Tibet Support Groups to meet in Dharamshala, Tibet crisis main agenda

DHARAMSHALA, November 13: Tibetans and Tibet supporters from all over the world will gather this week in the Tibetan exile headquarters of Dharamshala to “explore ways to press the Chinese government to end its repressive policies” in Tibet.

Around two hundred members of Tibetan Support Groups from 43 countries will attend the Special International Tibet Support Groups Meeting from November 16 to 18.

The meeting is being convened by the Core Group for Tibetan Cause-India and facilitated by the Department of Information and International Relations of the Central Tibetan Administration.

In a release today, the CTA said the meeting will “explore ways to strengthen support of the international community to press the Chinese government to end its repressive policies that are pushing an increasing number of Tibetans to burn themselves to death in protest.”

The three-day meeting comes at a time when Tibet is witnessing an alarming escalation in self-immolation protests which began in 2009. As many as 20 known Tibetans set themselves on fire in the past two months alone, demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.

Dr N K Trikha, National Convenor, Core Group for Tibetan Cause-India, noted that the meeting has become “imperative in view of the urgent and critical situation inside Tibet and the need for all Tibet Support Groups to coordinate advocacy efforts.”

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Tibetan people, will preside over the opening session of the meeting, while Dahlip Mehta, former foreign secretary of India will attend the concluding session.

In September this year, over 400 Tibetans had gathered in Dharamshala to hold extensive discussions and brainstorming on campaign ideas and plans for activities by exile Tibetans in light of the critical situation inside Tibet.

After four days of deliberations, the Second Special General Meeting of the Tibetan People unanimously adopted 31 recommendations, meant to serve as an action plan for future activities.

The meeting had recommended the revival of the ‘Tibetan Solidarity Committee’ to head global Tibet activities and pushed for the creation of a ‘voluntary emergency fund’ to finance the campaigns.

In order to intensify Tibet’s international outreach, the delegates had also suggested the opening of representative offices of the CTA in countries where Tibetan representation is wanting and unanimously approved a recommendation to take Chinese leaders to international courts for their crimes against the Tibetan people on well-researched findings.

The first Special International Tibet Support Groups Meeting was held in November 2008 following the pan-Tibet 2008 uprisings.

Pray for my daughter to be reborn in independent Tibet: Self-immolator’s father

DHARAMSHALA, November 13: Father of Tibetan self-immolator, Tamding Tso, who passed away in her fiery protest last week, has made an emotional appeal, requesting people to pray for his daughter to be reborn in an independent Tibet in her next life.

“I request you all to pray that may my daughter be reborn in an independent Tibet and hear and see His Holiness the Dalai Lama in her next life,” Tamding Kyab said in a conversation with a group of local Tibetans who had come to offer their last respects.

Earlier reports had indicated that a large number of Tibetans had visited Tamding Tso’s home to pay their condolences and show their solidarity.

Kyab said his daughter was “always concerned about Tibet’s situation” and clearly stated that her self-immolation protest was for the “cause of Tibet and not for any family reasons.”

“What triggered her self-immolation,” according to Kyab, was when both father and daughter went to the nearby Dowa town a month ago and “saw Chinese government posters reiterating the ban on pictures of the Dalai Lama and calling on Tibetans to publicly protest separatist forces and their activities.”

Kyab said his daughter was “visibly angered” and very saddened to see those posters, and recollected telling him: “Father, this is the sad destiny of Tibetan people. We can’t even keep and pray before the picture of our spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”

A copy of the notice obtained by the Central Tibetan Administration reads, “the government imposes complete ban on keeping photos of His Holiness the Dalai Lama” and pledges to “maintain unity of the motherland and fight against the Dalai group’s separatist activities.”

Tamding Tso, 23, mother of a seven-year-old son, later set herself on fire near the Ghe Mar thang in Dowa town at around 5.30 pm (local time) on November 7 shouting, “His Holiness the Dalai Lama must come to Tibet.”

