December 2021

འབྲེལ་གཏུགས་གསར་འཕྲིན།

Contact

A Digest of Tibetan Issues and News from Inside and Outside Tibet RGD No. HPENG/2013/51798 | Volume: XXIII Issue:06| December 31, 2021

Ms Uzra Zeya Appointed US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues

by Tenzin Samten The United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, announced on December 20 that he has appointed Ms Uzra Zeya as the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues; she is the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights – a position which traditionally doubles as the Special Coordinator.

She will coordinate and promote Tibetan projects and issues in the US government, consistent with the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, particularly the issue of Tibetan dialogue with China.

Continued on page 3

99-foot High Buddha Statue Demolished in Tibet

by Tenzin Samten A statue of the Buddha in Drago in Kham [Ch: Sichuan] has been destroyed under instruction of the Chinese authorities, reports Tibet Watch, the United Kingdombased charity working to promote the human rights of the Tibetan people through monitoring, advocacy and research. The 99-foot high statue, costing 4,000,000 Yuan (US$ 630,000 / £470,000), was built with money raised by local Tibetans and with the full approval of the local authorities. Along with it, 45 huge prayer Continued on page 3

Ten-year Sentence for Tibetan Writer and Scholar

by Tenzin Samten Go Sherab Gyatso, 46, a prominent Tibetan Buddhist scholar and writer from Ngaba [Ch: Aba], was given a 10-year prison sentence by the Chinese authorities in a secret trial. According to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), also known as the Tibetan Government-in-exile, he was detained last year on October 26 by Chinese State Security Officers in Chengdu for expressing his views and has been held incommunicado in detention since then. No information about the Continued on page 5

Tibetans in Nepal Denied Identity Cards

by Johannes Lins More than 9,000 Tibetan refugees living in Nepal, along with 600 from other nations, are to be left with no valid ID. Nepal is looking at issuing refugee identification cards to the Bhutanese refugees living in the country only, according to a recent Home Ministry of Nepal proposal to the Cabinet.

“There has been no decision made yet”, Shanker Koirala, a senior government official at the Home Ministry, replied when asked if Tibetan refugees are also on Continued on page 4 www.contactmagazine.net

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Lha offers free language classes, livelihood skill trainings and many other programmes and activities.

For more information about Lha, please visit: www.lhasocialwork.org Lha Charitable Trust, Institute for Social Work & Education Lha Charitable Trust Lha contacts: office@lhasocialwork.org (0) 98823-23455 / 1892-220992 Please also see Lha’s additional websites: www.tibetnature.net www.samdhongrinpoche.com www.contactmagazine.net Contact Newsletter is published monthly by Lha Charitable Trust. It has been a popular source of news and information on Tibetan issues, and the Dharamshala community, for 22 years and is acknowledged in Lonely Planet and other international travel resources. It is available free of charge and distributed around Dharamshala, Delhi and various diplomatic missions in India. Copies are sent to Tibetan schools, settlements, offices and NGOs in India and abroad. Contact is updated daily on our website www.contactmagazine.net and Facebook page. Contact is registered under the Registrar Office of the Newspaper, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India; registration number HPENG/2013/51798.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Sacred Place Death and Impermanence We are deluding ourselves if we believe that happiness will come solely from material sources like money, goods and power. Material goods can only give us partial happiness. Therefore, instead of engaging in one-dimensional pursuit of material things, we should work also towards enriching our minds. Unless we develop a sense of contentment, no amount of wealth will bring us satisfaction. The more we have, the more we will want. And the more we have, the greater will be our anxiety.

On the other hand, if we cultivate contentment and kindness, we will feel empathy for all sentient beings in recognition of our similiarity in the wish to achieve happiness and get rid of suffering. This will make our lives happier for it will encourage us to help others. A self-centred person cannot enjoy true and lasting happiness.

When people are dominated by limitless desires for worldly fame and wealth, they spend the whole day in jealousy, anxiety, and competitiveness, thereby generating a great deal of mental tension.

Some of them even meet untimely deaths. This is sad. Despite their wealth, they are actually objects of pity and compassion. What’s more, the wealth that they have amassed with so much hard work may actually become the ojbect of disputes after their death. In some ways, this is similar to the plight of bees, who toil to gather honey, only to find it taken away by others.

No matter how high or low our occupational and financial standing, ultimately, eveyone has to face the fact of death. Therefore, the wise course of action is to remind ourselves every minute of death, and reform our minds. Death keeps no calendar. There is no guarantee that older people will die before young ones. In preparation for the eventuality of death, we must lead a life of altriusm, honesty and kindness with respect for the laws of karma. Instead of flattering the high and mighty while browbeating the less fortunate, if we lead a life of caring for the poor and helpless, we will have less fear of death when it comes. We will be able to face death peacefully in the confidence that our rebirth will be good.

- His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama From Gems from the Heart by HH the Dalai Lama Published by Tibetan Women’s Association

Contact Magazine Managing Director : Dorji Kyi Editor-in-Chief : Jenny James Editor : Tenzin Samten Circulation Manager : Tsering Wangdue Designed by : Karma Ringzin Topgyal Published by Lha Charitable Trust

Contact newsletter is sponsored by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD). TFD’s kind contribution has made this publication possible. We thank TFD for their continuous support.

Contact magazine | December 2021 | Page No 2

Email:editor@contactmagazine.net Facebook: ContactNews Instagram : tibetan_news_brief Printed at Imperial Printing, Dharamshala Phone:01892 -222390 Email: ippdsala@gmail.com

News Features Ms Uzra Zeya Appointed US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Continued from page 1

The press statement said that Special Coordinator Zeya will work closely with Tibetan cultural, religious, and political leaders, the US Congress, international allies and partners, and civil society representatives.

“This designation demonstrates the Administration’s commitment to advance the human rights of Tibetans, help preserve their distinct heritage, address their humanitarian needs, and meet environmental and water resource challenges of the Tibetan plateau,” said the press announcement. In accordance with the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act of 2018, the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues will seek to increase access to Tibet for US officials, journalists and other citizens.

Ms Zeya said that she is honoured that Secretary Blinken has designated her to serve in this post saying, “I look forward to helping preserve the rich culture and traditions of Tibetans worldwide”.

Sikyong Penpa Tsering, President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), also known as the Tibetan Government-in-exile, thanked US Secretary Blinken for the appointment, saying in a tweet, “I look forward to working with @UnderSecStateJ to bring tangible progress in human rights situation in Tibet and resolve Sino—

Tibetan conflict through #MiddleWayApproach.”

