Dalai Lama leaves Dharamshala for Northeast India Tour

His Holiness the Dalai Lama leaves Dharamshala, March 21, 2013. DHARAMSHALA, March 21: The Tibetan Spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama today left Dharamshala for visits to Ravangla, Sikkim and Salugara in Northeast India. The Sikkim Government has requested the five-day tour to the state. The Tibetan Nobel Laureate is scheduled to begin his visit from Ravangla in Sikkim where he will perform the Vajrakilaya (Dorjee Phurba) consecration ceremony of the Buddha Statue followed by a teaching on Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattva (Gyasay Laklen Sodunma). On second day in Ravangla, His Holiness will confer White Tara Long Life Empowerment (Dolker Jenang Tsewang) and the State Government of Sikkim and Tibetan Communities in Ravangla will offer the long-life prayer ceremony (Tenshug) to His Holiness. On the final day of the visit, the seventy-seven-year-old Tibetan leader will visit to Salugura, Siliguri, where he is scheduled to teach on Tsong Khapa’s Concise Stages for the Path to Enlightenment (Lamrim Dudon) and Longchen Rabjam's Relaxing the Mind Itself (Sem-nyid Nyesol). His Holiness will return to Dharamshala on March 30. The Tibetan leader visited Sikkim in 2010, during which he toured Ravangla in the south of the state, where he addressed a congregation of people at the Tibetan settlement. He also visited the Ralong Monastery, arguably the oldest monastery in Sikkim built during the late 1600’s.

Breaking: Kirti monk marks March 16 with self-immolation, Toll rises to 108

Tibetan self-immolator Lobsang Thokmey. March 16: A Tibetan monk in Ngaba region of eastern Tibet has become the 108th Tibetan living under China’s rule to self-immolate, marking five years since the 2008 peaceful protests in the region. Lobsang Thokmey, 28, a monk at the Kirti Monastety set himself on fire today at around 2:40 pm (local time). He passed away in his protest. According to the Dharamshala based Kirti Monastery, Lobsang Thokmey doused his body with kerosene in front of his monastic quarters in the west of the Kirti Monastery and started running towards the east. “Lobsang Thokmey was in flames as he began running with the Buddhist flag in his hands,” the Kirti Monastery said in a release. “Before he could reach the main gate, he fell on the ground.” Monks and people gathered at the scene of the protest carried Lobsang Thokmey to the local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. “A large number of Chinese security personnel arrived at the hospital soon after Lobsang Thokmey was admitted and later forcibly took away the deceased’s body to the regional headquarters of Barkham,” the same source said. It is not yet known what slogans Lobsang Thokmey raised during his self-immolation protest. He is survived by his parents Rogtrug and Depo and one sister and three brothers. Lobsang Thokmey became a monk at the Kirti Monastery at a young age and was currently enrolled in the pharchin class. “His conduct was excellent and he was very diligent in his studies,” the Kirti Monastery recalled contacts as saying. On March 16, 2008, around 28 Tibetans were shot dead on a single day by Chinese security forces during the peaceful protest in Ngaba as part of the wider uprisings that engulfed the entire Tibetan plateau. On the third anniversary of the 2008 killings, Kirti monk Lobsang Phuntsok set himself on fire at a busy market place in Ngaba on March 16, 2011, triggering in earnest the continuing wave of self-immolations. A year later on March 16, 2012, another Kirti monk Lobsang Tsultrim torched his body, marking the anniversary of the March 16 killings and protests in the Ngaba region. Since Kirti monk Tabey’s self-immolation protest in 2009, as many as 108 Tibetans living under China’s rule have set themselves on fire protesting China’s occupation and demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile. The exile Tibetan administration earlier called the unprecedented number of self-immolations “ultimate acts of civil disobedience against China’s failed rule in Tibet.” “Concrete steps that the leaders of the world need to take immediately are to send Ms Navi Pillay of UNHCR on a visit to Tibet and investigate the real causes of self immolations, and convene a meeting to discuss and address the crisis in Tibet,” Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Tibetan people said last month.

