The Tibet Post International

Apple censors Tibet-related apps in China

I did raise human rights situation with Xi Jinping: Australian Prime Minister

Dharamshala: Australian Prime Julia Gillard has said she raised the Tibet issue during a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 7 - the first day of her six-day visit to China.Speaking to a press conference after the meeting, Ms Gillard said that she “did raise human rights, with a reference to Tibet,” and that, “These discussions are best had in private but, as I indicated, we do raise human rights concerns and I did raise human rights today.”The Australia Tibet Council (ATC) presented Ms Gillard with a letter, prior to her departure for China, urging her to raise the issue of the Tibet crisis with the new Chinese leadership. ATC’s executive officer Paul Bourke wrote that the situation in Tibet warrants a totally new approach from Xi Jingping, and that, “Unfortunately, instead of seeking to address Tibetan grievances, China’s leaders have continued the repressive ‘stability maintenance’ approach, ramped up anti-Dalai Lama propaganda, criminalized protests and introduced harsh new

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. Photo: (AAP)

By Matthew Singh Toor: 11 April 2013

Tears of Tibet conference held in Brussels

Dharamshala: Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) held a conference titled Tears of Tibet in the Belgian capital Brussels on April 10, to discuss the self-immolation crisis in Tibet, human rights and the environmental issues in the country, and the role of Europe Union.“We can’t close the eyes on the human tragedy going in Tibet daily in the name of stability,” said MEP Ojuland, of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrates in Europe (ALDE), who organized the conference.

SFT protests over Gyama mining disaster

Prayers for Tibetan who self-immolated in Nepal

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I n t e r n a t i o n a l

Bi-monthlyB o d - K y i - Cha-Trin Rs.10Vol. 02, Issue 84, Print Issue 8, 15 April 2013 www.thetibetpost.comA Voice For Tibet

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By Yeshe Choesang: 11 April 2013

By Matthew Singh Toor: 11 April 2013

By Alice Reetham: 05 April 2013

Dharamshala: Technology giant Apple has become the latest organization to succumb to China’s censorship tactics.It appears that Apple have blocked iPhone applications related to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in its China App Store. The move comes two months after carrier China Unicorn launched iPhone sales, making regulatory approval of the phone’s contents necessary for the first time.In response to queries about the missing apps, Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller sent an e-mail saying, “We continue to comply with local laws… Not all apps are available in every country.”The banned apps include Dalai Lama Quotes, Dalai Quotes

China is Apple’s fastest growing market and the second largest after the US. Photo: Secret Tibet blog

Statue of Jampel Yeshi unveiled by Tibetan

Youth Congress

Protesters outside the Toronto Stock Exchange, 10 April 2013. Photo: TPI

Dharamshala: A vigil and prayer service was held in Dharamshala, northern India, on April 3, for Drupchen Tsering, a Buddhist monk who died after setting himself alight in Nepal in protest against Chinese oppression in Tibet.On the 49th day since his death, the ceremony was held at the Martyrs Pillar, Tsuglakhang temple, Mcleodganj (upper Dharamshala) from 9am until 12 noon. According to Tibetan

Dharamshala: Tibetan activist Jigme Gyatso has been freed after 17 years of imprisonment by the Chinese authorities for seeking independence for Tibet and calling for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. After his release from Chusul prison, near Tibetan capital Lhasa, on March 31, Buddhist monk Jigme (52) was ordered to return to his home in Sangchu County, Kanlho, Gansu province. He arrived under police escort on April 1 and sources

Beijing releases Jigme after 17 years in jail

A prayer ceremony for Drupchen Tsering is held in front of theTibetan Martyrs’ Memorial, Dharamshala, 3 April 2013. Photo:TPI


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Tibetan activist Jigme Gyatso, who has been released from prison after 17 years. Photo:TPI

Tears of Tibet conference poster. Photo: ALDE


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His Holiness the Dalai Lama receives Minorities Prize in South Tyrol, Italy


Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama received a special prize for his efforts to promote the Tibetan cause through peaceful, non-violent means on April 10, in Bolzano, South Tyrol, Italy.The Alto Adige Minorities Prize was presented by Luis Durnwalder, president of the Bolzano provincial government of South Tyrol. Mr Durnwalder expressed his pleasure that the spiritual leader was once again visiting the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/South Tyrol, saying he felt it was a sign of the firm friendship between them.His Holiness acknowledged the support that South Tyrol has shown to Tibetans over the years, and offered thanks on behalf of himself, the Tibetan community in exile and the six million Tibetans in Tibet.The presentation opened with a rendition of a Mozart sonata for flute and harp. President Durnwalder then addressed the gathering, saying, “Your Holiness, we have much in common. We have different histories and different cultures, but what we share is that we represent minority populations facing similar problems.“There are 164 countries in the world where minorities live,” he continued, “and while many accord them their rights, others do not show such respect. They try to dominate and suppress their minorities, often resorting to the use of force and violence. Ultimately, it is the non-violent approach that succeeds, because it is peaceful and friendly. Your Holiness has become an international ambassador for non-violence and support for minorities, and we are pleased to welcome you here again.”President Durnwalder declared that South Tyrol is like a

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is presented the Minorities Prize by South Tyrol President Luis Durnwalder, 10 April 2013. Photo: TPI/Thomas Muller

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Tibetan health minister issues statement

on World Health Day

Toronto: Following the devastating landslide in Tibet that left 83 miners dead, dozens of Tibetan-Canadians and their supporters rallied in front of the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) on April 10, demanding that the Vancouver-based China Gold International Resources stop its destructive mining operations in Gyama township, near Tibetan capital Lhasa.Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) Canada members simulated a

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laboratory conducting an experiment to ensure the survival of minority populations. The Minorities Prize had been set up to shed light on the problems minorities face, he said, “though this year the light that it might have shone on the situation of

Tibetans is like a candle in comparison to His Holiness’ efforts. Nevertheless, the message that South Tyrol wants to send is that the rights of minorities should never be surrendered.”In response, His Holiness said, “It’s a great honour for me to accept this award. And while offering my personal thanks, I

security measures for the Tibetans.” The Tibet Council said it hoped that Prime Minister Gillard could send the right message to China’s new leadership, while establishing positions on China’s core issues. “Failure to offer frank advice on the human rights situation in Tibet and in China at large,” the letter continued, “will only ensure the continuity of the decades long repressive policies, undermining basic human values such as freedom, dignity and justice.”The letter followed Tibet Advocacy Day in Canberra, Australia, on March 18, where a group of twelve young Tibetan leaders met with almost 40 parliamentarians.During the meeting, Tibetan leaders – backed up by thousands of supporters - called for new and increased action on Tibet. Two days later, on March 20 a motion on Tibet was passed in the senate. Ms Gillard is one of the first world leaders to meet with President XI since he was instated. John Kerry, the US Secretary of State was scheduled to visit China on April 13 and 14.