Mr Namgyal Choedup, representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the CTA in northern America, congratulated Ms Zeya saying, “We look forward to working closely with her, particularly on resolving the issue of Tibet through the Middle Way Approach. We would also like to thank both the US Congress and Administration for their unwavering support to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and for the just cause of Tibet.”

Ms Zeya is the seventh US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.

The International Campaign for Tibet reports that Zeya is not new to the Tibetan issue. They said that in 2013 she led a US delegation that met their Chinese counterparts as part of the 18th US—China Human Rights Dialogue in Kunming, China and, following that meeting in China, she “expressed deep concern” over the Chinese control of Tibetans and Uyghurs and urged the Chinese government to engage in substantive dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representatives, without preconditions. She also raised the case of Dhondup Wanghchen during her visit, Dhondup Wangchen was arrested and tortured after making a film about repression in Tibet prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

99-foot High Buddha Statue Demolished in Tibet Continued from page 1

wheels near Drago Monastery were also destroyed, and large vertical prayer flags removed and burned.

According to Tibet.net, the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), in 1973, Drago “suffered a massive earthquake that caused serious and widespread damage including the death of several thousand residents and [a] 99 foot-tall Buddha statue was built on October 5, 2015 to ward off natural disasters in the future”.

In the past three years, Chinese officials have visited the county and criticised the large statue. “Such a reason fails to justify the basis of destroying the 45 prayer wheels that cost around 1,800,000 Yuan (UD$ 282,500 / £200,000) to build, and the burning down of the prayer flags in the vicinity. Tearing down Buddhist statues and structures is a direct attack on the centuries-long traditions of Tibetans, which include putting up prayer flags to lift one’s luck, erecting religious structures to ward off misfortunes and spinning prayer wheels to accumulate mantras for the well-being of others,” said the report filed by the UN, EU

and Human Rights Desk of the CTA. In November the Chinese authorities ordered thedemolition of Drago Monastery’s Gaden Namgyal Monastic School after accusing them of violating the rules and not having proper documents. Tibetan sources believe that Tibetan schools are being targeted in the recent surge of the Chinese government’s drive to sinicise the Tibetan language, culture and religion.

“The forced closure of the Tibetan schools has not only deprived Tibetan children of Candlelit vigil in Dharamshala Photo: TYC their right to learn their language and culture, but has also coerced them to join Chinese government schools resulting in the continuation of cultural assimilation and language oppression,” said the CTA Human Rights desk.

In Dharamshala, seat of the Tibetan Government-inexile, Tibetans held a candlelit vigil to show solidarity with the critical situation in Drago under Chinese repressive policies.

Contact magazine | December 2021| Page No 3

News Features Tibetans in Nepal Denied Identity Cards Continued from page 1

track to be handed refugee ID cards (RCs).

These refugee identification cards are essential for a self-sustainable existence as they grant the holders the right to pursue higher education, do business, get employed and access basic services like opening a bank account or applying for a driver’s licence, all of which is prohibited to refugees staying in Nepal without valid ID. In total, there are more than 12,500 Tibetan refugees living in Nepal. Of these, more than 75% — more than 9,000 people — do not own a valid refugee identification card, according to the United Nations refugee office. The government of Nepal stopped documenting and issuing RCs to Tibetan refugees in 1990.

It does not recognise Tibetans who arrived in the country after 1990, nor the children of people who arrived before 1990 as refugees.

Following China’s invasion of Tibet in 1959, Nepal granted refugees coming from Tibet a safe transit passage through Nepal to India for many years. This was in line with a Gentleman’s Agreement with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the organisation responsible for the transfer of incoming refugees to Dharamsala in North India. However, this is no longer the case and in recent times several military intelligencesharing agreements between China and Nepal have been signed, with the goal to improve border security, especially along traditional refugee routes. These have severely restricted this route out of Tibet.

Human Rights Watch (HRW), the international independent human rights advocacy organisation, reported in 2014, “The available evidence suggests that Tibetans detained by Chinese authorities for crossing the border irregularly from Tibet are routinely imprisoned and physically abused in China”. HRW’s report said that Nepalese border security forces are forcibly sending refugees back into Tibet and on occasion handing over to the Chinese authorities Tibetan refugees who have already reached Nepal, actions that are illegal under international law.

The numbers of refugees from Tibet arriving in Nepal

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has dropped from an annual average of 2,200 before 2008 to only 53 in 2017, according to UNHCR statistics.

Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website states, “Nepal is firmly committed to [the] One-China policy and is also committed not to allow its soil to be used for any inimical activities against China.” China gives Nepal financial aid, which comes with the cost of demanding Nepal’s loyalty to its policies.

For Tibetans staying in Nepal, even holders of valid RCs, this means restrictions when celebrating religious festivals, permanent surveillance, and no right to openly show the Tibetan flag, demonstrate or speak out on topics opposing China, including the Tibetan independence movement, as Narendra Bastola, head of the Human Rights Organisation of Nepal (HURON) points out.

HRW has called for Nepal to immediately issue refugee identification cards to Tibetan refugees, as they provide a “modicum of protection, including “the right to reside in Nepal”. The United States government and multiple other western states, together with various human rights organisations, support this approach.

Tibetan refugees living in Nepal fear for their safety without a refugee ID card. “I thought I would be safe here. But now I realise China is telling Nepal what to do about us,” says Tibetan refugee Dorjee Tsering.

The uncertain situation is causing confusion and concern not only about refugee identification cards but also identity itself, especially in young Tibetans who grew up in Nepal.

“I know I am a Tibetan, but part of me is a Nepalese too,” says Tenzin, representing the issue of many children of refugees, “I was born here [in Nepal] and my home is here.

But there is no future for us here.”

Sundeep Pathak, head of HURON sums it up: “Their lack of an RC or any form of documentation means they are totally stateless and have absolutely no place in this world.”

“At the end of the day, who are we, and what is our identity?”, asks one anonymous refugee. “What is our history? Is it the one given in our fake document, or is it the one we are born with?”

News Features Ten-year Sentence for Tibetan Writer and Scholar Continued from page 1

circumstances of his detention or his current whereabouts has been available until now, when it has emerged that he was given a 10-year prison sentence in a secret trial.

Gyatso is a monk from Kirti monastery in Ngaba Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, he is a prolific writer, having published several books on Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, tradition, environment and culture. He has also published critiques about the Tibetan monastic education system, calling for a broadening of the monastic community’s exposure. Prior to this current detention, he was arrested several times between 1998 and 2011 for his writings which spoke out against repressive and unlawful policies.