Popular Tibetan singer Lo Lo sentenced to six years

Popular Tibetan singer Lo Lo sentenced to six years for singing politically charged songs. DHARAMSHALA, March 13: A Chinese court in eastern Tibet has sentenced a popular Tibetan singer Lo Lo, 30, to six years in prison for his ‘crimes’ of singing politically charged songs calling for Tibet’s independence. According to Lobsang Sangyal, an exiled monk in south India, the court sentencing came days after the singer was re-arrested on February 23. “Lo Lo’s current condition and his whereabouts are not yet known,” Sangyal told Phayul. The popular Tibetan singer was first arrested on April 19, 2012 following the release of his album titled “Raise the flag of Tibet, sons of the snow.” However, he was released after a short detention. The title song of the singer’s album calls for independence of Tibet, the “return of the saviour” and reunion of the Tibetan people – messages that are common to the slogans raised by the 107 Tibetans who have self-immolated since 2009. “To promote loyalty to the Land of Snows, For the complete independence of Tibet, With a realised understanding of our objectives, Raise the flag of Tibet- sons of the snow,” a portion of the lyrics reads. Lo Lo is a native of Dragkar in Keygudo region of eastern Tibet. He is son of Jamyang Choegyal and Choekyi Dolma. Tibetan singers, writers, and artists promoting Tibetan national identity and culture have been the target of China’s ongoing crackdown on intellectuals, especially after the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In February last year, Tibetan singer, Ugyen Tenzin was arrested by Chinese authorities for praising His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the elected leader of the Tibetan people Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay. Another singer, Chogsel, was also arrested and banned from singing on charges of threatening social stability. In August last year, the exile Tibetan administration submitted a detailed profile of 64 Tibetan intellectuals to the UN Special Rapporteur in Geneva and urged for necessary inquiry into their cases. Calling the ongoing crackdown on Tibetan artists and intellectuals the “harshest” since the Cultural Revolution, the Central Tibetan Administration said that at least 24 Tibetans intellectuals have been given sentences ranging from few months to life imprisonment for exercising their freedom of expression. “This new generation of young Tibetans born and educated under Chinese Communist rule have edited banned magazines and are tech-savvy bloggers imprisoned for gathering, expressing and sharing information about conditions in Tibet especially after the March 2008 demonstrations across Tibet,” CTA said. The exile Tibetan administration noted that the whereabouts of about 37 Tibetan intellectuals remain unknown, while 12 intellectuals were released on fear of custodial death after excessive torture during detention by the Chinese authorities.

Tibetan attempts self-immolation in Dharamshala, Thousands march for Tibet

Thousands of Tibetans and supporters rally in Dharamshala to mark the 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day on March 10, 2013.

DHARAMSHALA, March 10: A Tibetan man attempted to set himself on fire today in the exile headquarters of Dharamshala during a mass protest rally marking the 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day.

Dawa, in his 30s, reportedly consumed and poured kerosene over himself.

Speaking to Phayul, Sangchu Dugbey, an eye witness said: “When I saw him, he was carrying a bottle of kerosene and some girls were requesting, ‘Please, don’t do it.”

“We snatched the bottle of kerosene from his hand after which he pleaded with us to let him self-immolate,” Dugbey said. “He further said that he had decided to set himself on fire after thinking it over many times.”

Dawa was later taken to a local hospital.

Over a thousand Tibetans and supporters marched downhill from Tsug-la Khang to Lower Dharamshala carrying Tibetan flags and photos of Tibetan self-immolators.

Since 2009, as many as 107 Tibetans living under China’s rule have set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile.

The protestors, wearing black-cloth around their foreheads, raised slogans for freedom in Tibet and international intervention in the ongoing crisis in Tibet.

Speaking at the rally, Ravi Thakur, Member of Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly from Lahaul Spiti called on Tibetans to stay united and continue their non-violent struggle under the Dalai Lama, “the only gem in the word.”

Tibetans and supporters in Taipei, Taiwan take part in the 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day demonstration carrying photos of Tibetan self-immolators on March 10, 2013.

“Over the past centuries, many outsiders have come and settled in India who have now lost their identity but you people have kept your identity alive and you should never lose your identity. I hope and pray that you will cherish your Tibetanness for many generations to come,” Thakur said.

“I have always stood up for the Tibetan people and will always stand up for you in the future as well.”

Tenzin Jigdel of Students For a Free Tibet said the dynamic of the Tibetan movement has changed and Tibetan resistance has never been stronger.

“There is a new revolution we are seeing inside Tibet … Tibetans inside Tibet are re-asserting their identity and their aspiration has never been stronger,” Jigdal said.

The protest march was jointly organised by the five major Tibetan NGO’s, Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women’s Association, Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet, National Democratic Party of Tibet, and Students For a Free Tibet.

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Tibetan people, in his March 10 statement blamed China’s occupation and repression in Tibet for driving Tibetans to self-immolation.

“The prohibitions of peaceful protest and harsh punishments compel Tibetans to resort to self-immolation. They choose death rather than silence and submission to the Chinese authorities,” Sikyong Sangay said.

