Tibetan Headlines
Jun 25: His Holiness Slams Trump
HH the Dalai Lama has given an interview for the BBC World Service in which he criticised United States President Trump saying he has a “lack of moral principle", spoke about Brexit and said he had not given up hope of returning to Tibet. He also discussed his possible successor and that his reincarnation might be a woman.
Jun 24: Permits Denied
Mongolia has refused to issue permits for representatives of the Central Tibetan Administration to attend the forthcoming Asian Buddhist Conference for Peace. They had expected to attend but it is reported that this last minute refusal follows pressure from Beijing. The Conference was founded in 1970 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, to disseminate and implement the Buddha’s teachings. Tibetan Buddhist representatives from different schools are attending.
Jun 24: Exemplary
Passang Tsekey, a Tibetan refugee studying at Stony Brook University in the United States, has been awarded the University’s Ann Tempone award for outstanding students. Passang’s award recognised her exhibition of generosity and care in public health. She was born and brought up in India, arriving in the US a year ago on a Tibetan Scholarship Programme funded by the US State Department. She studied nursing in Delhi.
Jun 21: Fire Accident!
A fire broke out in a Tibetan market in the Paonta Sahib district of Himachal Pradesh destroying four shops of bamboo construction. A group of young Sikhs’ prompt action helped to put the fire out. There was no loss of life and the shops were empty so there was no major loss of stock, however this represents a serious loss of livelihood for the families concerned.
Jun 21: Evidence Needed
HH the Dalai Lama spoke to members of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) during their 17th General Body Meeting in Dharamshala, telling them of the importance of accumulating historical evidence that Tibet was an independent country before being invaded by China in the 1950s. His Holiness continued, saying that it is now up to young Tibetans to carry forward the Tibetan movement.
Jun 20: Tibetan Monk Robbed
An elderly Tibetan monk has been the victim of a scam, via Facebook, and, according to a report in the Tibetan Journal, has been robbed of INR 1.7crore (US$250,000 / £200,000) by someone posing as one of the monk’s genuine Facebook friends. This imposter said she was providing financial support to help orphans in India. The police are involved but have been unable to trace her.
Jun 20: Earthquake in Sichuan
An earthquake has hit Kham, the Tibetan populated historic Tibetan region [Chinese: Sichuan], killing at least 12 people and injuring over 100 more. The earthquake was 6.0 magnitude and hit Yibin in Changning County, south-east of the provincial capital Chengdu, and was followed by powerful aftershocks. More than 4,000 people have been relocated and rescue services are reported to be in operation.
Jun 19: Priest’s Plea
An eminent Korean Priest has written to HH the Dalai Lama requesting him to return to Tibet, “whatever may happen”. Ven Dongbong of Daegaksa Temple in Korea expressed gratitude to His Holiness for bringing the “great teachings of Buddhism” to the world but saying that walking over the border into Tibet would bring the “explosive energy” needed to bring about a breakthrough in the Tibetan independence movement.
Jun 19: New TYC Leadership
The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), the largest pro-independence Tibetan group in exile has elected its new leadership during their 17th General Body Meeting in Dharamshala to replace the outgoing executive members or centrex. The new President is Gonpo Dhondup, Lobsang Tsering is Vice President and Sonam Tsering the new General Secretary. TYC was founded in 1970 and today has over 40 chapters worldwide with 30,000 members.
Jun 18: Tibetan Youth Icon Award
The Global Tibetan Student Union (GTSU) has launched its Tibetan Youth Icon Award, an annual award with a cash prize of INR 100,000 (US$ 1,432.70 / £1,142.90 ). The GTSU says the award is to honour the “all round achievement of Tibetan youth”, to “raise the profile of Tibetan youth” and to “highlight their contributions towards society”. GTSU is an apolitical organisation promoting unity, education and motivation.
Jun 18: First Ever Conference
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has presided over the first ever national level Muslims conference Celebrating Diversity in the Muslim World held in New Delhi and organised by The Muslims of Ladakh. The conference was aimed at recognising and promoting intra-community unity and inter-community harmony among Muslims in South Asia. It was sponsored and funded by the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Jun 16: Support for Tibet
The All India Tibet Support Groups Conference was held in Dharamshala with 216 participants representing groups from 21 states across India and including Indian leaders and supporters from political, educational, business and spiritual fields; campaign strategies were discussed and India’s support for Tibet through 60 years of exile was acknowledged. The Conference called for India to award the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, to HH the Dalai Lama.
Jun 14: British Award
Geshe Tashi Tsering, the 91st Abbot of the Sera Mey Monastic University who used to live in the United Kingdom and teaches Buddhism in Europe, has been awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to Buddhism in the UK. The Medal is awarded to people of meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the British Crown and is approved by the Queen.
Jun 14: Russian Saga Dawa
More than 6,000 people gathered in the courtyard of the Central Buddhist Monastery of Kalmyk Republic in south western Russia to observe the Buddhist festival of Saga Dawa. This year’s Offering of Melody was dedicated to the long life and good health of HH the Dalai Lama. Kalmykia is the only region of Europe where Buddhism is the most practiced religion; nearly half of the population is Buddhist.
Jun 13: State Oracle Invocation
Nechung, the official State Oracle of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), was invoked by the Kashag (Cabinet) of the CTA at a ceremony in Nechung Drayangling Monastery in Dharamshala. The ceremony, which is an annual event, was attended by CTA President Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, President of the CTA, together with the Speakers, Kashag members and senior CTA staff and other parliamentarians who paid homage to the Oracle.