He is expected to be moved to a prison near Tibet’s capital city Lhasa; details of his charges are unavailable, a source close to Gyatso told Radio Free Asia. “It’s sad news to hear about his 10-year sentence on Human Rights Day, and I want to call on the United Nations, governments around the world, and the international community to look into this matter immediately,” said RFA’s source.

The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT)* is calling for international institutions and governments to publicly demand the immediate release of Gyatso. “The case of Go Sherab Gyatso reflects China’s pattern of relentlessly persecuting dissent and independent thought in Tibet. It is urgent that international institutions, governments and parliaments

publicly demand Gyatso’s immediate release and put in place serious consequences for China’s continued violations of Tibetans’ basic freedoms,” said ICT in a press release, adding, “Gyatso’s groundless incarceration is just one more reason why the international community should demonstrate its collective disapproval by declaring a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics. This is the least that countries should do to put themselves on the right side of history and send a vital message of support to victims of the Chinese government’s oppression.”

In July 2021, United Nations representatives demanded that the Chinese government provide information on the whereabouts of Go Sherab Gyatso, and also of Rinchen Tsultrim, another monk who was arbitrarily detained in 2019 for exercising freedom of opinion and thoughts, and held in detention without legal representation or an open trial. The Chinese government responded in August 2021, saying that Go Sherab Gyatso was charged and arrested on suspicion of “inciting secession.” “No such thing as secret detention, arbitrary detention or enforced disappearance ever took place” said Chinese government officials at the time, adding that he was “detained in accordance with the law”. *ICT is a non-profit advocacy group working to promote democratic freedoms for Tibetans, ensure their human rights, and protect Tibetan culture and the environment.

Imprisoned Tibetan Environmentalist in Critical Condition

by Tenzin Samten Dhongye, a Tibetan man in his 50s who was arrested by the Chinese authorities in 2018 on charges of “leaking state secrets”, is reported to be near death following injuries sustained during his prolonged torture while in prison, reports the Central Tibetan Administration’s (CTA) Human Rights desk. He has been held incommunicado and no information about his whereabouts or wellbeing has been released since his arrest, it has only now been discovered that he is being held in jail in Driru County.

In 2018, Chinese officials detained about 30 Tibetans following their protest to stop mining at the sacred mountain Sebtra Zagyen Mountain in Driru county. There was also concern because Sebtra Zagyen is home to endangered animals including the Tsoe (Tibetan antelope), Nah (Blue Sheep) and Gowa (Tibetan gazelle). Dhongye, who was a businessman at the time, was among the detainees. He was accused of reporting on the protest to people outside Tibet.

Dhongye was born in Dhakra village in Shagchu town in Driru County. Dhongye is known as an active environmentalist, he has organised several environmental events and participated in many others. He actively voices his concerns and calls for the protection of Tibet’s environment,

says the CTA report, which also says that he is suffering from chronic health issues and is currently critically ill.

In 2018, residents of the villages around Sebtra Zagyen Mountain were required by the Chinese authorities to sign a document allowing the local authorities to carry out mining activities. The leader of Markor Village, Karma, openly confronted the authorities about the plan and was immediately arrested. When the news of Karma’s arrest reached the exile Tibetan community, the Chinese authorities summoned local people to a meeting during which the Tibetans suspected of leaking the information to the exile community were detained.

According to a report published by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in May 2018, Sebtra Zagyen Mountain, located on the north side of Diru County, is one of the three “secret, supreme places” made sacred by the spiritual practice of the first Drong Ngur Choje Gyalwa Gangpa Rinchen Woser who founded the Drong Ngur Kagyu Phelgyeling Monastery in 1248. Representing the Buddhist practice of taming the body, mind and speech, Drong Ngur Monastery is considered the supreme sacred place of body, Drakar Mountain follows as the secret, supreme place of speech and the supreme sacred place of mind is represented by Sebtra Zagyen Mountain.

Contact magazine | December 2021| Page No 5

News Features Boycotting Beijing 2022

by Tenzin Samten Major countries around the world are condemning China’s record of human rights abuses by diplomatically boycotting the upcoming Winter Olympics in Beijing. A diplomatic boycott means that there will be no official delegation to the Games, but athletes from those countries will participate as planned.

The issue has hit the international press with regular updates on the countries joining the boycott. The BBC, under the headline How much does the diplomatic boycott of Beijing 2022 matter? says “ few hosts of major events have provoked quite as much controversy as Beijing” and gives a full analysis of the situation, mentioning the #NoBeijing2022 campaign and saying, “While the coalition of Tibetan, Uyghur, Southern Mongolian, Hong Kong, and Taiwanese rights groups that make up the #NoBeijing2022 campaign welcomed the diplomatic boycotts, many campaigners feel they do not go far enough, and that athletes themselves, corporate sponsors and major broadcasters also need to act if pressure really is to be brought to bear on China.” Their article is illustrated with protestors displaying Free Tibet banners and the Tibetan flag.

Countries that have announced diplomatic boycotts include the United States, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Lithuania, Scotland and Japan. Other countries, including Italy and France, say that they are not planning to join the diplomatic boycott. New Zealand has announced that they will not send officials to the Games due to their pandemic travel restrictions.

French President Macron says that diplomatic boycott is “insignificant and merely symbolic” and prefers “useful effect”. He continued, “To be clear: You either have a complete boycott, and don’t send athletes, or you try to change things with useful actions.”

“Canada remains deeply disturbed by reports of human rights violations in China. As a result, we won’t be sending diplomatic representatives to Beijing for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games,” tweeted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

UK’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that UK ministers will not attend the Olympics, saying it is “effectively” a diplomatic boycott.

US White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that while their athletes “have full support”, the US will not send their official representatives to the Games, citing China’s ongoing crime against humanity. Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced their diplomatic boycott, calling it the “right thing to do”.

Those countries which are boycotting the Games say that China has failed for decades to uphold the universal

Contact magazine | December 2021 | Page No 6

and fundamental ethical values of the Olympics. Rights groups have been calling for a halt to the ongoing genocide of Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in East Turkestan – the Muslim minority in China’s north west known as Xinjiang, and for a halt to China’s repressive policies in Tibet where Tibetans have been deprived of basic human rights, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of movement, along with other minorities in China.

