October 2022

Protest in Lhasa: First since 2008 Uprising

by Tenzin Samten

The residents of Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, took to the streets on October 26 to protest against the strict Covid lockdown imposed on the city for over two months, reports Radio Free Asia. Their sources said that the protestors warned the Chinese authorities of “setting off a fire” if lockdown restrictions are not lifted. RFA reports that it is the first known protest in Lhasa since the protests across Tibetan regions which took place in 2008 to mark Tibetan Uprising day; that protest was crushed by the Chinese military and police, killing hundreds of Tibetans in the process.

Continued on page 3

Six Tibetans Sentenced

by Tenzin Samten

Six Tibetans were sentenced to four to fourteen year prison terms by the Chinese authorities in September on varying charges of “instigating separatism” and “endangering state security”, reports the Tibet Times. The six are from the Serta region of eastern Tibet, they are author Gangkye Drupa Kyab; Seynam; Gangbu Yudrum; Samdup; Pema Rinchen and Gang Tsering Dolma. They have all been held incommunicado following their initial arrests over the last two years

Continued on page 4

for His Holiness

by Staff Reporter

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet was offered Tenshug, the long life prayer offering, by representatives of Tibetan Children’s Village School (TCV) global alumni and the North American Tibetan Association. The ceremony took place in Tsuglakhang, the main Tibetan temple in Dharamshala, on October 26. Over five thousand people gathered in the temple courtyard, including 700 TCV alumni and 150 members of the North American Tibetan Association, along with hundreds of current TCV school students.

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Contact is 25 years old! For 25 years we have brought you up to date news of what’s happening in Tibet, Tibetan issues, news of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and of life in Dharamshala.

In 25 years we have seen unprecedented change in the way we get our news and information and we have taken the decision that it is time for us to change.

Please turn to our editorial on page 2 to find out more.

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Time for Change! And

Contact we are immensely proud of what we

achieved

for 25 years. In that time we have embraced the change to bringing you news online, as it happens, alongside our printed monthly issues of Contact We have enjoyed sharing the stories of the people who make up the exile Tibetan community through our People stories and have loved the connections around the globe with our team of volunteer writers and all the people who contribute in so many ways.

So now, dear reader, we are saying goodbye in our present format. The news is all there for you online, the need for us to bring it all together in one place is no longer. This will be our final issue in this current format; for the next two months we will post news online in the form of our Headlines page only. Look out for our next printed issue, which will come out in December. It will be a bumper double issue celebrating the story of Contact and the people who have made it happenand that includes you, dear reader! Have you got a story to tell? Do you remember Contact in its early days? What have you liked best about Contact? Please email us at editor@ contactmagazine.net, before November 15, we will include as many as we can in the final issue and online. We can’t promise to include them all and, as always, we reserve the right to edit, but we hope to make this a space for you - so get writing! And do send a photo of yourself, and if you have any photos from the early days of Contact please do send them in, we would love to hear from you.

Protest in Lhasa: First since 2008 Uprising

Continued from page 1

This current protest has hit the global media, with the British BBC giving it full and prominent coverage, quoting Radio Free Asia and commenting under the headline China Covid: Videos emerge of rare protests in Tibet that “Wednesday’s protest is said to be the biggest the city has seen since an uprising in 2008 […] Chinese security forces were accused of using both brutal beatings and lethal force against protesters back then. In the wake of that incident, Tibet was closed to foreigners and tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers were sent to the region […] Rights groups say China continues to violate human rights, accusing Beijing of political and religious repression. Beijing denies any abuses.”

A video shared by RFA shows crowds of both Tibetan and Chinese people gathered in the streets, both the Tibetan and Chinese languages can be heard of the video, while

several officers in Covid-19 protection suits stood by. RFA have since reported that Han Chinese migrant workers are “streaming out” of Lhasa to escape the lockdown. Another of their sources revealed that Tibetans in Lhasa fear that the argument between civilians and the Chinese police could escalate into violence.

Based on the street signs and restaurant names visible in the video, RFA reports the locations of the demonstration were streets in the Chakrong area in Lhasa’s Chéngguān district in the eastern part of the city, and also in the Payi area of the city.

The Covid-19 lockdown was imposed in Lhasa and neighbouring regions in line with the Chinese government’s Zero-Covid policy; no preparation or policies were in place beforehand for handling the lockdown. The grievances of Tibetans living under lockdown conditions have been shared on various Chinese media platforms.

Covid-19 Restrictions: Two Arrested in Sershul

by Tenzin Samten

Rinchen Dhargye and his brother-in-law Namkha from Sershul County in Kham Kardze region in eastern Tibet were arrested by the Chinese police on October 10, reports the Tibet Times.

They were questioned about where they went and who they met; they said that they returned straight home after buying groceries and dining in a Chinese restaurant. The police accused them of not getting permission to go out, handcuffed them and forcibly took them to the county police station.

According to Tibet Times’ source, in the name of prevention of the spread of Covid-19, Tibetans in Sershul county region are restricted from travelling freely to nearby places, and outsiders have not been allowed into the area during the last two months. In the case of emergencies, local residents need to get permission from the authorities: anyone caught travelling without permission is accused of breaking state law and punished accordingly.

Following the arrests of Rinchen Dhargye and Namkha, their families were neither informed about their arrest nor allowed to meet them. They are from Sershul County’s Dharmar camp; Rinchen Dhargye lives with his two parents and his wife, Lhamo and three children. Namkha is his sister’s husband, they have a young baby.

Despite China’s attempts to implement their Zero-

Covid Policy, their failure to contain the spread of Covid-19 is evident from the number of cases of Covid among Tibetans in Lhasa, its neighbouring regions and other parts of Tibet, which have emerged since the beginning of August. These Tibetan regions were put under complete lockdown; the mismanagement of that lockdown by the authorities and the incompetency of their measures to cope with the public during lockdown have been subject to much protest by Tibetans living under this régime : they have turned to online platforms to spread the news of the situation. Failure to provide basic needs for those in quarantine centres, and inadequate medical facilities have been exposed through videos and other online posts – there have been reports of the arrests of Tibetans who have violated lockdown rules. The Chinese authorities have not issued an exact number of Tibetans who have died as a result of contracting Covid-19.