Before leaving her home that day, Kyab said Tamding Tso cleaned the house, offered prayers in front of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s portrait and took petrol from their motorbike.

“When I came to know about my daughter’s self-immolation protest, it felt as if my heart was pulled out of my chest,” Kyab said. “She was my favourite and most beloved daughter. I never raised even a finger on her since she was born.”

However, the aggrieved father said his daughter’s decision was for the larger Tibetan cause and for the wish to see the return of the His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama on their thrones.

“So, I think it is of no use to ponder over anything else than to respect her decision and sacrifice,” Kyab added. “Therefore, I appeal to all of you to remain united and work together to fulfil her goals and aspirations.”

Following Tamding Tso’ self-immolation protest, eight more Tibetans have set themselves on fire inside Tibet, taking the toll to 72, since the wave of fiery protests began in 2009.

Tibetans carry out protest march in Tibet, Call for freedom

Tibetans taking out a protest march in Tsolho region of Amdo, eastern Tibet calling for freedom on November 11, 2012.

DHARAMSHALA, November 13: A group of Tibetans in Tsolho region of Ba, eastern Tibet, took out a protest march, for over 40kms, calling for freedom and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life on November 11.

The protest march follows the alarming escalation in self-immolations in recent weeks against China’s continued occupation of Tibet and peaceful protests by thousands of Tibetans in the Rebkong region.

In a photo received by Phayul of the protest march, Tibetans can be seen carrying a white banner, although the writings on the banner are not legible.

Speaking to Phayul, Samten, a monk living in south India said around twenty Tibetans, including monks of Karmo Monastery, staged a peaceful protest march from Karmo Monastery to Thang-ghen town, some 40kms away at 7:30am (local time) on November 11.

“While on their march, the protestors chanted the ancient Tibetan prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life(Ghang-ri Ra-wei Kor-wei) and raised slogans calling for freedom in Tibet,” Sonam said citing sources in the region.

On reaching Thang-ghen town, the protestors were detained by local Chinese authorities.

“After persistent appeals by local Tibetans, the group of marchers were released soon after,” the same source added.

As of now, no further detentions and arrests have been reported.

Last week, following self-immolation protests by Tamding Tso and Kalsang Jinpa in Rebkong region, thousands of Tibetans, including school students, carried out massive protests raising slogans for the Dalai Lama’s return and rights of the Tibetan people.

While a group of students pulled down Chinese flags from their school buildings and government offices in Dowa town, thousands of students protested in front of the major Chinese government offices in Rongwo town.

The protests were followed by two more self-immolations yesterday in the same region. Nyingkar Tashi and Nyingchag Bum, both passed away in their protests, taking the Tibet self-immolation toll to 72, since the fiery protests began in 2009.

The alarming escalation in the self-immolation protests, ten in November alone, coincide with the ongoing Chinese Communist Party's 18th National Congress in Beijing, which will this week see the transfer of power from Hu Jintao to Xi Jinping.

Breaking: Second self-immolation today takes toll to 72, Heavy deployment of armed forces in Rebkong region

DHARAMSHALA, November 12: In more heartbreaking news coming out of Tibetan, a second Tibetan set himself on fire today in the Rebkong region of eastern Tibet.

Sources are confirming with Phayul that the Tibetan identified as Nyingchag Bum, 20, passed away in his protest in Dowa region of Rebkong.

“Nyingchag Bum from Yonlag Dewa set himself on fire on the main street of Dowa town,” Geshe Rongwo Lobsang Nyendak, a Tibetan member of parliament told Phayul. “Monks from the nearby Dowa Monastery carried his charred body inside the Monastery premises.”

Further details are awaited at the time of filing this report.

In confirmed reports coming in, Nyingkar Tashi, 24, who set himself on fire this afternoon in Dro Rongwo has passed away in his fiery protest.

Various sources are telling Phayul that the situation around Rebkong region is “very tense” following the five self-immolations in the region this month alone, including two today.

