Tibetan Headlines
Mar 24: Australian Protests
Anti-Chinese protests are taking place in Australia during China’s Premier Li Keqiang visit to Canberra and Sydney at the beginning of his Australian tour. He entered his hotel through the back door to avoid Tibetan protestors and a presence of Falun Gong practitioners. Tibet supporters gathered on the lawns at Parliament House for a protest which was attended b politicians as well as many former political prisoners.
Mar 24: Larung Gar Demolition
At the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Sichuan, currently undergoing partial demolition and a reduction in size, Radio Free Asia reports that the forced evictions of monks and nuns are now almost complete. Nearly 5,000 people have been expelled during the past year, with 250 people remaining who are due for eviction. Demolition of the remaining 2,000 homes is ongoing.
Mar 23: Sent Away
Foreigners are being refused access to Yachen Gar Tibetan Buddhist academy in Kardze in Sichuan. Like nearby Larung Gar, Yachen Gar is being partly demolished and its population of monks and nuns reduced. Brice Pedroletti, a reporter for the French Le Monde, and his companions were stopped, searched, questioned and kept under armed guard when they tried to visit recently, and sent despite having the correct visas.
Mar 23: Horse Festival Canelled
An annual horse festival held in Chamdo County, Eastern Tibet normally held in the winter was cancelled two months ago by the Chinese authorities, reports Voice of America, saying the news has only just emerged from Tibet and that two Tibetans who organise the festival were arrested about a week ago. One was later released, the whereabouts of the other remains unknown.
Mar 22: Detained Monk Critical
Lobsang Dhargyal, a monk from Kirti monastery in Ngaba in Sichuan who was arrested last week after staging a solo protest, is reported to be in a critical condition after sustaining beatings and torture in the hands of Chinese police. Radio Free Asia reported that Dhargyal is being held at an army camp in Ngaba. His family and friends are worried that he might die from beatings.
Mar 22: 200 Arrested
Nearly 200 Tibetans in Kardze county have been arrested in connection with the latest self-immolation protest by Pema Gyaltsen in Ngarong in traditional the Tibetan province of Kham. Sources said that people supporting Gyaltsen’s protest by raising cries of solidarity were taken away and their phones were confiscated. No information on their whereabouts has reached outside Tibet.
Mar 21: Solo Female Protester
Dukbey, a mother of two, has staged a solo protest on the streets of Ngaba in Amdo province. She marched the main street of Ngaba calling for the Dalai Lama’s long life and freedom in Tibet. She was immediately arrested by Chinese security forces and her family has no information about her whereabouts. Dukbey is from Rari township.
Mar 19: Lone Protestor Arrested
Lobsang Dhargyal, a Tibetan monk from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba in Sichuan, is reported as having been arrested following a solo protest against the Chinese government. His protest took place just after Tibetan Uprising Day on March 10 and phayul.com reported that the news came through on facebook but has not been independently verified.
Mar 19: Kashag Walkout
The current session of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile was disrupted when Sikyong Lobsang Sangay led members of the Kashag, or Cabinet, in a walkout. They were objecting to the failure of the Election Committee, who have been mandated to improve the election process, to include suggestions for abolishing the current two-stage voting system for the posts of Sikyong and Chitues.
Mar 18: Larung Gar
At the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Sichuan which is currently undergoing partial demolition to the distress of the global Buddhist community, the number of houses targeted for destruction has been reduced from 4,320 to 3,225. The Abbot announced that the demolitions will be completed by April 30. 1,500 homes were demolished last year and hundreds of monks and nuns evacuated.
Mar 17: HR Violations
The 34th session of the United Nation’s Human Rights Council raised China’s various human rights violations and the widespread cases in Tibet and Xinjang. European Union representatives expressed profound concern over the arrest and detention of human rights defenders and called for their immediate release, including Tashi Wangchuk, a 31-year old Tibetan language rights advocate.
Mar 16: Security Blockade
Rebkong county in Eastern Tibet has been under security blockade since March 10, reports Radio Free Asia. Large numbers of armed police and security officers have been deployed in the region. Public places are being closely watched and visitors from India are not allowed to go anywhere without permission. Local sources say that the show of force is to intimidate the public. Yushul county is also experiencing more Chinese police on the streets.
Mar 15: Budget Session
The budget session for the financial year 2017 - 2018 of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile has begun, it is the 3rd session of the 16th Tibetan Parliament. This session will discuss and approve the budget of the Central Tibetan Administration for the year 2017 - 2018. Delegations of Senators from France, Italy and Canada were present on the first day of the session. The session will conclude on March 25.
Mar 14: Chinese Threat
China said it would "resolutely strike" against the "Dalai Lama clique's separatist activities" reports Reuters, quoting Che Dalha, Tibet's governor, as saying the [Chinese] government would "hold a clear-cut stand against separatism, resolutely strike against the Dalai clique's damaging and separatist activities". The statement was made to coincide with the worldwide rallies to mark Tibetan Uprising day on March 10.
Mar 14: Chinese Disruption Thwarted
A Chinese delegation has disrupted a briefing Human Rights in China at the United Nations Human Rights Council currently being held in Geneva. A team of Tibetans was reporting to the meeting; a Chinese representative requested their video material should be confiscated and deleted but was turned down by UN security authorities.