Contact is taking a holiday!

Contact is taking a break after 25 years of bringing you news of Tibet and Tibetan issues. We are celebrating our 25 years by bringing you the story of Contact and the people who have made it happen, and our archive is still there for you to access at any time, and below you can read the story of Contact, how it came into being and the wonderful reflections of the people who have made it happen over the years.

When and how Contact will re-emerge and evolve will be determined by those who become involved.

Tibetan Headlines

Feb 1: Tibet at the UN

Three delegates from the Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration have concluded a week-long programme in Geneva aimed at strengthening human rights advocacy for Tibet at the United Nations, in preparation for the 34th UN Human Rights Council next month. The programme included lobbying on human rights issues affecting Tibet, training and strategic planning.

Jan 31: China Objects

Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, the Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government in exile, attended a recent dinner hosted by outgoing United States Ambassador to India, Richard Verma. This has prompted objections by China who say this is tantamount to “interference” and that they are “against any contact” by governments with Tibetan exile administration. They continued, "No country in the world recognises the so-called Tibetan government-in-exile."

Jan 28: Free Tashi Wangchuk!

Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) held a worldwide awareness day of action on the anniversary of Tashi Wangchuk’s detention last year. Tashi Wangchuk campaigned for Tibetan language education for Tibetans living in Tibet and had appeared in a New York Times documentary A Tibetan’s Journey for Justice; he was charged with “inciting separatism”. SFT’s protest rallies and social media campaigns included messages to the Foreign Ministers of 18 countries.

Jan 26: Indian Republic Day

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile raised the Indian national flag and congratulated India on its 68th Republic Day anniversary. Greeting the people of India, Sikyong said “India is a role model for the world in ensuring that economic development and democratic rights of the people are maintained on an equal footing.” He thanked the people and government of India for hosting Tibetans.

Jan 26: Doctor Freed

Khedrup, 50, a Tibetan doctor who has been held by police since December 14, has been released. He was detained on suspicion of sharing pictures and videos online of the self-immolation protest by Tashi Rabten on December 8, but has been released as the authorities could find no evidence against him; they warned not to discuss his period in detention. He was beaten and tortured in prison.

Jan 25: Back in Dhasa

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is back home in McLeod Ganj after completing the Kalachakra Empowerment in Bodh Gaya. People lined the streets of McLeod to give him a warm welcome home. His Holiness gave a series of talks in Delhi on his way back from Bodh Gaya, including Tibetan university students, the Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries, and Mother’s International School.

Jan 24: Passports Damaged

Tibetans returning to Tibet after attending the Kalachakra teachings in Bodh Gaya in India are arriving home to face punitive measures from the authorities who, reports Phayul, have listed the people who did not return before the Kalachakra as instructed. Phayul’s source said that many people have had their passports torn on arrival and are being threatened with “patriotic re-education sessions and worse”.

Jan 21: Tibetan Schooling

Dolkar Kyi, a regional committee member of the Chinese People’s Consultative Congress (CPCC) and professor at Sichuan Teachers University has written to the CPCC to say that 2,000 Tibetan children who live in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China’s Sichuan province, are being denied their constitutional right to an education in their own language. Tibetans have been campaigning for Tibetan language education for their children for years.

Jan 21: HRW Report

World Report 2017, a report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) which summarises key human rights issues in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide, says that the outlook for human rights, freedom of expression and religion in China remains “dire” and that Tibet has “routinely faced denial of basic freedom of speech, assembly and movement”.

Jan 20: More Swiss Arrests

In Switzerland, five Tibetans have been arrested ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s arrival at the United Nations office in Geneva. Four of the protestors are members of the Tibetan Youth Association in Europe; they displayed banners “Arrest Xitler” and “Free Tibet” and shouted slogans “Stop the killing in Tibet”, “Free Tibet” and “No human rights in Tibet”. A fifth Tibetan was protesting separately.

Jan 19: Media Row

A row has broken out following an article published in The Hindu entitled Is Trump preparing to change the script on Tibet? which claimed that Michael Pillsbury, a Trump “advisor”, had said that Donald Trump had refused to meet HH the Dalai Lama. Pillsbury tweeted that the news is fake, he is not a Trump advisor and that Trump has not rejected a meeting with the Dalai Lama.

Jan 18: Demolition Halted

Demolition work at the Larung Gar Buddhist Academy in Sichuan has been temporarily halted for the winter, however the destruction of monastic dwellings is scheduled to resume in April. Radio Free Asia reports a source as saying the destruction is expected to be “more aggressive and widespread”. Thousands of monks and nuns have been expelled and many are living in temporary accommodation.

Jan 17: New Governor of Tibet

Qi Zhala, 58, the former Communist Party chief of Lhasa, has been appointed as the new Governor of the Tibet Autonomous Region. He replaces Losang Gyaltsan. Qi Zhala comes from the neighboring Yunnan province and held official posts there before being transferred to Tibet. He is known for imposing strong restrictive measures. His post is the second-most powerful post in Chinese occupied Tibet.

Jan 16: Self-Immolation Attempt

There are reports that police prevented a Tibetan man from self-immolating during the peaceful protest in Bern, Switzerland at the weekend. He is said to be recovering in hospital. Around 800 Tibetans and supporters took part in the demonstration during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit there.

Jan 16: Swiss Demonstrators Detained

Thirty two Tibetans and supporters were detained in Switzerland after peacefully protesting against Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit. They held a demonstration, waving posters and Tibetan flags, and chanting "Free Tibet" and "Don't Deal With Killers". The demonstration was organised by the Tibetan Youth Association of Europe and the Tibetan Community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. The Swiss authorities had given permission for a very limited demonstration.