A heavy deployment of Chinese armed forces is also being reported in the region.

Thousands of Tibetans, including school students last week carried out massive demonstrations and protest rallies in Rongwo calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom in Tibet.

School students also pulled down Chinese flags from their school building and government offices in Dro Rongwo, the place where Tamdin Tso set herself on fire protesting Chinese rule last week.

The self-immolation toll has now risen to 72 inside Tibet since 2009 with nine fiery protests this month alone.

The alarming escalation in the protests coincide with the ongoing Chinese Communist Party's 18th National Congress in Beijing, which will this week see the transfer of power from Hu Jintao to Xi Jinping.

Earlier this month, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay urged China to “promptly address the longstanding grievances that have led to an alarming escalation in desperate forms of protest, including self-immolations, in Tibetan areas.”

Pillay said she was disturbed by "continuing allegations of violence against Tibetans seeking to exercise their fundamental human rights," and urged China to allow independent and impartial monitors to visit and assess the actual conditions on the ground, and to lift restrictions on media access to the region, as a confidence-building measure.

Tibetan activists storm Chinese embassy, TYC president arrested

TYC President Tsewang Rigzin being arrested outside the Chinese embassy in New Delhi on November 12, 2012. DHARAMSHALA, November 12: Tibetan activists in the Indian capital New Delhi today stormed the Chinese embassy in solidarity with the ongoing wave of self-immolations inside Tibet and the massive protests occurring in Rebkong, eastern Tibet. 13 Tibetan activists, led by Tsewang Rigzin, president of Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest pro-independence group in exile, raised slogans for Tibet’s independence outside the embassy gates, even as reports were coming in of one more self-immolation by a Tibetan named Nyingkar Tashi in eastern Tibet this afternoon. All 13 activists, including eight students, two of whom were women, have been arrested by Indian police and are currently being held at the Chanakyapuri Police Station in Delhi. TYC in a release said the demonstration was organised in response to the “staggering number of known self-immolations, almost 60 in 2012 alone and 71 since the immolations began in 2009, and to show support for the thousands of Tibetans who have taken up the courage and risked their lives to protest against the Chinese occupation in the streets of Rebkong, eastern Tibet.” The group blamed the Chinese government of unleashing relentless repression against the peaceful Tibetan protestors instead of addressing their just demands. “The extreme acts of self-immolations are the highest form of non-violent direct action and while their bodies are engulfed in flames, all the self-immolators in unison have demanded the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and Independence for Tibet,” Rigzin said in a statement before his arrest. The TYC president noted that the self-immolations have “totally paralysed the Beijing government” and their final demands are “ringing loud and clear in the ears of the Chinese leaders” at the ongoing 18th Communist Party National Congress. “We demand the Chinese government under the new leadership of Xi Jinping to do the right thing by working on a timeline during this ongoing 18th Communist Party National Congress to return Tibet to its rightful owner: the Tibetan people,” Rigzin said. He also appealed to world leaders and the international community to stand “on the right side of history” and support the Tibetan people’s rightful aspiration to be free from Chinese occupation. “The ball is in the court of the Chinese government to douse the fiery protests inside Tibet and we the Tibetan people know that regardless of China’s economy and military might, the just struggle of the Tibetan people will prevail at the end.” Rigzin also called on Tibetans world over to “knock on the doors” of the Chinese embassies and consulates and “echo the call for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and Independence for Tibet.”

Breaking: Tibet continues to burn, Another Tibetan self-immolates

Nyingkar Tashi, 24, set himself on fire in Rebkong region of eastern Tibet on November 12, 2012.

DHARAMSHALA, November 12: In confirmed reports and photos coming out of Tibet, another Tibetan has set himself on fire today in an apparent protest against China's continued occupation of Tibet.

In one of the photos received by Phayul, a Tibetan man can be seen engulfed in flames, lying down on the ground.

