loss for both India and Tibet… Shri Rabi Ray was instrumental in hosting the first World Parliamentarian Convention on Tibet held in Delhi in 1994.” He was a freedom fighter before joining active politics. Mar 3: University Row The row at the University of California last month over the invitation to HH the Dalai Lama to speak at the University has been exposed as a ploy by the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles. The Chinese Student and Scholars Association (CSSA) who opposed the visit have now said the CSSA had “asked the Chinese Consulate for instructions”, and were “going to implement them”. The visit is going ahead. March 2017
NEWS & ISSUES
International Headlines
Mar 29: Tigers in the Wild A national park in eastern Thailand is home to a breeding population of the critically endangered Indochinese tiger. The establishment of this previously unknown population is attributed to the stepping up of anti-poaching efforts in Thailand. Until this find, there was only one known breeding population of Indochinese tigers - also in Thailand.
Mar 27: Opposition Leader Arrested Alexei Navalny, the main opposition leader in Russia, has been arrested along with at least 500 other protestors during anti-corruption protests nationwide. The rallies, supported by thousands, were deemed illegal. They were calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev over corruption allegations. Mar 24: Migrants Feared Dead Boats in trouble off the coast of Libya have prompted fears that more than 200 migrants believed to be aboard have died. Two capsized boats are floating in the Mediterranean; five bodies have been recovered. Everyone else is missing, feared dead. No distress calls from these boats were received. Mar 23: UK Attack An attack outside the Houses of Parliament in the United Kingdom’s capital London has drawn messages of solidarity from leaders of other countries affected by recent terror attacks. A lone attacker was shot dead after using a car to run down pedestrians, killing two, and stabbing a police officer to death. The attack took place on the anniversary of a terrorist attack in Brussels last year. Mar 20: Chuck Berry Tributes have been pouring in worldwide for legendary musician Chuck Berry who has died aged 90 in Missouri in America after a career spanning seven decades. His hits included Johnny B Goode, Roll Over Beethoven and Sweet Little Sixteen and influenced generations of musicians, including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Contact
Mar 18: Rotten Meat Some of Brazil’s biggest meat-packing companies have been raided by police following a two year investigation, and accused of selling rotten meat on the domestic market and abroad. Unhygenic practices were found as well as bribing of government officials.
after a fire killed 31 teenage girls at the government-run Virgen de Asuncion children’s care home near Guatemala City. There are allegations of overcrowding and abuse at the home and it is believed that teenage residents there set fire to mattresses in an attempt to escape following a riot.
Mar 17: Peru Floods Peru has witnessed unusually heavy rainfall that has killed at least 48 people and destroyed thousands of homes. Lima, a desert city of one million where it almost never rains is currently under threat of flooding. Intense rainfall and mudslides over the past three days have caused havoc around the nation.
Mar 9: Grannies at School A 90 year old woman who was married at 10 is learning to read and write for the first time at a school for women in a village in Maharashtra in India. The school, which celebrated its first anniversary on International Women’s Day, was founded because in India women are nearly a third less likely than men to be able to read and write.
