The Tibet Post International Newspaper 2nd Edition of April, 2014

World community urged to pressure China in releasing Panchen Lama Vol. 03, Issue 108, Print Issue 32, 31 April 2014

Mixed feelings concerning 11th the Panchen Lama

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Top govt. bodies in Tibet always held by Chinese: Sikyong

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B o d - K y i - Cha-Trin

A Voice For Tibet Bi-monthly

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As human beings we need ethical values: His Holiness the Dalai Lama

By Jane Cook: 16 April 2014

Celebration of 11th Panchen Rinpoche’s birthday at the commemoration in Bylakuppe, South India, on 25 April 2014. Photo: CTA/DIIR

By Jane Cook: 25 April 2014

Dharamshala: - The Chinese government abducted the young Lama nineteen years ago, and currently refuses to provide any verifiable information or proof of the physical and mental wellbeing of the young Lama.

‘Tibetans in exile observed the 25th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama -- one of Tibet’s most important spiritual leaders -- with mixed feelings of joy and pain, as they noted the lack of any concrete proof from the Chinese government over the well being of the young lama who has been missing for nearly two decades,’ Phayul reported.

The 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, was only six years old when the Chinese government abducted the young lama, shortly after he was recognized by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama as the rightful incarnate of the Panchen Lama. Even after 19 years in custody, the Chinese authorities have refused to provide any verifiable information or proof of the physical and mental well being of the 11th Panchen Lama.

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Special prayer service held for Tibetan self-immolators

By Yeshe Choesang: 21 April 2014

Dharamshala: - A special prayer service was held at the main Tibetan Temple in Dharamshala to mourn and express solidarity with the two Tibetans who have recently self-immolated protesting China’s rule.

Thinley Namgyal, 32, died after setting himself on fire in Tawu county in an apparent protest against the Chinese government’s continuing repressive policies in Tibet.

The latest incident follows the self-immolation last month of a 31-year-old Tibetan nun called Dolma who set herself alight while performing a prayer ritual at a monastery in Bathang County on 29 March.

This incidence brings the total number of known self-immolations in Tibet to 130 since February, 2009 and and of them 112 were reportedly passed-away due to their severe injuries.

The prayer service organised by the Department of Religion and Culture, Central Tibetan Administration was presided over by Khen Rinpoche (Abbot) of Gyuto monastery. Local Tibetans including Tibetan officials attended the prayer service.

Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, in his address to the masses, expressed his administration’s solidarity with the Tibetan self-immolators and those undergoing political incarceration in Chinese prisons.

Hundreds of people associated with the self-immolators have been detained. Some have been sentenced to long prison terms or death.

Due to four previous self-immolation protests that took place in the region over the recent years, the county and surrounding areas have suffered severe crackdowns and been under heightened restrictions and controls.

Koyasan, Japan, 15 April 2014 - A capacity crowd of 800 awaited His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the Koyasan University Auditorium as he opened the talk by saying “Modern life and education system needs to be more involved with ethics,” and “As human beings we need ethical values.”

The first prepared question from members of the University was, ‘What does prayer mean to you?’ and His Holiness replied that prayer is common to all religious traditions. However, Buddhists, Jains and Samkhyas have no concept of a creator god. The Buddha told his followers, ‘You are your own master; your pain and pleasure are in your own hands.’ He added: The Buddhas do not wash away the karma of other beings, Nor do they remove the consequences with their hands; They do not transmit their understanding into others’ minds; They introduce beings to freedom by educating them about reality.

When Buddhists take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, it is developing the Dharma in their own minds that is the actual refuge; the Buddha is the teacher and the Sangha are companions on the path. We need to study, which involves listening and reading, reflection and meditation. The Buddha is like a physician, the Dharma is like the treatment, while the Sangha is like the supportive nurses. When we are ill, we need to consult a doctor, but it is not sufficient for him to prescribe a treatment, we have to follow his advice and take the medicine.

A second question concerned what His Holiness considers most important as a Buddhist monk. He unhesitatingly replied: “The three trainings: the morality, concentration and wisdom presented in the Vinaya, Sutras and Abhidharma. Morality includes the individual liberation precepts common to all Buddhist vehicles in addition to the precepts of bodhisattvas and the tantras.

The practice of tantra combines calm abiding with wisdom.

“Every day I get up at 3am and say prayers and do analytical meditation. As a bhikshu, I don’t eat after lunch and I go to bed by

His Holiness the Dalai Lama paying his respects at Daito Temple in Koyasan, Japan, on April 15, 2014. Photo/Jeremy Russell/OHHDL

8pm and sleep well. When I dream, I dream about what I’ve been thinking about during the day, mostly reflecting on bodhichitta and emptiness, so my analysis goes on even in my dreams. Of course, in tantra the dream state is also an opportunity to meditate on the clear light. “ “Wherever I go the organizers of my meetings arrange a public talk, because I have a great interest in meeting the public. Why? Because everyone wants to lead a happy life, even animals

and birds. No one wants suffering and pain. We don’t need to prove this. However, we human beings are different from other sentient beings because having this marvellous intelligence; we have greater potential. We are all just human beings, mentally, physically and emotionally we are the same. We all want to live a happy life.

His Holiness Visits Gopalpur TCV school

A young Buddhist monk stages protest in Ngaba County Tibet

His Holiness the Dalai Lama looking at an exhibition by students of the school during his visit to Gopalpur TCV on 29 April 2014. DIIR Photo/Tenzin Phende

By CTA official Media: Tibet Net: 29 April 2014

Dharamshala: - His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited Gopalpur TCV school on his way back to Dharamshala from inaugurating Zabsang Choekorling monastery in Chauntra yesterday. His Holiness was welcomed at the school with ceremonial Tibetan scarves by students and staff of the school including Mr Tsewang Yeshi, P- 2......

Executive Director of TCV head office.

Tibetan EC announces short-listed candidates for by-election

Tibetan Mine Protesters Detained in Palyul

By RFA: 24 April 2014

Washington DC: - Authorities in a Tibetan-populated county in southwestern China’s Sichuan province have detained four village leaders following protests against a Chinese mining company’s attempt to seize land for operations in the area, RFA reported.

Identified as Thupga, Gade, Kyamo, and Jamyang, the men were taken into custody on April 21 by Palyul (in Chinese, Baiyu) county police in Barchung village in the Tromthar township of Kardze (Ganzi) prefecture, a local resident told RFA. “Police said the four were detained because they had committed actions against [China’s] constitution,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“But the real reason was the refusal by local Tibetans to sell land to Chinese miners for the excavation of gold in the area,” he said.

For many years, a Chinese company had tried to force the sale

by Tibetans of land in a part of Palyul called Shawathang, the source said.

“Toward the end of February, the Chinese became more aggressive in their efforts to take over the land, but the Tibetans, led by those four men, organized a protest rally against the Chinese plan,” he said.

“They insisted that the Chinese government would not be allowed to dig mines in their area.”

An image received from the region, Tibet shows the young Tibetan monk staging a lone protest by shouting slogans against Chinese rule and carrying a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the restive Tibetan county. Photo: TPI

By Yeshe Choesang: 27 April 2014

Dharamshala: - A young Tibetan monk of the Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County in Amdho region of northeastern Tibet staged a peaceful protest against China’s rule on April 26, raising slogans calling for freedom and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet.

“Lobsang Tenpa, a 19-year-old monk of Kirti monastery in Ngaba county, protested at around 2.30 p.m. local time on Heroes Street in Ngaba county ,” Ven Lobsang Yeshe and Kanyak Tsering, media coordinators of the Kirti Monastery based in India told The Tibet Post.

“Chinese security personnel arrived at the site of the protest and quickly started beating him brutally,” they said, adding “Tenpa protested Tenpa protested against China’s hardline and repressive policies on Tibet.”

T h e t e e n a g e d Ti b e t a n m o n k h e a d w r a p p e d w i t h a self-drawn Tibetan national flag, he shouted slogans calling for “freedom for Tibet” and “the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet,” the source said

citing contacts in Tibet.

Images received from the region, Tibet also show the young Tibetan monk staging a lone protest by shouting slogans against Chinese rule and carrying a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the restive Tibetan county.

Tenpa, a native of Meruma town in Ngaba county joined Kirti Monastery at a very young age, they added.

According to sourse, ‘there is a very heavy security presence, with large numbers of armed military in trucks at road junctions, plain clothes police mingling amongst people, and government officials in parked cars every steps throughout the town.’

The armed military strictly controlling the movement of the monks. Hundreds of monks from the monastery have been disappeared, while many have been sentenced to lengthy jail terms on charges of “subversion”.

A verified total of 130 Tibetans have self-immolated in protests against Beijing’s rule since 2009, calling for freedom and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet.

Chief EC Mr. Jampel Choesang (right) and EC Ven. Geshe Rinzin Choedak during a press conference held on 21 April 2014. DIIR Photo/ Tenzin Phende

By Jane Cook: 23 April 2014

Dharamshala: - The Election Commission (EC) of the Central Tibetan Administration on April 21 announced the shortlisted candidates for the final round of by-election, to be held for a member of Parliament from Domey constituency. The preliminary election was held on 17th February.

According to the official media “Tibet Net”, the short-listed candidates are Tashi Dhondup, a native of Golog Serta, currently residing in Nepal; Tsayang Gyatso of Golog, currently residing in Dharamshala; and Karma Gelek of Jhakyung, currently residing in Bandara Tibetan settlement.

Mr. Lukar Jam, who has got the second highest number of votes during the preliminary election has withdrawn his candidature from the by-election.

The final round of election will be held on 9 June. The results of the by-election will be declared on 20 June.

The by-election was necessitated by the resignation of Kirti Dolkar Lhamo, a member of Tibetan Parliament from Domey.

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OPINION TPI NEWS Death of a Communist - Bawa Phuntsok Wangyal The Tibet Post International

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Do Not Forget the Other Side of China and Tibet 30 April 2014

Dharamshala: - The Communist regime of China in February said it will win the West’s opinion regarding Tibet, vowing with unusual language to ignore international pressure on the Tibet crisis. This includes a disregard for the decades of widespread and gross human rights abuses in the region.

“As China becomes more involved in international affairs, and as Tibet and Xinjiang further open to the world, more and more Westerners will have an understanding of Tibet and Xinjiang that better accords with reality,” said Zhu Weiqun, Chairman of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of the top advisory body to parliament. Mr Weiqun has been heavily involved in Beijing’s failed efforts to talk to His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s representatives.

As a result of the ongoing Chinese hardline policies, Tibetans in Tibet feel culturally devastated, disempowered, disenfranchised, and marginalized on various fronts.

The wave of self-immolations protesting China’s harsh policies in occupied Tibet attest to this reality.

