Tibetan Headlines
Jan 9: Arrests in Derge
Around 20 Tibetans were arrested in Kham, Derge County for protesting against the construction of a tunnel in the area, and also for allegedly disrupting the ongoing construction of the tunnel. The construction work led to the destruction of several houses. The remaining residents demanded that the authorities release those detained, or arrest them as well.
Jan 8: Guwahati Tibet Festival
Guwahati, the largest city in Assam, India will host a five-day “Festival on Tibetan Art and Culture” early next month. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is scheduled to bless the festival. “We hope to bring Tibet closer to the minds of the people of the northeast [and] shar[e] the Buddhist culture and tradition with [them],” said Mr Karma Yeshi, an organising committee member.
Jan 7: Photo Exhibition
Over 300 local Indians, media personnel and Tibetan sweater sellers in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, visited a rare photo exhibition on Tibet. It was organised by the Tibet Museum, Central Tibetan Administration and Friends of Tibet, Coimbatore to raise awareness about Tibet’s history, culture and the current situation in Tibet. Documentary movies on the self-immolations in Tibet were also screened.
Jan 6: Lawyers’ Training
Mr Penpa Tsering, the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, awarded lawyer’s certificate to 35 Tibetan teachers who participated in a 10-day intensive lawyer’s training at Sarah Tibetan College. The training was organised by the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission, Central Tibetan Administration to increase awareness about the role of judiciary in the Tibetan democratic polity.
Jan 2: Another Monk Sentenced
Gendun Gyatso, 48, a monk from the Bora Monastry in Labrang, was sentenced to six years in prison on charges of murder on Dec 11. Police say that he prevented police from extinguishing the fire on the body of Sungdhue Kyab, a Tibetan who immolated himself on Dec 2. Gendun was sentenced by the Sangchu County People's Court.
Dec 28: Early Release
Three Tibetans have been released before completion of their jail sentences in what appears to be an implementation of Chinese president Xi Ji Ping's prison reforms. They were released from prisons that China has recently shut down. Yarphel, 42, a monk from a monastery in Rebkong, Lhamo, 22, from Khyinga town, and Rinchen Tsering from Chone County have all been released. Yarphel and Lhamo had been arrested following alleged involvement in self-immolations, and Rinchen for flying the Tibetan flag.
Dec 27: Rallying for Release
Chinese authorities have detained 16 Tibetans in Nangchen County, Yushu Prefecture for participating in a mass protest calling for the release of a popular Tibetan religious leader Khenpo Kartse. He was arrested from Chengdu where he went to purchase a statue for his monastery. Khenpo Kartse, 38, was actively involved in social work and promoting Tibetan national and cultural identity.
Dec 26: Leadership Workshop
Over 300 students from 31 Tibetan schools across India and Nepal are attending a leadership workshop at the Lower TCV School in Dharamshala. Inaugurating the seven-day summit, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay said that education is the only vehicle that will amplify the efforts of exiled Tibetans for the benefit of those in Tibet, reminding those present that students are studying also for a cause.
Dec 25: Detained on Suspicion
Three Tibetans; Bumchok, a 16-year boy, and two women, Choedon, 16, and Yangchen, 27, were detained on suspicion of burning the Chinese flag in Driru County. The situation in Driru has now gone “from bad to worse,” a source said. “Tibetans as young as 10 or 12 are now being detained and beaten in attempts to force them to confess to anti-state activities.”
Dec 25: Dalai Lama in Bylakuppe
His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived at Sera Monastery in Bylakuppe Tibetan settlement, South India, to continue his teachings on the 18 Great Stages of the Path (Lam Rim) Commentaries. About 30,000 people are attending the 10-day teachings. There will be live webcasts of the teachings in six different languages on http://dalailama.com/liveweb.
Dec 24: Three Sentenced
Three Tibetans from Driru have been sentenced to varying prison terms up to 13 years on December 19. The Driru County People’s Court sentenced singer Tsekar Thinley, 22, to nine years’ imprisonment; Choekyab to 13 years and former policeman Tselha to three years. They were charged with instigating protests against Chinese mining activities at the sacred Naglha Dzamba Mountain in Driru.
Dec 23: Teaching for Russians
During a three-day teaching in New Delhi, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, “Warm-heartedness is the root of happiness and it’s the basis of secular ethics. This is not about the next life, nirvana, god or the Buddha; it’s about how to be happy in this life, now.” Over 1300 Russian Buddhists and around 140 Tibetans, Chinese and others attended the teachings.
Dec 22: Speaker Concludes Visit
Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, concluded his 12-day US visit with a meeting with the Governor of Vermont, Mr Peter Shumlin, where they discussed the current situation inside Tibet, including the self-immolation protests. The speaker visited campaign groups, Tibetan medias and Tibetan communities in the various cities.
Dec 21: Critic Detained
Tsokye, a native of Akchen village, Tarchen township in Driru County, was arrested on December 13 for publicly opposing the enthronement of Chinese-backed reincarnation of Shak Rongpo Choeje, the head lama of Rongpo Monastery which the Chinese government closed in July. There is no information about his condition or place of detention. A large number of armed forces have been patrolling Akchen village.
Dec 20: Teenager Arrested
Sonam Dorjee, 16, was arrested on November 25 by police in Driru County for putting up papers calling for freedom. He wrote in Tibetan “there is no freedom in Tibet” on several papers, with his name at the bottom, and pasted them on the walls of the office of Chinese Work Team responsible for conducting “though re-education” sessions in the region.