Tibetan Headlines
May 29: TYC “Make China Accountable”
One of the largest Tibetan organizations in exile, the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC), have launched an online campaign to “make China accountable” for the COVID-19 pandemic. According to TYC President, Gonpo Dhondup, the objective of “#Makechinaaccountable2020 is to amplify the global clarion call to make China accountable for maliciously covering up information about the Wuhan originated epidemic and causing a global pandemic”.
May 28: HH Dalai Lama COVID-19 Advice
His Holiness (HH) the Dalai Lama has described his lockdown routine and offered advice to those struggling in isolation. Describing how watching animal videos have helped him relax and appreciate life the spiritual leader suggests early morning meditation as a means of combating anxiety. HH encouraged that even if in the beginning it is only for one second meditation can be worked up “one minute, five minutes, ten minutes”.
May 28: Canadian MP’s Tibet Concerns
Conservative Canadian Member of Parliament (MP) David Sweet has raised the issue of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) human rights abuses to special committee on Canada-China relations. Sweet directed his criticism at the CCP, describing the Chinese people as“oppressed people, oppressed by the CCP’s regime”adding that “Tibetans have become one of the longest persecuted people under the CCP”.
May 28: Police Demolish Tibetan Temple
Videos have immerged reportedly showing the demolition of a Tibetan temple complex in Beihai, China. The footage from October 2019 shows a large number of police guarding the scene before excavators move in and tear down buildings. According to witnesses the destruction came after “the local Ethnic and Religious Affairs Bureau issued a notice, ordering to crack down on Tibetan Buddhist venues in the locality”.
May 27: Chinese Religious Restrictions in Tibet
Chinese authorities reportedly have imposed restrictions on participation in religious events during the Buddhist festival of Saga Dawa. Tibetan parents have been warned not to permit their children to attend religious ceremonies, whilst one resident of Lhasa, Tibet, reports that “students, government workers, and persons drawing a state pension are not allowed to take part in religious events”. Those that do attend have been told they risk “severe consequences”.
May 26: New Chinese Drone in Tibet
China has reportedly deployed an “unmanned helicopter drone… capable of firing and conducting reconnaissance from a high altitude” to Tibet. The AR500C drone’s main mission is reported to be reconnaissance but “when equipped with additional devices, it can also run electronic disruption, target indication, fire strike [and] cargo delivery”.
May 26: US Bill to Recognize Tibet
The United States (US) House of Representatives have introduced a bill that would “authorize the [US] President to recognize the Tibet Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China as a separate, independent country, and for other purposes”. The bill is amongst other Tibet related legislation currently being worked on in the US which includes the “Tibet Policy Act of 2002 and the 2018 Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act”.
May 25: Tibetan Health Screening
As India’s COVID-19 lockdown begins to ease the exiled Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has taken the lead in screening returnees to Tibetan settlements. As a precautionary measure the CTA Department of Health has directed “Tibetans returning from other districts or states to undergo a compulsory quarantine”, as well as, “COVID-19 related symptom testing upon their arrival”.
May 24: Tibetans Fighting COVID-19 in Europe
Tibetan communities in Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Italy and Austria have been contributing to the fight against COVID-19, making donations to various state emergency and charity services. Amongst the causes supported have been the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, SOS Kinderdorf (an organisation “that spearheads precaution to protect children, adolescents and employees”), the Italian Red Cross Society and Amnesty International-Austria’s pandemic’s relief work.
May 23: Tibetans Fighting COVID-19
Tibetans in India have been undertaking efforts to prevent COVID-19 infections by sanitizing large area of those settlement designated as “red or containment zones” for the virus. The exiled Central Tibetan Administration’s Department of Health has been leading a mass sanitation drive with “the whole area” of those settlements which fall in red or containment zones disinfected, whilst the offices and health facilities of orange zones are being treated.
May 22: US Wants Panchan Lama Meeting
The United States (US) State Department has expressed its desire to meet with Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Tibet’s 11th Panchen Lama. As well as urging the “[Chinese] government to release immediately the details of the Panchen Lama’s whereabouts” a US State Department official added that the “[US] Administration would welcome the opportunity to meet with the Panchen Lama in person”.
May 21: Gang Attacking Tibetan Activists
A state-backed gang is reported to have been “beating and intimidating Tibetan activists” in the eastern part of Tibet. The group is believed to be behind attacks on Tibetans who were severely beaten after protesting against a mining project in Chuwa village, Machen County. Though not officially part of the police or military, Chinese authorities in Ragya, Machen County a reported to have formed the “Gang Against Underworld Forces”.
May 20: Some Lhasa Temples to Reopen
Chinese authorities have announced the gradual reopening of Lhasa’s temples “except the Jokhang Temple” following COVID-19 restriction. Temple visitors will be required to present ID cards and QR health codes whilst “clustered religious activities attended by Buddhist believers” will be prohibited “for the time being”. There is concern that the continued closure of Jokhang Temple is a cover for “destruction or alteration” of the sacred Tibetan and world heritage site.
May 20: Call for Tibetan Detainees’ Release
Chinese authorities have been urged to provide information on two Tibetans who have been missing since their detention for refusing to partake in “coercive political re-education campaigns”. The two men, known only as Lhadar and Norsang, were reportedly detained in October and September 2019, at a time when “when mass political re-education campaigns were underway”, with authorities failing to provide friends and family further information on their condition or whereabouts.
May 20: Pompeo Calls for Panchen Lama’s Release
The United States’ (US) top diplomat, Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo has joined calls demanding China “immediately” reveal the whereabouts of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Tibet’s 11th Panchen Lama. Pompeo called on China “to immediately make public the Panchen Lama's whereabouts and to uphold its own constitution and international commitments to promote religious freedom for all persons”. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was seized by Chinese authorities 25 years ago, aged just six.