Tibetan Headlines
Dec 16: Jailed Journalists
Four Tibetans journalists have been included in the list of China’s jailed journalists in 2016. According to a report published by International press group and journalist rights group, Committee to Protect Journalits (CPJ), 38 journalists were jailed in China this year alone. The four Tibetans are Kunchok Tsephel Gopey Tsang; Gartse Jigme; Drukar Gya, also known as Druklo, and Lobsang Jamyang popularly known as Lomig.
Dec 15: Tibet Group in Japan
Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, expressed gratitude to Japanese parliamentarians for forming the All Party Japanese Parliamentary Group for Tibet. “We are tremendously grateful to the government and the people of Japan for receiving HH the Dalai Lama in your country on several occasions and extending support to the Tibetan people and the Tibet cause”, he said.
Dec 14: Four Arrested
Four Tibetan men have been arrested for taking photos of the recent self-immolation by Tashi Rabten, according to Trisong Dorjee, a Tibetan from the area. However, the identities of the men are unknown as of now. Radio Free Asia reported that Tashi’s wife and two daughters were also arrested for approaching the deceased body.
Dec 13: Congratulations!
Dr Lobsang Sangay, the head of Tibetan government-in-exile congratulated Bill English, the new Prime Minister of New Zealand. Sikyong wrote “The country’s commitment to dialogue was exemplified when it stood up against the might of China for what it believed to be a violation of human rights in Tibet during the UN Human Rights Council session in October 2013.”
Dec 11: Six Year Sentence
Lobsang Sonam, 23, a monk from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba, was sentenced on November 9 to six years in prison for sharing information and images about events in Tibet. He is being held at Mianyang Prison near Chengdu. He was detained in September last year and has since been held incommunicado, his family did not know his whereabouts. He is a native of Rongkharsar Township.
Dec 10: Children Summit
HH the Dalai Lama and the President of India Mr Pranab Mukherjee graced the inaugural session of the first ever Laureates and Leaders for Children Summit, held in New Delhi. His Holiness said that today’s education is “materialistic” and world is facing lots of man-made troubles, and added that since basic human nature is compassionate, there is hope. Over 25 laureates and leaders attended the summit.
Dec 9: Village Leader Released
Akhu Gyatak, 65, a Tibetan village leader, was released from prison last month after completing his four year sentence. Gyatka is from Dowa Township in Rebkong County in Malho Prefecture. He was arrested in November 2012 for organising peaceful demonstrations in Rebkong following a spate of self-immolations. Voice of America reports that Gyatag is physically handicapped and suffering from mental illness as a result of torture while in prison.
Dec 8: 10 Tibetans Sentenced
Ten people have been sentenced in Barkham, Ngaba in Tibet to prison terms varying between five and 14 years for taking part in the 80th birthday celebrations of HH the Dalai Lama last year. The ten are: Drukdra, 50, 14 years; Lobsang Khedrup, 44, 13 years; Losang Gepel, 29, 11 years; Lodro, 41, 9 years – all from Kirti monastery; Bonko Kyi, 48 from Lhade Gabma, 7 years; Tsultrim from Trostik, 6 years; Akyakya, 35, a former Kirti monk, 5 years. Two others, Tarey and Tsendra received 8 year sentences, and Tsultrim 6 years.
Dec 7: Another Prisoner Freed
Kunme, a Tibetan man who has been held in Sichuan’s Mianyang prison for three years, has been released. He was one of 20 people who were detained in December 2013 for trying to prevent the security forces from removing Konchog Tseten, a severely burned self-immolation protestor, away from the site of his protest. Kunme was tortured during his first year in prison and convicted of homicide.
Dec 6: Released!
Drolma Tso, a Tibetan woman jailed in Sichuan, has been released after serving a three-year prison term. She is reported as being in poor health following torture during her first 11 months in detention, and has returned to her home in Meruma township in Ngaba. Tso, along with other Ngaba residents, was arrested in December 2013 for trying to help a severely burned self-immolation protester, Konchog Tseten.
Dec 5: Earthquake hits Tibet
A 5.1 magnitude quake hit Nyairong County in Tibet this morning at 5:34 am, according to the China Earthquake Networks Centre (CENC). The epicentre was at a depth of about five kms, reports Xinhuan news agency. Nyairong County is in the Nagchu prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
Dec 4: Campaign Success
Students for a Free Tibet in the United Kingdom has been successful in persuading the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office to raise the case of the imprisoned Tibetan writer Shokjang's case with the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, most recently at the UK China-Human Rights Dialogue, but also during Parliamentary Questions, and in the FCO's annual Human Rights Report.
Dec 3: Award for Community
Uber, the global taxi service, has awarded US$7,000 (£5,500) to a Tibetan Uber driver in New York. Tashi Choephel applied for the award under Project Jumpstart, Uber’s new philanthropic programme which aims to bring change to their employees’ communities. The money will go towards the renovation of the New York Tibetan community centre. Over 9,000 Tibetans live in New York.
Dec 2: Congratulations!
On behalf of the Central Tibetan Administration, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay congratulated United States’ former House Speaker Ms Nancy Pelosi for being re-elected as the Democratic Leader in the US House of Representatives. “Your re-election to the crucial post of democratic leader is a reflection of your leadership, integrity and the sharp relevance of your voice as a champion of American ideals,” he added. He also thanked her for being a true friend of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people.
Dec 2: World AIDS Day
Tibetans in Dharamshala observed World AIDS Day. Dawa Tsering, Director of Kunphen - a non-government organisation - urged the people to go for HIV check-ups, saying that, according to the World Health Organisation, nearly half of all people with HIV around the world do not know they are infected. A staff at the Department of Health said that in the exile Tibetan community there are over 130 HIV carriers.