Tibetan Headlines
Sep 20: Surveillance Escalates
The Chinese authorities’ crackdown on people having photos of HH the Dalai Lama in their possession is escalating as police in Kham [Sichuan] are conducting random raids of homes in the area in search of photographs, particularly focussing on the Ngaba area which has been home to many protests against Chinese rule. The authorities have warned of “severe consequences” for people not complying with their regulations.
Sep 19: German Delegation
Three Members of the German Bundestag, or Parliament, visited HH the Dalai Lama at his home in Dharamshala to discuss the Tibetan situation. Frank Heinrich (CDU/CSU), Ms Ute Vogt (Social Democratic Party of Germany) and Ms Margareta Bause (Green Party) and their colleagues also met Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, President of the Central Tibetan Administration and other Cabinet Ministers at the Kashag Secretariat.
Sep 18: Education Workshop
A workshop on the Basic Education Policy is underway at Sarah college in Dharamshala. Participants in the two-day workshop are mentors from Tibetan schools, and education officers. The workshop kicked off with a talk on the policy by Kalon [Minister] Ven Karma Gelek Yuthok of the Central Tibetan Administration’s Department of Religion and Culture.
Sep 17: Urgent Appeal
The Central Tibetan Administration’s Department of Home has issued an urgent appeal for funds to support the Tibetans who lost their stock in the recent fire which devastated the warehouse at Dhule in Maharashtra. Twelve Tibetan families lost their stock of sweaters, which represents their year’s livelihood, in the fire. Donations should be sent to the Department of Home.
Sep 16: Border Scuffle
A border scuffle between Indian and Chinese troops has taken place on the India-Tibet border in eastern Ladakh, along the bank of the 134-kilometre-long Pangong Lake which forms the natural boundary between the two countries.There was a dispute about whether an Indian army patrol was on Indian or Chinese controlled territory. The Indian media has reported that the matter was resolved the same day following talks between delegations.
Sep 14: Japanese Tibet Festival
The Kikisoso Tibet Festival is underway in Komoro in Nagano, Japan, the fifth that has taken place organised by the couple Genyen Tenzin and Shoko Yanagida. It brings together the Tibetan community in Japan for a cultural exchange and to promote healing; Vietnamese, Mongolians, Chinese, Filipinos and other nationalities all participate. The festival is part sponsored by Japanese monks who support Tibetans in exile.
Sep 13: Dialogue for Peace
The Dialogue for Peace team has arrived in the United Kingdom to be greeted by the Tibetan Community and representatives of British Tibet support groups. Led by Ven Thupten Wangchen, Member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, the three person team is visiting 30 European countries to promote a Tibet-China dialogue. They met UK parliamentarians in London and will spend two days in Scotland.
Sep 12: News Refuted
The vice-president of HURON, the Human Rights organisation of Nepal, has refuted the recent news that six Tibetans who arrived in Nepal after escaping from Tibet have been deported and handed over to the Chinese authorities, reports Phayul. He said his office investigated the news but found no evidence of the incident and that it “seems to be a case of a miscommunicated rumour”.
Sep 12: Bhuchung in Tokyo
Bhuchung D Sonam, the exile Tibetan writer and poet, is participating in the Asia Meets Asia 2019 nine day theatre collaboration taking place in Tokyo. AMA-2019’s theme is on refugees around the world. Buchung’s event Drifters: Unbearable Dreams 11, will feature his poetry as well as Tibetan music with the JJI-Exile Brother’s song If.
Sep 11: TWA Celebrates
The Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) based in Dharamshala has celebrated its 35th anniversary. The TWA was re-established in exile in 1984; its origins are in the women’s response to the Chinese crackdown in Lhasa after the Tibetan National Uprising in 1959. The organisation’s President, Dolma Yangchen, said, “Now is the time for young and educated Tibetan women to spearhead the movement forward on the rock-solid foundations”.
Sep 11: Reciprocal Access for Australia?
The Australian Tibet Council (ATC) is lobbying the Federal Parliament of Australia to introduce a reciprocal access to Tibet bill, along similar lines to the one recently made into law in the United States, and introduced in the United Kingdom. The ATC, founded in 1988, campaigns for freedom and human rights for Tibetans.
Sep 10: Refugees Deported
Six Tibetans who had crossed the border into Nepal have been deported. The Nepalese authorities handed them over to Chinese police, reports Radio Free Asia , who quote a source as saying they were arrested, handcuffed and handed over despite pleading with police in great distress. They had crossed near Simikto on the northwestern border of Nepal, on the pilgrim route to mount Kailash and lake Manasarovar.
Sep 9: Shoton Festival
The Shoton, or Yoghurt Festival, the centuries old traditional Tibetan religious festival, was held in Lhasa last week. Thousands gathered to watch a massive embroidered thangka of the Buddha as it was unveiled on the hillside by the Drepung monastery. However, heavy security and surveillance engendered a sombre atmosphere, reports Radio Free Asia, quoting a local source.
Sep 8: Mother of Tibetans
Mother of Tibetans - a documentary by German Filmmaker Niklas Goslar - was screened at the 7th Indian Cine Filmfest in Mumbai. The film was dedicated to the memory of Ama Irmtraut Wäger. She had been a refugee during the Second World War and after visiting India in 1975 ran Deutsche Tibethilfe (German Aid to Tibetans) which raised funds for the education and welfare of Tibetans in exile.
Sep 7: Sentenced to Three Years
Lobsang Dorjee, 36, a Tibetan monk from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba, who was detained over a year ago and has been missing since has now been sentenced to three years in prison on unknown charges, reports Radio Free Asia. He was initially reported as being arrested on a charge of having contact with outsiders. This is Lobsang Dorje’s second prison term.