Six Tibetans Sentenced

Continued from page 1

according to Tibet Times’s source, Golog Jigme, a former political prisoner who lives in Switzerland following his escape from Tibet.

In September this year, Kardze [Ch:Ganzi] Intermediate People’s Court sentenced Gangkye Drupa Kyab to 14 years in prison; Seynam to six years, Gangbu Yudrum; seven years; Samdup eight years; Pema Rinchen four years and Tsering Dolma eight years.

“Due to the severe restriction and constant surveillance inside Tibet, details about these six Tibetans, [news of] their health condition and in which prison they are being held are difficult to find out,” said Golog Jigme.

Gangkye Drupa Kyab was arrested on March 23, 2021, again from his home, by Serta County police. He was earlier detained by the Serta County police on February 15, 2021, when he was working as a teacher in a private school founded by Khenpo Tsultrim Lodoe in Kham Drago. Nyakchu county people’s court sentenced him to five years on August 1, 2013, on the charge of advocating the Tibetan movement. Following his release on September 16, 2017, he was accused of touching his head to a photo of Rinpoche kept in Serta police station for 17 more days.

It is assumed that the main reason for his detention was that he has written several books and newsletters expressing the fate of Tibetan people and situation inside Tibet, and that he had formed a group opposing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). He was released from his five year prison sentence on the charge of political activism when his health deteriorated following torture in prison and poor food. He now suffers from multiple health conditions including heart issues, stroke, poor eyesight, forgetfulness, digestion and kidney problems.

Gangkyi Drupa Kyab was born on August 6, 1981 in Kham Kardze, his parents are : father Thupten Nyima and mother Wangthang Dolma. He and his wife Wangchuk Lhamo have two children, a 16 year old daughter Mewang Kyi and 14 year son, Gang Tsenpo. Samdup was arrested by the county police on April 5, 2021. He was earlier detained in June 2012 when Nyakchu County people’s court sentenced him to five years for being among those who formed a group opposing the Chinese Communist Party and for advocating the Tibetan movement.

He was released on August 19,

2016. He was arrested again on September 19 this year and remained in police custody for 17 days. Samdup was born in 1982 in Serta to his father, Soegyal and mother, Cheydhe.

Seynam, a writer and environmental activist, was also arrested on March 23, 2021. In September 2020, he was detained for 15 days along with ten other Tibetans for forming a Tibetan parents’ welfare association. His father’s name is Dungkar and mother’s Newu Tso. He and his wife have two daughters. Gangbu Yudrum was arrested on March 22, 2021. Yudrum has served prison time in the past: he was sentenced to three years for his participation in the 2008 Tibetan uprising against China’s rule, raising the Tibetan national flag, and in 2012 he served two years for campaigning for continued activism in Tibet. Yudrum is native of Serta County in Kham Kardze.

Tsering Dolma was arrested on April 2, 2021. She has served two previous prison sentences, in 2008 and 2012, for protesting against China’s rule and policies in Tibet. She was tortured in prison and as a result her health has been poor, and reportedly her mental health suffers as well. She was born in 1997 in Serta County in Kham Kardze to her parents, father Solo, and mother Tsokyi. She has two sons with her husband, Karma Wangchuk.

Pema Rinchen, a writer, was arrested in 2020 after writing his second book - apparently his arrest followed a discussion between his freinds about this book. In September this year, he was sentenced to four years after being kept incommunicado for over two years. In 2011, he published a book, following which he was arrested and then tortured during his interrogation about the book. Since then he has remained in poor health and lived under Chinese surveillance on his movements. Pema Rinchen is from Kham Kardze and lives with his mother and sister.

Tenshug: Long Life Prayers for His Holiness

The long life prayer ceremony was led by Ling Rinpoche in the presence of other lamas, including Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, Kirti Rinpoche, Ringu Tulku and Thomtog Rinpoche, the Abbot of Namgyal Monastery, together with other monks from Namgyal Monastery.

As the ceremony began, Ling Rinpoche recited the tribute and request to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Rinpoche started with a narration of His Holiness’s life story, highlighting the achievements and contributions His Holiness has made to both the history of Tibetan movement and across the world as a Dharma teacher.

Ling Rinpoche concluded by saying that His Holiness has dedicated his life to the welfare of all sentient beings, guided by the four commitments: promoting human values; encouraging inter-religious harmony; His Holiness’s role as Tibetan spokesperson, raising awareness to keep the Tibetan culture alive and to protect Tibet’s natural environment and, fourthly, to reviving interest in ancient Indian knowledge.

to live long. Your life is of utmost importance to Tibetans; it is indispensable to the benefit of all sentient beings. We pray you will continue to show concern for all sentient beings, especially the people of Tibet,” said Rinpoche.

Following the prayer ceremony, His Holiness addressed the gathering, acknowledging the wishes and prayers of those living inside Tibet and across the world by saying “Tibetans in exile, young and old, have offered this prayer for my long life. And although they are not physically here with us, they are joined by several million Tibetans in Tibet who show whole-hearted faith and regard for me. There may even have been people elsewhere around the world who have heard that this ceremony was taking place.”

Jetsun Pema, His Holiness’s sister, offering a white scarf to His Holiness Photo: OHHDL

His Holiness once again said that he will remain here for another two decades for the sake of Tibetans and the cause of Tibet.

“We cannot fully repay the kindness you have shown us Tibetans and sentient beings as a whole. However, as a token of our gratitude we are conducting this ceremony involving different kinds of offerings and fervent prayers to request you

His Holiness advised his devotees to develop bodhichitta – awakening of the mind with wisdom and compassion for all sentient beings saying, “I meditate on bodhichitta and emptiness every day as a result of which I feel at ease in my mind and I’m physically fit. Bodhichitta is my principal practice. It brings me inner strength, free from anxiety and fear. I urge all of you too to work hard to develop bodhichitta, confident that you’ve been blessed by Avalokiteshvara.”

by Tenzin Samten

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has recently concluded a threeday teaching on teaching on Chapter Two of Dharmakirti’s Commentary on Valid Cognition (Tsema Namdrel) in Tsuglagkhang, the main Tibetan temple in Dharamshala, the seat of his exile home. The teaching was at the request of a group of Taiwanese people.