A verified total of 130 Tibetans have self-immolated in response to Beijing’s rule since 2009, calling for freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet. A diversity of the world’s countries has directly condemned the escalation of self-immolations as a result of China’s increased repression of the Tibetan people and their culture.

As a Tibetan society, we must strongly condemn the few Western countries that have made the utterly irresponsible, gratuitous, and aggressive statement that Tibet is a part of China. It is an erroneous statement that harms the Tibetan people.

The irresponsible comments against millions of Tibetans currently suffering oppression also harm the Tibetan people’s efforts to expose Tibetan fortitude in the nonviolent struggle.

Known as the Roof of the World throughout its long history, Tibet at times has governed itself as an independent state. We must strongly oppose antiTibetan remarks in order to solve the issues of Tibet.

No one knows Tibet better than the Tibetan people.

Approximately 3,000 Chinese troops under the command of Wang Qimei arrived near Lhasa in 1951. He told Tibetans: “The People’s Liberation Army is your servant, and we are not permitted to take even a needle and thread from you.” The “17-Point Agreement” promised to leave Tibet, language and political institutions intact in exchange for accepting China’s sovereignty. They never kept these promises.

But, all became fairytale ending.

What has happened to Tibet in the last six decades is no less than a great crime and much worse than what Japan did in Nanking.

China is a criminal itself.

China’s colonial exploitation of Tibet’s natural resources has been accompanied by accelerating population transfer. More than 7 million ethnic Han Chinese in the area encompassing historical Tibet now outnumber the approximately 6 million Tibetans, and it completely violates the “Fourth Geneva Convention.”

Large-scale destruction of Tibet’s environment began after China occupied Tibet. It is destroying the long-term arability of the land, for agriculture, logging or grazing. many major river systems begin on the plateau, irresponsible mining and logging are having effects on major river systems and other ecosystems throughout South and Southeast Asia.

The Tibetan language is intrinsically linked to Tibetan culture, religion and identity. Denying Tibetans the right to learn in their own language is denying them the right to exist as a people.

In recent years, a growing number of such comments have attempted to deny or ignore the historical facts of Tibet and the current tragic situation in the region. Most recently, comments made by the Czech Republic and Norway were absolutely unacceptable by the Tibetan people’s standard.

We must respond to those few governments or officials who make irresponsible statements over Tibet. It is both morally shameful and politically futile to hurt six million Tibetan people.

Furthermore, it creates a bad image of the history of the freedom struggle, entirely against the universal values of freedom and human dignity fundamental to democratic political systems.

If any country does not openly and officially support Tibet’s independence from China, it should – in bilateral diplomacy with China – state its support for the Middle Way Approach.

This includes seeking meaningful autonomy for Tibet, as it is the only viable option to find a lasting solution to the issue of Tibet within view of the ‘one China’ policy.

The Middle Way policy was democratically approved by the Tibetan Parliament after thorough deliberations with the Tibetan people. It has strong support amongst the international community as well as Chinese scholars, activists, and artists.

The more Western countries come to understand Beijing’s real agenda, the more they will see officials of the authoritarian regime as a negative political asset. Even with the so-called “China’s Tibet,” Beijing is still what it was decades ago, a political propaganda machine fancying a ‘Tibetan sovereignty’ that has never existed.

The prevailing myth in the West about the communist regime as the fastest-growing economy is set to unravel as facts have surfaced about China’s illegitimate occupation of Tibet in 1949.

This includes the killing of 1.2 million of 6 million Tibetans, causing imprisonment and torture of thousands of lay people, nuns, and monks, and also brought the destruction of than 6,000 monasteries between 1959 and 1961.

Sadly, world leaders have been more interested in building economic bridges with China than taking up the issues of Tibet, including the issues around human rights and freedom of expression. But, they must know that the issues of Tibet fall purely into the affairs of Tibet and its people, as Tibetans never interfered in China’s internal affairs by saying China is part of Mongolia or Japan.

Despite harsh rule over Tibet, people in Tibet have kept their spirits high. The US, U.N., EU, and many others continue to pressure the Chinese government to resume dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama or his representatives without pre-conditions as a means to reduce tensions.

They rightly support the Middle Way Approach advocated by the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Unfortunately, the Chinese government has refused to meet since 2010.

Appallingly, the Chinese government is calling Tibetans ‘terrorists’ and has exerted even harsher policies, including restricting freedom of movement, forcing a Chinese curriculum in schools, and forcing Buddhist monks and nuns to denounce their spiritual leaders, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Tibetans continue to disappear and be forcefully detained for no reason.

The Tibetans’ desperate actions not only have caught the world’s attention, but rightly have led to the global condemnation of China’s policies in Tibet. For several times, the U.N. humanrights commissioner explicitly observed humanrights violations toward Tibetans seeking to exercise ‘fundamental human rights of freedom of expression, association and religion.’

Tibetans deserve support in their six decades’ resistance efforts for freedom. We’ve shown the world that much more needs to change in Tibet rather than a transition in Communist Party leadership. The United States and others should continue to shine a spotlight on the situation and pressure China to alter its ways.

We have deep aspirations that people living in peace and harmony will be able to tell the rest of the world the story of our great men and women, and how they triumphed as they fought against oppression, injustice, and discrimination for the sake of freedom, democracy, and human dignity.

By Claude Arpi: 3 April 2014

My article Death of a Communist appeared in The Statesman today.

Here is the link...

What is interesting to note is that Bapa Phunwang Wangye was a Communist during his entire life, but remained a Tibetan (and a Buddhist) in his heart and till the time of his death. His last wish is to follow the traditional practices. It does not bode well for the Party to ‘liberate’ the population of the Land of Snows as the people hold on to their Tibetan-nessThe Life and Time of Bapa Phunwang Wangye On March 29 early in the morning, Reuters announced the death of Bapa Phuntso Wangye (also known as Phunwang). The veteran Tibetan Communist leader, who often dared to criticize Beijing’s hard-line policies towards the ‘regional nationalities’, was 91.

His son, Phunkham told the agency “He left this morning. Before his death, he was a Communist Party member. After his death, we have invited lamas to pray (for his soul) according to traditional Tibetan culture.”

Though Phunwang was the founder of the Tibetan Communist Party, he became a good friend of the Dalai Lama in the mid-1950s.

His biography, “A Tibetan Revolutionary: The Political Life and Times of Bapa Phunwang Wangye” by the American scholar Melvyn Goldstein makes fascinating reading. It recounts the remarkable life of the young Communist who participated in the so-called ‘liberation’ of Tibet.

Phunwang was born into a middle-class farmer family in the small town of Batang (‘Bapa’ means ‘from Batang’ in Tibetan) in the Kham province of Eastern Tibet. At that time, Batang was ruled by Liu Wenhui, a Chinese warlord from Sichuan.

The unusual thing about Batang was the missionary school; local children could learn Tibetan, Chinese and a few words of English.

It was quite a rarity in Tibet in those days. At the age of 7, Phunwang joined the school; he was a bright student, always keen to learn.

A significant incident marked his school days.

A friend of his father, Kesang Tsering, an official of the Guomintang regime tried to overthrow Liu Wenhui to establish a self-ruled Kham province. The attempt badly failed but it brought Phunwang into contact with a new social philosophy, ‘Three People’s Principles’ of Sun Yatsen.

Later, Phunwang thought to become a pilot. He and a friend decided to seek the recommendation of the Governor of Hunan province to join the Air Force school. Without any money, the duo boarded a train to Changsha, the province’s capital; the two penniless students roamed like beggars in the streets in search for food. Passing in front of a restaurant where rich people were dining, Phunwang had an experience which would influence his entire life: he was confronted with the deep contrast between the rich eating and living well and the famished poor sleeping in the street. They did not get admitted into the Air Force, but Phunwang decided to start studying Marx, Hegel and Lenin. His readings convinced him to start the first association of Tibetan students

His Holiness Visits

In his address to the students, His Holiness talked about love, peace, warm heartedness and development of inner values. “Even though there were a lot of material developments, the 20th century was fraught with war and man made tragedies. That’s why I call the 20th century, a century of war and bloodshed.

But you are the new generation of the 21st century. So, it is up to you to make this 21st century, a century of love, peace and equality,” His Holiness said.

Speaking about education, His Holiness said: “Modern education is important but it alone is not sufficient to provide us a happy life. Modern education focusses solely on material development and pay little attention to study basic human emotions like love, compassion

Phunwang (2nd from left) with Basu (2nd from right) in India

in Nanjing which led to his expulsion from the Institute a few months later.

He spent the next couple of years in Chongqing with an uncle. He deepened his studies of Communist theory and repeatedly contacted the Soviet Embassy and the CCP without any success. His dream was to organize a revolutionary movement in Eastern Tibet.

During the following years, he managed to meet several ‘progressive leaders’ in Kham where he attempted to organize a movement to unify the different parts of Eastern Tibet.

His objective was to establish a society where all citizens would be equal. One of the main obstacles was the ‘Great Han Chauvinism’ of Chiang’s regime. With the passing months, his activities began to be known to the Guomintang authorities and he had no alternative but to take refuge in Central Tibet.

Once in Lhasa, he spoke to several aristocrats and influential people of his vision of a new Tibet and the necessity to overthrow the Nationalist warlord of Sichuan: “The key of Tibet’s future was major reform of her political system — a change that at the very least would get rid of the abuses and inequalities of the current system,” he told his biographer.

He tried to enroll young educated Tibetans who ‘wanted a change’ and started an association called Tibetan People’s Unified Alliance. At that time, he was careful not to say anything about his Communist links.

In 1944, Phunwang decided to visit India and contact the CPI; he wanted the support of the Indian Communists. As he arrived in Calcutta, he met one Comrade Basu (not Jyoti), the then Party boss in Bengal. Phunwang requested the Indian Communists to help him to go Moscow (via Kashmir and Xinjiang) or to support some guerilla warfare in Kham against the Nationalist regime. He was finally told that ‘the time had not come’ to carry out such a movement.

He returned to Lhasa in 1945, but was now labeled as a Communist and all the doors shut on him. He returned to Eastern Tibet to try once more to organize a rebellion and then again to Lhasa from where he was expelled in July 1949 along with all the Chinese living in the Tibetan capital. He was accompanied to the Indian border and eventually flew back to China.

Soon after, the tide changed in China; one

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and affection. So, its important to retain our age-old cultural and traditional education as well as modern education to lead a happy and balanced life.”

He added that the younger generation o f Ti b e t a n p e o p l e s h o u l d f o c u s o n education as they will be the ones who have to shape the future of Tibet. He also urged the Tibetan children to work tow ar ds cr eatin g a no n- violent an d peaceful world for the benefit of all sentient beings.