Sources have identified the Tibetan as Nyingkar Tashi,24 years of age. The self-immolation is being reported from Rebkong region of eastern Tibet, the same region which witnessed two self-immolations and massive protests involving thousands of Tibetans and students last week alone.

"I am getting confirmed reports of a self-immolation protest by a Tibetan man Nyiga, 24 in Rebkong this afternoon at around 3.30 pm(local time)," Ajam Amchok, an exile Tibetan with close contacts in the region told Phayul. "There is too much of a chaos right now in the area making it difficult to get more information."

Details on Nyingkar Tashi's condition is still awaited at the time of filing this report.

In less than week, beginning from the eve of Chinese Communist Party's 18th National Congress in Beijing, eight Tibetans have set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Chinese government officials from Tibet last week reiterated the government’s view that the self-immolations were being instigated by external separatist groups.

“External Tibetan separatist forces and the Dalai clique are sacrificing the lives of others to achieve ulterior political motives,” Lobsang Gyaltsen, the TAR Deputy Governor, was quoted as saying by Reuters.

Qiangba Puncog, the head of the TAR government’s People’s Congress, ruled out allowing foreign observers into Tibetan areas, as recommended recently by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.

Speaking to reporters in Tokyo earlier today, the Dalai Lama said the Chinese government is not 'seriously' probing the cause of a spate of self-immolations.

"The Chinese government should investigate the cause (of the incidents). China does not look into it seriously and tries to end (the incidents) only by criticising me," Kyodo News reported in Japanese.

71 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since the wave of self-immolations began in 2009. A number of mass protests involving thousands of people have also erupted across the Tibetan plateau over the last several months.

China bans monks from offering condolences and prayers for self-immolator

DHARAMSHALA, November 12: Chinese authorities in eastern Tibet have banned Tibetan monks from offering condolences and joining prayer rituals to observe the demise of a teenage monk who passed away in his self-immolation protest against Chinese rule on November 7 in Ngoshul Village in Gomang region of Ngaba.

Dorjee, 15, a monk from the Ngoshul Monastery carried out a triple self-immolation protest with two other monks from the same monastery, Samdup and Dorjee Kyap, both 16. The three young monks set themselves ablaze shouting slogans for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom for Tibet in front of the Chinese Public Security Bureau office of Gomang.

Dorjee passed away at the site of protest, while Samdup and Dorjee Kyab reportedly survived the self-immolation and are currently believed to be in a hospital in Ngaba.

Dharamshala based rights group, Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in a release Sunday said local Chinese authorities on November 8, a day after the protest, handed over some ashes to Dorjee’s family, saying it was of the deceased’s. Dorjee’s charred body had been taken into police custody soon after he succumbed to his injuries.

“The Chinese authorities have banned monks from Ngoshul Monastery to offer condolences and join prayer rituals to observe the death of a teen monk who died after setting himself on fire in protest against the Chinese government,” TCHRD said.

“From the moment news spread about the multiple self-immolation, local Tibetans and monks in Ngoshul Village have begun making visits to the monks' families expressing solidarity and support and joining in the prayer ceremony,” the rights group said. “Monks from Ngoshul Monastery have been barred from participating in the prayer rituals at the deceased's home.”

TCHRD also reported of deployment of People's Armed Police at Ngoshul Monastery and Gomang.

The group said no conclusive reports on the condition of Samdum and Dorjee Kyab could be gathered due to the “extreme difficulty in gathering information and the prevalence of extreme secrecy regarding the whereabouts and condition of both the monks.”

TCHRD cited sources as saying that it cannot be confirmed whether the monks are alive or about the location of the hospital where they are believed to be undergoing treatment.

The alarming escalation in self-immolations last week, which saw seven Tibetans set themselves on fire, coincided with the Chinese Communist Party’s weeklong 18th National Congress, which began Thursday in Beijing. The meeting is expected to end with the transfer of power to Vice President Xi Jinping, who will govern the country for a decade.

70 Tibetans have set themselves ablaze since the fiery protests began in 2009, protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet and demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom in Tibet.

