Tibetan Headlines
Nov 27: Lone Protest
Sonam Yarphel, 22, from the Mangge monastery in Sershul county in Kardze in the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture has been detained after launching a solitary protest challenging Beijing’s rule in Tibetan areas and calling for the return of exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. He shouted slogans and held up a banner before being taken into custody by police. The monastery’s monks are now being questioned.
Nov 26: Lobbying UN Chief
A group of 20 Tibetan writers, educators, and former political prisoners inside Tibet have written to the United Nations' new High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, ahead of his forthcoming visit to Tibet. They ask him to look closely at charges of blatant rights abuses and environmental concerns in Tibet, and caution him against falling into any “trap” set by Chinese officials to mislead him.
Nov 26: Earthquake
An earthquake has hit Lhagang Township in Dartsedo County, a heavily Tibetan populated region in the Kardze Prefecture in Sichuan Province, killing five and injuring 54 others, of whom eleven are in a critical or severe condition. 19 primary school children were hurt in a stampede. About 80,000 people have been affected by the 6.3 magnitude quake, and 25,000 houses were damaged. 6,200 people have been forced to relocate.
Nov 25: Double Amputation
Sungdue Kyab, 31, who set himself on fire two years ago outside the Bora monastery in the Bora region of Sangchu in eastern Tibet, has been sent home with both legs amputated. He was detained after his protest and his family told that the amputations were necessary to save his life. His parents were not allowed to speak to him in hospital or since in detention.
Nov 25: Tibetan River Dam
A major hydropower dam has been built on the Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) River in Tibet, causing fears of flash floods and landslides in downstream India and Bangladesh. China said its plans were restricted to run-off-the-river dams focused on generating electricity and posing little danger, but this is a massive project which could affect the river’s flow into Arunachal Pradesh and other parts of northeast India.
Nov 24: 1st World Hindu Congress
HH the Dalai Lama graced the first World Hindu Congress in New Delhi, where he was specially honoured along with two others: Pujya Swami Dayanand Sarasvati and Ashok Singhal. His Holiness said “we seven billion human beings are the same, mentally, physically and emotionally…we are all born the same way.” He continued by saying that he views all major religious traditions as conducive to peace of mind.
Nov 22: Magazine Launch
Dhangla Riwo, a new annual Tibetan language magazine was launched at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives by the recently formed Tibetan writers group Dhangla Riwo Patsok. The magazine was founded in May this year by four Tibetans to preserve the Tibetan language and encourage young Tibetan writers to write more, and to provide them with a platform for their writings.
Nov 21: More Nuns Expelled
More than 100 Tibetan nuns have been expelled from Changlo nunnery in Dingri county in the Shigatse prefecture in southwestern Tibet near the border with Nepal. Chinese authorities sent them back to their family homes earlier in the year, requiring them to wear lay dress. The move was aimed at nuns living at the facility without official permission, only 21 of the 200 nuns there had permission.
Nov 20: Released from Prison
Lobsang Palden, a monk from Bheru Monastery in Serkhar village in Kardze has been released from prison two years before the end of his term. He was arrested in 2008 for taking part in protests in Kardze demanding the "return of the exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama to Tibet" and "freedom in Tibet." There is concern about his health, and that he may have been tortured.
Nov 20: Sikyong in N America
Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected leader of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile, is on his way to Canada and the United States for a two-week tour. When this visit is complete, Sikyong will have visited all the major Tibetan settlements and communities in North America. He will return to Dharamshala on December 8.
Nov 19: Ton-Len is Ten!
The Tong-Len Charitable Trust, an initiative for Dharamshala’s slum children, celebrated its tenth anniversary. Former Tibetan Prime Minister and academician Professor Samdhong Rinpoche was Chief Guest at modest celebration which honoured HH the Dalai Lama with a Tong-Len award for his “global humanitarian work”. Lobsang Jamyang, a Tibetan monk who founded Tong-Len, was honoured by his past and present students whose lives have been transformed.
Nov 18: Peace Summit
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has confirmed that he will attend the 14th World Summit of Nobel Peace laureates in Rome next month. The Summit was due to be held in South Africa but cancelled after the laureates protested when His Holiness was denied a visa to enter South Africa to attend. 22 other laureates, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu, have also confirmed their attendance.
Nov 17: Nuns Expelled
Around 26 nuns have been expelled from a nunnery for not agreeing to denigrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The nuns have recently started studying at the 500 year old Chamda nunnery in Driru County in Kham Province’s Nagchu area. 140 nuns are registered, the non-registered nuns who also stay and study there did not manage to hide when Chinese officials visited, and were harassed to denigrate His Holiness.
Nov 15: Imprisoned Writers Day
The PEN Tibetan Writers Abroad and the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy jointly organised an event to mark the 33rd Anniversary of the Day of the Imprisoned Writer, held at the Kirti Getsa Peace Hall in Dharamshala. His Eminence Kyabje Kirti Rinpoche inaugurated three books at the event which was attended by parliamentarians and staff of the Central Tibetan Administrations, representatives of various organisations, researchers and people from the media.
Nov 15: Donkho Freed
Donkho, who has been in custody since June, was freed on October 28 and has reached home safely. He was the last of a group of 27 residents of Karsel village in Chabcha county in Tsolho prefecture, and the suspected ringleader, detained for opposing a Chinese white marble mining operation that had run beyond its contract and was encroaching on sacred sites. All those detained have now been released.