This was His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s first visit to the school since its inauguration in 1997. Spread over a thirty-acre area surrounded by lush green tea estates, the school is home to over a thousand Tibetan students mostly from Tibet and Tibetan communities in India.

province after another fell under Communist control and on October 1, Mao declared the People’s Republic of China. Phunwang decided to found the Chinese Communist Party of Kham and the Tibetan Border Area affiliated to the CCP. In May 1951, he was instrumental in brokering a deal (known as the 17-Point Agreement) between the ‘local’ government of Tibet and the ‘central’ government in Beijing.

A few months later, when the PLA entered the Tibetan capital, Phunwang rode with 2 Chinese generals in front of the troops. Between 1951 and 1954, he worked hard to make the Tibetan government accept the fait accompli: Tibet was a Communist province of China.

Though he became very close to the central leadership in Beijing, particularly Mao, he soon discovered that some Chinese officials suffered from the same disease as the Nationalists: The Great Han Chauvinism. This disturbed him a great deal.

When the Dalai Lama visited China for a few months (in 1954/1955), Mao ordered Phunwang to accompany the Tibetan leader everywhere. During his long talks with the young Dalai Lama, Phunwang somehow convinced him of his sincerity and love for Tibet and that a dose of ‘Communism’ was a good thing for Tibet.

Phunwang continued to work for the CCP as the main advisor for Tibetan affairs during the next four years. His dream to see a modern and socialist Tibet in his life time seemed to be coming true when one day in April 1958, he was unexpectedly arrested and told that he needed to ‘cleanse his thinking’.

During the following 18 years, he was interrogated, tortured and jailed in the most atrocious conditions. The horror of these years cannot be described. He was accused of being a ‘local nationalist’.

During his 18 years in jail (including 9 more years in solitary confinement), he did not receive a single visitor nor was he informed about from his wife and children. The only way to not lose his mental balance was to study. As he was allowed Communist literature only, he took the opportunity to deepen his knowledge of the Marxist theory and became a great expert on the subject of ‘nationalities’ within the PRC. He was finally rehabilitated at the end of the seventies when Deng Xiaoping took over China.

What is interesting to note is that he was a Communist during his entire life, but remained a Tibetan (and a Buddhist) in his heart and at the time of his death; his last wish is to follow the traditional practices.

It does not bode well for the Party which has been tried for more than 60 years, to ‘liberate’ the population of the Land of Snows as the people hold on to their Tibetan-ness.

Claude Arpi is French-born author, journalist, historian and tibetologist who lives in Auroville, India. He is the author of The Fate of Tibet: When Big Insects Eat Small Insects (Har-Anand Publications, New Delhi, 1999), and several articles on Tibet, China, India and Indo-French relations. You can reach him at claudearpi@gmail.com

Exile News 30 April 2014 3 Top govt. bodies in Tibet always held by Chinese: Sikyong Tibet democratic party begins The Tibet Post International

TPI NEWS

By Jane Cook: 16 April 2014

Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay (centre) speaking at the launch, flanked by Mr Thubten Samphel, Director of TPI and Mr. Lobsang, Asst. Director of Tibet Policy Institute, at Kashag Hall, Dharamshala, India, on 16 April, 2014. Photo: TPI/Choneyi Sangpo

Dharamshala: — Speaking at a Kashag Hall news conference on Wednesday, 16 April, Sikyong Dr Lobsang said: ‘the most powerful portfolios in government bodies in Tibet are almost always held by Chinese nationals.

A new website of the Tibet Policy Institute, (www.tibetpolicy.net) a think tank of the Central Tibetan Administration based in Dharamshala, India was luanched by Sikyong Dr. Sangay. He also launched a book titled ‘Current Leaders inside Tibet’ compiled and published by the Tibetan think tank. The book is currently available only in Tibetan.

“Due to the widespread use of internet and digital connectivity, we are launching this new website to create more awareness about what is happening inside Tibet to the outside world,” Sikyong said, adding: “As more and more people around the world get connected through the websie, I believe this website would become an effective tool to disseminate factual information about Tibet.”

Sikyong said that “this website will publish as much research-based articles and journals

written by our researchers to dissipate the distortion of facts spewed by the Chinese propaganda machinery.”

“Truth is on our side but sometimes we find it difficult to indulge in an intellectual debate on Tibet with Chinese nationals. Most of the Chinese people are deeply entrenched in a pre-concieved notion about Tibet based on information provided to them by governmentbacked news media,” Sikyong said when explaining the complexities of discussing Tibet with Chinese people.

“Therefore, whenever we talk about Tibet, we refuse to budge from our pre-conceived notions, which eventually results in an impasse. So, it would be more effective if we talk to them on an intellectual and fact-based correspondence based on intensive research,” he added.

Speaking about the book, Sikyong Dr. Sangay told the reporters that the book is a compilation of information on the current leaders inside Tibet and the discriminatory polices practiced by the Chinese government in these Tibetan areas.

“The book documents the leadership structure

Dharamshala: - Addressing a Conference on Tibetans’ international efforts, Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, head of the Tibetan Government in exile, said the policies of the Central Tibetan Administration have gained support from around the world including a growing number of Chinese scholars and intellectuals.

The Tibet Policy Institute, a think-tank of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), held a two-day conference on the CTA’s international efforts, providing leading exponents of its international relations a forum to discuss their activities. The conference explored how the exiled Tibetan community managed to raise Tibet’s international profile since His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s exile to India in 1959.

Speakers at the conference include the seniormost officials of the Tibetan Administration: S i k y o n g D r. L o b s a n g S a n g a y, Ti b e t a n representatives to the EU, Taiwan, US, the Liaison Officer to Latin America, and the Secretary of the Department of Information and International Relations.

Speaking at the conference, Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay lauded the remarkable accomplishments of the CTA on its international efforts, given the daunting circumstances under which it had to operate in the early stages of exile.

“The...purpose of this conference is to review the international efforts of the Central Tibetan Administration in the past decades, and derive recommendations and directions for the CTA’s future course of action,” Sikyong said.

“The most significant period of the Central Tibetan Administration’s international efforts was between 1987 and 1993. Tibet became a focal point in international politics during these six years. It was mainly based on the two peace initiatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama: the Five Point Peace Plan (1987) and the Strasbourg Proposal (1988),” he added. “ O n e o t h e r f a c t o r. . . w a s t h e h a r d w o r k and dedication of the former Tibetan civil servants and the elder generation. Due to their contributions, the CTA became one of the most

effective and efficient exile administrations, and the Tibetan Diaspora, one of the most successful refugee communities in the world,” Sikyong added.

Describing CTA’s policies as pragmatic and reasonable, Sikyong said the policies of the CTA have gained support from around the world including Chinese intellectuals.

Sikyong Dr. Sangay characterised the CTA’s approach towards China as a three-pronged, non-violent strategy involving the UN, Europe and the US. Speaking on the importance of a convincing narrative to gain international support, Sikyong cited “The Political Repression, Cultural Assimilation, Environmental Destruction, Economic Marginalisation and Social Discrimination, have been corroborated by all the major Human Rights organisations, and media agencies. Even after spending lots of money on its propaganda, the worldwide response towards China’s version of the situation in Tibet has largely been muted.”

in Tibet and the number of Tibetans vis-à-vis Chinese nationals within these organisational bodies. It would be interesting to know that the most powerful portfolios in these bodies are almost always held by Chinese nationals. Even the number of Tibetans in these leadership bodies are kept to a minimum,” he stressed.

Mr. Thubten Samphel, Executive Director of Tibet Policy Institute, in his remarks, said the new website will serve as a repository of research works published by the think tank. It will try to create a virtual platform for intellectual discussion on Tibet.

Since its establishment in 2012, the Tibet Policy Institute has been carrying out comprehensive research works on all aspect of Tibet-related issues which would help the Tibetan administration in framing policies and making the Tibet issue a competent case on the international platform.

The institute said they also has ‘published various books and literatures on Tibet including a number of white papers in response to China’s white papers on Tibet.’ The institute said it ‘seeks to make Gangchen Kyishong, the seat of the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamshala,’ as an “Intellectual Hub”.

Sikyong Dr Sangay has emphasised the need to have competent researchers at the think tank and called on the researchers including the staff of the Tibet Policy Institute and other CTA officials, to best develop the know how and their interests in research works on issues relating to Tibet. Therefore, the researchers at the think-tank are continuously trained by leading research institutes around the world including EURAC (European Academy of Bozen/ Bolzano).

Some of the major activities of the think tank include organising conferences, monthly talk series, publishing annual journals including re-joinders on Tibet and Tibetans in national newspapers. Top researchers from India and abroad are also invited to hold monthly and annual debates and symposiums to hone the skills and knowledge of the Tibetan researchers.

Tibetan admin. has gained worldwide support: Sikyong of Tibet

By John Uyeno: 19 April 2014

In his concluding remarks, Sikyong expressed his hope that the two-day conference will produce constructive recommendations towards the CTA’s internationals efforts.

Mr. Kalsang Gyaltsen, Special Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to EUROPA, emphasised that the only realistic way to resolve the Tibet issue with China is through dialogue. “The Middle Way Approach of the Central Tibetan Administration seeks to resolve the issue of Tibet through dialogue.

Some salient features of the dialogue include resolving the urgent situation inside Tibet, safeguarding the fundamental values and cultural identity of Tibet, and garnering worldwide support for a mutually-beneficial s o l u t i o n t o t h e Ti b e t i s s u e , w i t h i n t h e framework of China’s constitution,” he said.

The first day of the conference included presentations of research findings by Tibet Policy Institute researchers, and other Tibetan scholars and students.

Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay speaking at the second day of the two-day conference on CTA’s international efforts held by the Tibet Policy Institute, 18 April 2014. Photo: Choneyi Sangpo

4th executive Board meeting

By Yeshe Choesang: 27 April 2014

Dharamshala: - The fourth executive Board meeting of the National Democratic Party of Tibet began in Dehradun in the northern part of India, marking 25th birthday of 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, whose whereabouts have remain unknown since 1995.

According to Tenzin Namzey, NDPT media Coordinator, ‘over 200 people from different places have participated in the three-day meeting of the NDPT which opened on April 25 at the conference hall of the Dekyi-ling Tibetan settlement in Dehradun, the capital city of the state of Uttarakhand in the northern India.’

‘Chief guest Mr Karma Yeshi, Tibetan MP and special guest Mr Yeshi Tenzin, member of the Tibetan Youth Congress, addressed the opening ceremony. Also present were over 40 representatives of the non-governmental organisations in exile.

Members from over 16 different regional chapters have also participated in the meeting.’

Speaking about the development of democracy in exile, Mr Gelek Jamyang, NDPT President said: “NDPT is the only political party formed in exile based on a multi-party system, which practice by modern democratic countries.”

The meeting was also marked the 25th birthday of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the boy identified by His

Mr Gelek Jamyang, NDPT President during the fourth general body meeting NDPT being held in Dehradun, Nothern India, on 25 April, 2014. Photo: TPI

Holiness the Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama.

