Tibetan Headlines
Sep 16: New Parliament Session
The 10th and final session of the 15th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile has begun. Five resolutions were passed on the first day: a declaration of solidarity with the sufferings of Tibetans in Tibet, and mourning and homage for Tibetan self-immolators and for Richen Dhondup Sadhutsang, Gadong Tenzin Wangdak, and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, former president of India. The 6th Public Accounts Committee presented its annual report.
Sep 15: Another Arrest
Dekyi Dolma, 22, was detained on September 13 after a solo protest in Ngaba County in the Sichuan province calling for an end to the oppressive Chinese policies in the region. According to local sources, the place was under complete security clampdown since the arrest of two monks on September 10 after their separate solo protests at the same region.
Sep 15: His Holiness in UK
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has arrived in Oxford, England at the start of his nine-day visit to the United Kingdom. He will give a public talk Compassion: the Foundation of Well-Being in London and will participate in a series of events in Oxford and Cambridge. It is hoped that his collaboration with leading thinkers, scientists and scholars will inspire the younger generation. He will also meet British Parliamentarians.
Sep 14: UK Press Statements
Ahead of the Dalai Lama’s visit to London, UK, the Tibetan Community in Britain and British Buddhist Groups and organisations have issued press statements about Shugden, or Dolgyal, and their expected demonstrations against His Holiness. In the past Shugden has demonstrated outside venues where His Holiness appears. The PRs say that Shugden is influenced by China and its attempts to undermine the Dalai Lama.
Sep 14: Petition Refused
The British campaigning organisation Free Tibet collected 11,844 signatures on a petition calling for the release of the musicians jailed in Tibet. The Chinese Embassy in London refused to accept the petition and it will be sent by post to Beijing. The petition called for China's Minister of Justice to release Tibet's jailed musicians and to ensure that all Tibetans are free to express themselves without fear of punishment.
Sep 13: Two Protestors Detained
Lobsang Drakpa, 20, also known as Adrak, and another person, also called Lobsang, both monks, have been detained after separate solo protests protesting against China’s rule in Ngaba county in the Sichuan province. Both protestors were taken into custody, one of them was beaten, and several bystanders were also detained after clashes with police. Communications to outside areas have been cut under a security clampdown in Ngaba.
Sep 12: Flying the Flag
A Tibetan national flag was displayed publicly this week in northwestern China’s Qinghai province in defiance of official bans on the flag, which the Chinese authorities say is a “separatist” symbol of Tibetan nationhood. The flag was hung from a metal frame on September 6 in Golug, and remained there until noon the next day; it was hung in defiance of China’s official celebration of 60 years since the founding of Pema county.
Sep 11: Released From Jail
Lobsang Tsering, 29, a monk from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County and a Tibetan political prisoner, was released from Mianyang prison near Chengdu in Sichuan on completion of three years’ imprisonment. He was arrested on June 26, 2012 for distributing leaflets containing messages that were deemed to be “separatist” in nature. Lobsang’s parents are Tharco and Takyith, and he has three brothers and a sister.
Sep 11: Hunger Strike
The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) has launched an “indefinite hunger strike” with three of their executives taking part. They are calling on the United Nations and world governments to intervene on behalf of Tibet. As China celebrates 50 years of their Tibetan Autonomous Region, and talks of Tibet’s “Golden Age”, the TYC says it is the darkest age in the history of Tibet, with nothing to celebrate; they wish to show support for the people who have died protesting against China's rule in Tibet.
Sep 10: Monk Traced
Gomar Choephel, the monk arrested last month, has been traced to Dragmer Detention Centre in Rebkong County in Tibet. Choephel, a monk at Rongwo monastery, comes from the village of Gomar. His family had no knowledge of his whereabouts after his arrest, and no reason had been given for the arrest, although it is understood he was suspected of sharing a picture of the Dalai Lama on his phone.
Sep 9: Another Arrest
Jampal Gyatso, 21, a monk from Kirti monastery, was arrested after walking along Ngaba town’s main street holding a photo of the Dalai Lama and calling out for Tibetan freedom. Police arrived and took him away, since when there has been no information about his detention, although it is reported that police searched his room in the monastery. Gyatso and his family are from Meruma village group number 3.
Sep 9: New White Paper
China has published a new White Paper on Tibet, Successful Practice of Regional Ethnic Autonomy in Tibet, which claims that China has transformed Tibet from “Old and backward Tibet” to “Golden Age” as it marked 50 years of its founding of the Tibet Autonomous. It also claims that “the system of regional ethnic autonomy has won the wholehearted support of all ethnic groups in China.”
Sep 8: Panchen Lama
Norbu Dunzhub, a senior Chinese official, has told Reuters that the Panchen Lama, who was abducted 20 years ago at the age of six, is "being educated, living a normal life, growing up healthily and does not wish to be disturbed". He continued, "The identification was done without authorisation. It was illegal and invalid", referring to the Dalai Lama’s recognition of Gendun Choekyi Nyima as the Panchen Lama.
Sep 7: Arrested in Tibet
Lobsang Kalsang, 19, a monk from Kirti Monastery, was arrested following a lone peaceful protest against Chinese rule in Ngaba County in Amdo in north-eastern Tibet. He shouted slogans including "freedom for Tibetans" and was arrested immediately. Local people gathered at the police station to show solidarity. Another lay Tibetan was also detained. Kalsang's brother Losang Tenpa, 21, also from Kirti, is currently serving a two-year sentence.
Sep 7: Dalai Lama’s Teaching
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is teaching in Tsugla Khang, Dharamshala. The four-day teaching is at the request of a group of devotees from Asian countries, and attended by over 5,000 people. The teachings are Shantideva’s A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, Kamalashila’s The Middling States of Meditation, Nagarjuna’s The Precious Garland of the Middle Way, and Gyalsey Thokme Sangpo’s The 37 Practices of Bodhisattvas.