Tibetan Headlines
May 1: US Support for Panchen Lama
The United States (US) Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, and Congressman, Jim McGovern, have joined public calls for the release of Tibet’s Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. Additionally the US State Department has called “on Beijing to make public the Panchen Lama’s whereabouts and wellbeing immediately and to uphold its international commitments to promote religious freedom for all persons”.
May 1: CTA Extends Lockdown
The exiled Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has announced an extension of the COVID-19 lockdown in Tibetan settlements across India. The CTA notice requests “Tibetans in India to continue to observe 30 days lockdown in schools, monasteries, old age homes and settlements across India” and “those currently outside Dharamshala are strictly urged not to visit Dharmshala in the month of May”. India’s national lockdown is due to end on May 3.
Apr 30: Chinese Fake News
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has issued a strong rebuttal of a story describing the experiences of exiled Tibetans that was published by China’s state run Global Times. The story, which suggests that due to “poor medical facilities in India, Tibetans are longing to return to Tibet”, has been described by the CTA as “false, incorrect and misleading” and as “a deliberate fabrication on the part of Chinese official media”.
Apr 30: Unstable Tibetan Glaciers
Global warming is causing a new phenomenon described as “glacier detachment”. According to research meltwater caused by warmer summers results in an “increase in water pressure under the glacier” eventually causing part of it to detach. This is believed to be affecting the Aru glacier in Tibet where, in 2016, ice and rock suddenly surged down a narrow valley killing nine herders along with hundreds of sheep and yaks.
Apr 29: Religious Sites Remain Closed
Despite Chinese authorities trumpeting their success over COVID-19 in Tibet, major religious sites in and near Lhasa remain closed. One resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, observed that though “schools in Lhasa reopened weeks ago, and Tibet University in Lhasa reopened on April 26… the Jokhang temple, the Norbulingka, and the three main monasteries of Lhasa have still not opened to the public”.
Apr 29: Minor Earthquake in HP
A magnitude 4.0 earthquake is reported to have affected the Chamba region of Himachal Pradesh (HP), India. The quake happened around midday on April 28, with the epicentre believed to be 22km northwest of Dharamshala, with the shock also felt in areas of Kangra district. Neither Chamba or Kangra have reported loss of life or damage to property following the tremors.
Apr 29: US “Tibet Support Bill”
The United States (US) Commission on International Religious Freedom has offered support to a bill “that will promote religious freedom in Tibet and penalise the Chinese government for interfering in the Dalai Lama’s succession”. The legislation, which, “among many other things, will make it official US policy that only Tibetan Buddhists can decide on the Dalai Lama’s succession,” passed Congress in January, but must be finalised before 2021.
Apr 28: Stranded HP Residents
The government of Himachal Pradesh (HP), India, have begun a bus service to bring residents stranded by the COVID-19 lockdown back to the state. It is reported that 366 students from Chandigarh have been taken so far but others are reporting difficulties returning with confusion over who to contact in order to return. Criticism has also been voiced over the number of government passes issued compared to private citizens.
Apr 28: Homemade Tibetan PPE
A Tibetan man in Kangra, India, has taken it upon himself to fight COVID-19 by making his own Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to donate to hospitals. Wangdue Dorjee began by making face shields from recycled drinks bottles but now is producing masks from sheets of transparent plastic. Wangdue has enlisted members of the Tibetan Khampa Industrial Society, and together 750 emergency face shields have been donated to local government hospitals.
Apr 28: Belgian FM’s Tibet Concerns
Belgium’s Foreign Minister (FM), Philippe Goffin, has expressed his “concern regarding the human rights situation in Tibet” and assured that Belgium will monitor the situation closely whilst working with the European Union to call “on China to respect the rights of ethno-religious minorities”. Goffin also addressed the enforced disappearance of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima stating that “it is up to the Tibetan religious community itself to designate the Panchen Lama”.
Apr 26: HP Lockdown to Ease
Himachal Pradesh (HP) Chief Minister, Jai Ram Thakur, has indicated that whilst the lockdown will remain in place until at least May 3 the daily relaxation period will be extended from three hours to 5.5 hours. The relaxation will reportedly include an “easing of curbs from 5.30 am to 7 am daily for morning-walkers”.
Apr 25: Calls for Panchen Lama’s Release
The exiled Central Tibetan Administration is leading a campaign calling for the release of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama. The Tibetan spiritual leader will turn 31 on April 25 and this year marks 25 years since he was abducted by Chinese authorities. Already The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and members of the European parliament have offered support calling for the Panchen Lama’s release.
Apr 25: Tibetan Monastery Housing Destroyed
Chinese authorities have destroyed a building designated as housing for monks at Langdi monastery in Markham, Tibet. Officials reportedly arrived at the monastery on April 1 and told monks the building was not allowed. Police arrived with a bulldozer the following day, beating the monastery’s abbot who appealed against the demolition, compelling the monks to leave and demolishing the housing structure. The monastery is now reported to be “almost empty”.
Apr 25: Monk Dies After Torture
A Tibetan monk who was “severely tortured” for three months “in a detention center in Lhasa” has passed away after Chinese authorities “only let him go because it was pretty clear he was about to die”. Gendun Sherab is reported to have died on April 18 having originally been detained in 2017 “on the charge of sharing and disseminating politically sensitive documents”.
Apr 25: Support for Tibetan Students
The exiled Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has announced a scheme to provide financial support to 200 Tibetan college students in India stranded due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Pema Yangchen, CTA Minister for Education announced that “relief money is aimed at helping those students who are financially disadvantaged and have no family to turn to as they are being stranded in their colleges and universities amidst the lockdown”.