The young reincarnation Friday turned 25. For over two decades, the human rights organisations have described the missing Panchen Lama as the world’s youngest political prisoner.

Among the most important of these topics are the promotions of democracy in the Tibetan community and the political role in the future election of the the Sikyong and the Tibetan parliament. Over the past decade, NDPT has been participating in the Tibetan general elections with its own list of candidates.

NDPT was founded on September 2, 1994, Tibetan Democracy Day to keep alive the freedom struggle among the younger generation ‘the seeds of future Tibet under the dynamic guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to strengthen the democratic process initiated by the spiritual leader of Tibet.

World community urged to pressure China in releasing Panchen Lama

By Yeshe Choesang: 25 April 2014

Tsering Tsomo, Executive Director at Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy. Photo: TPI/Choneyi Sangpo

Dharamshala: - Tibetan groups in exile demand the immediate release of the kidnapped Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima from captivity, and urge the international community including governments, human rights groups and other civil society groups to pressure China in his release.

“The disappearance of the Panchen Lama demonstrates the extreme hostility and suspicion with which Chinese government views Tibetan religion and its clergy.

The act also represents the manipulation of Tibetan Buddhism for political purposes as is evident in the Order No. 5 issued by the Chinese government to control and institutionalize the Tibetan reincarnation system, a move that essentially prohibits Buddhist monks from reincarnating without government permission,” Tsering Tsomo, Executive Director at Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said in her statement issued on April 25, marking the 25th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama.

In May 1996, as international pressure mounted, China admitted to holding the XIth Panchen Lama “at the request of his parents” for “he was at the risk of being kidnapped by separatists and his security had been threatened.” Subsequently, in a series of conflicting reports, China variously claimed that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was living in Beijing, and in Tibet, with his parent wishing not to be disturbed and wanting to lead a quiet life, etc. China also claimed that the “perfectly ordinary boy” was in “protective custody”- this explanation defies logic, she said, adding: “If Gedhun Choekyi Nyima were just an “ordinary boy” as China continues to claim, why would the Chinese government resort to such means as to abduct the boy and continue to detain him incommunicado.”

The rights group said that ‘In 2005, on the tenth anniversary of young Panchen Lama’s disappearance, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief in a communication sent to the Chinese government called the act of secretly holding Gedhun Cheokyi Nyima “grave interference with the freedom of belief of the Tibetan Buddhists who have the right to determine their clergy in accordance with their own rites and who have been deprived of their religious leader.”

The interference in the selection process of the 11th Panchen Lama is yet another example of the many forms of religious repression in Tibet,” she further said, adding that “The ‘patriotic education’ campaign in Tibet’s monasteries and nunneries that has been intensified in recent years seeks to indoctrinate certain

beliefs into the psyche of the monks and nuns in Tibet, such as recognition of the unity of the Chinese motherland, the denunciation of the Dalai Lama, putting ceiling on the number of monks and nuns allowed in monasteries and nunneries, and the forced recognition of the Chinese-appointed Panchen Lama.

If monks and nuns refuse to agree to these points they face harassment, expulsion or even arrest.”

She said her organisation “remains deeply concerned about the whereabouts, well-being and the fate of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family members.

It is appalling and unacceptable that as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, the government of the People’s Republic of China continues to engage in enforced disappearance, a serious international crime that violates multiple human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other major international human rights instruments.”

The rights group is urging “the international community including governments, human rights groups and other civil society groups to pressure China in releasing Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family members without any conditions and delay.”

“We believes that one of the most important steps toward the protection of international human rights system is to ensure that states are not allowed to set unlawful and negative precedent.”

Speaking about the life and death of the previous Panchen Lama, Mr. Tsangtruk Top, a Tibetan researcher based in India said: “the 10th Panchen Lama strongly advised Tibetan people to keep alive their spirit to be a Tibetan and be for the Tibetan cause.”

He reminded Tibetans across the globe with a important message given by Panchen Lama in 1985, in Lhasa: “His Holiness the Dalai Lama and I are spiritual friends”. Tibetans inside Tibet are keeping their unweaving faith in His Holiness the Dalai Lama, that is the freedom cause of Tibet.”

“At the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) meetings and the recent Universal Periodic Review in October 2013, China confidently claimed that all its ethnic minorities have human rightspolitical, economic, cultural, social, educational, religious. But the case of continued abduction of Tibet’s spiritual leader Panchen Lama reflects China’s gross violation of religious and political rights of the Tibetan people in Tibet,” Tashi Dolma, president of the Tibetan Women’s Association said in her statement.

“It also shows that even after 55 years illegal occupation of Tibet, the Chinese government has failed to assert its political or religious legitimacy and authority over Tibetan people and in Tibet.

Last year in November, China was re-elected in the UNHRC thus making them obligated to improve the human rights situation in both China and Tibet,” she said, adding TWA and its global network of 56 regional chapters call on the Chinese leadership to disclose the whereabouts of the 25-year old Panchen Lama.”

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China forces Tibetans to cancel a planned language contest event

By Yeshe Choesang: 22 April 2014

Dharamshala: - Sources coming out of Tibet say, Chinese authorities in Tibet have blocked planned event by Tibetans to observe the 15th International Mother Language Day, as China continues to crackdown on public assertions of Tibetan cultural and national identity.

“The authorities have blocked a Tibetan language contest in Muge Norwa township in Sungchu (Chinese: Songpan) Ngaba County,

north-eastern Tibet,” Ven Choeyang Dakpa, a monk from Drepung Monastery in South India told The Tibet Post.

The 21st of February is International Mother Language Day. UNESCO established this day in 1999 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity, as well as multilingualism.

‘The special event calling for participants t o ‘ s p e a k p u r e Ti b e t a n w i t h o u t m i x i n g

other languages, including Chinese’ was scheduled for February 21 to promote Tibetan linguistic and cultural diversity,’ Choeyang Dakpa added.

“The Chinese authorities in the area called event organizers; Drime and Lodoe Gyaltsen just after the event preparation and announcement were already being made,” sources said.

“Unfortunately the authorities ordered them to cancel the event, saying the event was politically motivated,” he said.

“The authorities also warned them of “serious consequences” if they went ahead with the plan,” the monk said.

Images received from the Kanlho region, Tibet in 2013 show a poster containing the Tibetan words: “Protect Mother Tongue carefully” and “Always Avoid Mixing Languages.”

“They told organizers that the Tibetan words containing banner that can be a politically sensitive and express opposition to the Chinese government,” Choeyang Dakpa further added.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has told the international community repeatedly that: Whether the Chinese government there admits or not, there is a problem. There is an ancient cultural heritage that is facing serious danger.

“Whether intentionally or unintentionally, some kind of cultural genocide is taking place.”

By Yeshe Choesang: 19 April 2014

dealing with Beijing’s repressive policies and the right of self-determination in regard to the question of China’s ethnic minority policies.

The conference was held at the new hall of the Tibetan Library Archives (TWA) and organized by ‘Bapa Association’ in Dharamshala. Indeed, all panelists highly praised his efforts toward solving problems to bring freedom to Tibet.

Panelists first started with a 25-minute speech in which they expressed their opinion on the different topics related Phuwang and Tibet.

Chung Tsering, a Tibetan writer who translated a biography of Bawa Phuntsok Wangyal from Tibetan into English, said that “people must have different view points, which is possible to represent both positive and negative. We know it is not reality without different view points, because historical facts cannot be changed by such reactions.”

Speaking of Bawa Phuntsok Wangyal’s witness to Tibet’s history during a critical era, Serta Tsultrim spoke about Wangyal’s views on Tibetan history.

He said that “Phunwang’s first attempt was a liberation and not invasion of Tibet, as his ultimate goal was a united independent Tibet.”

Sharing his experience about his meetings with the Tibetan communist leader in Beijing, Ven Rongpo Lobsang Nyindak said Phunwang had an incredibly unique personality. He communicated with softspoken, well chosen words. After the late Panchen Lama, it was Phunwang who raised the strongest voice for Tibetans within the Chinese leadership, sacrificing

his own personal interest. He also gave a detailed account of Phunwang’s historical relationship with His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and the 10th Panchen Lama.

Kalsang Gyaltsen, who serves as the Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Europe, spoke about the Sino-Tibet talks and Bawa Phuntsok Wangyal.

He highlighted Phunwang’s strong commitment towards Tibetan people’s distinctive culture and identity as well as his advocacy for the Middle Way Approach towards resolving the Tibet issue.

He said, “The path he chose may seem controversial. It’s a little early to judge him regarding issues he left behind, but history will absolve him. After the period of his earliest youth, there were different types of problems including wars continue to grow in most parts of the world.”

Kalsang Gyaltsen, MP and and researcher on Chinese politics, spoke about China’s policy toward minorities and Bawa Phuntsok Wangyal.

The meeting brought forth Phunwang’s sacrifice for Tibet, and his tireless efforts to create a socialist Tibet encompassing all Tibetans in the three traditional provinces of Tibet under a single administration.

Phunwang was a key figure in drafting the 17-Point Agreement to ensure Tibetan people’s right to regional national autonomy. He strongly called China to engage in a political dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, which he thought would be the only key to lasting solution to the Tibet question.

Images received from the Kanlho region, Tibet in 2013 show a poster containing the Tibetan words: “Protect Mother Tongue carefully” and “Always Avoid Mixing Languages.” Photo: TPI

Conference on Bawa Phuntsok Wangyal’s Life and the Fate of Tibet Dharamshala: - On Saturday, April 19, 2014, Tibetan scholars, writers, and other key leaders from the exiled community took part in a conference on the life of Bawa Phuntsok Wangyal and the fate of Tibet. Phunwang was the founder of the Tibetan Communist Party.

In the afternoon, Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, former Kalon Tripa of the Tibetan administration, also spoke about Phunwang’s tireless efforts towards Tibetan people’s right to selfdetermination, and the meaning of the Middle-Way Approach.

Bawa Phuntsok Wangyal, also known as ‘Phunwang’, was once an influential former Tibetan Communist leader. He has openly supported the Middle Way Approach proposed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as a pragmatic solution to the current crisis in Tibet.

Phunwang stated that “the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach of seeking only meaningful autonomy for Tibet rather than independence, in the present critical context, is an expression of the great responsibility he takes in giving serious thought to the fundamental interests of the Tibetan people.”

“It also shows that he takes great responsibility in understanding the issues concerning both sides and in carefully studying the changing circumstances.

Furthermore, it is a thinking that is based on reality and foresight,” he added.

Prof Samdhong Rinpoche also praised the Bapa Association for organising the conference to discuss his lifelong contribution and ideologies. He wrote several articles about the equal rights of minority nationalities and unity amongst minorities.