Mar 16: Dutch Election Victory Mark Rutte of the centre-right VVD party was voted in for his third successive term as Prime Minister when his party easily beat the antiimmigration Freedom party. This election has been seen as a test of support for the nationalist parties that have been gaining ground across Europe. Mar 13: Landslide Tragedy A huge rubbish dump on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, is a scene of devastation after a landslide there killed at least 48 people, with dozens still missing. Makeshift houses have been buried and many children are among the dead. The area has been a dumping ground for more than five decades. Mar 11: Married Priests? Pope Francis has told the German newspaper Der Zeit that he could consider ordaining married men to address the shortage of Catholic priests in rural areas, but only in special circumstances, eg, older married men with grown children. However, he will not drop celibacy as a requirement for the priesthood. Mar 10: Guatemala Mourns Three days of national mourning has been declared in Guatemala 13
Mar 8: International Women’s Day The theme for today’s International Women’s Day 2017 is #BeBoldForChange and calls on “the masses or call on yourself to help forge a better working world - a more inclusive, gender equal world”. International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. Mar 8: New Wikileaks Wikileaks has published details of alleged cyber-weapons used by the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) which they say are wideranging hacking tools which can target Windows, Android, iOS, OSX and Linux computers as well as internet routers. The software is said to have been developed by the CIA with the aid of the United Kingdom’s MI5 agency. Mar 7: Chinese Congress The fifth session of the 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) has begun in Beijing. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang vowed to “resolutely oppose” separatist activities, saying that the quest for Hong Kong’s independence will lead nowhere and that they would not tolerate any activity which attempts to “separate Taiwan from the motherland”. March 2017
DHARAMSHALA VOICES Connecting Through Art
by Ben Byrne Tenzin Rabgyal is working in his simple studio in McLeod Ganj. There are no computers, no desks and very few distractions; it is a peaceful place by necessity. Tenzin works sitting cross legged on the floor, his painting mounted in front of him. Making the occasional ruckus, Rock, a Pug Tenzin took from an animal shelter one month ago, sits in a crumpled heap on the floor. The set-up may be simple, but the thangka art Tenzin is producing stands in stark contrast. Thangka paintings are a vital component of Tibetan Buddhism. They serve as important teaching tools depicting the life of Buddha, various influential lamas and other deities and bodhisattvas. The paintings are frequently commissioned for devotional as well as decorative purposes. A typical piece will take between three and seven months to paint and include incredibly elaborate details depicting various small figures circulating around a central deity. The thangka artist works on a cotton or silk canvas using pigments composed of minerals, plants, pure gold and pure silver. Today, with Tibetan culture under siege and bereft of its spiritual home in Lhasa, thangka artists are a coveted rare breed. Tenzin was born in Tibet in 1984 and brought by his mother to India when he was just two months old. His family wanted him to return to his homeland but His Holiness the Dalai Lama advised his mother to leave her baby behind in India. Tenzin’s mother returned to Tibet and he was raised as an orphan at the Tibetan Childrens
Village School in Dharamshala. He wouldn’t be able to contact his mother and family again until 2009. From a young age, Tenzin showed a keen interest in art, calligraphy and mathematics. He was initially fascinated by modern art, particularly depictions of Tibet, where his estranged family lived a life that to him would remain shrouded in
mystery. In 1996 he won a modern art contest at school and met the Dalai Lama. Later that year, after attending a 15 day workshop, he became interested in thangka and this has become the conduit through which he now connects with his heritage, history and religion. Tenzin attended art college from 1997 to 2002 and then moved to the Thangde Gatsal School in Norbulingka in Dharamshala where he studied under Master Locho. Locho cultivated his interest in thangka and during this time it became the driving force in his life. He lived a monastic life at Norbulingka and produced thangka pieces. In 2009 he travelled to Jaipur and participated in a traditional and folk artists camp. Two years later he was the only Thangka artist selected to display his work at an international art workshop in Udaipur. In 2011 he was awarded a degree in thangka painting, completing his formal education. Last year, Tenzin opened the studio where he now works and lives. He has a small staff that helps him produce commissions. Following
the teachings of Master Loche, he makes sure that his staff receive their fair share of the money from each commission. At his studio, Tenzin also teaches his craft to students from around the world. Students often stay for months and learn how to make the canvas, how to sketch the outlines of different deities and how to appropriately use different colours in line with centuries of tradition. Running his own business gives him a sense of freedom which he couldn’t experience whilst living at Norbulingka. He is currently working on three paintings, two commissioned by a monastery and another commissioned by a family to commemorate their grandfather. In 2009 Tenzin made contact with his family in Tibet. They are farmers in a village called Sherkar in Tingri County in southern Tibet, close to Nepal. Communication with his mother and father is very difficult due to language difficulties, but he can communicate with his brother and sister. His family worries about him a lot and prior to him making contact they were not sure if he was even alive. Tenzin hopes to visit
Tibet and see his family someday but the process is very arduous. His family would struggle to complete the myriad of formalities required as they are illiterate. As it stands, Tenzin has managed to ease some of his family’s worries about what life is like in India, whilst Tenzin’s mother has navigated the language divide to tell her son not to drink whisky.
Every month we feature somebody from the Tibetan community on our Dharamshala Voices page. You can read more Dharamshala Voices stories on the Contact website: http://www.contactmagazine.net/dharamasla-life/ Contact
14
March 2017
LHA NEWS AND PROJECTS We Need YOU!
