Tibetan Headlines
Mar 14: Expression of Thanks
The Tibetan Prime Minister, Lobsang Sangay, who travelled to Europe to join Tibetans and Tibetan supporters for the “Europe Stands for Tibet Rally,” expressed his gratitude for such support. While speaking in Paris, he thanked the Tibet Support Groups for their constant and unwavering efforts. He told the audience about the grim situation within Tibet, and expressed the importance of the rally as a public showing of solidarity.
Mar 13: Nuns Rebel
Tibetan nuns protested to Chinese officials visiting their nunnery, Drakkar Choeling, in Tawu county in Kardze. They threw gifts of shoes onto the ground, rejected government offers of assistance and called for freedom from Chinese rule. The officials had tried to "persuade the nuns to express their appreciation and affection for China” as well as warning the nuns they would "face consequences" if they participated in anti-China protests.
Mar 12: Commemoration Held
The Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) commemorated the 56th anniversary of Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day at Martyrs’ pillar inside the main temple complex in Dharamshala. Honorable Kalon Gyari Dolma and heads of major NGOs were in attendance. After the function, a peace march to Kachari in lower Dharamshala was held. Both Tibetans and foreigners participated. Commemorations were also held by other regional chapters of TWA.
Mar 11: Shot and Wounded
Tamdin, a Tibetan boy from Kardze in the Sichuan Province, was shot and wounded in the leg by Chinese authorities when he refused to yield to police at a traffic. He was traveling with two friends on a motorbike with prayer flags flying on the back on their way to fly prayer flags, as he claimed is their right. His two companions escaped into a nearby field.
Mar 10: Uprising Day
Tibetan Uprising Day, which commemorates the original uprising against the Chinese invasion in Lhasa, Tibet, in March 1959, is being observed around the world in the exile Tibetan community as well as in Tibet, despite the crackdown there. In Dharamshala, the Vice-President of the Bundestag (German Parliament) Claudia Roth, who is attending the official Uprising Day events, urged China to resume dialogue with the Tibetans.
Mar 9: Lone Protester Arrested
Gendun Phuntsok, 18, a Tibetan monk from Kirti Monastery, was arrested after staging a lone protest in Ngaba town. Phuntsok marched into the main street carrying a huge portrait of the Dalai Lama adorned with a yellow traditional scarf, and calling for "freedom and equal rights for Tibetans in Tibet". He was arrested within minutes and his whereabouts are not known. Phuntsok comes from Chuglay Gapma of Cha village in Ngaba county.
Mar 8: Gatherings Banned
Tibetans in Nepal have been denied permission to hold any kind of public gathering this year on March 10, the 56th Tibetan National Uprising Day. The Tibetan Refugee Welfare Office in Kathmandu had sought permission but was refused, and the Tibetan Government-in-exile has directed people to abide by the laws of the land. Nepal is under increasing pressure from China, a major investor in Nepal, to crackdown on Tibetans.
Mar 7: Exhibition
An exhibition to mark the 80th birthday of HH the Dalai Lama this year was held at the Tibet Museum in Mandi, in Himahcal Pradesh, India, hosted by the Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association of Mandi and the Tibetan Government-in-Exile. The themes of the exhibition were "India and Tibet - ancient ties, current bonds" and "Self-immolation protests in Tibet", it received wide coverage in the local media.
Mar 6: Crackdown in Kumbum
The annual Monlam Prayer Festival at Kumbum monastery in the Qinghai province is attracting heavy security. This major religious event dates back to 1409 and Kumbum monastery is famous for its spectacular and intricate displays of colored butter sculptures. People travel hundreds of miles to attend the festival which is dedicated to teachers of all religious traditions, social harmony, and world peace.
Mar 6: US Tibet Lobby
The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) held its 7th annual Tibet Lobby Day in Washington DC with over 80 Tibetan-Americans and friends of Tibet from 20 states participating. The lobby seeks United States Congress support to preserve and promote Tibetans' culture, identity and human rights, and also seek economic development and humanitarian assistance. The ICT is a Washington DC-based Tibet rights organisation.
Mar 5: No More Furs
Tibetan villagers in the Yunnan province are celebrating the Lunar New Year by burning their animal furs in response to an appeal by HH the Dalai Lama. Many Tibetans heard his appeal to stop wearing animal skins via Tibetan radio broadcasts from overseas. They risk reprisal from the authorities who regard such actions as contrary to government policy. The furs are regarded as rare and valuable family possessions.
Mar 5: New Opportunities
A new scholarship will support high achieving Tibetan students from India, Nepal and Bhutan wishing to pursue professional degrees at the best professional institutes in India which may have previously been inaccessible due to financial constraints. The Sikyong Professional Scholarship Programe is provided by the Tibet Fund, New York, working in partnership with the Tibetan Government-in-Exile's Department of Education.
Mar 4: Heightened Security
Security has been heightened in Golok and Rebkong Counties in Tibet ahead of Tibetan National Uprising Day on March 10 - a tense time of year, and when the Lhasa protests of 2008 broke out. Golok and Rebkong have been the location of a number of self-immolation protests in the past. There are road checkpoints, vehicles are being searched and people frisked, and searches of homes are taking place.
Mar 3: Long Life Offering
Five Tibetan associations: the Belgium Tibetan Association; Chidrel Tsokpa; Dhasa Tsongpa Community; Lhasa Community and the Lhoka Community will be offering a long-life offering ceremony for His Holiness the Dalai Lama tomorrow morning at the main Tibetan Temple in Dharamshala. His Holiness will give a short teaching the next morning (Thursday) from the Jataka Tales at the same venue. No prior registration is required for this teaching.
Mar 2: Seminar on Religion
A seminar of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Bon tradition organised by the Central Tibetan Administration’s Department of Religion and Culture is being held at the Gyuto Tantric Monastery near Dharamshala. With over 127 monks and nuns participating, the three-day seminar aims “to foster the preservation and progression of Tibetan Buddhism, and to affirm harmonious relations between the different schools and Bon".