Speaking of China’s ethnic minority groups, Rinpoche also described the difference between ‘nationality’, ‘race’, ‘minority’, and ‘ethnicity’, and the literal meaning of ‘Mi rig’ in Tibetan language.

“When drafting the memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan people, much of the terminology was drawn from the Phunwang’s works,” Samdhong Rinpoche added.

Other panelists included Kalsang Gyaltsen, special envoy of His Holiness the Dalai lama, Chung Tsering, researcher, Serta Tsultrim, MP and journalist, Ven Rongpo Lobsang Nyindak, MP, and Kalsang Gyaltsen, researcher and MP. They each expressed their thoughts on Phunwang’s life and the impact his tireless efforts made towards resolution of the Tibet issue. Phunwang has been

The Tibet Post International

Tibetans across world mark the 25th Birthday of Panchen Lama

By Yeshe Choesang: 25 April 2014

Dharamshala: - Tibetans across the world observed the 25th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama, one of the highest-ranking spiritual leaders in Tibet, whose whereabouts remain unknown after Chinese authorities took the 6-year old boy into custody 19 years ago.

Hundreds of Tibetans, including the officials of the Central Tibetan Administration, attended the commemoration event at the main Tibetan temple, McLeod Ganj town of Dharamshala. The event was jointly organised by the Central Tibetan Administration and free Panchen Lama campaigns.

In his statement marking the 25th birthday of the 11th Panchen Lama, Dr. Sangay said that the commemoration of his 25th birthday is “an occasion of joy but also great pain. On one hand, it gives us immense joy that His Holiness the Dalai Lama was able to recognize the authentic reincarnation of the Panchen Lama.”

“But this joy is profoundly undermined by the memory of the time when the Panchen Lama and his family were taken captive by the Chinese authorities. For all Tibetans, it is a source of great sorrow that to this day the state of the Panchen Lama’s physical and mental health remains unknown,” Sikyong said, adding “His very existence is in doubt and he has not been seen since being taken into captivity on May 17, 1995.”

“Had the 11th Kunzik Panchen Lama received proper education and traditionally trained like other Lamas, by now he would be an eminent teacher teaching Buddhism to fellow Tibetans and citizens throughout the world,” he stressed.

Dr. Lobsang Sangay remarked that “In the 70,000 character petition, the Panchen Lama wrote, “Before democratic reform, there were more than 2500 large, medium and small monasteries in Tibet. After democratic reform, only 70 or so monasteries were kept in existence by the Chinese government,” Sikyong added, saying “this was a reduction of more than 97 percent.”

Dr Sangay responded by saying, the number of monks and nuns living in the monasteries was about 7000 people, which is a reduction of 93 percent.” In Tibetan areas of the neighboring provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan and Gansu, “...the number of monasteries and of monks reduced by between 98% and 99%.”

Commenting on the death and disappearance of Tibetan people, Sikyong has reminded Tibetan people today what important things that the 10th Panchen Lama shared to his people two decades ago. “We have no way of knowing in detail the number of Tibetans who were arrested after the rebellion, but from the appearance of things it may be inferred that the number of people who were locked up reached about ten thousand or more in every area. Therefore, if we say that all these people were the enemy, we can affirm that hardly anyone is left among us Tibetan, apart from women, old people, children and a very small number of young men.”

Sikyong has praised Late Panchen Rinpoche for his tireless efforts by stating that “The 10th Panchen Lama devoted his whole life to the welfare of the Tibetan people. On May 18, 1962,

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Tibetans in Dharamshala celebrating the 25th birthday of the 11th Kunzik Panchen Gedun Choekyi Nyima, on 25 April, 2014. Photo: TPI

at the age of 24, he bravely presented to Mao Zedong and other Chinese leaders the 70,000 Character Petition, a document that thoroughly assessed the nature of Chinese occupation in Tibet. It elaborately explained the Tibetan people’s grievances and suggested measures to uplift them from political repression. The petition also exposed the Chinese government’s use of routine propaganda regarding revolution, liberation, democratic reform and the so-called ‘socialist paradise’ as pure deception.”

“Emphasizing the centrality of the Dalai Lamas and Panchen Lamas to Tibet and the Tibetan people and the close relationship between the two, the 10th Panchen Lama declared in 1986 at the Monlam Chenmo (the Great Prayer Festival), in Lhasa that “His Holiness and I are spiritual friends. We have no differences between us...If we are united, the Tibetan nationality will progress and Buddhism will flourish,” Sikyong said.

He emphasized that “Because of the 10th Panchen Lama’s efforts, a law was passed in 1987 making Tibetan the official language of the Tibet Autonomous Region.”

On behalf of the Tibetan administration, Sikyong appeals to the international community to make a concerted effort to press China to release Gedun Choekyi Nyima. He said that “The international community must make it plain to China that flagrant human rights violations such as the disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama cannot be papered over by business and commerce.”

Sikyong also appeals to the Chinese authorities to release Gedun Choekyi Nyima, his family and other prisoners of conscience.

In closing the Sikyong said “This would be a large step forward to restoring China’s moral leadership in the world.”

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was six years old when he was taken into custody in 1995, shortly after Tibet’s spiritual leader,His Holiness the Dalai Lama, recognized him as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama. Since then, the boy and his family have not been seen in public.

China has said several times over the years that the young man is safe and in Tibet, and does not want to be disturbed. Tibetan rights grup have claimed that Panchen Lama’s parents are currently placed under house arrest in their hometown and not allowed to meet anyone.

In 1995, the communist regime named their own Panchen Lama, Gyaltsen Norbu, to counter His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s influence. However Tibetans do not recognise this, and still recognise Gendun Choekyi Nyima as the 11th Panchen Lama, though the regime sees the exact opposite.

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Former speaker of South Tyrol, Italy A software engineer, Austria A professional graphic designer, India A Tibetan writer, India

Editor in Chief Mr Yeshe Choesang Chinese Editor Miss Keary Huang Tibetan Editor Mr Choneyi Sangpo Tibet Political Analyst Mr James Dunn Photographer Mr Artemas Liu Reporter Ms Dolma Layout & Design Mr Choneyi Sangpo Distributor Mr Tashi Contributors to this editon Keary Huang Taiwan

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Jane Cook UK John Uyeno Canada Layne Mayard France Claude Arpi India Yeshe Choesang India Choenyi Sangpo India Yangchen Dolma India

A conference on the life of Bawa Phuntsok Wangyal and the fate of Tibet was held in Dharamshala, India, on 19 April, 2014. Photo: TPI/Yeshe Choesang

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30 April 2014 H.H THE DALAI LAMA 5 Negative impact still threatens inner-values: His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet concludes his Japan tour decided our stand. What we are asking for is the Meeting a group of about 50 Mongolians His Holiness His Holiness the Dalai Lama implementation of provisions already recognised in praised the friendship and cultural ties Tibetans and

The Tibet Post International

TPI NEWS

By Jane Cook: 08 April 2014

His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the public talk at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamshala, India, April 26, 2014. Photo: office of HHDL

By Yeshe Choesang: 29 April 2014

Dharamshala: - The spiritual leader of Tibet His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that the negative impact of the 20th century is threatening world peace, bringing feelings of fear, loneliness and helplessness.

On April 26 2014 His Holiness shared his thoughts on the promotion of human values, religious harmony and ancient Indian thought during a talk to over 2000 foreign and Indian tourists and local residents during a public audience at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamshala, India.

Addressing the gathering, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said: “I always consider myself as one of the 7 billion human beings. Mentally, physically and emotionally we are the same. The most important thing everyone wants is a happy life and we all are same as human beings with the same potential to be happy. Wherever I go, I am always telling people about these values. “ For example, here you want a happy life and I also want a happy life. Meantime, we have same difficult emotions, so mentally we are same as we have the same mental faculty. His Holiness said that the problems we are facing today such as in northern Africa and Syria and the latest crisis in Ukarine are all problems of our own creation.

“All these problems have and emphasis on secondary level differences which forget the basic oneness of humanity. His Holiness said: ‘On the secondary level differences such as “my nation” and “their nation”, “my religion” and “their religion”, create a strong concept of “we and they,” His Holiness said, adding “that is also basis of violence and conflict.’

“People who too much emphasie interest for oneself, regardless of others feelings, then they are not happy in themselves, create a distance from others, eventually develop feelings of loneliness.” As well as at society level, he said “if we think about one’s own interest, without caring for others, eventually creates suspicion and distrust even with your neighbours, which brings feelings of fear, loneliness,

helplessness.”

“Once we develop a genuine sense of oneness of humanity, on the basis of secondary level, all the problems and differences certainly will reduce,” the Tibetan spiritual leader said. We are now in the beginning of the 21st century.

“There was a lot of bloodshed. If we look back at the development in the twentieth century some historians say up to 200 million people were killed, including many innocent people, women, children and the aged among them,” His Holiness said, adding: “Even nuclear weapons were used against human beings.

Did that immense violence really create a better world? “No” His Holiness said. He said “there is a lot of killing even in the beginning of the 21st century, particularly these civil wars first casualties; killing innocent civilians including women and children.

This is the negative impact on our inner values from the 20th century.”

If the strong mental attitude, concept of “We and They” remained, this century will also not be a happier one. We all want a happier world. Therefore, we must think, what is the real cause of these man made problems, certainly its not the technology, if we use it in a meaningful way.

He stressed the importance of leading a happy life, which could best be achieved by having a peaceful mind and argued that there was nowadays too much emphasis on material values. “Unfortunately,” he said, ‘except religious institutions, modern education is very much oriented towards material values, but lacks a corresponding sense of inner values, especially in the secular education field.’

“Therefore, there is the need to promote inner values through education. This will not be achieved by prayer to God. If God really has the ability to bring about a peaceful world, we have prayed to God for several centuries, and failed, we must say realistically and fairly,” His Holiness said, while sharing a story about a conference of Nobel Peace Laureates in Hiroshima, Japan.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama expresses sadness over Korea ferry

By Yeshe Choesang: 21 April 2014

Dharamshala, 19 April 2014: – The spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, expressed his deep sadness at the loss of so many lives as a result of the tragic ferry accident off the coast of South Korea.

In a letter to the President of the Republic of South Korea, Ms Park Geun-hye, written immediately upon his arrival from Japan this afternoon, His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed his deep sadness at the loss of so many lives as a result of the tragic ferry accident off the coast of South Korea.

The Tibetan spiritual leader and Nobel peace laureate wrote that “it is especially distressing to know that among the passengers were 350 students from Danwon High School in Ansan, Seoul. The loss of so many, so young is a tragedy that will be harrowingly painful to their families and friends.”

His Holiness offered prayers for them all and expressed his condolences to the families of all who have lost their lives, to the President and the people of South Korea.

As the search continues for nearly 240 people still missing from the South Korean ferry disaster, divers have continued their work of

recovering bodies, according to media reports.

