Tibetan Headlines
Feb 23: UN Support
A group of United Nations human rights experts has called on China to release Tashi Wangchuk, the Tibetan human rights activist currently in prison in China, “immediately” and to “drop” all the allegations arising from his appearance in an article and video documentary in the New York Times. Two representatives of the Central Tibetan Administration are in Geneva for a week-long advocacy.
Feb 22: Jokhang Closed
The Jokhang Temple in the Tibetan capital Lhasa has been closed for three days following the fire over the weekend in the temple compound, raising concerns about the extent of the damage. Reports are coming through that although the temple has been open since the fire, new drapes obscured some artefacts and the second floor was closed. There are reports that the Holy statue of Jowo Shakyamuni is intact.
Feb 21: Sentenced
Tsegon Gyal, 55, a Tibetan journalist, musician and former political prisoner, has received a three-year prison sentence for “inciting separatism”. He is in a prison in Qinghai’s capital Xining. He was detained in December 2016 and tried in May last year with no access to a lawyer, and has had only one visit from his family. He wrote a blog criticising China’s policies.
Feb 19: Fire!
A shrine in the Jokhang Temple compound in Lhasa has been destroyed by fire. The fire was put out by the fire brigade and nobody was hurt, however some buildings, artefacts and sacred relics have been damaged. The cause of the fire is not known. The sacred Jokhang temple, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is undamaged; it was built by Tibetan Emperor Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century.
Feb 16: Losar Wishes to our Readers!
The team at Contact magazine wishes all our readers a very happy Losar and hope this New Year will be full of fun, joy, health, peace, success and prosperity. Tashi Delek to you all from Contact and Lha Charitable Trust!!! Tibetan new year - Losar 2145 – Year of the Earth Dog.
Feb 16: Dhondup Wangchen Testifies
Dhondup Wangchen, the Tibetan filmmaker and former political prisoner, has testified at a hearing of the United States Congressional-Executive Commission on China, giving evidence about his arrest, detention and surveillance following his release from prison. He spoke of the Chinese repression in Tibet and of the impending threat of China’s regime to the rest of the world. He said, “Every attempt for more freedom or democracy is oppressed by China”.
Feb 14: Surveillance in Tibet
The Chinese government in the Tibet autonomous region has issued new instructions that Tibetans living there should report on the activities of “criminal gangs” connected to the “separatist forces of the Dalai Lama” and his “group”, as well as “foreign hostile forces”. There are reports that due to lack of employment opportunities for Tibetans, many work in the surveillance industry which requires them to spy on their compatriots.
Feb 13: Independence Day
Students for a Free Tibet celebrated Tibetan Independence day in McLeod Ganj, with parallel activities planned to take place around the world by Tibetans and supporters. SFT held an exhibition and hosted a night of Tibetan songs and music. This year’s Independence Day theme is Gyallu, or the Tibetan national anthem and it is being sung in front of the Chinese consulate in New York City.
Feb 12: Journalists Obstructed
The Foreign Correspondents' Club of China (FCCC) – a Beijing-based association for foreign journalists working in China – says that their working conditions in many parts of China, including occupied Tibet and Eastern Turkistan, deteriorated last year. Their recent survey reports journalists being severely beaten, detained and harassed, with around 50 correspondents reporting interference last year while attempting to gather information, including physical obstruction from accessing a location.
Feb 10: Released!
Geshe Tsewang Namgyal, a monk from the Draggo monastery, has been released after serving six years in prison for his participation in a peaceful demonstration in Draggo during the Lunar New Year. The demonstration was broken up by the Chinese authorities who fired on the participants, killing six people. He was tortured in prison and has been left with a disability.
Feb 10: Detained
Tashi Choeying, 37, a monk from the Ganden Jangtse monastic college in South India,and who has been missing since traveling to visit his family in Tibet in November 2016, has been traced to a Chinese jail and is being held on an unknown charge. A fellow inmate who was discharged recently contacted his family and said Choeying has been given a six-year prison sentence.
Feb 10: Pah-La to Go Ahead
The British Royal Court Theatre has apologised to the Tibetan community for cancelling the production of the play Pah-La by Abishek Majumdar and said they will stage the play next year. The Royal Court initially bowed to pressure from China and pulled Pah-La, which tells the personal stories of Tibetans living in exile. The Royal Court says it "always seeks to protect and not to silence any voice".
Feb 10: China Complains
The Chinese embassy in South Africa has protested against the presence of Sikyong Lobsang Sangay - President of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile - in South Africa, saying his official visit there has “undermined the political trust between China and South Africa” and hinting that it could jeopardise economic and investment prospects between the two countries.
Feb 9: Sikyong in S Africa
Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, the president of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile is in South Africa for a four-day official visit - his first to the country. He was welcomed by Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the founder and president of Inkatha Freedom Party, along with other South African parliamentarians. Prince Buthelezi voiced his great admiration for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his support for the Middle Way Approach and the Five-Fifty vision.
Feb 8: Latvia Speaks Out
A group of Latvian members of parliament has called for a ”fair and transparent trial” for Tibetan language activist Tashi Wangchuk, 32, who has been detained in China following his appearance in a New York Times video last year. The Latvian MPs want China to implement a trial that is constant with international legal standards. Similar declarations have been made by the French Senate, German legislators and European Parliament.