October 2017

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:9 OCTOBER 31, 2017

PuttingEthicsBackintoEducation Shaping Tibet’s Political Future

by Shanda Workman His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been teaching around India this month, speaking on the theme of modern education and how he sees it to be a key cause of disharmony in people’s minds across the world. He said that this lack of spiritual nurturing in schools can be seen in the world having its effect on discrimination, terrorism, competition and global Continued on page 3

A three-day forum was held in Dharamshala this month, followed by a series of meetings, providing the exile Tibetan government with the opportunity to take an in-depth look at strategies to resolve the problems facing Tibet.

Read more in our two articles, Shaping Tibet’s Political Future and Fife-Fifty: Maintaining the Momentum, on pages 4 and 5.

Continued on page 4, 5

Xi Walks Supreme

CCP Congress: Tibetans Retaliate

by Mary Trewartha China’s President Xi Jinping’s rule over China has been unanimously endorsed at the close of the Communist Party Congress in Beijing – China’s main political meeting.

The Communist Party voted on October 24 to enshrine his name and ideology in its constitution giving him a status equal to the level of the Party founder Mao Zedong. Xi Continued on page 8

W www.contactmagazine.net

by Mary Trewartha NGOs Issue Statement In the run-up to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) National Congress in Beijing–the five-yearly meeting that decides the Party leaders and policies for the next five years–a coalition of Tibetan non-government organisations (NGOs) sent out a joint statement to express their concerns.

Continued on page 9

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 20 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 OCTOBER 2017

NEWS & ISSUES

Putting Ethics Back into Education

Continued from page 1 curriculum, we hope to bring about a of one’s mind. This lack of spiritual warming. His Holiness spoke about positive transformation in the minds development leads to mindsets which the need for ethics to be taught in of children who are the future of the include being unaccepting of other religions, or in extreme cases, people school saying, “I believe India is the world”. using religion as an excuse for only nation that can combine this violence. “There are no Muslim ancient knowledge with modern or Christian terrorists,” said His education and so make a significant Holiness, “Because terrorists contribution to world peace”. He are no more religious once they said that in order for there to be embrace terror. People cease peace, there needs to be a change in to be Muslim, Christian or any the modern education system. group the moment they become During a three-day trip starting HH the Dalai Lama with representatives from the schools terrorists.” on October 16, His Holiness at the launch of the Universal Ethics Curriculum There needs to be a better travelled to CJ DAV Public School Photo: OHHDL education based on ethics to in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh for the The sentiments expressed at this promote harmony among races, opening ceremony of the Universal Ethics Curriculum that will be adopted ceremony were repeated at the global he said, continuing, “Together, we by nine schools in order to promote conference Peace and Harmony hosted should combat issues such as global moral development in their students. by the Manipur state government three warming and other issues that affect Prof Avinash C Pandey, Director of the days later. At the opening ceremony, us all. It is not one nation’s benefit Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies at His Holiness said that current that the fight should be for, but for the University of Allahabad and former education systems fill people’s heads all interdependent nations to have Vice Chancellor of Bundhelkhand with the wish for money and power peace of mind which will create a University, Jhansi said, “With this while sacrificing the development better world.”

“Entering the Middle Way”

by Vasudha Bhatia His Holiness the Dalai Lama conducted a four-day teaching at Tsuglakhang, the main temple in Dharamshala, on the mornings of October 3 to 6. The teaching was based on Chandrakirti’s Entering the Middle Way which, said His Holiness, is studied by all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, and had been organised at the request of the International Association of Tibetan Buddhist Dharma, Taiwan. 1,300 Buddhists from Taiwan attended, coming from 22 cultural organisations connected to the Association.

Over 6,000 people gathered in the temple from 69 different countries, including India, Nepal, Korea, Japan, Russia, Vietnam, Israel, Spain, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The teachings were translated live via radio into Chinese, English, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Hindi, Thai, French and German.

In his introductory speech on the first day, His Holiness said, “While following any religion, including Contact

Buddhism, the practitioners should have a full understanding of the methods and concepts of that tradition.” He mentioned that he was deeply grieved over the tragic shooting the previous day in Las Vegas in which around 58 people were killed and others injured, and expressed his

Members of the audience welcoming His Holiness Photo:OHHDL

sympathies to everyone affected. He said that such things happen due to shortage of compassion and lack of respect for life.

His Holiness asked his followers to maintain emotional hygiene along with physical hygiene saying, “If you keep harbouring anger or jealousy towards others, it will be you who is at the losing 3

end, because you will remain mentally disturbed unless you resolve it.” He also spoke about religious harmony, giving India as a “shining example” and saying, “India is a land of diverse cultures and religions. Despite isolated incidents, all major religious traditions of the world exist peacefully in India which is a matter of great pride.”

On the first morning of the teaching, lunch was provided for everyone in attendance: the Taiwanese members of the International Association of Tibetan Buddhist Dharma were offered lunch in the temple courtyard, while members of the wider public were given food from the general kitchen.

On the final day, His Holiness began by performing preparatory rituals for the White Tara Long Life Empowerment before the start of the day’s teaching, and just prior to the conclusion he read aloud the transmission of the Prayer to the Twenty-One Taras at the request of a nun.

As the teaching ended, members of the Taiwanese group took the opportunity to have their photographs taken with His Holiness.

OCTOBER 2017

NEWS & ISSUES Shaping Tibet’s Political Future

by Tenzin Samten Five-Fifty Forum: Shaping Tibet’s Political Future, a three-day forum, was held on October 6 - 8, organised by the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) of the Tibetan Government-in-exile in Dharamshala, the seat of the Tibetan exile government and residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, the President of the Tibetan Governmentin-exile, also known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), explained that against the background of changes in the global political environment, the three-day forum was organised to discuss strategies for

Dr Lobsang Sangay

resolving the issue of Tibet, based on the Middle Way Approach, within the next five years – while securing the future of the Tibetan people for the next 50 years.

Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, former Kalon Tripa (the former title for the head of the CTA) addressed the Five-Fifty Forum, expressing his views on the current status of Tibet and the prospects for future changes.

He explained that the issue of Tibet is multifaceted and can be interpreted in many ways, and that in order to understand the status of Tibet, one needs to understand Tibet’s culture, religion, wisdom and the political reality of Tibet and its people.

Rinpoche lauded His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s leadership under which Tibetans have thrived to reach their current success. “It is the charisma of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his futuristic vision for Tibet that Contact

ensured the strength and security of the Tibetan people till now,” he said.

He also expressed his concern, “In the absence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibet could be on the verge of its darkest days. In such a scenario, only the democratic administration established by His Holiness would be able to steer the Tibetan people”.

Rinpoche further requested forum participants to take part in the discussions wholeheartedly, as the fruits of their deliberation will affect the younger generation of Tibetans in the near future.

185 participants attended the forum and included some of the top political strategists, politicians, communication experts, scholars, activists, writers and bloggers from 21 countries.

Sikyong Lobsang Sangay said on the opening day, “We have chosen each one of you [attendees] individually by looking into your longstanding contribution towards the Tibet cause, or for your expertise and experience in the field of international relations.”

He requested that participants share their advice as frankly as they could to their respective governments as their input will be used to formulate the strategies for any future course of action.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama graced the second day of the meeting. His

Prof Samdhong Rinpoche

Holiness spoke about the history of Tibet and how it has suffered under the turmoil caused by China’s repression.

He also referred to the valour showed

by Tibetans inside Tibet in preserving the age old culture and traditions of 4

Tibet in the face of China’s constant efforts to destroy them.

Speaking to the participants about supporting Tibet, His Holiness

His Holiness the Dalai Lama

said, “There are many communities fighting for freedom around the world.