Fresh protest marks March 10 in Tibet (Updated)

DHARAMSHALA, March 10: In reports coming out of Tibet, three Tibetan monks today carried out a peaceful protest against China’s rule in Kardze region on eastern Tibet. Today is the 54th Tibetan National Uprising day and the fifth anniversary of the 2008 mass uprisings in Tibet. According to exile sources, the three monks of the Mangey Monastery, identified as Lobsang Samten, Sonam Namgyal, and Thupten Gelek, carried out a peaceful demonstration in Zachukha region at around 11:50 am (local time) calling for freedom and democracy in Tibet. According to eyewitnesses, they were carrying a white banner with the portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the centre and many slogans written on it. When Chinese security personnel arrived at the scene and began arresting the protesting monks, two lay Tibetans Lobsang Kalsang, 17, and Ngawang Gyatso, 41 tried to rescue them. Later, all five Tibetans were arrested. Their whereabouts and conditions are not known. Security has been intensified in the entire region following today’s protest. Last year on March 10, Gepey, 18-year-old monk of the Kirti Monastery in Ngaba, eastern Tibet set himself on fire near a military camp in the region. Since then, as many as 107 Tibetans have set themselves on fire protesting China’s occupation and demanding for freedom and the return on His Holiness the Dalai Lama. China appointed leaders of Tibetan areas earlier this week pledged to continue the fight against the “Dalai clique resolutely” and crackdown on “all secessionist forces and sabotage activities.” Speaking in Beijing on the sidelines of the ongoing National People’s Congress, the leaders called maintaining stability in Tibet their “top priority” and said they “can not relax at any moment” in their “long-term and intense” struggle against the Dalai Lama. Several countries and human rights groups have called on China to rethink its policies in Tibet and begin genuine talks with representatives of the Dalai Lama to find a long lasting solution to the issue.

From Brussels to Dharamshala, thousands expected to join March 10 protests

DHARAMSHALA, March 9: Tens of thousands of Tibetans and supporters will be pouring out on the streets the world over on March 10 to observe the 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day. Since March last year, more than 80 Tibetans have set themselves on fire protesting China’s continued occupation and demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile. In Brussels, nearly 5000 Tibetans and supporters from all over Europe are expected to take part in a mass solidarity rally to highlight the tragic situation and the self-immolation crisis in Tibet, and seek support for concrete European Union action. More than 27 Tibetan Community Associations in Europe have for the first come together to organise the March 10 rally. Speakers at the event, apart from European leaders, include Kyabje Kirti Rinpoche, the exiled abbot of the Kirti Monasteries, Speaker Penpa Tsering, and Kalon Dicki Chhoyang. The organisers in a release said that through the mass solidarity rally, Tibetans will be appealing the EU and its Member States to urge China to review its failed hard-line policies in Tibet and allow unfettered access to Tibet for the media and international fact-finding delegations. The EU will also be called upon to instruct its Special Representative for Human Rights to seek access to Tibet and to appoint an EU Special Coordinator for Tibetan Affairs with the primary task of encouraging and facilitating a dialogue between the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government. In Toronto, Canada, around 3000 Tibetans, wearing traditional Tibetan clothes will carry out a mass rally tomorrow morning. Organisers said the marches will also carry 99 dummy coffins, draped in Tibetan national flags, in honour of Tibetan self-immolators who have passed away. Canadian members of parliament, Wayne Marston, who is also the Vice Chair Subcommittee of International Human Rights and Peggy Nash, among others, will be addressing the rally. In London, Tibetans and supporters will be marching from Downing Street to the Chinese Embassy where Tim Loughton MP will address a rally. The Tibet Freedom March in London will be calling on the Chinese government to end its six-decade brutal regime in Tibet and to respect the rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people. Tibetans and supporters will also be urging David Cameron to speak up for the people of Tibet and make a public statement of concern over the current human rights situation in Tibet. In the exile headquarters of Dharamshala the official March 10 function will be attended by Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Tibetan people and Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament. Six ministers of the exile Tibetan administration will be attending official Tibetan National Uprising Day functions in four different continents tomorrow.

Breaking: Tibetan monk self-immolates in Nepal

An unidentified Tibetan monk self-immolates in Kathmandu, Nepal on February 13, 2013, the day marking 100 years of the declaration of Tibetan Independence by His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama. February 13: A Tibetan monk today set himself on fire today near the holy stupa of Boudhanath in the heart of Nepalese capital city Kathmandu. In a photo received by Phayul, the monk could be seen engulfed in towering flames. No further information is available on the identity of the monk or his condition, although our sources in the region fear for the worst. According to eyewitnesses, the monk was severely burned and was later rushed to a hospital. Further information is awaited. Across the Himalayas, as many as 99 Tibetans have set themselves on fire protesting China’s occupation and demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile. The self-immolation today coincides with the 100 years of the declaration of the “Tibetan Proclamation of Independence” by His Holiness the Great 13th Dalai Lama. Exile Tibetans and supporters all over the world have planned major events to commemorate the historic event reasserting Tibet’s independence. In recent years, following growing ties between Nepal and China, Kathmandu has clamped down strictly on Tibetans refugees living in the country. This is not the first occasion when a Tibetan has set himself on fire in Kathmandu. In November 2011, a Tibetan monk Bhutuk set himself ablaze at the same spot. He survived his fiery protest and later escaped to India following a large scale manhunt by Nepali police.