Seven self-immolations in a week, Tibetans offer prayers

Tibetan self-immolator Gonpo Tsering, 19, who passed away on Saturday, November 10, 2012.

DHARAMSHALA, November 12: The Daharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration in a release Sunday confirmed earlier reports of a self-immolation protest by a young Tibetan, Gonpo Tsering.

CTA said Gonpo Tsering, 19, set himself on fire around 2 pm (local time) in Lushoe village in Tsoe region of eastern Tibet on Saturday, November 10.

“As flames consumed his body, he raised slogans demanding freedom for Tibetans and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his homeland,” the release said. “Local Tibetans tried to extinguish the flames, but Gonpo succumbed to his injuries two hours later.”

His body was later taken to his native Kay village, where local Tibetans organised a special prayer service.

Gonpo Tsering did his high schooling in Tsoe and was awarded with many awards, including for best student and excellence in studies. Loved by locals as a “very friendly person,” he used his artistic skills to educate people in his locality.

Gonpo Tsering became the seventh Tibetan to set himself on fire last week, making this the deadliest week since the wave of self-immolation protests began in 2009.

Now, 70 Tibetans have set themselves ablaze, protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet and demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom in Tibet.

The CTA on Sunday organised a grand prayer service at the Tsug-la Khang, the main temple in Dharamshala in solidarity with the Tibetan self-immolators.

Addressing the prayer service, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay said the escalating number of self-immolations reflects the repressive and unbearable situation under Chinese rule, adding that the Tibetan people are passing through one of the “saddest periods in its history.”

He noted that the massive students protest in Rebkong, northeastern Tibet on Friday following two self-immolations in the region in as many days, reflects their “deep resentment against China’s policies to undermine the Tibetan language and cultural identity.”

The de facto Tibetan prime minister reiterated that the “blame and solution for the crisis in Tibet lies squarely with the Chinese government,” while calling on the international media to draw the attention of the world to the “escalating tragic situation in Tibet.”

China says 18-year-old Tibetan self-immolates

 

 

An exiled Tibetan woman in Dharmsala, India, lights lamps in front of portraits of Tibetans who have self-immolated. 

 

An 18-year-old Tibetan villager died after setting himself on fire in northwest China in the latest of a half-dozen such self-immolations reported during the past week as the country's communist leadership undergoes a once-a-decade transfer of power.

A short report from the state-run Xinhua News Agency did not offer a reason why the man self-immolated, but dozens of ethnic Tibetans have set themselves on fire in heavily Tibetan regions over more than a year and a half to protest Chinese rule.

Overseas groups that report on most of the self-immolations had said at least five ethnic Tibetans set themselves on fire earlier in the week in protests aimed as a signal to the Communist Party elite as they meet in Beijing in a pivotal, weeklong congress that opened on Thursday.

On Friday, hundreds of Tibetans, mostly high school students, demonstrated in a town that sits at the edge of the Tibetan plateau in western Qinghai province, calling for Tibetan independence and the return from exile of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Saturday's immolation took place in the afternoon in front of a monastery in the city of Hezuo in the Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Gannan, Xinhua said, citing provincial government sources.

The man has been identified as Gonpo Tsering from the city's Lexiu township and further investigations are under way, Xinhua said.

Overseas activist groups had no immediate information on Saturday's incident, and police in Hezuo declined to comment. Calls to Hezuo's city government and to authorities and police in Gannan prefecture rang unanswered Sunday.

In Beijing on Friday, Tibetan Communist Party officials attending the party congress told reporters they believed much of the blame for the spate of self-immolations fell on the Dalai Lama and his associates, whom they said were instigating the protests.

"The external Tibetan forces and the Dalai clique are sacrificing other people's lives to attain their secret political motives," Lobsang Gyaincain, the Chinese-appointed vice governor of Tibet, told reporters.

The Dalai Lama has said he opposes all violence and says the self-immolations are a symptom of the desperation and frustration felt by Tibetans living under the Chinese government's hardline policies in the region, including its tight restrictions on religious life.