The death toll in a ferry disaster off the South Korean coast rose to 64 on Sunday as divers continued to recover more bodies from the sunken boat, the Associated Press reports.

About 240 people — many of whom were traveling high school students — remain missing.

On 16 April, 174 passengers, including 20 of the 30 crew members, were rescued in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.

After divers reported no visible damage to the vessel’s hull, speculation is mounting that the turn could have dislodged heavy cargo, causing it to list and sink. Five days after the accident, and with the chances of finding anyone alive looking increasingly dificult, it now appears that the hundreds of divers initially brought in to rescue passengers are now involved in a grim recovery operation.

The initial delay in getting all 476 passengers, including 350 high school pupils and their teachers, off the ship made the task far harder.

Officers on the bridge of the Sewol, which lies submerged in water off the south-west coast of South Korea, had already indicated that once the vessel was tilting heavily to one side, passengers increasingly found themselves unable to move.

Tokyo, Japan, 18 April 2014: - Following teachings, public talks and the meetings with Buddhist priests and scientists, His Holiness the Dalai Lama successfully concluded his two-week visit to Japan after meetings with groups of Chinese, Mongolians and Tibetans.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama spoke to groups of Chinese, Mongolians and Tibetans before Leaving Japan. Addressing more than 100 people from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and China His Holiness said: “Wherever I go I try to meet with Chinese friends.

Tibetans and Chinese have had relations with each other since the time of Songtsen Gampo. Sometimes we’ve fought, but for more than one thousand years we’ve shared an interest in Buddhism. This began when Songtsen Gampo took a Chinese and a Nepalese wife.

So I often tell Chinese Buddhists that I respect you as the senior students. Similarly, when I’m talking to Indians I tell them that as far as we are concerned Indians are our gurus and we are the disciples. And I mention that in times of trouble we look to the gurus and senior students for help. I have been to Taiwan several times and many Chinese have come to Dharamsala so our people to people relations have improved.”

He pointed out that when we don’t know what the real situation is it gives rise to suspicion, which is unhelpful and unnecessary. If we are able to meet and learn what’s really going on it makes for happier relations. He said that he had been recommending that Tibetans reach out to China even before the Tiananmen incident took place, but until that point people from mainland China avoided contact with Tibetans. After it happened they came round and connections became stronger. He added that even today it seems a lot Chinese are out of touch with reality; therefore he suggested that people from Taiwan and Hong Kong, who have a better idea about what’s going on, should do what they can to help the people of China become better informed.

“For example, although it might seem inappropriate to say so, those people in Tibet who have the courage to commit selfimmolation are clearly capable of harming others, but have determined not to do so.

Despite the difficulties they face they still follow the Buddha’s teaching about nonviolence. This may not be clearly understood.”

He said that he has heard that recently in Tibet, where Tibetans used to work as tour guides they have been replaced by Chinese who denigrate Tibetan people to Chinese and other tourists. When Tibetans approach such groups to sell things to them they shoo them away.

He suggested that problems between Tibet and China could be resolved, but hardliners continue to accuse Tibetans of being splittists.

“Since 1973 we decided not to take that line. Direct contact with China began in 1979 and we had already

the Chinese constitution. Hardliners use the phrase ‘Greater Tibet’, but there is already recognition of Tibetan regions, prefectures and counties that share a common culture and language. We want these provisions fulfilled on an equal basis.

“Because the Tibetan language is a focus of our identity its use is discouraged. But as you know, the Tibetan language today is the best medium for explaining Buddhist philosophy and science. Sanskrit is no longer a living language and although there is substantial Buddhist literature available in Chinese, Tibetan translations are more accurate. So this issue is not just the concern of the Tibetan people, it’s about the expression of Buddhism in the world, the most comprehensive teaching of which is preserved in Tibetan.

“The existence of different languages is not a threat. Look at India, many people there speak and write in different languages without it being a threat to the country. When they enjoy equal rights under the rule of law people can live together in freedom and equality. Tibetans having their own language is not in itself a threat.”

He went on to mention that Hu Jintao’s idea of promoting a harmonious society was admirable, but it couldn’t be fulfilled by use of force. Friendship and harmony need to be based on trust not fear. Meanwhile the internal security budget in China exceeds the defence budget.

His Holiness suspected that of the 200 countries in the world, this is only true of China. He concluded by saying that if harmony and respect prevailed between Tibetans and Chinese they could live together.

He invited questions from his listeners and the first was an invitation to come to Taiwan. His Holiness replied that since his first visit he had thought about coming to Taiwan every other year, but he hasn’t received government approval to do so. He said he’d wondered about making a transit stop in Taiwan on his way back from Okinawa, but that too was not approved. A woman who suggested that relations between Hong Kong and China have worsened lately asked how to stick to the path of non-violence. His Holiness responded that Tibetans have maintained a strictly non-violent approach for more than 50 years but it hasn’t yet solved the problem. He pointed out that in democratic countries there is transparency and that transparency is clearly better than secrecy and suspicion. Since the arrival of Xi Jinping there seems to be some improvement and he seems at least interested in seeking truth from facts.

“Don’t be discouraged,” he said.

Another questioner wanted to know if there was any chance of His Holiness coming to China and he reminded her that in the fourth round of meetings his representatives had had with the Chinese, he had expressed interest in making a pilgrimage to Wu Taishan, but like his plan to come to Taiwan, it wasn’t approved.

Mongolians have long shared. He said: “In the 20th century you faced great tragedy and Buddhism in Mongolia went into decline. Tibetans are facing similar problems now. But relations between Tibetans and Mongolians go back hundreds of years to when we roamed the land as nomads. Now that you have regained your freedom, you must use the opportunity well. There are too many examples in Africa of what can go wrong when freedom and democracy are misused. With democracy comes responsibility. Today, Mongolians place great faith in the Dharma, but faith based on reason is even firmer and more stable, so study is important. In the past there were many great scholars who came from Mongolia. However, understanding of Buddhism needs to be combined with basic modern education.

Tibet was backward in terms of modern education and technological development and we lost our country.”

His Holiness advised Mongolians to emulate the determination exemplified by their people at the time of Genghis Khan. But today they need that kind of courage combined with intelligence. He said that he has also counselled Indians to focus development efforts in villages, not only in cities. Schools, hospitals and other facilities need to be provided to people in the rural areas where they live. He recalled that there are now 300 Mongolian monks studying in the main Tibetan monasteries in South India who will be able to contribute to the flourishing of the Dharma in the future.

When he met with Tibetans who live in Japan His Holiness said he didn’t have a lot to say because he has been able to meet them quite often. “My meetings with scientists and the ongoing dialogues I’ve had with them have reinforced my appreciation of the marvellous qualities of Tibetan language to describe how to deal with the mind and emotions. English is not yet adequate, the best language in this area is Tibetan. That’s something we can be proud of. After all, Buddhism is important as one of the great world religions.

“As I mentioned earlier when I met with some Chinese, self-immolations are still going on in Tibet.

Those who do this clearly could, but don’t, choose to harm others. Despite everything, they don’t want to breach the basic Buddhist pledge not to hurt others.

Even Chinese visitors to Tibet report that Tibetans are a kind and compassionate people. This is one of the reasons why our cause commands respect today.

Keep up this moral standard, don’t be deceitful.

Things are changing in China. People inside Tibet still have an unflinchingly strong spirit. We all have to keep this up. In the USA our representative office has moved to Washington DC, but I have suggested that a branch office be maintained in New York to be focussed on keeping Tibetans in touch with each other. We have to stick together. Tashi delek.”

a sense of global responsibility for oneness of humanity. Religious background is secondary and without moral principles, religion becomes very dirty. Religion had been in existence for the last 2,000 years, yet it has failed to bring lasting peace and happiness in the world.”

He said modern scientists during their interaction with him over the last 30 years have found that fear and anger are destroyers of human being’s immune systems, while calm minds result in a healthy body.

His Holiness devoted most of his time taking questions from the audience.

Responding to questions about what should be our thought during prayer, His Holiness said: “Prayer is common to all religion. According to Buddhism, there is no concept of creator and Buddha is your master. The Buddhists focus on genuine listening, contemplation and meditation on Buddha’s teachings. He said Buddha is the doctor, Dharma (his teachings) is the medicine and Sangha (monastic community) is the nurse. Praying to the doctor will not cure your illness. It can be cured only if you follow the prescriptions and medicines given by the doctor. So studying and practicing the Buddha’s teachings are the only ways to bring mental and physical happiness.

“Telling lies is short-sighted and narrow mindedness.

The basis of a happy life is friendship and trust, which can be developed only through being honest and transparent. Everyone of us want trusted friends and don’t like someone who cheats,” His Holiness said in response to a query on how to avoid telling lies.

Answering a question on some religious figure taking monetary and sexual favours in return for teaching, His Holiness said: “It is totally wrong if some religious figure uses sex as a medium for imparting sermons.” He said there is growing interest in Buddhism among the Chinese people.

He recalled that around 20 years ago, some Chinese Buddhists from mainland China invited Tibetan lamas from Tibet to give teachings and the latter demanded money in return. “Chinese Buddhists should know the good qualities of a proper spiritual teacher. Such actions are morally wrong and betrayal of Kagyur and Tengyur texts, the foundations of Tibetan Buddhism. You must remain skeptical and should not follow someone out of blind faith. The Buddha said his followers should not follow his teachings out of faith, but rather through experiment.” Many Chinese had come to Koyasan to attend His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings and public talk.

On being asked what is his impression of Koyasan, His Holiness said: “It is very quiet and perfect for meditation. It is not a place for people who engage in business. I heard that many people are leaving Koyasan for Osaka city.”

In concluding remarks, His Holiness underlined the need to study and practice Kobo Daishi’s esoteric Buddhism in their daily lives.

Prior to giving the public talk, His Holiness the Dalai Lama paid a pilgrimage to Daito Stupa, which was built by Kobo Daishi Kukai, the founder of Shingon Buddhism, around 816. His Holiness, accompanied by Ven. Yukei Matsunaga, the head priest of Shingon Buddhism and Ven. Saito, a senior spiritual leader in Koyasan, offered prayers in the main shrine of the stupa.

Shingon Buddhism is one of the mainstream major schools of Japanese Buddhism and one of the few surviving esoteric Buddhist lineages that started in the 3rd to 4th century BC that originally spread from India to China. The esoteric teachings later flourished in Japan under the auspices of Kobo Daishi, who travelled to Tang Dynasty China to acquire and request transmission of the esoteric teachings.

