Tibetan Headlines
Oct 6: World Vegetarian Day
The Dalai Lama dropped a message on Sunday calling on his followers to adopt vegetarianism and refrain from the exploitation of animals. His Holiness said that the growing consumption of meat in countries like the United States was “environmentally very harmful” and that the issue is “too serious” to ignore. He has urged common kitchens in monasteries and schools to do away with meat.
Oct 2: Supporting Tibetan Autonomy
The United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs has approved a resolution supporting genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people and offering support to Tibetans. The resolution also urges the swift enactment of the Tibetan Policy and Support Act which challenges China regarding the succession of the Dalai Lama, saying that only the Tibetan people can decide his successor. The bill will now go to vote by the full Chamber.
Oct 2: Tributes to Gandhi
The CTA paid to tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on the occasion of his 151st birth anniversary on Friday. Senior officials of the Kashag hoisted the Indian tri-colour at the courtyard of the Secretariat in celebration. Speaking to the media after the event, Chorig Kalon said: “Tibetans being Buddhists are genuine followers of Gandhi’s message…” he added that the Chinese would soon have to follow the path of truth and non-violence.
Oct 1: Tibetans Targeted
Ten Tibetan villagers from Sangchu county in Kanlho were given 9 - 14 year prison sentences on charges of “extortion” and “forced trading” under China’s anti-gang campaign which is being used to crack down on Tibetans the Chinese deem as posing a threat to Chinese communist control. The villagers had requested compensation for damage caused by state highway projects and raised concerns about the building of a slaughter facility locally.
Sep 30: Facebook Deactivated
Noted Beijing based Tibetan activist Tsering Woeser recently had her Facebook account deactivated for four days, her Instagram page was also impacted. Facebook reported that her account was deactivated due to “third party reporting.” It has been speculated that the report against Woeser was launched by the maker of the documentary film “The Great 14th”, who objected to Woeser posting a picture of His Holiness from that film without permission.
Sep 29: Election Details
The Election Commission of the Central Tibetan Administration has released the calendar for the 2021 elections for Sikyong and Members of Parliament. The preliminary election is scheduled for January 3, and the final election will be held on April 11. The election commissioner, Wangdu Tsering Pesur, said that 36,367 voter registrations from 30 different places had been received since September 1. Registration is open until October 15.
Sep 28: China condemned at UN
A group speaking on behalf of hundreds of NGOs and diplomatic envoys from across the world have condemned the ongoing human rights violations in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong. The group called for the restoration of basic human rights in those regions. Envoys from Germany and Canada both spoke about the re-education camps in Xinjiang. A Uyghur representative said his brother was forced to assemble phones as a slave labourer.
Sep 26: Tibetans Outside South Asia
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has launched a baseline study report: “Tibetan diaspora community outside South Asia”. Traditionally Tibetans in exile meant Tibetans living in India, Nepal and Bhutan. The Tibetan population now is 50/50 between those in India, Nepal and Bhutan, and those in other places, “Therefore, it is important to learn the social, cultural, political status of the diaspora communities,” said the President of CTA during the launch.
Sep 24: Forced Labour in Tibet
A report compiled by Adrian Zenz finds that 500,000 rural Tibetans have been driven from their pastoral lands and forced into labour camps since January this year. In the camps they are reportedly detained, harassed, threatened and “re-educated”. Thousands of others are dispersed to locations throughout the People's Republic of China where they are condemned to carry out low skilled, underpaid jobs. The policies echo those being carried out in Xinjiang province.
Sep 22: Chinese Agent
Baimadajie Angwang, an ethnically Tibetan NYPD officer, was arrested by US federal authorities on Monday on suspicion of working as an agent for the Chinese government. Angwang allegedly located and recruited potential intelligence assets among the Tibetan community in New York for the past six years. He has deep family ties to the PRC. His father served in the People’s Liberation Army and his mother is a retired government official.
Sep 21: Lhasa Alarm Test
China conducted an “air defence alarm test” in Lhasa on September 19. The Lhasa city government said the test served to “improve the general public’s conception of national defence and civil air defence awareness.” It was part of the annual National Defence Education Day, usually held on the third Saturday in September every year. The need for such a test in Lhasa could be related to ongoing Sino-Indian border tensions.
Sep 18: Covid19 Cases
In the last week there were 33 new coronavirus cases and 5 deaths in the Tibetan community in India, taking the total number of active cases to 175. 640 people are currently in quarantine across settlements in Nepal and India, including 47 in Dharamshala. Dr Namdon from Delek hospital recommends face masks, frequent hand washing and physical distancing. Dr Tsering Tsamchoe recommends consuming SORIG immune boosters as prescribed.
Sep 17: Released After Eight Years
Phagpa Kyab, 57, a Tibetan political prisoner from eastern Tibet was released by the Chinese government after an eight year prison term, reports Tibet Watch. Kyab was arrested on December 9, 2012 for his involvement in Lhamo Tsetan’s self immolation protest on October 26, 2012. The Chinese government has criminalised self immolation protests. There have been 155 confirmed cases of self immolation in Tibet from February 2009 to May 2019.
Sep 17: Nine Tibetans Arrested
Nine Tibetans have been sentenced by the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Intermediate People’s Court for “inciting splittism.” Citing “a reliable Chinese source,” human rights group Dui Hua said the Tibetans were sentenced between June 30 and August 31. Dui Hua’s data consists of the names and crimes of those sentenced, the lengths of their sentences remains unknown. Splittism is a vague charge frequently used to squash protests in China.
Sep 15: G7 Meeting
The Dalai Lama addressed a group of leaders from G7 countries on the climate crisis on Saturday. His Holiness spoke about humanity’s shared interest and said “if you look at past history, too much emphasis on individual nation, individual religion, including color. So, it creates a lot of problems. Basically, you see, they are selfish, self-centred attitudes.” The meeting was organised by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.