Teenage Tibetan in self-immolation protest: Xinhua

DHARAMSHALA, November 10: A teenaged Tibetan man passed away in his self-immolation protest in eastern Tibet on Saturday, AFP said citing China’s state news agency Xinhua.

The 18-year-old became the seventh Tibetan to set himself on fire in the last four days, making this the deadliest week since the wave of self-immolation protests began in 2009.

Now, 70 Tibetans have set themselves ablaze, protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet and demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom in Tibet.

According to Xinhua, Chinese provincial government officials have identified the man as Gonpo Tsering.

AFP quoted Xinhua as saying that Gonpo Tsering carried out his fiery protest at 2:00 pm (local time) in the city of Tsoe (Ch: Hezuo) in Kanlho region of eastern Tibet. The report added that the “case was being investigated.”

It must be noted that Tibetan sources in exile have not reported on today’s protest. Usually, Tibetans in exile are the first to provide details on incidents inside Tibet.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, an exile Tibetan with strong links in Tibet told Phayul that communication lines in Tibet are either not working or have been severely restricted.

“Phone lines in many areas that I have tried to contact are down or are being received by other people,” the exile Tibetan said. “People fear that all their conversations are being listened.”

Off late, several Tibetans have been disappeared, arrested, and sentenced to lengthy jail terms on charges of sending information on the self-immolation protests and contacting outsiders.

The alarming escalation in self-immolations this week coincides with the Chinese Communist Party’s weeklong 18th National Congress, which began Thursday in Beijing. The meeting is expected to end with the transfer of power to Vice President Xi Jinping, who will govern the country for a decade.

On Thursday, Tamding Tso, a 23-year-old mother of one, passed away in her self-immolation protest in Rebkong. The same day, three teenaged monks of the Ngoshul Monastery in Ngaba region set themselves on fire in a triple self-immolation protest. Dorjee, 15 passed away in his protest, while the condition of Samdup, 16, and Dorjee Kyab, 16, remains unknown. Also on that day, an unidentified Tibetan man passed away in his self-immolation protest in Driru.

On Friday, 18-year-old nomad, Kalsang Jinpa, set himself on fire at the Dolma Square in front of the Rongwo Monastery in Rebkong, after raising a white banner with slogans calling for the Dalai Lama’s return and the rights of the Tibetan people before setting himself ablaze. He passed away in his fiery protest.

Thousands of Tibetans, including school students, took part in massive rallies and led protests against the Chinese government in Rebkong following the self-immolations.

China arrests Tibetan self-immolator’s husband for rejecting bribe

DHARAMSHALA, November 9: Husband of Tibetan self-immolator Dolkar Tso has been secretly detained by Chinese security personnel after he rejected a bribe offer from the local Chinese authorities.

According to exile sources, Dhonue was offered bribe by Chinese authorities to state that his wife Dolkar Tso self-immolated owing to family disputes and not in protest against China’s rule.

Dhonue rejected the bribe and has been secretly detained for over a week now by Chinese security personnel. His current condition and whereabouts remain unknown.

Dolkar Tso, mother of a five-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son, set herself on fire near the Tsoe Monastery in Kanlho on August 7, raising slogans for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and shouted that there was no freedom in Tibet. She later succumbed to her injuries.

This is not the first instance of Chinese officials trying to bribe family members of Tibetan self-immolators to toe the party line.

Earlier in October, Tibetan self immolator Sangay Gyatso’s family members, also from the Tsoe region, were offered a bribe of one million Chinese Yuan (US $ 158,599) to sign a document stating that his self-immolation was not targeted against China’s rule over Tibet.

Sangay Gyatso, 27, passed away in his self-immolation protest against China’s continued occupation of Tibet on October 6. He is survived by his wife Dorjee Kyi and two children - a son, Dorjee Dhundup, 7 and a daughter, Tenzin Tso, 5.

