Tibetan Headlines
Apr 21: Thukdam
Gelong Ngagrampa Gendun Tsering, a senior Buddhist scholar and an acclaimed tantric master of Gyuto Tantric Monastery, was pronounced dead 37 days ago but his body is reported to have shown no sign of physical decay. He is understood to be in the rare meditative state of Thukdam, a Buddhist phenomenon in which a realised master’s consciousness remains in the body despite its physical death.
Apr 20: His Holiness Sends Prayers
On learning that former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has tested positive for Coronavirus, HH the Dalai Lama has written to him expressing his sympathy and concern. His Holiness wrote that he prays for his recovery saying, “I have enormous respect for you and count you as an old friend". He added that the pandemic "threatens every nation across the world."
Apr 20: Detained for Praying
Four Tibetans from Dzatoe County in Yushu, in the traditional province of Kham, were detained and interrogated by Chinese police for burning incense and praying on a mountain on March 11, reports Free Tibet. They were reportedly released later; their identity cards were confiscated and mobile phones checked, and their family warned of consequences if the same thing happens again in the future.
Apr 16: New Chinese Edict
All religions leaders coming under China’s rule, which includes Tibet, will now be required to manifest their “love for the Communist Party”, according to international Catholic news source the Tablet, which quotes a new report by the Frankfurt based International Society for Human Rights and saying this constitutes “a further totalitarian measure to limit religious freedom”. This new Chinese ruling applies to all leaders including Buddhist, Christian and Muslim.
Apr 16: Six Arrested
Six Tibetans have been arrested in the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Kham [Ch: Sichuan], no reasons have been given for the arrests. Sey Nam, a writer and environmental activist, and former political prisoner Tsering Dolma were detained April 2; Gangkye Drubpa Kyab, aka Gangme Thak, a writer and former political prisoner on March 23 and political activist and former prisoner Gangbu Yudrum on March 22. Two others, as yet unidentified have also been arrested.
Apr 15: Penpa Tsering Leads
Counting is underway of the votes cast in the election for Sikyong which took place on April 11 and Penpa Tsering is showing a strong lead. So far, Penpa Tsering has 55% of the votes, Kelsang Dorjee Aukatsang 45%, with the majority of votes counted. The Election Commission will announce the final result on May 14.
Apr 15: New MPs Appointed
Two new members have been appointed to the outgoing 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile to replace the two who resigned earlier this month during the furore which followed the sacking of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commissioners. The two are Mr Qusar Namgyal and Geshe Ngawa Gangri; they were runners up for the provinces of U-Tsang and Amdo in the 2016 election.
Apr 14: 5G Rollout in Tibet
5G internet services have started operating in Tibet, at the Gampa-la [Ch: Ganbala] radar station in Tibet’s Nagarze County near the border with Sikkim and Bhutan, reports the India media, quoting China’s official military website as saying it aims to solve the difficulty of network access for border defence troops, as well as improving conditions for soldiers stationed in border areas.
Apr 14: New Airports for Tibet
China is planning three major new airport projects for Tibet, along the border with India, reports Chinese state media chinadaily.com.cn. One in Purang is close to the sacred Mount Kailash, one in Dingri near Mount Everest and Lhunze near the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh which China claims as its own territory. Their border locations suggest potential military use.
Apr 12: European Support
European Parliamentary Tibet Support groups have met online to discuss raising awareness of the Tibetan issue; they agreed that they will campaign for a pan-European resolution in their respective national parliaments. They are aiming for a resolution on the succession of HH the Dalai Lama, and for a reciprocal access bill which they see as important because China is blacklisting various European personnel and institutions.
Apr 12: Living under Crackdown
Tibetans living in Kardze in Kham[Ch: Sichuan] displaying photos of HH the Dalai Lama are being threatened with losing their state aid in a new drive of “cleanup operations”; this appears to be related to the custodial death of the monk Tenzin Nyima, 19, alias Tamey, in January, reports the Tibetan Express and Radio Free Asia. This comes on top of the already repressive regime in the country.
Apr 11: Tibetan Election 2021
Tibetans across the world vote to elect their new leadership - Sikyong the President of the Central Tibetan Administration (also know as the Tibetan Government-in-Exile) along with new members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile. More than 83,000 Tibetans in 26 countries across the across the world voted to choose the next head of the Tibetan polity. The results of the final round of elections will be announced on May 14, 2021.
Apr 9: Speaker Resigns
Another prominent member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE) has resigned following the dismissal last month of the three Justice Commissioners. Speaker Pema Jungney has resigned on moral grounds. Voice of Tibet reported an interview with former Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche who stated that while parliament has the right to impeach judges, all three cannot be impeached together as this would cause judiciary ineffectiveness.
Apr 9: MP Resigns
Lobsang Choejor, a member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, has announced his resignation, apologising for his “mistaken involvement” in the dismissal last month of the justice commissioners of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission (TSJC). He cited Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, the former Kalon Tripa, who has said that the Charter does not allow for the dismissal of the entire panel of justice commissioners because this would cripple Tibetan democracy.
Apr 9: Sentenced
Rinchen Tsultrim, 29, a Bon monk from Nangshe Monastery in the Kordo area of Ngaba in Amdo, Tibet, who was detained in August 2019, has been sentenced to four years in prison. He has been held incommunicado in the meantime. He has been detained twice before, this time is accused of being “a traitor”. Two other monks detained with him were released after a few days.