During the teaching His Holiness sent a special message to the Tibetans living inside Tibet who have been facing Covid lockdowns since August. Reports of the inhumane treatment of Tibetans living under this policy have surfaced on various online platforms, with videos and photos of the conditions – despite the Chinese authorities’ attempt to suppress this information by punishing those who share what is happening.

The following is His Holiness’s full message, as published on the International Campaign for Tibet’s website:

Currently, it is reported that Tibetans inside Tibet are facing severe restrictions as a result of the coronavirus pandemic’s spreading in Tibet. The public is facing great difficulties. To

some extent, the Tibet-China struggle is linked to the Buddha’s teaching. The Chinese can never change the mindset and behaviour of the Tibetan people, which are rooted in their religion and culture. Rather, the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and its associated culture will gradually spread further and further into China itself.

You do not need to feel disheartened when faced with temporary difficulties. We Tibetans have a unique karmic connection with Avalokiteshvara, who is our guardian deity. Therefore, you should pray to the three enlightened deities in Lhasa: Jowo Lokeshvara, Jowo Shakyamuni and Jowo Akshobyavajra.

Although you are physically distant from me, since we have an uncommon connection based on our karma and prayers, you can think of me, Gyalwa Rinpoche, the Dalai Lama.

What is most important is that you should feel at ease and trust that the truth will eventually prevail.

As for myself, I am now 87 years old and in good health. My doctors have assured me after examining me that I will live for another 15 to 20 years. So, you Tibetans in Tibet, please feel at ease and be happy.

“Do not feel disheartened,” says His Holiness to Tibetans inside Tibet

Campaigning for Justice

by Mary Trewartha

A campaign for the release of Dorjee Tashi, the Tibetan businessman currently serving a life sentence for “loan fraud”, has been launched by his family. Once considered the richest man in Tibet, Dorjee Tashi was arrested in July 2008 in the wake of the mass Tibetan protests that took place that spring, and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment in 2010. His conviction for “loan fraud” came after attempts to frame him as a “secessionist” failed.

His family initially hoped to secure his release by maintaining a low profile and have persevered for over ten years through China’s judicial mechanisms; they have now launched an open advocacy campaign for justice for him.

The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) reports that in an open letter to the authorities published by the Rights Network Group last month, Dorjee Tseten, Dorjee Tashi’s older brother, argues that powerful leaders have distorted facts under the pretext of politics to frame his younger brother. Dorjee Tashi’s elder sister, Gonpo Kyi, staged sit-ins in front of the People’s Court in Lhasa in June this year, demanding justice for her brother.

The United States and the European Union have raised concerns about his detention. In its statement during the recently concluded 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, the European Union called for his immediate and unconditional release, among others. The United States recognised the detention of Dorjee Tashi in its 2021 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

Dorjee Tashi’s family have pinpointed the network of corrupt authorities who framed him, tortured him and misused the judicial system to falsely convict him, but to no avail despite Chinese President Xi Jinping’s public recognition of corruption as a “deep-seated problem” and his stated intention to “come down hard on corruption”.

Dorjee Tashi was a successful businessman and member of the Chinese Communist Party with a chain of luxury hotels to his name and real estate companies in Tibet. He was a philanthropist, praised by the government of his prefecture and the Shigatse [Ch:Rikaze] Communist Youth League for his social welfare projects and outstanding contribution to poverty alleviation and economic development in Tibet. He received multiple awards, including from the Chinese Communist Party and the government of the Tibet Autonomous Region, for his business and philanthropy. His social welfare undertakings

included helping and providing cash donations to the widowed, the elderly and the children of poor workers, and mobilising funds and volunteers during earthquakes and floods in Shigatse.

However, he did not comply with requests for favours from corrupt government leaders who then framed him as a “secessionist” for his alleged covert support to Tibetans protesting in the 2008 uprising. He denied any political involvement, even as he was being tortured, the political allegations were dropped and he was charged with “loan fraud”. Human rights lawyers in Beijing were barred from pursuing his case.

Dorjee Tashi’s brother Dorjee Tseten has named the corrupt leaders who framed Dorjee as Norbu Dhondup, former president of the Tibet Autonomous Region Higher People’s Court; Yang Guangming, former deputy director of the TAR Public Security Department and Dorjee, former deputy director of the Shigatse Public Security Bureau.

Dorjee’s sister Gontey has held peaceful sit-in protests in front of the People’s Court in Lhasa, in her video statement she said that her brother is innocent and that their loan had been paid back in full, with interest, and narrating the history of their appeals and statements made on Dorjee’s behalf, and the authorities’ failure to act.

While in prison, Dorjee Tashi has been subject to years of torture. The International Campaign for Tibet has published his testimony which documents beatings with electric batons, being cuffed to an iron bar and hung in the air, simulation of suffocation, pouring hot chilli fluid through his nostrils and sleep deprivation, leaving him in poor health. The testimony identifies individuals directly responsible for carrying out acts of torture and corresponds to other reports on the use of torture in Tibet and to findings of independent international human rights experts. Last year the ICT called on the international community, governments and United Nations human rights experts to urgently raise Dorjee Tashi’s case with the government of China, saying his life is in imminent danger while he is serving a sentence that has been handed down in an unfair trial with credible reports of torture and ill-treatment. “Dorjee Tashi is a victim of the lawlessness in Tibet where merely standing out is enough to get a Tibetan persecuted. That is unacceptable.”

UK Parliamentary Support for Tibet

by Mary Trewartha

As His Holiness the Dalai Lama congratulates Rishi Sunak, the new British Prime Minister, we are reminded of the importance of maintaining friendly relations with the leaders of countries who can lend their support to the Tibetan cause. Tibet has been spotlighted in the United Kingdom Parliament a number of times this month, some as a result of the beating of a peaceful protestor outside the Chinese Consulate in Manchester, others by supportive Members of Parliament, focusing minds on Tibet and bringing the issue to the attention of the world.

