Tibetan Headlines
Apr 8: Foreigners Evacuated from McLeod Ganj
The United States (US) embassy has arranged for 36 of it's citizens to be transported out of McLeod Ganj and Dharamshala. The Himachal Pradesh (HP) government estimate that 131 tourists including 31 foreigners remain stranded in the state due to the COVID-19 lockdown. HP Principal Secretary (revenue), Onkar Chand Sharma, added that “so far, 109 foreign nationals have been evacuated by embassies of their respective countries”.
Apr 8: Call for COVID-19 Volunteers
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has requested Tibetans in India and Nepal with key skills contact them in order to support local authorities. The CTA Department of Health has requested that “doctors, nurses, medical staff and drivers stationed in Tibetan habitats in India and Nepal to render short term voluntary services”. To register interest contact Deputy Secretary Namgyal Gendun via phone [(+91) 9882870070] or email [menkhangsection@tibet.net].
Apr 7: Tibetans Locked-down in Delhi
With COVID-19 cases in Delhi reported to be rising the city’s government has introduced several containment areas including in the Tibetan colony in Majnu Ka Tila. Although essential services are allowed in the containment areas, “registers are maintained to keep a track of who is going where and they are asked to use masks and sanitizer” whilst “police are stationed to ensure that no one gets in or out”.
Apr 7: Rewards for Reporting on Neighbors
Chinese officials are reported to be offering financial rewards to Tibetans “who tip off authorities to a wide swath of illegal activities”. The 17-point “Squash Rumors and Reactionary Activities” campaign has been described by Aryang Gyalpo, spokesman for the Central Tibetan Administration, as “creating an environment of fear and suspicion for those advocating the protection of the environment and the preservation of Tibetan religion and culture”.
Apr 7: Tibetans in Leh Assured of Supplies
Deputy Chairman of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Tsering Sandup, has assured the Tibetan community in Leh district of “timely supply of essential services and commodities including fresh vegetables”. Sandup is reported to have directed the distribution of 5 Kg rice per person and 1 Kg pulses per household free of cost for the period of three months to ration card holders.
Apr 7: Tibetans Donate to COVID-19 Fund
The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has contributed a sum of 300k rupees [$3900 / £ 3200 ] to Kangra district’s COVID-19 relief fund. Separately the Tibetan Khampa Industrial Society based in Bir and Chauntra is reported to have donated 100k rupees [$1300 / £ 1000] to Himachal Pradesh’s COVID-19 fund and to a local Red Cross Society respectively. The Kangra District Commissioner thanked the CTA, adding “that the Tibetan community has been very cooperative during the ongoing pandemic”.
Apr 7: Tibetan Freed after 5 Years
Sonam Dhargyal was released on April 4 following five years’ detention for “for carrying a flag with a colour photo of the Dalai Lama”. The native of Sowa Village in Ngaba county is reported to have been arrested by Chinese police two months after carrying a “blue religious flag with a world peace symbol and a 8x10-inch color photo of the Dalai Lama” at a festival in April 2015.
Apr 6: Kangra Permits Farm Purchases
Kangra district administration has relaxed curfew restrictions to allow farmers to purchase certain supplies. Kangra Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Prajapati has said that “shops selling seeds, fertilizers and pesticides would remain open in the district from 8 am to 11 am along with other shops notified earlier”. Prajapati added that all shopkeepers should mark circles 1.5 meter apart outside their shops to ensure people queue at a safe distance.
Apr 6: NY Tibetans Fighting COVID-19
Pema Dorjee, President of the Tibetan Nurses Association (TNA) has described New York’s efforts to fight COVID-19 as “war-like”. Dorjee, who works at Long Island Jewish Medical Centre has described how as many as 20 Tibetans nurses may have caught COVID-19 “after exposure to patients infected with the virus”. Other Tibetan nurses have expressed fear of being ostracised by their community should they be open about their exposure.
Apr 6: PLA Killings in Tibet
Chinese soldiers have recounted People’s Liberation Army (PLA) atrocities in Tibet. Speaking anonymously one soldier from Shandong described how in 2011 he was part of a unit ordered to quash a protest by Tibetan monks where the PLA “killed everyone who tried to protest”. Another veteran from northeast China described how in 2008, during efforts to put down a “riot” in Lhasa, he was “given explicit orders to kill… Tibetans”.
Apr 5: “Communal Hatred” in HP
Police in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district have reported an individual for spreading communal hatred on social media during the COVID-19 pandemic. A First Information Report (FIR) was “registered against Dilawar Sheikh under sections 153 A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion) and 54 (false warning) of the Disaster Management Act” according to police.
Apr 5: Home Deliveries in Kangra
Kangra Deputy Commissioner, Rakesh Prajapati, has announced that a service has begun to deliver essentials to homes during the OCVID-19 lockdown. Prajapati stated that the service running in the sub-divisions of Baijnath, Kangra, Nagrota Bagwan and Palampur would deliver items such as bread, vegetables, LPG and medicines.
Apr 4: Door-to-door COVID-19 Checks
Authorities in Dharamshala are reported to have begun a week-long “Active Case Finding Campaign” in the district to detect COVID-19 infections. Kangra Deputy Commissioner, Rakesh Prajapati, has reported that Kangra district will have 1826 two person teams going door-to-door “to collect information about suspected coronavirus carriers”.
Apr 4: CTA COVID-19 Update
The Central Tibetan Administration’s (CTA) COVID-19 Task Force has confirmed three positive tests for coronavirus in the Tibetan community so far; one infection in Paris and one death in India and the United Kingdom respectively. Whilst there are other reported cases amongst Tibetans these had not been confirmed by the taskforce. Additionally, 1597 individuals across 37 Tibetan settlements in India with high-risk travel history have been placed under quarantine.
Apr 4: Tibetan Politician Replaced
The Tibetan Parliament-in-exile has relived Thubten Wangchen of his position as representative for Europe and South America. Wangchen is reported to have been removed following his failure to attend two consecutive parliamentary sessions. The former Member of Parliament cited India’s lockdown for his absence but went on to congratulate his replacement, Wangpo Tethong, on his appointment.