Stories from Hell
By Sune Petersen / July 12, 2013
In recent months, a number of former detainees from Chinese forced labour camps have come forward to recount their experiences of human rights abuses at the hands of the authorities. The first case that drew international attention to the conditions within the camps came in October last year, when Julie read more →
Responses to the Bodh Gaya Bombings
By Catherina Leipold / July 11, 2013
Responses have been coming in following the bombing on July 7 of the 1,500-year-old Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO world heritage site, and the Tergar Monastery which is the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa’s residence, in the sacred town of Bodh Gaya. Two monks were injured and temple properties were damaged, but the read more →
Body, Mind, and Life Conference
By Catherina Leipold / July 10, 2013
Around 300 health practitioners, educationists, and specialists gathered at the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute (Men-Tsee-Khang) in Dharamsala from June 26-28. The three-day conference on body, mind, and life was aimed at better understanding oneself and the nature of human beings from the perspectives of Buddhist philosophy, Tibetan medicine, Tibetan read more →
US Ambassador to China Visits Tibet
June 28, 2013
US Ambassador to China Gary Locke left Lhasa on June 28 after a rare three-day visit to urge the Chinese leadership to open up Tibet to foreign diplomats, journalists and tourists. Locke, who travelled with US embassy staff and his family members, met residents and officials to familiarise himself with local conditions. Expressing read more →
Economic Slowdown in China
By Eric Goh / June 28, 2013
Speculation about China’s economic slowdown is escalating as foreign investment and industrial production have not grown as predicted. China’s bond market, where people trade and sell debts to fund business ventures, expanded by 39 per cent signalling greater access to credit. However, this did not translate into higher profitability as businesses are struggling read more →
Light in the Darkness?
By Francesca Leaf / June 28, 2013
Is China beginning to re-evaluate its Tibet policy? This could be a future possibility. In a recent interview with Asia Weekly, Jin Wei, director of ethnic and religious studies at the Central Party School, a think-tank in Beijing, stated that the Communist Party needs to reassess its strategy for Tibet. read more →
Presidents’ Meeting
By Nicoletta Primo / June 28, 2013
US President Barack Obama met Chinese President Xi Jingping for the first time last month in Rancho Mirage, California. The two day summit consisted of an informal meeting along with a working dinner, setting the foundations for the future relationship between the two states. It is understood the main issues read more →
India, China and “The Tibet Card”
By Miranda Hall / June 26, 2013
The past few months have seen rising tensions between Indian and Chinese troops in the much-disputed Ladakh border region. For the Tibetan exile community, whose fate hinges on the relationship between these two countries, such conflict could have its advantages. As prominent Indian political analysts have argued, whenever China indulges read more →
Sikyong’s First Visit to Lithuania
By Catherina Leipold / June 26, 2013
On June 12, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the de facto Tibetan prime minister, arrived in Lithuania with Thubten Samdup, the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Northern Europe. The visit was aimed at raising support for Tibet during Lithuania’s planning of the Presidency of the Council of the read more →
His Holiness Visits New Zealand and Australia
By Palden Choeden / June 26, 2013
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has completed his ninth tour of Australia, visiting New Zealand on his way there and giving talks in Christchurch, Dunedin and Auckland. He then travelled to Sydney, Australia for a two-day teaching on June 14-16: The Jewel Lamp, A Praise of Bodhichitta, followed the next read more →