Tibetan Headlines
Aug 14: Beaten to Death
A Tibetan man, Guldrak, 29, has been beaten to death by Chinese police in Khyungchu County in Ngaba after being arrested for theft. 500 people gathered to demand information from the police, who said initially that Guldrak committed suicide, but later accepted that he died in police custody due to beatings and agreed to pay compensation. Guldrak is survived by his father Rigo, mother Mihlo, wife Szhitruk and two children.
Aug 13: Tibet Corps
Dr Lobsang Sangay has inaugurated a newly-built residential quarter for staff members of Tibet Corps. The Tibet Corps is an initiative of the current Kashag to inspire Tibetans to become directly engaged in tangible work to build and strengthen the Tibetan community, its institutions, and the Central Tibetan Administration. The ceremony was attended by the speaker and standing committee members of the Tibetan Parliament, Kalons and secretaries.
Aug 12: Earthquake Strikes Tibet
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake has struck Tibet. The epicenter of the quake, which was initially reported as magnitude 6.1, was located at Ringo, 89 miles (143 km) south-southeast of Qamdo, Xizang Province. A magnitude 5.7 quake is considered moderate and capable of causing considerable damage. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
Aug 11: Singer Arrested
Yarphel, 38, a popular Tibetan singer from Machu County has been arrested for organising concerts which promote the Tibetan language. He was arrested in Lhasa on July 14 this year and taken to Chengdu, Sichuan Province, where he is currently held under detention. The concerts took place last year in October and November. Yarphel had already faced arrests and interrogation in the past. The Chinese authorities accuse him of singing songs that have political overtones.
Aug 9: Sikyong’s two years in office
The Central Tibetan Administration held a special prayer service at the Tsuglakhang (Main temple) marking two years since Dr Lobsang Sangay was sworn in as the de facto Prime Minister of Tibet. The service was presided over by the Karmapa, Kirti Rinpoche and the Abbot of Namgyal monastery, and attended by Sangay’s cabinet colleagues, CTA officials and local Tibetans. Sangay expressed solidarity with all those Tibetans who have self-immolated for the cause of Tibet, and their family members, and appealed to Tibetans inside Tibet to refrain from protesting by such drastic actions as self-immolation.
Aug 8: Tight Securities on Shoton
Chinese authorities have increased security levels in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, as Tibetans gather for the annual Shoton Festival celebration from 6 to 12 August. Tens of thousands of pilgrims gathered for the festival are facing a heavy presence of security forces. Drepung Monastery, where a large thangka painting is displayed during this festival, “looks like a battle zone”, said an onlooker.
Aug 7: New Comic Book
A comic book about the life story of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, titled “Dalai Lama: The Soldier of Peace”, by a well-known Indian author and journalist, Mr Vijay Kranti, was released in Dharamsala, India. Mr Kranti said that he hopes to instill in people the goodness of love and compassion through this comic book.
Aug 7: Petitioners Released
Four Tibetan laymen arrested and detained on July 20 in Nyagchu county in the Kham Kardze region of Tibet have been released, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy reported. Sogren Lori, 66, Lugzi Abey, 50, Lhagma Choedup, 64, and Trinley, 46, were detained after their return from Beijing to submit petitions for the release of Tulku Tenzin Delek. Donkar Lhamo, 47, Tulku Tenzin Delek’s sister was also among the group although she was not detained.
Aug 6: “In Bed with China”
Tibetans and supporters carried out a campaign “In bed with China” at the InterContinental Hotel in London, and protested against InterContinental Hotel Group’s project to build a luxury hotel in Tibet’s capital city Lhasa. The protesters blocked the entrance to the InterContinental Westminster hotel with a bed with a white sheet saying “Selling out Tibet”.
Aug 6: Prisoner in Poor Health
Rongyal Adrak, a prominent Tibetan political prisoner, is in poor health and continues to suffer frequent beatings, his nephew says. Rongyal Adrak was sentenced to eight years in prison in October 2007, around two months after he called in public for Tibetan freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama during an annual horse racing festival in Lithang county in Kardze region of Tibet.
Aug 5: New Airport in Kardze
China is building the world’s highest altitude civilian airport in Tibet, 4,411 metres above sea level. Daocheng Yading Airport is under construction in Kardze Prefecture in Sichuan Province, Xinhua, the state-run news agency said. So far, China has built five airports in the Tibet Autonomous Region, including Lhasa airport.
Aug 5: Home Kalon in Italy
Home Kalon Dolma Gyari of the Central Tibetan Administration introduced the Sister Shichak (settlement) project to the members of the Tibetan community in Rome, Milan and South Tyrol, Italy. Kalon Gyari said the Sister Shichak project is to strengthen the ties between the Tibetans living abroad and those living in settlements in India.
Aug 4: China Closes Monastery
Chinese authority has forcibly shut down Gaden Dhargyeling, a Tibetan monastery in Shak Rongpo village, Nagchu County in eastern Tibet, over alleged links with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The monks of the monastery have been forced to leave the monastery and are currently sheltering in different places nearby the monastery. Hundreds of policemen have been deployed in Shok Rongpo.
Aug 3: Study on Hepatitis B
The Department of Health of the Central Tibetan Administration has collaborated with the John Hopkins University on a study of hepatitis B in Tibetan settlements in Bylakuppe in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Nurses from Tso Jhe Khangsar Hospital, Bylakuppe will work with representatives from the university on this study till October 2013. The American University has a programme of worldwide research.
Aug 2: Drama in Lhasa
Chinese authorities are staging a multi-million drama about Princess Wencheng, the Chinese wife of Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, in Tibet’s capital Lhasa, to increase tourism and promote Chinese propaganda concerning Tibet. Leading Tibetan writer and blogger Woeser said, “In reality this is a project to rewrite history, to ‘wipe out’ the historical memory and culture of a people.”