Navenda Mishra MP and Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet asked, on October 21, “The scenes at the Chinese consulate in Manchester earlier this week were deeply disturbing and the Government response has been weak and entirely unacceptable.

Can the Minister outline what tangible steps have been taken to protect the Hong Kong community, Tibetans and Uyghurs from intimidation, threats and actual use of violence from the Chinese state on UK soil—tangible steps?”

Tim Loughton MP and Co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet, on October 21 said, “The consul general seems to have forgotten that he was in Manchester, where we allow free speech, rather than Lhasa, Hong Kong or Xinjiang, where peaceful demonstration is routinely met by violence from the authorities. … it requires strong action now. That involves chucking out some of these people and posting additional police outside every Chinese Government establishment in this country to make sure that no more peaceful demonstrators are attacked in this way. Many Uyghur and Tibetans families already feel intimidated; now they can be dragged into Chinese premises and beaten up, or worse”.

Lord David Alton of Liverpool, speaking in the House of Lords on October 18, “It is about the importation of CCP [Chinese Communist Party] brutality, which has so disfigured the lives of the

peoples of Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Tibet and Taiwan, and Chinese citizens who have dared to question the tyranny of the one-party state. It is also about the contagious spread of CCP cadres, whether they are intimidating students on our campuses and subverting institutions and even, as our intelligence agency has pointed out, CCP spies working in the precincts of our Parliament.”

Alicia Kearns MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, on October 18, “We have seen continued persecution of the Uyghur, Tibetans, Hong Kongers and all those who come to our country to seek refuge. What took place on Sunday [ie, the Manchester incident] suggests they cannot seek refuge here and have their voices heard, and our job is to make sure their voices are not silenced.”

Iain Duncan Smith MP, on October 11, “It is time we stopped messing around and recognised that China poses a threat to the way we live our lives, and it is time now to treat them in the same way we treat Russia.”

Fiona Bruce MP, the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, on October 4, speaking at the event Human Rights Implications of the Dalai Lama’s Succession organised by the United States Mission to the United Nations in Geneva, “I want to reiterate the UK’s commitment to working with the United States and with our other international partners to do everything we can to promote and protect the rights of Tibetans. Only by working together will we be able to pressure China to change course and uphold its obligations. I know that we are united in our shared commitment to end the human rights violations currently occurring in Tibet and to stand up for those whose rights there are so unjustly violated, including the right to freedom of religion or belief.”

The annual Conservative Party conference held in Birmingham included a discussion on Tibet - the first time ever that a talk on Tibet has been included in a UK political party conference. A fringe event Why Tibet Matters – An Unresolved Conflict was held; three speakers spoke on Tibet’s relevance to the government and people of the UK, to an audience of MPs, legislators, researchers and activists.

Parliamentary Delegation to Europe

by Phurbu Lhamo

Sikyong Penpa Tsering, President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), led a delegation of members of the Tibetan Parliament to Germany, Belgium and Sweden where they visited Tibetan communities and supporters of the Tibetan movement. Sikyong addressed all the Tibetan communities in the regions he visited. During this two week official trip, Sikyong met key members of the Freidrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, a non-profit German foundation for liberalism who organised the visit, The delegation arrived in Germany, their first port of call, on October 9, where they met members of the German Parliament, including Dr Wolfgang Heubisch, Vice President of the Bavarain State Parliament and former Minister for Culture and Media in Munich. They also met representatives of the Young Liberals, Germany’s largest liberal youth organisation and the young wing of the nations’ Free Democratic Party (FDP) located in Berlin, briefing all on the current critical situation inside Tibet. While there, they had the opportunity to observe the parliamentary proceeding of the Hessen parliament.

Moving on to Brussels, the delegation met Members of the European Parliament, including Mr Alessandro Chiocchetti, Head of the Cabinet, and the President of the European Parliament, along with members of the Tibetan Interest Group in the European Union. Sikyong requested the European Parliament to support Tibet by inviting His Holiness the Dalai Lama to visit the European Parliament in the near future.

The delegation was interviewed by the Brussels daily La Libre Belgique, they focussed the interview on the repression of Tibetans under China’s Zero-Covid policy, the mass collection of the DNA of the Tibetan population and the colonial style boarding schools in Tibet which children are forced to attend and to be subjected to indoctrination of Chinese culture, as well as the violation of freedom of religion.

Sweden was the next location where they met Swedish Members of Parliament: MP Margareta Cerdefelt promised to re-establish a Tibet support group in Sweden. The delegation then met the Swedish Tibet Committee, local young Tibetans and other members of the Tibetan Community in Sweden.

TCV Celebrates

by Staff Reporter

Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) School, Upper Dharamshala celebrated its 62nd anniversary on October 23, with hundreds of faculty members, alumni and public gathered. The anniversary celebration, which included performances of cultural dances by the students and various exhibitions, was attended by government and nongovernment officials and community leaders including Speaker Khenpo

Sonam Tenphel, Justice Commissioners

Kyabje Yongzin Ling Choktrul Rinpoche and Jetsun Pema, sister of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Sikyong Penpa Tsering, President of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, opened the event, acknowledging the long sighted vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in setting up separate schools for Tibetans on his arrival in India in 1959, and the support he received from the Indian government. He went on to highlight the importance of the Tibetan language and early history which, he said, will be beneficial for people in the future who are working towards advocating for the Tibetan cause against the Chinese narrative on Tibet. He spoke of

the Chinese government’s policy of sinicisation through their colonial-style boarding schools system which is depriving Tibetan children of learning about their culture and their past. He emphasised the importance of education in Tibetan language and culture for Tibetans living in exile and who are migrating to western countries where there is no opportunity to use the Tibetan language.

Jetsun Pema, also known as Ama Jetsun Pema, who was President of TCV for over 42 years and one of its founder members, spoke, crediting the success of TCV schools to the combined effort of all the staff. She said,“When I look at the progress we have achieved with the school, I am filled with a sense of gratitude and satisfaction”. She appealed for TCV alumuni to come forward and support the school fund which is raised for the welfare of its children.

