Tibetan Headlines
Apr 7: Monk Released
Trinlay Gyatso, a monk from Togden monastery in Ngaba, has been released from prison after completing his seven-year sentence. He was held at Meinyang Prison near Chengdu in Sichuan for allegedly disseminating information about Tibetan protests in Ngaba in 2008 to the outside world. Known as an excellent student, Trinley is the eldest of five children, his parents are Nepey and Kunrik from Chuktsang Village in Ngaba County.
Apr 6: No Consulate in Lhasa
China has turned down India's request to re-establish its consulate in the Tibetan capital Lhasa. The consulate there was closed during the 1962 war. Instead, it will open its third consulate in China in the southwestern city of Chengdu. The agreement follows prolonged talks which ended in an agreement to establish their consulates in Chengdu and Chennai in India.
Apr 4: Tibetan Propaganda Centres
Tibet’s top Chinese-appointed official Chen Quanguo has said that Buddhist temples and monasteries in Tibet must become propaganda centres for the ruling Communist Party, where monks and nuns should learn to “revere” science and appreciate the party’s love. He said that monks and nuns in temples and monasteries should feel the party’s benevolence, listen to the party’s words and follow the party’s path.
Apr 3: Monk Released
Ludhup Tendar, a monk been freed after completing his seven-year term for opposing Beijing’s rule in Tibet. He was the chant leader at Amchok Tsenyi monastery in Ngaba county in the Sichuan province. At the time of his release, he wore a T-shirt with the words “I am a Tibetan”, “Peace and nonviolence” and “Speak truth” written in Tibetan on its front. No restrictions have been imposed on his community welcoming him home, as is often the case.
Apr 2: Four More Arrests
Three monks, Choephel Dawa, Jigme Wangyal and Choeying Choega from Sog Tsenden Monastery, and a layman, Drakpa, were arrested in Sog County in Tibet by Chinese police on the night of March 28. Police did not give reasons for their arrest, says Ngawang Tharpa, who has contacts in the region. Choephel Dawa, 27, has already served a two-year term after being arrested in 2012.
Apr 1: Classroom Propaganda
Free Tibet has launched a campaign to challenge Confucius Classrooms – an international language programme sponsored by the Chinese government used to spread propaganda regarding Tibet, Hong Kong, and China’s record on human rights and democracy. Free Tibet will contact schools which host the programme to inform them of its imbalanced approach, and will contact local councils and politicians to demand it be monitored.
Apr 1: Prisoner Freed
Tseten Gyal, 28, was freed following completion of his three-year term of hard labour. He was held in northwest China’s Qinghai province for taking part in protests challenging Chinese rule in Tibetan areas. He was detained in March 2012 when protesting with the monks of Ba Shingtri monastery. His family and friends have been “strictly forbidden from contacting the outside world” to discuss his release.
Mar 31: Long Life Ceremony
His Holiness the Dalai Lama accepted a long life offering led by the abbot of the Ganden Lhatse Monastery in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, the monastery where His Holiness gave his first sermon outside Tibet in 1959 after fleeing to India. The ceremony was held privately inside his residential premises, around 50 monks took part. Guru Rinpoche said the ritual, Kadam Thikley Chodruk, and prayers for the ceremony were unique to his monastery.
Mar 30: Public Audience
Earlier this morning, HH the Dalai Lama held a public audience for Indians and foreign visitors. Groups were created based on nationality, and he greeted each group and posed for photographs with them. Afterwards, HH the Dalai Lama gave a brief talk about the importance of religious harmony. He concluded by urging those in attendance to take steps to protect the environment.
Mar 29: Ninth Session Concludes
The 9th session of the 15th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile has concluded after nearly two weeks of deliberation, mainly focussing the 2015-2016 budget. Mr Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile asked everyone to respect the verdicts passed by parliament. He urged the public to exercise restraint while practicing their democratic right of free speech in social media and other forms of communication, to avoid demoralising Tibetans inside Tibet.
Mar 28: Charter Amendment
During the tenth day of the ongoing Budget Session of the 15th Tibetan parliament in exile, an amendment was made to the Tibetan charter to allot a parliamentary seat for the region of Australasia, a region including Australia, New Zealand and Asia (excluding India, Nepal and Bhutan). Additionally, two seats for the Jonang tradition under religious sects had to be dropped, as it did not garner the necessary support.
Mar 27: Celebration Prevented
Palden Gyatso, 46, a political prisoner in Qinghai province, has been freed, but his supporters have been ordered not to publicly celebrate his release and threatened with severe penalties if caught filming images of his return. Gyatso had served six of his seven year prison sentence for taking part in a protest in 2009. A heavy police presence prevented the “grand reception” which had been planned for him.
Mar 26: Shoton Festival
The 20th Tibetan Shoton (Opera/Curd) festival will be celebrated at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA), Dharamshala. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will grace the opening ceremony on March 27. The ten-day festival will see 12 different troupes of opera performers from India and Nepal. The festival will be concluded with a performance by TIPA on the life of Lord Buddha on April 5.
Mar 26: Monk Detained
Lobsang Dawa, a Tibetan monk from Sog Tsenden Monastery, was taken into custody during the evening hours of March 20. There is no information regarding his whereabouts, and police have not given any explanation for his arrest. Sources suspect that his detention could have been triggered by the possession of banned contents in his WeChat, including images of HH the Dalai Lama.
Mar 25: Former Monk Detained
Ngawang Gyaltsen, a former monk from a monastery in Nagchu county, was detained by Chinese authorities on February 24. News of his detention was blocked from reaching outside sources due to communication clampdowns. He had recently been forced to withdraw from the monastery and had been subjected to increased restrictions after challenging Chinese officials who conducted “patriotic education” programs.