Tibetan Headlines
Jan 27: Special Frontier Force
Section Leader Tsering Norbu of the Special Frontier Force has been named in the Mention-in-Dispatches category of the 2021 Padma awards for his role in Operation Snow Leopard – the codename for the ongoing military manoeuvres against China along the Line of Actual Control. Tibetan service personnel – who have been serving since 1962 - are rarely recognised due to the secretive nature of their involvement in the Indian armed forces.
Jan 26: Extending Road Network
The road network in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) now stretches over 117,000km, up 50% since the end of 2015. According to data released at the ongoing fourth session of the 11th People’s Congress the rail network has also increased to now cover 954km. 130 air routes have also been launched in the TAR. Transportation difficulties have long been cited as a hinderance to the development of the region.
Jan 25: 300,000 Nomads Relocated
China has placed nearly half of the land in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) under the strictest ecological supervision. 300,000 Tibetans have been displaced as a result of the policy. Many of the Tibetans have been resettled close to the border with India as part of territorial security measures. The Global Times reported that for these Tibetans “herding is patrolling and living is guarding the frontier.”
Jan 23: Teenage Monk Dead
Tenzin Nyima, a teenage monk from Dza Wonpo Monastery in Kardze, has reportedly died from injuries sustained whilst he was in a Chinese prison. Rights group Free Tibet said that Nyima was released by Chinese authorities in a comatose state. He was first arrested in November 2019 for protesting for Tibetan independence outside a police station. He was later arrested again for sharing news of his initial arrest.
Jan 22: Exile Leadership Congratulates Biden
His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Dr Lobsang Sangay, the head of Central Tibetan Administration both congratulated President Joe Biden on his inauguration at the Capitol building in Washington on Wednesday. His Holiness also noted Biden’s immediate Executive Order recommitting the United States to the Paris Climate Accord. Sangay urged Biden to continue US support for the Tibetan cause, saying China’s rise posed a threat to “global democracy” and “universal ideals.”
Jan 19: Schools Reopening
Schools in Himachal Pradesh will begin to reopen from February 1 following a decision by the state government to further relax limits on gatherings. Winter-closing schools will reopen from February 15 as per regulations for winter-closing schools. Tibetan schools in the state are winter-closing schools. Strict use of face masks, social distancing and the use of sanitizers in the schools premises are to be ensured. Limits on gatherings are to be lifted to 200 people.
Jan 15: Self Immolation Uncovered
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is reporting the self-immolation of a young man in Tibet in 2015, a case which was previously kept hidden by the Chinese government for five years. According to the CTA Shurmo, from Shagchukha village in Nagchu county, set himself on fire and died close to the village bus station on September 17, 2015. More than 155 Tibetans have self-immolated in protest against Chinese repression since 2009.
Jan 14: Tibet Coordinator Meetings
Robert Destro, the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, held two virtual meetings this week, one with members of the Kashag (Cabinet) including Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, and another with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Destro told the Kashag it was their responsibility to preserve “the Tibetan community, Tibetan language, Tibetan Buddhism, and your identity.” The Tibetan representatives praised the recent passage of the Tibet Policy and Support Act by the US Congress.
Jan 13: Tibetan Election
Tibet Sun has reported that Gyari Dolma is out of the race to be the next Sikyong of the Tibetan Government-in-exile. She was trailing second placed Kelsang Dorjee Aukatsang by 650 votes at the time of reporting. The outstanding results are unlikely to change the outcome of the contest. Penpa Tsering is the runaway leader with over 23,000 votes. Aukatsang is almost 10,000 votes behind with 13,539. The official result of the preliminary election will be announced by the Election Commission on February 8.
Jan 12: Contribution to Vaccine
Members of the Tibetan community in Austria and Switzerland have been raising money to help with the distribution of a covid-19 vaccine for the Tibetan community in India. Tibetans in Austria have raised Rs 293,280 [$4000/ £ 2,950] for the cause. Mr Bokong Choekyi donated Rs 82,000 [ $1120/£ 820]. The President of the Tibetan Community in Austria said that though the amounts may be small the people did a good thing in seizing the moral initiative.
Jan 11: Plea Deal
Baimadajie Angwang, the New York police officer arrested on suspicion of being an agent of China, has been offered a plea deal that would carry a prison sentence ranging from time served to 10 years. The deal requires Angwang to admit to one count of violating the foreign agent’s registration act. He was originally charged with four offences: the violation, wire fraud, making false statements, and obstruction of official proceedings.
Jan 7: Heart Sutra Teachings
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has concluded three days of online teachings on the Heart Sutra for a group of Korean Buddhists. The teachings form the 5-7 January were the first held by His Holiness in 2021. The Heart Sutra is a short but important discourse in the Buddhist canon which has inspired countless commentaries over the centuries. Webcasts of the teachings are available in various languages.
Jan 6: Military Drill
The Chinese military conducted aerial drills over Lhasa on January 5, days after the United States passed a bill backing the Tibetan government-in-exile. At least a dozen Chinese helicopters were deployed over the Potala Palace, the historic home of the Dalai Lama. Analysts suggest that the drills may be a way of pre-empting any potential unrest in the region that could be sparked by the US bill.
Jan 5: Vote Tampering
192 Tibetans in Ladakh’s Sonamling Settlement have been asked to recast their ballots after accusations of vote tampering were made against an election official. The official at the polling booth, tasked with helping an illiterate voter, is accused of writing the name of another candidate as opposed to the one chosen by the voter. The Accused official expressed regret and prostrated three times before a portrait of the Dalai Lama.
Jan 3: Tibetan Election
Thousands of Tibetans living in exile have cast their votes in the first round of voting to elect the next Sikyong - the head 0f Central Tibetan Administration also known as the Tibetan Government-in-exile and members of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-exile. Twelve polling stations have been set up in and around Dharamshala. Voting is also taking place at other settlements throughout India and among the exile communities abroad. The second round of elections will be held on April 11.