Tibetan Headlines
Aug 7: Tibetan Singer Freed
Gonpo Tenzin, 32 , a Tibetan singer was released on August 2 after serving a prison term of three and half years for singing songs describing the plight of Tibetans under Beijing’s rule. Gonpo is a native of Shachu village in the Septra township of Tibet’s Driru county. He was sentenced on April 15, 2015. The themes of his songs are mostly Tibetan unity and promotion of Tibetan language. He was charged with inciting separatism.
Aug 6: Raising the Flag
All religious sites in Tibet have been ordered by the Chinese authorities to “raise the Chinese flag” in order to “enhance the national identity”. The flag is to be raised on public holidays and during major religious festivals and celebrations.
Aug 3: Demolishing Properties
Authorities in Qinghai province are demolishing guest houses, shops and restaurants built by Tibetans near Qinghai Lake or Tso Ngonpo (in Tibetan) for tourists, resulting in severe financial losses for those affected. Similar campaigns are being undertaken in Tsolho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in the name of protecting environment. “Gradually, all other private homes built near villages along the lake will also be destroyed,” said a source.
Aug 2: Return to India
Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee, the second leading Tibetan spiritual leader after His Holiness the Dalai Lama made his intentions clear that he would be returning to India from the United States soon. In an interview with Radio Free Asia, Karmapa said, “I will be returning to India by November 2018 to attend a meeting for Tibetan Lamas in Dharamshala, India.” His current visit to the US is the first vacation he has had since he came to India 18 years ago.
Aug 2: Tibetan Singer Freed
Gonpo Tenzin, 32 , a Tibetan singer was released after serving three and half years of prison term for singing songs describing the plight of Tibetans under Beijing’s rule. Gonpo is a native of Shachu village in the Septra township of Tibet’s Driru county. He was sentenced on April 15, 2015. The themes of his songs are mostly Tibetan unity and promotion of Tibetan language. He was charged with inciting separatism.
Aug 1: Tibetans Safe
Speaking about a student group’s protest in Arunachal Pradesh (AP), Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, the President of Central Tibetan Administration assured people that all Tibetans are safe, with situations contained with help from the government. He confirmed that his office is in touch with officials there. Jamphel Wangdue, President of AP’s State Religion and Cultural Affairs said that majority of the tribal community and Tibetans co-exist peacefully.
Jul 27: Nomads Denied Licenses
Tibetans nomads in Sertha county in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous prefecture who are dependent on motor bikes for travelling remote areas are being denied driver’s licenses by the Chinese authorities. Source said that officials are giving lame excuses for the denial. “What used to take them two days on horseback to reach, can now be reached by motorbike in a few hours,” said a source speaking to Radio Free Asia.
Jul 25: Interfaith Harmony
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, while in Ladakh, visited Zanskar, a remote Muslim majority community. Buddhists and Muslims in Zanskar presented His Holiness with a letter pledging to move on from past disputes and promote interfaith friendship. “We owe it completely to His Holiness’s vision and compassion for enabling us to reach this milestone and for this, we remain forever indebted,” said Gulam, a spokesperson for the Muslim community.
Jul 24: New Publication Department
Men-Tsee-Khang, or the Tibetan Medical and Astro Institute, opened a new publication department in Chauntra in the Mandi district. The inauguration function was presided over by the Central Tibetan Administration’s health Minister Choekyong Wangchuk. In his inaugural speech the health minister emphasised the importance of Men-Tse-Khang’s role in the health department. He mentioned the recurring case of Hepatitis B in the Tibetan community emphasised the importance of educating the public.
Jul 21: Two Tibetans Detained
Two Tibetans, Kunga, 25 and Lophankhu, 37, and a Chinese man were detained by Nepalese border security at the Tatopani border point in Kodari in Sindhupal chowk district. The three men attempted to enter occupied Tibet through Nepal without valid travel documents. The two Tibetans claimed to be refugees in India and were going to Lhasa. The Chinese man was carrying an expired visa.
Jul 20: Tibetans Go Back
The Students’ United Movement of All Arunachal has been protesting and calling on its state government for the immediate rollback of the Tibetan Rehabilitation Policy (TRP), 2014. They demanded Tibetans surrender their trading licenses and deported them to demarcated camps. The group marched the streets with Anti Tibetan Refugee Movement banners. TRP was formalised by the Central government in 2014 and Arunachal Pradesh implemented the Central’s policy in August 2017.
Jul 19: Public Service Commission
Sangye Tandar Naga has been sworn in as the new member of the Public Service Commission of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). He has been elected with a voting majority of two-thirds from the present nine members of 16th Tibetan Parliament’s Standing Committee. Sangye Tandar Naga is the incumbent Department Head of Culture Research and Publication, Library of Tibetan Works and Archive.
Jul 17: Mr Global 2018
Mr Tibet, Tenzin Nyima, 25 is competing for the Mr Global 2018 title in Bangkok, Thailand. The competition brought together 40 men representing various nations across the world. Tenzin Nyima won the maiden Mr Tibet title last October. Nyima is a law student based in Bangalore, south India. He was born in Tibet and came to exile where he received education in a Tibetan refugee school in Himachal Pradesh.
Jul 16: Tibetan Supporter Detained
Hugues Picon, a French man was detained by the Russian police prior to the World Cup finale and was later released. He was arrested for wearing a French jersey with name of Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama on the back. He posted photos of himself in the World Cup stadium carrying Tibet’s national flag. During the detention, he posted “... I do not know why they arrest me. They say because I am activist”.
Jul 13: Call on China
The United States representatives Nancy Pelosi and James McGovern called on China to let His Holiness the Dalai Lama return to Tibet in a joint opinion piece published in the Boston Globe news portal. They expressed that it would have been a wonderful birthday gift to His Holiness as for nearly 60 years, he has not been able to return to his homeland.