Tibetan Headlines
Dec 7: Support from Japan
Japan’s parliament has adopted a resolution condemning China’s human rights and religious freedom violations in Tibet, East Turkestan [Ch: Xinjiang], Hong Kong and Inner Mongolian. They followed this with a launch of a caucus of parliamentarians charged with monitoring the Chinese Communist Party’s human rights violations. China has protested, issuing a press statement saying the resolutions contain nothing but disinformation and interfere in China’s internal affairs.
Dec 6: Meeting His Holiness
His Holiness the Dalai Lama met the mayors of seven United States cities who are visiting Dharamshala on a mission to promote compassion. Among the visitors was Mr Aftab Karma Pureval, Mayor of Cincinnati, who is the first person of Tibetan heritage to hold a prominent elective office in the US; he assured His Holiness he will advocate for the preservation of Tibetan culture in the United States.
Dec 3: Solidarity Protest
Tibetans and supporters gathered in Delhi to participate in a peaceful protest to express solidarity with the people of China who are fighting for democratic reform and an end to President Xi Jinping's rule. “Dictatorship in China is a threat to world peace, especially to Tibet and India,” wrote Tenzin Tsundue, activist, on social media, from the protest. The protest was organised by the Tibetan Youth Congress.
Dec 2: Call to Investigate
United States lawmakers Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Jim McGovern have appealed to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to investigate China's policy of placing 80% of Tibetan children in state-run boarding schools, reports RFA. The students follow a “highly politicised curriculum" which imposes “serious human rights violations and cultural and linguistic erasure” and leads to “high rates of mental and emotional distress”.
Dec 1: CTA Golden Jubilee
Sikyong Penpa Tsering, President of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), has been awarded a silver trophy by the Tibetan Hunsur Settlement community in south India. The award marks the CTA’s golden jubilee and is given to express gratitude to, and appreciation of, the CTA. Sikyong thanked HH the Dalai Lama saying that, without him, and the older generation of Tibetans, the exiled Tibetan community would not exist.
Dec 1: Monk Sentenced
Lobsang Choephel, a monk from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba was sentenced to two years and six months in October, reports tibet.net. He was arrested last summer with no reason given for his arrest, and his current location and well-being are unknown. He was arrested in 2011 for protesting against the “patriotic education campaign” or “legal education” imposed on monks, and the ban on normal religious activities in the monastery.
Nov 30: Discrimination Against Tibetans
The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy has released a report giving evidence of discriminatory treatment of Tibetans under China’s Covid-19 pandemic lockdown rules. TCHRD’s Tibetan sources spoke of arbitrary detentions of local Tibetans: when 200 protestors were arrested, the Tibetans were held for 14 days under harsh conditions while Chinese protestors were given lighter punishments. They catalogue disproportionate restrictions on Tibetan cyberspace with severe measures enforced to prevent information sharing.
Nov 30: Supporters Conference
Indian Tibet support groups held a two-day conference in Delhi, concluding with an adoption to demand that the Indian government recognises the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as legitimately representing Tibetans worldwide; supports the CTA’s Middle Way Approach; denounces China’s interference in the recognition of reincarnations, and supports the Tibetan peoples’ national identity. The Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament thanked India for her considerable support to Tibetans for over 60 years.
Nov 30: Long Life Prayer
Around 4,500 people gathered in Tsuglagkhang, the main temple in Dharamsala, to offer long life prayers and offerings for HH the Dalai Lama. His Holiness said, “as a representative of the body, speech and mind of Avalokiteshvara I work to fulfil his wishes”, and requested all monks and nuns of the entire Himalayan Region to keep up their study and practice.. The Nechung Oracle made presentations to His Holiness.
Nov 28: Remembering Sonam Tenpa
Sonam Tenpa, 52, the Tibetan poet known by his pen name of Chen Matak (“Fire spark from Chentsa”) who died recently was remembered today at a gathering of Tibetan writers in Dharamshala. Poet Bhuchung D Sonam said he “expressed the political and social messages of the society and demonstrated a strength of understanding”. Chen Matak was a teacher in Golog and some of his poems are included in school curricula.
Nov 25: His Holiness Teachings
His Holiness the Dalai Lama begins a two-day teaching on the Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way [Tib: uma tsawa sherab] at Tsuglagkhang, the main temple in Dharamshala at the request of a group of Koreans. On November 30, His Holiness will attend a long life prayer offered to him by Drepung Gomang Monastery and Lhadhen Chotrul Monlam Chenmo Trust. His Holiness is scheduled to give teachings in Bodhgaya, Bihar from December 29 to 31.
Nov 25: V-TAG Australia
The first Voluntary Tibetan Advocacy Group (V -TAG) has been established in Australia by the Office of Tibet, Canberra and the Tibetan Community Australia NSW. Tenzin Lhekshey from the Tibetan Government-in-Exile Department of Information and International Relations spoke of the importance of Tibet advocacy in today’s time and the need for strengthening the existing advocacy campaigns worldwide to achieve the optimum outcomes.
Nov 24: Two-Year Sentence
Thuksam, 28, from Kardze in Tibet has been sentenced to two years, charged with sending information to Tibetans in exile, reports VOA Tibetan service. He was earlier arrested in May for sharing local news with Tibetans in Europe and India via WeChat. While in detention he was beaten and interrogated. His family was summoned to court where his "crime" was described as "separatist', and leaking state information endangering the country’s safety.
Nov 24: Activists Acquitted – UPDATED
Three activists, Tibetan Tsela Zoksang, Joey Siu from Hong Kong and a third, Vietnamese-American activist who were charged following their protest last year at the Acropolis in Athens against the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, have been acquitted of all charges by a Greek court. The Guardian has hailed this as a “landmark decision” and a “victory for human rights defenders globally”. Three other activists, Chemi Lhamo, Jason Leith of Free Tibet and Fern MacDougal, are still facing trial next week for their protest at the torch-lighting ceremony.
Nov 22: Expressing Gratitude
Sikyong Penpa Tsering, President of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, has written to United States Speaker Nancy Pelosi on her retirement from the US leadership. He thanked her for being a constant supporter and friend of HH the Dalai Lama and Tibet, and for her leadership and support in strengthening bipartisan support for Tibet in the US Congress; he said Tibetans join well-wishers worldwide in praying for her family’s continued safety and wellbeing.