Tibetan Headlines
Mar 23: 130,000 Candles
Students for a Free Tibet has launched a campaign to mark the missing 11th Panchen Lama’s 29th birthday on April 25. The Panchen Lama was abducted by the Chinese at the age of six and SFT plan to light 130,000 candles on a birthday cake for him – a world record and a candle to represent each of the Tibetans living in exile.
Mar 22: His Holiness is Home
HH the Dalai Lama has returned to Dharamshala after his five-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir and Sarnath. He spoke at the Central University of Jammu and later inaugurated the 92nd Annual General Meet of Association of Indian Universities, an annual convention of vice chancellors and directors of over 100 Indian universities. He also chaired a seminar on Secular ethics for the 21st century.
Mar 21: New Education Kalon
Dr Pema Yangchen has been voted in as the new Minister (Kalon) of Education at the Central Tibetan Administration. She received 26 votes in her favour, with 15 against and three abstentions at the fifth session of the 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-exile. Dr Pema, former Vice Principal of The Dalai Lama Institute for Higher Education lives in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Mar 21: Detained for Mining Protest
The head of Markhor village in Driru county, Nagchu, Karma, has been taken into custody after he refused to sign an approval for mining activities to take place at the nearby sacred mountain Sertra Dzage. Radio Free Asia reported that the authorities forced villagers to sign the approval for mining to proceed on the pilgrimage site which is also home to many wild animals.
Mar 21: Padyatra
A march to mark the 60th year since HH the Dalai Lama arrived in India following his flight from Tibet is taking place in Arunachal Pradesh. The 10-day Padyatra, or Yatra Path, started in Chuthangmo, where His Holiness crossed the border, and will end in Tezpur. It was organised by the Core Group for Tibetan Cause, India, with the people of Tawang and West Kameng district and local monasteries and NGOs.
Mar 20: Shokjang Released!
Shokjang, the highly regarded Tibetan poet, lyricist, story writer and essayist, also known as Druklo, has been released from prison after serving his full term of three years, although he remains under extreme scrutiny with a further two years “deprivation of political rights”. He was sentenced on charges of “inciting separatism” and “disturbing social stability” following his participation in the Tibetan uprisings in March 2008, and for his writings.
Mar 19: Protests in Dhasa
The calls for Sikyong Lobsang Sangay (President of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile) and Tibetan parliamentarian Tenpa Yarphel to be removed from office are building up as around 80 protesters gathered to stage a “silent and peaceful” protest against Kashag’s decision to replace Penpa Tsering from the Office of Tibet in Washington. A group of Tibetans calling themselves “Truth Seeking Volunteers” demanded their impeachment at a press conference.
Mar 18: Two Monks Arrested
Two monks from Dza Wonpo monastery in Sershul county in Kardze have been arrested on unknown charges, Lobsang Lhundrub on March 9 and another, Choechok, was taken into custody two days after the December 23 self-immolation by a Tibetan protestor named Konpe although no official reason has been given for his arrest.
Mar 16: Congratulations Angela Merkel
His Holiness the Dalai Lama congratulated Angela Merkel on her election as the Chancellor of Germany for the fourth time. “In these times of great uncertainty and upheaval, I very much appreciate your leadership in meeting your people’s hopes and aspiration. I also admire your continued commitment to bringing about a more peaceful and compassionate world,” said His Holiness.
Mar 15: Budget Session 2017-18
The 16th Tibetan Parliament-in-exile’s (TPiE) budget session for the 2017-18 fiscal year has begun. The session will discuss and approve the budgets for the various offices and departments operating under the Central Tibetan Administration. Speaker Sonam Tenphel in his inaugural remark spoke about issues facing the Tibetan movement and the changing political scenario in China. The session will conclude on March 24.
Mar 12: Freed After 10 Years
Lodroe, a monk from the Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture has been released from a Chinese prison after serving a 10-year prison sentence. Lodroe was imprisoned for taking part in the March 2008 uprising in Lhasa. He was one of the 15 monks from Lhasa’s Sera monastery who were taken into custody during the uprising. Two other monks were also recently arrested, however details of their whereabouts are still unknown.
Mar 12: Mind & Life Dialogue
The five-day Mind & Life Dialogue starts today at the main Tibetan Temple in Dharamsala, in the presence of HH the Dalai Lama. It has been organised by the Mind & Life Institute, and will discuss social and emotional education, as well as how compassion, ethics, and attention training can be integrated into educational frameworks. His Holiness has long been committed to initiatives focusing on secular ethics in education.
Mar 10: Call for Unity
Today, at the official function of the 59th anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day in Dharamsala, Sikyong (President) Dr Lobsang Sangay called for unity among the Tibetan people. “The time has come to ignore the secondary differences of regionalism and religionism and work towards the common goal,” said Sikyong. Tibetans across the world commemorate the uprising of March 10, 1959 in Lhasa.
Mar 9: TYC Members Arrested
According to a Facebook post, 80 Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) activists in New Delhi were arrested this morning after storming the Chinese Embassy. The group were protesting against China’s illegal occupation of Tibet, timing their demonstration to coincide with Tibetan National Uprising Day. Across the country, events are being held to commemorate the uprising of March 10, 1959 in Lhasa.
Mar 9: TWA Campaign
The Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) observed International Women’s Day with an awareness campaign in the main square of McLeod Ganj, focusing on gender equality and the situation for Tibetan women inside Tibet under the Chinese regime. TWA President Dolma Yangchen called for result-oriented initiatives by the Tibetan exile administration for women’s empowerment.