Tibetan Headlines
Jul 2: National Heritage Fellowship
Tsering Wangmo Satho, a Tibetan opera singer and dancer based in California, has been awarded a prestigious National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellowship 2022. The award is America’s highest honour in folk and traditional arts. Tsering co-founded Chaksam-pa, a Tibetan Dance and Opera Company committed to sharing and preserving Tibet’s artistic traditions. Each fellow is awarded $25,000 and features in a film.
Jun 30: Tibetan Flag Raised!
A Tibetan national flag was raised in Melbourne, Australia during a basketball match between China and Australia which saw a clash between Chinese nationalists and Hong Kong human rights protesters. The match was halted during the incident; an activist reported that he was assaulted while displaying a poster of an Australian Uyghur Muslim who is in prison in China.
Jun 29: More Forced Relocations
17,555 people living at high altitude in Tibet are to be relocated to lower ground within the next six weeks, reports Chinese state media Xinjhua, saying this is a local programme which will move 130,000 people over eight years to “improve people's living and protect the plateau region's fragile ecosystem”. People will be moved “to more hospitable areas” from “places with harsh weather and relatively backward production and living conditions”.
Jun 27: Swiss Protest
Tibetans and supporters held a demonstration in front of the United Nations Human Rights Council building in Geneva to protest against the Chinese government’s continued suppression of human rights in Tibet. The protest was held during the UN Human Rights Council session there. Members of the Tibetan community of Switzerland and Liechtenstein gathered in heavy rain and wind to observe a minute’s silence to honour all Tibetan martyrs.
Jun 26: Supporting Victims of Torture
The Central Tibetan Administration has marked the United Nations International Day in Support of victims of Torture with the publication of a report A list of torture-related deaths in Tibet (2008 - 2022) which cites the “prevalence of inhumane torture in prisons, detention centres and police stations in Tibet”. The UN calls for support for those “who have been victims of torture and those who are still tortured today”.
Jun 26: Karmapa Birthday Celebration
Gyalwang Karmapa Rinpoche, Head of Karma Kagyu of Tibetan Buddhism, celebrated his 38th birthday via a video link with an event organised by the Karmapa Service Society of the USA in New York. and attended by Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang, from the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. Gyalwang Karmapa’s vocal urging for unity and harmony among Tibetans for the common cause of Tibet was particularly noted.
Jun 25: Football Controversy
Shimla Football Club walked out of the final of the 2022 Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup, ceding the game to their opponents Dhondupling Football Club. Shimla FC refused to continue the game, reports Phayul, when a “contentious goal by opponent Dhondupling FC was allowed by the referee”. Phayul reports that Shimla has appealed for a rematch.
Jun 24: Long Life Prayer
His Holiness the Dalai Lama was offered a long life prayer ceremony by several Tibetan groups at Tsuglagkhang, the main temple in Dharamshala. The prayer ceremony was also broadcast live in Tibetan, Chinese, German, Vietnamese, Mongolian and Russian for the online audiences.
Jun 24: Chinese Ambassador Interrupted
Protestors interrupted China's ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian’s speech at the University of Technology Sydney; he was talking about improving the relationship between the two countries. The protestors criticised China’s genocide against the Uyghur Muslims in East Turkestan (Ch: Xinjiang) and their treatment of Tibetans and Hong Kongers. Drew Pavlou, a well-known anti-Chinese Communist Party activist, was one of the protestors.
Jun 23: Bhuchung Sonam Awarded
Bhuchung Sonam has been awarded the Ostana Prize; Phayul quotes the prominent Tibetan poet as saying he is “extremely honoured to be given this award, which [brings] recognition for Tibetan language and culture that are being eliminated in Tibet under China”. The annual Italian award, Writings in the Mother Tongue is awarded to literary authors who use a "mother tongue", a present-day minority language of territorial belonging, in their works.
Jun 22: Flood Relief Donation
HH the Dalai Lama has written to the Chief Minister of Assam offering support and condolences to the people of Assam who's lives were disrupted by the recent unprecedented rainfall and flooding. His Holiness acknowledged the work of the rescue services saying, “As a mark of my solidarity with the people of Assam, I am making a donation from the Gaden Phodrang Trust of the Dalai Lama to support those efforts' '.
Jun 21: Beyond Censorship?
The movie Seven Years in Tibet is being streamed on Netflix leading to speculation that this could signal the end of China’s efforts to influence and censor Hollywood movies. On its release in 1997 the film was banned in China, as was its star, Brad Pitt. The last two pro-Tibet films, Kundun and Seven Years in Tibet, both Disney films, led to a one year ban on Disney in China.
Jun 20: Remembering Tibetan Refugees
On this year’s World Refugee Day, the Tibet Museum, Department of Information and International Relations of Central Tibetan Administration held an event at Mewoen Tsuglag Petoen School where students were showcased a photo exhibition Tibet’s Journey into Exile and screened Longing for Tibet, a documentary movie. World Refugee day commemorates the resilience and courage of refugees around the world.
Jun 20: Writer Sentenced
Thupten Lodoe, 34, also known as Sabuchey, 34, a well-known Tibetan scholar, writer and intellectual, has been sentenced to a four and a half year prison term, reports the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. He was detained in October last year and sentenced earlier this month on a charge of “inciting separatism”, “endangering state security” and “harming ethnic unity”. He is from Bum-nying village in Dzachuka, Kardze.
Jun 20: Monk Sentenced
Rongwo Gendun Lhundup, 48, also known as Lhamkok, a prominent Tibetan monk and writer, was sentenced last December to a four-year prison term on a charge of “inciting separatism” reports the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. He was detained in November 2020 from Rongwo Monastery in Rebkong, Amdo [Ch: Qinghai]; news of Gendun has only emerged now due to the communications crackdown.