Our support for the local community is only possible with the help of our generous sponsors and donors, and on behalf of all who benefit from our services we would like to offer our heartfelt thanks. Every donation is valued, however small. Your donation WILL make a difference to someone! If you or your organisation is interested in becoming a sponsor or donor, whether annually or as a one-off, please contact us with your questions and ideas on director@ lhasocialwork.org Lha Soup Kitchen: US $14,400 ($1,200 a month) The Soup Kitchen provides 50-60 healthy lunches daily for Tibetan refugees in need. Funds are needed to purchase food as well as to provide nutritional education workshops. Commercial Oven for the Lha Soup Kitchen: US $7,800 To be used for vocational training on preparing food and making pastries. Pastries made will be sold as a fundraising endeavour for Lha. Commercial Coffee Machine: US $47,00 To be used in vocational training programmes in making coffee. Coffee will be sold along with the pastries as a fundraising tool. Clean Water Programme: US $5,300 Annual maintenance and new filters for the 24 water filtration systems Lha has previously installed in both Tibetan and Indian communities throughout northern India. Clear Vision Programme: US $3,000 Provides free eye care and glasses for community members in need. Tibetan Smiles Programme: US $7,000 Provides free dental care for community members in need. Medical Assistance Programme (MAP) : US $4,000 Provides free medical care for community members in need. Solar Energy Programme: US $4,700 Provides a solar energy system for a school or monastery. Solar Powered Hot Water Programme: US $3,300 Sets up a solar powered hot water system for a school or monastery. The more of these grants we receive, the more institutions we can support.
Lha could not provide the services we do without the support of our wonderful volunteers who help in so many ways and inspire us with their enthusiasm. Every month we ask a volunteer to share their story. This month Philomène Franssen tells us her story.
A Come Back to Give Back
Volunteer Job at Lha: French teacher and Contact writer
Googling “organisations for Tibetan refugees in India” is what I did, Lha is what I found. Earlier, India had been my adopted home for nine years and I was determined to return, but this time to put my teaching skills at the service of the Tibetan community. My years in India have made me most sensitive to the questions of equality of chances, of birthrights, of
injustice and human rights. I arrived in India as a teenager and left as an adult, I literally grew up here. India has moved me beyond words, in so many ways. I have seen the beautiful and the tragic here, moments or events that have left their mark on me. And yes, of course, India has also irritated me beyond words at times too. In 2015 I had started a new life in Cambodia, but going to work everyday felt like putting on the wrong pair of shoes and I realised I was missing out on what really mattered to me: working for refugee communities and advocating human rights. So I studied Forced Migration and Human Rights for a year, quit my well-paid teaching
job and started looking for places where my skills, time and sincere heart for the plight of refugees would be helpful. Inevitably I thought of India and remembered that afternoon, years ago, when an Indian friend had taken me to Majnu ka Tilla in Delhi. Though I knew little about the story of the Tibetan people then, I fell in love with the place and was awe-struck by how well this community had integrated and adapted to Indian society while holding on so fervently to their culture and traditions. And that’s how years later I arrived at Lha to teach French, feeling everyday that I am serving a real purpose, helping dedicated Tibetan students to learn a language that they will put to use in their life, either to study or to become tour guides in this strikingly beautiful Himalayan region and thus hoping to make a decent living. I have learned a great deal about the history of Tibet and Tibetans and am simply amazed at the kindness of Tibetans, whose stories are the incarnation of resilience. “Compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and self discipline” are the core human values promoted by His Holiness the Dalaï Lama. Well, I did not meet one Tibetan who does not embody all these, which will remain a lifelong lesson for me. So, as I am about to pack, I will take away with me a heart filled with gratitude for what I have learned and felt here thanks to all the wonderful people, staff and students, who make Lha exist and thrive.
