Tibetan Headlines
May 3: More Forced Relocation
Tibetans living in border regions in central Tibet including Shigatse, Gampa County, Dingri County, Ngamring County, Ruthok County and Nyalam County have become the latest victims of China’s strategic relocation of Tibetans as they implement their new policy of changing land use to accomodate more military base camps, reports Free Tibet, the London based Tibet support group. China is extending its policy of forced relocation of Tibetan nomads.
May 3: Covid Decline?
The first decline in the number of daily Covid cases in India for more than a month has been reported by the Indian Express, saying cases have dropped by 2.3%. Cases increased daily throughout April. Among Tibetans living in India and Nepal, the Central Tibetan Administration reports 2,528 cases; as of May 2, they report that 1,725 people have recovered, 745 active and 58 people have died.
May 3: World Press Freedom Day
Reporters without Borders (RSF) has ranked China as the fourth worst violator of press freedom in the world. Their World Press Freedom Index report states that China has imprisoned 73 journalists - the highest number of imprisoned journalists in any country in the world. The Foreign Correspondents Club of China’s latest report notes China’s use of surveillance to harass and intimidate journalists, and continued restricted access to Tibet.
Apr 30: Martyrs Day
Tribute to Tibetan Martyrs, a virtual event to honour and pay homage to the Tibetans who have self-immolated in protest against China’s régime, took place online, organised by the Tibetan Youth Congress(TYC), Bharat Tibet Sahyog Mach and Voice for the Voiceless. April 29 marks the date when Pawo Thupten Ngodup, the first person to self-immolate, set himself on fire and died in Delhi in 1998.
Apr 29: GCM Cancelled
The Covid pandemic has forced the postponement of the exile Tibetan community’s premier football tournament, the Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup. “We believe that the health of the community should be our first priority [...] we cannot risk the lives of out people” said Tenzin Rinchen, Executive Director of the Tibetan National Sports Association.
Apr 29: Extra Parliament Session
An additional, special session of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile (TPiE) will take place on May 20; no agenda has been announced but there is speculation that it will be convened to elect a new panel of justice commissioners of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission (TSJC) to replace those impeached last month: a Chief Justice Commissioner is required to administer the oaths of office of the newly elected parliamentarians.
Apr 27: Two Arrested
Samten Sangpo and Tsultrim, two Tibetan men have been arrested, accused of using the messaging app WeChat to message Tibetans living outside Tibet. Tibet Watch reports that they were arrested on April 16 in Machen County, Golok Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in Amdo. The Chinese authorities are increasing surveillance on Tibetans known to have contacts in exile and are offering rewards to people who report any infringements.
Apr 26: Milestone in US
The Central Tibetan Administration has hosted its first ever official meeting with State Department officials at the Office of Tibet in Washington DC in the United States. Although meetings have taken place in the past, they have always been held in coffee shops, restaurants, etc.
Apr 25: Still Missing!
Today marks the 32nd birthday of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama who was recognised as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama in 1995 by HH the Dalai Lama. Three days later the Chinese government abducted him and his parents, making him the world’s youngest political prisoner. To date, and despite continued calls from governments around the world, China has released no information about him.
Apr 23: Norbulingka Renovation
Norbulingka, the traditional summer palace of HH the Dalai Lama in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, is undergoing a large-scale renovation, reports Chinese state media, Xinhua, saying the US$ 5.9 (£4.3) million project will include gilding the golden roofs, renovating the traditional Tibetan roofs and repairing cultural relics. Norbulingka was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 and was last renovated in 2002.
Apr 23: Justice Commissioners Furore
A group of 108 former political prisoners has added their voices to the calls for the outgoing Tibetan Parliament in Exile (TPiE) to reconsider its sacking last month of the Justice Commissioners reports the tibettimes. More than 100 former officials of the Central Tibetan Administration have already submitted a petition to the TPiE, as have eleven retired justice commissioners and various organisations and individuals.
Apr 22: Campaign Intensifies
The British-based support group Free Tibet is calling on the UK government to impose sanctions on Chen Quango, the Chinese Communist Party official responsible for atrocities against the Uyghur people and for human rights abuses in Tibet. The global cross-party Inter-Parliament Alliance on China has called on UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to add Chen Quanguo to the four CCP officials already sanctioned by the UK.
Apr 22: Earth Day Message
On Earth Day 2021, HH the Dalai Lama has appealed to his “brothers and sisters throughout the world”, saying that we share this “blue planet”, “Its life is our life, its future our future [...] we are dependent on her [...] Ignorance of interdependence has wounded not just our natural environment, but our human society as well. Therefore, we human beings must develop a greater sense of the oneness of all humanity."
Apr 21: Covid Hits Tibetans
India is experiencing a major surge in cases of Covid 19 and an outbreak has occurred at Dekyiling Tibetan Settlement in Dehradun where 138 cases have been reported. The 1,500 Tibetan residents living at the settlement have been in lockdown Since Apr 16 and will remain so until the outbreak is controlled. Most people have only mild symptoms, but four elderly people are on ventilators.
Apr 21: Tibetans Recruited
Tibetans are being recruited from across Tibet to join the Chinese military; they are wanted to strengthen China’s presence along the Tibet/India border where standoffs between the two countries are becoming more frequent; the most recent took place on April 9. There is speculation that Tibetans are being recruited as, unlike Chinese soldiers, they are less affected by the high altitudes in Tibet and can therefore work more effectively along the mountainous border.