Tibetan Headlines
Apr 18: China Sentences Students
The People's Court in Chabcha County has sentenced eight Tibetan students for up to four years in prison protesting against the Chinese government in Nov 2012. They have reportedly been sentenced for "illegally holding demonstration" and charged with "causing harm to social stability". Similar protests were carried out last year by thousands of students in the same region.
Apr 17: Released Prisoners
Chinese authorities have released several Tibetans who are reported to be in poor health after five year jail terms. Monk Lobsang Ngodup, 34, is undergoing medical treatment in hospital and Soepa, 35, also a monk, is said to be mentally unstable and is currently in Mange Monastery where his movements are under close watch by the Chinese authorities.
Apr 16: Chinese Sentence Tibetans
The Chinese Intermediate People's court in Rebkong and Tsekhog in Eastern Tibet sentenced four Tibetans up to six years in prison and deprived their political rights for sharing information about Tibetan self-immolators with outsiders. The four Tibetans, Yangkyab Gyal, Chakthar, Namkha Jam and Gonpo, were sentenced for separatist activities and sending news and photos of Tibetan self-immolators abroad.
Apr 15: Youth Protest
A large number of young people in the Machu area of Tibet staged a protest on April 10 demanding immediate stop to policies marginalising local Tibetan youth in education and job opportunities, giving jobs to outsiders and not allowing entrance exams in Tibetan. Eight Tibetans were jailed for a similar protest in December.
Apr 14: Kyekudo EarthQuake
Three years back on this day a massive earthquake shook the villages and towns of Jekudo, Eastern Tibet leaving behind hundreds killed and thousands homeless. The tragedy brought the people of Tibet from all three provinces together as a family; food, clothing and money poured in from different parts of Tibet and also from exile.
Apr 13: Backpay after 63 years
Robert Ford, 90, the man who set up Tibet radio and was in Tibet at the time of Chinese invasion in 1949, was presented with the International Campaign for Tibet's Light of Truth Award by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. On his 90th birthday on April 3 he received £65 in backpay, 63 years after being imprisoned by the Chinese in Tibet.
Apr 13: Tibetans Detained
The Chinese authorities detained twenty-one Tibetans following a conflict between Tibetans and Chinese securities over forced land eviction at Kyegudo in Eastern Tibet. Six Tibetans were severely injured in the incident. The Chinese authorities have demolished over a thousand Tibetan houses in Kyegudo, stating that the occupants are not officially registered to live there, and hence illegal.
Apr 12: Town Adoption
Vitrolles, in Southern France’s Aix en Provence region, has become the 16th French municipality to officially adopt a Tibetan town. Vitrolles adopted Tsethang and Yumbu in order join the campaign to support the Tibetan people’s quest for freedom and human rights, and particularly to safeguard the unique cultural heritage of Tibet.
Apr 10: Seminar on Tibet
The European Parliament for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) is hosting a seminar ‘Tears of Tibet’ in Brussels to assess the impacts of Chinese policies on human rights and the environment in Tibet, and the role of the EU. ALDE believes the EU should have a stronger role solving the growing tension in Tibet.
Apr 9: More Arrests
The Chinese authorities have arbitrarily detained a Tibetan monk for carrying out a protest in the Kardze region of Sershul County in Eastern Tibet. Thapgay, 20, from Mangey monastery carried out a lone protest calling for the return of the Dalai Lama. Local Chinese security personnel arrived at the site and arrested him. His whereabouts is unknown.
Apr 9: Students Threatened
Chinese authorities in Gansu have interrogated and threatened Tibetan students with ‘serious consequences’ for commemorating the fifth anniversary of the March 14 crackdown in Lhasa in 2008. The Students were mourning the death of 200 Tibetans who lost their lives on that day.
Apr 8: ‘So Many Socks’
A play inspired by Tenzin Tsundue’s Kora was performed at TCV Day school on Tue 9 April at 6pm and at TCV Boarding School at 3pm. The play, in English, tells the story of 3 generations of a Tibetan family trying to find a place they can call ‘home’.
Apr 8: Tibet issue raised
In China, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has told journalists that she had raised the Tibet issue during her meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping, as promised.
Apr 7: Syikong in Europe
Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay will leave Dharamsala for a four-nation visit to Europe from Apr 10-21. He will meet some key officials during his visits to Germany, Belgium, France and Switzerland and will return to Dharamsala on Apr 24.
Apr 6: Prisoner Released
Chinese authorities have released a second Tibetan political prisoner two years before the completion of his term. Dawa Gyaltsen, in his late 40s, was sentenced to 18 years in 1997. He was brutally tortured in prison and is now in a weak condition. He was charged with ‘inciting counter-revolutionary propaganda” and labeled as a ‘ringleader’.