However, most of them employ violence to achieve their goals. Tibetans on the other hand have always been committed to the methods of peace and non-violence despite the hardships that we have faced.” His Holiness reiterated his call for the inclusion of secular education in academic curricula, as modern education’s focus on material development is insufficient to create a holistic happiness.

The meeting concluded on October 8 after intensive discussions on the future course of the Tibetan movement. According to the report of the Forum published on the CTA website, the four main items for deliberation were: seeking constructive dialogue and negotiations with the People’s Republic of China; Tibet’s core relationship with India and Asia; the CTA’s international relations and advocacy and the CTA leadership.

On the final day Sikyong presented an award for exemplary philanthropy to Yodon Thonden in recognition and appreciation of the contribution she has made to the Tibetan freedom movement. Yodon Thonden, together with her husband Kevin Toner and their Isdell Foundation, which they established in 1994, have contributed over US$7 million (£5.3 million) to various Tibetan projects in India, North America, Europe and Tibet.

OCTOBER 2017

NEWS & ISSUES Five-Fifty: Maintaining the Momentum

by Lauren Chaplin event was held at Yongling School, Dharamshala, attended by Sikyong A series of high profile meetings organised by six Dharamshala- Sangay and Professor Ming Xia. followed on from the Five-Fifty based Tibetan organisations. Here, Sikyong Sangay declared that the Forum, the three-day conference Professor Ming Xia, who teaches success of the Middle Way Approach convened to discuss strategies to Political Science at City University depended on how the Chinese public resolve the issue of Tibet, which took of New York (CUNY) addressed understood the issue. He stressed how place on October 6-8 important it was in Dharamshala. for Tibetans First was the 29th to know Meeting of the Task the Chinese Force on Sino-Tibet language, Negotiations, held to better in Dharamshala communicate over October 9-10. their aims Chaired by the with Chinese Central Tibetan students, Administration teachers, and President, Sikyong intellectuals.

Lobsang Sangay, the However, meeting was attended Sangay also by 18 members warned that Sikyong Lobsang Sangay (centre) with DIIR Secretaries Sonam Norby Dagpo (left) of the task force “some Chinese and Dhardon Sharling (right) who discussed the officials claim Photo: tibet.net recommendations they have made at the Five-Fifty Forum. the crowd, telling them that he has Tibetans in exile on their payroll”, Expressing his commitment to the “complete faith” in the Dalai Lama’s stressing that Chinese government Middle Way Approach, Sikyong non-violence approach, and that staff must be approached with Sangay heard suggestions on which they should stay hopeful about the caution. future courses of action would be best Middle Way Approach: “Nothing is On October 18, as the Chinese to pursue in light of the upcoming permanent. So, the repressive policies Liaison Officers meeting concluded, 19th Congress of the Chinese in Tibet will change”. During his the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party. In addition, the speech, he noted some liberalisation Chinese Communist Party began of China’s policies and of its approaches to ethnic minorities, remarking that the One Child Policy had been abolished and also that increasing numbers of Chinese people Tibetan representatives at the meeting were turning to Photo: tibet.net Buddhism. Despite his positive message, Xia in Beijing. With 2,200 members Professor Ming Xia speaking on the Middle Way Approach has not returned to China in attendance, the meeting saw the at Yongling School for nine years and has been party select its top leadership for the Photo: Kunsang Gashon / phayul confronted by the Chinese next five years. Few had doubted task force discussed plans for the secret service, who have warned that Xi Jingping would remain in 2018 “Thank You” year, which will him not to support the non-violent power for another term as Secretarymark 60 years of Tibetan exile and Mdiddle Way Approach.

General. In his opening speech, thank India and other allies who have Between October 13-18, the fifth Jingping disparaged separatism from supported the Tibetans throughout Annual Meeting of Chinese Liaison the Chinese motherland, an apparent this trying period.

Officers of the Central Tibetan reference to Tibet, and also Xianjing, Next, on October 12, a public Administration took place, again in Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Contact

5

OCTOBER 2017

NEWS & ISSUES

Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy Sparks Protest in Arunachal Pradesh

by Sean Fitzpatrick Mounting protest from local student and civil society groups has erupted in the far north east Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh (AP), delaying the state’s planned implementation of the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy (TRP).

Passed by the Indian Union government in 2014, the TRP proposes the extension of temporary land leases and welfare provisions to Tibetan refugees residing within India.

The policy also grants Tibetans the right to undertake economic activity and pursue any job for which they are professionally qualified; these can include nursing, engineering, accounting, medicine, etc.

AP state officials announced their intention to implement the policy on August 12 this year, sparking anger and demonstrations from local groups who fear that they could lose out in changes to welfare provision, expressing concern about“extra funds for Tibetan refugees while neglecting the needs of indigenous tribes of the state” and that it would “disturb the state’s ethnic balance, resulting in communal tension”.

Opposition to the policy has now sharply increased, with SUMAA (Students United Movement for

by Mary Trewartha The first ever Tibetan Youth Festival, organised by the Tibetan Youth Congress, took place in Majnu Ka Tilla, Delhi, on October 14 and 15.

The event featured speakers, panel discussions, folk music performances, poetry, a fashion show and momo-eating and chupa-wearing competitions!

Topics included a talk and panel discussion Tibet’s Independence, India’s Security, as well as talks on India’s Strategic Interests in Tibet’s Independence and The Indestructible Cultural Relations between India and Tibet. A “Youth Voice” session on the second day entitled Roles and Responsibilities Contact

All Arunachal) championing a new “Anti Tibetan Refugees Movement” and calling for Tibetan refugees to be ejected from the state saying, “It is sad to see the state government focusing on the welfare of the refugees while neglecting important issues of the state”.They are concerned that all state benefits will go to the refugees.

SUMAA has published details of all Tibetan-owned shops in the state’s capital, threatening forced

eviction if implementation of the TRP was not revoked within seven days.Demonstrations followed.

No evictions were reported, and resistance to the policy has so far remained peaceful, however SUMAA President Tagru Tame has not ruled out the possibility of more extreme action in pursuit of the nationalist campaign saying, “First preference should be given to

“I Am Tibet”

of Youth in the Tibetan Freedom Struggle gave the opportunity for student groups discussions.

The event also included arts and crafts, a photo exhibition, and music

concert, as well as the first Inter College Cultural Competition whose 6

Indians.”

The Arunachal government has announced that TRP will not be implemented until consultations have taken place with those potentially affected by the change.

AP Chief Minister Pema Khandu is discussing the TRP with student unions, community organisations and political parties, whilst continuing to advocate the benefits of the policy to the state’s tribal peoples and giving assurances for the future.

There are just over 7,500 Tibetan refugees resident within AP, which has a total population of around 1.4 million. Predating its recent introduction in AP, the TRP has been implemented by several other Indian states including Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttarakhand.

Sino-Indian tensions over the disputed territory of AP continue to escalate following an India-backed visit to the region by His Holiness the Dalai Lama earlier this year. Claim to the region has been the subject of dispute since Chinese annexation of Tibet in 1959, due to disagreements over the 1914 Simla Convention, which ceded ownership of the region to British India, whilst leaving it under Tibet’s administrative control.

winner was Varanasi TYBA. TYC acknowledged the festival supporters and thanked them for contributing to the success of the event – Dharamshala: Amchi Lobsang Ashoka, Kunga Guest House, Tibet Kitchen, PemaThang Guest House, AguSherap Shop and Tibet Tours & Travel.Delhi: DhekhangTenzing Cafe, IDA House, Dolma Restaurant, Busan Korean Restaurant, Himalayan Guest House, Snow Region, Ama Guest house, Tashi Delek Guest House, Norling Tibet Arts, Ama Group, Chokor Travels, ChosChoed Book Stall and Bercos.

Gyalnor Tsewang la (Kathmandu) and Yama la (Taiwan).

