Tibetan Headlines
May 3: New Library
A ceremony was held to celebrate the start of construction for the new Dalai Lama library and learning centre at Namgyal Monastery in Ithaca City, New York state. The library will be a resource for all the written works of both present and past Dalai Lamas, as well as around 4,000 books and Buddhist artefacts. A fundraising campaign has raised $5 million for construction of the library.
May 3: Meeting with JNU
Representatives of the Central Tibetan Administration Education Department met Prof Santishree D Panditthe, Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi. They discussed the recent fee increase which puts Tibetan students at a disadvantage as they do not generally have access to the funding available to Indian students. Also discussed was funding for Tibetan schools and possible agreements between JNU and Tibetan schools.
Apr 30: Meeting the Chinese
The China Democracy Party in London, United Kingdom, invited Office of Tibet London Representative Mr Sonam Frasi and his staff to meet Chinese delegations from overseas who are in London for the China, Hong Kong and Taiwan International Symposiums on Politics. They met Chinese delegations from the United States, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Germany. Also present was Mr Kalsang Gyaltsen, Representative of the Office of Tibet, Taiwan. Mr Frasi said how much they appreciate the China Democratic Party’s “determination and efforts for securing democracy in China”.
Apr 29: China of “Particular Concern”
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has published its 2022 Annual Report, in which it recommends that a number of countries, including China, should be considered as Countries of Particular Concern (CPC). The report notes continued “pervasive control and suppression of Tibetan Buddhism” by the Chinese government and mentions China’s White Paper issued in May which “included an emphasis on sinicising religion” in Tibet.
Apr 28: China Hits Back
China has responded to the call from Ned Price, the Spokesperson for the United States Department of State for information regarding the Panchen Lama, abducted by China 27 years ago. China has provided no information about the Panchen Lama but their Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said, “China firmly opposes US interference in China’s internal affairs on Tibet-related issues under the pretext of religious freedom.”
Apr 27: TCHRD Report
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy’s latest annual human rights report saying, “In 2021, the government of the People's Republic of China continued to perpetrate gross human rights violations involving arbitrary detention and torture, religious repression, and a widespread crackdown on the right to freedom of expression and information [... China makes] no pretence that forced cultural assimilation has now become an entrenched part of Chinese policy in Tibet”.
Apr 27: Funeral Rites Revealed
A cave excavation last year in Shigatse in Tibet has provided information about early Tibetan funeral customs, reports China’s state media the Global Times. Hundreds of human and animal bones were discovered in Dingqiong cave along with about 20 cultural relics, including pottery, copper, iron, bamboo and textiles. The artefacts are reported to date back to 221BC-220, when Qin and Han dynasties ruled in China. The research is ongoing.
Apr 27: Barred from University
Tibetans who are regarded as “separatists” or allegedly involved in “illegal” religion are being banned entry to China’s universities, reports the Tibetan Review, quoting a recent bitterwinter.org report saying that university authorities are required to consider “the candidates’ patriotism and fluency in Marxism, not academic merits” when looking at admissions. China’s Ministry of Education has issued new regulations, The Tibet Autonomous Region’s 2022 Regular College Admissions Regulations”.
Apr 26: Indian MPs in Dharamshala
The Tibetan Government-in-Exile has hosted a group of Indian parliamentarians who have visited Dharamshala to declare support and solidarity with the Tibetan movement. Members of the Indian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy as well as Indian Members of Parliament from different political parties visited, had a tour of the Central Tibetan Administration buildings and attended a cultural performance at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts.
Apr 26: Only Chinese
Tibetan village leaders are being required to speak to their villagers in Chinese, reports Radio Free Asia, saying that following a series of workshops, the authorities are now ordering “local administrators to conduct business only in Chinese, telling them they must support language policies mandated by Beijing and lead the Tibetan public ‘by example’”, and that this is aimed at “restricting the use by Tibetans of their native language”.
Apr 26: Congratulations to Macron
HH the Dalai Lama has written to French President Macron to congratulate him on his re-election as President saying, “It has been the Tibetan people’s good fortune to have received the friendship and encouragement of the people of France and their respective leaders [...] On behalf of all my fellow Tibetans, may I take this opportunity to express my gratitude once again. I wish you every success.”
Apr 26: Rinchen Kyi Released
The Tibetan teacher and political detainee Rinchen Kyi has been released after eight months in detention. Her release follows a vocal international campaign for her freedom. Tibet Watch, the UK-based research and advocacy group has reported that she was secretly returned home by police on Sunday April 24. She had committed no crime, but was detained, charged with “inciting separatism” for teaching local children in the Tibetan language.
Apr 25: No Birthday Celebrations
HH the Panchen Lama turns 33 today. The 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima has not been seen in public since his abduction from his home in Tibet by the Chinese authorities 27 years ago at the age of 6. Since then the Chinese government has provided no information about him or proof that he is still alive despite international calls for his release.
Apr 25: Protest in Kolkata
A pro-Tibet demonstration was held in front of the Chinese consulate in Kolkata in West Bengal in protest against the visit of a Chinese business delegation. Around 150 people were there, waving both Tibetan and Indian flags, from four non-government organisations: Ganusamanoy Kolkata, We are the Common People, Wise World Foundation and the Sanskriti Foundation, with participants calling on China to “stop torture and human rights violations in Tibet”.
Apr 25: EU Slams China
The European Union has released its 2021 Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World which says of Tibet, “religious practices continue to be heavily controlled by the [Communist Party of China]” [...] Detentions, torture and deaths in prison of Tibetan monks and rights activists continued to be reported” and criticises the lack of access to Tibet by foreigners, and the banning of Tibetan education in schools.