Tibetan Headlines
Apr 25: The Panchen Lama
The Tibetan Prime Minister in exile Sikyong Lobsang Sangay has released a statement on the 11th Panchen Lama's birthday, appealing to the Chinese government to release him, saying that this would be a large step forward to restoring China’s moral leadership in the world. The Panchen Lama was abducted by the Chinese when he was 6 years old and has not been seen since.
Apr 24: Competion Banned
A Tibetan language contest in Tibet has been cancelled by Chinese authorities who say it had “political implications” and that the Tibetan language contained words that could be used to express opposition to Chinese rule. The competition required contestants to speak “pure” Tibetan free of Chinese or any other language. The event was scheduled for February 21, International Mother Language Day.
Apr 23: Improving Education
The Tibetan Government-in-exile is moving to standardise Tibetan textbooks and is currently holding a six-day meeting to look at class V and VI textbooks. The meeting is being held at the College for Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarha, in accordance with the Basic Education Policy of the Central Tibetan Administration. Tibetan text books for classes up to class III have already been standardised.
Apr 22: Monks Arrested
Lobsang Tenzin, a lama from Pashoe monastery in Chamdo, along with “six or seven” other monks were arrested last month for contributing money towards a long life prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the Great Prayer Festival (Monlam Chenmo). One of the monks was later released but the current condition and whereabouts of the detained monks remain unknown. Pictures and audio recordings of the Dalai Lama were reportedly found in Lobsang Tenzin's quarters.
Apr 20: Relative Arrested
Rikchung, a shop owner in Khangsar town, has been arrested. He was a relative of Thinley Namgyal (pictured) who self-immolated in Tibet’s Tawu region on April 15, and is accused of taking pictures of the self-immolation protest and sending them out. Communication lines in the town have been shut down to blackout information on the latest self-immolation. China has arrested and sentenced several Tibetans for alleged connections with self-immolation protests in Tibet.
Apr 19: Refugee Success
The Tibet Policy Institute (TPI), a Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) think-tank, is holding a two-day conference on the CTA’s international profile. Speakers include senior CTA officials, and Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay said that as a result of peace initiatives by the Dalai Lama, and the hard work and dedication of a former generation of Tibetan civil servants and the people, the Tibetan diaspora is one of the most successful refugee communities in the world.
Apr 17: Five Tibetans Detained
Two Tibetan monks and three laymen have been arrested in Sog. “Monk Tendar was detained on suspicion of his involvement in the appearance of Tibet independence-related writings on an iron bridge in Trido town in Sog,” Rinchen, a native of Sog living in India, told Radio Free Asia. Khenpo Khedup, suspected of offering prayers for self-immolators, was arrested from Menda town in Chamdo on April 13. The reasons for the others' detentions are not known: Phurba; Trindu and Dadak.
Apr 16: Rinpoche’s Teaching
His Eminence Professor Samdhong Rinpoche has concluded his teaching at the Gyuto Tantric Monastic School at Sidhbari near Dharamshala. The teaching started on March 26. Professor Samdhong Rinpoche gave teachings on various Buddhist texts, including Delighting Teacher and Mahāmudrā, which were attended by hundreds of devotees. The 20-day event concluded with a Je Tsezinma empowerment and the monastery offered a long life puja for Rinpoche.
Apr 14: Live Webcast
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is conferring the Vairocana-abhisambodhi Initiation (namnang ngoenjang wang) at Koyasan University in Japan. The initiation started from 7:30 am (Tokyo Time) and can be watched live at http://tibetonline.tv/. His Holiness speaks in Tibetan followed by a Japanese translation.
Apr 12: New Support Groups
Four new Tibet Support Groups (TSGs) have been formed in Himachal Pradesh, India, in Bir/Chauntra, Mandi, Rewalsar and Kullu Manali. Their members have expressed support and concern about Tibet, saying they will work at national and international levels towards finding a peaceful solution to the issue of Tibet, as well as working towards maintaining cordial and friendly relations between Tibetans and local Indians. They will also organise cultural exchange programs in the coming years.
Apr 11: Arrests in Sog
Two Tibetans, Tseko and an unidentified man, have been arrested for sharing pictures and political information on Tibet through their cellphones. The two men are from village no 4 of the Trido Township in Sog County. The source reporting the story said “The two had been taken to Sog County but it is not known where they are currently held.” He also reported that many people in Sog County were arrested for no reason and situation in the region remains tense with many checkposts in the area.
Apr 10: Lone Protest
A Tibetan youth has been arrested following a solitary protest in Mani Ghego town in Dege County in the traditional Tibetan province of Kham. A video of the protest, taken by an onlooker, shows the youth in the street, throwing leaflets in the air and shouting “Longlive Gyalwa Tenzin Gyatso (the Dalai Lama), Tibet needs freedom”. Passersby can be heard expressing their support of his protest. The video is being circulated on Facebook. No further information about the youth or his protest is available.
Apr 9: Prayer Wheels Destroyed
Chinese authorities in a Tibetan county in Qinghai province have ordered the Central Heart Health Clinic in Dzora town in Golog to destroy their prayer wheels. “These wheels were installed with...funds raised from the clinic’s patients” a local source told Radio Free Asia, speaking on condition of anonymity. “They said that their installation had ‘political implications’.” There is concern that the nearby sacred mountain Rishor will be seized for mining exploration.
Apr 8: His Holiness in Japan
His Holiness was invited to speak to people in Sendai, one of worst hit regions during the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, by A Society for Prayers – 2014. His Holiness praised the Japanese people’s spirit and strength to recover in the face of immense suffering and destruction, and encouraged victims of the disaster to look to the future with optimism and determination. Earlier, he had joined Shinto priests for a special prayer service for the disaster victims.
Apr 7: Day of Action
April 7 marks 12 years since Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, a respected Buddhist teacher and Tibetan community leader, was arrested on unproven allegations of involvement in a bombing. Students for a Free Tibet are co-ordinating a world-wide campaign for his release. A Human Rights Watch report advised the international community to raise Tenzin Delek’s case at every opportunity. His trial in December 2002 was not held in accordance with international fair trial standards and he was denied the right to be represented by lawyers hired by his family. To join the campaign go to www.studentsforafreetibet.org/campaigns