Tibetan Headlines
Aug 29: Withdrawal of Troops
The long military standoff between India and China at the India-Tibet border on the Doklam plateau is apparently reaching a conclusion. After three months of armed military presence on both sides of the border, troops are to be withdrawn. Both sides have made announcements to that effect.
Aug 29: Picnickers Assaulted
A group of Tibetan villagers enjoying a picnic on their own land near Gorum village in Draggo in Sichuan were searched and assaulted by a group of around 30 Chinese police. When the village head questioned their actions he and the rest of the Tibetans were beaten.Ten people were injured and hospitalised, including an elderly man. An appeal has been launched but no response is reported to date.
Aug 26: E-Summit
The first Entrepreneurship Summit, or E-Summit, took place in Hyderabad, organised by SUMVN and NucleusTech. The Finance Kalon [Minister] Mr Karma Yeshi spoke, highlighting the importance of entrepreneurship and its benefits to the community, business ethics and moral responsibility. The Kalon was on visits in the area which included colleges, government departments, businesses and Tibetan sweater sellers.
Aug 25: New Management
The Chinese authorities have announced that Larung Gar, the prestigious Buddhist academy that has been partially demolished with its population of monks and nuns drastically reduced, will be run by the local Communist Party. This will replace the previous admiminstration under a committee composed of ten highly learned abbots. The former world renowned centre of learning is reported as being turned into a tourist attraction.
Aug 24: Book Release
A new collection of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s talks to college students in India and across the globe, translated into Chinese, has been released. The book is published by Snowland Publications on behalf of the Taiwan Office of Tibet; it is the 15th such book published by them, they are all available free of charge in Taiwan, Hong Kong and China.
Aug 23: Chant Master Freed
Atruk Lopo, a monk who has served ten years in Mianyang prison, has been freed. He is the former chant master from Lithang Monastery in Kardze and was arrested in 2007 for spreading news about a protest calling for Tibetan freedom, and for calling for the release of his uncle Ronggye Adrak who had been detained on similar charges. He was warned not to speak in public following his release.
Aug 22: Healthcare Initiative
A new volunteer initiative by a group of healthcare professionals in Bangalore, Volunteers for Patient Care, has been launched to create awareness of preventative healthcare measure and will be accessed by patients coming for major treatment in hospitals in Bangalore. Health Kalon (Minister) Choekyong Wangchuk launched the initiative which was formed under the guidance of the Health Department at the Central Tibetan Administration.
Aug 21: Botswana Retaliates
The proposed visit by HH the Dalai Lama to Botswana has drawn the usual objections and threats from China who say that Botswana should cancel the visit and “earnestly respect China’s core interests and make the correct political decision.” Botswana’s president Ian Khama, however, is reported as saying that despite China’s heavy investment in the country, “We are not your colony” and that His Holiness is welcome there.
Aug 20: Religious Freedom
'International Religious Freedom', the United States State Department’s annual report, has highlighted Chinese interference in religious practices in Tibet, particularly in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and nunneries there. It also mentions the forced disappearance of religious practitioners, physical abuse and prolonged detention. It speaks of US instigated “sustained and concerted effort to encourage greater religious freedom in Tibetan areas” at the highest level.
Aug 18: Film Award
The Tibetan film Pawo [or martyr, in Tibetan] has won the Best Director for a Feature at the Revolution Me Film Festival 2017. Pawo was directed by Marvin Litwak and Sonam Tsetan and was shortlisted for six other nominations. The film crew was Tibetan-German crew and the actors all Tibetan. It tells the story of Jamphel Yeshi who self-immolated in 2012 in protest against China’s continued rule in Tibet. JJI Exile Brothers from Dharamsala co-engineered the film’s music.
Aug 18: Policy for Arunachal
The Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy Act for Tibetans has been accepted by the north eastern Indian state of Arunachal which is predominantly Tibetan, although claimed by China as part of “their” territory. The Act was formalised by the Government of India in 2014. The state Cabinet meeting accepted the Policy on August 12. Arunachal Chief Minister Shri Pema Khandu has written to Sikyong Sangay, leader of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.
Aug 17: Prospects and Challenges
The Young Tibetan Research Scholar’s Conference is underway at the College for Higher Tibetan Studies at Sarah near Dharamshala. The three day conference, Tibet and Tibetans: Prospects and Challenges, is organised by the Tibet Policy Institute – the Central Tibetan Administration’s think tank and was inaugurated by Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, the President of the CTA. Around 40 young Tibetan research scholars from across India are taking part.
Aug 16: Demolition Begins
The expulsion of 2,000 Tibetan monks and nuns living and studying at the Yachen Gar Buddhist Centre in Sichuan has started, along with the demolition of their residences. Until recently 10,000 monks, nuns and lay practioners lived and studied at Yachen Gar. Earlier this year 200 tents belonging to Tibetan pilgrims visiting the centre were demolished. Senior monks there have asked people to “exercise patience and tolerance”.
Aug 16: Monk Freed
Gomar Choephel, 48, a Tibetan monk, has been released from jail where he served two years for “subverting the state” when he was found in possession of a picture of HH the Dalai Lama. He was released from the Ho Min Xian prison in Qinghai and has returned to Rongwo Monastery in Rebgong. He has restrictions placed on his movements and no “welcome home” reception was allowed.
Aug 15: New Ethics Course
His Holiness the Dalai Lama launched a new course Secular Ethics for Higher Education at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS). The course is aimed at fostering critical thinking and an inquiring mind. His Holiness said that India is the only country in the world which can effectively combine secular ethics and modern education to produce sustainable results for the benefit of all sentient beings.