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TPI NEWS The Tibet Post International2CTA blames Gyama mining disaster on over-exploitation of mineral resources


Dharamshala: Environmental researchers from the exile Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamshala, northern India, have said China’s large-scale exploitation of mineral resources in Tibet may have caused the recent disaster that killed more than 80 miners.On March 29, Chinese state media reported that 83 miners, including two Tibetans, were buried after a major landslide hit part of the Gyama (Chinese: Jiama) copper polymetallic mine, near Tibetan capital Lhasa, at 6am local time. As of April 4, 66 miners were confirmed dead and 17 reported missing, believed dead.The workers were reportedly asleep in their tents when they were buried by a mass of mud, rocks and debris, three kilometers wide and 30 meters deep. The landslide occurred in Pulang valley, Siphug village, Tashi Gang town. On April 10, the CTA’s Environment and Development desk issued a report saying, “Tibet’s rich mineral deposits have become a resource curse for the local residents and ecosystem. Since the late ‘60s, these mineral deposits have been exploited in various scales, mostly under poor environmental norms and regulations. As for the minerals extracted, copper, chromium, gold, lead, iron and zinc are the minerals of greatest interest to Chinese and other foreign miners operating in Tibet. These are being mined to different extents at various locations throughout the Tibetan Plateau.“Now, with strong policy backing from Beijing, designating mining in Tibet as one of Beijing’s ‘Four Pillar’ industries, Tibet’s holy landscapes, lakes and the pristine rivers will face more destruction and pollution and, most of all, the local residents will have no option but to silently witness the ecocide of the Tibetan Plateau.“In a show of concern, President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and Vice Premier Zhang

Gyama mine: Photos and map released by environmental researchers from the Central Tibetan Administration

Pointing the finger in the wrong direction? The responsibilities of Tibetan writers


Editorial:


15 April 2013

Gaoli have instructed officials to ‘spare no efforts’ to rescue workers. This is indeed a very sad and unfortunate incident. However, the Chinese government must also spare no efforts to figure out the real cause of this tragedy, through sincere and transparent investigation, by putting aside political and social sensitivity of the issue.”The report added that it “suspects that this tragic incident could be a result of the aggressive expansion and large-scale exploitation of minerals in the Gyama Valley – a man-made phenomenon rather than merely a natural disaster.”Writing about the disaster, Gabriel Lafitte - an Australian public policy analyst who has worked with Tibetans for over 30 years, most recently as a consultant to the Environment and Development desk – said, “The Gyama tragedy is a reminder that China, after six decades of geologising Tibet, is now able to exert maximum force on the land of Tibet and its minerals, and make its fortune.

“Ironically, this capacity to establish intensive extraction enclaves in Tibet comes too late to make much difference to China. The demands of the world’s factory, in China, for raw materials is now so great that even the most intensive exploitation of Tibet would do little to reduce China’s need to import minerals from all around the planet.”Mr Lafitte concluded, “Gyama Valley, just upstream of Lhasa, had seemed like the least forceful of China’s big mines in Tibet. In fact Gyama’s Vancouver-based owners, the state-owned China Gold International, had invested a lot in corporate PR, sending reporters to Gyama to tell the world the mine is not only good for the economy, but also for the environment and for Tibetans.”For the CTA’s full report, visit: www.tibet.net, Media Center, Press Releases.For Gabrielle Lafitte’s article on the disaster, visit: www.outlooktibet.com, Features.

Dharamshala: Tibetan scholars, writers and journalists from across India and abroad recently discussed the critical situation inside Tibet at a conference in Dharamshala, northern India, titled China’s Repressive Policies and the Crisis of Burning Tibet.This type of meeting can prove useful to writers, who seek unity in their responses to the Chinese government’s allegations against His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the exile Central Tibetan Administration.In his keynote speech, CTA security minister Ngodup Dongchung said, “Today I would like to say that those who write on Tibetan websites or blogs anonymously…should think carefully about what they say,” explaining that people should write only the truth and take responsibility for their words, making sure that they do not become a tool for China to misuse.As I wrote in my last editorial, when people point the finger in the wrong direction, be they Chinese or Tibetan, it does nothing but hurt the six million Tibetans in the world. It is somewhat disconcerting when people write about issues pertaining to Tibet under comfortable circumstances with little at stake. It is vital to consider that most Tibetans living in exile and in Tibet don’t share the same rights as they do after

acquiring the citizenship of a free country.We have a vibrant democracy in exile, albeit nascent, and our investment in it is paying off huge dividends. The Tibetan public participates hugely and we now have a political leader who was directly elected by the people.

I have come across several essays and articles critical of the CTA. Their authors have seemingly spent hours of hard work, gathering information and then attempting to form a coherent argument. Those I have read tend to overplay issues for dramatic effect and often lose the respect of the reader.The Chinese government earmarks staggering resources for propaganda to misinform and mislead its citizens and the international community. As Tibetans, we have a duty to counter this by writing truthfully. Getting involved into self-defeating actions that hurt Tibetans is to play into China’s hands.I fully agree with Ngodup Dongchung’s statement that it is difficult to comprehend “under what circumstances Tibetans in Tibet are living. They have done and sacrificed so much for the Tibetan cause. We should never forget who our adverseries are and always be mindful about what we write.”

would like to think that this award has been given to Tibetans who are still struggling for freedom. “We Tibetans are trying to achieve genuine autonomy within the People’s Republic of China. We have our own language, with its own script, and a long history. Therefore, it’s logical that we should want to achieve meaningful autonomy. Our focus is not merely on the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region, but on all three provinces where Tibetans live, spread as they are through five Chinese provinces.”His Holiness noted that, in the 30 years since genuine autonomy had been achieved in South Tyrol, poverty had been transformed to economic wellbeing and quality of life had improved too. He attributed this to the people’s freedom to be naturally creative.He concluded with a short explanation of his retirement from political responsibility. Considering himself as just one among seven billion human beings, he said, every one of whom seeks happiness and shuns suffering, he now works to promote affection and warm-heartedness as the basis on which those goals can be achieved.Secondly, His Holiness said, bearing in mind that religions espouse tolerance and forgiveness, for them to become sources of conflict is a contradiction, and so he has committed himself to encouraging inter-religious harmony.He conceded that there are differences among religions, in terms of their views and approaches, but said they share a common goal of fostering love and compassion in people’s hearts.Finally, His Holiness said, where he was previously dedicated to the Tibetan struggle for freedom, he has now turned his focus to preserving Tibetan Buddhist culture which, as a culture of peace and compassion, is of value not only to Tibetans but to the world at large.After the ceremony, His Holiness was asked by the press for his reaction to the continuing wave of self-immolations in Tibet. He responded, “For years I have considered myself a free spokesperson for the people of Tibet, but those people are my boss. Those

who are pursuing this course of action are doing so not because they are drunk or beset by family problems, but because of the desperate situation in which they find themselves. Because they are the boss, there is nothing for me to say. If I were to ask them to stop, I’d have to have an alternative to offer, and I don’t. All we can do is pray.”In reply to a question about how he controls his temper and maintains his happy outlook, His Holiness remarked that he wanted to live a happy life and, in order to do that, a calm mind is essential. He said he recognises that anger and frustration utterly destroy our peace of mind, so he restrains them, and that “we must approach problems with a calm mind, and taking others’ interests into account is one way to ensure we do that”.Speaking on the struggle for Tibetan autonomy, His Holiness said that South Tyrol served as a good working model. He added that autonomy for Tibet had been discussed in 1951, and again in 1956, that Mao Zedong agreed to it, and that it is was provided for in the Chinese constitution.When invited to advise on how world peace can be achieved, His Holiness was unequivocal that peace in the world depends on individuals first finding peace within. World peace will not be found through prayer alone, he said, but by overcoming anger, hatred and other disturbing emotions.In the afternoon, His Holiness was invited to speak at the European Academy and answer questions on his book Beyond Religion. He began by saying that the title, selected by the publisher, should not be misunderstood. “The book deals with secular ethics, whose basis is the biological factor of affection that we all respond to as soon as we are born,” he said.He reiterated that when he uses the word ‘secular’, he means having respect for all religions, and non-believers too, adding that he had read that of the seven billion human beings alive today, almost one billion declare themselves non-believers.However, His Holiness continued, considering how little the temples and churches affect many people’s real lives these days, he feels that many of their members should really be counted as non-believers

and that, since religion seems ineffective in such cases, secular ethics may have a greater appeal.Asked whether he was an optimist or pessimist, His Holiness unhesitatingly declared himself an optimist. He recalled his quantum physics teacher, Carl Friedrich Freiherr von Weizsäcker, pointing out that at the end of the second world war, in every German eye the French were an enemy and that Germans were similarly seen as enemies by the French, and yet in a generation that had all changed.Likewise, he said, the British Queen Mother, who had lived since the start of the 20th century, told him that life had hugely improved in that time - that when she was young there was no talk of self-determination or human rights - concepts now widely accepted.On the issue of China, His Holiness said it is essential to keep in touch with the Chinese people. One of their biggest problems, he commented, is ignorance - a result of not being properly informed. His Holiness said that Chinese people have written to tell him that, if more Chinese were aware of the Middle Way approach - the attempt to find a mutually beneficial solution to the problems of Tibet - they would support it.Finally, when asked if he would visit South Tyrol again, His Holiness said that he had been invited to do so over lunch with President Durnwalder and that, early that morning, when he opened his window, the sound of birdsong filling the air made him think that he would like to come back and spend several days there in the future.

..... Continued from front page

..... Dalai Lama receives Minorities Prize in South Tyrol, Italy

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TPI NEWSThe Tibet Post International 315 April 2013

French president urged to raise Tibet issue with Chinese leaders in Beijing

Paris: The Parliamentary Group for Tibet of the French National Assembly has called on President Francois Hollande to raise the Tibet issue with his Chinese counterpart during his forthcoming visit to China.In a statement released on April 10, the group urged France - in partnership with the European Union and the international community - to take a clear and firm position on the Tibet issue, and not to sacrifice it in the name of economic interests.The group also urged China to allow unimpeded access into Tibet to all people, including the media, to respect the Tibetan people’s right to autonomy, as enshrined in the People’s Republic of China’s

By Central Tibetan Administration: 12 April 2013

The French National Assembly. Photo: AP

US senators call on Secretary of State Kerry to engage China over Tibet issue


Dharamshala: On April 11, a group of 21 US senators delivered a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, imploring him to raise the Tibet issue as an integral part of his meeting with the new Chinese leadership, led by President Xi Jinping, on 13 April.TPI publishes the full text of the letter below: We are writing to ask for your commitment to press for meaningful improvements in the conditions in Tibet, both based on your personal interest in the issue and building on the grounds laid by your predecessors.During your service on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the panel approved a number of policy and programmatic measures that serve to establish and broaden the US government’s policy on Tibet. These efforts not only helped to provide critical assistance to Tibetans struggling to preserve their culture and identity, but also to promote a negotiated solution through dialogue.We appreciate your personal engagement on the Tibet issue and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, whom you hosted twice as chairman, as well as the elected prime minister of the Tibetan community in exile, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay.The situation in Tibet is at a crisis point. We are witnessing a cycle of repression, protest, and further repression, which threatens to escalate into further instability. We welcome the State Department’s call on the Chinese authorities to end the counterproductive policies that are stoking the grievances that are leading to Tibetans taking their own lives through self-immolations.We share the State Department’s hope that the acts of self-immolation will end, and we commend the Tibetan exile leadership, led by Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, for consistently and categorically discouraging Tibetans in Tibet from self-immolating as a form of protest.Unfortunately, the Chinese government has failed to respond to the calls for a change in its policies towards Tibet and to respect the rights and dignity of Tibetans. In fact, by commencing prosecutions of Tibetans allegedly associated with acts of self-immolation, Chinese authorities are making things worse.We view the Tibet problem as a resolvable issue. While the Chinese government’s external stance on the Tibet issue conveys intransigence, there are still hopes that dialogue could resume between China’s new regime - led by Xi Jinping, whose father had ties to the Dalai Lama - and Tibetan representatives.Moreover, there is an open discourse among a range of Chinese scholars and ‘netizens’ about the wisdom of the government’s approach. Lastly, Tibetans have adhered to the non-violent approach of the Dalai Lama, and the Tibetan exile leadership led by Sikyong Lobsang Sangay remains committed to dialogue. All of this suggests there is room for engagement with the Chinese.We welcome the statement on Tibet by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, made in November 2012. She cited “continuing allegations of violence against

US Secretary of State John Kerry. Photo: Reuters

Buddhist belief, the consciousness of the deceased enters its next birth within 49 days of death.Drupchen Tsering self-immolated in Nepali capital Kathmandu on February 13 - Tibetan Independence Day. Police immediately took his body into their possession and, despite international pressure, the Nepalese authorities refused to release it. They cremated the body in secret on March 25, leaving local Tibetans unable to carry out traditional funeral rites.The memorial event in McLeodganj was organised by the Regional Tibetan Youth Congress (RTYC), the Regional Tibetan Women’s Association (RTWA) and Students for a Free Tibet (SFT). “We are holding this global vigil for Drupchen Tsering to pay our respect for his ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of Tibet,” said Lamsang, general secretary of RTYC. “Like all the other 114 Tibetans who have self-immolated inside Tibet since 2009, to protest against Chinese rule in Tibet, Drupchen Tsering’s self-immolation also called for an immediate action by [the] international community to end the crisis in Tibet.”Tenzin Dolkar, vice-president of RTWA told the vigil, “We are deeply saddened and shocked by the news of the Nepal government’s secret cremation of Drupchen Tsering’s body. Therefore, we strongly condemn this unfortunate act of Nepal’s

government, which allows the Chinese to influence its domestic politics, not even respecting the basic rights to have proper rites of the religion for the deceased.”Dorje Tseten, SFT’s national director, said “This incident highlights the extent of China’s stranglehold over Nepal [and] the precarious situation of Tibetan refugees even after escaping from Chinese-occupied Tibet.“It calls for greater international monitoring of China’s oppressive influence in Nepal and the protection of the rights of Tibetan refugees there. We are urging our supporters everywhere to call the Nepalese embassies and consulates and demand the Nepalese government respect the rights of Tibetan refugees.”By cremating Drupchen Tsering’s body, Nepal was in violation of Customary International Laws: Rule 116 - compiled by the International Committee of the Red Cross and echoed by the Geneva Convention - which Nepal ratified and acceded to in 1964. The law requires that religious practice be followed, if at all possible, with regard to the deceased. It also stipulates that “the dead must be disposed of in a respectful manner” and that the dead have the right to be cremated or interred according to the “rites of the religion to which they belonged.”

......... Vigil and prayer service held for Tibetan who self-immolated in Nepal


constitution, and to resume the dialogue process in order to find a peaceful solution to the Tibet issue.The group also affirmed its resolve and commitment to put forward a resolution on the freedom of expression of the Tibetan people in the French parliament.The statement was signed by the parliamentary group’s co-presidents, Mr Jean-Patrick Bille and Mr Noël Mamere, vice-presidents Mr Patrick Bloche, Mr Philippe Follion, Mrs Geneviève Gaillard, Mr Lionnel Luca and Mr Philippe Vitel, and secretaries Mr Joël Giraud and Mr Paul Molac.

Tibetans seeking to exercise their fundamental human rights of freedom of expression, association and religion,” and pointed to “reports of detentions and disappearances, of excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators, and curbs on the cultural rights of Tibetans.”The UN High Commissioner’s statement brings important focus to the Tibet issue, as her office and her mandate reflect an objective assessment of the situation in Tibet through the application of fundamental and universal human rights norms.We believe that Ms Pillay’s statement can serve as an impetus for a new level of collaborative engagements on the Tibet issue. We noted that, in December 2012, the European Union, United Kingdom and Canada issued statements on Tibet. Also, on December 11 ,2012, then Special Coordinator for Tibetan issues Under-secretary Maria Otero cited Tibet as an example of US-EU strategic engagement on Asia, saying, “European governments, including Germany, UK, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Poland, have joined the call for Chinese authorities to address the worsening human rights conditions in Tibetan areas.”In this context, we urge you to:- Make Tibet an integral issue in your engagement with your Chinese counterparts, not only as consistent with the work of your predecessors and US policy, but as an expression of a principled foreign policy grounded in fundamental and universal values;- Urge the Chinese government to resume meaningful dialogue with the Tibetan leadership;- Appoint a new Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues as soon as practicable;- Continue to fund the programs that provide humanitarian assistance, economic development, and independent information to the Tibetan people;- Coordinate with other governments on

implementation of the recommendations made by UN High Commissioner Navi Pillay, including allowing access by independent and impartial monitors (such as UN Special Rapporteurs) to assess conditions on the ground, adoption of policies recommended by UN Special Rapporteurs as referenced in Ms Pillay’s statement, and lifting restrictions on media access to the region;- Seek access by US diplomats to Tibetan areas as reciprocally commensurate with the access Chinese diplomats have in the United States and- Ccontinue to make a consulate in Lhasa a top priority for the next diplomatic posts in the People’s Republic of China.While the more than 100 self-immolations of Tibetans continue to make headlines, we know that there are countless others among the six million Tibetans inside Tibet who struggle silently every day to preserve their culture, their religion and their dignity, in the face of destructive Chinese policies. The United States has a moral responsibility to help the Tibetan people in this quest. We know that you understand the longstanding basis for America’s support of Tibet, and we welcome your continued efforts in this regard in your new role as Secretary of State.The letter was signed by Senator Mark E Udall, Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Micheal F Bennet, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senator Barbara Boxer, Senator Benjamin L Cardin, Senator William M Cowan, Senator Richard J Durbin, Senator Al Franken, Senator Mike Johanns, Senator Mark Kirk, Senator Patrick J Leahy, Senator John McCain, Senator James E Risch, Senator Bernard Sanders, Senator Tom Udall, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Ron Wyden, Senator Susan M. Collins, and Senator Jeff Merkeley.Mr Kerry arrived in South Korea on April 12. His first Asia tour was scheduled to include visits to China and Japan.

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4 TIBET The Tibet Post InternationalTPI NEWS15 April 2013

Dawa Gyaltsen released from Chusul prison early: Chinese authorities suspected

of evading another death in detention

Dharamshala: The Chinese authorities have released long-serving political prisoner Dawa Gyaltsen. 47-year-old Dawa was serving an 18-year sentence but was released two years early in what is suspected to be a bid to avoid another death in detention.Dawa, a former bank accountant, was detained for distributing and posting Tibetan independence leaflets, and was released sometime last month for “good behaviour”, according to information received by exile Tibetan sources with contacts in Tibet.The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) in Dharamshala, northern India, has said there is speculation that the move by the authorities was actually an attempt to avoid the responsibility of him dying in custody. It is not uncommon for Tibetan torture victims to die shortly after their release.Dawa spent the majority of his sentence in Chushul Prison, near Tibetan capital Lhasa, which is renowned for its mistreatment and torture of detainees. Sources have reported that his condition is now critical.A former prison-mate, now living in India, has reported that, “Ten years ago when I was with him in the prison, I always saw him sick and confined to his cell.”Dawa was detained along with his younger brother, Buddhist monk Nyima Dhondup, and two other monks - Mazo and Agya - in 1995, for distributing “political documents” and “inciting counter-revolutionary propaganda”.The group was sentenced in May 1997. Labeled the


Chinese police and security forces in front of Jokhang temple, Lhasa, 8 December 2012. Photo: Tsering Woeser

Buddhist monk Thupge arrested in Sershul county, eastern Tibet


Dharamshala: A Buddhist monk from Shershul County, eastern Tibet, has been arrested by the Chinese authorities for staging a protest on April 8 calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the country.Jigdrel Tenzin, a Tibetan man living in India who has close contacts in Shershu, has reported that 20-year-old Thupge, a monk from Mang-ge monastery, staged a lone protest at around 3.30am local time. Chinese authorities arrived at the scene and took him into custody.Thupge, the son of Migyur and Yiga, is a native of Mang-ge village in Karze region. His condition and whereabouts are unknown. Shershul county, eastern Tibet. Photo: File

described his condition as “very weak”. The leader of the Association of Tibetan Freedom Movement (more properly translated as the Tibetan Independence and Truth Group), Jigme was sentenced to 15 years’ hard labour on charges of endangering national security and being a “counter-revolutionary ring leader”. In 2004, China increased his sentence by three years for “inciting separatism”. Jigme had cried out in prison for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He was not due to be released until March 2014.In May 1998, during a visit by a European Union delegation, a group of prisoners, including Jigme, shouted pro-Dalai Lama slogans. Prison staff responded with violence and after the incident nine inmates were reported dead.Human rights groups worldwide have campaigned on Jigme’s behalf – among them Amnesty International, which designated him a prisoner of conscience. The Chinese authorities have been accused of beating and torturing Jigme whilst he was in jail, and he was hospitalised for an unknown period during his term. One of Amnesty’s reports claimed that, a year into his sentence, Gyatso was

beaten so badly that he could barely walk. Jigme’s friend Jamyang Tsultrim, who now lives in exile in India, has recently been in touch with contacts in Tibet and said, “Those who saw him reported that he was very weak. He was limping and reported having heart problems and high blood pressure. His vision was also weak.” During his visit to China in November 2005, the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture met with Jigme and subsequently appealed for his release. In response, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention stated that Jigme’s detention was arbitrary and therefore violated his rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. A report in 2009 by the World Organisation Against Torture - a coalition of non-governmental organizations fighting against arbitrary detention, torture, extrajudicial executions and other forms of violence - stated that Jigme Gyatso had become “very frail”, was suffering from kidney dysfunction and could “only walk with his back bent.”In 2011, Amnesty said Jigme was suspected to be “seriously ill as a result of torture and ill-treatment in custody”.

....... Beijing releases Tibetan activist Jigme Gyatso after 17 years in jail


ringleader, Dawa received 18 years imprisonment. His brother received 13 years, and Mazo and Aqya both received eight years.Prior to sentencing, Dawa was held for 14 months in Seitru Detention Centre, Lhasa, where he was subjected to interrogation, beatings and torture. During this time, he met Tibetan activist Tenzin Tsundue, who had been detained for ‘illegally’ entering Tibet.Speaking during a deposition he filed on 3 July 2006 to the Spanish National Court, Tenzin described how Dawa was mistreated by the prison authorities. “Once he showed me his wrists,” he said. “There were clear scars of torture - a ring of white scar tissue ran around his wrists. He told me that when he was first arrested he was handcuffed and thrown into a dark room without food for ten days.“To keep him alive, the jailors would splash water on him once a day. The handcuffs tightened around his wrists. They ate into his flesh, forming sores, and pus. After ten days when they unlocked the shackles, the metal rings ripped off skin from his wrist. He said he was not given medical attention and it took many months for the sores to heal.”During the 2008 Tibet uprising, Dawa was kept in solitary confinement for around six months, along with other prisoners including Dolma Kyap and Tsering Wangchuck. Dawa Gyaltsen was born in Shentsa county, Nagchu prefecture, in the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region. Preceding his arrest, he worked at a bank in Nagchu, and was married with two children.

Portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama auctioned in United Kingdom


Dharamshala: Two signed portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, by figurative artist Lisa Andrews, have been auctioned by the Buddhist Community Centre UK (BCCUK), raising £6,200 (approximately Rs 500,000).The paintings were auctioned at a charity dinner in Reading, England, and the money raised will go towards the renovation of a building set to become a new Buddhist monastery and community centre in Aldershot, which will be open to the public.Ms Andrews said the portraits are intended to encapsulate the spirit of His Holiness, and portray his characteristic sense of humour. They are especially valuable, as only a very small number of such images are believed have been signed by the Tibetan spiritual leader himself.“I love to use oil paint, as the fluidity of the paint merges and flows to mirror my energy and emotions,” said Ms Andrews. “I paint people, and in particular their faces, as I find this both the most challenging and enjoyable. My paintings seek to capture more than just a photographic image of my subject, but also to include the person’s energy.

A portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, painted by Lisa Andrews. Photo: Gurkhas.com

I paint to express emotion - the emotion and expression of my subject and my reaction to it.”The charity dinner was attended by Chime

Rinpoche, a Buddhist monk living in exile, who founded England’s first Tibetan Buddhist centre in 1973.

Sikyong sends condolences over death of former British PM Margaret Thatcher

By Central Tibetan Administration: 12 April 2013

Dharamshala: The exile Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamshala, northern India, has expressed its condolences over the death of former British prime minister, Baroness Margaret Thatcher.In a letter to Baroness Thatcher’s son, Sir Mark Thatcher, the CTA’s political leader, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay said, “With her passing away, the world has lost a great leader - a woman who lived an exemplary life, to prove that there is no glass ceiling a woman with determination cannot break, and thus acting as a great inspiration for humankind.” Remembering the ex-prime ministers’ stand on the Tibet issue in her later years, Dr Sangay quoted a passage from her book, Statecraft : Strategies for a Changing World - “The Chinese claim to Tibet is dubious on historical grounds. In the late 17th and 18th centuries, Tibet became a Chinese protectorate. However, in the 19th century,

Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013 ), former prime minister of the United Kingdom. Photo: File

Beijing’s control weakened until it was virtually symbolic. Between the overthrow of the empire in

1912 and the Chinese communist invasion of 1950-51, Tibet functioned as an independent state.”

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5The Tibet Post International TPI NEWS 15 April 2013EXILE

Statue of self-immolator Jamphel Yeshi unveiled in Dharamshala

Dharamshala: A statue of Jamphel Yeshi was unveiled by the Tibetan Youth Congress on March 28, at Lhagyal Ri in Dharamshala, northern India, to commemorate the first anniversary of his death.Jamphel self-immolated in Indian capital New Delhi on 26 March 2012 - the day before then Chinese President Hu Jintao was due to attend the fourth BRICS summit in the city - in protest against the Chinese occupation of Tibet.Jamphel’s statue was erected to honour his sacrifice for the Tibetan cause. It is located next to a statue of Thupten Ngodup, who was the first Tibetan in exile to self-immolate, on 27 April 1998, in Delhi. Jamphel passed away on 28 March 2012, having suffered 98% burns to his body.Former political prisoner Palden Gyatso, the chief guest at the ceremony, said, “As a Tibetan, he thought that his country was taken away from him, and he had no other way to resist, except to sacrifice his life.”The event was attended by hundreds of Tibetans, who offered khatas (white ceremonial scarves) to Jamphel’s statue. Many, including Lhasang Tsering, former president of TYC, were clearly choked with emotion.TYC president, Tsewang Rinzin, told those gathered, “Jamphel Yeshi and 113 other Tibetans in Tibet have self-immolated for the cause of Tibet and Tibetans, and it is our responsibility to make sure that their sacrifices do not go in vain.”Jamphel was born in Tibet, studied at the Tibetan Transit School in Dharamshala, and later moved to Delhi. His final message is engraved on a plaque below the statue. Below, TPI publishes an English translation:1. Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who is the

By Alice Reetham: 30 March 2013

Busts of Thupten Ngodup (L) and Jamphel Yeshi (R) - both of whom self-immolated in Delhi - at a ceremony held by the TYC in Dharamshala, 28 March 2013. Photo: TPI/Sangay Dorje

High blood pressure significant problem in Tibetan exile community: Health kalon


Dharamshala: On April 7 - International World Health Day - the exile Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) organised a blood-pressure check-up and awareness event, during which health kalon (minister) Dr Tsering Wangchuk made a statement on controlling the condition.The event was rolled out at two locations - the Tsugklagkhang temple complex and the Delek hospital branch clinic in Mcleodganj (Upper Dharamshala), northern India.Below, TPI publishes Dr Tsering’s statement:This year’s theme for World Health Day - which is commemorated worldwide - is high blood pressure. Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure is a condition that is a major health concern [and] prevalent globally.One in three adults worldwide has high blood pressure. This figure rises to one in two for people over 50, according the World Health Organisation. Every year, there are nine million deaths worldwide…attributed to complications of high blood pressure. This includes 51% of deaths due to strokes and 45% of deaths due to coronary heart disease.High blood pressure often goes undiagnosed, as it has no specific symptoms. It is known as a silent killer that can affect anyone… Many factors…can contribute to a greater risk of high blood pressure - lack of physical activity, a diet high in salt and fats, family history of hypertension, being overweight,

Mr Tsering Wangchuk, minister of the CTA’s health department. Photo: TPI

and Dalai Lama Prayer Wheel.An app for downloading books that have been banned in China - including three by Chinese writer Wang Lixiong - has also been removed from China App Store. Beijing banned Lixiong’s books after he wrote about Tibet’s struggle to assert its independence from China.Hao Peiqiang, the app’s Beijing-based developer, said Apple told him it had taken the step because it “includes content that is illegal in China”.In another act of censorship by Apple, an iPhone app named 10 Conditions - based on the life of exiled Uyghur leader Kadeer - has also been removed.A statement from one Chinese-based app developer, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “Given that Apple has cooperated with China before [by not distributing certain games], it’s of course very

likely that it’s Apple, not the developers, that are preventing certain apps from appearing.”Other US technology companies, including Yahoo and Google, have also been criticised for complying with China’s demands over politically sensitive issues. In 2005, Yahoo gave the Chinese authorities evidence from an e-mail account that was subsequently used in the case against Chinese journalist Shi Tao. Tao received a ten-year prison sentence.Further, Google’s Chinese search, Google.cn, blocks certain results that may be politically sensitive. Both Google and Yahoo have said that they must comply with the country’s laws and regulations.However, some websites that are currently blocked on the internet in China, including YouTube and Twitter, are still available on Chinese iPhones.

...... Technology giant Apple censors Tibet-related book apps in China


shining example of world peace. We must strive to ensure the return of His Holiness to Tibet. I pray and believe that the Tibetan people inside and outside Tibet will be united and sing the Tibetan national anthem in front of the Potala Palace.2. My fellow Tibetans, when we think about our future happiness and paths, we need loyalty. It is the life-soul of a people. It is the spirit to find truth. It is the guide leading to happiness. My fellow Tibetans, if you want the same equality and happiness as the rest of the world, you must hold on to this word - ‘LOYALTY’ - towards your country. Loyalty is the wisdom to know truth from falsehood. You must work hard in all your endeavours, big or small.3. Freedom is the basis of happiness for all living beings. Without freedom, six million Tibetans are like a butter lamp in the wind, without direction. My fellow Tibetans from the three provinces, it is clear to us all that, if we put our strength together in unison, there will be a result. So, don’t be disheartened.4. What I want to convey here is the concern of the six million Tibetans. At a time when we are making our final move toward our goal, if you have money, it is the time to spend it, if you are educated, it is the time to produce results, if you have control over your life, I think the day has come to sacrifice your life. Tibetan people are setting themselves on fire in this 21st century in order let the world know about their suffering, and to tell the world about the denial of basic human rights. If you have any empathy, stand up for the Tibetan people.5. We demand freedom to practice our religion and culture. We demand freedom to use our language. We demand the same rights as other people living elsewhere in the world. People of the world, stand up for Tibet. Tibet belongs to Tibetans. Victory to Tibet!

smoking, drinking and a stressful lifestyle.Despite this, hypertension is a preventable and treatable disease. You can minimise the risk of developing high blood pressure by maintaining a normal body weight, lowering intake of fats and salt, increasing your intake of fruit and vegetables, getting regular exercise, as well as avoiding alcohol and tobacco use.

The Health Information System of the CTA’s Department of Health says that there is a significant high burden of hypertension in the Tibetan community. However, early detection of this disease helps to greatly reduce this number. [I] urge the importance of going for regular health check-ups, so that diseases such as hypertension can be detected early and treated accordingly.

Prayers offered in Dharamshala for Tibetan self-immolators and Gyama landslide victims


Dharamshala: A prayer service to express solidarity with those Tibetans who have self- immolated and those Chinese and Tibetans who died in the Gyama mining disaster was held on April 4 by the exile Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).The service, at the Tsuglagkhang (main temple) in Dharamshala, northern India, was attended by CTA officials and hundreds of members of the public.Tromthok Rinpoche, the abbot of Namgyal Monastery, led the service and asked those present to pray for both Drupchen Tsering, who self-immolated on February 13 in Nepalese capital Kathmandu, and Kunchok Tenzin, who self-immolated on March 26 in Luchu County, eastern Tibet - both in protest against Chinese rule in Tibet.Prayers were also dedicated to those Chinese and Tibetans who died on March 29 in the devastating landslide at Gyama gold and copper mine, near Tibetan capital Lhasa.Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay (political leader of the CTA), addressed the ceremony, saying, “For this landslide, many Chinese environmental experts criticised their government. We are always talking

about Chinese policy - for example, repression, discrimination of the nation and for destroying the environment. This landslide is proof of the environmental destruction in Tibet.“Recently, the Chinese government used the Huatailong mining development as an example

of successful mining in Tibet, as it was very profitable. Also, the Chinese government talk about their environmental protection policies. This recent, devastating event reveals the truth behind these issues and highlights the government’s lack of concern over the environment.”

The Tsuglagkhang in Mcleodganj, Dharamshala. Photo:TPI/Alice Reetham

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His Holiness’ summer schedule: northern India and the USA


His Holiness the Dalai Lama is received during a visit to Ladakh. Photo:VOA

Dharamshala: Upon his return from his programme in Switzerland, His Holiness the Dalai will embark on summer visits in India and the USA.On April 28 and 29, he will participate in the 50th founding anniversary celebrations of the Central School for Tibetans in Dalhousie, northern India.A two-week tour of the United States will begin on May 7, in Maryland USA. He will then travel to Oregon, Wisconsin, Los Angeles and Kentucky

over the course of fourteen days, to participate in public talks, symposiums and panel discussions.At the request of a group of Indian sanghas, His Holiness will then give a four-day teaching on Shantideva’s Chodjug (A Guide to the Boddhisattva’s Way of Life), in Dharamshala, northern India, from June 1 to 4.Further details of His Holiness’ schedule can be found at www.dalailama.com.

TPI NEWS6 The Tibet Post InternationalH.H THE DALAI LAMA15 April 2013

China can take a constructive role in global affairs: His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Dharamshala: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama said on April 5 that the newly-elected Chinese President, Xi Jinping, represents a positive change in China, and that he hopes for a new era of peace and reconciliation with Beijing.After a three-day Buddhist teaching in Salugara, West Bengal, India, His Holiness was surrounded by members of the press and asked what he expects from President Xi. He responded that it is still early on and difficult to say.The Nobel Laureate said, “We can carefully view the last 60 years in China in four phases - the ideological period of Mao, the economic developments of Deng Xiaoping, the welcoming of the wealthy into the party under Jiang Zemin, and Hu Jintao’s slogan about harmony and unity. There has been change, and further change will come, but it may not happen soon.“The last ten years, there has been much change and...Chinese conduct with outside world has increased because of economic power… Year by year, some new reality is coming. So, the leadership has to act according to new reality. Therefore, I think overall I am optimistic. Things are changing.


His Holiness the Dalai Lama greets devotees in Salugara, West Bengal, 29 March 2013. Photo: OHHDL/Tenzin Choejor

His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be received by Swiss president


attract support, particularly among intellectuals and writers in China. He affirmed that Tibet enjoyed widespread independence in the 7th, 8th and 9th centuries, so Tibetans have a right and a precedent to claim independence.“However, it is also necessary to be realistic, and the Middle Way approach has strong support as a realistic option,” he concluded. “The Chinese leadership apart, many people around the world support it and, most important, it is attracting the support of Chinese people who come to know about it.”An estimated 25,000 people gathered from Salugara, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Sikkim and Bhutan, to hear His Holiness’ teaching on Longchen Rabjam’s Resting the Mind in its Natural State, and Je Tsongkhapa’s Concise Stages of the Path to Enlightenment.

Federal Parliament of Switzerland. Photo: swissnews.chChina can take a significant, constructive role in dealing with the global affairs.“I think China can take significant, constructive role on the planet. In order to carry the constructive role more effectively, trust and respect from the rest of the world is very, very essential. For that reason, transparency is very, very crucial factor. Closed society is very harmful.” His Holiness’ comments came after addressing Tibetans in Salugara about the devolution of his political responsibilities to the elected Tibetan leadership, and efforts to resolve the Tibet issue. He explained that not only had he retired, but he had also brought to an end the involvement of the Dalai Lamas in Tibet’s political affairs - a role that began with the Fifth Dalai Lama nearly 400 years ago.However, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate said, he remained a Tibetan in whom the Tibetan people continued to place their faith and trust, and so retains the responsibility to speak up for them when he can.The spiritual leader declared that the Middle Way approach - first mooted in the 1970s -continues to

Dharamshala: Ms Maya Graf, president of the Federal Parliament of Switzerland, will meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on April 16.In a press release, the parliament said, “The meeting will take place during the special session, in the spirit of the Swiss tradition of openness and hospitality. As the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness the Dalai Lama visits regularly the approximately 4,000 Tibetans living in Switzerland. He is also a globally known personality whose dedication has been recognised with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.”Ms Graf visited Dharamshala in March 2008, at the invitation of the Assembly of Tibetan People’s Deputies, as part of a four-member delegation from the Swiss Parliamentary Group for Tibet, during which she gained an understanding of the workings of democratic institutions in exile.Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, political leader of the exile Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamshala, India, met with Ms Graf in Bern during a visit to Switzerland in November 2011. His Holiness’ schedule in Switzerland has so far included a visit to the Forum Fribourg from April 13 to 14, to give a teaching on Jangchup Lamdron (Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment), and

a public talk on Ethics Beyond Religion.Also scheduled were a science and humanism exchange forum on iving and Dying in Peace, at

the University of Lausanne, on April 14, and a public talk - Towards a Sustainable Future - at the University of Bern, on April 15.

Tibet’s spiritual leader congratulates Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu on receiving John Templeton Prize

Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama has congratulated his close friend, anti-apartheid champion and former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Desmond Tutu, for winning the 2013 John Templeton Prize.Speaking to the Hindustan Times on April 8, before leaving Dharamshala, northern India, for a European tour, His Holiness said he was “very happy” that his fellow Nobel laureate had won the $1.7 million prize and praised Archbishop Tutu for his lifelong work in promoting “love and forgiveness”.He said the prize was in recognition of the archbishop’s contribution to society - not only as a religious leader, but as an activist. “Wonderful work, so my congratulations,” His Holiness added. “The Templeton prize to Tutu is a clear sign of recognition to his contribution. He is not only a religious leader, but also was involved with Nelson Mandela during the freedom struggle.”Archbishop Tutu has been awarded the prize for his work in advancing spiritual principals such as love and forgiveness. Discussing the award in a video on the Templeton website, he said, “When you are in a crowd and you stand out from the crowd…it is usually because you are being carried on the shoulders of others.” Desmond Tutu, who is 81, rose to world prominence for his courageous and successful opposition to South Africa’s apartheid regime in the 1970s. Tutu used his position within the church to focus global attention on the apartheid policies of South Africa’s ruling minority.A passionate supporter of the Tibetan freedom struggle, he visited Dharamshala in February 2012. Addressing a gathering attended by His Holiness,


His Holiness presenting a khata to fellow Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in Dharamshala, February 2012. Photo: TPI/Sangay Dorjee

he said, “I want to say to the Chinese government that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the most peace-loving person on earth. I want to say to the Chinese government that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has no army, he does not command his people with guns, he is not a separatist.“Please, you leaders in Beijing, please, we beg you, allow Tibet to be what the constitution of the People’s Republic of China commits. The Constitution allows for autonomy and that is all His Holiness the Dalai Lama and his people want.“We beg you, and at the same time remind you too, that this is a moral universe. There is no way in which injustice, oppression and evil can ever have the last word.”Addressing the Tibetan people, Archbishop Tutu said: “We will visit you in Tibet. We will enter a free Tibet.”A public ceremony will be held at the Guildhall in London on May 21, during which Archbishop Tutu will receive his prize. The award honours a living person who has made exceptional contributions to affirming life’s spiritual dimension.His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself received the Templeton prize in 2012, in recognition of his long-standing engagement with science, and with people far beyond the traditions of his own religion. John Templeton specifically cited His Holiness’ investigative work on the power of compassion and its potential to address global problems.Desmond Tutu is the third winner of the Templeton prize to also have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, after Mother Teresa and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Mainland Chinese and Taiwanese students discuss ‘Unavoidable Story of Tibet’


Monks and local Tibetans at a prayer service held in Taipei, 4 April 2013. Photo: CTA

Dharamshala: More than 50 mainland Chinese and Taiwanese university students took part in a discussion titled The Unavoidable Story of Tibet, in Taiwanese capital Taipei on March 31. The discussion was organised by a group of Taiwanese students.Mr Dawa Tsering, His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s representative in Taiwan, and Mr Dachompa, president of the Tibetan Association of Taiwan, attended the discussion, according to a report by the exile Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamshala, northern India.Mr Tsering answered questions from the participants and explained the policies and functions of the CTA.The Office of Tibet in Taiwan also organised a five-day festival of Tibet-related films in Hong Kong from March 21 to April 6. On the sidelines, it conducted a low-key discussion between Chinese lawyers and human rights activists about the Tibet situation.On April 4, the Office of Tibet held a prayer service in Taipei to express solidarity with all those Tibetans who have self-immolated in Tibet.

The service was attended by senior lamas from all schools of Tibetan Buddhism and local Tibetans.

An exhibition about Tibet is planned from April 27 to May 5 at the Taiwan Freedom Park.

The meeting reviewed European Parliament action for a peaceful solution and discussed how to change its approach and strategy in order to help the Tibetan people.“The Tibetan monks have won the cause already,” said MEP Leonidas Donskis. “I believe that we have to do our utmost for Tibet. Both China and Russia represent rival civilizations. While we were thinking that [a] free-market economy will lead

to political pluralism, today it is obvious that this thinking is naïve.” The representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mr Ngodup Dorjee, reminded the conference that Tibet is a source of water to a half of humanity, representing a natural resource of paramount significance to all mankind. The industrialization of Tibet, as promoted by the Chinese Communist Party, represents a real danger to humanity, he said.Other speakers included Ms Kate Saunders of

........ Tears of Tibet conference held by European Parliament..... Continued from front page the International Campaign for Tibet and Mr

Roy Strider, an Estonian writer and human rights activists.“I’m asking the European Parliament to send a fact-finding mission to Tibet”, said Mr Strider, who also underlined that the self-immolation of monks symbolises the ultimate claim over their bodies and souls in the face of Chinese oppression.ALDE has organized the conference for the past two years and indicated that it would continue to do so into the future.

TPI NEWSThe Tibet Post International 7INTERNATIONAL 15 April 2013

China is pressuring Nepal over Tibetan refugees: Ex-US President Jimmy Carter


Former US President Jimmy Carter. Photo: AFP

Dharamshala: The former US president, Jimmy Carter, has criticised China for increasing pressure on Nepal to impede the flow of Tibetan refugees into the country.Speaking in Nepal on April 1, Mr Carter highlighted the harassment that Tibetans face from the Nepali authorities when they reach the country’s border. “My hope is that the Nepali government will not accede,” he told reporters.Hundreds of refugees from Tibet cross into Nepal each year. To do so, they must trek for around 34 days across the Himalayas, in often treacherous conditions. Previously, Tibetans captured by the Nepali police were handed over to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, whereupon they could continue their journey to India.

Nepal itself is trying to get back on track after a decade-long civil war that ended in 2006. Although situated beween two powerful countries - China and India - Nepal’s key trading partner and top donor is China. The country is home to around 20,000 Tibetan refugees, and Nepal has consistently thwarted any protests by Tibetans against China.The Carter Centre, founded by ex-President Carter, has a mission “to prevent and resolve conflicts, and enhance freedom and democracy”. It acted as an observer to Nepal’s last elections in 2008. Mr Carter, who said his organisation would also observe the next set of polls, was visiting Nepal to push forward the peace process. “I think it will not be possible to hold elections in June, because a lot of things have to be done before the election,” Mr Carter told the press, after a meeting with the head of the interim government, the election commission and political leaders.He added that the next plausible time for an election would be in November, after the monsoon rains have ended. Mr Carter’s next stop was Myanmar, where he was set to address concerns over rising religious violence in the country.

landslide in front of the TSX - where China Gold International Resources is listed as CGG - with protesters lying on the sidewalk in a representation of the fatal consequences of mining-related environmental destruction in Tibet.“This catastrophic landslide shows how China Gold International Resources…is tearing apart the fragile ecology of Tibet and triggering devastating impacts on the Tibetan people,” said Urgyen Badheytsang, National Director of SFT Canada. “This is but a glimpse of the fatal consequences mining in Chinese-occupied Tibet poses for all involved, and particularly for the Tibetan people, who are not in a position to give their free, prior

and informed consent over the mine operations. “Canadian and Chinese mining companies are turning the beautiful Meldro Gungkhar valley into the tar sands of Tibet, and this is only confirmed by the pressure from Chinese state media to stick to their reports on this incident.”A report released in 2011 by SFT Canada, titled China Gold International Resource Reputational Risk Report, specifically focused on mining issues in Gyama valley, and cited a study conducted by scientists from Finland and Norway, in 2010. The study found that mining operations in Gyama valley had been launched “despite the lack of adequate understanding of the hydro-geochemistry of the

....Students for a Free Tibet protests over Gyama mining disaster..... Continued from front page

heavy metals in this very sensitive environment, and without the environmental impacts being assessed.”The study also found that surface-water contamination levels in Gyama “pose a considerable high risk to the local environment,” and “a great potential threat to downstream water users”.Jamyang, a Tibetan monk from Gyama, who has recently visited the region, said, “As a Tibetan monk living in Canada, it breaks my heart that a company based in Vancouver funds this kind of rampant destruction. Gyama, my original hometown, is being ruined by open pits, polluted waters, and mass

Sikyong urges US Secretary of State to raise Tibet crisis during China talks


Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay with Senator John Kerry, 19 July 2012. Photo: CTA

Dharamshala: Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the political leader of the exile Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamshala, northern India, has urged the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, to raise the Tibet issue and the critical situation in Tibet in his discussions with the Chinese leadership, during his maiden visit to China on April 13.In a letter dated April 4, Dr Sangay said, “Promotion of human rights and raising the Tibet issue is not only a morally right thing to do, but also a more open China that respects human rights will make for a more stable partner and will be less of a threat to international peace and security.“China has neither employed the constitutional mechanism at its disposal nor has it shown the political will to resolve the Tibet issue peacefully. Prompt resumption of dialogue between the Chinese and Tibetan leadership, which has been stalled since January 2010, will give new hope to Tibetans and begin the process of finding a solution that works for both the sides.“From our side,” the letter continued, “we are committed to engaging in meaningful dialogue

with the Chinese government anywhere, at any time. I urge you to encourage the Chinese government to resume meaningful dialogue with the Tibetan leadership.”The Sikyong also urged Mr Kerry to quickly

appoint a new US special coordinator for Tibetan issues.Mr Kerry has met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on several occasions and with Dr Sangay twice, in his earlier capacity as a US senator.

Photo story: The work of tattoo artist and activist Tamding Tseten, which was displayed at an exhibition in Dharamsala, northern India, on April 10. As a mark of solidarity with the Tibetan cause, Tseten offered free political tattoos to any visitor on the day.

deaths of livestocks, and this landslide is without a doubt a result of reckless mining.”According to Jamyang, more than 5,000 armed troops were sent into the region, purportedly to “serve as rescue efforts,” but said he believes they were actually sent to crush protests by local Tibetans.

Right now, the biggest situation in Tibet is the-self immolation,” he said. “So the Tibetan people and Western people are sending out a message by carrying a tattoo on their body. Art is not a big deal but the tattoo is permanent, so it will stay forever. A person takes the Tibetan issue on his or her body…so that is why I am doing it free of cost.” Photos: TPI/Sangay Dorje.

TPI NEWS8 The Tibet Post International

Too Many Socks: Indian performers engage with the Tibetan cause

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Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay arrives in Switzerland By Central Tibetan Administration: 12 April 2013

Zurich: The political leader of the exile Central Tibetan Administration in India, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, arrived in Switzerland on April 10 for a 12-day visit.Dr Sangay was scheduled to address the Swiss Tibetan community on April 14 in Fribourg, where His Holiness the Dalai Lama was also set to give a teaching. From April 20 to 21, the Sikyong will address the Conference of Presidents of Tibetan Associations and the European Tibetan School Teachers’ Conference.Dr Sangay was received at Zurich airport by the abbot of Rikon monastery, staff from the Tibet Bureau, the president of the Tibetan Community of Switzerland and Liechtenstein (TCSL), and representatives of Tibetan NGOs.TCSL’s cultural troupe welcomed the Sikyong with Chema Changphu – a traditional welcome offering followed by songs.

15 April 2013

Dharamshala: On the sunny evening of April 9, a group of Indian actors performed a theatre piece about the Tibetan struggle, at the Tibetan Children’s Village Day School in McLeodganj, Dharamshala, northern India.The programme proclaimed, “So Many Socks is not really a play. It is more of an experiment, ” thus setting the tone for a performance in the middle of the school’s play area, with an audience of several hundred, including schoolchildren, local Tibetans and tourists. Inspired by Tenzin Tsundue’s book of poems, Kora, adapted by Annie Zaidi and directed by Quasar Thakore Padamsee, the play follows “three generations of a Tibetan family who find themselves stuck in different corners of a circle. A pair of boots and many socks are all that accompany them on their journey to find a place that each can call home.” This production was the result of an idea Quasar Thankore had over a year ago, when he was gifted a copy of Kora. Along with a group of other actors, he began a project to interpret the poems into dance, song and sometimes even silence. Playwright Annie Zaidi then wrote what one cast member described as “a bunch of scenes”, which the actors have now developed into a 90-minute performance. After the show, the cast, director and poet Tenzin Tsundue stayed on for a question-and-answer session. Admitting that they did not have a clear understanding of the Tibet issue when they started the project, the cast said that they have performed in front of audiences who were equally uninformed

Actors perform a dramatic life-and-death scene in the play Kora, 9 April 2013. Photo: David Poznanter


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Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay is greeted by local Tibetans in Zurich, Switzerland, 10 April 2013. Photo: File

- not knowing where Tibet or Dharamshala are, or that His Holiness the Dalai Lama lives in India. After 18 performances around India, bringing the play to Dharamshala has been important step, as it is the first time is has been staged in its place of origin. One cast member said that, before visiting Dharamshala, “I had a shallow understanding of the play. I thought of it as characters, but I now realise it isn’t. It is very easy to look at a situation like this in numbers and statistics, and the feeling goes out of it, but in this we feel. Me, personally, for the first time coming here, it has changed me, in a big way.”The circular stage was constructed in traditional Tibetan opera style, and drew the audience into the play. Another cast member said, “The circle became a very important part of our piece. Even our lighting design is circular. All the walking is done clockwise... This is our first outdoor show so, as far as possible, we intended it to be…in the community, where the people become part of the show.” Poet Tenzin spoke about what the play means to him, saying, “This is a play that is about Tibet and Tibetan people, but in the play there is not a single mention of Tibet or the Tibetan people. There is a lot of mention of ‘us’ and ‘them’ and ‘over there’, but the mention of Tibet or Tibetan people is not there, and this is where the power comes in… It can be any refugee, or any people who are persecuted, and personally [I think] it can also be someone who is out of their own mind.”He furthered expounded, “That is the power of art - it could be a story of a struggle of any country, or person, but it is a much larger context, and therefore that is what art can truly do. It can

deeply move people, and not only move them but get them to change their mind. It’s not just a free Tibet slogan - it is deeper than that.”This was echoed by a cast member who spoke of how other displaced people have related to the play - including a Kashmiri friend, a Palestinian friend and an Afghan woman who had come to see the play with her two children and, despite not speaking English, said she could understand what was happening visually. The play has elicited varying responses from the audience, which have impacted on the cast. One performer explained how, on opening night, “An elderly Tibetan lady burst out crying during the show, and it was only when word got to us backstage that we realised what it was that we were talking about. The sense of responsibility slowly crept in.“Tonight, a gentleman started a round of applause when the Tibetan flag went up. That was such a powerful moment for me. It was a very special moment for us, and it’s not a moment that we have ever had [before].”Speaking on the play’s theme of longing for home, one of the cast added, “We are educating those who don’t know - spreading awareness - but in a non-preachy manner.” During their tour, the cast visited the Tibetan settlement of Majnu Ka Tilla in New Delhi, where posters were hanging of all those Tibetans who have self immolated. Another cast member said this give them the sense that Tibetans live daily in the presence of great tragedy but that, “The one thing that blew us all away [on meeting Tibetans], even now, is a sense of calm.”The play is still evolving and its tone has changed, along with the cast’s perspectives, since it was first staged in September 2012 - it now more about hope.A member of the audience praised the cast for the play’s content and style, saying, “You put a lot of things about the Tibetan cause in such a beautiful package.”The evening concluded with comments from a monk, who thanked the team for the play and for raising the issue of Tibet. “We need your support,” he said. “There is not enough support for the Tibetan issue from other people, and you are doing well. Thank you.”

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