Tibetan Headlines
Aug 21: Detainee Hospitalised
Phuntsok, a detainee believed to be in his 50s, has been moved to an emergency care facility in the provincial capital Xining under armed guard, suffering from severe problems with his stomach. He is one of three nonmonastic tantric practitioners, or ngakpas, who were taken into custody following the self-immolation of Damchoe Sangpo, a monk at the Bongtak monastery in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in 2012.
Aug 20: Woman Detained
Dorje Dolma, a young Tibetan woman, has been detained in southwestern China’s Sichuan province after she launched a brief protest early in the morning on a central street in Ngaba county, calling for Tibetan freedom. A witness said “She shouted in protest for some time before a group of police arrived at the scene and took her away”. “Dorje Dolma is the daughter of Dorab (father) and Tamding Tso (mother, they are residents of Meruma township’s Village No 2 in Ngaba county. There is no information about her place of detention or current condition.
Aug 20: Protesters Beaten
A group of elderly Tibetan villagers, including women, who were blocking construction of a dam last week were severely beaten by security forces in Seching village in Yadzi in the Salar Autonomous County. There are concerns that the dam could be linked to mining operations in the area. The group was attacked while the younger protesters were away working in the fields.
Aug 19: “Reduce Tensions”
The United States has urged China to reduce tensions in Tibetan areas during the 19th Human Rights Dialogue between the US and China held at Washington DC to discuss the human rights situations in both countries. A US spokesman said that China should renew dialogue with the Dalai Lama and respect the religious practices of Tibetan Buddhists.
Aug 18: Unidentified Tibetan Arrested
An unidentified young man in Lithang County, eastern Tibet, was arrested following a lone protest against the Chinese Government. The young man, carrying a big portrait of the Dalai Lama, shouted “Tibet needs freedom” and “Dalai Lama should be invited to Tibet.” He was immediately arrested by Chinese police in the area. Due to the restrictions on communication channels, the man’s name and other details could not be confirmed.
Aug 18: Nomad Detained
Woekar Kyi, aged about 23, a Tibetan nomad, was detained after staging a solitary protest in her township calling out for Tibetan freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama. She was detained in Meruma township in Ngaba county in the Sichuan province of southwestern China after shouting slogans. Kyi, who was raised in a nomad family, is the mother of a four-year-old son
Aug 17: Fundraising Event
Pema Choedon, Miss Tibet 2015, organised a fundraising event in Delhi for Tibetans living in the border area of Nepal whose lives have been drastically affected by the recent earthquake in Nepal. The villages of Bridim and Dhunche are completely destroyed. She wanted to help them rebuild their houses. Pema said that after seeing the BBC’s news story Invisible Tibetans, she was really touched and inspired to extend her help to those people.
Aug 16: More Security
More restrictions are being imposed on Tibetans in advance of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Tibet Autonomous Region which falls at the end of the month. The authorities are planning mandatory celebrations and are taking measures to head off any planned disruptions. Parcels and packages are being checked for guns, explosives, knives and banned political publications, and troops are reported to be moving into the area.
Aug 15: Independence Day
The Tibetan community in Dharamshala marked Indian Indpenendence day with a ceremony held at the Kashag secretariat. Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the political leader of the Tibetan people, congratulated India and raised the Indian flag saying, “I..had a dream, that one day soon we’ll also hoist the Tibetan national flag on the rooftop of the Potala palace”. He later attended the Indian administrative office ceremony in Lower Dharamshala.
Aug 15: Plea to Obama
President Obama has received a letter from several United States lawmakers ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to America next month. The lawmakers are asking Obama to speak to Xi about the deteriorating human rights situation in China; the lack of freedom to practice the religion of choice; and that the Chinese leadership should refrain from interfering over the next reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.
Aug 14: “Thank you!”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has thanked his devotees and friends for the extensive greetings and well wishes on his 80th birthday, saying “I make an appeal that we all work enthusiastically to promote ethical values imbued with love and compassion and that we do our best to reduce, if not eliminate, the conflicts and violence that currently beset many parts of the world… we must strive to foster inter-religious harmony for the good of all humanity. In addition, to protect our natural environment we have to work together.”
Aug 13: Clampdown
A clampdown is in force in southwestern China’s Sichuan province in the home county of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, 65, the revered Tibetan monk who died in prison last month. Radio Free Asia reports that communications are restricted and that the authorities are conducting political re-education activities in the area. RFA quotes their source as saying that Rinpoche’s monastery is “surrounded by police and armed paramilitary units”.
Aug 13: Forum for Tibet
The All Party Indian Parliamentary Forum for Tibet met in New Delhi to discuss the Tibet issue, along with the conveners of the Indian parliamentarian group in support of the Tibet issue. Also present was a delegation from the Tibetan Parliament led by Speaker Penpa Tsering. The parliamentarians expressed their concern at the human rights violations of the Tibetan people and China’s attempts to annihilate the identity of Tibetan people
Aug 12: Prisoner Freed
Pasang Wangchuk, 37, a Tibetan businessman who has been in detention since last month in the Sichuan province, has been freed with a warning of “severe punishment” if he speaks out about his detention. He was detained after making offerings in public to mark the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday. Wangchuk was also detained last year after staging a solo protest in the market area of Kardze town.
Aug 12: Tibetans Beaten
Several Tibetans have been beaten and hospitalised in Nangchen County. Chinese authorities insisted that residents there participate in a performance wearing traditional animal skin costumes. Any Tibetans who were deemed to look sad or unhappy during the performance were beaten by armed police. Tibetans now avoid wearing animal products in deference to the Dalai Lama who has asked them not to, stressing the importance of wildlife conservation and compassion towards animals.