Tibetan Headlines
Oct 6: Young Monk Arrested
Lobsang Jamyang, 15, a monk at Ngaba Kirti Monastery, was detained on September 23 in the town of Ngaba in Amdo, Sichuan Province after walking from Pawoe Sanglam (or “Martyrs path”) to the main street and shouting “Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet” and “Freedom in Tibet”. His whereabouts are unknown. The Martyr’s path is where many Tibetans have self-immolated in Ngaba, and the centre of the protests there
Oct 5: Released!
Lakyab, 25, has been released from prison in northwestern China’s Gansu province. He was jailed in 2008 for attempting to burn down the Tserima township government building and the local police station, as well as challenging Beijing’s rule in Tibetan areas, and is said to have been released because of a lung condition which has developed as the result of beatings and torture while in detention.
Oct 1: Hunger Striker Hospitalised
TYC Hunger Striker Tsewang Dolma was hospitalised late last night and escorted by Delhi Police to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where she is being looked after. “My hunger strike is not hard compared to the atrocities Tibetans are suffering every day under Chinese occupation,” said Dolma earlier. Her father fought against the Chinese when Tibet was invaded by the People’s Liberation Army.
Oct 1: His Holiness is “Well”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama made a statement to Tibetans in Minesota, US, saying “So I’m very well, and there’s no need for any of you to worry. However the doctors have told me to rest more. And yes, even I can see that…I do feel more fatigue than I used to." His Holiness will be returning to Dharamshala on Saturday October 3 and rest there.
Sep 28: Jang Gunchoe
Over 700 Buddhist monks from 27 monasteries have gathered at Ragya monastery in Golog in northwestern China’s Qinghai province for the 21st seven-day Jang Gunchoe, or annual Winter Teachings. Radio Free Asia reports there is a “subdued atmosphere” due to “unprecedented” Chinese security restrictions. Attendees are primarily monks, with very few lay people taking part.
Sep 26: US Visit Cancelled
The office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama has announced that His Holiness has had to cancel his engagements for his visit to the United States next month. He is at present in the US for a medical check-up and doctors have advised His Holiness to rest for the next several weeks. His office has made a statement deeply regretting the inconvenience caused and offering thanks for support and understanding.
Sep 26: Hunger Strike
The Tibetan Youth Congress hunger strikers have reached day 16 of their Indefinite Hunger Strike for Tibet, reporting an inspiring day with visits from ex Chief Minister Shri Prafulla Kumar Mahanta of Assam, Indian and Tibetan MP's, Indian Idol Winner Prashant Tamang, TYC members, family, friends and well-wishers who came to show support and solidarity. The hunger strikers are demanding United Nations intervention in China’s oppressive rule of Tibet.
Sep 25: Nomads Ignored
Tibetan nomads living in Thangkor Township have appealed once again to the government to provide lawful redress for the land which was grabbed from them in 2010 by the authorities. Around 20 families were forcibly evicted from their land and nomadic grazing in Dzoege and Ngaba counties, and their houses demolished. They have now been told the issue will not be resolved.
Sep 24: UN Focus on China
The human rights situation in China was the focus of criticism at the 30th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, currently in session in Geneva. The European Union delegation urged “China to address the root causes of unrest and foster dialogue...especially in Tibet and Xinjiang”. America and other European countries including Germany, UK, Switzerland, Netherlands, also made statements.
Sep 23: Protesters “Welcome” Xi
Chinese President Xi Jinping was "welcomed" at the start of his week-long United States visit by over 100 protesters outside his hotel in Seattle. In the midst of supporters welcoming him, members of pro-Tibetan and other human rights groups held big banners aloft. Their protests focused on the growing human rights abuses under Xi’s rule. Further protests are expected during his visit.
Sep 21: Scottish Support
Forty-two members of the Scottish Parliament have signed the “I Stand with Tibet” petition filed by pro-Tibet groups in Europe. The petition on the human rights situation inside Tibet will be presented to the European Parliament and other international bodies in November. The Scottish Parliament's Cross Party Group on Tibet also held an exhibition in their parliament on the human rights abuse in Tibet.
Sep 20: Book Launch Protest
Members of Students for a Free Tibet have confronted a Chinese official in Washington DC over Chinese President Xi Jinping's new book Xi Jinping: Governance of China. The activists staged a protest at a local bookstore, saying that Xi can publish as many books as he wants but he cannot rewrite history and change the fact that Tibet was an independent nation.
Sep 19: Kalachakra in Tibet
A four-day Kalachakra ceremony has began at Kumbum monastery in Qinghai’s Tsoshar prefecture, a local source told Radio Free Asia. The ceremony was conducted by Geja Rinpoche, a senior Tibetan religious leader. A massive crowd of around 200,000 people including Tibetans, Monglians, and Han Chinese were reported to have gathered for the ceremony. The Kalachakra has been conducted many times outside Tibet by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Sep 18: Detainee Identified
One of the bystanders arrested for supporting the two solo protesters of September 10 has been identified as Aye Gumo, 64, from division no 2 of Kharsar village in the Rong area of Ngaba county. Her current whereabouts and condition are not known. She was a street cleaner in Ngaba town. The two young people arrested with her have not been identified.
Sep 17: Hunger Strike: Day 7
The Tibetan Youth Congress hunger strikers have completed their first week and are attracting support from all over the world. Their request is that the United Nations intervene now and stop the Chinese repression of Tibetans in Tibet. They have set up an online petition addressed to Ban Ki Moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations with a target of 1,000 signatures: nearly half that number have already signed.