Tibetan Headlines
Mar 23: Tibetan Cycle Rally
Rinpo, a Tibetan man from Minnesota,USA, is cycling across Europe to appeal for Tibetans inside Tibet, and in solidarity with their sacrifices. He hopes to draw support from leaders of the European Union countries and the people of Europe. He began in Brussels on March 17 and will visit 150 towns and cities in 13 European countries, at the end, Rinpo will submit a signed petition to the leaders of EU and its member states.
Mar 22: Security Tightens
China has recently announced a pervasive new security system, the “grid”, which will expand an already heavy security presence and raises grave concerns about threats to human rights, reports the NY based Human Rights Watch. It said the system significantly increases surveillance and monitoring, particularly of “special groups” in the region – among others, former prisoners and those who have returned from the exile community in India.
Mar 21: Monk’s Body “Unclaimed”
Nepalese Government officials have declared as unclaimed the body of Tibetan monk Drupchen Tsering, 22, who burned himself on Feb 13 in Kathmandu, protesting against the Chinese Rule in Tibet. Despite repeated appeals from Tibetans, the Nepalese government refused to hand over the body as his next of kin are all in Tibet and therefore unable to come forward.
Mar 20: Prayers Wiped Out
Chinese authorities have wiped out a traditional Tibetan prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, written on a rock face near the Nyitso Zilkar Monastery in Tridu region of Kyegudo, eastern Tibet. “As soon as the local Chinese authorities came to know about the inscriptions, they termed the incident as ‘political’ and dispatched security personnel to erase the prayer” said a local source.
Mar 19: Chinese Tibetan Talks
More than a dozen Chinese scholars and students met with Tibetans in New York at a gathering organised by the Office of Tibet for an open exchange of ideas on the current crisis inside Tibet. Chinese participants said that the meeting was “extremely helpful in gaining a better understanding of the Tibetan issue.”
Mar 18: Tibetan Parliament
The 15th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile has begun its fifth session, pledging to strengthen efforts to garner stronger support from the international community to end the sufferings of Tibetans inside Tibet and fulfil their aspirations. During its current ten-day session, the House will discuss and approve the annual budget of the Central Tibetan Administration.
Mar 17: UK MPs
Tibetans and supporters in the UK took part in the fifth annual Tibet Lobby this week at the Houses of Parliament and in local constituencies around the UK, lobbying at least 150 MPs. Organizers said the focus was “to call on MPs to ask David Cameron to make a public statement of concern on Tibet and to urge the UK government to work with other governments to find a solution to the Tibet crisis.”
Mar 16: Indian Support
A ‘Tibet Advocacy Campaign’ held in New Delhi from March 13-15 lobbied senior Indian leaders and received support from across party lines. The three-day campaign aimed to “gather Government support and diplomatic intervention to redress the grim situation inside Tibet”, and was jointly organised by the Tibetan Women’s Association and Students for a Free Tibet, India, and coordinated by the International Tibet Network.
Mar 15: The New Pope
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet yesterday congratulated the Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio from Argentina, on becoming the first pope from Latin America, and who will now lead the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics. With his cordial relationship with the previous Catholic Head, His Holiness said he is looking forward in meeting the new Leader of Roman Catholic Church soon.
Mar 14: Uprising Arrest
Tsepak, 29, a Tibetan monk of the Kirti Monastery in Nagaba, eastern Tibet was arrested in a midnight raid on the eve of the 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day for unknown reasons. Earlier on March 25, 2011, Tsepak was arrested in Beijing and kept in detention for a few months when he was studying at the Beijing Nationalities University.
Mar 14: Tibetans Sentenced
A Chinese court in eastern Tibet has sentenced a popular Tibetan singer Lo Lo, 30, to six years in prison for his ‘crimes’ of singing politically charged songs calling for Tibet’s independence in his new album. Similarly monk Lobsang Jinpa, 31 from Nyitso Zilkar monastery in Tridu region of Keygudo has been rearrested and sentenced to five years in prison following a surprise raid in the monastery by Chinese Official. Their conditions and whereabouts are unknown.
Mar 13: Protest In Bathang
Three Tibetan monks from the Yaso monastery in Bathang region of eastern Tibet staged a peaceful protest against China’s rule on March 8, raising slogans for the Dalai Lama’s long life and Tibet’s independence. Chinese security personnel arrested one of the monks, Tashi Dorjee. The other two escaped and are currently on the run. Their names have not been revealed.
Mar 13: TWA Scholarship
Coinciding with the 54th Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day, the Tibetan Women’s Association yesterday announced a new scholarship programme for girl students in honour of female Tibetan self-immolators. TWA said the scholarships will be awarded to girl students willing to study either gynecology or pediatrics
Mar 12: Women’s Uprising Day
Tibetan Women’s Association TWA) will carry out a three day-long mass campaign ‘Tibetans Stand together in Joy and Sorrow’ in Delhi starting today. TWA members from across India and Nepal will take part in the public meeting, peace rally, prayer meeting, silent protest, and all-women lobby campaign.
Mar 12: Mobile Crackdown
Chinese authorities are carrying out a major crackdown on mobile phones in Lhasa as part of their ongoing security drive to stem the flow of information from Tibet. A team from Beijing began scanning all mobile phones used by monks at the Drepung Monastery on March 10, the 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day.