Contact magazine is published by Lha Charitable Trust
Lha Charitable Trust is an award-winning, grassroots, non-profit organisation and one of the largest Tibetan social work institutes based in Dharamshala, India. Lha has been striving to provide vital resources for Tibetan refugees, local Indian communities, and people from the Himalayan regions for over 18 years. Lha was registered as a charitable trust by the Indian Government in 2005. For more information, please visit www.lhasocialwork.org To keep up to date with news of what’s happening in Tibet and in the Tibetan exile community, follow Contact magazine online at www.contactmagazine.net Facebook: Contact News / Twitter: Contact News Contact
15
March 2017
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 conducting 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 Association of Tibet is an organisation of former political prisoners of Tibet and former activists currently in exile that engages in their complete assistance from medical, financial, basic education and vocational training. It also organises lobby and advocacies about human rights abuses in Tibet. WEB: www.guchusum.org LOCATION: Jogibara Road, McLeod Ganj, PHONE: 01892-220680 / 220679 EMAIL: guchusum1991@gmail.com
Tibet 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. L O C AT I O N : S i d h p u r, Dharamshala PHONE:9882144210 EMAIL: info@norbulingka.org WEB:www.norbulingka.org
March 2017
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 that 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 Dharamshala 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: 9882077708 / 9882921477 EMAIL: wangduemiddleway@gmail.com Website: www.anec-india.net Facebook: www/facebook.com/anecpeace
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 2017
activities and information UPCOMING EVENTS April 1 - 3 : His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s talk in Assam April 4 - 12 : His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Arunachal Pradesh May 12 : His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teaching in Manali in Himachal Pradesh June 6 : 15th Day of Sakadawa (The fourth Tibetan holy 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
Om Massage Centre
LOCATION: Bhagsu Road, Opposite the Green Hotel, Mcleod Ganj PHONE:9857999373/9805895574 EMAIL: kunsangdolma75@gmail.com
Contact
MEDITATION Ocean of Harmony
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 Class
Contact: Lha office at Mcleod Ganj Phone : 9882323455 / 9805881883 Teacher : Lobsang Damchoe
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 2017
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 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 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 Dr Tandon Advanced Dental Orthodontic & Implant Centre Location: Opp. AP Travels, Mcleod Ganj Phone:9418462936 Email: dr.rahultandon@gmail.com
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 news phayul.com -Phayul is published in Dharamshala,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 nongovernmental organisation and a research centre to protect the human rights of Tibetan people and promote the principles of democracy tibetanyouthcongress.org - an international non-governmental organisation that advocates full independence for Tibet from China studentsforafreetibet.org - a global grass roots group campaigning for full Tibetan independence tibetanreview.net - news, opinions, reviews and information freetibet.org: - UK-based campaigning organisation, also a good news source savetibet.org - Website of the International Campaign for Tibet and a good resource for news, campaigns, fundraising and projects tibetnetwork.org/home - a coalition of more than 190 Tibet organisations dedicated to campaigning to end human rights violations in Tibet and restoring rights to the Tibetan people
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.
Interested in a Tibetan Homestay?
Is Arriving in India a Nightmare?
Thinking about Volunteering?
Lha Charitable Trust can arrange homestays of one month with a Tibetan refugee family. By sharing day-to-day life with a Tibetan family you will have an opportunity to experience Tibetan culture at first hand as well as making friends and memories that will last a lifetime. Accommodation, breakfast and dinner included.
Next time you come, use the Lha Reception service at Delhi airport. We will meet you at the airport, look after you in Delhi and give you a safe place to stay while you wait for your overnight bus to McLeod. We’ll put you on the bus and make sure you are on the right seat! Use our service especially when you are arriving late at night or early morning.
Lha offers you the opportunity to share your knowledge and skills while gaining practical experience with a social work organisation – good for your CV as well as being fun and interesting! Lha volunteers develop friendships as well as learning at first handabout the issues facing the Tibetan refugee community.