During the event a Tibetan translation of her biography Tibet : My Story was launched in honour and gratitude for Jetsun Pema’s contribution. In the evening, the documentary film Ama la [meaning ‘mother’], directed by Gelek Passang, himself a former TCV student, was premiered.

CTA delegation with German Parliamentarians Michael Brand and Klaus-Peter Willsch Photo : CTA

Conversations with His Holiness: Mind & Life

by Tenzin Samten

Members of the Mind and Life Institute gathered in Dharamshala, the residence of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, from October 12 to 13 to meet His Holiness and to partake in discussions with him as part of their programme Meeting with Mind & Life – Interdependence, Ethics and Social Networks

On the first day, His Holiness was welcomed by the Institute’s President Susan Bauer-Wu who said, “We, your friends at Mind & Life, are happy to be here. It’s been three years since we saw you in person, and it’s so good to see you looking so well. This event comes about as a result of the efforts of the Mind & Life Institute and Mind & Life Europe. It’s been 35 years since the first Mind & Life dialogue took place. We’re so happy to be back.”

Addressing the gathering, His Holiness said that mind and life dialogues are important, considering the great deal of attention being paid to material and physical things as compared to the mind and mental experiences.

“Many of the conflicts we see in the world are about physical things, material resources and power.

scholars over the last 35 years. Our meetings have had great impact. Please live long and in good health.”

During the two-day event, speakers from various research backgrounds, including an anthropologist, a psychologist, a philosopher of mind and cognitive science and a cognitive scientist researching human behaviour, presented their work and led the discussion in the presence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

His Holiness stressed the importance of including kindness and developing warm-heartedness in education systems, adding, “it’s to do with drawbacks in our education and our tendency towards thinking in materialistic terms. We must train students to see warmheartedness as positive and of benefit. This is the real key to happiness and inner strength.”

When the moderator asked His Holiness what we can teach that will promote a more global culture, His Holiness answered with a verse from Shantideva’s Entering the Way of a Bodhisattva: “All those who suffer in the world do so because of their desire for their own happiness. All those happy in the world are so because of their desire for the happiness of others.” 8/129

Photo: OHHDL

Therefore, we need to look at what went on in the past and learn from it so that we can construct a future based on peace, happiness and togetherness,” said His Holiness.

His Holiness stressed that the root of peace is compassion and warm-heartedness, without which humans will not survive, citing the importance of a mother’s compassion for the survival of any child. He continued, “It seems to me we neglect something in our education. Experience shows us that the more compassionate we are, the more we achieve inner peace and with it, inner strength. Although in our lives we depend on so many other people, there’s little place for such human values in modern education.”

Dr Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist and board member of the Mind & Life Institute, thanked His Holiness for his participation and support saying, “I speak on behalf of all my colleagues here in thanking you, Your Holiness, for your dedication to meeting us scientists and

When Dr Richard Davidson asked His Holiness “what can we do to help the average person to train their minds?” His Holiness replied, “We have to let people know that warm-heartedness is the source of peace of mind, of inner peace, inner strength and self-confidence. I rely on your efforts to share this with others”.

On day two, His Holiness started the conversation, which continued through the day, by saying, “Scientists haven’t investigated consciousness very deeply. They tend to think of the mind in relation to the brain, and yet the mind is something other than that. The mind is not a product of the brain. It is its own entity. Today’s mind is a continuation of yesterday’s mind. The mind is something worth finding out more about.”

According to their website, Mind & Life Conversations convene key thought leaders — prominent scholars, contemplatives and changemakers — to engage in intimate, one- to two-hour discussions designed to bridge contemplation, research and action.

Chinese Communist Party Congress: Bleak News for Tibet?

by Mary Trewartha

Tibetans living in Tibet live under the rule of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping, whose policies over the last ten years have systematically eroded their human rights and seen the loss of their traditional lifestyles, and of their livelihoods that have enabled them to live sustainably and in harmony with nature for centuries.

This month has seen the 20th National Congress of the CCP in Beijing – this is where the decisions are made that will affect the lives of Tibetans in Tibet. The Congress is a party congress held every five years and is, in theory, the highest body within the CCP, appointing top-level leadership changes as well as changes to the Party’s Constitution. It is expected that President Xi Jinping will win a third term of leadership. At this year’s Congress 2,296 delegates represented the CCP’s 96.7 million members – of those 2,296, 38 people, or 1.6% represented Tibet – which accounts for a quarter of China’s landmass.

At the Congress, reports the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT), no new policy guidelines were introduced and Xi Jinping made clear his priorities and intensification of the existing policies saying, “From this day forward, the central task of the Communist Party of China will be to lead the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in a concerted effort to realise the Second Centenary Goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects and to advance the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernisation.” Tibetans are an “ethnic minority” and will therefore undergo intensified and accelerated assimilation and heavy ideological indoctrination during Xi’s indefinite rule, says ICT.

Chinese state media outlet chinadaily.com wrote, “Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee said the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China is a meeting of great importance. It takes place at a critical time as the entire Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups embark on a new journey to build China into a modern socialist country in all respects and advance toward the Second Centenary Goal” continued, saying that the theme of the Congress is: “holding high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics; fully implementing the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; carrying forward the great founding spirit of the Party; staying confident and building strength; upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground; forging ahead with enterprise and fortitude and striving in unity to build a modern socialist country in all respects and advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts”.

The Congress

Here, decisions are made that directly affect the lives of Tibetans living under the CCP’s regime in Tibet, as well as the other ethnic minority groups who suffer under CCP rule – the Uyghurs in East Turkestan [Ch: Xinjiang] and the people of Hong Kong and Southern Mongolia. The Congress attracts global media attention. The Washington Post wrote, “Characterised by pomp, pageantry and paranoia, the event is often more about optics — a time for the Chinese leadership to impress upon the public the legitimacy of the CCP’s rule […] No effort has been spared to ensure the smooth execution of a crucial Chinese Communist Party congress this week where Xi Jinping is expected to extend his tenure as his country’s most powerful leader in decades.”

