Tibetan Headlines
Mar 29: White Paper on Tibet
China has released its latest White Paper on Tibet, Democratic Reform in Tibet – Sixty Years On, claiming Tibet is liberated from serfdom and there is freedom of religious affairs. The Central Tibetan Administration in exile says the White Paper is “Another attempt to Whitewash 60 years of Undemocratic rule.”
Mar 29: Mentseekhang Celebrates
Mentseekhang, the Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute, celebrated its 103rd anniversary with an event bringing together the Institute leaders with the Central Tibetan Administration’s Health Kalon Choekyong Wangchuk and chief guest Dr Gurdarshan Gupta, the chief medical officer of Kangra. The challenges posed by unauthorised and illegal manufacture and sale of medicine, using the Institute’s brand, was discussed as well as the Institute’s outreach around India.
Mar 28: Loyalty Test
China says that they have tested over 30,000 Tibetan monks and nuns in the Tibetan Autonomous Region for their knowledge of China’s rules and regulations. China says the test confirms that national laws are superior to religious regulations and that abiding by the law comes ahead of adhering to religious discipline.
Mar 28: China Blames Tibetans
A commentary posted on China’s official China Central Television (CCTV) site says that the main reason for the failure of the 2002-2010 talks between envoys of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese Communist Party was “the deliberate misinterpretation of the Dalai clique,” and that “ there has always been a precondition[...] that talks should be held with personal representatives of the Dalai Lama.”
Mar 26: Flag Raised
The Tibetan flag was raised to commemorate Uprising Day in Amiens in France, a town which has adopted Dechen, a village near Lhasa. The event was coordinated by local Tibet supporter Ms Yolande Caumont, with Representative Tashi Phuntsok and Secretary Namgyal Samdup who visited Amiens and met the Mayor and his team as well as the Senator of the Somme and the Mayor of the Vers Sur Selle.
Mar 24: TB Awareness
World Tuberculosis (TB) Day was marked in Dharamshala with the launch of five animation videos to raise awareness of TB in Tibetan settlements, monasteries and schools, as well as the general population. The films were produced by the Central Tibetan Administration in collaboration with Scientific Animations Without Borders (SAWBO).
Mar 23: Spiritual Retreat
More than 50 people are participating in the first ever Mongolian Spiritual Retreat, organised by the Office of Tibet, Moscow, for Mongolian Buddhists, promoting the values of Buddhism in their professional lives. The Retreat is led by Geshe Lhakdor, Director of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, with Telo Tulku Rinpoche, honorary representative of HH the Dalai Lama to Russia, Mongolia and CIS countries delivering the opening speech.
Mar 23: Rally in Geneva
The Tibetan community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein held a rally in front of the United Nations in Geneva, demanding China end 60 years of systematic human rights violations in Tibet. A letter to Ms Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said, “To resolve the Tibet issue, the Chinese government must resume dialogue with the envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama immediately”.
Mar 22: Condolences from HH
His Holiness the Dalai Lama offered his heartfelt condolences to the families of victims of the terrorist attack on two Christchurch mosques. In a letter addressed to the President of New Zealand, His Holiness applauded the way people of New Zealand reached out to the Muslim community with compassion and support. His Holiness also mentioned the importance of resisting hatred and fear by cultivating warm-heartedness.
Mar 21: Tibetans in Nepal
The United States Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, has said that Nepal’s Foreign Minister Gyawali has affirmed that Nepal will not deport Tibetans and would continue to protect the rights of Tibetans in Nepal, “[...] particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which ensures that individuals will not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or their religious, cultural and linguistic freedoms,” said Pompeo.
Mar 20: Budget Session
The 7th session of the 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-exile has started its budget session for the financial year 2019 - 2020. The session will discuss and approve the Central Tibetan Administration’s annual budget. The Speaker of the Parliament appealed to parliamentarians to engage in productive discussions keeping to the interests of the six millions Tibetans they represent. The ten day session will conclude on March 29.
Mar 19: Longlife Prayer Ceremony
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) announced that it will offer a long life prayer ceremony (tenshug) to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in May to symbolise the collective aspiration of the six million Tibetans, and to reaffirm the unity of the three provinces of Tibet. Tibetans across the world are asked to contribute to the offering by making a contribution in the currency of the country they are living in.
Mar 18: Peace and Freedom Award
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been awarded the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award by Bishop Thomas R Zinkula of Davenport, Iowa, in recognition of His Holiness’ lifelong commitment to advocating for world peace. Some of the other recipients of this award include Martin Luther King Jr, Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Dorothy Day.
Mar 17: Ex Prisoner Sentenced
Lodoe Gyatso, also known as Sogkhar Lodoe, 56, a former Tibetan political prisoner, and his wife have been sentenced on unknown charges in a secret court session: Gyatso to 18 years and his wife to two. He disappeared following a protest in January last year at the Potala ground, his wife videoed his protest. Gyatso was formerly arrested in 1991 and spent 21 years in prison.
Mar 15: Invitation from Taiwan
Freddy Lim of the New Power Party in Taiwan has launched a petition to invite HH the Dalai Lama to Taiwan this year. This follows the comments made earlier by Democratic Progressive Party Secretary-General Lo Wen-jia who indicated that His Holiness would be welcome there. He was speaking ahead of a march commemorating Tibetan Uprising Day, the march was attended by civic groups and political parties.