OCTOBER 2017

NEWS & ISSUES

Larung Gar: Aftermath of Destruction

by Simon Tucker 4,700 homes have been demolished at Larung Gar in eastern Tibet, one of the world’s largest institutes of Tibetan Buddhism, leaving 4,800 people homeless. A little over a year since demolition orders were first issued, the Chinese authorities have carried out their planned reduction at the site, according to a new report

by Tibet Watch, a British registered charity whose aim is to promote the human rights of the Tibetan people through monitoring, advocacy and research.

In July 2016, the regional Chinese authorities demanded that the population of Larung Gar in eastern Tibet be reduced to a total of 5,000: 3,500 nuns and 1,500 monks. Citing concerns about overcrowding and fire risks, the authorities announced a programme of clearances and demolitions to begin immediately.

Residents of Larung Gar [who were not consulted about the decision], the Central Tibetan Authority, the European Parliament and a number of international nongovernment organisations believe that the demolitions are an attempt by the

Chinese Communist Party to remove any other sources of authority than themselves. Whatever the reason, this is seen as an assault on the religious freedom of the indigenous Tibetan community.

Situated 4,000 metres above sea level, Larung Gar Buddhist Academy is one of the largest and most significant Tibetan Buddhist institutes in the world. It is located in the Larung Valley in Serthar County in Kardze

Satellite images of Larung Gar : Before and After

Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, part of the region that Tibetans know as Kham, eastern Tibet.

It was established as a monastery, or gar in 1980, by Khenpo Jigme Phuntsok, who is known as the most influential lama of the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in contemporary Tibet, and had grown to become home to anywhere between 10,000 and 40,000 residents. It has welcomed monks, nuns and visiting

students from Tibet and China, as well as other countries including South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia, while tens of thousands of people around the globe study Buddhism through online courses taught by Sodargye Rinpoche, a senior Khenpo at Larung Gar. Before-and-after images from United States satellites in 2016 and 2017 show how houses have been destroyed to make way for wider roads, new pathways and additional space around religious buildings.

The photos corroborate reports from residents that the destruction has been aimed at facilitating greater tourism to the area.

Many of the monks and nuns made homeless have been warned against returning to Larung Gar by the Chinese authorities and some have been warned off joining other monasteries.

This is not the first wave of demolitions at Larung Gar; between 1999 and 2013 the institute faced repression on at least five occasions.

On two of these the Chinese authorities faced opposition from monks, resulting in large-scale arrests and prison sentences from one to six years.

Travel Restrictions Eased for Tibetans

by Tenzin Samten Tibetan refugees living in India will soon be free from the hassle of applying for the exit permits which are currently compulsory for every trip abroad, a senior official from the Home Ministry in Delhi has announced.

Currently, to travel abroad, as well as any visas needed for their destination country, Tibetans living in India must secure an exit permit which involves a background check by the Indian government for any criminal cases. The Hindu has reported a senior government official as saying that the intention is to remove this “redundant” procedure for Tibetans.

Contact

The official continued by saying that the present procedure will be replaced by the issue of a no-objection certificate, which will be provided to Tibetans along with their Identity Certificate (IC), and that this will be the requirement for them to travel to any country – and return to India. The IC, also known as the “Yellow Book”, is issued to Tibetans by the Indian government and is a document in lieu of a passport for Tibetans to travel abroad.

“The present rules are such that a Tibetan refugee has to apply for an exit permit every time he or she has to travel abroad. Since identity certificates are issued after carrying out due diligence 7

and a background check, the exit permit is an unnecessary requirement,” said the official.

He added that the Home Ministry will soon get approval from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on this issue.

The majority of the Tibetan diaspora resides in India, Nepal and Bhutan.

However, in recent years the Tibetan communities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Norway, Australia and Taiwan have increased in number and with this comes an increased requirement for Tibetans to travel abroad.

OCTOBER 2017

NEWS & ISSUES Continued from page 1

Jinping’s Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for the New Era has now been enshrined into the Communist Party constitution of China.

Mr Xi has been consolidating his power in China throughout his five years in office as President. His anti-corruption campaign has seen thousands of officials–including some in very high office–removed from power, supposedly to wipe out corruption, but suspected by many as a means to consolidate his position by removing people who oppose his methods and policies. The Party Congress selects its leaders for the next five-year term and there was never any doubt that Xi would remain in office for a second term.

Tibetans and Tibet supporters worldwide have been closely observing the Party Congress as Xi’s way of running China affects the lives of the people who live in Chinese occupied Tibet: their living conditions; their access to education, training and health care facilities; the work available to them; the exploitation of their land for water and mineral extraction; their right to practise the religion of their choice and speak the language of their choice and their right to the basic human rights that so many of us take for granted.

In his three-hour opening speech at the Congress Xi laid out a sweeping vision to transform China by 2050 and outlined China’s recent achievements.

He said that “socialism with Chinese characteristics” meant China had now “become a great power in the world”, and had played “an important role in the history of humankind”. He continued by saying that the Chinese model of growth under Communist rule was “flourishing” and had given “a new choice” to other developing countries. “It is time for us to take centre stage in the world and to make Contact

Xi Walks Supreme

a greater contribution to humankind,” he added.

He warned against separatism from the Chinese motherland in an apparent reference to the freedom movements in Tibet, Xinjiang [East Turkestan, in north west China] and Hong Kong, and reiterated the government’s principle that Taiwan is part of China.

In the run-up to the Congress even greater security measures were introduced across China, with Chinese security agents and censorship

measures in place. Additional checks at transport hubs meant long queues at railway stations, and some restaurants, gyms, nightclubs and karaoke bars reportedly shut down due to tightened security rules.

In Tibet, Radio Free Asia reported that Chinese security forces were deployed in large numbers while the conference was under way. RFA reported that armed police arrived “in convoys and began conducting military drills in the streets of towns in the Golog [in Chinese, Guoluo] Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture” on the opening day of the Congress, quoting a source as saying they had “also been posted at the intersections of major roads in order to intimidate the people.” RFA’s source also reported that local residents had been warned not to send photos or video clips of police activity to contacts outside the region, or to discuss politics with outside contacts, or to watch or listen to news about Tibet from broadcasters overseas, and that 8

they were told they would face severe consequences if they were caught doing any of these things.

In the neighboring Gansu province RFA’s source said, “In this intimidating environment, Tibetans are too frightened to talk to anyone outside their own areas.”

The Tibet Autonomous Region had been temporarily closed to foreign visitors ahead of the Congress.

Washington-based International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) said in a statement that China had dramatically tightened control in Tibet in advance of the 19th Party Congress in Beijing from October 18. The ICT statement continued, “Massed ranks of troops and special forces gathered in Lhasa and other cities in the Tibet Autonomous Region for intimidating military drills in which soldiers swore allegiance to “protecting the 19th Party Congress”.

In Shigatse city in Tibet an increased presence of police patrol cars and public security officers in military trucks were reported.

Meanwhile in Beijing, top ranking Chinese official Zhang Yijiong, who heads the Communist Party’s Tibet working group, spoke at a news conference on the sidelines of the Congress saying that foreign leaders must not meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama, neither officially nor in a personal capacity. He said there are no excuses and that foreign leaders “Can’t think they can get away with meeting the Dalai Lama just because they are doing it in a personal capacity, as they still represent their government.” Zhang continued, “So I hope governments around the world speak and act with caution and give full consideration to their friendship with China and their respect for China’s sovereignty.”

Zhang is also quoted as saying that Tibetan Buddhism was a “special religion born in our ancient China...

It’s a Chinese religion. It didn’t come in from the outside.”

