Tibetan Headlines
Jul 18: Tennis Protest
United Kingdom based Free Tibet, together with Power to Hongkongers staged a protest at the international tennis Wimbledon tournament to draw attention to the missing Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai. Despite threats of arrest from security - due to concern about upsetting the tournament’s Chinese sponsors - the protest hit the international media and attracted much interest from surrounding tennis fans.
Jul 18: News of Further Arrests
Youden, the 20 year old Tibetan woman arrested this month is now reported to be the sister of Zumkar, 22, who was arrested on June 23. An unnamed man, aged around 60, is reported to have been arrested in Kardze; all are accused of keeping photographs of HH the Dalai Lama and all are victims of the Chinese crackdown around HH the Dalai Lama’s 87th birthday on July 6.
Jul 18: A Winner!
Tibetan athlete Choeying Kyi has won a Bronze medal in the women’s 20k race walk at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon in the United States. She was the first Tibetan to compete in the Olympics, competing in 2013 and 2016, and is the Tibetan athlete who has won the most medals at international events, representing China. She was born in Tsochang in Amdo.
Jul 15: US Support for Tibet
A new bill has been introduced in Congress in the United States to fully recognise Tibet’s unresolved status and finding fault with China for violating the Tibetan people’s right to self-determination. The Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Conflict Act will make it official US policy that Tibetans have the right to self-determination, and that China’s policies are precluding them from exercising that right. Under China’s brutal occupation.
Jul 15: Young Tibetan Killed
Tsultrim, a Tibetan man in his 30s has been fatally stabbed at the Chinese restaurant where he worked as a waiter in Saint-Léonard. The Tibetan community in France held a silent protest and many Tibetans have walked out of their job at the same restaurant, and other Chinese restaurants across France. Police have made an arrest.
Jul 14: His Holiness in Ladakh
HH the Dalai Lama is on his way to Ladakh this morning, his first trip away from his residence since the Covid-19 global pandemic. A crowd of Tibetans and other devotees lined up to see His Holiness off. His visit to Ladakh is at the request of Thiksay Rinpoche of Thiksay Monastery in Ladakh, together with former MP Thupten Tsewang, the current President of Ladakh Buddhist Association.
Jul 13: Temporary Monastery
Gyalrong Tsodun Kriti Monastery in Amdo Ngaba’s Barkham county was destroyed by an earthquake last month forcing 290 monks to live in makeshift shelters. The monastery itself has been relocated to a tent with help from people in neighbouring monasteries and towns, and regular religious activities are taking place there, reports Radio Free Asia. It is not known whether the authorities will help to restore the monastery.
Jul 12: Expelled for Corruption
Zhang Yongze, 53, the Communist Party of China’s former Deputy Chairman of Tibet has been expelled from his party and dismissed from office for “serious violations of discipline and law”, reports the Tibetan Review. He is reported to have been involved in “superstitious activities and lived a luxurious lifestyle while trading power for money and sex”.
Jul 12: Arrested in Nagchu
Youdon, 20, a Tibetan woman from Nagchu [Ch: Nagqu] was arrested on charges of displaying a photograph of HH the Dalai Lama on the altar in her home. Radio Free Asia reports that Youdon was taken to Lhasa and is currently being detained there; there are no further details of her whereabouts. In Tibet, keeping or displaying photographs of His Holiness is considered a crime, giving rise to many arrests.
Jul 11: Tibetan Woman Dies
A young Tibetan woman has died in Toronto, Canada, 17 weeks after suffering an attack on a city bus in which she was set on fire by Tenzin Norbu, 33, while on her way to work. She did not know her assailant who remains in custody. The local Tibetan community have been shocked by the attack and are praying for her.
Jul 8: Condolences
HH the Dalai Lama has written to the wife of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who was shot during a campaign speech saying, “I pray for him and offer my condolences to you and members of your family." His Holiness said he appreciated his friendship and support for the cause of Tibet. “Mr Abe truly lived a meaningful life in the service of others,” said His Holiness.
Jul 7: Mental Health Awareness
The Central Tibetan Administration's Mental Health Desk has organised a mental health awareness programme targeting young Tibetans who are studying and working in Bangalore and Delhi away from the Tibetan communities in India. The student groups were given workshops on techniques and information on handling stress, navigating negative emotions and understanding mental disorders with the aim of making the participants mental health advocates in their locality.
Jul 5: Jigme Gyatso
Jigme Gyatso, a prominent Tibetan monk from Labrang Monastery and former political prisoner, also known as Jigme Goril, has died at his home in Gansu province. He suffered severe beatings during his five year prison term and has been in poor health since his release. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy has called for an investigation and the prosecution of those who tortured him.
Jul 5: Monastery Relocation
Atsok Gon Dechen Choekhor Ling in Drakkar County in Amdo is to be relocated, by order of the Chinese authorities, to make way for a hydropower station on the River Machu, or Yellow River. The 19th Century monastery provides accommodation and education in Buddhism for over 157 monks. Approximately 53 square km is to be requisitioned for the project, affecting 22 villages and over 15,000 people.
Jul 4: Woman Arrested
Zumkar, 27, a Tibetan woman, was arrested in her home of Tsarang Township, Amdo County in Nagchu having been found in possession of a photo of HH the Dalai Lama. She was transferred to Lhasa, 500 km away. She is reported to be a mother of two and a devout Buddhist who grew up as a nomad in an area undergoing profound transformation under direction of the Chinese authorities.