Dhondup Wangchen is a former Tibetan political prisoner and well known activist who served a six-year prison sentence for making a documentary publicising life under Chinese rule prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He currently lives in the United States and is on a campaign tour in Europe, sharing his first hand experiences and calling on the international community to put a stop to the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

In India, a motorbike rally is underway to publicise the issue, they are travelling from Leh to Kardongla, the highest motorable pass in the world. They are also joining Tibet supporters worldwide thanking the National Basketball Association player Enes Kanter Freedom for speaking out against China over their human rights abuses and for supporting the Tibetan cause.

The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile applauded the proposed diplomatic boycotts and called on other countries to do the same, saying in a press release, “Diplomatically boycotting the Beijing Olympics sends a strong message that human value is held above all. We appeal to other world leaders to consider the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics to express their solidarity with humanity, ethical values, and truth.”

Two Tibetan students chained themselves to the Olympic rings outside the Swiss headquarters of the International Olympic Committee on December 11. They were members of the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe and Students for a Free Tibet; they continued with a sit-in protest displaying banners which read “No Beijing 2022”.

China has responded to the boycotts of the Olympics saying the countries involved will “pay the price” for killing the Olympic spirit and accusing them of using the Olympic platform for “political manipulation”.

The Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games are scheduled to start on February 4. Security in Tibet is being tightened ahead of this date and large numbers of police have been deployed in Lhasa and restrictions imposed in other areas on Tibetans’ movements, reports Radio Free Asia, citing local sources. Visitors to Lhasa are being “closely questioned”, and in some areas “household inspections” are taking place, searching for hidden pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

News Features US Signs Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act

by Tsering Wangdue United States President Joe Biden signed the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act on December 23. The bi-partisan bill was passed earlier this month by the US House of Representatives with the aim of ensuring that goods made in forced labour camps in East Turkestan [Ch: Xinjiang, or the Uyghur Autonomous region of the People’s Republic of China] do not enter the United States market. The Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act bars any goods, wares, articles, mined merchandise, products or goods manufactured wholly or partly in East Turkestan entry at any port of the United States.

Earlier this year the US State Department recognised the atrocities against Uyghur minorities that are taking place in East Turkestan as genocide and crimes against humanity; this new law objects directly to such actions and prevents US businesses and consumers becoming part of it.

“Congress, on a bipartisan and bicameral basis, will

continue to condemn and confront the CCP’s human rights abuses in Xinjiang and many other abuses in the region, from Hong Kong to Tibet to the mainland. If America does not speak out for human rights in China because of commercial interests, we lose all moral authority to speak out for human rights any place in the world,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as reported by Forbes.

The forced labour taking place in East Turkestan has been confirmed by the testimony of former camp detainees, satellite images, leaked official documents and official media reports. Earlier last year the Australian Strategic Policy Institute published a report Uyghurs for Sale which stated that more than 82 well known global brands have ties with factories exploiting forced labour from minority communities in China. While some multinational businesses, including Nike, Coca Cola and Apple, have lobbied against the bill, a US-based non-government orgainsation, Justice for All, has welcomed the bill.

Tibetan Issues Raised at UN Forum

by Tenzin Samten The issue of Tibet was raised at the fourteenth session of the United Nations Forum on Minority Issues which took place in Geneva from December 2 to 3.

Kalden Tsomo, the UN Advocacy Officer from the Tibet Bureau Geneva, represented the Tibet Bureau at the Forum, calling on China to address the underlying grievances of Tibetans by respecting Tibetan people’s historical, social and cultural roots, reports Tibet.net, the official website of the Central Tibetan Administration.

The UN Forum identifies and analyses best practices, challenges, opportunities and initiatives in addressing conflict prevention and the protection of the human rights of minorities, in line with the principles and rights enshrined in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities. The Forum meets annually for two days allocated to thematic discussions; the Forum’s focus this year was Conflict Prevention and the Protection of the Human Rights of Minorities.

In her address to the Forum, Kalden Tsomo stressed that Tibetan people are facing the imposition of social, structural and demographic change; lack of opportunity to acquire knowledge on Tibetan history, culture and traditions; and lack of employment opportunity in Tibet. “These have led to a cycle of conflicts and protests, including self-immolation protests by over 155 Tibetans in Tibet,” she said.

She continued, citing as examples the Chinese authorities’ recent closure of Tibetan-medium schools and informal Tibetan language classes, as well as the recent demolition of the Drago Monastery school in the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

With China’s growing emphasis on their sinicisation drive, the survival of Tibetans’ culture, language and identity is under immense threat, she added.

To address these problems, she called on the Chinese government to respect Tibetan historical, social and cultural roots and urged UN members to understand the “conflict, crisis and complexities” faced by Tibetan people under China and pay attention to “social exclusionary processes and cultural genocide” in Tibet.

Contact magazine | December 2021 | Page No 7

News Features His Holiness Teaches the Importance of Warm-heartedness

by Tenzin Samten mind and create positive change in the world.” In relation His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of to the pandemic, His Holiness was asked about how to Tibetans and Buddhists around the world, is now 86 years deal with uncertainty, to which he replied, “as far as old and living in his exile home in Dharamshala, north uncertainty is concerned, Buddhists believe that things India where he has been based since his escape from Tibet are always changing and that the future is unpredictable. following the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959. Since that Some of the problems we face arise naturally, but some, time he has been actively travelling and giving teachings like climate change, are a result of our own actions.” on Buddhism, promoting humanity, compassion, peace His Holiness advised that inner peace can be developed and harmony within different religions. With the advent using human intelligence. He reiterated the importance of of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown His Holiness has building a sense of the oneness of all seven billion human stopped giving public beings and the importance teachings in person, of incorporating ways in travelling and events. which to cultivate peace However, this month, for of mind within the modern the first time since the first education system. lockdown last year, His Speaking about Holiness has granted two developing the idea of face-to-face audiences, the the oneness of all human first with Sikyong Penpa beings across the world, Tsering, the newly elected despite race, nationality and President of the Central religion, His Holiness said Tibetan Administration. that most problems stem Despite the ongoing from an excessive focus pandemic and restriction on ourselves. Reflecting on on public gatherings and how good things are rooted travelling, His Holiness in being more oriented Photo: OHHDL has continued his teachings towards others’ welfare, and interactions with his followers across the globe online. His Holiness quoted a passage written by the Indian This month he gave a series of online teachings. master Shantideva: All those who suffer in the world do so On December 1, His Holiness held an online discussion because of their desire for their own happiness. All those with Father Laurence Freeman, Director of the new centre happy in the world are so because of their desire for the of the World Community for Christian Meditation in happiness of others. He continued, saying that stress, fear, France on the topic Unified Consciousness: One Mind, anxiety and suspicion come from overly focusing on self, One Heart. His Holiness stressed the need to cultivate and that opening up to the wellbeing of others brings long warm-heartedness in today’s world, where the focus term happiness. is more on the development of brain and intellect. He His Holiness then gave a two-day teaching on the also said that today we live in a global economy beyond Maha-Satipatthana Sutta to a group of Buddhists from Sri national boundaries, and we need to think in terms of Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. the “oneness of humanity” saying, “If you have a warm On December 23, His Holiness was requested to give heart, you will have peace of mind”. The Tibetan spiritual a talk, Facing Challenges with Compassion and Wisdom leader’s discussion emphasised the importance of warm- by the Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak. “China heartedness which leads to a healthy mind and body; he and India are the world’s most populous nations, but it also promoted warm-heartedness from educational and is India that has preserved its several thousand-year-old secular points of view. He advised on topics such as traditions of doing no harm— ‘ahimsa’ and compassion— thinking in terms of a global economy, and thinking of ‘karuna’,” said His Holiness. He reminded his audience seven billion human beings as one. of the importance of living together and cultivating a On December 8, His Holiness participated in a dialogue sense of humanity instead of focusing on short sighted Embracing Hope, Courage, and Compassion in Times of materialistic goals, saying that fostering a sense of Crisis with fellow members of the Mind and Life Institute, community on the basis of compassion will contribute to a United States based instutute which “brings science and a more peaceful world. His Holiness answered questions contemplative wisdom together to better understand the from the audience.

