Tibetan Headlines
Jun 5: Tiananmen Remembered
On the 28th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing, Students for a Free Tibet held an event in Tsuglakhang, the main temple in Dharamshala. Meanwhile in Beijing, where two small events were held, police detained at least 11 Chinese activists. In Hong Kong, thousands of people gathered for the annual candlelight vigil to commemorate the violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 1989.
Jun 5: News of Shokjang
News has emerged from Tibet about Shokjang – also known as Druklo – the prominent Tibetan writer and blogger who was given a three year sentence in February last year. Voice of America reports that is currently at the Men-Yuan county prison in China’s Qinghai Province. Although in detention and sentenced, VOA reports that there have been no charges filed against him.
Jun 3: Water Source Clash
More than 40 Tibetans have been arrested in Qinghai province following a clash between villagers and police over water rights. Radio Free Asia reports that 20 Tibetans and 10 police were injured. Tibetans from Shitsa village in the Bayen Hui Autonomous county confronted authorities over plans to divert a waterway supplying their village. The protest escalated and armed police with tear gas were deployed.
Jun 3: Sakadawa Banned
Reports are emerging that students and their families in Tibet are being denied the usual holiday time to observe Sakadawa, the holy month which celebrates the birth of Buddha. The Tibet Post reports that the Chinese Bureau of Education has written to schools to prohibit Sakadawa celebrations, and has further prohibited any religion within schools and homes, threatening strict punishments for people who do not comply.
Jun 2: Lobbying the EU
16 international human rights and advocacy groups have called on the European Union (EU) to raise human rights issues with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang when he attends the EU-China Summit currently being held in Brussels. Their statement demands the immediate release of “all those arrested for engaging in peaceful support for the Dalai Lama” as well as resumption of dialogue with the Dalai Lama’s representatives.
Jun 2: US Student Objections
Students representing the Chinese Student and Scholar Association have protested at the University of Dan Diego’s invitation to His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be the 2017 senior commencement speaker for UC San Diego. A group of students gathered to argue with the Chinese protestors who were speaking against the Dalai Lama, one of the Americans saying “But is this a Chinese university or an American university?”
Jun 1: US Retaliates
United States Congressman Eliot Engel has spoken out in condemnation of China after their objections to the US Congressional Delegation’s meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala earlier this month. He said China’s response was “negative and narrow minded”, and calling for more China to be more open.
May 30: Top Results!
The All India Senior School Certificate Examination results have been declared, showing an 87% pass rate for Tibetan students, with three schools achieving a 100% pass: TCV School Suja, TCV School Selakui and STS Paonta Sahib. This year’s Gaden Phodrang merit awards for the three streams of science, arts and commerce have been announced.
May 29: Tibetans on the March
Tibetans took part in a march from the Khan Market in Delhi to the United Nations office there to urge the United Nations to “save Tibet”. The march took place to mark the 150th self-immolation protest against Chinese rule in Tibet. The demonstrators carried Tibetan flags and banners, and carried 150 coffins to represent the 150 self-immolators. The event was organised by the Tibetan Youth Congress.
May 28: UN Demands Answers
United Nations mandate holders have published a joint communication they sent to China last December about the cases of three Tibetans whose treatment is in contravention of their human rights. They have had no response concerning two cases which have attracted worldwide attention, those of Tibetan language rights advocate Tashi Wangchuk, and Dolkar Lhamo and Nyima Lhamo – relatives of Tenzin Delek Rinpoche who died in prison last year.
May 28: Trump Cuts Funding
The United States budget for next year, published by President Donald Trump’s administration, has cut funding for the Tibet Fund and Ngawang Choephel Fellows, both of which have given significant support for the Tibetan exile diaspora in the past and major funding for the Tibetan Government-in-Exile (CTA). The timing of the announcement is significant, coinciding with Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, President of the CTA’s, visit to the US.
May 25: Restrictions Waived
The Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, is to have his travel restrictions lifted. The Indian government has restricted his travel for some years, suspecting him of being a Chinese spy but is now looking to approve a proposal that he be allowed to travel anywhere in India except Sikkim without having to seek permission. He is currently on a tour to the United Kingdom.
May 24: Agreement Remembered
The Tibetan Youth Congress in Dharamshala held an event to mark the 66th year since the “17-Point Agreement” – the agreement the Tibetan delegation led by Ngabo Nagwang Jigme was forced into signing by China – was signed in 1951. The 17-point Agreement on Measures for the Peaceful Liberation of Tibet is used by Beijing as proof of their claim of the right to control Tibet.
May 23: President Speaks for Tibet
Dr Lobsang Sangay, President of the Central Tibetan Administration, is visiting Washington DC. Before leaving India he gave the keynote speech at the Indo-Tibet Summit 2017 in New Delhi organised by the South & East Asia Foundation. The chief guest was Mr Gopal Krishan Agarwal a National Spokesperson for the Indian Bharatiya Janata Party.
May 22: EU Delegation
His Holiness the Dalai Lama granted an audience to a seven-member delegation of Assistants to the European Parliament (EU) and interacted with them before departing for Delhi and Bangalore in South India. The EU delegation will visit Tibetan exile institutions based in Dharamshala including the Tibetan Children’s Village school. They are accompanied by Ms Rigzin Choedon Genkhang, EU Advocacy Officer, Bureau du Tibet.