OCTOBER 2017

NEWS & ISSUES Communist Party Congress: Tibetans Retaliate

Continued from page 1

On the day before the start of the Congress–October 17–the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), Tibetan Women’s Association, Gu-Chu-Sum Movement Association of Tibet, National Democratic Party of Tibet and Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) spoke to the press in Dharamshala saying, “Based on the past five years of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s failed policies in Tibet and increasing crackdown on Tibetans, we have no positive expectation and hope from Xi’s dictatorship.”

The statement continued, “When Xi was appointed as the President of the Communist Party of China, many around the world hoped for positive change and the relaxation of the harsh policies in Tibet. However, Xi has failed to live up to those expectations and hopes...Xi Jinping’s crackdown on corruption in the government

Representatives of Tibetan NGOs at the press conference Photo: TPI

and party in his first five-year tenure has been seen as an internal power struggle. In Tibet, instead of dealing with problems, the CCP pushed an anti-Dalai Lama campaign and escalated its crackdown.”

The press release detailed the ways in which Chinese rule is repressing Tibetans living in Tibet and furthering the interests of China to the detriment of the Tibetans who live there.

The coalition said that Tibetans and civil society stakeholders should step up their efforts in further condemning the Chinese leadership and their failed policies in Tibet; they also vowed to continue their “freedom struggle until justice is Contact

served for Tibet.”

The press conference was followed with an event in the main square in McLeod Ganj, organised by SFT who staged a graphic set, depicting Xi’s five-year rule and showing its suffocation of dissent, political detentions, religious persecution and his attempts to silence the international community.

Also on October 17, the Tibetan Youth Congress stated in a press release that they would be organising protests globally to call on Xi Jinping to end the illegal occupation of Tibet and heed the voices of Tibetans inside Tibet who are calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet.

Tibet) destroyed, self-immolations increased, revered Tibetan monk and leader Tenzin Delek Rinpoche was killed in Chinese prison, and the Chinese Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo died after spending years in prison.

Jigme’s statement continued, “Xi has failed Tibet...We take the 19th Party Congress as an opportunity to highlight Xi’s dictatorship and failed leadership and we urge world governments into action. We remind world leaders that he is not the solution and the communist party is not the answer.”

All fifty activists were later released.

TYC’s protests hit the global media, with the British Daily Mail quoting TYC President Tenzing Jigme’s statement that Tibet had nothing to celebrate as Buddhist monasteries have been destroyed and young Tibetans have self-immolated in frustration. Pictures of the protest appeared alongside much of the Daily Mail’s coverage of the first day of the Congress.

Similarly, the Washington Post included coverage of the protests in their

Protests and Arrests The Tibetan Youth Congress stormed the heavily guarded Chinese Embassy in the Indian capital, Delhi, in protest against Chinese President Xi Jinping’s rule in Tibet, on the first day of the Chinese Communist Party’s National Congress being held in Beijing on October 18.

Around 50 activists, mainly members of the TYC – the largest exile Tibetan proindependence pressure group – staged the protest and all were arrested and held at Chanakyapuri Police Station, including TYC President Tenzing Jigme, Vice President Tamding Hrichoe, General Secretary TYC protestors after their release Ngawang Lobsang, Photo: TYC Facebook Cultural Secretary Tashi Dhundup, and Social Service reports of the Congress’s opening under Secretary Tashi Targyal. the heading “The Latest on the ruling Tenzin Jigme said in a press Communist Party’s congress meeting statement that under Chinese in Beijing: 3 pm : Members of the President Xi’s rule hundreds of Tibetan Youth Congress have protested human rights lawyers have been at the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi arrested or disappeared, Larung Gar as China’s ruling Communists opened (one of the foremost and largest their national congress” together with Buddhist Academies in the world, in pictures and details of the protest.

9

OCTOBER 2017

NEWS & ISSUES

Football Fans Join the Tibet Campaign!

by Mary Trewartha Free Tibet, the British Tibet pressure group, has launched a campaign backed by Tibet groups around the world, as well as the British consumer group SumOfUs, to persuade Liverpool Football Club – the giant Premier League football club – to pull out of their deal with the Chinese water bottling company Tibet Water Resources Limited.

Tibet Water Resources Limited, whose flagship product 5100 Tibet Glacial Spring Water is extracted from a natural spring 5,100 metres above sea level in the Tibetan Himalayas, market their bottled water as pure glacier water and are selling it internationally for large profits. Liverpool FC’s deal makes

Tibet Water their official regional water partner in China and offers the company a range of promotional and marketing rights. Liverpool FC has a growing Asian fan base and they are offering Tibet Water social media support and access to current and legendary players from the club’s history.

The Free Tibet campaign is drawing the Football Club’s attention to the ethical issues around working with a company operating in Tibet - a country under occupation and subject to well catalogued human rights abuses, as well as exploitation of its resources on a major scale to the point where it is causing grave environmental damage. In addition, Tibet’s water is needed by the millions

of people who live downstream in neighbouring countries and for whom Tibet’s rivers are their only source of water.

As well as writing to Liverpool FC, Tibet campaigners have been attending Liverpool matches to hand out information to supporters. And Liverpool FC fans are beginning to contact Free Tibet and the Tibet Society directly and expressing their serious concerns.

Liverpool is owned by the Fenway Sports Group, the same company that owns the Boston Red Sox. For more information about Tibet Water, please see our article Tibet’s Water in Jeopardy at http://www.contactmagazine. net/articles/tibets-water-jeopardy/

Nuns’ Celebration

by Lodoe Gyatso such as the Tibetan Medical Institute, The Tibetan Nuns Project (TNP) the Institute of Performing Arts marked its 30th anniversary in a and the Tibetan nunneries that ceremony at Dolma Ling Nunnery in were destroyed in Tibet continue to Dharamshala. flourish in exile.”

Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, Director of the Tibetan Nuns President of the Tibetan Project Rinchen Khando spoke on the Government-in-exile, addressed the history of TNP, its inception and its ceremony saying, “Accomplishments of the Tibetan Nuns Project over the years include the re-establishment of one of the most illustrious Tibetan nunneries in Tibet and laying the groundwork for the highest Buddhist education for Tibetan nuns.”

He expressed his gratitude to HH the Dalai Lama at the award ceremony for the first 20 geshemas Photo :Tenzin Choejor His Holiness the Dalai Lama for inspiring the revival achievements. “Our 30th anniversary of Tibetan culture and the resilience is an opportunity to thank our of the people in the most challenging supporters and to take stock of the times. many historic milestones that would “Due to the vision and grace of not have been possible without your His Holiness, exile establishments compassion for the nuns,” she said.

Contact

10

Achievements listed by TNP include: • Creating a ground-breaking educational programme for nuns • Feeding, clothing, housing, and educating almost 800 Tibetan nuns through the sponsorship programme • Building and establishing Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute in Dharamshala, a non sectarian nunnery • Constructing and re-establishing Shugsep Nunnery in India • Establishing the annual internunnery debate, the Jang Gonchoe [the winter teaching, formerly only attended by monks] • Laying the groundwork for higher degrees for nuns • Awarding of the Geshema degree [to nuns] for the first time in the history of Tibet The Tibetan Nuns Project was established under the auspices of the Tibetan Women’s Association and the Department of Religion and Culture of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and is dedicated to educating and supporting nuns in India from all Tibetan Buddhist lineages.

OCTOBER 2017

NEWS & ISSUES 30 Years of Resistance

by Lodoe Gyatso Thirty years ago a wave of uprisings against the Chinese occupation swept through Tibet. The Tibet support group Tibet Watch has issued a report commemorating the events of that time and describing their effects. This is contained in a document entitled 30 Years of Resistance: The Legacy of the 1987 Lhasa Protests*.

The report gives the background to the narrative. Following a period of severe Chinese repression from 1959 to 1980 there was a time of relatively enlightened rule. Robert Barnett, director of the Modern Tibetan Studies Programme at Columbia University and author of Lhasa: Streets with Memories, is quoted as saying, “the reforms did create an opportunity for rebuilding from the ground up the rudiments of a Tibetan civil society devastated by two decades of communism.”

