Tibetan Headlines
Apr 11: Discussing the Future
HH the Dalai Lama, who has concluded his teaching in Tawang in the north eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh yesterday, spoke to the press, thanking them for their role in educating people around the world. Of the future of the institution of the Dalai Lama, he said that will be determined by the general Tibetan public and hinted that he might convene a conference this year to discuss the issue.
Apr 10: Ven Bagdro Campaigns
Venerable Bagdro, the former Tibetan political prisoner and campaigner for Tibetan issues, is launching a two-week campaign to petition over 50 local and foreign embassies in New Delhi, India for the immediate release of the Panchen Lama. The 11th Panchen Lama remains missing – the world’s youngest political prisoner – since his abduction by China at the age of six in 1995, despite international calls for his release.
Apr 7: Loan Help
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) - an exile Tibetan government based in Dharamshala - has announced a loan scheme, Tibetan Hosiery Traders’ loan-2017 with a minimal interest rate. With a budget of INR 100,000,000 [ USD 1,552,675 / GBP 1,245,527] from USAID and the Finance department, CTA aims to help 1,000 families through this project in its first year.
Apr 7: Tibetan Travel Document
The Swedish government has announced that since last year it is not accepting the travel document issued by India to Tibetan refugees for travel abroad, the Identify Certificate (IC). Tibetan refugees living in India normally travel to other countries using the IC, however, according to a recent report by Voice of America’s Tibetan service, the Swedish government does not accept the IC as a valid document.
Apr 6: Lobbying Trump
The United States President Trump is being lobbied to make a stand on human rights when he meets Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to the US. More than 130 people from 23 states rallied on Capitol Hill and US lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill, the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, in the US House of Representatives and US Congress to promote access by Americans to Tibet.
Apr 5: Evicted!
Nearly 200 famlies have been ordered to leave their homes near the Salween River in Dzogang county in Chamdo. Radio Free Asia reports that they are to receive no compensation to cover the cost of moving to new locations and have not been given a reason for the move, although local understanding is that it is to make way for a construction or mining project.
Apr 5: Released!
Kyorpon Tsultrim Gyatso, 52, a Tibetan monk jailed for leading a protest during the 2008 nationwide uprising in months leading up to the Beijing Olympics, has been released from Mianyang prison in Chengdu, Sichuan, having completed his nine year sentence. Tsultrim is from Amchok Tsenyi Monastery and the protest he led was in Ngaba. Details of how he is after his nine years in prison have not been released.
Apr 4: A Winner
Tenzin Zomkey, 15, has made it to the final of Top Model Belgium 2018, the first ever Tibetan to do so. Facebook posts say she was shortlisted from a total of 400 and voted in via SMS. She hails from Mundgod Tibetan settlement and moved to Belgium 6-7 years ago. She hopes to become a top model. The contest will be held in Paris on Jan 21 next year.
Apr 4: End TB
The Tibetan Delek Hospital in Dharamshala, in association with Johns Hopkins University, hs launched a project to eliminate Tuberculosis which is widespread in the Tibetan community. Zero TB in Tibetan Kids: Training to End TB Now is aimed at Tibetan school children to develop the work the hospital has been carrying out since the 1980. A United Nations resolution commits to end tuberculosis worldwide.
Apr 1: Swedish Support
A Tibet Friendship Parliamentary group has been formed by five Swedish Parliamentarians, in liaison with the Swedish Tibet Committee. The Vice-President of the Swedish Tibet Committee and Tibetan Community in Sweden, Ms Choedon, said, “I feel very positive about this. It is very delighting to connect with them. We are hoping for more activities during the period.”
Apr 1: Monk Freed
Lobsang Konchok, a Tibetan monk jailed following his self-immolation protest in September 2011, has been released after serving his full sentence. Konchok, from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba, lost a leg from his burns and is reported as being subjected to torture while in prison. His family were not informed of his release; he is not allowed to visit and was released in a remote nomadic area far from home.
Apr 1: Prisoner Released
Trinley Tsering, a young monk from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba who was imprisoned along with thousands of others following the Tibetan uprising in March 2008, has been released. Tsering was charged with “leaking state secrets to foreign countries” and given a nine year prison sentence for his alleged act of sharing news about the crackdown on his monastery with the outside world.
Mar 29: Monasteries Awarded
The Chinese authorities in Sichuan have presented awards to Tibetan monks and Muslim leaders deemed to have cooperated with Communist Party rule. The event was held in Zungchu county in Ngaba as part of a Chinese campaign to foster Tibetan loyalty to Beijing. Tibetan monasteries receiving awards included Muge, Nyenyul Kharlak, Tsotsang, Nateng Chakdu, Gamel, and Drakkar Yungdrung Ritro.
Mar 28: Tibet Lobby Day
Tibet Lobby Day was observed by Tibetans in the United States and Australia who met political leaders with a call for action on the deteriorating human rights situation and the lack of freedom of religion and speech in Tibet. The annual event is targeted at raising awareness on Tibet and encouraging politicians to take action for Tibet and put pressure on China to curb the injustice upon Tibetan people.
Mar 26: Parliament Session Ends
The current session of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile has concluded its third session. The session started on Mar 14 had has taken place over the last eleven days during which a budget for the next financial year was proposed and recommendations for electoral reform were considered. The situation inside Tibet was discussed.