Tibetan Headlines
Nov 15: More Surveillance
Former Tibetan political and other prisoners living in Tibet are being issued with state-provided mobile phones; they are required to use these phones and not to own or use any others. The phones are tracked by the Chinese authorities and used to track people’s location and identity of who they meet, as well as bugging conversations. This policy has been in place since 2014.
Nov 15: Tibetan Recruits
China is recruiting local Tibetans living in the Chumbi Valley near the Tibet-Bhutan-Sikkim borders. One youngster from each household is compulsorily conscripted by the People’s Liberation Army and sent for training. The location is strategically important for India’s communication and transport and there is speculation that this drive is to recruit Tibetans who are physically well suited to the harsh Himalayan conditions in the area.
Nov 12: Talks With China?
China has indicated it will reopen dialogue with HH the Dalai Lama, but only to discuss his future, not Tibetan autonomy. Responding to comments made by His Holiness that “Chinese Communist leaders, they do not understand the variety of different cultures”, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin accused His Holiness of “splitting the motherland” and the Tibetan Government-in-exile of being an “out and out separatist political group” and an “illegal organisation”.
Nov 10: Oath-taking
Kalon Dolma Gyari, Kalon Tharlam Dolma and Kalon Norzin Dolma, the three Kalons approved recently by the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, have been officially sworn-in at a ceremony held in the Sikyong Auditorium at Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala. Sonam Norbu Dagpo, the Chief Justice Commissioner of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission, administered the oath of office.
Nov 10: Border Tensions
China has reported that it has held military drills in western Tibetan Plateau areas. A report in Chinese state media globaltimes.cn said these operations follow a major Indian military exercise along the border at the start of the month and that the Chinese response “displayed the capabilities of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in safeguarding national sovereignty and security ‘as it faced India’s provocations’.”
Nov 10: Settlement Officers Conference
The annual three-day Tibetan Settlement Officers conference is underway in Dharamshala, organised by the Department of Home, with 43 Settlement Officers in attendance. It was noted that facilitating basic necessities for Tibetans in settlements, particularly those living in poverty, is the primary objective of the Home Department. The importance of the population census and the need to address problems faced by Tibetans in India were also discussed.
Nov 8: Solidarity with Tibetans
Retired Indian army officer Major General Gagan Deep Bakshi visited the Tibetan community in Dharamshala and expressed his solidarity with Tibetans for their fight against the Chinese regime. He spoke about border disputes due to the Chinese invasion of Tibet, China’s atttempts to control Asia's water by constructing dams and condemned China for using Covid-19 as a biological weapon. He urged fellow Indians to support the Tibetan cause.
Nov 8: Samdhong Rinpoche
Professor Samdhong Rinpoche’s 82nd birthday was celebrated with an event at Younglen School in McLeod Ganj, organised by The Indo-Tibetan Friendship Association, Bharat Tibbat Sahyog Manch, Utsang Association, Domey Association, Global Tibetan People’s Movement for Middle Way Approach, and Tibetan Women Association. The Speaker of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile paid tribute to Rinpoche’s enormous contribution to Tibetans in exile, especially in education, which has benefitted so many people.
Nov 8: Monks Expelled
Young Tibetan monks in Amdo [Ch: Qinghai] are being forced to leave their monasteries and return home, reports Radio Free Asia, who say this is a deliberate move to suppress Tibetan culture and religion. The youngsters are forced to disrobe and to attend government schools. Monasteries are now forbidden from accepting school-age children to train as monks.
Nov 8: Tibetan School Demolished
Gaden Rabten Namgyaling school, which is attached to Drago Monastery in Karze prefecture of Kham [Ch: Sichuan], has been demolished by the school’s officials. This follows an order to demolish by the authorities who say the temple violates land use laws, reports Radio Free Asia. This was a school which taught the Tibetan language, culture and religion. China has also expelled about 20 young monks from the monastery.
Nov 6: The Third Pole
Tibetans and Tibet supporters joined the 100,000 crowd of demonstrators at COP26 in Glasgow, UK, calling for world leaders to take action to avert the climate crisis. Pema Chodon, one of the marchers, said "If Tibet runs dry... it is going to hit almost one fifth of the world population. The climate justice is not just for Tibetans, but it's for all of us."
Nov 5: Language Banned
Tibetan children living in Amdo [Ch: Qinghai] are being banned from attending informal classes or workshops held during the holidays, traditionally the way in which Tibetan children can learn and connect to their language and culture. Teachers have been told that anyone violating this government order will face “serious legal consequences and punishment.” This follows the closure of private schools and classes in monasteries which taught in Tibetan.
Nov 4: Tibetan Language Removed
Tibetan and Uyghur have been removed from the Chinese language learning app Talkmate and the online video streaming site Bilibili, citing Chinese government policy. Previously, Talkmate was “selected by UNESCO to become the only application platform of World Atlas of Languages to promote […] multilingualism and linguistic diversity worldwide.” UNESCO has said that, with Talkmate, it is “committed to safeguard the world´s diverse linguistic, cultural and documentary heritage”.
Nov 2: Monk Released
Gendun Dapaka, 45, detained in 2015 from Thangkor Socktsang Monastery on charges of “inciting separatism”, has been released, reports Free Tibet, the UK based Tibetan advocacy group. They report he returned home in August but is now in hospital. He is on indefinite parole, required to report monthly to the police, his family subject to surveillance. His trial was held in secret and he was allowed no legal representation.
Oct 31: Rikki Hyde Chambers
Longtime friend of Tibet, Rikki Hyde Chambers OBE, died this morning in hospital. Rikki has been a champion of the Tibetan cause for over 50 years and is well known and loved throughout the Tibetan exile community for his staunch support of Tibet and work with the Tibet Society.