However in September 1987 China rejected His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s proposed peace plan and was publicly critical of him. This sparked the first demonstration which took place on September 27, 1987. Dissent

continued in various forms until March 7, 1989 when the declaration of martial law effectively ended protest action.

The core of the report is a set of photographs that were previously unpublished, mainly for security reasons. The images mostly portray injured and dead protesters and are supplemented by additional materials such as eye-witness accounts.

The various stages of the protest are documented, breaking them down into three separate phases, namely those of 1987, 1988 and 1989. The media attention generated by the events is documented by cuttings taken from major international newspapers.

In the aftermath of the protests His Holiness the Dalai Lama received the Nobel Peace Prize – in no small measure due to the harshness with which the uprisings in his country had been repressed. The protests also led to an international outpouring of sympathy for the Tibetan cause. Many Tibetan support groups were established. As the Tibet Watch report notes: “The protests may have been crushed but they have an enduring legacy in the strength of the international Tibet movement that

they inspired.”

Tibet Watch is a British-based group that specialises in research. The Tibet Watch researchers are all Tibetan, mostly based in Dharamshala, and their purpose is to source and verify information about the situation in Tibet. Some of that information is passed directly to the United Kingdom government or to international institutions.

The information is all passed to Tibet Watch’s sister organisation Free Tibet, the British campaigning group, for public dissemination. Free Tibet specialises in public outreach and has a very strong digital presence as well as good relationships with international media. Tibet Watch and Free Tibet have a common Director and this close working relationship facilitates the Tibet Watch information reaching the widest possible audience and ensures that Free Tibet’s campaigning is grounded in thorough research and accurate information from Tibet. *30 Years of Resistance: The Legacy of the 1987 Lhasa Protests can be downloaded at tibetwatch.org

Tibetan Library on the Move

by Shanda Workman The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA), described by the India Times as “one of the most important libraries and institutions of Tibetan works in the world”, and currently housed in Dharamshala in northern India, is to be moved to Bangalore, Karnataka in south India because of concerns about the safety and preservation of the 80,000 manuscripts, books and documents, 600 thankhas, and thousands of pictures and other artefacts.

Funding is being sought for the move to the Dalai Lama Institute of Higher Education near Ramanagara where a suitable environment for the artefacts would ensure their preservation and availability for study.

The current location in Dharamshala is not considered suitable because of the Contact

high humidity and the imminent risk of earthquake and subsquent destruction of the collection – Himachal Pradesh lies in the “very high risk” zone with the potential for an earthquake with

a magnitude of 8.2 or greater on the Richter scale. And in the monsoon this year, 250mm fell on Dharamshala making it one of the wettest places in India.

Speaking to the Times of India, LTWA Director Geshe Lhakdor said, “The project requires huge funding.

11

We are looking at philanthropists who can give us funds for preserving these ancient manuscripts. These are priceless collections and we cannot afford to lose them at any cost”.

LTWA was created in June 1970, instigated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, to preserve the Tibetan culture.

With the help of the Indian government’s Ministry of Culture, from 1959 thousands of Tibetan artefacts were transported to northern India to ensure their preservation, this was seen as particularly important following the Chinese cultural revolution in which so many Tibetan manuscripts and artefacts were lost.

Geshe Lhakdor continued, “The main aim of the library is to preserve, promote and foster the culture and identity of Tibet. We want to share the collective knowledge and wisdom with the world”.

OCTOBER 2017

NEWS & ISSUES Oct 29: Two Events Two events took place in McLeod Ganj over the weekend: the first ever “Mr Tibet” competition which took place at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts and was won by Nyima, a law student from Bengaluru, and the five-day annual Free Spirit Film Festival 2017 which is showing 25 films at the Hotel Tibet.

Oct 24: Seven Detained Seven people have been detained in Tridu County in Yushu for producing and distributing videos about self-immolation protests, Radio Free Asia has reported.

The videos are being shared via WeChat and show self-immolations that took place several years ago. The seven are Tashi Damdul, Kalsang Gyaltso, Tsering Chophel, Tenzin Namgyal, Choephel, Tsering Norbu from Khanra village, and Tsegyam from Kamyi village, all in Tridu County.

Oct 16: Border Controls Chinese authorities at the Nepal–Tibet border at Kylrong have been disrupting travel for Tibetans crossing over to Nepal on business by carrying out lengthy document checks. Some goods intended for trade crossing from Nepal into Tibet including foodstuffs are being turned back - Radio Free Asia reports that the checks and blocks only apply to Tibetan people and goods.

Oct 16: Tibet Film Festival The eighth Tibet Film Festival was held in Dharamshala and Zurich in Switzerland.

The two-day festival screens films made by Tibetan filmmakers or films with a major Tibetan involvement. It was first held in Zurich in 2009, inspired by the Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen who was imprisoned in China for his film Leaving Fear Behind.

Oct 14: Jamtse Lopon Award HH the Dalai Lama has been given the Jamtse Lopon award by the Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA), in recognition of his “compassionate and perfect” leadership. His Holiness said that women are biologically more sensitive to others’ suffering and urged more women to take on roles in educating on compassion.

Oct 14: Photo Exhibition A photo exhibition in Prague in the Czech Republic is featuring HH the Dalai Lama’s early life, meetings with world leaders, awards, honours received, books authored and his three commitments in life –Promotion of Human Values, Promotion of Inter-religious Harmony and Preservation of Tibetan Buddhist Culture.

Contact

Tibetan headlines

Oct 13: Mixed Heritage Tibetans Meet Fourteen people of mixed Tibetan heritage aged 14–41 have gathered in Dharamshala for a special audience with HH the Dalai Lama and to share experiences and discuss issues about identity, history, politics and culture. The attendees have come from India, Italy, the Netherlands, France, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada and the United States.

Oct 12: Singing Success Tashi Phuntsok, 31, a Tibetan maths teacher from Shigatse city in southern Tibet, has won a hugely popular Chinese reality television show contest, Sing! China. He sang Tibetan, Chinese and Indian folk songs and said, “The honour is especially prestigious as I was representing Tibet and Tibetan people.”

Oct 11: Gasoline Supplies Seven Tibetan villagers in Choeje and Oje townships in Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture have been detained in connection with the unauthorised resale of gasoline.

Villagers travel 30 miles to buy gasoline as none is available locally; some buy more than needed for their own requirements and resell small amounts to fellow villagers.

Oct 9: Early Release Kunchok Dhondup, 25, has been released from prison after serving nine and a half years of his 12-year sentence. He has returned home to Upper Nurma Village in Machu County in the Gansu Province.

He was arrested for taking part in the 2008 protests held across Tibet; more than 2,000 Tibetans from Macu took part in the protests.

Oct 7: Trip Cancelled His Holiness the Dalai Lama has cancelled his visit to Japan scheduled for next month on the advice of his doctors who have advised him to rest and to refrain from long distance travel. He was due to visit Tokyo, Fukuoka and Kumamoto prefectures.

Oct 7: Resorting to Begging Tibetan nomads who were evicted from their traditional grazing lands some years ago have been evicted again from their homes in Qinghai’s Yulshul prefecture and many have resorted to begging as the only way to make a living, reports Radio Free Asia. Their homes are being demolished to make way for Chinese development projects.

Oct 7: Potala Makeover The Chinese state media Xinhua has 12

announced that the Potala Palace in Lhasa, a UNESCO world heritage site, is to undergo a large scale renovation to its gold plated roof costing more than US$1.5 million (£1.2 million). The report also says the security surveillance system will be improved.

