Tibetan Headlines
May 24: Rangzen!
Tibetan activists, students and community leaders are in New Delhi for the two-day International Rangzen (Independence) Conference to mark the 64th year of Chinese occupation of Tibet. Around 100 participants have come from India, Nepal, United States of America and Europe. The conference will discuss the next steps for the freedom movement as well as acknowledging the support of the government and the people of India for Tibet.
May 23: Another Detention
Sonam Dargye, a resident of Suwa village in Ngaba county in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, was detained last month for his role in organising a prayer festival in March. The news has only just emerged due to the communications block. Festival participants shouted slogans calling for Tibetan unity and paraded flags with photos of the Dalai Lama and other exile leaders.
May 22: Weeks of Harrassment
Weeks of police harassment, with the beating and detention of around 80 resident of Tawu county who were planning "separatist activities" - to celebrate the 80th birth year of HH the Dalai Lama - led to Tenzin Gyatso's self-immolation earlier this week. His protest was followed by minor scuffles with police and four girls - Tashi Dolma, Tsering, Choetso, and Rigdzin Lhamo - were taken into custody.
May 20: Singer Sentenced
Gonpo Tenzin, a popular Tibetan singer from Shakchu Township in Driru County in the Nagchu Prefecture in Tibet was sentenced to three and a half years in prison last month, but news is only emerging now because of the communications crackdown there. He was arrested in November 2013 for his song Where is the new year in Tibet which praises Tibetan culture, and has been tortured during his detention.
May 18: Monk Arrested
Tsewang Choephel, a monk from Nyitso monastery in Tawu County in eastern Tibet, was arrested while commuting to work on his motorbike for his alleged part in a protest following another monk, Kalsang Yeshi's self-immolation protest last year. Choepel comes from Masur village in Tawu County.
May 18: 20-Year Disappearance
The Central Tibetan Administration marked 20 years since the 11th Panchen Lama's enforced disappearance with an event at Tibetan Childrens Village Day School in McLeod Ganj, attended by prominent Tibetan leaders who called for his release. Later, a documentary was screened and a photo exhibition on self-immolation displayed. Gedun Choekyi Nyima was abducted by China at only six years of age; the Chinese government still refuses to provide any information.
May 17: Monk Freed
Palden Trinlay, 26, a monk from Kardze monastery in Sichuan, has been released from Mianyang prison after serving a seven-year term for his role in the 2008 protests. He is reported to have been sent home in secret to prevent public celebration of his release, although people were waiting for him to arrive. Last year he was reported to be in poor health and without adequate medical treatment.
May 15: Tibetans Win Medals
Two Tibetan women from Tibet, Shilo Dolma and Choekyi Dolma, have bagged medals at the Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. Shilo Dolma, who is from Nyingtri County in the Tibet Autonomous Region, won the gold medal in 63kg wrestling and Choekyi Dolma from Golog won the silver medal in 5,000 metre run.
May 14: Photocopying Restrictions
A new restriction has been imposed on Tibetans living in the Tsolho region of Qinghai in Tibet. A group of Tibetans was refused permission to photocopy Tibetan-language papers relating to environmental protection, and told that the Chinese authorities' approval is required first. They are members of the Ser-nya Soong-kyop Tsokpa (Goldfish Protection Association), a voluntary environmental group working to protect and clean up Kokonor lake (Tib: Tso Nyon Po).
May 13: Dalai Lama Shunned
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) President Amit Shah to cancel his meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama during Shah’s recent visit to Himachal Pradesh where he was speaking at the Party state executive meeting. Initial reports cited Shah’s busy schedule as the reason for cancellation but it has emerged that Modi did not want to upset China ahead of his maiden visit there.
May 12: Two People Beaten
Namgyal Tenzin, 53, and his son Petse who is mentally unstable, were were beaten up by two policemen in civilian clothing in Driru County in the Nagchu Prefecture while out for an evening walk. Namgyal is in hospital with a broken back, serious head injuries and suspected kidney damage. The two policemen have not been punished or reprimanded. Namgyal denies the police claim that they spoke to them abusively.
May 12: More Homes Demolished
Six Tibetans have been detained for attempting to block the demolition of their temporary homes which the authorities say were built without permission and are spoiling the scenic beauty of Qinghai Lake in Chabcha county. The six are: Lubum Gyal, his sons Tsewang Gyal and Rinchen Dorje, and his son-in-law Yeshe Dorje, also Tashi Gyal, a village chief and Yangchuk Gyal. Many people are without shelter as a result of the demolitions.
May 11: App Launch
His Holiness the Dalai Lama launched a new bilingual news app, Himachalabhiabhi.com, at an event in Kangra, near Dharamshala. Asked about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's forthcoming visit to China, His Holiness replied "I am very concerned about the preservation of Tibetan culture, which is essentially ancient Indian culture." When asked what kind of birth he might choose next, His Holiness jokingly replied, “A woman?”
May 9: Homes Demolished
Authorities in China’s northwestern Qinghai province are demolishing a Tibetan village saying that the houses were built without official permission. Many families in the village of Benshul Jeyna in Mangra county in the Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture are being left homeless. This is the second time this village has been demolished and people who have spent “much money and effort” rebuilding their homes are seeing them torn down again.
May 9: Tibetan Women in Action
The week-long General Body Meeting of the Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) is underway in Dharmshala. The leader of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, addressed the inaugural ceremony, saying the TWA is "one of the largest non-governmental organisations...doing very well politically, spiritually, culturally, educationally and most importantly travelling around the world and advocating for the cause of Tibet.”