Tibetan Headlines
Apr 5: Religious Repression
China continues to repress religion in Tibet and to perpetrate gross violations of peoples’ human rights, says the newly-released annual report from the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC). The report details “horrific abuse of human rights and trampling of human dignity” as well as the severe restrictions on communications and constant surveillance. The CECC calls on the United States Congress to “interact ‘regularly’” with the Tibetan Government-in-Exile.
Apr 4: Tsewang Norbu
There is doubt around the fate of Tsewant Norbu, the singer who self-immolated in Lhasa on February 25. He was reported to have died, but now reports coming from the Chinese authorities say that he is alive and being treated in hospital, and falsely claiming that he has a history of mental illness. His family is reported to be unaware of where he is or whether he is alive.
Apr 3: Another Self Immolation
Taphun, 81, died after setting himself on fire on March 27 in Ngaba, in Amdo in northeastern Tibet, protesting against Chinese rule. He self-immolated in front of the police station near Kirti Monastery where many protests against China have taken place. Taphun was removed from the scene by police and died later. He lived in Meruma nomadic village. Taphun said recently, “Young [Tibetans] should not lose heart!"
Apr 2: Tsering Samdup
The man who self-immolated on March 30 has been identified as Tsering Samdup. Radio Free Asia reports that he self-immolated “in front of a Chinese police station near a Buddhist monastery in Kyegudo in Yushul”, Amdo [Ch: Qinghai] and that police immediately removed him. RFA’s source said he was “a very well-educated person [...] no one is allowed to meet or inquire about the self-immolator”.
Mar 30: Danish Authorities Slammed
The government-appointed Tibet Commission in Denmark has released a report accusing Denmark’s Foreign Ministry and the intelligence and security service of pressurising the Copenhagen police to “be heavy-handed when facing China-critical protesters during official visits of Chinese officials”, and says the ministry has placed the avoidance of offending China “above the[Danish] Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.”
Mar 29: Keanu Reeves Censored!
China is censoring Canadian actor Keanu Reeves, star of the Matrix film trilogy, following his participation in an online Tibet House benefit concert earlier this month. Nearly all his movies have been removed from China’s streaming sites, and his name deleted from search engines. Other Western celebrities who have been censored for openly supporting Tibet include Richard Gere, Selena Gomez, Lady Gaga and international basketball player Enes Kanter.
Mar 28: China Celebrates
China has marked “Serfs Emancipation Day”, which they say celebrates the 1959 events in Lhasa - including the dissolution of the Kashag and their (China’s) introduction of democratic reforms, and referring to the “emancipation from serfdom” in Tibet. China declared “Serfs Emancipation Day” in 2009, a move seen by Tibetans as an attempt to subvert Tibetan Uprising Day which is marked every year on March 10.
Mar 28: Prevented From Mourning
Devotees have been preventing from attending religious services to honour and mourne popular Tibetan lama Choktrul Dawa Rinpoche, 86, who died in Lhasa, immediately entering the state of thukdam in which the consciousness remains in the body for a period of time after death. Radio Free Asia reports that the Chinese authorities tried to keep Rinpoche’s demise a secret, and warned people against sharing the news online.
Mar 28: Least Free
Tibet is one of the three least free countries in the world according to Freedom House, the independent watchdog organisation dedicated to the development of freedom around the world. This year’s report, The Global Expansion of Authoritarian Rule which assesses levels of civil liberties and political rights across the world, gives Tibet the “worst” rating mentioning “arrest and heavy criminal penalties”, “censorship and monitoring systems” and “security centres”.
Mar 25: Not Welcome!
Students for a Free Tibet staged a peaceful demonstration for Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on his arrival at Delhi airport for an unannounced visit to India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. The demonstrators’ message was “Wang Yi, you are NOT welcome in India!”
Mar 24: More Online Restrictions
Further restrictions are now in place affecting video services and other online platforms in Tibet and the Muslim ethnic minority East Turkestan [Ch: Xinjiang]. Under China’s new directive, the Tibetan and Uyghur languages have been removed from the Chinese language learning app Talkmate and video streaming service Bilibili. In addition, reports Radio Free Asia, “foreign organisations and individuals can no longer spread ‘religious content’ online without a special license”.
Mar 24: World Cup!
The Tibetan National Sports Association (TNSA) is to host the first CONIFA Womens World Football Cup which will take place this summer in the Ponta Cholsum Tibetan Settlement in north India. CONIFA’s President said, “It’s an honour for CONIFA to contribute to the celebration of the Tibetan people and educate the world about your beauty, history, culture, traditions and by this also contribute to a better world for all.”
Mar 24: Gold Medal!
Choeyang Kyi, 31, has been recognised as an Olympic gold medal making her the first ever Tibetan Olympic gold medalist. She represented China in the women’s 20k race walk in London in 2012, winning the bronze medal, but the two Russians who came in ahead of her have been disqualified for failing drugs tests. Chinese state media the global times reported these results.
Mar 23: TPiE Budget Session
The third session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) is underway, focusing on the critical environmental situation in Tibet and calling for China to stop its “mass mining operations and deforestation” Tibet. The ten-day session will see the budgets set for the fiscal year 2022-23. Also under discussion are the sinicisation of the Tibetan language and religion, China’s sinicisation policy is threatening Tibetan identity.
Mar 22: Research Centre Launch
The new High Asia Research Centre at Jackson Heights, New York, has been launched by Tibetan author and activist Jamyang Norbu. He says he sees the centre as a reference library and meeting point, particularly aimed at young Tibetans, for “civilised and informed debate on issues relating to Tibet” and other issues relating to “high Asia, including Mustang, Sikkim, Bhutan, Xinjiang and [...] Kazakhstan.”