Oct 6: Social Media Restrictions Managers of social media chat groups were summoned to a meeting in Tsekhog (Zeku) county in Qinghai last week to warn them against allowing “inappropriate” online discussions. WeChat group managers signed a pledge to “uphold their responsibilities”.

Many chat groups had disbanded their groups in advance, fearing reprisals.

Oct 6: Award Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, the leader of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), has received the Takasu Award in recognition of his contribution towards the welfare, education and resilience of the Tibetan people. The Takasu Foundation is an aid group based in Japan. Dr Sangay dedicated the award to the CTA workforce for their hard work and determination and is donating the $100,000 (£76,000) prize money to the Department of Education.

Oct 5: Swiss Funeral The funeral of Tashi Namgyal, 32, the Tibetan asylum seeker who committed suicide last month on a railway line, took place at Lucerne in Switzerland. His suicide note called for independence for Tibet and freedom from Chinese rule, and asked the Swiss government to give asylum to the 300 Tibetan asylum seekers whose applications, like his, had been refused.

Over 350 Tibetans attended his funeral.

Oct 4: New Road China has opened an expressway from Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, to Nyingchi near the border with Arunachal Pradesh, India’s most northeastern state. China claims Arunachal as their territory and the border with Tibet is strategically important to both India and China. Chinese state media Xinhua says the expressway will boost tourism.

Oct 2: Anniversary Disruption A photographic exhibition marking the 30th anniversary of the 1987 pro-independence movement in Lhasa, Tibet was disrupted by a Chinese–American woman, Wen Qi Zhu, 43, who removed and attempted to damage pictures on display. The event was organised by Gu Chu Sum, the former political prisoners’ movement.

OCTOBER 2017

NEWS & ISSUES

International headlines

Oct 29: Cannabis Licence Cannabis is to be legalised in Denmark for medicinal purposes in January next year and companies are now applying to the Laegemiddelstyrelsen, Denmark’s medicines regulator, to grow the plant under a scheme which will initially be subject to a four-year trial. Cannabis will be available on prescription and used for the treatment of painful illnesses such as cancer and multiple sclerosis.

Oct 27: Surveillance Techniques Human Rights Watch (HRW) China has reported that China is setting up a national voice biometric database for “voice pattern” samples, suggesting this is a bid to further infringe the privacy of its citizens. The Chinese government says the company iFlytech has developed the country’s first “mass automated voice recognition and monitoring system” and it will be used fight fraud, drugtrafficking, kidnapping, blackmail cases and terrorism.

Oct 25: Happy Living Two notes hand-written by Nobel Prizewinning German-born physicist Albert Einstein have been sold in Jerusalem for $1.56m (£1.19m). Einstein gave the notes, which describe his theory for happy living, to a courier in Tokyo in 1922 as he did not have enough money to give the man a tip, and told him that if he was lucky, they would become valuable.

Oct 24: Twins in Danger A pair of Palestinian conjoined twins’ lives are at risk, caught in Gaza in the coastal territory under blockade by Israel and Egypt. The medics there say they need to be moved from Gaza if they are to live. They are joined at the abdomen and lower body, they have one shared leg but separate hearts and lungs. One is much weaker than the other.

Oct 23: Abe Wins Again In Japan’s snap election Prime Minister Shinzo Abe‘s Liberal Democratic Partyled coalition has won. He promises to deal “firmly” with threats from North Korea, and to revise Japan’s pacifist constitution which was set up after World War II and calls for the complete renunciation of war. Mr Abe looks set to become Japan’s longest serving PM. Oct 18: Islamic State Ousted The so-called Islamic State has been Contact

ousted from Raqqa in Syria by an alliance of Syrian fighters, backed by the United States, following a four-month offensive.

Raqqa has been occupied by Islamic State for three years and regarded as their “capital”. Landmines and jihadist sleeper cells are being sought out and cleared.

Oct 16: Bomb Blast A bomb in the Somali capital Mogadishu has left at least 230 people dead and hundreds more wounded, some seriously.

Mogadishu is a target for al-Shabab militants; although they have not claimed the bomb, this is the biggest terror attack since they launched their insurgency in 2007.

Oct 13: Quitting Unesco The United States, and now Israel, are pulling out of the United Nations cultural organisation Unesco citing Unesco’s “anti-Israel” bias. US President Trump is known for his hostility to multilateral organisations despite America’s role in setting up Unesco in the wake of World War II. Oct 12: No Smoking!

Smoking is now banned on beaches in Thailand’s popular tourist destinations with transgressors facing up to a year in prison or a 100,000 baht ($3,000; £2,280) fine. Thousands of cigarette butts left in the sand make up a third of all rubbish collected. Designated smoking areas will be provided.

Oct 11: Language Spat Hungary is protesting to the European Union over a new law which may limit the teaching of Hungarian in Ukraine schools. The law makes Ukrainian language lessons mandatory in secondary schools but 150,000 ethnic Hungarians living in western Ukraine want to continue their Hungarian language schools, funded by the Hungarian government under an EU– Ukraine Association Agreement.

Oct 10: Anthrax Scare In Namibia more than 100 hippos have died in a suspected anthrax outbreak in the remote northeastern Bwabwata National Park. Outbreaks can occur when river levels are low, as was the case in this outbreak, but are usually minimal and nothing like this has been seen before. Anthrax is a deadly bacterial disease.

13

Oct 7: Nobel Peace Prize This year’s Nobel Peace Prize goes to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (Ican) for the group’s “groundbreaking efforts to achieve a treaty prohibition” on nuclear weapons. Ican is a coalition of hundreds of non-government organisations (NGOs) based in Geneva, Switzerland. The Peace Prize comes with an award of nine million Swedish kronor ($1.1 million, £846,000).

Oct 6: Landmark Visit King Salman of Saudi Arabia has visited Russia – the first official visit by a Saudi monarch, with a 1,000-strong delegation.

He has clinched some lucrative deals, including an arms deal worth $3bn (£2.3bn) and a $1bn energy investment fund. Also on the agenda was Syria – both countries are involved, but on opposing sides.

Oct 5: Life Sentences In Turkey 40 people have been given life sentences for their part in the plot to assassinate President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during the coup attempt in July last year. One, Gokhan Sahin Sonmezates, a former brigadier general, was accused of directing the plot. The failed coup left 249 people dead.

Oct 4: Administrative Detention Israel’s policy of administrative detention is coming under heavy criticism. This legal procedure allows Israel to imprison people without charge or trial for an indefinite amount of time – in September there were 449 administrative detainees, nearly all Palestinian. This procedure dates back half a century; detentions have risen sharply in recent months amid increased tensions in the West Bank.

Oct 3: Fatal Shooting A mass shooting in Las Vegas in America has left at least 58 dead and hundreds injured. Stephen Paddock, 64 and a Nevada resident, fired from a hotel room where he had a stash of 10 guns before shooting himself. No terrorism link has been found despite a claim by Islamic State.

Oct 2: Right to Statehood The Spanish region of Catalan has declared the right to statehood after a referendum which had been termed illegal by Spain’s constitutional court. Police used force to try to block voting.

The turnout was just over 40%; 90% of those who voted backed independence.

OCTOBER 2017

DHARAMSHALA VOICES

“I was born to serve my country”

by Philomène Franssen Lhamo Tsering, who is in charge of the Tibet Museum, the official museum of the Central Tibetan Administration’s Department of Information and International Relations, says she has now found “her dream job”. There everyday, she is in contact with visitors from all over the world who come to the museum to learn about Tibet and Tibetans’ history. “I am very happy here, I enjoy the interaction with people” says Lhamo who loves the job all the more as it gives her access to the many books available in the museum.

The mission of the Tibet Museum is to inform about the Chinese occupation of Tibet, to provide personal accounts of lives lost in Tibet since then and to document the continuous and ongoing abuses carried out by the Chinese government against the Tibetan people.

