Tibetan Headlines
Feb 8: International Exposure
Yesterday’s story of Mercedes Benz apologising to China for their Instagram post which used a quote from HH the Dalai Lama has prompted the Washington Post to feature the story and to comment that some China experts are becoming alarmed as they see more governments and international companies bow to China’s demands in the hope of economic gain through doing business with China.
Feb 7: Another Apology
Mercedes-Benz, the German car maker, joined the international companies bowing to pressure from China when they issued an official apology to Chinese customers for their Instagram post showing an image of a car along with a quote attributed to HH the Dalai Lama: “Look at the situations from all angles, and you will become more open”. Criticisms from Chinese netizens poured in and Mercedes-Benz deleted the post.
Feb 7: Lodoe in Prison
Sogkhar Lodoe, also known as Lodoe Gyatso, who was reported missing after his solo protest in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa on January 28, has been traced to a Chinese prison in Sog County. His protest called for the return of HH the Dalai Lama, demilitarisation of Tibet, and transformation of Tibet into a “zone of peace”. He has already served many years in prison.
Feb 6: Released!
Gartze Jigme, 41, a Tibetan monk who has spent five years in jail for his politically sensitive writings has been released and is home in Tsekhog in Malho, physically frail but otherwise healthy. He has been banned from returning to his monastery for a year, and from speaking at public gatherings. He was originally detained in 2011 after launching a literary journal Courage of the King.
Feb 5: Theatre Row
Pah-la, a play featuring Tibet and the issues facing Tibetans living in exile, was shelved last autumn by London’s Royal Court theatre. The Indian playwright Abishek Majumdar claims this is because the British Council feared that the play would spark repercussions in China where a team from the theatre is working on an arts programme in Beijing. The theatre says Pah-la will go ahead next year.
Feb 3: Bomb Culprits
Indian police have announced that Bangladeshi militants were behind the bomb attack during His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teaching in Bodh Gaya last month. Police said they had uncovered a plot to avenge violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and had arrested two Indian nationals who are suspected members of Neo-JMB, a faction of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), who have confessed to their involvement.
Feb 3: Visit Cancelled
His Holiness the Dalai lama has cancelled his proposed trip to Sikkim in March on the advice of his physicians who have urged him to rest and not engage in strenuous activities. His Holines’s private office has said that he has been experiencing exhaustion following his month in south India and Bodh Gaya and that although his general health is excellent, he has been advised to rest.
Feb 2: 38th HRC Session
During the ongoing 38th Human Rights Council session in Geneva, Europen Union and Germany raised the issue of human right situation in Tibet and reiterated their call for immediate release of Tashi Wangchuk - a Tibetan language right advocate who was wrongfully sentenced to five years in June by Chinese government. The regular UN Human Rights Council session is scheduled to be ended on July 6.
Feb 1: Nun Dies
Ngawang Tsomo, 51, a Tibetan nun and former political prisoner who was jailed for protesting against Chinese rule in Tibet, has died in Phenpo Lhundrub in the Lhasa prefecture. She is reported as having been in poor health since her time in prison, where she was tortured, and recently her condition deteriorated. She was arrested in 1993 and given a seven year sentence following a “sham” trial.
Feb 1: “Very Good” Health
HH the Dalai Lama has announced that his routine health checkup in Delhi over the last few days has shown that he is in “very good” health, although he did admit to feeling more tired as he gets older. There has been concern about his health as he was obliged to cancel planned trips abroad. He is now home in Dharamshala after his month teaching in Bodh Gaya.
Jan 31: Disappeared
Lodroe Gyatso, also known as Sogkar Lodroe, has not been seen in since January 28 when he staged a political protest in Lhasa, and it is feared that he has once again been detained. He has spent 21 years in prison for homicide and political activism and since his release in 2016 is known to have been planning political protests.
Jan 29: Report Refuted
A report in the Daily Mail – a British tabloid newspaper – claiming that HH the Dalai Lama was “paid $1 million to travel to America to endorse a controversial 'sex cult' that brainwashes and brands women” has been widely refuted and has not appeared in mainstream news channels. His Holiness is known as having long held a policy of never accepting payment for his appearances.
Jan 28: Language Conference
A conference on the Tibetan language and modern terminology – termed “unofficial” – has taken place in Tashi Choeling Monastery in Chigdril county, Golog, attended by hundreds of Tibetan language advocates from across Tibet who took part in discussions and competitions and reached an agreement end the use of mixed Tibetan-Chinese language. Language activists in China are often jailed and the organisers had not sought permission for the conference.
Jan 27: Fair Trial
The Tibet Group in the French senate has called for China to give Tibetan language rights advocate Tashi Wangchuk a “fair and transparent” trial, with access to a lawyer of his choice and to his family. He is being held in China on charges of “inciting separatism” in his campaign for legal rights for Tibetans. His trial earlier this month ended without a verdict.
Jan 26: Sikyong Testifies
Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, the President of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, has testified before the Human Rights Subcommittee of the European Parliament at the start of his three-nation visit to Europe. The Meeting Chairperson said that Sikyong’s presence was a “great opportunity” to hear about the challenges facing the Tibetan community and gave assurance of continuing commitment. China had objected to Sikyong’s presence at the hearing.