Tibetan Headlines
Jun 7: Whereabouts Unknown
Yonten Rabgyal, 26, who was arrested on March 13 this year in Golok Chigdril County in Qinghai province, is still in detention, whereabouts unknown. He has told a friend that he has done nothing illegal. Yonten, who comes from a poor family, may have been arrested on suspicion of sending information to exile sources. It is Yonten’s second arrest, last time he was released on payment of 5000 Yuan.
Jun 6: Two Arrested
Two people, Jamyang and another unidentified Tibetan, have been arrested in Machu County for planning a horse race event to mark the 80th birthday of the Dalai Lama. They were arrested after leaflets and posters for the event were circulated around the county. The authorities have banned all public gatherings at the venue of the horse race and heavy deployment of Chinese security forces has been reported.
Jun 5: New Laws
The International Campaign for Tibet, based in Washington in the United States, has expressed concerns over new laws being drafted in China on security, counter-terrorism and non-government organisations. Matteo Meccaci, the ICT President said the “new legislation…would curtail even more basic human rights”, and that new laws will heighten tensions still further in Tibet.
Jun 5: Nepal Earthquake
The Tibetan Government-in-Exile (CTA) will send a further 30 million Nepali rupees to the earthquake relief effort following a visit to assess the damage. The funds come from the CTA’s emergency relief and rehabilitation fund-raising campaign carried out after the earthquake. 50% was raised from within the Tibetan community and 50% from from the CTA’s network of donors and supporters across the world.
Jun 4: Ten Detained
At least 10 people were detained when police dispersed a group of Tibetans protesting against construction work in Alak village in northwestern China’s Gansu province. The protest started when heavy earth-moving equipment was brought in for road construction on land owned by Tibetans. The land, which was undeveloped, had been used by the local Tibetan community for dances and performances, reported Radio Free Asia.
Jun 3: Two Released
Phakma and her nephew Jigme, two Tibetans from Ngaba, have been released from Chushul prison near Lhasa. Hundreds of Tibetans welcomed them home, shouting "Bhod gyalo, lha gyalo" (victory to Tibet, victory to gods). They were arrested in connection with two self-immolation protests in 2012, along with Phakma's husband Karkho who was sentenced to life imprisonment. They come from Lota village in the Shoegu division.
Jun 3: Rehabilitation Policy
Home Kalon Gyari Dolma and Home Secretary Mr Sonam Topgyal Khorlatsang of the Central Tibetan Administration visited Dehradun where they thanked the government of Uttarakhand for the recently formulated Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy which will facilitate the rehabilitation and welfare of Tibetans in the state. The Uttarakhand Minister assured full co-operation and said that the state will do whatever possible to improve Tibetan living conditions.
Jun 2: Tibetan Grasslands Report
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy has published a new report Wasted Lives: A Critical Analysis of China’s Campaign to End Tibetan Pastoralist Lifeways, published in collaboration with the League for Pastoral Peoples. The report looks at China’s use of Tibetan grasslands and the possible consequence of Tibet losing its food security, together with the removal of nomads from their traditional grazing lands.
Jun 1: Sikyong Scholarship Recipient
Tenzin Damdul, a student from TCV Suja school, was announced as the recipient of the Sikyong Scholarship by the Department of Education, Central Tibetan Administration. Students who secure above 95% in the Central Board of Secondary Education's class XII examination are eligible for this scholarship - an award of INR 1 lac. Damdul secured 95.8% if the best five subjects are totalled, excluding the marks of Tibetan language.
Jun 1: Monasteries Under Pressure
Large sums of money are being paid to Tibetan monasteries in western China’s Sichuan province which have avoided participating in protests challenging Beijing’s rule in Tibetan areas. In addition, “patriotic re-education” classes are being imposed on monasteries that have taken part. Payments of 30,000 yuan [U.S. $4,841] to 50,000 yuan [U.S. $8,069] have been reported, while “patriotic re-education” sessions are said to last from three to four days.
May 31: Kickoff
The 21st Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup football tournament, the most coveted sporting event of the Tibetan diaspora, kicked off in McLeod Ganj. 28 Tibetan football clubs and 448 players from the United States, Canada, Europe, Nepal and India are participating in this year’s tournament which will run until June 10. The tournament was first held in 1981 in memory of HH the Dalai Lama’s late mother.
May 28: Patriotic Re-education
Patriotic re-education campaigns in Sog county in the Nagchu prefecture, now part of the Tibet Autonomous Region, are being intensified and around 40 residents of the county have reportedly been arrested for traveling outside TAR. Officials visited the Tsendhen monastery there and said there was a need for more “political education” in the monastery. They threatened eviction for monks who do not comply with new rules.
May 27: Two Detained
Lhundrub, 27, a monk, and Rithar, 21, two young Tibetans, were detained earlier this month. It is assumed their detention is for having allegedly transmitted politically sensitive writings and images over the popular WeChat microblog. Both were natives of Traktse village in Dingri county in Shigatse. Lhundrub was detained in Traktse, Rithar in Lhasa.
May 26: “Delhi Declaration”
The two-day International Rangzen Conference in New Delhi concluded with the “Delhi Declaration” which re-affirms the participants’ stance on Rangzen (complete independence for Tibet), while respecting the official stance of the Tibetan Government, and resolves to promote unity among Tibetans. Tenzin Tsundue, one of the organisers, said “Generations of Tibetans both within and without Tibet must carry on the struggle with unflinching faith and determination”.
May 25: Two Awards
Two awards aimed at encouraging Tibetan entrepreneurs have been launched by the Tibetan Entrepreneurship Development (TED), an initiative of the Department of Finance of the Central Tibetan Administration in partnership with the Dalai Lama Foundation in Canada. The Sikyong Entrepreneur of Year Award winner will receive INR2,100,00and the Investment Award for Up and Coming Entrepreneurs will give prizes of up to INR1,500,000.