Last month, Chinese authorities publicly offered monetary reward for providing information on possible self-immolation protests.

Notices, dated October 21 and written in Tibetan and Chinese, were posted in Kanlho region of eastern Tibet, asking residents to assist police in preventing the self-immolations.

“Self-immolations have seriously affected social harmony and the working order of people’s daily lives,” the notice read. “The Tibetan people should voluntarily fight against such illegal acts.”

The Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration condemned the announcement of financial rewards and called it a reflection of Chinese authorities’ “lack of understanding of the situation in Tibet.”

“Current Chinese efforts to offer financial incentives fail to constructively address the causes behind the self-immolations,” CTA said. “The need of the hour is for the Chinese leadership to take practical and concrete measures to address the deeper underlying issues.”

Since 2009, 69 Tibetans have set themselves on fire calling for freedom in Tibet and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Conference to Highlight the Tibetan Self-immolation Protests

Dharamshala: Speaking at a press conference meeting on October 26th in the exile community of Dharamshala - India, a young Tibetan Lobsang Choejor put into motion the arrangements of a special meeting by young Tibetan intellectuals in exile. 

The meeting will be held on 17th November 2012. Its focus: to draw together ideas and solutions on the wave of self-immolations that have fanned across Tibet recently, with the hope of utilising some of Tibet’s finest young minds in exile.

  Choejor told reporters that the meeting will be held on 17th November 2012. Its focus: to draw together ideas and solutions on the wave of self-immolations that have fanned across Tibet recently, with the hope of utilising some of Tibet’s finest young minds in exile.

Cheojor  individually organised the conference. Future meetings hope to look behind the recent self-immolations from an alternative view. he said he has invited 43 Tibetan researchers, historians and writers from around Dharamshala to the event, and together they will they will discuss the reasons behind the self-immolation in Tibet, as well as focus on the prophecy of the self-immolations, the results and their effect, and how to address this issue. However, the names of Tibetan intellectuals in exile have not been mentioned yet.

Lobsang also hopes to better place the form of protest in the context of Tibetan history, as well as looking into what we should do for the future regarding the phenomenon.

Addressing the media, Lobsang explained:

“All Tibetan intellectuals in exile have a duty to keep Tibetan culture and ethics alive. Political issues should be especially concentrated upon. Young Tibetan intellectuals have a special duty to use their energy, working together for Tibet”.

Conclusions, ideas and resolutions made at meetings will be forwarded to the Tibetan Kashag, Parliament, and further to NGOs, as well as the United Nations; hoping to resolve and readdress the situation using the power of young creative minds.

  The first meeting will be held on 17th November 2012, in Hotel Tibet, McLeod Ganj (Himachal Pradesh, India)

Several Thousands Take to Streets in Call for Policy Change in Tibet

Dharamshala: - Following wave of self-immolation incidents in the region, thousands of people, including students and monks took to the main street of Rongpo Gyalthang township, Rebkong county, north-eastern Tibet to protest against Chinese repressive policies in Tibet. 

  Over 5,000 Tibetans, including students from three schools in the county marched to the main street of Rongpo Gyalthang township on Friday early morning (Around 5am local time, October 9, 2012). Later they all gathered at the Dolma ground, infront of Rongpo monastery in Rebkong county, north-eastern Tibet (Chinese: Qinghai province), said sources inside Tibet.

"Latest photos from the region show, large gatherings of several thousand Tibetans, including students in the Thunrin county, (Friday morning, November 09, 2012) to express and show their strong solidarity with those Tibetans who have set themselves on fire to protest against Chinese policies in Tibet.

Another latest source inside Tibet received by The Tibet Post International stated that as many as 10,000 people, including students from three major schools of the county, "reportedly" gathered at a ground located near the Rongpo monastery, shouted slogans against Chinese violations on human rights and harsh repression in Tibet. 