Secular ethics bring lasting peace in the world: His Holiness

By Jane Cook:

17 April 2014

Koyasang, Japan, April 15, 2014: - ‘Secular ethics is the only way to bring lasting peace and happiness in the world,’the spiritual leader of Tibet His Holiness the Dalai Lama said, adding: The modern education system is very oriented to material development rather than inner human values.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a talk on How should we live our lives? – Religion and Ethics in the 21st Century” on the final day of his three-day visit to the sacred land of Koyasan, where Shingon, a form of esoteric Buddhist tradition flourished from China to Japan in 3rd to 4th century BC. His Holiness the Dalai Lama said all 7 billion human beings wish for happiness and do not want suffering.

Humans have a greater potential as compared to other beings due to our unique form of intelligence, he said, but the problems which humanity face are our own creation.

He said secular ethics is the only way to bring lasting peace and happiness in the world. “The modern education system is very oriented to material development rather than inner human values. As a result of my last 30 years of discussion with scientists and educationists, we are of the same view that education should include curriculum focusing on promotion of secular ethics and inner values. The experiments carried out in the US on secular ethics have yielded very convincing and good results,” he said.

His Holiness reiterated that promotion of secular ethics based on oneness of humanity rather than religion will develop a lasting peace and happiness in the world. “Everyone of us is a part of the 7 billion human beings and our home is the blue planet. Since our interests depend on the rest of humanity, so we must make efforts to educate people to develop

6

TPI NEWS

30 April 2014

Horoscopes for the month of May, 2014 Sorces: Always Astrology

ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Think about starting your own small business, Friendships will be ruined if you let too many people get involved in any disputes. You should visit a friend or relative who hasn’t been well. Your emotional state could leave you vulnerable and confused. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Tuesday.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) You will be tempted to shop till you drop. You are best not to retaliate if members of your household are trying to pick a fight. Try to find another time to present work or ideas this month. Don’t let the cat out of the bag. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) You could easily lose your temper at work. Don’t push your opinions or ideas on others. Your high energy will enable you to enlist the help of those in a position to back you. Disputes may start because of a lack of honesty.

Passion will be your only answer. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Use your inventiveness to find solutions. Unstable relationships are likely. Real estate should be lucrative for you. Unrealistic promises will only get you in trouble.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) ou can win if you’re open and up front with your boss.

You may feel that someone at work is holding you back. If they’re really interested, they’ll wait. Try to keep a low profile.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Tuesday.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Look into some personal changes.Get busy on those home improvement projects that you’ve been procrastinating about. Partnerships will be successful.

Take care that arrangements to spend quality time together are made in advance.

Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

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LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) Balance is required if you want stability. Do not get upset over trivial matters. You’ve been a little down and you need a lift. You will probably have to defend your mate. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Try not to get upset or angry without having all the facts.

Based on your excitement, serious-minded individuals will be more than interested in backing your ideas. Make love, not war, and all will be fine. Overindulgence will mean poor health. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Don’t let others bait you into arguments. Travel and creative hobbies will be your best outlet. Look at your options before making commitments that could jeopardize your financial position. Don’t start a dispute unless you’re prepared to accept irreversible results. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Catch up on your correspondence and reading. Don’t overextend your self in order to add luxury items to your entertainment center. You can’t lock your partner up and if you keep restricting their freedom you may be left out in the cold. Follow through on some of the good ideas that come up, and you could have a real winner of a deal. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Tuesday.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) You’re not your usual self this month. If you can’t trust someone, question the connection. Don’t push your mate away. You may have a tendency to put on weight. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Your intellectual charm will win hearts and bring opportunities that you least expect. Passion is inevitable and commitments can be made during the heat of the night. Your need to use emotional blackmail will only cause more conflict. Your diplomacy will be of utmost importance this month. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

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Public schedule of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Month Of June, 2014 Teachings in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India from May 30 to June 2: His Holiness will give four days of Introductory Teachings on Buddhism at the request of Nalanda Shiksha. Contact Email: nalandashiksha@gmail.com Teaching in Livorno, Italy on June 14 & 15: His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give teachings on Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend (shetring) on June 14 and also confer an Avalokiteshvera Empowerment (chenresig wang – jigten wangchuk) on June 15 morning at Modigliani Forum organized by Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa. Contact Website: www.dalailama.it/en Public Talk in Livorno, Italy on June 15: His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give a public talk on Compassionate Ethics in the afternoon at Modigliani Forum organized by Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa. Contact Website: www.dalailama.it/en Kalachakra in Leh, Ladakh, J&K, India from July 3 to 14: His Holiness will be giving the Kalachakra at the request of the two main organizers, the Ladakh Buddhist Association and the Ladakh Gonpa Association. The Tibetan Kongpo Association and the Tibetan Jonang Association are co-sponsors. During the first three days of the Kalachakra, from July 3 to 5, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, along with the monks of Namgyal Monastery and senior lamas, will conduct rituals which prepare and consecrate the venue. These include chanting of prayers, creation of the sand mandala and other rituals. From July 6 to 8, His Holiness will give preliminary teachings on Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend (shetring). On July 9, the Kalachakra Ritual Dance will be performed by the monks of Namgyal Monastery. His Holiness will confer the Kalachakra Initiation from July 10 to 13. On July 14, a long life empowerment (tsewang) and a ceremony offering prayers for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be performed. Contact Website: www.ladakhkalachakra2014.com Discussion in Hamburg, Germany on August 23: His Holiness will lead a discussion on Secular Ethics - Human Values In Our Lives. Contact Website: www.dalailama-hamburg.de Teaching in Hamburg, Germany from August 24 to 26: His Holiness will give teachings on Shantideva’s A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (chodjug) on August 24 and 25. He will confer an Avalokiteshvera Initiation (chenresig wang jigten wangchuk) on the morning of August 26. Contact Website: www.dalailama-hamburg.de Sources: Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

International 7 TPI NEWS Global media watchdog releases Tibetan delegates support a viable democratic opp’n. against China list of “100 information heroes” 30 April 2014

The Tibet Post International

By Yeshe Choessang: 28 April 2014

List of profiles of “100 information heroes”

By Yeshe Choesang: 30 April 2014

Paris, Tuesday 29 April 2014: - A list of “100 information heroes” was released by the Paris-based Global media watchdog ‘Reporters Without Borders’ for World Press Freedom Day. This is the first time an international press freedom group ever is publishing a list of profiles of “100 information heroes.”

The group said ‘through their courageous work or activism, these “100 heroes” help to promote the freedom enshrined in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the freedom to “to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” They put their ideals in the service of the common good. They serve as examples.’

“World Press Freedom Day, which Reporters Without Borders helped to create, should be an occasion for paying tribute to the courage of the journalists and bloggers who constantly sacrifice their safety and sometimes their lives to their vocation,” said Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire.

“These ‘information heroes’ are a source of inspiration to all men and men who aspire to freedom. Without their determination and the determination of all those like them, it would be simply impossible to extend the domain of freedom.

“This obviously non-exhaustive list pays homage not only to the 100 famous and less well known people on it, but also to all the professional and non-professional journalists who constantly help to shed light on the world and cover every aspect of its reality.

This initiative aims to show that the fight for freedom of information requires not only active support for the victims of abuses but also the promotion of those who can serve as models.”

The list of “100 information heroes” comprises women and men of almost all ages (25 to 75) and 65 nations. The youngest, Oudom Tat,

is Cambodian and the oldest, Muhammed Ziauddin, is Pakistani. Twenty-five of the heroes are from the Asia-Pacific region, 20 from the Middle East and North Africa, and eight from Europe. Iran, Russia, China, Eritrea, Azerbaijan, Mexico and Vietnam are each represented by at least three heroes.

The lists includes such varied figures as Anabel Hernandez, the author of a bestseller on the collusion between Mexican politicians and organized crime, Ismail Saymaz, a Turkish journalist who has been prosecuted a score of times for his reporting, Hassan Ruvakuki, who was jailed for 15 months in Burundi for interviewing members of a rebel movement, and Gerard Ryle, the head of International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, who has contributed to the emergence of global investigative journalism.

Some work in democracies. They include Glenn Greenwald and Laura Poitras, US citizens who were responsible for revealing the mass electronic surveillance methods used by the US and British intelligence agencies. Others, such as the Iranian journalist Jila Bani Yaghoob, work under the most authoritarian regimes.

Not all are professional journalists. The Vietnamese citizen-journalist Le Ngoc Thanh, for example, is also a Catholic priest. Many, such as Lirio Abbate, a specialist in the Sicilian mafia, have focused on covering corruption and organized crime. This is the case with Peter John Jaban, a Malaysian radio programme host who spent years in self-exile on London, Serhiy Leshchenko, an investigative journalist from Ukraine, and Assen Yordanov, a Bulgarian journalist who has been repeatedly threatened.

The profiles also include activists like María Pía Matta, who has worked for nearly ten years for the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC), defending the freedom of community radio stations in Latin America.

Courage is the common denominator. In Uzbekistan, the authorities had no compunction about torturing Muhammad Bekzhanov to extract a confession. In Eritrea, ranked last in the 2014 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index for the seventh year running, Dawit Isaac has languished in the dictator Issayas Afeworki’s jails for the past 13 years.

Mazen Darwish, founder of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression and winner of the RWB press freedom prize in 2012, has been held for more than two years by the Assad regime.

As human beings we need .....

“These days there are many modern developments and Japanese too pay more attention to the value of material things than to inner values. As a result we face a lot of problems, many of which we have created ourselves. Modern people pay more attention to satisfaction on a sensory level. We like things that look good. We derive satisfaction from looking at and listening to pleasing, beautiful things. Similarly, we get pleasure from things that smell, taste and feel good, including sex. Animals have sensory experiences like this too, but because we also have this marvelous brain and intelligence, we have much more experience on a mental level.”

“Modern life, even the education system, is based on the value of material things and a culture of materialism. Discussions with thinkers and educationists suggest that our education system needs to be more involved with ethics, irrespective of faith or a lack of faith. As human beings we need ethical values. In the USA in particular we are developing a project to introduce secular ethics into education. Results so far have been encouraging. We have to think of the welfare of 7 billion human beings because we are part of them. An example of this interdependence is the relation of the Japanese economy to the rest of the world.

“The question of the environment and climate change are a global issue too, not just of concern to Europe, Asia, Africa or the Americas. We should think of everyone not just me or us. What happens on this one blue planet where we live affects us all. We need to take the benefit of the whole of humanity into account, rather than thinking of ‘us’ and ‘them’, which becomes the

continued from Front-Page......

basis for dividing people into friends and enemies and the prospect of war. We need to deal with the injustice in the world; the gap between rich and poor which sees the poor dismissed as almost of no importance. And responsibility lies with us 7 billion human beings, not on the shoulders of the Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed or Krishna. World peace will not come about by merely praying for it, we have to take action. And I believe taking action is something Japanese understand. So, that’s what I have to say, thank you.”

Mixed feelings..... continued from Front-Page......

