Tibetan Headlines
Dec 15: “Mother of Tibet” honoured
The University of San Francisco presented an honorary doctorate to Jetsun Pema, humanitarian and former president of TCV. USF President Stephen Privett said “Jetsun Pema has worked for the plight of Tibetan refugee children for more than 40 years. The USF is proud to honour her life’s work and dedication to promoting peace.”
Dec 11: Diplomatic assurances
Representatives of some of the world’s most powerful countries have assured Tibetans that they will continue to engage the Chinese government. Diplomats at Delhi embassies told Tibetan Youth Congress delegates that their Ambassadors in Beijing will continue with their efforts in gaining access to Tibetan areas.
Dec 10: Invitation to Chinese
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) invited the Chinese authorities to send an investigative team to Dharamsala to prove their assertion that the self-immolations are incited by the CTA and H.H. the Dalai Lama. This follows a Xinhua report alleging that 2 Tibetans have confessed that H.H. the Dalai Lama has instructed Tibetans to self-immolate.
Dec 10: Report on Children
A new report, Growing up under China’s occupation: the plight of Tibet’s children, released by the UK based Tibet advocacy group Free Tibet and Tibet Watch was submitted to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child today to mark December 10 Human Rights Day. The report revealed that Tibetan children are “victims of arbitrary arrest, imprisonment, and torture for their political and religious beliefs, and face punishment because of the activities or beliefs of their family members.”
Dec 10: Appeal to EU
Tibet groups all over the world have appealed to the European Union, the recipient of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, to address the crisis in Tibet and establish a Contact Group on Tibet. The International Tibet Network, a global coalition of 190 Tibet-related NGOs, in an open letter to the leaders of the EU, congratulated the body and reminded them that the situation in Tibet is more acute now as compared to 1989 when Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama was honoured by the Nobel committee.
Dec 10: Three Monks Arrested
Chinese authorities in eastern Tibet have arrested three Tibetan monks from Chamru Monastery (Sungrab Gyatso, Dragsang, and Yeshe Sangpo) for their role in distributing information on the recent mass students’ protest in the Chabcha. The current condition and whereabouts of the monks remain unknown.
Dec 7: Lobby Across India
The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile has announced a new lobbying campaign that will begin on January 1st in which Tibetan parliamentarians will reach out across all of India, garnering wider support for international intervention in the ongoing crisis inside Tibet. The parliamentarians will meet with senior leaders, give press conferences, and meet with groups.
Dec 6: Aid will lead to Arrest
According to the state run Gannan Daily newspaper, China will now charge anyone caught aiding or inciting Tibetan self-immolations with murder. Dozens of Tibetans have been sentenced to lengthy jails terms, including life imprisonment, in connection with the ongoing wave of fiery protests. Tibetans have been arbitrarily arrested while many have ‘disappeared.’
Dec 5: Imprisoned Writer
Dolma Kyab, a Tibetan writer serving a 10 ½ year prison sentence for ideas he expressed in his unpublished manuscript has been awarded the “Liu Xiaobo Courage to Write Award 2012” by the Independent Chinese PEN Centre which recognises and supports writers who resist repression of the basic human right to freedom of expression and who stand up to attacks made against their right to impart information.
Dec 4: World Climate Summit
Tenzin Norbu, head of the Environment and Development Desk of CTA and Tenzin Chodon, a researcher at the Tibetan Women’s Association, arrived in Doha, Qatar for the World Climate Summit where they will lobby and raise awareness about water issues. The Tibetan Plateau is regarded as the water tower of Asia. Climate change and Chinese building plans, will impact on this vast 2.5 million square km area as well as the billions of people that live downstream.
Dec 4: Arrests and Inspections
Four Tibetans, Tamding Gyal, Dhundup, Chakdha Gyal, and Yarkho, have been arrested in Rebgong during a routine search for having pictures of the Dalai Lama in their cell phones. Following the series of self-immolations in the area, Chinese authorities have been inspecting electronic devices of local Tibetans to see if they have tried to make any contacts outside the region. Local authorities have regularly used tactics such as communication blackouts and inspections of electronic devices in an attempt to contain the spread of information.
Dec 2: World AIDS Day
Yesterday, Tibetans in Dharamshala observed World AIDS Day. CHOICE—HIV/AIDS Initiative, the lone Tibetan NGO dedicated towards AIDS awareness and support for HIV patients, held a day-long awareness program with the theme “Getting zero: Zero new infection, Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS related deaths.”
Nov 29: Public Display of Photo
Defying strict government orders, Tibetans in Tsolho have publicly displayed a photograph of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on a throne at the Atsok Monastery and carried out a mass prayer service for the Tibetan spiritual leader’s long life and for all the Tibetans who have self-immolated.
Nov 28: Hunger Strike
Tibetans in Lhasa, Drango, Jomda, Zachukha, Tridu, Sertha, Siling, Rebkong, Kardze, and Trindu are holding a hunger strike in solidarity with the ongoing wave of self-immolations against China’s rule. The participants come from different walks of life including government officials, writers, monks, and businessmen.
Nov 28: Protest in New Delhi
Tsultrim Dorjee, a Delhi University student, tried to self-immolate just before a mass protest rally in New Delhi. Fellow Tibetans intervened. He was then detained by police and released after the protest rally ended. Over 400 Tibetans took part in the protest rally organized by the Tibetan Youth Congress.