Tibetan Headlines
Apr 23: Visas Granted
Four World Uygur Congress leaders have been granted visas to come to India to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala. The WUC leads a nonviolent movement opposing the Chinese occupation of their country, East Turkestan. China considers it to be a terrorist organisation and so protests when countries allow them to visit. India’s former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal said, “India does not consider Uyghurs terrorists”.
Apr 22: Home for Newcomers
Construction of a new camp is underway at Mundgod Tibetan settlement in South India to alleviate the problems faced by Tibetans who arrived in India after 1985 reports Radio Free Asia’s Tibetan service. Tibetans who do not belong to any of the existing settlements are deprived of the help which is provided through settlements. So far 52 families have registered for the new camp. The project started in August, 2015.
Apr 21: Skoll Global Treasure Award
The Skoll Foundation’s World Forum has presented His Holiness the Dalai Lama its prestigious Skoll Global Treasure award in recognition of his efforts to promote compassion and human values around the world. The ceremony, held at Oxford University in England, was attended by social entrepreneurs and thinkers from around 65 countries. Famous leaders, including Archbishop Tutu, Malala Yoousafzai and Mohamad Yunis are previous recipients of the award.
Apr 20: Rinpoche Freed
Buruna Rinpoche, is also known as Tulku Phurbu Tsering, the spiritual teacher of a community of nuns and a senior religious figurehead has been freed from Mianyang Prison near Chengdu in Sichuan where he has been held since 2009 for resisting political reeducation campaigns at his monastery. RFA reports that his health is uncertain as he has been tortured in jail and subject to a poor diet.
Apr 19: Embrace Your Culture
HH the Dalai Lama, speaking to a group of student representatives from 19 Tibetan schools, told them to appreciate the value of Tibetan tradition, language and Buddhist studies. “We must preserve the unique culture since it has the potential to contribute to the of whole humanity in a positive way,” he said. He also said that the promotion of Buddhism does not depend only on his reincarnation.
Apr 18: Golug Jigme Testifies
Golog Jigme, the monk, human rights advocate, and survivor of torture in Chinese prison joined fellow torture survivor Yin Liping, the Falun Gong practitioner, to testify at the US Congress Congressional-Executive Commission on China. The Commission monitors human rights and the development of the rule of law in China and makes policy recommendations to the US Government; its members include Senators as well as House of Representatives members.
Apr 17: Long Life
His Holiness the Dalai Lama has reassured members of the Gelug International Foundation that he expects to live to 113 years of age, saying he still has recurring dreams indicating that he will live until at least 113 years. He was speaking at a meeting to a group of abbots at a meeting of abbots from Gelug monasteries led by Jangchup Choeden, the abbot of Gaden Shartse
Apr 16: Science and Monks
An exhibition on climate change has been held at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA) in Dharamshala. The exhibition, in Thangka painting style, shows Buddhist and scientific perspectives side by side. It was curated by the Washington DC based Smithsonian museum and is part of a monasteries and nunneries "science and monks" initiative by the LTWA in response to the Dalai Lama's interest in science and Buddhism.
Apr 15: Tibetan Charity Praised
Tibetan Charity Lha Charitable Trust has been mentioned in an article in the Indian Tribune which credits their programme of installing reverse osmosis water filtration systems in the Tibetan community in north India. The Tribune article says Cynthia Travis, a hydro geologist from America, has tested the water in McLeod Ganj and found it contaminated with bacteria, viruses and parasites caused by damaged water supply pipes and leaking septic tanks.
Apr 15: Champions!
Dickyi Larsoe Football Club from Bylakuppe has won the 22nd Gyalyum Chenmo Memorial Gold Cup (GCMGC), the most coveted sporting event of the Tibetan exile community, beating five-times winner Dhundupling Football club from Clement town in the final. Eighteen teams participated; the fair play award went to the Phendeling FC from Mainpat and Tenzin Phuntsok from Orissa FC was awarded the golden boot for his 12 goals.
Apr 14: Tibetans Upset
Tibetan netizens have condemned a Chinese female model and photographer for posting images of the woman posing nude and semi-nude in front of Yamdrok Yumtso, one of the three Tibet’s most sacred lakes. The images were circulated online by Weibo users who wrote “they have no basic cultural or moral understanding,” The photographer also shared the pictures on Wechat, igniting further controversy.
Apr 13: HH Expresses Condolences
His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet expressed his condolences over the tragic loss of lives of pilgrims in a fire at Puttingal Devi temple in Kerala. His Holiness has written a letter to Chief Minister of Kerala expressing his condolences and deep sadness. As a token of his sympathy, he said he would like to make a donation towards the relief efforts.
Apr 11: Parole not Jail
Four Tibetans have been sentenced for their attempt to reclaim land which had been seized last year by local authorities in western China’s Sichuan province. Rinchen Dorje, Kurde Yeshe and Phurko received two-year jail terms, Jigji Kyab three-years. Radio Free Asia reports that all four have agreed to an unusual deal that enables them to serve their entire sentences on parole rather than in jail, if they serve an additional six months.
Apr 9: Protestors Detained
At least ten young Tibetans have been detained and beaten in Marchu County in Tibet's Amdo Province after staging a peaceful protest against the local government’s decision to sack them. They have worked there for 3-4 years and are being replaced by graduates from outside the area. They asked for a review of the decision and say that examinations for public servants are being conducted unfairly, disadvantaging Tibetans.
Apr 8: His Holiness in Dehradun
HH the Dalai Lama spoke to more than 400 people from around the world at the Vana Retreat Centre in Dehradun in Uttarakhand, saying that violence always brings suffering: “During almost the whole of my life, I’ve been witness to killing and violence. If things continue this way, the 21st century will end up being as violent as the [last] century.” He said that education is the way forward.