Contact magazine | December 2021 | Page No 8

News Features Arrests and Releases inside Tibet this Month Dec 12: Monk Sentenced Lobsang Thinley, 20, a Tibetan monk, has been given a five-year prison sentence for sharing the teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and distributing his books, reports Radio Free Asia. Trinley comes from Meruma in Ngaba County, northeastern Tibet and is a monk from Kirti Monastery. He was arrested in July and has been held in Mianyang Prison near Chengdu in Kham [Ch: Sichuan]. In September, his family was informed by the authorities in a letter that he was sentenced for five years. He has been arrested several times in the past. His family was allowed to visit him but no family members or legal representatives were present for his trial, said RFA’s source. The fear of consequences kept his family from sharing information about his arrest and hence the delay of the news reaching outside contacts.

Dec 16: Monk Held Incommunicado Tenzin Dargye, a Tibetan monk in his 30s, is reported as missing, have been held incommunicado since his detention in September 2020 from Barong Monastery in Kardze in Kham [Ch: Sichuan], reports Tibet Watch. He was charged with keeping pictures of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other politically sensitive material on his cell phone. He also holds a WeChat account under the name Follower of Dalai. He is currently being held in Sershul County Detention Centre. More than a year of arbitrary detention and lack of information about his wellbeing has caused much worry for his family. Tibet Watch added that due to severe communication restrictions in the region, it is hard to get further details. Other monks may have been arrested alongside him.

Dec 24: Student Released Sangay Tso, a student and co-founder of a chat group who was arrested on February 17 this year along with two others, Dadul and Kansi, has been released in very poor health and is barely able to walk. The three were arrested from their home in Domda Town in Kyegudo, Yushul; Dadul was badly beaten at the time. There is no news of Kansi’s whereabouts. Tibet Watch reports that although no official reaons for their arrest were given, it seems that they were detained for failure to register their WeChat group with the local authorities. The Chinese authorities require anyone planning to form a WeChat group to register it with them.

On December 15, Sangay Tso’s family was asked to pick her up from a hotel where they found that her health had deteriorated to a critical level. They took her to hospital where she is undergoing medical treatement.

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Tibetan Headlines Dec 29: TCHRD Report The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has published a report, C ​ hina must end cultural assimilation campaign and crackdown on Tibetan intellectuals and cultural leaders, which claims that China is targeting and silencing influential Tibetan writers, intellectuals and cultural leaders that it [China] views as hindrance to its cultural assimilation campaign, citing details of current cases of political detentions.

China is also closing down Tibetan activist websites.

Dec 27: Mongolian Visit Telo Tulku Rinpoche, Hon Representative of HH the Dalai Lama in Russia, Mongolia and the Commonwealth of Independent States countries, has concluded a visit to Mongolia where he met Buddhist leaders, the heads of Buddhist organisations and local Tibetan community members. He also met Mongolian government officials, past and present Members of Parliament and leaders of non-government organisations. He is travelling on to St Petersburg and the Republic of Kalmykia.

Dec 24: Prisoners Denied Visits Political prisoners held in Kham and Amdo [Ch: Sichuan and Qinghai] are being denied family visits, reports Radio Free Asia who say the authorities there are citing concerns over the spread of COVID-19 as the reason. This despite the fact that there have been no cases reported for more than a year in the prisons there. Nor are families allowed to send clothes, food or medicines to prisoners.

situation in Tibet. They also discussed the situation regarding the forthcoming Beijing Winter Olympics.

Dec 21: Audience with His Holiness His Holiness the Dalai Lama has granted an audience to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat at Gaden Phodrang.

RSS Chief Bhagwat is on a five-day tour of Kangra, attending a seminar along with Sikyong Penpa Tsering and Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel of the Tibetan Governmentin-exile, who met the RSS leader personally following the seminar. It is reported that Dr Mohan Bhagwat expressed India’s solemn support for Tibet.

Dec 20: European Tibetans Meet The second annual gathering of the Tibetan Communities in Europe was held in Paris on December 18 - 19. 26 representatives from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and Liechtenstein attended the meeting which looked at ways to strengthen Tibet advocacy in Europe and to implement the Central Tibetan Administration’s projects in Europe.

Dec 17: HRW Update on Tibet

Dec 24: APIPFT Relaunched The All-Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet (APIPFT) has been revived following lobbying by a Tibetan Parliamentary delegation who reached out to 38 lawmakers. Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile visited Delhi and met the delegation members and the Director of the India Tibet Coordination Office; the meeting was followed by the relaunch.

Human Rights Watch, the United States based nongovernment organisation conducting research and advocacy on human rights, has issued an update on China’s determination to “choose” the next Dalai Lama as well as all Tibetan Buddhist reincarnations. Under the heading Chinese Authorities Double Down on Tibetan Reincarnations they report a Chinese official visit to Tibet to ensure Tibetan officials endorse government policies on the recognition of Tibetan Buddhist incarnations.