Chinese authorities issue ultimatum, offer cash prize for “crimes” linked to Tibet self-immolations

Notice by Chinese authorities in Malho, eastern Tibet announcing cash rewards for information on self-immolations. Chinese authorities in Malho region of eastern Tibet have announced cash rewards for those “exposing crimes” related to the ongoing wave of self-immolations and issued an ultimatum warning those who have “committed fault” to turn themselves in. The notices were jointly issued by the Malho People’s Intermediate Court and the Public Security Bureau in the Tibetan areas of Rebkong, Tsekhog, and Chentsa which fall under its jurisdiction. The Malho region of eastern Tibet carried a major part of the casualties in the recent alarming escalation in self-immolation protests and mass demonstrations by thousands of Tibetans, including school students against the Chinese government. Since October, 44 Tibetans have set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, with the latest being a teenaged schoolgirl Bhenchen Kyi from Tsekhog. In copies of the notices sent to Phayul by a Swiss based Tibetan, Sonam, Chinese authorities have given an ultimatum to Tibetans who have “committed fault,” to turn themselves in before November 30 in lure of “lesser” punishment. The notices, issued in Tibetan and Chinese languages, encourage people to “accept their crimes” of inciting self-immolations, displaying portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama during mass funerals of the self-immolators, raising “separatist” slogans, offering condolences to the family members of self-immolators, “unlawfully” taking pictures and videos of self-immolations and sending them out and spreading rumours and indulging in provocative talks. The authorities have warned that those who are caught under these crimes after the given deadline will be dealt severely according to the law. In recent weeks, authorities have engineered a heavy security clampdown in the region, arresting several Tibetans from Rebkong and Tsekhog in connection with the self-immolation protests. Along with the ultimatum, Chinese authorities have employed its age-old policy of sowing distrust in the society by announcing heavy monetary rewards for information on self-immolators and those who “incite” such protests. Cash prizes ranging from 1,000 Chinese Yaun (US $ 160) of 200,000 Chinese Yuan (US $ 32,000) have been announced for information exposing self-immolators, those inciting self-immolations, and those who have visited families of self-immolators to offer condolences. Rewards have also been announced for those who avert self-immolations from occurring at the site of the protest. The authorities further promised to protect the identity of the informants and called the self-immolation protests a “bad influence” on social harmony and stability, not just of the region but also of the entire nation. Similar tactics of announcing cash rewards and offering bribes to families of self-immolators to state that the protests were not against the Chinese government, have been employed earlier in other parts of Tibet as well. A phone call to the Tsekhog Public Security Bureau Office by Phayul yielded little result as the official who answered the call in the supposedly Tibetan office refused to speak in Tibetan and spoke only Mandarin.

Tibetan school students appeal for global intervention in Tibet crisis

Students of the Tibetan Children's Village School, Upper Dharamshala carrying out a peace march in solidarity with Tibetan self-immolators on November 24, 2012.

With the continuing escalation in protests against Chinese rule in Tibet, school students in the exile seat of Dharamshala carried out a peace march followed by a prayer session in solidarity with Tibetan self-immolators, Saturday.

Senior students of the Upper Tibetan Children’s Village School carried out a peace march from the school basketball court to the Martyr’s Pillar near Tsug-la Khang, the main temple.

The school’s student council, which took the initiative to organise the march and prayer service, said the entire students, through the campaign, express solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet and send a clear message to the United Nations and the international community that they need to take “urgent and effective actions to end the crisis inside Tibet.”

To accentuate their appeal, the marching students wore cross marks on their eyes, ears, mouth and hands.

Thupten Dorjee, the school captain told Phayul that the cross marks symbolise the urgent need on the part of the UN and the international community to “monitor the unfolding crisis inside Tibet, listen to the six million Tibetans, speak up for the demands of the Tibetan self-immolators, and take effective action and send a special delegation to asses Tibet’s situation.”

“Although, we are in the middle of our preparations for our final exams, but despite that the students felt it necessary to organise the campaign to express our concern and solidarity with the tragic happenings inside Tibet,” Dorjee said. “We do clearly understand that our first responsibility as of now is to study hard for the cause of Tibet.”

Students of the Tibetan Children's Village School, Upper Dharamshala carrying out a peace march in solidarity with Tibetan self-immolators on November 24, 2012.

The students then took out a candle light vigil back to the school. A short video depicting the ongoing wave of self-immolations inside Tibet was screened to the students following which a prayer service was held in the evening.

The deepening crisis inside Tibet has witnessed large scale anti-China protests and a series of self-immolations that has now seen 81 Tibetans set themselves on fire, since 2009, demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile.

November alone has reported 19 self-immolations and protests by thousands of Tibetans, including by school students in the Rebkong region of eastern Tibet.

Exiled Tibetans express helplessness over rising self-immolations

Exiled Tibetans have expressed their helplessness over the alarming rise in cases of self-immolations and anticipate no positive impact of the new China leadership, as previous governments have fallen back on their promises and adopted repressive policies in Tibet. 

