Tibetan Headlines
Jun 20: Concern for Tibet
Concern has been expressed at the United National Human Rights Council session currently being held in Geneva over the human rights situation in China, with particular reference to Tibet and Xinjang (East Turkestan in north western China). The United States, United Kingdom and Germany all raised the issue. A briefing on Tibet was held at a side event Human Rights Situation: Seeking Solution (Case of Palestine and Tibet).
Jun 19: His Holiness in US
His Holiness the Dalai Lama is in San Diego in the United States, where he delivered the keynote address at the commencement ceremony of University of California San Diego’s class of 2017 to around 6,000 students and 15,000 guests. He said that world peace originates from inner peace and happiness, and urged graduating students to shun violence and create a more peaceful world.
Jun 16: Excellent Health
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, currently at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota in America for his routine annual checkup, has been pronounced to be in “excellent health”. “Doctors have [said] there is no need to worry about his health,” said Penpa Tsering, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to North America. His Holiness will be in America for two weeks.
Jun 16: Nomads to Return
Tibetan nomads are being told to go home to their traditional grazing lands. They were forced to leave in a state-directed resettlement scheme, but the alternative housing provided for them is now wanted for development as tourist centres and housing for government employees. The nomads livelihood depends on their herds – which they had to reduce or sell when they left the land and no funding is available to replace them.
Jun 16: Boy Released
A young Tibetan man who was detained over two weeks ago for being in possession of a photo of HH the Dalai Lama on his phone, has been released. He lives in Golug. Speaking to Radio Free Asia by phone he said, “I cannot accept that possession of His Holiness’s picture should be considered illegal.” He said he was interrogated in prison but not physically harmed.
Jun 15: Award-winning Film
A documentary film about Tibetans living in exile in Bylakuppe in south India has scooped awards at a number of international film festivals. The 39 minute film, Rangzen, was made by three Indian students from St Joseph’s College in Bengaluru – Santosh Chandrasekhar, 26, Aiman S, 24, and Sumit Dasgupta, 24, as part of their final project for college.
Jun 14: Increased Fire Power
The Chinese news site Guancha has reported on Chinese military buildup on the Tibet side of the India-Tibet border, including the deployment of its new Xinqingtan tank, in a show of force aimed at deterring the Indian military. Guancha says the Chinese technology and firepower is "far more advanced" than that of India. The Chinese military buildup is ongoing since last year.
Jun 13: No Protests?
Initiatives for China (IFC), an organisation set up in America to work towards the peaceful transition to democracy in China, has expressed support for HH the Dalai Lama’s invitation to the University of California San Diego later this month, and has urged Chinese students to stop protesting against the visit, accusing them of “parroting” the “party line”. IFC’s president Yang Jianli, said he is “deeply troubled” by the protests.
Jun 12: Funding Secured
HH the Dalai Lama, together with the state government of Karnataka in south India and the Indian government’s Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), have announced they are jointly funding Men Tsee-Khang’s new college and medicinal compound being built near the Dalai Lama Institute of Higher Studies in Bangalurru, Karnataka. Men Tsee-Khang is the Tibetan Medical and Astrology Institute based in Dharamshala.
Jun 10: Festival in Paris
The two-day festival of people of Tibet and Himalaya is underway in Paris, organised by the Maison du Tibet and Bureau du Tibet. Senator Michael Raison, President of the Tibet Group in the French Senate and Representative Tashi Phuntsok launched the festival, which aims to showcase the diverse facets of Tibetan and Himalayan cultures and has become a major event.
Jun 9: Tibet Solidarity Rally
Over thousand Tibetans, Tibet supporters and speakers from six European countries rallied in Geneva to call on the international community and the United Nations Human Rights Council to act on Tibet coinciding with the 35th UN Human Rights Council session taking place in Geneva. The rally was organised by Tibetan community in Switzerland and Liechtenstein, the Swiss Tibetan Friendship Association and the International Campaign for Tibet.
Jun 8: Monks on the March
A group of 60 Buddhist monks from Thailand attended His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings in Dharamshala and received his blessings on Buddha Purnima, the birth anniversary of the Buddha, before heading out on a peace march across north India. The march is organised by the Dharamshala-based Thai-Dharamshala Charity Society. One of the monks said the march hopes to “promote and share peace among humanity”.
Jun 7: Sacred Idol Recovered
A 12th century idol of Terton Pema Lingpa which was stolen from the house of the Head Lama from Arunachal Pradesh has been recovered in Majnuka Tila in Delhi and two people arrested for the theft following a tipoff. The two are Ngawang Tsundue, 29, and his live-in partner, Lobsang Gakey Sherpa, 26. They planned to sell the idol for INR 1.4 crore ($217,000 £168,000).
Jun 7: Film Premiered
The Diary of a Tibetan Woman, a new documentary film about Lhamo Tso, the wife of imprisoned Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen, has been premiered in Tokyo, Japan. The film traces Lhamo Tso’s life as a refugee in Dharmshala and San Francisco. Students for a Free Tibet-Japan are campaigning for Dhondup Wangchen’s safe return to his family. He has been living in Tibet since his release from prison.
Jun 6: Karmapa in Canada
His Holiness the Karmapa, who is in Canada, has said that he left a written message behind when he escaped for India in 1999 saying that he had no option but to leave, but that “In the future if I could be beneficial to Tibet, the Land of Snow, I will return soon”. He was speaking to an audience of about 4,000 Tibetans and devotees in Toronto, Canada.