Xi Jinping: a Third Term?

There is worldwide concern at the prospect of Xi Jinping securing a third tenure of office, Human Rights Watch (HRW) senior China researcher Yaqiu Wang, speaking on behalf of HRW, said, “President Xi’s precedent-breaking third term bodes ill for human rights in China and around the world. As the space for civil society activism further shrinks in China, it is imperative for the international community to take consequential actions to constrain Xi’s abuses.” HRW’s statement continues, “In the ten years since Xi came to power in late 2012, the authorities have decimated Chinese civil society, imprisoned numerous government critics, severely restricted freedom of speech, and deployed mass surveillance technology to monitor and control citizens. The authorities’ cultural persecution, arbitrary detention of a million Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims, and other abuses since 2017 amount to crimes against humanity.”

Reuters says, “In his decade in power, Xi has set China on an increasingly authoritarian path that has prioritised security, state control of the economy in the name of ‘common prosperity’, a more assertive diplomacy, a stronger military and intensifying pressure to seize democratically governed Taiwan […] Analysts generally do not expect significant change in policy direction in a third Xi term”, and, “China’s relations with the West have deteriorated sharply, worsened by Xi’s support of Russia’s Vladimir Putin”.

In Tibet…

The Congress is affecting the daily lives of people living in Tibet: in June, reports ICT, “China’s Ministry of Security launched a 100-day crackdown labelled ‘Hundred Days Action’ targeting illegal activities […] the

Chinese Communist Party Congress: Bleak News for Tibet?

crackdown has evolved into a campaign […] enforcing ‘stability’ in the lead-up to the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party […] In Tibet, in the runup to the 20th National Congress, several apparently politically motivated arrests have been reported in the past months […] several Tibetans were reportedly arrested for possessing photos of the Dalai Lama or sharing information with contacts abroad.”

In Lhasa, Tibetans were ordered to stay home and watch China’s 20th Communist Party Congress on their televisions, reports Radio Free Asia, citing local sources. Many monasteries and schools across Tibet were also instructed to watch the Congress. There is speculation that this was to prevent Tibetans from protesting against China’s rule during this time.

Global Protests

Protests around the world, timed to coincide with the Congress, have demonstrated the power of the concern that people have about China. In Beijing, in an almost unprecedented act of protest and bravery, a protester lit a fire and draped two large banners over the Sitong bridge in the Haidian district calling for an end to China’s ZeroCovid policy and for the overthrow of Xi Jinping – the banners were removed by the authorities immediately but footage of the demonstration spread online and has been reported around the world. The British BBC said, “A rare and dramatic protest in Beijing that criticised

We want a vote, not a leader. We want freedom, not lockdowns. We want respect, not lies. We want to be citizens, not slaves.”

The BBC also reported that a “manifesto” calling for strikes and acts of disobedience had been posted on popular research site ResearchGate, calling to stop “the

President Xi Jinping has sparked an online hunt for the mystery protester’s identity, as well as praise for the action”. Protesters in China know they will be arrested and imprisoned.

In London, UK, activists led by Free Tibet have hung a banner at Westminster Bridge identical to the one hung in Beijing, to show solidarity with the Chinese protester – who was detained at the scene, and whose whereabouts are not known. Both banners translate as “We want food, not PCR tests. We want reform, not a Cultural Revolution.

dictator Xi Jinping from illegally continuing in office, so that China can embark on the road to democracy and freedom”.

In the United Kingdom a peaceful demonstration outside the Chinese Consulate in Manchester saw Ben Chen, a Hong Konger, dragged by Chinese personnel into the Consulate compound and beaten. Footage is circulating on social media; he was left with injuries requiring hospital treatment. The BBC again, quoting Ben Chen, “I then found myself being dragged into the grounds of the consulate. I held on to the gates where I was kicked and punched, I could not hold on for long”; the incident only stopped when police intervened.

In the United States the CCP Congress has prompted two Congressmen to publish a statement in The Diplomat under the title US Policy on Tibet Has Lost its Way. We Want to Change That and drawing attention to the new Bill Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Conflict Act. Dharamshala Protest

The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), the largest Tibetan non-government organisation, held a demonstration to protest against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s illegal occupation of Tibet. “Over the last ten years, repressions in Tibet intensified with Tibetans subjected to extensive restrictions and hardships”, said TYC President Gonpo Dhondup.

Protest in London Photo : Free Tibet

Protest in Beijing

TibeTaN HeadliNes

Oct 31: Paying Online

Tibetans living in North America can now pay their Chatrel, or contributions to the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, online and everyone is urged to use this new facility which has been made available following requests from Tibetans in America. It has been set up following a pilot scheme; an app can be downloaded, users can link their Gmail account to their Green Book ID, and payments are made via PayPal.

Oct 28: Sakya Celebrates

Sakya College held an event to celebrate its 50th anniversary; Sakya is a Buddhist institute in Rajpur, giving special emphasis to the commentarial and scholastic traditions of the Sakya School of Tibetan Buddhism. Sikyong Pena Tsering, who was the special guest, said, “through dedicated efforts made by HH the Dalai Lama, Kyabgon Gongma Trichen Dorje Chang and other heads of Tibetan Buddhist lineages, Tibetan Buddhism had been revived in India.”

Oct 28: Tibetan Nomads Exhibition

A temporary exhibition Tibetan Nomads: Speaking Through Donors Memories has been launched at the Tibet Museum in Dharmshala, in association with Tibetans Children’s Village Ladakh. 26 nomad children from Ladakh gave a presentation of nomadic culture and lifestyle. The exhibition aims to promote understanding of Tibetan nomadic culture and the crisis currently faced by the nomads living under China’s development policies which are exploiting their homeland.

Oct 25: Chinese Spy?

A Chinese woman called Cai Ruo who has been living as a Tibetan nun in Majnu-ka-Tilla in Delhi under the name of Dolma Lama, and claiming to be Nepalese, has been arrested on suspicion of being a Chinese spy, reports the Tibet Express. She is reported to have claimed that she had received death threats from Chinese Communist Party leaders.

