Tibetan Headlines
Dec 1: Tashi Wangdu Withdraws
Tashi Wangdu has withdrawn from the race to be elected Sikyong in 2021, citing the lack of a platform for the candidates to hold constructive debates and ongoing mudslinging surrounding the race online. Wangdu said that there was a lack of any issue-based discussion between the candidates and urged those remaining in the race to ask their supporters to refrain from backbiting against each other.
Nov 30: Monk Held Incommunicado
Rinchen Tsultrim, a monk from Tibet’s restive Ngaba region, has reportedly been held incommunicado by Chinese authorities for over a year and three months. His present condition and whereabouts are unknown. Eight months after he was initially detained on August 1 2019, Rinchen’s family received an official letter stating that he was being held on grounds of being “a traitor”. No further information was provided.
Nov 23: Dagri Rinpoche Condemned
The Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), has released a statement condemning Dagri Rinpoche, a reincarnate lama and highly respected spiritual teacher, for intentional and inappropriate sexual advances towards women “over many years.” The allegations first surfaced in 2019 when an Indian woman accused Dagri Rinpoche of groping her on a flight from Delhi to Gaggal. Subsequently other women came out with similar stories of grotesque behaviour dating back to 2008.
Nov 20: Bipartisan Resolution on Tibet
The US House of Representatives has passed a bipartisan resolution recognising the cultural and religious significance of an autonomous Tibet. The resolution also recognised the work done by the 14th Dalai Lama to promote global peace, harmony and understanding and called for an annual dialogue between His Holiness and members of the US congress. The resolution was introduced by Republican congressman Ted Yoho from Florida and passed by voice vote.
Nov 19: CTA Staff Test Positive
Two civil servants in the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) have tested positive for the coronavirus. One case was reported from the quarantine centre and the other was detected on CTA premises. Contact tracing has already begun, with one of the individuals reportedly coming into contact with 86 other people who will all need to be tested. The CTA buildings will be closed until all of those tests can be conducted.
Nov 19: Low Voter Registration
The Election Commission of the Central Tibetan Administration has announced the reopening of the voter registration window from December 23-28 because of lower registration of voters compared to the previous general election in 2016. The Chief Election Commissioner said there were 10,880 less registered voters so far this time around. The preliminary election for Sikyong and MPs will be held on January 3. The final election run-off is scheduled for April 11.
Nov 16: Ambassadors Visit Tibet
Switzerland and Canada’s ambassadors to China visited Tibet in September and October this year, but they have no plans to give details of their visit to the media. The Canadian ambassador is set to brief a Tibet group on November 16 about their visit. The Swiss ambassador has given a confidential report to Tibetan organisations in Switzerland. The purpose of their visits was to observe local conditions.
Nov 16: Call for Action
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has called for concerted global action to tackle climate change in an interview with the UK’s Channel 4 News. His Holiness warned of ecological destruction impacting the lives of billions across the globe and said that if he were to join a political party today it would be the Green Party. His Holiness promotes large scale tree planting projects and vegetarianism to tackle the issue.
Nov 12: Himachal Schools to Close
After rising coronavirus cases across the state, the government of Himachal Pradesh has decided to close all educational institutions in the state with immediate effect until November 25. 125 teachers have tested positive for the virus since schools reopened for classes nine through twelve on November 2. Attendances at the schools reached only 30%, with parents clearly concerned about the transmission of the disease.
Nov 10: Positive Tests
105 Tibetan students and staff at two Tibetan Children's Village (TCV) school locations in Himachal Pradesh have tested positive for coronavirus. 74 students and 25 staff tested positive at TCV Suja in Mandi. A further 4 students and 2 staff tested positive at TCV Chauntra. All cases are currently reported to be asymptomatic. TCV schools reopened for 10th and 12th grades on October 26. All students were quarantined and tested for coronavirus upon arrival.
Nov 3: Candle light Vigil
Tibetans in McLeod Ganj held a candle light vigil on Tuesday to highlight the deteriorating human rights situation in Driru County, Nagchu, in Eastern Tibet. The vigil was attended by over 100 Tibetans who paid their respects to Lhamo, Tenzin Tharpa and Lhundrup Drakpa, three Tibetans from the region who have recently been killed or imprisoned by Chinese authorities. The vigil was organised by five Dharamshala based NGOs.
Nov 3: Teachings
His Holiness the Dalai Lama will conduct three days of teachings on Nagarjuna’s Commentary on Bodhicitta on the mornings of November 5, 6 and 7 from 9am to 10am (Indian Standard Time). His Holiness will then answer questions for around 30 minutes from a group of Russian Buddhists who requested these teachings. The teachings will be available on the Dalai Lama’s website and Facebook page.
Nov 3: Activist Begins March
Tenzin Dhondup, a Tibetan activist from Manali, has started a 2000km march from Dharamsala to the Nathula pass on Sikkim’s border with Tibet. Dhondup aims to raise awareness of the environmental disaster unfolding in Tibet; Tibet’s occupation by China; and the necessity of boycotting Chinese products in the wake of the ongoing Sino-Indian conflict. Dhondup, 29, hopes his march will inspire more young activists to undertake similar initiatives.
Nov 2: Singer Jailed
Lhundrup Drakpa, a popular singer from Driru County, has been sentenced to six years in prison by Chinese authorities after he performed a song critical of repressive government policies. Drakpa’s song “black hat” was released in March 2019. He was arrested two months later and held for more than a year in pretrial detention before being sentenced in June 2020. Authorities said Drakpa’s song was a “crime against humanity.”
Nov 2: Death in Custody
Lhamo, a 36-year-old Tibetan woman died in Chinese police custody in August, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). Lhamo was held along with her cousin, Tenzin Tarpa, 39, for having sent money to Tibetans living in India. Days before her death Lhamo’s family members reported seeing her in a badly bruised state and found her unable to speak. HRW claim it is likely Lhamo was tortured by prison authorities.