“When visitors come out of the museum they are often very emotional,” says Lhamo, who believes that the museum is truly fulfilling its mission.

Lhamo was born and brought up in Ladakh, the second biggest Tibetan settlement in India, where her parents settled after they escaped from Tibet in the 1960s. Though she has never been to Tibet, all her life she has imagined the landscapes of Tibet, drawing them in her mind, from the stories told by her mother and grandmother about their nomadic life. “My mum and my grandmother’s stories are the strongest links I have to Tibet,” she says.

That is surely the reason why Lhamo describes herself as being very “passionate and patriotic” for the land of her parents and ancestors as well as very committed to the Tibetan cause.

“I was born to serve my country,” she says very confidently.

As a child she went to the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) school Ladakh, where she later taught English for six years, “a very special part of my life” as she describes it, because “as a teacher you can really make a difference”.

Lhamo vividly remembers that her own teachers used to say, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” That has stuck in her head and ever since she firmly believes that education is the

key to not only contribute back to her community, but hopefully to getting back Tibet one day. “We have to talk to the world about Tibet and Tibetans,” she says.

Her mother, Tsemo, has greatly inspired Lhamo to become involved in the Tibetan community. Tsomo was an active member of the Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) in Ladakh, an association working for women’s empowerment and whose aim is to promote the social, political and economic equality of Tibetan women, both in Tibet and in Tibetan exiled communities.

Her mother had wanted Lhamo to join TWA as a member too but Lhamo did more than that: in 2013 she left her teaching job in Ladakh and moved to Dharamshala where she worked for a year at Tibet Charity as an English teacher and volunteer coordinator.

Tibet Charity is an organisation supporting the most marginalised sections of the Tibetan community in exile, providing them with access to basic and advanced education as well as free medical services.

Later on Lhamo moved on to work as the Director of Tibet Hope Centre, an organisation whose mission is to empower Tibetan refugees through education and language skills as well as campaigning for the Tibetan cause.

After completing a year there Lhamo took the opportunity to work at the main TWA office as Research and Media Officer.

“That was a very special cause for me, women contributing for women,” she explains. “I learned so much and met so many inspiring people. Besides this, my mum, who is uneducated, was so happy that I could contribute to our community thanks to my education.”

Today, Lhamo is convinced that it’s time for Tibetan youth to take over from the older generation and to carry on the immense work they have done to preserve the Tibetan culture, as well as working for the development and well-being of their community. “If we don’t do it then who will? That’s why I want to contribute back to our Tibetan community, whether I can make a big or small difference doesn’t matter, as long as I can contribute.”

Lhamo takes pride in working at the Tibet Museum, helping to spread awareness about the ordeals suffered by the Tibetan people. That’s her way to give back to the community.

And, to show her deep attachment to her origins as well as the remembrance of the sufferings that her parents went through when they had to escape their homeland, Lhamo has attached her father’s village name “Khotsenang” to her own.

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/ The People stories on the Dharamshala Voices page online tell the stories of the people who make up the Tibetan exile community in Dharamshala and elsewhere, as well as the stories of Lha students and volunteers, told in their own words.

Contact

14

OCTOBER 2017

LHA NEWS AND PROJECTS Cultural Exchange

Lha hosted two groups under our Cultural Exchange Programme during October.

First was a group of eight people from the United States who stayed for a week at Ahimsa House from October 3 - 11. The group was from different walks of life and everyone had a keen interest in Tibetan Buddhism and the unique Tibetan culture. They participated in our English conversation classes to help the students practice spoken English and visited several Tibetan institutes to enhance their knowledge ofthe situation in Tibet.

This group was delighted when His Eminence Prof Samdhong Rinpoche spoke to them on Foundation practices for a joyful life and a peaceful death. The group also visited Bir Tibetan settlement and monasteries.

Lha also hosted a group of ten students from Saint Joseph’s

Institution International School, Singapore. They helped in our Chinese and English conversation classes for a week.

For more information about Lha’s Cultural Exchange programme, please visit our website: www.lhasocialwork.org/culturalexchange

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 Lodoe Gyatso from South Africa tells us his story.

Following Dreams

Volunteer Job at Lha: Contact writer and English Conversation class assistant Moving to McLeod Ganj was one of the best ideas I had in my life. My wife and I have lived here for two years and have had the privilege of meeting many new friends.

I was born in South Africa. My wife and I have been married for 32 years and have three beautiful daughters: two teachers and an occupational therapist.

I used to work in a high stress job where I would work on fixedterm contracts. The work itself was rewarding, but the insecurity of constantly looking for new work became too much for me, so I decided to put the corporate world behind me and do something meaningful. In South Africa we heard about the plight of the Tibetans and we thought that we could make ourselves available to assist in some way.

Our first action on arriving in India was taking on the study of Tibetan.

We have been learning at the Library and have had a tutor for a time. We both underestimated the difficulty of the task of learning a new language, and so we have a long way to go.

We can hold basic conversations in Tibetan, and we are very keen to improve further.

When I was still in school I had a dream of becoming an English teacher.

Living in McLeod has allowed me to live my dream. I often volunteer at Lha for English conversation classes

and enjoy the varied interaction that I regularly have there.

My wife and I also had the pleasure of teaching English at Namgyal Monastery for several months. The monks were enthusiastic in their participation in class and being there was very fulfilling. We also have individual and small group classes where we teach intermediate English on a voluntary basis.

Another of my dreams when I was younger was becoming a journalist.

This dream has also come true. For the past few months I have been writing for Contact magazine. Each story has

File photo of English Conversation class at Lha

been a huge challenge for me, and there is no satisfaction like getting a story sent in ahead of its deadline.

For the future I dream of being able to stay in McLeod Ganj for as long as I can. I look forward to the day that I will be able to truly speak Tibetan fluently.

My wife and I also dream of starting an English school in McLeod Ganj. So many other dreams have become real here, maybe this one will come true too!

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 20 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

OCTOBER 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

OCTOBER 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

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

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 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: 4:00am (Rs 554), 6pm (Rs 580), 7:30 pm (Rs 570) Semi Deluxe Bus: 5pm (Rs 590) , 6:30pm (Rs 590) Full Deluxe Bus: (Rs683) AC Volvo Semi-Sleeper: 8:15 am (Rs 1243), 5:35pm (Rs 1275), 7:00pm (Rs 1275), 8:50pm (Rs1275) AC TATA: 5:50pm (Rs 972) AMRITSAR: Ordinary Bus: 5am (Rs257) *from Dharamshala DEHRADUN: Ordinary Bus: 2pm (Rs 560) 8pm (Rs 551); VOLVO: 7pm (Rs 1199) MANALI: Ordinary Bus: 7:10am (Rs358 *from Dharamshala / VOLVO: 11:30 pm (Rs 782) PATHANKOT: Ordinary Bus: 5am (Rs 136) * from Dharamshala SHIMLA: Ordinary Bus: 5am (Rs 408), 6am (Rs 360), 7:50am (Rs 375), 8:am (Rs 520) 7:45 pm (Rs 363), 12pm (Rs 367) *from Dharamshala, Semi-Deluxe Bus: 9:30pm (Rs455) *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.