Recent reports from Tibet say that a Tibetan man died after setting himself on fire in Luchu in north-eastern Tibet on Thursday night, taking the total self-immolation count to 80, including 18 in this month. 

On November 15, China’s ruling Communist Party unveiled an older, conservative new leadership line-up that appears unlikely to take the drastic action needed to tackle pressing issues like social unrest, environmental degradation and corruption.

New party chief Xi Jinping, premier-in-waiting Li Keqiang and vice-premier in charge of economic affairs Wang Qishan, all expectedly named to the elite decision-making Politburo Standing Committee, are considered cautious reformers. The other four members have the reputation of being conservative.

Except for Xi and his deputy Li Keqiang, all the others in the standing committee – the innermost circle of power in China’s authoritarian government – are 64 or over and will have to retire within five years.

The Tibetan government in-exile in Dharamshala has already appealed to international organizations to urge China to change give up their repressive policies.

Director of Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), Tsering Tsomo, said: “It shows that they are desperate for particularly the people of Tibet. So, because of the repressive policies, because of the strict control over the day-to-day life of particularly the monasteries. They cannot practice their daily rituals, routine, as they like. Each and everything is being strictly controlled by the Chinese people.”

The new leadership will have to quickly get down to business to address several pressing issues – and the Tibetan unrest might not be the top of the agenda – but Tibetan exiles warned that if the situation is left to simmer then it could become a major headache for the new leaders.

The United Nations’ most senior human rights official had called on China to address frustrations that have led to Tibetans’ desperate protests, including more than 70 self-immolations since March 2011.

China has refused, and continues to blocks foreign journalists from the region. It has set up roadblocks to some Tibetan areas where there has been unrest.

Tensions over Tibet are at their highest in years after a spate of protests over Chinese rule and self-immolations by Tibetan activists, which have prompted a Chinese security crackdown.

Some 78 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since March 2011 in protest against Chinese rule over Tibetan region. At least 64 have died, according to Tibetan rights groups.

The surge in self-immolations in China in protest over its rule in Tibet has heightened tension in recent months. Indian-based rights groups said there had been a massive security clampdown in Tibet and Tibetan areas of China, and in some instances protesters were beaten even as they were ablaze.

Meanwhile, Tibetan activist and renowned poet, Tenzin Tsundue, while speaking to reporters in Coimbatore, said: “It actually shows how China is insecure in Tibet and how they are losing control, while Tibetans have been suffering under the Chinese occupation, but we are becoming much more united and overall, there is unity and a very powerful non-violent resistance movement is going on under the leadership of His Holiness Dalai Lama.”

China rejects criticism that it is eroding Tibetan culture and faith, saying its rule has ended serfdom and brought development to a backward region.

China has ruled Tibet since 1950, when Communist troops marched in and announced its “peaceful liberation”

Tsundue said that the cases of self-immolation pointed towards a serious crisis in Tibet and that the Chinese government was losing its authority and control in Tibet. 

“It is not three, not even ten, here we are talking about 78 cases of self-immolation and a series of such phenomena nowhere in the world had ever happened, in the entire history of the world. 78 cases of self immolation says that issue of Tibet will not only live on, but there is a serious crisis happening in Tibet and this also shows the Chinese government is losing its authority, its control in Tibet and they are now desperate to do anything possible,” he said. 

The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 following a failed uprising, has accused China of “cultural genocide”.

Beijing considers him a separatist and does not trust his insistence that he only wants greater autonomy for his Himalayan homeland.

Beijing denounces the self-immolations as acts by terrorists and criminals.

The Dalai Lama denies he is a separatist and says he only wants meaningful autonomy for his Himalayan region. He made no direct comment on the self-immolations or to United Nations report that urged China to address deep-rooted frustrations that have led to such desperate forms of protest by Tibetans.

Man Dies in Latest Self-immolation Protest, Toll Rises to 81

Dharamshala: - A latest source coming out of Tibet has stated that one more Tibetan has died after setting himself on fire in Tsekhog township, Rebkong county (Chese: Zeku, Qinghai Province) in Malho of Amdho region in north-eastern Tibet.

"Tadrin Dorjee, 29, set fire to himself at the entrance of Dokarmo town office in Tsekhog around 6:30 pm (local time) on Friday, 23 November. He then chanted prayers for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama with folded hands. 

Dorjee reportedly died on the spot. He is survived by his parents, and four sisters and brothers.
According to sources from inside the region, "thousands of local Tibetans offered prayers and attended his funeral that night."

The Chinese authorities have cut off all communication, including Internet and phone lines following the incident in the region, the sources stated.

The sources also stated that armed Chinese forces and police in paramilitary vehicles stepped up patrols in the area and surrounding areas, after two separate self-immolation protests Friday alone by two Tibetans in protest against Chinese rule over Tibet.

The latest incident has pushed the total self-immolations by Tibetans inside Tibet to 81, including 5 in last 6 days and 19 within this month alone, according to the exile Tibetan administration.

