Tibetan Headlines
Jan 27: Tashi Wangchuk
Today marks three years since Tibetan language advocate Tashi Wangchuk was jailed. He was sentenced to five years in prison on May 2 last year, accused of "separatism" after appearing in a New York Times video speaking about the importance of protecting Tibetans’ "mother tongue". His detention has attracted worldwide condemnation, meanwhile Tashi is consistently denied access to his lawyer.
Jan 25: Support from Taiwan
Tibet supporters and human rights activists in Taiwan have embarked on a series of events to mark the 60th anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising day, and 60 years of resistance in Tibet. A cycling tour of Tapei was the first event and it will be followed up with a rally in March. Slogans shouted during the cycling rally included “Tibet belongs to Tibetans.”
Jan 24: Appeal
Tibetans living in Kyangche Township in Golok in Amdo have appealed for the release of Anya Sengdra who has been in detention for five months, accused of “provoking trouble”. They have sent a letter which rejects the government’s allegations about him. His detention period was extended and there is concern for his health as it is reported to be poor. Anya Sengdra is an anti-corruption activist.
Jan 23: EU Looks at China
A session Freedom of Religion in China was held in the European Parliament in Brussels which highlighted the lack of religious freedom in China, including occupied Tibet, and looked at how the persecution is uniform across different religions - including Buddhism, Islam and Christianity. The two-hour session was led by MEPs Bas Belder (ECR), Christian Dan Preda (EPP) and Josef Weidenholzer (S&D).
Jan 23: Flagship Conference
The first conference of Young Indian Scholars on Tibetan Studies being held at the College for Higher Tibetan Studies (CHTS) in Dharamshala is underway. The 22 participants are from 13 different universities and institutes around India. The three day conference is flagship event of the Tibet Policy Institute of the Central Tibetan Administration and will be hosted annually.
Jan 23: Get Registered!
Tibetans living in India and registered as foreigners – even if they are citizens by birth – are facing penalties if they fail to renew their Registration Certificate (RC) on time. The penalties will be similar to those paid by people overstaying their visas and are between two and ten times greater than those of previous years.
Jan 22: Monk Attacked
Jangchup Rinchen, a Tibetan monk in his forties living in Mundgod, has been attacked and injured while being robbed by a gang of four Indian men with knives who broke into his home, reports the Indian Express. They took INR 7 lakhs (US$1,400 / £1,000) as well as jewellery and mobile phones. There have been other incidences of robbery in the area.
Jan 21: Monk Released
Choekyi, 42, a Tibetan monk from Phugugon monastery in Serta County, has been released after completing his four-year prison term. His charge was carrying out “splittist” activities: he had made monks robes on HH the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday and posted photos on WeChat, the Chinese social media platform, that were deemed political. Choekyi is believed to be in poor health after undergoing forced labour in prison.
Jan 21: More Border Issues
The Indian online news outlet The Print has reported, “Satellite images show China is building underground facility 50 km from India border”, and saying that the new facility near Ngari is the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s second in Tibet, and stands just about 60 km away from the Indian Army’s forward posts at Demchok in Ladakh. The report says that construction began in December 2016.
Jan 19: Educational Collaboration
The Tibetan Buddhist Drepung Loseling Monastery based in Mundgod, south India, and Goa University have signed an agreement to collaborate on research and study. The study will include ancient Buddhist knowledge – focusing on the Nalanda tradition – and modern science. The initial agreement is for three years during which time tailored study programmes will be developed, and will be extended beyond that time if successful.
Jan 19: New HRW Report
Human Rights Watch, the global non-government human rights monitor, has released its World Report 2019, saying “Authorities in Tibetan areas continue to severely restrict religious freedom, speech, movement, and assembly, and fail to redress popular concerns about mining and land grabs by local officials, which often involve intimidation and arbitrary violence by security forces. Authorities intensified surveillance of online and phone communications”.
Jan 18: Confucius Closure
The University of Massachusetts in Boston, United States, has closed its Confucius Institute – it is the 13th academic institution in the US to do so. Confucius Institutes are funded by Beijing and there is concern that they threaten academic freedom and free speech by silencing discussion on political and human rights issues sensitive to China - including Tibet, Taiwan and Tiananmen Square massacre of 1989.
Jan 18: Google Campaign
An international coalition of Tibetan, Chinese, Uyghur and human rights groups is holding a day of action in the United Kingdom as part of a larger global effort calling on Google to protect free speech on Internet Freedom Day. Protestors gathering outside Google HQ in London say they will continue the protests until Google cancels Project Dragonfly – their proposed censored search engine for China.
Jan 18: Private Donation
A donation of US$90,000 for the benefit of elderly Tibetans living in exile has been made by an 82-year-old Tibetan man living in the United States. Tenzin Wangyal, who was born in Minyak in the Kham region of Tibet, has been inspired to make the donation by HH the Dalai Lama’s teachings that people should offer care and support for elderly people.
Jan 18: New Nyingma Head
Dzogchen Rinpoche Jigme Losel Wangpo, 54, has been selected as the new head of the Nyingma sect, succeeding Kathok Getse Rinpoche who died in an accident in Nepal in November last year. Dzogchen Rinpoche has trained extensively in both the Gelug and Nyingma schools of Tibetan Buddhism, his training was overseen by HH the Dalai Lama personally. If he accepts, he will be the eighth Nyingma leader.