Dec 23: Tenzin Tsundue Home!

Tenzin Tsundue, the Tibetan activist and poet who has spent the last four months travelling and campaigning for Tibet along the India-Tibet border, is back home in Dharamshala. He travelled over 20,000 kilometres through five Indian Himalayan states, campaigning to “create more awareness about the 70 years of Chinese occupation of Tibet and its impact on Indian Himalayas, and also the growing Chinese security threats on India”.

Dec 16: Sikyong Meets His Holiness His Holiness the Dalai Lama has granted an audience to Sikyong Penpa Tsering, President of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, His Holiness’s first face-to-face audience since the COVID-19 pandemic began last year. This is Sikyong’s first official audience with His Holiness since he assumed the post of Sikyong in May this year. Sikyong said he pledged to serve the Tibetan public with His Holiness’s guidance and blessings at heart.

Dec 22: Meeting in Paris Tashi Phuntsok, the Representative of HH the Dalai Lama in Europe, met Taiwanese Ambassador Francois Chih-Chung Wu at the Taiwanese Representative’s Office in Paris, along with Mr Namgyal Samdup, Coordinator at the Paris Bureau du Tibet. They reviewed the current situation in Taiwan, and Representative Phuntsok updated Ambassador Wu on the

Dec 15: Congress Support 65 members of the United States Congress have co-signed letters to the State Department calling on the Biden administration to engage with HH the Dalai Lama, resist China’s attempts to interfere in the Dalai Lama’s succession, and demand increased access to Tibet.

This follows a lobbying campaign which included Tibet Lobby Day 2021 which took place this year online at the end of September.

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Tibetan Headlines Dec 15: Families Separated

Tibetan children are being separated from their parents and sent away to boarding schools set up by the Chinese authorities, says a new report by the Tibet Action Institute (TAI), an organisation using online technology and nonviolent action to support the Tibetan cause. Some 800,000 children currently live in these Chinese-run schools, which teach through the medium of the Chinese language and include political indoctrination on the curriculum, says TAI.

which are spoken as native language by 84.6 million people. Phayul reports that people who have tested it say the software “gives a literal translation of words absent of contextual meaning”, it is less accurate for complex contextualised sentences.

Dec 4: No to Gender Violence An event held in the main square in McLeod Ganj called for an end to gender violence in the Tibetan community, organised by the Central Tibetan Administration’s Women’s Empowerment Desk, together with the Tibetan Women’s Association. TWA President Tenzin Dolma said, “There is an immediate need to take responsibility and put an end to violence against women.” The event included dance, theatre and a live art mural.

Dec 14: New National Parks A large-scale land grab to establish a new National Park in Tibet has left Tibetan nomads without promised compensation for the land they have lost. The families have been threatened following a scuffle last month at a park construction site and construction work is reported to have halted. This is not an isolated incident, the Chinese authorities are removing Tibetans from their homelands with no consultation and no compensation.

Dec 3: Campaigning for Inclusion The Tibetan Ability Centre held an event to mark International Day of People with Disabilities in McLeod Ganj main square, calling for more inclusion for people with disabilities in the Tibetan community.

The organisation is working to promote an understanding of disability issues and to mobilise support, and to provide support through healthcare, socio-economic support, inclusive education awareness and early intervention programmes.

Dec 12: US Legislation The United States House of Representatives has passed three pieces of legislation denouncing the Chinese government for its abuses against Uyghurs, Tibetans and others, and the International Olympic Committee for failing to uphold its own human rights standards.

House Resolution 317 condemns China’s ongoing Uyghur genocide and crimes against humanity against religious and ethnic minorities in the People’s Republic of China.

Dec 3: Evidence of Persecution Radio Free Asia has released a video showing that persecution is taking place in Tibet and the Uyghur belt in East Turkestan [Ch: Xinjiang] and reporting on the “widespread misery” of people living in these areas. The video shows illegal seizure of Tibetan territory with no compensation, and persecution of those who object.

Dec 10: Human Rights Day Tibetans around the world marked Human Rights Day, the day HH the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

His Holiness, in a teaching, said “I hope and pray that soon [...] the historic rights of my people will be restored” and said he hoped that “a day may dawn when people all over the world will love and help each other and live in genuine harmony”.

Dec 8: Shoes Off? Enes Kanter Freedom, the National Basketball Association player who has been campaigning for Tibet and wearing shoes with Free Tibet slogans, says the NBA has asked him not to wear the shoes.

He refused, and continued to wear them despite the insistence of the NBA, who, he says, eventually admitted that he was not in violation of any NBA rules.

Dec 8: Young Indians Conference A four-day virtual conference on Tibetan studies for young Indian scholars is underway, organised by the Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) in Dharamshala, the think tank of the Central Tibetan Administration.

The conference is looking at social, cultural and religious links between India and Tibet.

Dec 5: Translation App Microsoft has added Tibetan to the list of languages on its translation App, the latest 12 languages bring the total to over 100 languages

Dec 2: The Simpsons Censored Disney has pulled an episode of its long running popular series The Simpsons from its new Hong Kong channel - the episode contains satirical comments about Tibet, Tiananmen Square and the Cultural Revolution.

Bloomberg.com reported that it is not clear why the episode had been pulled and that neither Disney nor the Hong Kong government responded when asked.

Dec 1: Sikyong Thanks NBA Star Sikyong Penpa Tsering, President of the Tibetan Governmentin-exile, speaking on behalf of all Tibetans, thanked National Basketball Association star Enes Kanter Freedom for expressing his solidarity with the Tibetan struggle under Chinese rule. “Your support comes at a crucial time when the Chinese government is increasingly and aggressively using its economic clout to threaten the universal values of democracy, freedom and rule of law,” he said.

Dec 1: World AIDS Day World AIDS Day was marked in Dharamshala with a public event in the main square in McLeod Ganj to raise awareness of HIV-AIDS, organised by the Tibetan Government-in-exile’s Health Department and Delek Hospital. Skits were perfomed at different locations around the town; free HIV-AIDS, diabetes and blood pressure tests were offered and condoms given out.

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NGO Story Inspiring Education for Children and their Parents Buddha Kyab, Director of Manjushri Educational Services, a registered non-profit non-government organisation promoting Early Literacy Development and Early Childhood Care and Education, spoke to Contact about the organisation’s work.