The self-immolators have called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, earlier this month strongly urged the Chinese government to "promptly address the longstanding grievances that have led to an alarming escalation in desperate forms of protest, including self-immolations, in Tibetan areas, and said she was disturbed by "continuing allegations of violence against Tibetans seeking to exercise their fundamental human rights."

The Central Tibetan Administration on Friday strongly stressed its deep concern over the tragic escalation in self-immolations by Tibetans inside Tibet, as news of the Tibetan self-immolations have been spreading rapidly in the world in recent months.

Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the political leader of Tibetans (Tibetan: Sikyong), the democratically-elected leader of the Tibetan people and political successor to His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet, appealed to Tibetans and supporters around to world to form a coalition with as many human rights groups to organise and participate in the Global Solidarity Day on 10 December.

"We also request them to dispatch delegations to visit different media organisations in order to create awareness about the ongoing tragedy in Tibet. Equally important is to reach out to as many members of Parliament, Congress and government officials, Dr Sangay said.

“Despite our repeated appeals not to take drastic actions, self-immolations continue in Tibet. Therefore, I appeal to the international community and governments to stand for justice by answering the universal aspirations of Tibetans in Tibet: the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans,” he further said.

Exiled Tibetans begin with 120 kilometres march to protest Chinese atrocities inside Tibet

Hundreds of exiled Tibetans began a 120-kilometer-long march from Sikkim to West Bengal, as a mark of protest against incidents of self-immolations caused by Chinese atrocities.

The march is organised by the Tibetan Youth Club of Gangtok.

The president of the Tibetan Youth Club of Gangtok, Chung Chung Bhutia, said: “We are organising this march from Gangtok to Siliguri as a mark of protest against Chinese atrocities on our compatriots in Tibet. Though, China says that they have human rights but Tibetans are not given their rights, which is invoking them to resort to self-immolation. Till now, the number of self-immolations has increased to 79.”

The rally is supposed to end in Siliguri in West Bengal on November 27.

Bhutia said that hundred thousand rupees would be spent on the march and the amount had been donated by Tibetans across Sikkim.

Recently, Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, had pressed China to investigate the dozens of self-immolations by Tibetans.

The United Nations’ most senior human rights official had called on China to address frustrations that have led to Tibetans’ desperate protests, including some 60 self-immolations since March 2011.

China has refused, and continues to blocks foreign journalists from the region. It has set up road blocks to some Tibetan areas where there has been unrest.

Tensions over Tibet are at their highest in years after a spate of protests over Chinese rule and self-immolations by Tibetan activists, which have prompted a Chinese security crackdown.

Some 78 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since March 2011 in protest against Chinese rule over Tibetan region. At least 64 have died, according to Tibetan rights groups.

The surge in self-immolations in China in protest over its rule in Tibet has heightened tension in recent months. Indian-based rights groups said there had been a massive security clampdown in Tibet and Tibetan areas of China, and in some instances protesters were beaten even as they were ablaze.

China rejects criticism that it is eroding Tibetan culture and faith, saying its rule has ended serfdom and brought development to a backward region. 

China has ruled Tibet since 1950, when Communist troops marched in and announced its “peaceful liberation”

The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 following a failed uprising, has accused China of “cultural genocide”. 

Beijing considers him a separatist and does not trust his insistence that he only wants greater autonomy for his Himalayan homeland.

Beijing denounces the self-immolations as acts by terrorists and criminals.

The Dalai Lama denies he is a separatist and says he only wants meaningful autonomy for his Himalayan region. He made no direct comment on the self-immolations or to United Nations report that urged China to address deep-rooted frustrations that have led to such desperate forms of protest by Tibetans.

China stirs up hornet’s nest of boundary disputes

A Chinese man holds up a Chinese passport with details on a page that shows dashes which include the South China Sea as part of the Chinese territory outside a passport office in Beijing, China, Friday, Nov. 23, 2012.

China has again stirred up the hornet’s nest of unsettled boundary disputes with its neighbours by issuing revised passports that show it staking its claim on Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin (in India), the entire South China Sea and even Taiwan.

The passports issued in May, carries an outline of China printed in the upper left corner with the contentious regions, hemmed in by the dashes. Although China’s official maps have long included parts of India, Taiwan and the South China Sea as Chinese territory, this act of printing it on its passports could be seen as a provocation since other countries would be required to tacitly endorse those claims by affixing their official seals to the documents.

According to media reports, India has retaliated by stamping these passports with its own version of the map, marking out its own territorial boundaries. Although India is yet to raise this matter diplomatically with China, the issue however could feature on the agenda when India's National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon visits China for border talks in a few weeks.

The 15th and the latest round of Sino-Indian special representative talks were held in New Delhi this January and reportedly ended in a deadlock after Beijing insisted it would settle for nothing less that “its share” of Arunachal Pradesh.

