Tibetan Headlines
Apr 20: Virus Research in Tibet
It has emerged that the Chinese lab, suspected by some of harbouring the COVID-19 virus, had been conducting research on bats from Tibet. The Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) is reported to have been investigating bat-borne viruses since 2004 and by January 2018 had credentials to study “the most dangerous pathogenic microorganisms”. Subsequently, in May 2018, WIV reportedly undertook expeditions to collect virus samples from bats in Tibet.
Apr 19: HH Dalai Lama Commends Korean Peace Efforts
Following the reelection of Moon Jae-in as president of South Korea HH Dalai Lama has commended the politician’s “persistent efforts to secure lasting peace on the Korean peninsula”. HH also congratulated Moon on his leadership in containing COVID-19 in South Korea, adding that South Korea had “set an important example for others to follow”.
Apr 18: Forest Fire in Tibet
Chinese authorities have reported that a large forest fire is being tackled near the city of Nyingchi in the southwest of Chinese administered Tibet. It is reported that the fire, which began on Tuesday, has spread over 7 square km and that by Friday 2,600 people had been deployed to fight it.
Apr 18: 100 Tibetan COVID-19 Cases
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has briefed that “approximately 100 Tibetans worldwide” have contracted COVID-19 but “many of the infected have since been cured”. CTA President Dr. Lobsang Sangay also reassured “that as of now, there is not a single case among all 43 Tibetans settlements and CTA staffs in Dharamshala” and that “His Holiness the Dalai Lama is in good health and is not receiving any visitors”.
Apr 18: Tibetan Women’s Helpline Launched
The Central Tibetan Administration’s Women Empowerment Desk and the Tibetan Women Association have “launched a helpline service to provide immediate, emergency and non-emergency responses and information services to women, children or persons affected by violence”, specifically “sexual and gender-based violence”. Due to coronavirus lockdown, there are reports of increase in the domestic violence across the world. The helpline number is 01892 220120. It operates from 8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday.
Apr 18: Petition to the UN
A petition has been submitted to the United Nations and Permanent Missions of the Member States about their nomination of China to the consultative group of the UN Human Rights Committee (UNHRC), and calling for the cancellation of China’s appointment. The petition was signed by 82 organisations and expressed concern that China will be able to weaken the UNHRC Special Procedures.
Apr 17: Tibetan Land Confiscations
A notice issued by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Thunrin County, Rabgong in eastern Tibet has stated that Tibetans could be forced from their lands to make way for the Xining-Chengdu express railway. The CCP notice declared that confiscations would being by April 10 and though some form of compensation was promised, according to the exiled Central Tibetan Administration, historically “such promises of compensation have usually never been fulfilled”.
Apr 17: Chinese Censors in Switzerland
It has emerged that, ahead of March 10’s Tibetan Uprising Day, the Chinese ambassador wrote to “the government of the [Swiss] canton Vaud asking it to call on… municipalities to desist from raising flags and other demonstrations of solidarity” with Tibet. Though the request was passed on to local governments in Vaud “nine municipalities went ahead regardless and raised the Tibetan flag on March 10, while one desisted”.
Apr 17: Action Against Pro-Tibet Student
A student who “criticised China's repression of its Uighur and Tibetan minorities” is facing expulsion from the University of Queensland. The Australian university, which refers to itself as "partners in the global economy" with China, has launched disciplinary action against Drew Pavlou for “damaging the university's reputation by condemning police attacks on student protesters in Hong Kong” whilst alleging that “he ridiculed, satirised and mocked the university's relationship with China”.
Apr 17: Mandarin Replacing Tibetan
Chinese government policies in Tibet are resulting in Mandarin replacing Tibetan as the dominant language amongst children. A source who “requested anonymity to avoid legal trouble” has described how “the standard of the Tibetan language… is very poor” whilst another shared that “for tests and exams, the children are more inclined to get better grades in Chinese and other subjects, with little care or attention [paid] to Tibetan”.
Apr 16: Warning Against Hiding Outsiders
Kangra district administration has warned “rural civic body members of penal action [should] they shield information about people returning [to] homes in their areas from abroad or other districts and states”. Kangra Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Prajapati is reported to have stated that “any attempt to conceal information regarding return of any person from abroad, other states and districts… would be severely dealt with”.
Apr 16: HH Dalai Lama’s Message of Hope
HH the Dalai Lama has offered a message of hope reminding “that compassionate conduct and creative work have the potential to help many people”. In statement on Wednesday HH reassured that “eventually this Corona virus will end” and that just as “we have rebuilt the global community many times before, we will do it this time too”. He also encouraged community responsibility through supporting hospitals and following social distancing guidelines.
Apr 16: EU Expects Independent Dalai Lama
The European Union (EU) has reasserted its position that the succession of HH the Dalai Lama should be free of external interference and be conducted according to “traditional standards”. In response to a question raised by five members of the European Parliament the EU has stated that “they expect Beijing to respect the spiritual leader's succession according to the traditional standards of Tibetan Buddhism”.
Apr 15: Fight Against Mcleod Ganj Dumping
Mahila Mandal, a Sudher based women’s volunteers group, has begun a campaign to protest the dumping of waste from Dharamshala and Mcleod Ganj in their village. As many as 25 truckloads of waste are dumped at a site above Sudher, Himachal Pradesh every day. Mahila Mandal has been pressuring authorities to act on a March 2019 tribunal ruling and now plans to hold sit-in protests at the dumping site.
Apr 15: Tibetans in India Avoiding COVID-19
Palden Dhondup, secretary health for the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), reported on April 14 “that there is no COVID-19 case in [the] Tibetan community living in India as of today”. Authorities sealed off Mcleod Ganj following the death on March 23 of 69-year-old Tibetan Tenzin Choden. A CTA official added that “in all [Tibetan] settlements, all rules notified by the Government of India are being strictly followed”.