TA X I S 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

OCTOBER 2017

activities and information UPCOMING EVENTS November 4, 2017 : His Holiness will give a talk at national conference on Science, Reglision and World Peace in Dharamshala November 10, 2017: Lha-bab-due-chen January 5 to 7, 2017: His Holiness will give a three-day teaching in Bodhgaya, Bihar, India

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: 921-842-2467/9882255047

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

Siddhartha Retreat and Yoga Centre LOCATION: Upper Bhagsu PHONE: 098165-65138 WEB: www.shivamneelkant.yoga.com

MASSAGE Nature Cure Health Club

Shiatsu massage LOCATION: Near Tibetan Ashoka, Jogiwara Road PHONE: 07833047078 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:7018483961/9857999373 EMAIL: kunsangdolma75@gmail.com

Dorjee Spa LOCATION: Pema Thang Guest house, Hotel Bhagsu Road PHONE:9816393673 / 9857108408 WhatsApp: 9816393673

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

Shivan Neel Kanth Yoga

WEBSITE:www.shivamneelkant.yoga.com LOCATION: Bhagsu Nag, Near High Sky PHONE: 09816565138 EMAIL: yogi_shivam@yahoo.co.in

COOKING Lha Tibetan Cooking Classes - for groups

LANGUAGES Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translators Program LOCATION: Rato Chuwar Labrang, Phuntsok Gatsel Session Road Hours: 10:45-5pm Email: lrztp.manager@gmail.com

Rita Thakur Hindi Classes

LOCATION: Ketan Lodge, Jogiwara Rd, beside the Korean Restaurant PHONE: 981-649-4732

Tibetan Language

LOCATION: The Tibetan Library *see Buddhist Philosophy Listing

Hindi Lessons with Kailash

LOCATION: Hotel India House, Bhagsu Rd 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

LOCATION: Lha Soup Kitchen, Temple Rd, Just below the Dalai Lama’s temple HOURS: Registration, 9:00-11:00am PHONE: 01892-220992

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

Indian Cooking Classes

LOCATION:Jogiwara Rd, next to Tibetan Ashoka Guesthouse HOURS: 10:00am-6:00pm PHONE: 07833047078 / 0988230136 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

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

COMPUTER CLASSES Tibetan Career Centre, Dharamshala LOCATION: Jogiwara Road, Mcleod Ganj HOURS: 9:00am-6pm PHONE: 9882321424 /9880969175 Email at : yesheadconsultant@tibet.net

Lha Charitable Truse

LOCATION: Near Dolma Chowk, Mcleod Ganj PHONE: 9882323455 / +91 (0)1892 -220992 WEB: www.lhasocialwork.org

18

ART AND MUSEUMS Tibet Museum

LOCATION:Near the Main Temple and Namgyal Monastery gate, McLeod Ganj HOURS: Tue-Sun: 9:00am-5:00pm

Tibet Photo Exhibit: 50 Years of Struggle and Oppression

LOCATION: Gu-Chu-Sum hall, 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

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

OCTOBER 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:

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 voatibetanenglish.com - Voice of America’s Tibet pages - VOA is an international multimedia broadcasting service funded by the US government 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 thetibetpost.com and tibetexpress.net are both sources of news and information

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 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 tibetanjournal.com - Tibetan Journal - news, reviews and opinions

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

OCTOBER 2017

advertisements

CARPE DIEM RESTAURANT & PIZZERIA

MEXICAN, ITALIAN, INDIAN, CHINESE, CONTINENTAL, & THAI FOOD, No MSG • Everything washed with sterilized water • Wood-fired pizza oven & clay Tandoori oven • Relaxed atmosphere & Japanese-style seating • Live music every Sunday - Map#6 Located on Jogiwara Road, across from the Tibetan Reception Center (down from Post Office) - Map # 9

DR TANDON’S ADVANCED

DENTAL

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

HIMALAYAN YOGA RETREAT Yoga Time: 8:30 am to 9:30 am

DrYourMobile Shop Communication Partner

Drop-in Classes/ Weekly Courses/ Reiki Course & Treatment Teacher Training Course (200 hours) Map#26

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

Mobile no: 988222502 - Surinder

Address: Jogiwara Road, Green View House after Youngling Schoo Mcleod Ganj, Opposite Pink House www.himalayanyogacentre.com / Email:surinderlala@yahoo.in

Black Magic Building (underground), Jogiwara Road, Map #4 McLeod Ganj Phone: 9857011101

8 AUSPICIOUS HIM VIEW HOTEL

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 /09882320136 / Email: mahinder_m@ hotmail.com 20+ yrs’ experience: Swedish massage courses & treatment, Zen Shiatsu courses, treatment, reflexology treatment, SPA, Singing Bowl Treatment and many more!

To advertise here, Contact Lha office at Temple Road, McLeod Ganj Or Call on our number 9882323455 Price of advertisements depends on the size of your Ad Contact

TIBETAN OM MASSAGE THERAPY Bhagsu Road, Opp.Green Hotel Mcleod Ganj - Map #27 Email: kunsangdolma75@gmail / Mobile : 7018483961 / 9857999373

I) COURSES

• Thai Massage ( 90 minutes for 3 days - Rs 4500 ) • Traditional /Ayurvedic Acupressure (90 minutes for 3 days - Rs 4500 ) • Litho Us Therapy (60 minutes for 3 days - Rs 4000) • Deep Tissue (90 minutes for 2 days - Rs 3000) • Swedish Massage (90 minutes for 2 days - Rs 2000) • Foot Reflexology (90 minutes for 1 day - Rs 2000) • Back Massage (120 minutes for 1 day - Rs 2000) • Head Massage (90 minutes for 1 day - Rs 1500) • Chair Massage (90 minutes for 1 day - Rs 1500) • Yoga Classes (5 days course - Rs 1000)

II) MASSAGES

• Lithos Therapy ( 70 minutes - Rs 1600) • Thai Massage ( 60 minutes - Rs 1500) • Deep Tissue Massage ( 60 minutes - Rs 1300) • Compresss Therapy ( 60 minutes - Rs 1300 ) • Kerala Traditonal Massage ( 60 minutes - Rs 1000) • Swedish Massage (60 minutes - Rs 1000 / 90 minutes - Rs 1500) • Reflexology ( 30 minutes - Rs 600) • Chair Massage ( 30 minutes - Rs 600) • Baliness Back Massage ( 30 minutes - Rs 500) •Ayurvedic Head Massage ( 30 minutes - Rs 500)

20

OCTOBER 2017

advertisements

Contact

21

OCTOBER 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

27

26

Vipassana Centre

Naddi Village Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV)

15

Tushita Centre

McLEOD GANJ

22

MAIN SQUARE

3

Cantt Police Post

25 Main Bazaar

2

27

20

28

24

6

23

4

1

Lha

12

11

10

5

16

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. Smile Dental Clinice & Implant Center 26. Himalayan Yoga Retreat 27. Om Massage Centre 28. Chapri Handicrafts 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?

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 Email: perfect32dentalclinic@gmail.com /Call: 09218742046 Website: www.perfect32dentalclinic.in

To advertise here, Contact Lha office at Temple Road, McLeod Ganj

To advertise here, Contact Lha office at Temple Road, McLeod Ganj

Lhamo’s Croissant Vegetarian and Vegan Food

Bakery, Coffee shop, Gluten Free and Fresh seasonal juices and salads

Roof top terrace with stunning views

Bhagsu Road, just after Tibetan Settlement Office Map#15 Contact

22

OCTOBER 2017

advertisements

Smile Dental Clinic & Implant Center

Oppo. Walia Medical Store Near State Bank of India ATM, Mcleod Ganj. MOBILE NO: 7018354594 / 8629011445 Map#25 website: smiledentalclinicmcleodganj.com

Ocean of Harmony Programmes for Wellbeing For upcoming events, visit www.oceanofharmony.org Meditation Intensives For intensive trainings Meditation Therapies around the world (any country) Intensive Yoga Courses/Retreats contact: Shalu Patel Stress Management (experienced & qualified life Integrated Healing Therapies and wellness coach for Wellness Retreats international trainings)

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

To advertise here, Contact Lha office near Dolma Chowk, opposite State Bank of India, McLeod Ganj Contact numbers: 9882323455 01892-22092 Contact

23

OCTOBER 2017

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!

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