Philippines and Vietnam have sent diplomatic notes to the Chinese embassies, lodging their “strong protest” and demanding that Beijing remove the “erroneous content” printed in the passport.

The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam are scheduled to meet December 12 to discuss claims in the South China Sea and the role of China.

In Taiwan, the ruling party and opposition lawmakers alike have condemned the map, saying it could harm the warming ties the historic rivals have enjoyed since Ma Ying-jeou became president 4 1/2 years ago.

‘‘This is total ignorance of reality and only provokes disputes,’’ said Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, the Cabinet-level body responsible for ties with Beijing. The council said the government cannot accept the map.

Taiwan recently decided to bar the Dalai Lama from entering the island to give a keynote speech at the 2012 Asia Pacific Regional Conference of the International Federation of Business and Professional Women in December, citing “professional assessment.”

Taiwan's foreign ministry confirmed that they would not allow the visit, noting that "It's just not a good time."

The country’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party politicians accused President Ma Ying-jeou of blocking the Dalai Lama's visit due to pressure from Beijing while the organisers of the visit said the move reflected fear of angering China.

China to punish families, entire villages of self-immolators

Chinese authorities in Malho (Chinese: Huangnan) region of eastern Tibet have announced a series of strict measures targeting the ongoing wave of self-immolations with further restrictions, punishments, and threats.

Dharamshala based rights group, Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy, in a release today said the five-point notice issued by the Malho Prefectural office and Malho People’s government on November 14 gives stern orders to local officials “to punish self-immolators and their families; even those who had offered condolences and prayers to the bereaved family members and relatives.”

The recent escalation in self-immolations has made an alarming impact in Rebkong region of Malho with nine fiery protests in this month alone. Also, thousands of Tibetans, including school children, carried out massive protests calling for freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama earlier this month.

The notice, issued in Tibetan and Chinese languages, announces the cancellation of government aid to families of self-immolators as well as development projects in villages where similar protests have taken place.

“The first point in the notification clearly states that government aid to the family members of a person who had self-immolated will be cut off for three years ... Development funds will be cancelled to those villages where self-immolations took place; even those projects that had been approved earlier will be cancelled within three years,” TCHRD said in its release.

The notice calls for “detailed investigation” into the “failure” of local leaders and relevant Communist Party officials to protect “stability” and “harmony” in areas where self-immolations have taken place. It says that official if found “guilty” will be relieved of their posts and “severe measures” will be taken against them.

The notice goes on to call for “thorough investigation” to determine whether any government officials had visited homes of self-immolators to offer condolences and further warns others from such acts, the offence of which, the notice says, will “attract immediate firing, followed by investigations and punishments.”

While asking higher authorities to “advise and guide” these officials, the notice states that the Public Security Bureau officers will “strike hard” on those who do not listen to such guidance.

“If a village or a monastery has collectively organized prayer ceremonies and visits to the families of self-immolator, then the whole village will get no government aid. All development projects approved earlier in the village will be cancelled within three years,” TCHRD quoted the notice as saying.

The notice warns that if high lamas or abbots or senior staff at monasteries are found of having organised prayer ceremonies for self-immolators, then their monasteries will be closed down and steps will be taken to purge these monasteries of causing "instability."

It must be be noted that on several occasions, self-immolators have chosen to set themselves ablaze near their local monasteries, following which, their bodies have been in many cases carried inside the monastery premises to perform prayers and rituals.

“Heavy punishment shall be given to those who attempt to organise themselves or form associations or groups,” the notice states.

The notice further blames the “Dalai clique” for the instability in the region.

The exile Tibetan administration has maintained that the reasons for the self-immolations are self-evident: political repression, economic marginalisation, environmental destruction, and cultural assimilation.

“The blame and solution for the present tragedy in Tibet lies entirely with Beijing,” Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Tibetan people, said earlier this month. “We firmly believe that an end to repression will effectively end the cycle self-immolation.”

CTA announces 50 percent increase in scholarship funding

Department of Education’s Additional Secretary Topgyal Tsering (c) with Joint Secretary Chemi Tseyang (l) and Deputy Secretary Kelsang Rinchen announcing the CTA’s new scholarship scheme at a press conference at the Kashag Secretariat in Dharamshala on November 20, 2012.

DHARAMSHALA, November 21: The Department of Education of the Central Tibetan Administration announced new scholarship schemes representing a 50 percent increase in the annual scholarship funding provided by the exile administration.

Making the announcement at a press conference Monday in Dharamshala, DoE officials said the new scholarship scheme “aims to fulfill the vision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and reflects the 14th Kashag’s prioritisation of education.”

“Investment in Education will strengthen and sustain the Tibet cause,” a statement released by the office said. “This new scheme aims to promote academic excellence, produce more scholars and professionals, and also support economically disadvantaged students.”

Under the new scholarship scheme, the existing Gaden Phodrang Student Merit Award will now be given to nine students from the three streams, with cash awards ranging from INR 20,000 to INR 10,000.

