Tibetan Headlines
Jul 3: Dalai Lama Teachings
His Holiness the Dalai Lama concluded the teachings at Tsuglakhang, the main temple in Dharamsala. The teachings, at the request of a Vietnamese group, focused on Tsongkhapa’s The Three Principal Aspects of the Path. The teachings extended to a third day concluded with an empowerment session.
Jul 2: Tibetan Legal Association
The Tibetan Legal Association (TLA) announced its formation at a press conference held at the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala. TLA, an inception of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission conference held on June 28-30 in Dharamsala, aims to provide free legal assistance to poor and needy Tibetans and local Indians, and to seek international support on the issue of Tibet.
Jul 1: UN on Tibet
Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has said “China has to examine and address the grievances of the Tibetans". Interviewed on the BBC about the UN’s inability to engage China to address the sufferings of Tibetans, Pillay emphasised that the situation in Tibet requires a political solution, and that the suffering of the Tibetan people has to be examined and addressed by China.
Jun 30: Lawyers Assembled
The Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission concluded a three-day conference of Tibetan lawyers and law students aiming to enlist the expertise of the Tibetan group to assist with the Tibetan struggle movement. Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the chief guest, said that lawyers are an important constituent of any democratic society. More than 41 Tibetans attended this conference.
Jun 27: US Ambassador in Tibet
The US Ambassador to China, Gary Locke, is in Tibet on a rare official visit. He is to meet residents and government officials, and raise concerns about the “deteriorating human rights situation,” specifically the self-immolations by Tibetans in protest against Chinese rule. Locke, accompanied by his family members and several embassy officials, will be in Tibet till June 28.
Jun 27: “Body, Mind and Life”
Around 300 participants including Tibetans, Indians and westerners are currently attending a conference on “Body, Mind and Life” at the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute from June 26-28. The conference aims to contribute to the physical and mental well-being of human beings by integrating the essence of both oriental and occidental cultures. Twenty speakers, including Geshes from the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism, will lead the discussions.
Jun 26: Torture and Disappearances
The Tibetan Centre for Human Right and Democracy, commemorating the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, held a discussion on torture and released Ancestor’s Tomb a Tibetan manuscript by a young writer in Tibet. The Geneva based World Organisation Against Torture requests urgent intervention to ensure the safety of Tibetan song writers and singers Pema Trinley, 22, and Chakdor, 32, who were secretly sentenced by a Chinese court in February after the release of their album Agony of Unhealed Wounds and then disappeared. Their fellow musicians Khenrap and Nyagdompo are also "missing".
Jun 25: For Uttarakhand
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, having just returned to India, expressed his deep condolences to the families who suffered losses in the unprecedented flooding and landslides in Uttarakhand. As a token of sympathy, The Dalai Lama Trust is making contributions to the relief efforts of both state and central governments. The Dalai Lama also expressed his sadness in letters to the Prime Minister and Uttarakhand Chief Minister.
Jun 24: Dalai Lama in Dharamsala
After successfully completing his tour of Australia and New Zealand, His Holiness the Dalai Lama returns to Dharamsala. His Holiness was in the countries for a fortnight where he gave public talks on compassion and happiness, and also conducted Buddhist teachings. His Holiness is scheduled to give teachings on June 27-28 to young Tibetan people at TCV school auditorium from 8:00am - 11:30am IST.
Jun 23: In Solidarity
The Central Tibetan Administration has offered prayers and donation for relief work in Uttarakhand, the Indian state flooded by devastating rain. There are estimates that at least 5,000 people may have been killed, and thousands more pilgrims and tourists are stranded in affected areas. CTA announced a Rs 3 lakh donation to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the flood victims as a “gesture of solidarity”.
Jun 22: Chinese Allegations False
The Central Tibetan Administration dismissed allegations made by the delegation of communist party leaders from Tibet Autonomous Region during its visit to the US. The delegation, led by chairman Padma Choling, said the ongoing wave of self-immolations in Tibet were “criminal acts premeditated, plotted and manipulated by overseas separatist forces”. China remains steadfast in refusing to open up Tibet for independent fact-finding delegations to investigate the true causes of self-immolations.
Jun 22: Respect Rights
On World Refugee Day, Tibetan campaigners in Germany called on Nepal to respect the fundamental rights of Tibetan refugees living in Nepal. Tibet activists submitted a petition to the Nepalese embassy in Berlin, signed by 5,000 supporters, urging Nepal to stop deportation of escaping Tibetans to Tibet and provide a safe passage to Tibetans fleeing Tibet to India.
Jun 22: Tibet’s Daughter
Thousands of Tibetans welcomed the late Panchen Lama's daughter, Rinchen Wangmo, and her mother during their secret visit to Jokhang Temple in Lhasa on June 20. Unusual and unexpected large crowds gathered to welcome Wangmo despite Lhasa being under a strict security clampdown. Immediately, large numbers of military personel were deployed in front of the Jokhang Temple and nearby Ramoche Temple to control the huge public gathering.
Jun 21: House Arrest
Award winning Tibetan writer and poet Tsering Woeser has once again been placed under house arrest in Beijing. Writing in her blog, Woeser said this is to prevent her from speaking the truth about Tibet to foreign journalists due to visit Tibet shortly on a rare state-sponsored trip. She also said she met some journalists earlier this week.
Jun 21: Third Pole
A seminar in the European Parliament organised by Tibet support groups, on the state of Tibet’s environment, has stressed the importance and the urgent need to protect the environment and resources of Tibet. Tibetan representatives highlighted how Tibet, the "third pole"; currently the world’s largest reservoir of fresh water, is facing unprecedented constructions of dams, resettlement of nomads, fencing of grasslands, depletion of permafrost, and over-exploitation of minerals and forests under Chinese government policies.