Tibetan Headlines
Sep 6: Earthquake hits Tibet
Chaksam county in Kham Kardze was hit by an earthquake, magnitude 6.6, on August 5, which caused landslides and destruction. 65 people died and over 250 people were injured reports Voice of Tibet; the town hall was damaged and and roads were left blocked by the landslides. Neighbouring regions were also affected by the earthquake.
Sep 6: Film Stardom!
Sonam Topden, the Tibetan singer-songwriter, is one of the stars in the newly released Nepali film Samhalincha Kahile Mann. Sonam was reportedly recommended for the role by his fellow star Pooja Sharma and he has received offers for other films. He is quoted as saying, “If the audience likes my work, I will continue to make Nepali films.
Sep 6: More HR Violations in Tibet
Collection of DNA data from ordinary people, including children, is being carried across the Tibet Autonomous Region reports Human Rights Watch who say that police “do not need any credible evidence of criminal conduct” and that “people cannot decline providing their DNA”. Blood samples are being systematically collected from children at kindergartens. The official reason for the collection is “public security” and a “crackdown on illegal and criminal elements.”
Sep 5: Tenpa Rabten
Prominent thangka painter Tenpa Rabten, 82, has died in Lhasa, reports Radio Free Asia. Rabten was one of the artists who designed the imagery for the Tibetan currency notes used in Tibet before China’s invasion. He painted thangkas - the Tibetan traditional religious art form - and taught hundreds of students. Buchung Nubgya, a Tibetan living in New York, said to RFA, “His passing is an irreparable loss for Tibetan tradition.”
Sep 5: US Visit
American Senator Jon Ossoff is in Dharamshala, and visited the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile along with his delegation. They discussed the functioning of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and updates on the situation in Tibet were provided by various members of the Tibetan Parliament. Senator Jon lauded the courage of Tibetans as they sustain a government in exile and said he is inspired by how Tibetans are keeping their struggle alive in exile.
Sep 2: New Director for SFT
Students for a Free Tibet(SFT) has appointed Pema Doma as Executive Director, replacing Dorjee Tseten who has stepped down after five years in the post. Pema has been working as Campaigns Director for SFT alongside studying for her Master’s degree in economics in the United States. She has also served as Campaigns Intern and the USA Grassroots Coordinator, having worked with US Congressman Jim McGovern and US Senator Elizabeth Warren.
Sep 2: TYC General Body Meeting
The Tibetan Youth Congress held its 18th General Body Meeting in Dharamshala, concluding with an audience with HH the Dalai Lama. General Body Meetings are held every three years as the forum for decision making and election of officers. This year 112 members attended, representing 45 TYC chapters around the world. Gonpo Dhondup was re-elected President; Tashi Targyal is the new Vice President and Sonam Tsering the General Secretary.
Sep 2: Democracy Day
The Central Tibetan Administration marked the 62nd Tibetan democracy Day with a ceremony at the Tsuglakhang, the main temple in Dharamshala. The Tibetan flag was raised and the Tibetan and Indian national anthems were sung by everyone present, followed by the Democracy song led by artistes from the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts and cultural performances by students from Mewoen Tsuglag Petoen, Upper TCV, and Yongling school.
Aug 31: Raising Awareness
The Tibetan Women's Association (TWA) held an event in McLeod Ganj main square to raise awareness of the disappearance of His Holiness the 11th Panchen Lama by the Chinese authorities in 1995, and the many other Tibetans who have disappeared at the hands of the Chinese; the event was held to mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances.
Aug 29: Strategy Meeting on Tibet
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) held a One-Day Europe Strategy meeting in Prague, Czech Republic, chaired by Sikyong Penpa Tsering and attended by members of the CTA’s Permanent Strategy Committee, along with former Deputy Prime Minister of Czech Republic and founder of Czechs Support Tibet Martin Bursik. The meeting looked at Europe's evolving geo-political landscape, and sought to identify opportunities and challenges for Tibet within the EU.
Aug 26: Geshema Examination
The 2022 Geshema examination was held in Dharamshala this month. The Geshema degree has only recently been made available to nuns; this year 64 nuns from six nunneries in India and Nepal sat the exam, 11 nuns sat the final exam. The Geshema is equivalent to a Doctorate in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and is the highest academic degree in the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Till date, 44 nuns have earned this degree.
Aug 26: HH Leaves Ladakh
His Holiness the Dalai Lama leaves for Delhi after a month-long sojourn in Ladakh. He has been in Ladakh since July 15, his first trip outside his residence in Dharamshala, since the Covid-19 pandemic. His Holiness gave various teachings during his stay in Ladakh; he is scheduled to give a two-day teaching in Dharamshala on September 15-16.
Aug 25: Rising Covid Cases in TAR
Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) has reported the highest number of daily Covid-19 cases in provincial China, reports Xinhua, China's official state media with 558 new cases on August 24. China named Amdo (Ch: Qinghai) as having the fourth highest number of cases of Covid.
Aug 25: Storm Devastation
At least 31 people have died, together with over 2,000 head of livestock in eastern Tibetan regions of Amdo [Ch: Qinghai], reports Radio Free Asia, saying that heavy rain and hail have caused flooding, landslides and destruction with nomads particularly affected. Floods have caused extensive damage to the Labrang Monastery as well as homes, property and livelihoods, and left roads blocked.
Aug 25: Young Tibetans Gathering
Forty seven young Tibetans from across the world are gathered at the College for Higher Tibetan Studies(CHTS), Sarah, in Dharamshala for the Eighth Young Tibetan Research Scholars’ Conference held by the Tibet Policy Institute, a research department of the Central Tibetan Administration. Conference delegates will discuss and deliberate on their research papers - topics include Tibetan Buddhism, historical narratives, the environment and Tibetan medicines.