Tibetan Headlines
Jul 18: China’s Panchen
China has announced that the Panchen Lama appointed by them, Gyaltsen Norbu, will conduct the key Buddhist Kalachakra ceremony later this month at the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Shigatse in southwest Tibet, historically the official seat of the Panchen Lama. The Panchen Lama recognised by the Dalai Lama was abducted by the Chinese at the age of six and has not been seen since.
Jul 17: Woman Detained
An unidentified woman has been detained by Chinese police after staging a solo protest against Beijing’s rule in Tibet. She walked down the street known locally as Heroes’ Road in the main town of Ngaba county carrying a portrait of HH the Dalai Lama. Her name and current whereabouts are unknown; she is apparently in her 20s and was wearing a white dress, reports Radio Free Asia.
Jul 16: Task Force Meeting
The Task Force on Sino-Tibetan negotiation, the Central Tibetan Administration's body set up to consider and recommend policies and strategies for negotiations with China regarding the situation inside Tibet, is meeting in Dharamshala. It was formed in 1999 to explore peaceful and mutually acceptable resolutions to the situation. It is presided over by the leader of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay.
Jul 16: Khenpo Kartse Released
Khenpo Kartse, also known as Khenpo Karma Tsewang, the popular religious figure and well respected abbot of Jhapa monastery in Kham Nangchen, has been released after serving his two and a half year sentence. Radio Free Asia’s Tibetan service reports that he was released on June 6; details of his condition of health are not known. Khenpo was arrested on December 7, 2013 on suspicion of involvement in anti-state activities.
Jul 15: Floods and Drought
The effects of changing weather in Northwestern Qinghai province left some areas hit by flooding, with others facing drought and drinking water shortages. A town in Yulshul Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture’s Chumarleb County suffers critically from a shortage of drinking water, with streams drying up and causing many fish deaths. In some other regions, torrential rainfall caused flooding, resulting in loss of life and livestock deaths.
Jul 14: Winning Team!
The first ever Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup to be held outside India was played in Toronto, with the host team Cholsum Football Club, beating New York Tibet United to win the title. The Tibetan National Sports Association has initiated the overseas tournament to boost sports in the overseas Tibetan community. Twelve teams from America, Canada and Europe took part.
Jul 13: First Anniversary
To commemorate the first anniversary of Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s death, Tibetan non government organisations in Dharamshala have launched Tibetan Heroes Day which is to be marked every year to honour Tibetan political prisoners. The Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche Service Community launched two books, Mind’s Wailing in Remembrance, a collection of essays written in remembrance of Rinpoche, and The Transcription of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s speeches from 1950 – 2015.
Jul 13: Demolition In Process
The Chinese authorities have started the process of demolition at the largest Buddhist centre in Tibet, Larung Ghar Buddhist Academy in the Serta county of Kardze. Monastic leaders are urging residents to stay calm when the demolition and destruction of houses begins on July 25. The centre, which is home to almost 10,000 residents, is set to be reduced to maximum population of 5,000.
Jul 12: Sikkim Rally
Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Gangtok in Sikkim, calling on the government to relax its restrictions on travel to Sikkim for the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee to enable him to visit Rumtek Monastery. Rumtek Monastery is the seat of the Karmapa lineage in India and the Karmapa is head of Karma Kagyu or black hat tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
Jul 10: Museum Exhibition
The Tibet Museum, is holding a four day exhibition in Pathankot in the Punjab. The exhibition Biography of His Holiness the Dalai Lama depicts His Holiness’s early life and responsibilities, the second exhibition is Indo-Tibet Relations, Ancient Ties and Current Bonds. A documentary film on the history of Tibet is being shown. The exhibition is being held at the Partap World School in Pathankot.
Jul 9: New Library
Ithaca in New York in the United States has been chosen by HH the Dalai Lama to host a library for an archive of Buddhists materials and scripts. A branch of Namgyal Monastery located at Ithaca will set up the institution which will serve to “protect the legacy of the Dalai Lama and all he represents to many millions throughout the world”.
Jul 8: Welcome Back!
His Holiness the Dalai Lama returned to Dharamshala this morning following a seven day visit to Mungod Tibetan settlement in Karnataka state. Tibetans and well wishers gathered to welcome him. He was met at Gaggal airport by Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and other officials. On July 13, His Holiness will give a teaching at Rewalsar followed by a series of teachings in Ladakh from August 12-21.
Jul 8: More Land Grabs
Land in Riwoche county in the Chamdo prefecture has been seized from Tibetans by the authorities for minimal compensation and then sold on at a profit to Chinese developers. People refusing to sell are threatened with jail reports Radio Free Asia, saying that the land is used to build apartments which are then sold back at high prices to the Tibetans from whom the land was originally taken.
Jul 7: Tibetans Arrested
Twenty four Tibetans in Kathmandu, Nepal, were arrested and later released after gathering to celebrate HH the Dalai Lama’s birthday. A crowd of several hundred Tibetans was dispersed by police who also pulled down large portraits of the Dalai Lama and scattered banners, flowers, and other offerings. Local opinion is that Nepal succumbed to pressure from China as they initially gave permission for the celebrations to take place
Jul 6: Banned Birthday Celebration
Tibetans in Nepal have been denied holding any celebration for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 81st birthday despite permission being given initially. The Tibetan community in Nepal has been making preparations for weeks but the police prevented any celebration from taking place. “No one can stop us from respecting and loving His Holiness the Dalai Lama”, a Tibetan living in Nepal posted on Facebook.