Sources said that the youth gathering has been increasing in numbers, offering loud recitation of prayers for the long life of their spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and shouting slogans such as "Equal rights for Tibetans, rights of Tibetan language preservation, Freedom in Tibet, unity among the Tibetan people, and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet."
Although, this peaceful demonstration came after four Tibetans, including a young woman, calling for freedom in Tibet, set themselves on fire as China readied to showcase its 18th Communist Party Congress.

The latest is movement of the Tibetan students, as the majority of protesters are studens from four counties (Thunrin, Chantsa, Tsekhog and Hinan) of Malho and its capital Rebkong, as well as the surrounding areas, currently studying in major schools of Rebkong, sources said.

Over 6,000 people gathered in the earlier evening, later around 10,000 including high school students and nomads from neighboring areas, reportedly gathered in Thunrin township of Rebkong (Chinese: Tongren, Guizhou) on Thursday afternoon after two self-immolation protests - a 23-year-old mother on Wednesday and a teenage boy on Thursday. They step up their protests against Chinese rule, shouted slogans, demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and freedom in Tibet.

The situation in Rebkong is reportedly becoming more critical as tense after the Chinese authorities had imposed heavy restrictions on the local Tibetans. It said, a large number of armed Chinese military forces being deployed as well as propaganda teams. 

Armed Chinese police in paramilitary vehicles also stepped up patrols in the areas increasingly and surrounding areas to prevent anti China protests. However, sources said Friday that there was no clash between local Tibetans and Chinese forces erupted yet.

On Friday evening (6-7pm local time), hundreds of Tibetan students from the Qinghai University for Nationalities in Xining city, Qinghai province organised a prayer service and Candle Vigil to show their solidarities with those Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives for Tibet and its people.

The 18th CPC National Congress started Thursday and 2,325 delegates will elect the 18th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and a new leadership in power. Its old policy as Chinese ruling party will remains same. However, some Tibetans say there are hopes for a political reform in Tibet after appointing the new Chinese leaderships.

Breaking: Another self-immolation today, Six Tibetans burn in two days

Phayul[Thursday, November 08, 2012 15:21]

Kalsang Jinpa's charred body, draped in khatak (Tibetan scarves), is laid down below a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Dolma Square in front of the Rongwo Monastery in Rebkong, eastern Tibet. DHARAMSHALA, November 8: In more heartbreaking news coming out of Tibet, yet another Tibetan set himself on fire today in an apparent protest against China’s occupation of Tibet. 18-year-old nomad, Kalsang Jinpa, set himself on fire at the Dolma Square in front of the Rongwo Monastery in Rebkong, eastern Tibet. The former monk of the Rongwo Monastery raised a white banner with slogans calling for the Dalai Lama’s return and the rights of the Tibetan people before setting himself ablaze. He passed away in his fiery protest. Sources tell Phayul that thousands of Tibetans have gathered at the Dolma Sqaure to pay their last respects to Kalsang Jinpa. Situation there is being described as tense with the crowd raising slogans for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and freedom in Tibet. Further details are awaited at the filing of this report. Yesterday, Tamding Tso, a 23-year-old mother of one, passed away in her self-immolation protest in the same region. In another instance yesterday, three teenaged monks of the Ngoshul Monastery in Ngaba region set themselves on fire in a triple self-immolation protest. Dorjee, 15 passed away in his protest, while the condition of Samdup, 16, and Dorjee Kyab, 16, is not yet known. Confirming today’s self-immolation protest in Rebkong, the Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration also confirmed a fifth self-immolation protest that took place yesterday, November 7, in Driru region of Nagchu, central Tibet. In two days, Tibet has witnessed an alarming escalation in the fiery protests with six confirmed self-immolations. These protests coincide with the Chinese Communist Party’s week-long 18th National Congress, which began today in Beijing. China's heir apparent Xi Jinping will be taking over the mantle of leadership, along with a new team, by the end of the meeting. The deepening crisis inside Tibet has witnessed large scale anti-China protests and a series of self-immolations that has now seen 69 Tibetans set themselves on fire, since 2009, demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile.