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.

China sentences tortured Tibetan monk to five years

Lobsang Jinpa, 31, sentenced to five years in prison. DHARAMSHALA, March 13: A Tibetan monk who was hospitalised last year after suffering severe beating and torture in Chinese police custody has been rearrested and sentenced to five years in prison. Lobsang Jinpa, 31, a monk at the Nyitso Zilkar monastery in Tridu region of Keygudo, eastern Tibet, was re-arrested from his monastic quarter on February 23. Lobsang Sangyal, an exiled monk told Phayul that a Chinese court in the region sentenced Jinpa to five years in prison for unknown reasons. “I have been trying to get more details about the court sentencing and Lobsang Jinpa’s condition and whereabouts but all attempts at establishing contact have failed,” Sangyal said. Lobsang Jinpa is son of Tagyal and Pema Tsomo. He was earlier arrested in September 1, 2012 with four other monks, Sonam Sherab, 45, Sonam Yignyen, 44, Ngawang Monlam, and Kalsang Tsultrim, during a surprise raid at the Monastery by Chinese security officials. Chinese security forces had arrived in large numbers and confiscated electronic items, including computers and CDs from the quarters of the five monks. Other monks of the Monastery who pleaded for the release of those arrested were severely beaten. Sonam Sherab and Sonam Yignyen were later sentenced to two years in prison by a Chinese court in Siling city on unknown charges, while Ngawang Monlam was detained for a month and later released due to a disability in his leg. According to the same source, Lobsang Jinpa and Kalsang Trultrim were beaten and tortured in prison by Chinese police and were severely injured. “Their condition was so serious that that they had to be hospitalised,” Sangyal said. Chinese armed forces carrying out a surprise raid at the Nyitso Zilkar Monastery in Tridu region of eastern Tibet on September 1, 2012. Tsultrim Kalsang is still in hospital, recovering from his injuries. People have expressed fear that he too is likely to be sentenced once he recovers and is discharged from the hospital. The initial arrest and the sentencing are believed to have been carried out in connection with the peaceful protests that engulfed the Tridu region on February 8, last year. Thousands of Tibetans in the region had taken part in a peaceful protest coinciding with the global solidarity vigil called by the exile based Central Tibetan Administration. Around 400 monks from the Zilkar monastery had led the protest march to Zatoe town with banners, written in blue and red ink, symbolic of the two protector deities of Tibet, calling for the Dalai Lama’s return, release of Tibetan political prisoners including the XIth Panchen Lama and respect for Tibetan lives. Although no arrests were made during the protest, three Zatoe monks - Sonam Gyewa, Lobsang Samten, and Lobsang Nyima were arrested on February 16 and later sentenced by an Intermediate People's Court in Siling at a secret trial without the presence of the monks' family members.

China arrests Tibetan monk on eve of Uprising Day

Kirti Monastery monk Tsepak arrested for the second time on March 9, 2013. DHARAMSHALA, March 13: A Tibetan monk of the Kirti Monastery in Nagaba, eastern Tibet was arrested in a midnight raid on the eve of the 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day for unknown reasons. Tsepak, 29, was picked up from his aunt’s home by Chinese security personnel at around midnight on March 9. Dharamshala based Kirti Monastery in a release said Tsepak had been nursing his sick aunt. “Tsepak’s family members and friends have no clue why he was arrested and where he is being currently detained,” the release said. This is not the first time that he has been arrested. On March 25, 2011, Tsepak was arrested in Beijing and kept in detention for a few months when he was studying at the Beijing Nationalities University. “He was arrested by Chinese police on March 25, 2011 at around 6 pm (local time) for reasons that were not known then,” the Kirit Monastery said. “However, it was later found out that he was detained for allegedly keeping contacts with outsiders.” Tsepak is son of Dhondup and Dhondey. Confirming the reports of his arrest, Dharamshala based rights group Tibetan Centre for Human Right and Democracy today said Tsepak had become a monk at the Kirti Monastery at a young age. “Before his detention, he was in the third-year Uma class (equivalent to Master’s Degree course in Tibetan Buddhism) at his monastery,” TCHRD said. Last week, in Beijing, Chinese officials representing Ngaba, told reporters that the tight security clampdown on the Kirti Monastery and the surrounding regions will not be relaxed. Wu Zegang, the governor of ‘Aba prefecture’ accused the local Kirti monastery of collaborating with exiled Tibetans to organise protests while failing to provide any concrete evidence to substantiate his claim. Another provincial official, Zhang Dongsheng, announced that government officials in eastern Tibet will not ease their grip over the region's monasteries and people. "Our struggle against the Dalai Lama is long-term and intense," Zhang said. "We cannot relax at any moment.”

China arrests Tibetan monk on eve of Uprising Day

Three Tibetan monks stage protest in Bathang, One arrested, two on the run

DHARAMSHALA, March 12: Three Tibetan monks of the Yaso monastery in Bathang region of eastern Tibet staged a peaceful protest against China’s rule on March 8, raising slogans for the Dalai Lama’s long life and Tibet’s independence.

Chinese security personnel arrested one of the monks, while the two others managed to escape and are currently on the run.

According to Bawa Kalsang Gyaltsen, a member of the Dharamshala based Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, the three monks paraded the ‘banned in Tibet’ Tibetan national flag as they carried out their protest in Bathang.

“The monks shouted slogans for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s independence, and language rights,” Gyaltsen said citing sources in the region.

“While the monks were carrying out their protest, several Chinese security personnel arrived at the scene and arrested one of the monks. The two others managed to escape arrest and are currently on the run.”

The arrested monk has been identified as Tashi Dorjee, while the names of the two other monks have not been revealed.

The protest on March 8 followed rising tensions in the region after Chinese authorities barred local Tibetans from carrying out a consecration (rabney) ceremony of a statue of the Dalai Lama commissioned by a local monastery, the same source said.

Prevailing tensions over a Chinese mining site near the Yaso Monastery, in addition to the protests, has ensured that the region remains under strict surveillance and heavy lockdown.

Chinese leaders of Tibetan areas, last week renewed their pledge to fight against the “Dalai clique resolutely” and crackdown on “all secessionist forces and sabotage activities.”

Tibetan college girls storm Chinese Embassy

A group of 13 Tibetan college girls protesting outside the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi on the 54th Tibetan Women's Uprising Day on March 12, 2013. NEW DELHI, March 12: A group of 13 Tibetan girls, all studying at the Delhi University, stormed the Chinese Embassy today shouting slogans demanding China “to get out of Tibet.” The protest was carried out to mark the 54th Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day. On March 12, 1959, thousands of Tibetan women gathered in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, peacefully protesting China’s occupation of Tibet. Chinese authorities responded by restoring to brute force, resulting in the deaths, torture, and arrests of a large number of women. The girls, member the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Rohini, carried out their protest outside the gates of the Chinese Embassy at around 11:45 am. With their faces painted in Tibetan national flags and wearing t-shirts carrying pictures of Tibetan self-immolators, the girls locked themselves together and shouted slogans calling for Tibet’s independence and demanding China to “get out of Tibet.” Organisers said today’s protest was especially dedicated to the 107 Tibetans who have set themselves on fire protesting China’s occupation and demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile. Indian police have arrested the protester and the girls are currently under detention at the Chanakya Puri Police Station.

Over 1200 German towns raise Tibet flag, France working on Tibet resolution

Tibetans and supporters mark the 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day near the Eiffel Tower in Paris on March 10, 2013. DHARAMSHALA, March 11: The Tibetan national flag was raised in more than 1200 German cities and towns on Sunday to mark the 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day. Tibet advocacy group, Tibet Initiative Deutschland, in a release today said that Tibet demonstrations were also carried out in more than 20 cities all over Germany. 1236 German cities, municipalities and counties, including the regional capitals Bremen, Hannover, Magdeburg, Potsdam Saarbrücken, Stuttgart, and Wiesbaden raised the Tibetan Flag at town halls, public buildings and on their websites, the group said. In the national capital Berlin, a demonstration and a ‘Tibetan Flag-Performance’ was held in front of the Chinese embassy. “All over the world the Tibetan flag stands as a symbol for the Tibetan right of self-determination,” said TID-Executive Director Nadine Baumann. “In Tibet even owning the flag is prohibited and will be punished.” In Paris, the capital city of France, hundreds of Tibetans and supporters, including French, Chinese, Japanese, and Taiwanese, together marked the 54th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day. The event began at the Place de Trocadero, where homage was paid to all those Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives for Tibet, including the 107 self-immolators who set themselves on fire protesting China’s rule. In his address, Jean Patrcik Gilles, a member of the French National Assembly and a co-president of the Tibet Group in the assembly, reiterated his support for the cause of Tibet and underlined the importance of dialogue for a durable solution of the Tibetan issue. Tibetans and supporters raise the Tibetan flag outside the Chinese embassy in Berlin, Germany on March 10, 2013. He told the gathering that the Tibet Group would be meeting French President Francois Hollande before the President’s scheduled visit to China to urge him to press the Chinese leadership to enter into constructive dialogue with the Tibetan leadership. Gilles also said the Group is working on a parliamentary resolution on Tibet and a possibility to send a parliamentary delegation to Dharamshala, the exile Tibetan headquarters in India. Later, a protest march was held in front of the Chinese embassy during which demonstrators called for resumption of the Sino-Tibetan dialogue process and demanded unfettered access to international media and diplomats to assess the ground situation inside Tibet.

Russian Federation joins Tibetans for March 10 anniversary

Representative Dr Nawang Rabgyal during the 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day event in Moscow, Russia, on March 10, 2013. DHARAMSHALA, March 11: The 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day was observed in the Russian Federation Sunday with prayers, protests, and movie screenings. In the Russian capital city of Moscow, the commemorations began with a prayer service in honour of Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet. In his address, Nawang Rabgyal, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States, spoke on the “main causes of the uprising in occupied-Tibet and the nature of the Tibetan struggle for freedom.” The official statement of Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay was read out in Russian. Two documentary films made by the exile Tibetan administration, dubbed into Russian was screened, followed by an interactive session with Representative Rabgyal. A photo exhibition on pre-1959 Tibet was also organised at the White Cloud Culture Center in Moscow. In the afternoon, a prayer service for Tibetans inside Tibet was held at the Open World Center in the city. Later in the evening a vigil was organised in the center of Moscow, near Russian President Administration Office, by a group of Russian human right activists. The protesters carried posters which read, "Tibet is Burning" and "Down with China's policy in Tibet." In the Kalmyk Republic, Tibetans and supporters observed the March 10 anniversary with a prayer service in the morning and a mass meeting later in the day. A number of people gathered at center square of Elista, capital of Kalmyk Republic, carrying the photos of the 107 Tibetan self-immolators who have set themselves on fire protesting China’s occupation. The Chairwoman of Kalmyk Friends of Tibet Society, Antonina Kookueva, spoke on the current situation in Tibet and read out the official statement of Sikyong Dr Sangay. A signature campaign was also held to express solidarity with Tibetans inside Tibet. The 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day was also observed in the Tuva Republic and Buryat Republic with prayers and protests. Sikyong Sangay in his official statement called on Tibetans to “re-dedicate ourselves to the brave struggle started by the selfless elder generation” and paid tribute to all those who have sacrificed their lives for Tibet." “The occupation and repression in Tibet by the government of the People’s Republic of China are the primary conditions driving Tibetans to self-immolation. Tibetans witness and experience China’s constant assault on Tibetan Buddhist civilisation, their very identity and dignity,” the de facto Tibetan prime minister said. “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.”

Nepali police arrest 11 for ‘anti-China activities’

DHARAMSHALA, March 11: Police in Nepal arrested 11 people on suspicion of “anti-China activities” on March 10, the day marked world over as the 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day. “Some of the people we arrested were Tibetan but we have not interrogated all of them yet,” police spokesman Uttam Subedi was quoted as saying by reporters. Nepal, which is home to some 20,000 Tibetans, has accommodated Tibetan exiles for decades, but has come under increasing pressure from China to crack down on political protests in recent years. Home ministry spokesman Shanker Koirala told local journalists last week that the government was making “necessary security arrangements in areas deemed sensitive, to foil any untoward incidents.” There have also been reports of a letter being issued to Tibetans activists in the valley by the chief of Kathmandu’s district administration asking them not to publicly observe the March 10 anniversary. However, talking to reporters, the district administration chief neither confirmed nor denied the letter, but said he gave the Tibetans a verbal warning last week against organising a protest “because activities against China violate Nepal’s law.” Nepali officials are yet to return the body of Tibetan self-immolator Drupchen Tsering who set himself of fire protesting China’s occupation of Tibet on February 13 near the Boudha stupa. A senior police official, who refused to give his name, had earlier confirmed to the Nepali newspaper The Himalayan that the body of Druptse was still at the hospital and authorities were waiting for the kin of the monk to receive the body. “Some four Tibetan organisations operating from the Kathmandu Valley came to us to claim the body. But, we did not hand over the body to them after their authenticity and kinship with the monk were not established,” the paper quoted his as saying. Speaking at the March 10 rally in New Delhi, senior Indian political leader and President of the Janata Dal United, Sharad Yadav said that he has written a letter to Nepali PM Dr Baburam Bhattarai, urging him to hand over Druptse body to Tibetan representatives. 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.

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.

Chinese join Tibetans in Melbourne for 54th National Uprising Day

Kalon Pema Chhinjor participating in the March 10 rally in Melbourne. DHARAMSHALA, March 10: A coalition of Chinese, Australian, and Vietnamese supporters along with Tibetans today marked the 54th Tibetan National Uprising Day in the Australian city of Melbourne. Over 300 people began the official commemorations at the city centre Federation square with a two-minute silence and prayers for Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives for Tibet, including the 107 self-immolators. The participants then marched 10kms to the Chinese consulate through the heart of the city carrying photos of Tibet self-immolators, who have set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile. In his address, Kalon Pema Chhinjor of the Department of Religion and Culture of the Central Tibetan Administration, reminded that the Tibetan struggle is not against the Chinese people but against the Chinese government’s polices of repression of Tibetan language, culture, religion, and basic human rights. He noted that Tibetans should reach out to Chinese friends both in Australia and the world over urging them to help the Tibetan cause and speak to their own government for the rights of Tibetans. President of the Melbourne Tibetan Community, Samdup Tsering in his speech urged Australian PM Julia Gillard to make a strong public statement of concern over the situation in Tibet and urge China to allow foreign journalists unfettered access to all Tibetan areas. A member of the Chinese Tibetan Friendship Association and the Chinese Democracy Party, Frank Ruanjie said that freedom for Tibet also means freedom for China. He added that there are many Chinese in Australia and elsewhere who support the cause of Tibet’s genuine autonomy and stand beside Tibetans in their fight for human rights. Representatives of the Vietnamese and Nagaland communities in their speeches reassured continued support and solidarity with the Tibetan people. At the Chinese consulate, the National Uprising Day Statement of Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Tibetan people, was read out followed by vociferous sloganeering for Tibet’s freedom and human rights in Tibet.

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.

Tibet increasingly identified with self-immolations: Secretary Kerry

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Tibetan writer and activist Tsering Woeser waving from the balcony of her home in Beijing on Friday. DHARAMSHALA, March 9: Tsering Woeser, the Tibetan writer and activist, was awarded in absentia the 2013 International Women of Courage Award by the First Lady Michelle Obama and US Secretary of State John Kerry in a formal function held at the State Department on Friday. Woeser is currently under house arrest and has been repeatedly denied passport by the Chinese government. Secretary John Kerry, while awarding the prize to Woeser, said, “for courageously striving to improve human rights conditions for China’s Tibetan citizens by illuminating their plight through her writings, and thus giving eloquent voice to those whose stories might otherwise never be heard, Tsering Woeser is a woman of courage.” Secretary Kerry noted that Tibet has become “increasingly identified with self-immolations and protests against the deteriorating human rights condition” of Tibetans. “Against this backdrop, Tsering Woeser has emerged as a clarion voice of the people, even as the Chinese Government has worked to curtail the flow of information from Tibet. Through her website, called Invisible Tibet, her poetry, her nonfiction works, her savvy use of communication networks like Twitter, Tsering has bravely documented the situation around her,” Secretary Kerry said. “She says that “to bear witness is to give voice,” and that is what she is doing for the millions of Tibetans who cannot speak for themselves. And she has vowed to never give up or compromise.” In her remarks, First Lady Michelle Obama said, "This is not an honor bestowed on a few but a call for action to all of us." "These honorees ... have shown the potential to stand up and demand action for the next generation." "With every blog post these women have inspired millions," she added. Woeser had earlier dedicated the award to the Tibetan self-immolators, numbering 107, who have set themselves on fire protesting China’s occupation and demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile. Beijing reacted sharply to the honour bestowed on Woeser, accusing her of distorting facts about Tibet. "Woeser has frequently published articles distorting facts about Tibet that vilify China's ethnic policies, incite ethnic separatist feelings, and destroy China's ethnic unity," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a daily news briefing Friday. "The United States giving this kind of person an award is the same as public support for her separatist speech, and clearly violates its frequent promises to recognise Tibet as part of China." Since 2007, the International Women of Courage Award has been presented in recognition of women around the globe who have demonstrated courage and leadership, often at great personal risk, to promote justice and rights. Tsering Woeser is among ten awardees this year.

China leaders vow to fight “Dalai clique resolutely”

] Jampa Phuntsok, chairman of the so called Tibetan Autonomous Region’s people’s congress standing committee, left, and Tibet's governor Padma Choling, right, at a National People's Congress Tibetan delegate group's discussion session in Beijing. DHARAMSHALA, March 9: China appointed leaders of Tibetan regions have renewed their pledge to fight against the “Dalai clique resolutely” and crackdown on “all secessionist forces and sabotage activities.” The leaders were speaking in Beijing on the sidelines of the ongoing National People’s Congress, which will formally enthrone China’s new set of leaders headed by Xi Jinping. "We will always place maintaining stability as our top priority and keep on crackdowns on all secessionist forces and sabotage activities," Lobsang Gyaltsen, chairman of the so called Tibet regional government, said during a panel discussion. Speaking from the same platform, Padma Choling, chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region's people's congress, accused the ‘Dalai clique’ of encouraging self-immolations while failing to provide any evidence. When asked about the nature of the evidence, Choling merely told reporters: “We have evidence, but it is not convenient to tell you now.” The Chinese government is yet to release concrete details linking the incidents to the exile Tibetan community. Jampa Phuntsog, TAR vice-party secretary added that regional authorities will take “strong measures to ensure the region's social stability." The harangue of accusations comes a day after communist party leaders in eastern Tibet made similar declarations saying that their “struggle against the Dalai Lama is long-term and intense" and that they “can not relax at any moment.” Since 2009, as many as 107 Tibetans have set themselves on fire protesting China’s continued occupation and demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile. The exile Tibetan administration has denied all allegations by China and invited representatives of the Chinese government to investigate its offices in Dharamshala, India. Speaking before a parliamentary committee in Canada last month, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, while noting that the exile Tibetan administration has made repeated calls to Tibetans inside Tibet not to resort to self-immolation, said that Tibetans are bound by duty to honour the sacrifices. “As Buddhist or person of faith, we pray for all those who have died, including the self-immolators. And as a Tibetan, we support the aspiration of the Tibetan people inside Tibet including the self-immolators.” The de facto Tibetan prime minister further pointed out that through the fiery protests, Tibetans are saying “occupation is unacceptable and repression is unbearable.” “There is political repression, economic marginalisation, environmental destruction, cultural assimilation, and denial of religious freedom (in Tibet) ... There is no space for any kind of protest and there is no freedom of speech for Tibetans. Hence tragically and sadly, they are resorting to self-immolation,” Sikyong Sangay said.

Tibetans observe 24th anniversary of declaration of martial law in Tibet

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay lead the Central Tibetan Administration in observing the 24th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in Tibet in 1989. Prayers were offered at the Tsug-la Khang on March 8, 2013. 

DHARAMSHALA, March 8: The exile Tibetan administration today held a special prayer service to mark the 24th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in Tibet’s capital Lhasa on March 8, 1989.

Hundreds of Tibetans including all staff members of the Central Tibetan Administration led by Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Tibetan people and school students attended the prayer service at the Tsug-la Khang, the main temple in Dharamshala.

Speaking to the media, Ngawang Choedak, Secretary of the Department of Religion and Culture said the prayer service was held in “solidarity with all the Tibetans martyrs who were killed, jailed, and tortured during the martial law imposition in Lhasa.”

China under the then Tibet communist party Secretary Hu Jintao imposed martial law in Lhasa on March 8, 1989 after three days of protest by Tibetans against Chinese rule. 16 Tibetans died in the protests and thousands of armed forces were deployed in the city.

The martial law continued for 13 months and ended on May 1, 1990. All foreign journalists, tourists, and diplomats were banned from the region for two years. In total, around 2000 Tibetans were killed during the entire period of the imposition of martial law.

The exile Tibetan administration has been holding similar annual prayer services since 1990.

A former political prisoner, Venerable Bhagdro, who was in Lhasa during that time, shared his memories of the unrest and martial law in Tibet.

“It was sometime before I was jailed when I was hiding up in the mountains,” Ven. Bhagdro recalled. “I heard from people about the declaration of martial law in Lhasa. But I had to go to Lhasa for treatment as I was shot in my leg by Chinese armed forces. I faced lots of problem as the city was completely under lockdown.”

Ven. Bhagdro expressed further remorse that the situation in Tibet has not seen any improvement.

“Presently, the situation in Tibet is very critical. CCTV cameras have been put in most of the monasteries and Potala Palace. Monasteries are no more monasteries, it is more like prison and monks are treated like prisoners.”

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.

Tibetans to mark 100 years of Independence Proclamation

Thubten Gyatso, the Great 13th Dalai Lama DHARAMSHALA, February 12: Exactly 100 years after His Holiness the Great 13th Dalai Lama declared the “Tibetan Proclamation of Independence,” Tibetans and supporters all over the world are geared up to celebrate the historic event, reasserting Tibet’s independence. Thubten Gyatso, the 13th Dalai Lama, was forced to take refuge in British India from 1910 – 1912 following the Manchu invasion of Tibet. When the Manchu (Qing) Dynasty collapsed in 1911, Tibetans expelled the remnant Manchu forces from Tibet, paving way for the Dalai Lama to return and exercise a political authority not seen since the reign of the great Fifth Dalai Lama. The overthrow of the Manchu forces and return of the Dalai Lama to Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, proved historically significant for Tibetans as it marked the full restoration of Tibet’s independence. The 13th Dalai Lama declared Tibet’s independence on February 13, 1913 (8th day, first month, water ox Tibetan year) by making the ‘Tibetan Proclamation of Independence,’ a five-point public statement reasserting Tibetan Independence. For more than three decades following the proclamation, Tibet was to enjoy complete independence, free from any foreign control, until the occupation of invading communist Chinese forces. In the Indian capital New Delhi, Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest pro-independence group in exile, will be holding its fourth preliminary Rangzen Conference to mark the event. After holding a series of similar conferences in Europe, Taiwan, and North America, the conference in India is planned as a build up to a major international Rangzen (Independence) Conference later this year. As part of the commemorations, TYC has also commissioned an exhibition of documents, artifacts, and photos corroborating Tibet’s nationhood. An image of the re-creation of the 1913 Tibetan Proclamation of Independence. The Dharamshala based Tibetan Women’s Association, in a release said the largest Tibetan’s women’s group in exile “stands firmly for the undeniable truth that no one can rewrite and remake history.” “As vividly described in the five points of Tibetan Declaration of Independence, Tibet was an independent nation from the time of King's reign,” TWA said. “It is out of China's arrogance and shamelessness that she illegally occupies Tibet with the untruthful idea that this region is an inseparable part of mainland China.” To mark the event, the 56 regional chapters of TWA, spread all over the world, will be distributing copies of the Tibetan Proclamation of Independence. In the exile headquarters of Dharamshala, the centennial celebrations will be marked with a day-long programme organised by the Students for a Free Tibet, India. The group will be organising a ‘Tibet Independence Exhibition: Reclaiming History’ at the TCV Day School followed by a talk on the topic, ‘His Holiness the 13th Dalai and Independence of Tibet.’ The celebrations will continue into the evening with the ‘Tibetan Independence Day Concert’ at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts. Tibetan singing sensation, Karma Emchi, who shot into fame with his viral song ‘Shabhaley’ will be performing at the concert. SFT, India in a release said, “Tibetans are countering China’s claims to their homeland and asserting their determination to be free” by publicly celebrating their history as a sovereign nation. “At this time when the Chinese government is doing everything in its power to crush the Tibetan resistance, we believe that a commemoration of the 1913 Tibetan Proclamation of Independence will refresh our spirits, reaffirm our vision and strengthen the struggle to achieve freedom for the Tibetan people,” the group said.

Prayers and protests mark Losar

Tibetans in Pokhara marking the first day of Losar with hunger fast and prayers for Tibetans inside Tibet on Feb 11, 2013. DHARAMSHALA, February 12: Tibetans inside and outside Tibet observed the Tibetan new year, Losar, with prayers and protests as a mark of respect and solidarity with the ongoing critical situation in Tibet. The Tibetan lunar new year, which this year fell on February 11, saw muted celebrations for the fifth year in a row, following China’s brutal crackdown of the 2008 peaceful protests in Tibet. In 2012, as many as 83 known Tibetans set themselves on fire protesting China’s occupation and demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile. Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Tibetan people, last month, requested all Tibetans to forgo the usual new year festivities given the “continuing tragic situation” in Tibet. “Instead, when this year’s holiday falls on February 11, I ask you to perform only the customary religious rituals like visiting temples and making offerings,” Sikyong Sangay had said. “Kindly pray for all who have sacrificed their lives and for all who continue to suffer in occupied Tibet.” In the Tibetan exile headquarters of Dharamshala, the customary ‘Tsetor’ ceremony was held early in the morning on Monday at the Tsug-la Khang, the main temple. Monks of the Namgyal Monastery and officials of the Central Tibetan Administration recited the invocation of Palden Lhamo, the guardian deity of Tibet, which was followed by monks participating in a brief Buddhist philosophical debate as part of Losar rituals. Thousands of Tibetans, wearing traditional dresses, were also seen visiting the Tsug-la Khang to offer prayers. Also in Dharamshala, around 40 students of the College for Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah, sat on a 24-hour hunger fast in solidarity with Tibetan self-immolators and protesting China’s repressive policies in Tibet. Covering their mouths with black cloth, the students also wrote in their own blood the name ‘Lobsang Konchok,’ a Tibetan monk who was recently sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve on charges related to the self-immolation protests. The students called the sentences passed by China “unfair and unjust” and said they planned to organise more campaigns to protest the verdicts passed by China against several other Tibetans. Tibetan students of the College for Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarah write the name of Tibetan monk Lobsang Konchok with their own blood in Dharamshala on the first day of Losar, February 11, 2013. In the Indian capital New Delhi, over a hundred Indian and Tibetan students from the Delhi University participated in a marathon on the first day of Losar. The marathon, organised by the Students for Free Tibet, India also marked the beginning of the celebrations of the 100th year of the Tibetan proclamation of independence. "Our celebration marks a paradox in that it is both an occasion of celebration and mourning the lives of Tibetans who have burnt themselves to fight for that very freedom," said Ugyen Choedup, SFT leader. Tibetans and supporters worldwide will be commemorating the Centennial of the proclamation of Tibetan Independence on February 13, 2013. In the Nepali city of Pokhara, around 40 Tibetans sat on a day-long hunger fast on Monday. Organised by the regional Tibetan Youth Congress, Paljorling, the Tibetans also offered 500 butter lamps for those who have passed away in the ongoing self-immolation protests. There are also reports of mass prayer gatherings in at least three different areas of eastern Tibet on the first day of Losar. According to information received by Phayul, photos of Tibetan self-immolators were displayed at the prayer gatherings held in front of portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Enhance combat preparedness: Xi tells military

In growing war overtures, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has called for "expanding and deepening" the Chinese military's combat preparedness. This comes days after Japan lodged a protest against China after a Chinese vessel pointed a type of radar normally used to help guide missiles at a Japanese navy ship near disputed East China Sea islets. Xi made the remarks while on an inspection tour of an air force base, the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and the Lanzhou Military Area Command earlier this week. According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, Xi, stressed on national defense efforts and “urged the military to enhance its combat preparedness and constantly improve its ability to fulfill missions and tasks.” The Chinese Communist Party’s general secretary and chairman of the CPC Central Military Commission is due to take over as the country’s president next month. Similiar calls were made recently by Fan Changlong, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, who urged military officers to adopt "real combat criteria" in military training so as to meet "future wartime needs in the information age." According to Xinhua, he told the military to "innovate training by helping officers and soldiers to master information technology, as well as to use IT-based weaponry, in order to modernise the People's Liberation Army." Last month, in new military directives issued by the Chinese government for the year 2013, the largest army in the world was told to prepare for war and bolster its ability to win a battle based on rigorous training on an actual combat basis. The directive, which referred to a training blueprint issued by the PLA's Department of the General Staff for the entire force came amid heightened tensions between China and Japan over territorial disputes in the East China Sea. "In 2013, the goal set for the entire army and the People's Armed Police force is to bolster their capabilities to fight and their ability to win a war … to be well-prepared for a war by subjecting the army to hard and rigorous training on an actual combat basis," the training blueprint read. The statement further “stresses the urgency of real combat abilities in all military training by repeating the phrase "fighting wars", or dazhang, as many as 10 times in the article … the phrase did not appear in last year's directive.”

China sentences Tibetan to 13 years

A screen shot of Dolma Kyab and Phagpa standing trial in a Chinese court in eastern Tibet. In no let up to the sentencing of Tibetans in connection with the self-immolations protests, another Tibetan was today sentenced to 13 years in jail by a Chinese court. The sentencing comes even as the United States and international rights groups such as Human Rights Watch have condemned earlier similar court rulings, calling the prosecutions “utterly without credibility.” According to Chinese state agency Xinhua, the Intermediate People's Court of the Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture convicted Phagpa, 27, of “intentional homicide and inciting split of the state.” He was found guilty of “indoctrinating” Dolma Kyab, 25, a monk at the Dowa Monastery in Rebkong and “convincing” him to self-immolate to achieve "freedom and independence for the Tibetan ethnic group," the report said. Phagpa is supposed to have accepted his “mistake” and said that he will not lodge an appeal. The court ruling further accused Phagpa of propagating ideas related to "Tibetan independence" giving the self-immolators' relatives money, as well as portraits of members of the "Tibetan government-in-exile." Xinhua earlier said that Dolma Kyab was arrested on November 19 after he was found to have stored gasoline in a hotel room and accused Phagpa of maintaining “close contact with key members of the Tibetan Youth Congress, the exile based largest pro-independence group. Last month, Chinese courts sentenced a Tibetan Lobsang Kunchok to death with a two-year reprieve and Lobsang Tsering to 10 years on charges of “intentional homicide.” The same day, another court sentenced six Tibetans to varying jail terms of 12 to three years in jail on similar charges. Following the sentencing, New York based global rights group, Human Rights Watch, said Chinese authorities should “immediately release” Kunchok and Tsering, while noting that their conviction “relied solely on confessions they gave during five months in detention.” “These prosecutions are utterly without credibility,” said Sophie Richardson, China director. “The Chinese government seems to think it can stop self-immolation by punishing anyone who talks about it. But in pursuing these ‘incitement’ cases, the government compounds the tragedy of these suicide protests.” HRW noted that it has documented “endemic use of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and coercion of Tibetans in detention.” Earlier this week, Dharamshala based rights group Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said the court sentencing comes in the backdrop of “relentless crackdown on self-immolation protests including arbitrary arrests, detention, intimidation, monetary inducements, and long prison terms.” The group pointed out that China’s criminalisation of the self-immolations as “murder” is a “highly condemnable” misuse of legal provisions for fulfilling political objectives. TCHRD further noted that the “politicised nature of Chinese judiciary allows government and Party officials to interfere in politically-sensitive cases.” “The Chinese government needs to seriously address the real causes of self-immolation protests; it needs to acknowledge that the burning protests are a direct result of its destructive policies,” the rights group said.

Allow Tibetans to express grievances: US tell China

Victoria Nuland, spokesperson for the United States Department of State.

Even as China intensified its crackdown on the self-immolation protests in Tibet with the mass detention of 70 Tibetans, the United State called on China to allow Tibetans express their grievances freely.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, US State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland appealed the Chinese leadership to hold substantive dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s representatives without preconditions to find a lasting solution to the problem in Tibet.

“We are deeply concerned about the overall deteriorating human rights situation in Tibetan areas, including not only the tragic self-immolations, but also that criminal laws have been used to deal with people who have associated with those people,” Nuland said.

“There are deep grievances within the Tibetan population which are not being addressed openly and through dialogue by the Chinese Government.”

Chinese courts in eastern Tibet have further sentenced several Tibetans to lengthy jail terms, including a death sentence with a two-year reprieve, for their “crimes” in connection with the fiery protests.

Since 2009, as many as 99 Tibetans have set themselves on fire protesting China’s rule and demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.

Responding to a question, Nuland said that the new US Secretary of State John Kerry in his introductory teleconference call with his Chinese counterpart raised the issue of human rights violations in the country.

“In almost every encounter we have at a senior level with Chinese officials we raise our concerns about human rights in general, about Tibet specifically,” Nuland added.

“We urge the Chinese Government to engage in a substantive dialogue with the Dalai Lama or his representative without preconditions as a means of addressing the grievances that the people of Tibet have and to relieve tensions. And we continue to call on Chinese Government officials to permit Tibetans to express their grievances freely, publicly, and peacefully, without fear of retribution.”

Mass arrest of Tibetans in connection with self-immolations

Tibetans and foreign supporters carry photos of self-immolators during the final day of the four-day solidarity campaign in New Delhi on Febraury 2, 2013.

In a first of its kind mass arrest in connection with the ongoing wave of self-immolation protests in Tibet, Chinese authorities have arrested 70 Tibetans in eastern Tibet.

Chinese state media Xinhua on Thursday cited police in the Malho region as saying that the “criminal suspects” were captured in connection with a “string of self-immolations that have occurred since November 2012.”

As many as 99 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009 protesting Chinese rule and demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.

The report cited a senior police official as saying that more efforts will be exerted to “thoroughly investigate the cases and seriously punish those who incite innocent people to commit self-immolation.”

Lyu Benqian, who heads a special police team investigating the self-immolations also blamed “the Dalai Lama clique” for “masterminding and inciting” the protests.

“Personal information, such as photos of the victims, were sent overseas to promote the self-immolations,” the report cited him as saying.

"Some of the victims were frustrated and pessimistic in life, and they wanted to earn respect by self-immolation," Lyu added.

The report also carried stories of several individual self-immolators, claiming that their personal problems were the reason for their protests.

Among those arrested, the report cited one Phagpa, a young Tibetan in Dowa, Rebkong region, who was arrested for attending the funerals of six self-immolators, offering donations to their family members and working to spread ideas related to separatism and "Tibetan independence."

Last month, Chinese courts sentenced a Tibetan Lobsang Kunchok to death with a two-year reprieve and Lobsang Tsering to 10 years on charges of “intentional homicide.” The same day, another court sentenced six Tibetans to varying jail terms of 12 to three years in jail on similar charges.

Following the sentencing, New York based global rights group, Human Rights Watch, said Chinese authorities should “immediately release” Kunchok and Tsering, while noting that their conviction “relied solely on confessions they gave during five months in detention.”

“These prosecutions are utterly without credibility,” said Sophie Richardson, China director. “The Chinese government seems to think it can stop self-immolation by punishing anyone who talks about it. But in pursuing these ‘incitement’ cases, the government compounds the tragedy of these suicide protests.”



HRW noted that it has documented “endemic use of torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and coercion of Tibetans in detention.”

“Self-immolations take place in the context of the Chinese government’s long-standing repressive policies in the Tibetan areas that have seen severe restrictions on Tibetans’ rights,” HRW said.

The Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration also condemned the harsh sentences, blaming the Chinese leadership as “solely responsible for the growing unrest and deteriorating situation in Tibet.”

“The series of rushed sentences clearly show that Tibetans in Tibet are denied basic human rights,” the exile Tibetan administration said. “It is also evident that these are done in utter disregard to the Tibetan aspiration and deep anguish at the continuing self-immolations in Tibet.”

Karnataka Chief Minister, Governor receive Tibetan Parliamentary delegation

The south zone Tibetan parliamentary delegation for the month-long Solidarity with Tibet campaign meeting with Chief Minister of Karnataka Jagadish Shettar in Bangalore. January 4: A Tibetan parliamentary delegation leading a month-long lobbying campaign in south India met with the Honourable Chief Minister of Karnataka state Jagadish Shettar and Governor H.R. Bhardwaj. The six-member delegation met with CM Shettar at the Vidhan Soudha in Bangalore and apprised him of the critical situation inside Tibet, while urging the Indian leadership to take a firmer and more assertive political stance on Tibet vis-a-vis China. Tibetan MP and member of the delegation, Lobsang Yeshi told Phayul that during the meeting, CM Shettar expressed his “deepest concern” over the issue of Tibet and assured them of his government’s continued “solidarity and support” for the cause of Tibet. The south zone Tibetan parliamentary delegation on Wednesday met with the Honourable Governor of Karnataka state H.R. Bhardwaj at the Raj Bhawan. Governor Bhardwaj called the Tibetan cause “always dear” to the Indian people and recalled with respect the help that Tibetans have given during India’ “most difficult times.” “His Holiness the Dalai Lama is a highly compassionate person and a messenger of world peace,” the Honourable Governor was cited as saying by Yeshi. “His presence is strength to us and his followers are like our brothers and sisters.” He said the wave of self-immolations in Tibet is “very tragic” and assured that India will never go against Tibet. The south zone Tibetan parliamentary delegation for the month-long Solidarity with Tibet campaign meeting with H.R. Bhardwaj, Governor of Karnataka at Raj Bhawan, Bangalore. The delegation also met with former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, Shobha Karandlage, Minister of Energy, Murugesh Nirani, Minister for Industries, and Ganesh Karnik, Member of State Legislative Assembly. Shobha, who has visited Tibet twice, gave a detailed account of China’s “destructive policies” in Tibet, which she said is “threatening to annihilate” the Tibetan race. “China does not need Tibetans. They only need the land of Tibet. Therefore they do not care about the welfare of the Tibetan people,” the minister was cited as saying. Former CM Yedyurappa called on the central government to do more to resolve the issue of Tibet and advised the Tibetans to hold regular meetings with Indian leaders in the city, said Yeshi. The first leg of the solidarity campaigns in south India will conclude with a major public rally and a prayer vigil on the January 5 in Bangalore, the state capital. The south zone delegation will then take the solidarity campaign to eight other states and will meet senior political leaders in the major Indian cities of Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Pondicherry, Chennai, Panaji, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Jaipur. The month-long All-India ‘Solidarity with Tibet’ campaign initiated by Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile is part of the exile Tibetan administration’s attempts at garnering wider support for international intervention in the ongoing crisis inside Tibet. From January 1 to 29, three Tibetan parliamentary delegations of six parliamentarians each will be travelling across India, taking the Tibet campaign state by state.

The Dalai Lama in Bihar at CM Nitish Kumar’s invitation

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama being received by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar at Patna Airport on January 3, 2013.  January 4: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai arrived in the Indian state of Bihar at the invitation of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Thursday. The Dalai Lama was received at the Patna airport by the Chief Minister and a host of top government officials. The Tibetan spiritual leader is scheduled to inaugurate a three-day International Buddhist Sangha Seminar on The Role of the Buddhist Sangha in the 21st Century jointly organised by the Bihar Art and Culture Department and the Bodh Gaya Temple Management Committee. Hundreds of delegates from 20 countries, including China, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Japan are expected to attend the meet starting January 5. Earlier today, the Dalai Lama held a special prayer at the Chief Minister’s One Anne Marg official residence for world peace. CM Kumar, Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, Water Resources Minister Vijay Chaudhary, state JD(U) President Vashist Narayan Singh, and party Rajya Sabha member R C P Singh were among those who took part in the prayer. Talking to media persons, the Dalai Lama praised the chief minister and the state government for taking keen interest in Buddhism. Describing Nitish Kumar as "a dynamic Chief Minister," the Tibetan leader said he was "very happy to visit the land of King Ashoka who spread Buddhism in the world." While mentioning the glorious history of modern day Bihar, the Nobel Peace laureate recounted the names of the state’s great sons like independent India’s first President Dr Rajendra Prasad and Loknayak Jayprakash Narayan. Also today, the 77-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader, along with CM Kumar, inaugurated a statue of Lord Buddha at the Buddha Smriti Parka in the state capital. Following his visit to Patna, the Dalai Lama is scheduled to leave for Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh to give four days of teachings on Shantideva's A Guide to the Boddhisattva's Way of Life (chodjug) from January 7 to 10.

CM Omar Abdullah meets Tibetan parliamentary delegation

Students from Ladakh and Zanskar regions of Jammu and Kashmir state carrying out a Tibet solidarity protest in Jammu city on January 2, 2013.

January 4: The all-India lobbying campaign initiated by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile began its month-long campaigning in north India with a meeting with Omar Abdullah, chief minister of the state of Jammu and Kashmir.

The north zone Tibetan Parliamentary delegation called on the honorable Chief Minister on January 2 in the state’s winter capital, Jammu city. According to a release by the delegation, Omar Abdullah, during the meeting, expressed his support for Tibet’s cause.

“The leaders of the Chinese government very well know that the struggle carried on by His Holiness the Dalai Lama is for autonomy in Tibet,” Omar, who has met the Tibetan spiritual leader on several occasions, said. “Presently, Hong Kong and Macau enjoy a special autonomous status under the Chinese rule and I find China’s reluctance on Tibet hard to understand.”

The delegation also met with Ngawang Rigzin Jora, Minister of Tourism and Culture; Members of the State Legislative Assembly; and other high level India officials of the state, which shares its border with China occupied Tibet.

On January 2, as part of the lobbying campaign, around 150 students from the Ladakh and Zanskar regions of the state carried out a protest march in Jammu city in solidarity with the ongoing crisis inside Tibet. The students paraded Tibetan national flags and banners calling for solidarity with the demands of the Tibet self-immolators.

Following their visit to the state, the north zone delegation will then take the Tibet lobbying campaign to other north and central Indian states, including Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Chandigarh, Haryana, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.

Last month, the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile announced the all-India lobbying campaign as part of the exile Tibetan administration’s attempts at garnering wider support for international intervention in the ongoing crisis inside Tibet.

95 Tibetans have set themselves on fire inside Tibet protesting China’s occupation and demanding freedom and return of the Dalai Lama from exile.

The Tibetan parliament said the delegations, apart from holding meetings with senior leaders, will also address press conferences and interact with the general masses to “spread awareness on the critical situation inside Tibet and garner their support.”

The north zone parliamentary delegation comprises of MPs Dawa Tsering, Ghang Lhamo, Geshe Kalsang Damdul, and Mogru Tenpa.

First Tibetan Teachers’ Meeting underway in Dharamshala

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay addressing the First Tibetan Teachers' Meeting in Dharamshala on January 3, 2013. 

DHARAMSHALA, January 4: More than 150 Tibetan teachers and administrators from all over India are currently meeting in the exile headquarters of Dharamshala for a first of its kind meeting organised by the Education Department of the Central Tibetan Administration.

The three-day ‘First Tibetan Teachers’ Meeting’ began Thursday aimed at promoting an open discussion on ways to develop the education system in Tibetan schools. Teachers and officials of the Education Department will be sharing their views and suggestions on a wide range of topics.

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Tibetan people, who is also the Kalon of the Department of Education, presided over the inaugural ceremony held at the Tibetan Children’s Village School, Lower Dharamshala.

Sikyong Sangay in his address recalled his school life and spoke about the education system in Tibetan schools.

He noted that improving the education system would take teamwork over a long period of time.

“Improving the education system will take our joint effort of not just two or three years but rather, we all should work together like our five fingers,” Sikyong Sangay, who is a product of the Central School for Tibetan, Darjeeling said.

“The Administration is to provide all the facilities, school heads must utilise those facilities, teachers are to teach, students are to study, and parents and relatives of the students must also play their roles.”

He further emphasised that literacy rate should not be the sole benchmark of academic competence and excellence.

“The literacy rate of Tibetans in exile is 84 per cent and population wise, we are better than India, Nepal, and Bangladesh,” the Harvard law graduate said. “But even though we are better in reading and writing rate, it is also obvious that we lack the quality to become experts.”

The meeting comes on the heels of the recent launch of the Tibet Education Project, a two-year programme, aimed at improving the quality of education opportunities for Tibetan refugee students in India and Nepal.

The USD 2 million project includes intensification of teacher development and training; expansion of Scholarship Program; Scale the Counseling Program; prioritising Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Education; providing Test Preparation and Coaching for Secondary School Students and Improve Educational Management

In line with the 14th Kashag’s prioritisation of education, the exile administration also recently announced new scholarship schemes representing a 50 percent increase in its annual scholarship funding.

The Department of Education currently oversees 73 Tibetan schools – excluding the pre-primary sections and private schools – in India and Nepal under different autonomous administrative bodies. There are around 24,000 students and 2,200 staff members in these schools.