Find out more! Call into the Lha office, see Map # 1 Contact
19
March 2017
advertisements
Ocean of Harmony
DR TANDON’S ADVANCED
DENTAL
Programmes for Wellbeing
Meditation Intensives Meditation Therapies Intensive Yoga Courses/Retreats Stress Management Integrated Healing Therapies Wellness Retreats
ORTHODONTIC & IMPLANT CENTRE 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. Map#24 website: www.himachaldentist.com Email: dr.rahultandon@gmail.com Appointment/Emergency call: 9418462936
For upcoming events, visit
www.oceanofharmony.org
HIMALAYAN YOGA RETREAT Yoga Time: 8:30 am to 9:30 am 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
For intensive trainings around the world (any country) contact: Shalu Patel (experienced & qualified life and wellness coach for international trainings)
Drop-in Classes/ Weekly Courses/ Reiki Course & Treatment Teacher Training Course (200 hours) Map#25
Mobile no: 988222502 - Surinder
Phone: (+91) 9979894585 Email: ohlifeandwellness@gmail.com
Address: Jogiwara Road, Green View House after Youngling Schoo Mcleod Ganj, Opposite Pink House www.himalayanyogacentre.com / Email:surinderlala@yahoo.in
BLACK TENT CAFE
RINKU TAXI SERVICE
Best taxi & car rental services in Himachal, Tour Packages Free high-speed Wi-fi Pick-up & Drop-in to Airports, Rail station, Bus stop Delicious coffee, authentic homemade Tibetan and western cuisine Opp. Club House, near Tourist Information Office Hotel Surya Road, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala - Map#16 PHONE: (+91) 94186-87343, 98570-30707
All food washed in clean filtered water
Free movies on Saturdays at 7.30pm Live Tibetan music every Wednesday at 6.30pm
Jogiwara Road (near post office), McLeod Ganj – Map #5
www.rinkutaxihimachal.com
CARPE DIEM
Chapri Handicrafts
RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA
Visit Sunanda to see her beautiful shawls, fabrics, gifts, papier-mache, handicrafts, thankas and so much more! MEXICAN, ITALIAN, INDIAN, CHINESE, Shop no 9, Next Alley to State Bank of India ATM, CONTINENTAL, & THAI FOOD, No MSG Temple Road, Mcleod Ganj Map#27 Tel: 98826-04215 • Everything washed with sterilized water • Wood-fired pizza oven & clay Tandoori oven • Relaxed atmosphere & Japanese-style seating • Live music every Sunday - Map#6 Bhagsu Road, Opp. Green Hotel Mcleod Ganj - Map#26 Located on Jogiwara Road, Email: kunsangdolma75@gmail.com across from the Tibetan Reception Center Contact: 9857999373 /9805895574 (down from Post Office) - Map # 9
OM MASSAGE CENTRE 8 AUSPICIOUS HIM VIEW HOTEL
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
DrYourMobile Shop Communication Partner
Mobile Sales, Mobile Repair, Sim Cards, Purchase and Recharge Phone Service
Black Magic Building (underground), Jogiwara Road, Map #4 McLeod Ganj Phone: 9857011101 Contact
8 beautiful rooms with balcony facing the Himalayan Range. Enjoy the sunrise from your bed! Phone: 01892-220567 Cell: 9418236603 Jogiwara Rd (Map #12) Email: tseringd@aushimview.com
Nature Cure Health Club
Jogiwara Rd, next to Tibetan Ashoka Guest House - Map #23 Mobile: 07833047078 Email: mahinder_m@hotmail.com,
18+ yrs’ experience: Swedish massage courses &
treatment, Zen Shiatsu courses, treatment, reflexology treatment, SPA, Singing Bowl Treatment and many more! 20
March 2017
advertisements
Contact
21
March 2017
advertisements Map not to scale
Map of McLeod Ganj showing locations of places of interest
BHAGSU NAG
See advertisement pages for details of advertisers TIPA
21
DHARAMKOT
26 25
Vipassana Centre
Naddi Village Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV)
15
Tushita Centre
McLEOD GANJ
22
MAIN SQUARE
3
Cantt Police Post
23
4
20
1 Lha Main Bazaar
27
2
5
28
6
16
24
12
11
10
29 14
13
Road to Dharamshala
1. Lha Headquarters and Tibet Fair Trade 2. Namgyal Cafe (at Om Hotel) 3. Common Ground Cafe 4. Dr Mobile, Woeser Bakery 5. Black Tent Cafe 6. Carpe Diem Restaurant 10. Perfect 32 Dental Clinic 11. Hotel Ladies’ Venture 12. 8 Auspicious Him View Hotel 13. Ahimsa House and Lha Soup Kitchen 14. Chonor House 15. Lhamo’s Croissant, Dolma Therapy 16. Rinku Taxi Service
17. Central Tibetan Administration,Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, Tibetan Library 18. LRZTP Tibetan Language Programme 19. Tibetan Museum and Temple 20. Tibetan Handicraft Centre 21. Taste of India 22. SnowLion Custom Tattoo 23. Nature Cure Health Club 24. Dr Tandon’s Advanced Dental 25. Himalayan Yoga Retreat 26. Om Massage Centre 27. Chapri Handicrafts 28. Marleen’s Thankas & Gifts 29. Dorjee Spa
19
17 18
Road to Dharamshala
Our specialty: Chocolate Vegan cake, Gluten free cake, Fresh Coffee Beans, cappaccino, Chocolate chilli lollipop 9am to 7pm - Closed on Monday
Below “Black Magic Hotel” on Jogiwara Rd -Map#4
Enjoy traditional Taiwanese and Chinese food and peaceful environment, just one minute from the Bus Stand, just behind Asian Plaza! (Map # 3)
NEED A DENTIST?
