Tibetan Headlines
Jul 5: China’s HR Violation
China’s continuous violation of human rights in Tibet and Xinjiang was raised during the ongoing 41st session of the United NationsHuman Rights Council. The Czech Republic, Germany, European Union, France, Finland and Sweden expressed their concern about the situation in Tibet. The United Kingdom and Belgium spoke specifically of the Chinese authorities crack down on religious groups and human rights defenders.
Jul 5: Pizza Hut in Lhasa
Pizza Hut has opened its first outlet in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet, reports Chinese state media Xinhua. Yum Brands also opened its first KFC outlet in 2016. Lhasa is one of the most strictly surveillanced cities, reports Phayul, with continuous and secret surveillance operations, while China's policy of opening up to international companies is an attempt to influence global perception and to make Lhasa and Tibet a tourist destination.
Jul 4: Translation Workshop
The annual translation workshop is underway at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA) in Dharamshala. The intensive, three month course has 37 participants who include geshes, journalists, astrologers, psychologists, linguists and civil servants and are expected to contribute what they learn in the workshop towards service of the community.
Jul 3: Yak Meat
The Chinese news agency Xinhua has claimed that a new, Chinese bred, yak is the answer to “poverty” on the Tibetan plateau. The Ashidan yak can be kept inside and is well suited to large-scale intensive breeding. Tibetans have been successfully breeding yaks, making a good livelihood, living sustainably on the plateau for around 8,000 years before the Chinese invasion in the 1950s.
Jul 3: Clarification Statement
The Central Tibetan Administration has published a clarification of the remarks made by HH the Dalai during his recent BBC interview, saying that some could be open to misinterpretation in a different cultural climate. The full statement is available here.
Jul 2: No Visa
Nyima Tsering-Young, 14, a talented footballer of Tibetan origin who was set to play in the New Zealand team in the Gothia Cup - widely referred to as the “Youth World Cup” - in China has been withdrawn from the team because he was experiencing problems getting his Chinese visa. Because of previous visa problems his family had applied early. All the other team members have been granted visas.
Jul 1: Sikyong BBC Interview
Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, President of the Tibetan Government-in-exile was interviewed at length for the BBC’s HARDtalk programme. He spoke about Tibet's strategy for achieving its objectives under the Chinese leadership as well as the Tibet movement’s short and long term goals. To listen to the whole programme, click here.
Jul 1: Peaceful Protest
Around 50 Tibetans from Liechtenstein and Switzerland staged a peaceful protest to the 41st Session of Human Rights Council currently taking place in Geneva, calling on member countries to put pressure on China to comply with International Human Rights standards.The protestors appealed to the United Nations High Commissioner to request China to release information about the 11th Panchen Lama who they abducted in 1995.
Jun 29: 21 Sentenced
21 people have been sent to prison for committing “criminal activities” in Shordha town in Kham [Chinese: Qinghai] reports the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. Their prison terms vary from two to six years, together with substantial fines. The TCHRD report suggests that they have been active in environmental and human rights campaigns which contravene the Chinese regime’s policies in their area.
Jun 28: Mock Evacuation
A second mock evacuation has been carried out to train staff in emergency evacuation procedures for HH the Dalai Lama in case of medical emergency. A convoy involved in the drill included police and an ambulance and passed through McLeod Ganj; evacuation would move His Holiness to the nearest major hospital or to Gaggal Airport. His Holiness is reported as well, with no concern for his health at present.
Jun 27: Karmapa’s Birthday
The 17th Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, head of the 900 year old Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism and one of Tibet’s highest-ranking religious figures turned 34 and his birthday was celebrated across the Tibetan exile world - and in Tibet, where a celebratory concert in Chengdu was kept low-key to avoid confrontation with the Chinese regime. In Sikkim the Chief Minister and Ministers attended a celebration in Gantok.
Jun 26: EU Tibet Group
A transitional Tibet Interest Group (TIG) meeting, attended by MEPs, the staff of Office of Tibet and the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) was held in the European Parliament in Brussels. The group is in the early stage of re-establishment and attracted strong commitment from four new MEPs who come from new and different party affiliations.
Jun 26: Chinese Buddhist President
Gyaltsen Norbu, 29, the man appointed by China as the 11th Panchen Lama to replace Gedun Choeyki Nyima, who they abducted at the age of six on his recognition by HH the Dalal Lama as the Panchen Lama, has been given the title of President of the Tibet Autonomous Regional Branch of the Buddhist Association of China. He is one of 18 vice presidents of the Buddhist Association of China.
Jun 25: Australian Connection
HH the Dalai Lama’s representative in Australia Mr Lhakpa Tshoko has acknowledged the support for Tibetans given by the Benevolent Organisation for Development, Health and Insight (BODHI Australia), speaking at an event to celebrate their achievements over the last 30 years. BODHI is a non government organisation founded in 1989 under HH the Dalai Lama’s patronage; it supports small scale development projects in India, Bangladesh, Thailand and Tibet.
Jun 25: Victims of Torture
A photo exhibition was held in Dharamshala to support International Day for Victims of Torture, organised jointly by the Central Tibetan Administration’s Department of Health and Guchu Sum - a non government organisation supporting former political prisoners of Tibet and their families. The exhibition aimed to educate people about the suffering experienced by Tibetans under the Chinese Communist regime throughout the last 60 years.