Oct 24: Launch of Guidebook

The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has launched a guidebook in Tibetan, United Nations Human Rights Mechanisms. The guidebook aims to facilitate the work of Tibetan advocates, human rights activists and academics, and to be a reference point and

information source for Tibetans generally, and contains a section on China. The guidebook was launched to mark United Nations Day.

Oct 24: New Study Opportunities

The Sera Jey Monastic University for Advanced Buddhist Studies and Practice in Bylakuppe town, Mysore in Karnataka state, is to offer BA Honours programmes in addition to its traditional Geshe degree programmes. The BA Honours programmes in Ancient Tibetan Language, Ancient Philosophy and Ancient Psychology have been awarded recognition and approval by the University of Mysore. There are currently around 3,500 monks at Sera Jey Monastery in Bylakuppe.

Oct 21: Boost for Sweater Sellers

Tibetans in Jaipur in Rajasthan have been offered a permanent market and self-financed housing to enable them to keep their businesses going through the year. Tibetans traditionally sell sweaters in Jaipur through the winter, in recent years they have faced problems with lack of space. The Tibetans have expressed gratitude; they will be allotted housing along with 266 shops in the permanent market.

Oct 18: Eco-Tales Award

The Snow Leopard’s New Friend : Eco-Tales from Tibet, a new book, has been awarded in the 2022 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards, in the environmental issues category. The book was written by Michael Buckley, a Canadian author, and illustrated by Tenzin Choekyi, a Thangka painter from Shillong, India. Michael Buckley is the author of Meltdown in Tibet, which highlights the environmental destruction faced by Tibet and its effect on climate change.

Oct 18: Cycle Protest Concludes

Tibetan-Canadian activist Sangyal Kyap has arrived at the Chinese Consulate in Toronto, Ontario to complete his “Bicycle rally for Free Tibet across Canada” where he was welcomed by Tibetans and supporters, reports the Tibet Express. The veteran Tibet campaigner’s two month bike ride covered over 5,000 kilometres across ten Canadian provinces and three territories. He is calling on Canadians and the “international community” to support the Tibetan cause.

Oct 17: HR Prize

The first Snow Lion human rights prize, launched by the International Campaign for Tibet, was awarded to anthropologist and China researcher Adrian Zenz and to the Tibet Film Festival at the Berlin Environmental Forum. The 3,000 Euro (US$2,900 / £2,600) prize honours individuals or organisations for their courage and special achievements in politics, society and culture in relation to Tibet and China, East Turkestan, southern Mongolia, Hong Kong or Taiwan.

Oct 14: Out of Bounds

Half of the Tibet Autonomous Region is now deemed to be off-limit for Tibetans, reports the Tibetan Review, citing chinadaily.com.cn’s report that the area is listed for “ecological protection”; a “red line” which cannot be crossed has been imposed, in order to protect “important ecological functions”. These functions include the relocation of hundreds of thousands of Tibetan nomads who have lived sustainably on these areas for generations.

Oct 13: Rodent Plague

Two Tibetans are reported to have died in Tibet from a pneumonic plague which is spread by rats and mice, reports Radio Free Asia, who say that the authorities have imposed a local lockdown. The two, who died last month, lived in Lhoka city, Tsona [Ch: Cuona] county, but have not been publicly identified and RFA’s local source says that people are “not allowed to discuss it”.

Oct 13: Petitioning G7

A petition asking G7 leaders to demand that China end its policy of sending Tibetan children to boarding schools where they are indoctrinated in Chinese culture, and the closure of Tibetan-medium schools, has been launched by the International Tibet Network and National Democratic Party of Tibet. The petition will be presented in Germany next month. The G7 countries are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Oct 12: Tibet Film Festival

The annual Tibet Film Festival was held simultaneously in Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala and in Zurich, Switzerland: it is dedicated to Tibetan filmmakers. The festival showcases films produced or directed by Tibetans. “One of the unique features of Tibet Film Festival is the short film competition segment, initiated in 2010, that has had a tremendous response from young Tibetan filmmakers across the world,” said the organisers.

Oct 12: Racist Storm

A Chinese woman posted anti-Tibetan racist comments in a social media post saying “All the Tibetans in Lhasa should be wiped out! All Tibetans should be wiped out — leaving us Han Chinese to occupy this place!”, reports the International Campaign for Tibet. Following a storm of protest from Tibetans the woman, named Liu, was arrested and later apologised to “the government and the general public” - but not directly to Tibetans.

Oct 12: Tibetan-Chinese Meeting

A meeting between United States based Chinese researchers and the Chinese Liaison Office of Washington’s Office of

TibeTaN

Tibet was held to discuss strengthening collaborations and plan future activities. Tibetan Representative Namgyal appealed for support from Citizen Power Initiatives for China, who were present at the meeting, in building communication between the Chinese and Tibetans.

Oct 10: Campaign of Repression

Uzra Zeya, the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan issues, said that Tibet now faces a “critical moment” for the survival of its distinct heritage as China’s policies in the region threaten Tibet’s national identity, and accused China of a “campaign of repression against the Tibetan community”. She was speaking at a side event at the United Nations Human Rights Council held this week in Geneva, Switzerland, reports Radio Free Asia

Oct 10: TYC Celebrates

The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) celebrated its 52nd anniversary by hosting the finale of the 20th Martyrs Memorial Basketball Tournament in Dharamshala. The tournament is held to express solidarity with Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives in protest against Chinese rule in their country, and to promote the importance of good health in the exile Tibetan community. The TYC is the largest Tibetan non-government organisation supporting complete independence for Tibet.

Oct 4: 50 Years in Service

Delek Hospital, the only Tibetan hospital based in Dharamshala, marked its 50th anniversary in an official function which was presided over by Sikyong (President) Penpa Tsering and other officials of the Tibetan Governmentin-Exile. The anniversary honours Dr Tsetan Dorji, personal physician to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Delek hospital’s Chief Medical Officer for 40 years, along with four members of staff who have completed 20 years of service.

