Tibetan Headlines
Oct 18: Close Watch
Kirti Monastery in Ngaba prefecture in Tibet has celebrated the completion of a new residence for their abbot, Kirti Rinpoche who currently lives in Dharamshala. Chinese police in uniform and plain clothes arrived at the monastery to closely watch over their activities, Radio Free Asia reported. The monastery was told to organise the gathering in the name of inaugurating a new library rather than mentioning Kirti Rinpoche’s residence.
Oct 18: Settlement Officers Workshop
Over 43 Tibetan settlement officers from across India, Nepal, and Bhutan have gathered in Dharamshala for their annual four-day workshop. The meeting will discuss initiatives to sustain the Tibetan community, create sustainable development projects and acquire official status for Tibetan settlements. The workshop was started with a leadership session chaired by Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay.
Oct 17: Cash Offer
Monks and nuns in Larung Gar Monastery were reportedly offered money for leaving the institution voluntarily. “Chinese workers going from door to door have been seen handing out flyers encouraging monks to leave by offering 20,000 yuan (U.S. $2,975),” said a source at Radio Free Asia. The same source said that an additionally 30,000 yuan (U.S. $4,463) is being offered if they give up their homes for destruction.
Oct 16: Tibetan Scholars Meet
Over a hundred senior Tibetan Buddhist scholars gathered at Kardze monastery in Sichuan’s province to discuss the core subjects of Buddhist philosophy, the Middle Way, and to give basic Buddhist teachings to the laypeople, Radio Free Asia reported. The participants – mostly senior teachers and Geshes who returned to Tibet from India – came from 50 monasteries in Kardze and nearby regions.
Oct 15: Tibetans Protests in Goa
Tibetan students and activists carrying Tibetan flags and shouting “Free Tibet” and “China Out of Tibet Now,” gathered to protest as Chinese President Xi Jinping landed in Goa for the 8th BRICS Summit. Over 60 Tibetan students and activists were arrested by police. Activists from Students for a Free Tibet parasailed over the airport carrying a white banner with the words “Free Tibet”.
Oct 14: Protest at Chinese Embassy
Over 100 Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) members including four executive members and many Tibetan college students have been arrested for demonstrating outside the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi. They were protesting against China’s illegal occupation of Tibet and the forced demolition of Larung Gar Buddhist Academy, TYC’s official Facebook page reported.
Oct 14: New Recreational Hall
A new recreational hall at Jampaling old people’s home in Mcleod Ganj has been inaugurated by Mr Sonam Topgyal, Home Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile. The purpose of the new hall is to create a friendly environment for residents and they will now be able to watch and listen to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings and Tibetan related news on television. Ven Lama Zopa Rinpoche financed the project.
Oct 13: Bike Rally for Tibet
Twelve Tibetans concluded their bike rally in Dharamshala after travelling over 3,000 kilometres from Bylakuppe Tibetan settlement. The campaign organised by the Tibetan People’s Movement for Middle Way had three objectives: to urge China to start dialogue with envoys of HH the Dalai Lama, to stop the destruction of Tibetan culture, religion and environment and to facilitate the immediate release of all political prisoners including the Panchen Lama.
Oct 12: Detained
Sangdak Kyab from Sangchu County’s Sangkok township was detained by 10 Chinese police officers on September 29. Kyab, alongside three other men, were accused of taking the body of a man who had self-immolated to his home in 2013 but while Kyab escaped, Dorjee Namgyal, Jinpa and Dorjee Tashi all served their sentences . On their release Kyab returned home but was arrested. Updates on his present condition are unavailable.
Oct 12: Thank you India
The Central Tibetan Administration-in-exile has organised a “Thank You India” programme in several cities around the country to show their gratitude and appreciation for what India has done for the Tibetan freedom struggle. The programme has been held in Calicut, Kerala and Nagpur so far and will be held in other cities like Chennai and Puducherry.
Oct 11: Taiwan Parliamentary Group
A group of 30 Taiwanese legislators have formed a Taiwan Parliamentary Group for Tibet. They plan to abolish the Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission – a legacy of the Republic of China’s claim to sovereignty over Tibet and Mongolia, and to push for a refugee act supporting Tibetans living in Taiwan.
Oct 10: HH to Visit Arunachal
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has confirmed his visit to Arunachal for March 2017. “I take the privilege of this audience with your Holiness to once again represent the aspirations of my people to be blessed with your benevolent visit to Arunachal Pradesh. We are eagerly waiting for the cherished moments of your holy presence in Arunachal Pradesh,” said Pema Khandu, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.
Oct 8: Congratulations!
HH the Dalai Lama congratulated Juan Manuel Santos, the President of Colombia, on being awarded 2016 Nobel Peace Prize. His Holiness praised his unwavering efforts to bring an end to 52 years of civil war in his country. “I remain confident that before long the spirit of dialogue, mutual understanding and respect you have fostered will bear fruit and usher in...peace and prosperity,” wrote His Holiness.
Oct 7: New Chinese Law
China has officially implemented a new law which allows electronic data, including social media posts and private chats, to be used in court as evidence. Activists and experts are saying it will help the government in clamping down dissent. This has already been happening in Tibet, the new law ratifies China’s actions in using this data.
Oct 6: Musicians Freed
Pema Trinley, 22, and Chakdor, 32, two Tibetan singers, have been released after serving four years in a Chinese prison. They were arrested in July 2012 following the release of their album Agony of Unhealed Wounds which honours Tibetan self-immolators as well as praising HH the Dalai Lama. They were sentenced in a secret court in 2013. They come from Meuruma nomadic village in Ngaba.