Contact: Tell us briefly about Manjushri Educational Services (MES) Buddha Kyab: Manjushri Educational Services (MES) is an educational NGO based in Dharamshala working towards improving the quality of early childhood care and education in the exile Tibetan community. Established in 2016 by a team of passionate Tibetan educators, MES conducts training workshops and awareness programmes to educate young parents about the importance of Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and its best practices.

MES envisages a Tibetan community where all children between the ages of 0-10 years are raised in a healthy environment so that they grow into well-rounded adults. It strives to achieve its vision by educating community members about the importance of ECCE and making high-quality educational resources easily accessible to parents and young children.

Contact: What prompted the idea? And who initiated it?

Buddha Kyab: It was in 2016 that we, a group of likeminded people who have worked in education, came up with the idea. Jamyang Gyaltsen and Kalsang Wangdue were former Education Officers in the Department of Education, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), and Ngawang Tsetan was a Social Science teacher at Tibetan Children’s Village school, Suja, with over 20 years teaching experience. We all met and wanted to work as a team. Back then we had no intention of starting an organisation or NGO, we wanted to contribute something to the community as a team. To do that we had discussions about what’s lacking in Tibetan society and what we could do to fill that gap. We came to the conclusion that there is clear lack of good quality or satisfactory Tibetan language books for children. Even if there are Tibetan books, they are of not up to the standard of those available in English, both in content as well as quality. So that’s how we decided to work together to fill that gap in the community.

First, we published five Tibetan language books which came out better than our expectations and that inspired us to continue. Through the Education Department of the CTA, we have freely distributed about 5,000 copies of books we have published to Tibetan schools in India and Nepal.

Based on our experience of working on the publication

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of those books, we realised the need for improvement in Tibetan children’s literature. As a team, we had no experience in that field. So to educate and train ourselves and those in the community who write, and have an interest in writing childrens literature, we organised a workshop, inviting experts in the field of children’s literature in India.

The Tibet Fund liked and appreciated our first five books and approved a reprint, for which they have decided to pay us the royalties. These reprinted books have been distributed to all the remaining Tibetan schools in the Tibetan exile community. The Tibet Fund is a nonprofit organisation based in New York, with an office in Dharamshala. With Tibet Fund’s support we have continued the book publication programme.

We have also created an awareness-raising initiative among Tibetan parents, with the message that children’s education starts with their parents, before the children start school. This time with their parents is considered “critical” in a child’s education, and indeed throughout their life.

So our team started the ECCE programme as it is an area which we felt has not been focused on so far during our 60 years of exile. We started the ECCE and Tibetan Baby Programmes in 2017. While we organise ECCE awareness programmes for Tibetan parents, we distribute baby boxes which contain baby books and toys appropriate for their age and growth.

We looked at the different children’s books available: board books, feel and touch books, flipflap books, folk tales and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) story books and realised that there are no STEM story books in the Tibetan language. STEM story books teach children the concept of science, social science and history through story telling before they learn them in school text books. We have collaborated with Pratham Books, one of the best children’s book publishers, to translate 25 books into Tibetan. We must also meet our funders’requirement that the institution be registered. All our books have been much appreciated and loved in the community, and the ECCE programmes especially received immensely positive feedback; we have been encouraged to continue with our work and so registered MES as a non-profit organisation in 2019.

Contact: Can you please tell us in detail about the services and programmes of organisation? So that more Tibetans will become aware of them.

Buddha Kyab: All our services will come under these categories: children’s book publication and distribution,

NGO Story ECCE workshops for Tibetan parents, the Tibetan Baby Box project and Children’s Library.

We opened a children’s library, because although there are public libraries it is extremely rare to find a children’s library. Our library will not only lend books but will organise activities for children, read or tell stories and also screen movies.

So far we have given ECCE workshops to over 500 Tibetan families from Bylakuppee, Delhi, Dharamshala, Bir, Chauntra, Manali and Ladakh.

As for books, we have published 25 STEM books and there is an online platform called Storyweaver on which we have made 50 translated books available. Any Tibetan from across the world can access it online. Since 2016 we have published about 100 books, including books which are translated as well as those written by us.

Contact: What is Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE)? How do you promote ECCE in Tibetan communities?

Buddha Kyab: Early Childhood Care and Education is educating the parents about how to take care of their children before they start going to school which is the time between birth and the age of three. Many parents want to send their children to a good school to get a good education, but don’t understand the importance of the time their children spend at home before school – this is considered a “crucial time” to build the foundation of their life.

To promote ECCE in the Tibetan community we have created online content specifically for Tibetan parents.

We give workshops to the new parents and give baby boxes to the participating parents. In this way we educate parents on age-apt toys for their children’s sensory growth and sample books for their ages.

Our plan is to reach all Tibetan communities in India.

Contact: What are your challenges so far?

Buddha Kyab: The main challenge we face is the lack of understanding of the importance of ECCE and children’s books among Tibetan parents. We tend to get rejection rather than a welcome from parents when we plan to visit communities. However, many parents who do attend our ECCE have given us positive feedback; some only say they enjoy our baby box gifts.

When it comes to books, many Tibetan parents lack the habit or understanding of reading books. When they come to buy books, they will buy books with more text, feeling that if there are too many pictures it is not worth the money. Many picture books include only a written word

or sentence, encouraging readers to use their imagination rather than reading itself. Such books are expensive for a reason. Tibetan parents coming here to get books tend to have the mentality that a few pages of pictures aren’t worth the price and they look for thicker books with more text. So we have a long way to go in terms of awareness among the parents themselves.

A survey we conducted showed that there are lots of younger parents who can read and write, or have attended school till class ten and beyond; those parents can easily participate and relate to our ECCE workshops.

Contact: Which programme/service received the best participation and interest from your beneficiaries?

Buddha Kyab : We have found that the ECCE workshops have been extremely beneficial to many parents. Their feedback tells us that they feel they will be able to bring up their second child differently, and better than, their first. Secondly, for those parents who thought: as their children can’t read or write, why have the story books? after attending our workshops, they now know that those story books or picture books should be read by parents to their children, and encourage them to use their imagination and to tell them stories through the picture books.

Contact:What is your plan for the next five years?

Buddha Kyab: We have just begun with Tibetan children’s book writings and publications. But compared to English language children’s books, we have a long way to go in terms of number, variety and quality of the books. In the next five years, we plan to continue our work on those lines as well as that of increasing parents’ understanding of the importance of reading books and of introducing that habit to their children.

We have started giving virtual workshops to Tibetan parents living in the west which are much appreciated and we plan to continue this work.