Oct 3: Protest Against China

People gathered across the world’s cities to protest against China’s ongoing persecution of ethnic minorities and dissidents as they celebrated their National Day on October 1. Hong Kongers, Tibetans and Uyghurs organised over 15 protests in UK cities to mark China’s National Day, reports RFA. In London, demonstrators marched from Piccadilly Circus to the Chinese embassy carrying placards and chanting slogans such as “China lied! People died! Shame on the CCP!”

“Whatever I Am Right Now Is All Because Of Her”

by Tenzin Pel-Lha

When Kalsang Tseten was growing up in the Tibetan Children’s Village (TCV) school system, there was a particular highlight he looked forward to every few weeks: a visit from his beloved aunt Tenzin Sonam, a nun who lives in Dharamshala. After arriving in India from Tibet in 1997, he recalls her presence and financial support as crucial to overcoming the challenges he faced.

“Everything I became in life is thanks to her,” he says, reiterating how profoundly Tenzin Sonam has affected him and how happy their visits made him. “She believed in me when others did not.”

Reflecting on his relationship with his aunt, his mother’s younger sister, Kalsang has a deep sense of respect and gratitude. This closeness compelled him to convince Tenzin Sonam to apply for a visa to Australia, where he plans to emigrate with his wife and daughter as soon as their paperwork—delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic—is processed. Initially, even though she was eligible, Tenzin Sonam refused to go; she was set on remaining in McLeod Ganj to be near His Holiness the Dalai Lama, her guru. Finally, after Kalsang explained that he wanted to care for her as she did for him, she agreed to apply.

Emigrating to Australia, which welcomes several hundred Tibetan refugees annually, came about as a privilege granted to select families of former notable political prisoners. Due to his father’s sacrifices, Kalsang and his family were granted this opportunity, which entitles them to permanent residency upon arrival and support for their basic needs. Kalsang also had to make an effort to persuade his wife’s parents to give their blessing for her departure.

Now, even with the coronavirus delay, he’s eagerly anticipating his daughter’s Australian accent. He is determined to help maintain her Tibetan identity; he’s discouraged by youngsters who lose touch with their cultural heritage. To establish strong cultural ties, Kalsang plans to settle his family in a Tibetan community in

Australia.

The idea of community is one that Kalsang, and his wife, are familiar with. When they met in Tawang, a town in Arunachal Pradesh – the far northeastern Indian state – two hours from the Tibet border, they were both teaching at a community-based grade school, Jhamtse Gatsel Children’s Community. “The staff did everything together,” he said, reflecting on his first job after earning his Bachelor’s degree in education at Himachal College of Education in Shimla. “Aside from pay, what you get is being part of a community.” He recalls that with no internet at the school, even activities like watching a movie would bring the community together.

This community closeness is what helped foster his relationship with his wife Gombu Lhamu, who is a Monpa local from Tawang. He explains the many similarities between Tibetan and Monpa people, such as food and dress. The town was historically part of Tibet and shares many contemporary traditions; Monpa is a major tribe of Arunachal Pradesh and is believed to be the only nomadic tribe in Northeast India.“When I proposed to her, she said:‘Are you serious?’” he reflects, laughing about her response, appreciating her clarity. “If you are serious, I will think about it; otherwise, there is no point in wasting time.”

While Kalsang and his family await their Australia paperwork, he is volunteer, teaching English for beginners, mostly to young Tibetans, at Lha Charitable Trust in McLeod Ganj from 2-3pm on Monday through to Friday.

“I wanted to be a teacher since my childhood,” Kalsang says, reflecting on his transition from studying journalism as an undergraduate in Chennai—rebellious years during which he grew his hair long—to a Master’s degree from Madras Christian College in political science. “I didn’t have a good teacher who inspired me, so I wanted to be a teacher who could bring changes into students’ lives.”

Now, six years into his teaching career, Kalsang can tell from his students’ faces when it’s a “good class”; he can sense them lighting up from learning and it brings him a sense of purpose. His expression each time he talks about teaching, his wife and daughter, and his aunt are all similar: joyful. Each of them evokes in him a sense of gratitude, particularly Tenzin Sonam, who he considers a mother figure.

“She did everything she could possibly do to keep me encouraged to succeed,” he reflects. “Whatever I am right now is all because of her.”

Kalsang with his aunt Tenzin Sonam

Kalsang’s family

News: tibet.net - official website of the Central Tibetan Administration in exile phayul.com - Phayul is published in Dharamshala, has opinion, reviews, photos, etc contactmagazine.net - Contact magazine online news rfa.org/english/news/tibet - Radio Free Asia’s mission is to provide accurate and timely news and information to Asian countries whose governments prohibit access to a free press thetibetpost.com - Tibet Post International online news tibetexpress.net - Tibet Express online news guardian.co.uk/world/tibet - the UK Guardian newspaper’s Tibet pages scmp.com/news/china - the South China Morning Post – one of the more independent news sources in China tibetanreview.net - Tibetan Review online news News, information and campaigning: dalailama.com - for broadcasts of His Holiness’s teachings, his schedule and information about Tibet and the Dalai Lama tchrd.org - Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy - a non-governmental organisation and a research centre to protect the human rights of Tibetan people and promote the principles of democracy tibetanyouthcongress.org - an international non-governmental organisation that advocates full independence for Tibet from China studentsforafreetibet.org - a global grassroots group campaigning for full Tibetan independence freetibet.org - UK-based campaigning organisation, also a good news source tibetwatch.org - Tibet Watch works with Free Tibet to promote the human rights of the Tibetan people through monitoring, research and advocacy. savetibet.org - Website of the International Campaign for Tibet and a good resource for news, campaigns, fundraising and projects tibetnetwork.org/home - a coalition of more than 190 Tibet organisations dedicated to campaigning to end human rights violations in Tibet and restoring rights to the Tibetan people tibetanjournal.com - Tibetan Journal - news, reviews and opinions rukor.org - a discussion site on Tibetan nomads and their fate bitterwinter.org - A magazine on religious liberty and human rights in China www.facebook.com/tsundue - Tenzin Tsundue’s website for up to date information on activists’ campaigns, demonstrations and activities

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.

Lha Charitable

Lha’s