Tibetan Headlines
Feb 9: Losar Tashi Delek!
The team at Contact magazine, and our publisher, Lha Charitable Trust, wish all our Tibetan brothers and sisters and supporters everywhere a very happy and prosperous Tibetan New Year 2143, the year of Fire-Monkey. We wish all our readers a very healthy and successful year ahead and may we all be soon be gathered together in the Land of free Tibet.
Feb 8: Coverup
Last Words, a photographic exhibit by Tibetan artists at the Dhaka Art Summit, one of Bangladesh's biggest art shows, has been covered with white sheets. The Chinese embassy in Dhaka said it was "offended" by the artwork. The exhibition which is the work of Indian filmmaker Ritu Sarin and her husband Tenzing Sonam, a Tibetan living in exile, and is part of a larger multimedia installation on Tibetan self-immolations
Feb 7: Losar Greeting
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has sent a Losar greeting to Tibetans inside Tibet and in exile. He recorded a video greeting at the Mayo Clinic in America where he is undergoing treatment, addressed to “our people, ordained and lay, young and old, especially those inside Tibet, as well as those in exile.” Regarding his treatment, he said “there is nothing to worry about”. To watch the video Click here.
Feb 6: HIV Education
New HIV education materials in Tibetan are now available for Tibetans around the world. The Central Tibetan Administration has collaborated with TeachAIDS, a nonprofit social venture that creates breakthrough software solving problems in HIV and AIDS prevention around the world. The materials are designed to address the increase in new cases of HIV reported in the Tibetan community in recent years and the need for education materials.
Feb 5: Election Concerns
Lukar Jam, one of the original candidates for the position of Sikyong in the forthcoming election, has publicly added his voice to the concern expressed by some over the election rules and procedures. He says that the current candidates “do not represent the full ideology” of the voting Tibetan community. Jam, a pro-independence candidate, was dropped having gained insufficient votes in the preliminary election.
Feb 4: Poetry Book Launch
A poetry book, Sem Ki Sawang (Secrets of the heart), by Merpa Jamyang Dolma, 18, has been launched. She said she hoped her work will be a “wake up message” about preserving the Tibetan culture to young Tibetans who have, like her, grown up in India. The book was launched by Geshe Lhakdor, Director of The Library of Tibetan Works and Archives at Ghangchen Kyishong.
Feb 3: Funding for Businesses
The Tibetan Entrepreneurship Development (TED) is inviting applications from Tibetan entrepreneurs for funding for their business ideas. TED, an initiative of the Department of Finance, Central Tibetan Administration, aims to provide end-to-end business development support. In addition to funding, TED will provide training and support. Application information is at www.tibetanentrepreneurs.org.
Feb 2: Killers Sentenced
Two men accused of killing Akong Rinpocje have been sentenced to death. Akong Rinpoche was a well-known religious figure who founded Kagyu Samye Ling in Scotland, the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in the West, and initiated many charitable projects. He was stabbed when on a visit to Chengdu, raising money for his charitable causes; The two given death sentences are Thubten Kunsal and Ciren Banyue.
Feb 1: Tibetan Competition
A Tibetan language competition has been held in the Tibetan populated Qinghai province, apparently with the approval of the authorities. Over a thousand contestants took part, including school students and laypersons with no formal education from Nangchen county in the Yulshul Tibetan Autonmous Prefecture. Prizes were awarded including a car, motorcycles and cash, The contest was organised by the Dzanyin Mother Tongue Promotion Association in Nangchen,
Jan 31: Right to Education
Tibetan and Muslim students, together with their parents, are protesting publicly to demand better funding for the education of minority groups in northwestern China’s Qinghai province. They have gathered the government offices in Xining, demanding the right to equal education opportunities as granted by the [ruling Chinese] Communist Party and the government, according to a report in Radio Free Asia
Jan 30: Karma Choephel
Karma Choephel, 67, former speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile has passed away after a prolonged illness. Choephel was born in Tradun, Central Tibet and has served the exile Tibetan community over a long span of years as a teacher, activist and a member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile and was one of the most well-known Tibetan politicians. Choephel is survived by his wife and four children.
Jan 29: Worst Place
Tibet is at the bottom of the Freedom House annual Freedom in the World Report which assesses levels of political freedoms and civil liberties. Only Syria comes below Tibet as the “worst of the worst” places in the world. Tibet scored 7, the lowest score, for both political rights and civil liberties, and an overall “Not free” rating. Freedom House is an influential American human rights and democracy organisation.
Jan 28: Tibetan Classes
Tibetan classes have been taking place in Tawu county in the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, taught by university-affiliated instructors. Radio Free Asia has reported on this apparent breakthrough, with state approval for the course of lessons. Around 200 students attended the 20-day course. Tibetan language courses have been deemed “illegal” and usually prompt tightened security measures with many people taking classes in secret.
Jan 27: Prayers in Tibet
Tibetans in Tibet are holding prayers for His Holiness the Dalai Lama's speedy recovery in the United States following his prostrate treatment there. Thousands of Tibetans can be seen on photographs circulating on social media, gathered outside Chakri monastery in Tehor in Kham. A large portrait of the Dalai Lama is shown alongside offerings and Khatas (traditional Tibetan wellwishing scarves) at the monastery.
Jan 23: Tenzin
Tenzin, a former Tibetan political prisoner, died in Lhasa on January 6, aged 79, according to a report in Phayul. He had been imprisoned twice by the Chinese authorities and underwent extreme torture resulting in the loss of his eyesight and deterioration of his health following his release. The charges against him was not clear; his release was prompted by his poor health.