Two new scholarships, Sikyong Scholarship and Sikyong Award for Academic Accomplishments have been rolled out. Under the Sikyong Scholarship, a monetary prize of INR 100,000 (One lakh rupees) will be awarded to students who obtain 95 percent or higher in their XIIth grade board examinations, while the latter carries a cash reward of INR 20,000 along with a certificate of appreciation for students completing a Ph.D in any field.

Departing from the earlier practice of providing the same scholarship amount to all students, irrespective of grades, a new performance based scholarship has also been introduced. Now, students will be awarded scholarships ranging from INR 35,000 to INR 100,000 depending on their performance in the school board exams.

Cash Incentive Award of INR 10,000 will be given to students who currently hold a scholarship and score 75 percent or higher on the final yearly exams, while under the Special Scholarships for Economically Disadvantaged (nyamthak) Students, students who are financially below the poverty line as determined by the CTA and score a minimum of 40 percent are eligible to apply.

DoE noted that it will strive to provide more scholarships in the coming years to support better human resource development and enhance over all Tibetan capability and promote more leaders in the Tibetan community. Presently, the DoE gives scholarship to over 200 students a year.

The Department of Education looks after the educational affairs of the Tibetan administration and community in exile. It currently oversees 73 Tibetan schools – excluding the pre-primary sections and private schools – in India and Nepal under different autonomous administrative bodies.

Tibet’s Wave Of Fire: Amdo Mining Camp Witnesses Latest Self Immolation

Tsering Dhondup Self Immolates
near a local mine: Amchok,
(Sangchu County, Lhadrong: Amdo)
on November 20th 2012

Dharamsala: Setting himself ablaze near a local mining settlement, Tsering Dhondup is the latest to take to the fiery form of protest sweeping across Eastern Tibet. Reports have emerged that on Tuesday 20th November 2012, at around 8.30 am (local time) the 34 year old Tibetan layman from Chingan village of Amchok, (Sangchu County, Lhadrong: Amdo) self-immolated near a local government mine. Photos emerging of the protest suggest that Dhondup died at the scene.

Highlighting the extreme pressures Tibetans are facing under Chinese rule, Tsering Dhondup tragically leaves behind a wife: Tandin Tso, and two children. The level of sacrifice individuals are making to highlight the Tibet issue appears to be growing, as well as a pattern of increasing numbers of young men, women and parents using self-immolation as a form of protest.

Reports have not yet emerged of weather Dhondp left a political message or speech before self-immolating, however the region has witnessed similar protests, including Lhamo Tsten on the 26th October of this year, in the same region. The community has since witnessed a steep increase in Chinese military forces, as well as a more visible police presence. Very tight restrictions are also in place to prevent information leaving the region.

 

 

It is reported that Tsering Dhondup was known locally as a kind man, and often spoke emotionally of the Tibet issue. Currently, the monks of Amchok monastery are conducting

Tibetan self-immolator Tsering Dhondup
in an undated photo.

prayers for the layman. It is also reported that many Tibetans are arriving at the monastery to pay their respects.

November has witnessed an alarming surge in self-immolation protests: Tsering Dhondup is the 16th this month alone. With the political handover of power concluded in Beijing, it appears that Tibetans will continue to use self-immolation as a method of non-violent (against others) action to highlight the crisis in the Land of Snows.

Breaking: Tibet continues to burn, 15th self-immolation in November

Wangchen Norbu's charred body,
draped in khatak (Tibetan scarves).

DHARAMSHALA, November 20: In continuing escalation in self-immolation protests in Tibet, another Tibetan set himself on fire in the Kangtsa region of eastern Tibet in an apparent protest against China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

Wangchen Norbu, 25, set himself ablaze at around 8pm (local time) Monday near the Kangtsa Gaden Choephel Ling Monastery. He passed away at the site of his protest.

According to sources in exile, Wangchen Norbu raised slogans for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile, release of the Panchen Lama and freedom for Tibet.

His charred body was later carried inside the Monastery premises where a large number of monks and local people gathered to offer their prayers and last respects.

The large crowd raised slogan calling for His Holiness the Dalai Lama and recited prayers for his long life late into the night. Wangchen Norbu was laid to rest at around 10:30 pm (local time).

The situation in a region is being described as “tense” with a large number of Chinese armed forces deployed in the region.

Wangchen Norbu in an undated photo.

Wangchen Norbu is the son of late Tenzin and Khando Tso.

On November 8, a mass prayer service in honour of Tibetan self-immolators was offered at the Kangtsa Gaden Choephel Ling Monastery. Monks and local Tibetans offered thousands of butter lamps and also said prayers for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. 

 

 

With Wangchen Norbu's fiery protest, this month alone has witnessed 15 self-immolations.

A total of 77 Tibetans inside Tibet have set themselves on fire since 2009 calling for freedom in Tibet and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.