Contact: We see that people donate children’s books to your institution. How can anyone, especially Tibetans across the world, contribute to your institution and in what way?

Buddha Kyab: As your children grow up, you can donate your children’s books and toys to us. We keep them at our library as well as giving them to parents who can’t afford to buy these things for their children.

To check out MES, follow their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/manjushrieducation/

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News Features “I Will Remember You”

by Mary Trewartha being in exile over 50 years how many would show the Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the world-renowned cleric and same serenity, the same joy, and the eagerness to spread social activist, figurehead of the struggle against apartheid goodness and compassion in the world […] He is there in South Africa, died on December 26 at the age of 90. for us as a beacon to tell us that you can, in fact, overcome Tributes from religious, humanitarian and world leaders some of the most horrendous circumstances, and emerge from around the globe have poured in. on the other side, not broken. So he is a very great gift to Desmond Tutu was a longtime friend of his fellow the world”. His Holiness said of Desmond Tutu, “I think, Nobel Laureate, His Holiness the Dalai Lama who, on at time of my deathI will remember you.” The two were hearing of his friend’s death, wrote to Archbishop Tutu’s captured on video together, Desmond Tutu teaching His daughter, Rev Mpho Tut: Holiness how to dance.

“Please accept my heartfelt condolences, and convey Archishop Desmond Tutu was born in 1931 in the same to your mother and other members of your family. Klerksdorp, Transvaal. He started his career as a teacher I pray for him. before studying theology and becoming ordained in “As you know, over the years, your father and I enjoyed 1960. In 1975 he became the first black person to be an enduring friendship. I remember the many occasions appointed Dean of St Mary’s Cathedral in Johannesburg, we spent time together, including the following year he the week here at Dharamsala in was appointed Bishop of 2015 when we were able to share Lesotho and in 1978, the our thoughts on how to increase first black General Secretary peace and joy in the world. The of the South African friendship and the spiritual bond Council of Churches, which between us was something we functions as a national cherished. committee for the World “Archbishop Desmond Tutu Council of Churches. He was entirely dedicated to serving held an honorary doctorate his brothers and sisters for from a number of leading Photo:OHHDL the greater common good. He universities in the USA, was a true humanitarian and a committed advocate of Britain and Germany. Desmond Tutu was awarded the human rights. His work for the Truth and Reconciliation Nobel Peace Prize in 1984.

Commission was an inspiration for others around the The Tibetan Government-in-exile held a prayer world. service for the Archbishop; Sikyong Penpa Tsering, “With his passing away, we have lost a great man, who President of the exile government said, “The Tibetan lived a truly meaningful life. He was devoted to the service people were among the millions who were the fortunate of others, especially those who are least fortunate. I am recipient of the Archbishop’s boundless empathy and convinced the best tribute we can pay him and keep his support. His victory in bringing justice and freedom to spirit alive is to do as he did and constantly look to see how his people is an inspiration to many […] The light and we too can be of help to others.” hope he represents will continue to shine and guide us His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu all”. wrote a book together in 2015, The Book of Joy. The Amnesty International in South Africa described Tutu website Goodreads describes the book, “Both winners of as a “beacon of light” for human rights globally and “a the Nobel Prize, both great spiritual masters and moral much needed moral compass” for the country. leaders of our time, they are also known for being among The World Council of Churches said: “His contagious the most infectiously happy people on the planet […] Both sense of humour and laughter has helped to resolve many the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu have been tested by critical situations in South Africa’s political and church great personal and national adversity, and here they share life. He was able to break almost any deadlock. He shared their personal stories of struggle and renewal. […]Most with us the laughter and grace of God many a time.” of all […] they demonstrated by their own exuberance, In the United Kingdom, the Archbishop of Canterbury compassion and humour how joy can be transformed from Justin Welby said Tutu was “a prophet and priest” and a fleeting emotion into an enduring way of life”. that “his love transformed the lives of politicians and In a documentary about the book, Desmond Tutu priests, township dwellers and world leaders. The world said of His Holiness, “But I always say to people, after is different because of this man.”

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Tibet-Related Websites News:

tibet.net - official website of the Central Tibetan Administration in exile phayul.com -Phayul is published in Dharamshala, has opinion, reviews, photos, etc contactmagazine.net - Contact magazine online news rfa.org/english/news/tibet - Radio Free Asia’s mission is to provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries whose governments prohibit access to a free press thetibetpost.com - Tibet Post International online news tibetexpress.net - Tibet Express online news guardian.co.uk/world/tibet - the UK Guardian newspaper’s Tibet pages scmp.com/news/china - the South China Morning Post – one of the more independent news sources in China tibetanreview.net - Tibetan Review online news

News, information and campaigning:

dalailama.com - for broadcasts of His Holiness’s teachings, his schedule and information about Tibet and the Dalai Lama tchrd.org - Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy - a non-governmental 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 grassroots group campaigning for full Tibetan independence freetibet.org: - UK-based campaigning organisation, also a good news source tibetwatch.org - Tibet Watch works with Free Tibet to promote the human rights of the Tibetan people through monitoring, research and advocacy. savetibet.org - Website of the International Campaign for Tibet and a good resource for news, campaigns, fundraising and projects tibetnetwork.org/home - a coalition of more than 190 Tibet organisations dedicated to campaigning to end human rights violations in Tibet and restoring rights to the Tibetan people tibetanjournal.com - Tibetan Journal - news, reviews and opinions rukor.org - a discussion site on Tibetan nomads and their fate bitterwinter.org - A magazine on religious liberty and human rights in China

Writings:

highpeakspureearth.com/category/woeser - occasional translations of Woeser’s enormously popular blog – Woeser lives in Beijing and is continually harassed by the Chinese government for her courageous writings.

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DHARAMSHALA CONTACTS Delek Hospital Gangkyi, Central Tibetan Administration Hours: Outpatient services: 9am-1pm, Mon-Sat Specialist clinics: 2-4:30pm Emergencies: 24-hrs, daily Phone: 222 053,223 381

Mcleod Ganj Police Station: 01892 221 483 Kangra Airport: 01892 232374 Bhagsu Taxi Union: 01892 221034 Tourism Office: 01892 224430 223325 Rail Booking & Enquiry: 01892 265026 Police Superintendent: 01892 222244

McLeod Ganj Post Office Location: Jogiwara Rd Before the Peace Cafe Hours: 9:30am-1pm and 2-5pm Mon-Fri; 9:30am-noon, Sat Parcels and money orders can be sent in the mornings only Phone: 01892-221 924

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