Tibetan Democracy: Setting the Scene
By Erin McKissick / August 6, 2015
Key Vocabulary Terms: Central Tibetan Administration (CTA):The official title for the government-in-exile, based in Dharamshala, India. Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE):Formerly known as the CTPD or ATPD, this is the 44-member Parliament that is the highest legislative branch of the CTA. Speaker and Deputy Speaker:Formerly known as the Chairman and Vice Chairman, read more →
Olympic Bids Put Spotlight on Increasing Human Rights Abuses
By Abinaya Dhivya Mohan / August 1, 2015
The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision on July 31 to award Beijing the 2022 Winter Olympics has sparked international concern in the face of China’s record of human rights abuse, and fears that their decision only weakens the spirit and principle of Olympism. There are particular concerns for Tibet following read more →
China Legalises its Repression of Tibetans
By Hannah Dellabosca / July 28, 2015
China’s National Security Law, enacted on July 1, has been widely criticised for further restricting the rights and freedoms of Tibetan and other minority individuals and communities. The law broadens legal cyber censorship and gives local authorities near unlimited discretion to curb anti-government dissent. The Articles contained in the National read more →
Mass Arrests of Chinese Human Rights Lawyers
By Kristina Laukaitis / July 27, 2015
Over 200 human rights lawyers have been detained during the past few week by Chinese law enforcement authorities in Beijing. The Chinese government has been charging lawyers with participating in criminal gang activity and disturbing societal order as well as sensationalising ordinary issues and turning them into political issues. Many read more →
Another Tibetan Political Prisoner Dies in Custody
By Tenzin Samten / July 27, 2015
Lobsang Yeshi, 64, a Tibetan political prisoner, died on July 19 in hospital in Lhasa in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). He had been sentenced to two years of imprisonment two months ago. Yeshi was mentally tormented while in prison, and in addition was physically tortured which led to his read more →
Tenzin Delek Rinpoche: an Inspiration for Generations of Tibetans Worldwide
By Rohini Kejriwal / July 20, 2015
Tenzin Delek Rinpoche died in prison on July 12 without seeing his family. He was suffering from poor health, with a heart condition and high blood pressure among other medical issues. A well-respected and reveredTibetan religious leader, Rinpoche had been a prisoner in China for over 13 years, serving a read more →
Tibetan Settlement Officers Gather in Dharamshala
By Tsering Wangdue / July 17, 2015
Tibetan Settlement officers from across Nepal, Bhutan and India met in Dharamshala on July 12 for their 10th annual meeting. Over 44 settlement officers participated in the four-day workshop which was organised by the Department of Home, Central Tibetan Administration, and held at the Tibetan Reception Centre in Dharamhsala. The read more →
More Travel Restrictions for Tibetans
By Rohini Kejriwal / July 17, 2015
The Chinese government has created a new restriction on Tibetans residing in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR). They have imposed a new two-track system of passport application that defies international law as well as breaching individual freedom of movement. The issue has been documented in a recently published report by read more →
The World Mourns Tenzin Delek Rinpoche
By Tamdin Yangzom and Tenzin Samten / July 17, 2015
Condolences and statements are pouring in from around the world in response to the shock of the death in custody of the revered Tibetan monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche. Rinpoche was a highly respected Tibetan spiritual figure and one of the most prominent Tibetan political prisoners. He died on Sunday July read more →
Widespread Condemnation of China’s Actions Over Rinpoche’s Death in Custody
July 17, 2015
“We would lose all moral authority to discuss human rights any place in the world if we shrink from challenging China on its treatment of the people of China and of Tibet” – Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives “We read more →