To advertise here, Contact Lha office at Temple Road, McLeod Ganj
For all your dental requirements under one roof, in a sterile and state of the art clinic
Dr Natasha Mehra @ Perfect 32 Dental Clinic Location: Near Hotel Mount View Jogiwara Rd, McLeod Map #10 Call: 09218742046 Email: perfect32dentalclinic@gmail.com
Lhamo’s Croissant
Tibetan Buddhist Walking Guide
Vegetarian and Vegan Food Bakery, Coffee shop, French Restaurant Gluten Free and Fresh seasonal juices and salads
New to the town? Local guide at Mcleod Ganj /Dharamshala. I can tour you around Mcleod Ganj, Gangkyi, Library, Norbulingka, sight-seeing etc Can speak Tibetan, English, Hindi and Nepali
Roof top terrace with stunning views
Name : Dawa Tsering /Mobile no: 8352868671
Contact
Bhagsu Road, just before Kunga Hotel Map#15
22
March 2017
advertisements
Marleen’s Thankas & Gifts We are happy to provide high quality Tibetan thangkas and gifts for all budgets; working with 18 artists we are able to take orders. Jogiwara Road, 50m down from post office, opposite Tibetan gas office Mc Leod Ganj Map #28 Email: thankas_inn@yahoo.com
May all beings be happy.
HOTEL D’S CASA Club House Road, Near Liaison Office, Mcleodgan, Himachal Pradesh 176219
D’s CASA
McLeodganj
Jai Guru Ji
Tel: +91-9857118523 / 9857118380 Email:dscaste;1234@gmail.com :dscasa6@gmail.com Web: www.dscastle.com
Tour & Travel (A Complete Travel House)
Mobile: 98058-75922 93186-75922 98163-68680
Contact for: All types of Transportation Trekking, Paragliding, Hotels etc ... Address: Club House Road, Mcleodganj, H.P -176219
To advertise here, Contact Lha office at Temple Road, McLeod Ganj
To advertise here, Contact Lha office near Dolma Chowk, opposite State Bank of India, McLeod Ganj Contact number: 9882323455 Contact
23
March 2017
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
SHREE HARI YOGA SCHOOL Website:- www.shreehariyoga.com Email:- hariji@shreehariyoga.com Contact:- +91 835 106 8174/ or whatsapp Address:- Under Unity Bistro VPO Upper Bhagasu, kangra, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219 Upcoming 200 hrs YTTC Batches 10th Apr -6th May 2017 8th May -3rd Jun 2017 5th Jun - 1st Jul 2017 3rd Jul -29th Jul 2017 31st Jul - 26th Aug 2017 28th Aug - 23rd Sep 2017
300 Hours YTTC 3rd Apr - 7th May 2017 10th May -13th June 2017 19th Jun - 23rd Jul 2017 31st Jul - 3rd Sep 2017 11th Sep - 15th Oct 2017 23rd Oct - 26th Nov 2017
DAILY YOGA CLASS TIMINGS IN UPPER BHAGSU
9 am - 10:30 am : Traditional Hatha Yoga 10:45 am -12 pm : Yoga For Beginners 1 pm - 2:30 pm : Traditional Hatha Yoga 4 pm - 5:30 pm : Ashtanga Yoga Mysore 6 pm - 7:30 pm : Yin Yoga
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 Dorji Kyi Circulation Manager Lobsang Rabsel Published by Lha Charitable Trust Web: www.lhasocialwork.org www.contactmagazine.net www.samdhongrinpoche.com Phone: 91(0)1892-220992 Email:editor@contactmagazine.net Facebook: ContactNews Twitter: @ContactTibet Printed at Imperial Printing, Dharamshala Phone: 222390 Email:ippdsala@gmail.com