The birthday celebration was organized by the CTA’s Regional Organizing Committee of His Serenity the 11th Panchen Lama at the Bylakuppebased Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama. Both Sangay, Sikyong and Penpa Tsering, the Speaker of the Tibetan parliament in exile, were the guests of honor at the event, with Ganden Tri Rinpoche, the head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, as the chief guest.

During the ceremony, the monks of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery led the Tibetan people in prayers for the well being of the Panchen Lama.

In its official statement marking this auspicious occasion, the monastery expressed its gratitude to the Tibetan exile administration for leading the Tibetan people in observing this historic event.

“This year, the CTA has organized this event to mark 25 years since the birth of the 11th Panchen Lama -- a much-needed endeavour on the part of the government given the political, spiritual and historical significance of the Panchen Lama,” said Venerable Lobsang Dorjee, President of the Central Association for the Panchen Lama, Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.

Taipei, April 28, 2014: - The 9th Interethnic / Interfaith Leadership Conference that brought together seventy participants from different nationalities, political communities and faiths, staging a struggle against the repressive Chinese Communist regime, concluded on April 27 at Taipei, the capital of Taiwan.

Seven Tibetan activists joined the democracy activists, human rights lawyers, policy makers, writers and media activists, from Mainland China, Honkong, Taiwan, Macau, Southern Mongolia, overseas Ugyur activists and representatives of faiths such as the Falun Gong and Christian Church Movement, at a conference that provided a significant opportunity to allow the participants to find a common ground to challenge the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and thereby ensure constitutional reforms and a democratic political system in China and in areas controlled by CCP. In a written message extending warm greetings to the participants and organizers of the conference, the Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama said – “China needs human rights, democracy and the rule of law because these values are the foundation of a free and dynamic society. They are the source of true peace and stability. A democratic China is also in the interest of the international community in general and of China’s neighbors in particular. I will have no doubt either that an increasingly open, free and democratic China will be of benefit to the Tibetan people too.”

A seven member Tibetan delegation: Bawa Kalsang Gyaltsen and Dhardon Sharling, members of Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Dorjee Tseten, Students For a Free Tibet -Asia Director, Lobsang Tseten, Asia Coordinator of International Tibet Network, Yeshi Tenzin, Chinese Section of Department of Information and International Relations of Central Tibetan Administration, Dukthen Kyi, Editor of Contact Magazine, LHA and Dr. Chok Tenzin Monlam, Researcher and Writer, raised the dire situation inside Tibet that needs immediate redress. The Tibetan speakers also spoke about

The Tibetan delegation addressing a session on TIBET: From left: Dorjee Tseten, Bawa Kalsang Gyaltsen, Lobsang Tseten, Dhardon Sharling, Matteao Mecacci and Yeshi Tenzin. Photo: TPI

the continued and sustained peaceful and cultural resistance staged by Tibetans inside Tibet and the growing international multi-lateral action for the Tibet movement.

Matteo Macacci, President of International Campaign for Tibet was also present at the conference to speak about strengthening international support for Tibet.

According to Bawa Kalsang Gyaltsen, ‘of the many issues concerning the situation inside Tibet, issues of gross human rights violations, the criminalization of the families and relatives of the self-immolators, particularly the death sentence meted out to Dolma Kyab, husband of Kunchok Wangmo who died after self-immolation protest in March last year, and the case of forced eviction of nomads from grasslands, were raised and discussed at the conference and the participants pledged to create a special Task-force that will coordinate actions to address the urgent situation inside Tibet.’

“At this conference, we represent Tibet as an occupied nation and managed to built a common and mutual understanding with the other struggles who have suffered equally under the repressive Chinese regime. The expressions of solidarity by

all the participants, particularly democracy activists and human rights lawyers from mainland China, to the Tibetan movement, will strengthen the trust and conviction needed to build a united force for our fight against the oppression,” said Dorjee Tseten.

The conference identified the core issues affecting the global movement for freedom and justice in China and in regions controlled by CCP, and discussed strategic steps to gain human rights breakthrough for Tibetan, Uighurs and Mongolians, and examine the democratic development in Taiwan and the elections in Hong Kong.

Dr, Yang Jianli, Founder and President of Initiatives of Change/Citizen Power for China, said that ‘the conference was successful in getting the diverse group of participants to pledge unity and co-operation and respect in pursuit of their common goal of a—fundamental freedom and social justice and a just government in China founded upon the rule of law.’

The four-day conference held at the Chientan Youth Activity Centre in Taipei, was organized by Initiatives for China / Citizen Power for China, and sponsored by National Endowment for Democracy and Taiwan Foundation for Democracy.

Science conference in Japan discusses mind and brain

Kyoto, Japan 11 April 2014 - A two day dialogue focused on the theme ‘Mapping the Mind’ was opened by His Holiness the Dalai Lama who explained that this was about taking on the whole system of mind and emotions.

He opened proceedings by saying, “Mind & Life meetings have been happening for more than 25 years, but I have been keen that they should also be held in an Asian country where Buddhist ideas are historically part of the culture. In our discussions with scientists about mind, much of the understanding of the mind comes from ancient India.

My own understanding is based on the Buddhist science of mind. This is not to say we have ever talked about past and future lives, liberation or emptiness, those are topics that are properly the business of Buddhists. We have confined ourselves to discussions of the mind, brain and so forth, which is why I think we can refer to conversations between Buddhist science and modern science.”

He suggested that Buddhists may be more receptive to ideas that derive from ancient Indian psychology, related to the practice of concentration and insight. Mapping the mind is about taking a wider perspective and coming to know about the whole system of mind and emotions, which helps us come to terms with the problems we share.

Yoshio Imaeda, a Japanese scholar of Buddhism began the presentations by recalling his surprise at finding that his father had no idea what he was reciting in front of his Buddhist altar. By conducting his own research he discovered that not only do Tibetans have the most exhaustive collection of Mahayana texts, but that Tibetan Buddhism remains a living tradition, despite the tragedy that has taken place in Tibet. He described Japanese monks as professionals, particularly with regard to funeral arrangements, and Japanese Buddhists as emotional and sentimental, but not rational.

His Holiness laughed, saying: “This seems like a session of self-criticism.” Then he explained that of 6 million Tibetans 99% don’t have much idea of what Buddhism is really about either.

“To be Buddhists in the 21st century we have to study,” he said, remarking that over the last

40 years nuns as well as monks had been able to take the highest degrees.

Arthur Zajonc asked which comes first, practice or study. His Holiness referred to the three modes of understanding. First listening, reading and study lead to belief and conception. Critical reflection leads to conviction and deep familiarity with that leads to real understanding.

Under the theme ‘Change your brain by changing your mind’ Richard Davidson spoke about the findings of neuroplasticity, in which changing the mind can be shown to affect the brain. When Davidson referred to work that is being done with children with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) His Holiness wanted to know if it seemed to be a result of environmental or genetic influences and whether there was any association with anxiety and feelings of insecurity.

Dr Davidson reported that even short term compassion training, in which subjects spend 30 minutes a day over two weeks training in compassion can be shown to have positive effects on the brain. Finally, acknowledging the time that young people spend playing computer games, he reported a pilot project to develop such games that foster kindness

By Jane Cook: 13 April 2014

and empathy rather than aggression.

His Holiness responded that it is useful to just let the mind settle in thoughtlessness for some time to begin to be aware of its nature and that it is possible to develop an ability to examine the mind, for example when we want to observe anger.

In his presentation about the role of mind in quantum physics, Arthur Zajonc surprised His Holiness with his description of a particle with no size. He asked what is going on when, unable to find a solution to a problem, suddenly unbidden one appears to the mind.

His Holiness suggested it is connected to the work already done and mentioned that a problem that can’t be solved during the day may be solved in dream time. He said that perhaps it is because in dream time sensory consciousnesses are inactive.

Arthur Zajonc took the opportunity to extol the power of thought, its clarity and accuracy. He pointed out that Einstein’s theory of relativity did not come about as a result of work or experiments in the laboratory. He reached his conclusions due to the power of thought.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the two day conference on Mapping the Mind in Kyoto, Japan on April 11, 2014.

Photo/Office of Tibet, Japan

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The Tibet Post International Back Page Focus Conference in Japan focuses on the theme Mapping the Mind London to host world premiere of

30 April 2014

By Jane Cook: 14 April 2014

His Holiness the Dalai Lama and fellow panelists during the first day of the two day conference on Mapping the Mind held in Kyoto, Japan on April 11, 2014. (Photo by Office of Tibet, Japan)

Kyoto, Japan, 12 April 2014 - The second day of the Mapping the Mind meeting began withShinobu Kitayama speaking about Cultural Neuroscience.

He said that although humanity is one it has multiple manifestations. This variability in cultural models combined with neuroplasticity means the brain may be moulded by cultural context. The brain is not a static entity, but can change as a function of experience. It may be shaped by ecological, environmental and cultural factors. As a biological organ the brain is also subject to genetic influences and there is evidence that these too may vary according to society and culture.

Kitayama suggested that the view of the self in the West is that it is independent. You choose your own friends and so forth. In other parts of the world, such as Asia, the self is more relational and interdependent. He cited experimental findings that apparently show a difference in error related negativity response among those from the West with regard to self interest and the interests of others, which was not found among Asians.

His Holiness resisted this conclusion saying it was difficult to generalise because there are of course altruistic Americans and self-centred Asians. He suggested that findings involving Africans, and distinctions between people living in cities and in the country would be interesting. He also remarked that it would be interesting to see if male and female distinctions made any difference.

Joan Halifax, a Zen Roshi gave her presentation about compassion training. She said that compassion is generally considered to be the capacity to attend to the

experiences of others and proposed that compassion cannot be taught; it is an emergent process.

Shinsuke Shimojo, an Experimental Psychology Professor, returned repeatedly to an illustration of the mind as an iceberg. His point was to show that the explicit conscious mind is only the tip of the iceberg.

The significantly more extensive implicit mind is below the surface. Describing how a flea can be induced to give up jumping by confinement under a glass dish, Shimojo spoke of evidence of learned helplessness that characterizes a strain of depression afflicting Japanese.

It’s a depression that has been calculated to cost the economy $25 billion.

His Holiness described friends who have developed a degree of concentration such that they can remain focused on the object for 3-4 hours. Is this possible? Taking up the issue of different environmental factors he suggested that such a meditator ought to be able to continue his practice even in a big city. Through training you should be able to remain tranquil 24 hours a day.

“While I don’t have deep experience, I think I can see some improvement over the last 25 years. I’d be interested to know the effect of the completely dark days in winter in some parts of Northern Europe and the midnight sun in the summer. I sometimes call myself the sleeping Dalai Lama because of my fondness for having a good night’s sleep. We are social animals,” he said, “and we can no longer remain in isolation. We are part of a greater whole. This is true of both Japanese and Tibetans. When people come to tell me about their difficult problems I

sometimes tell them about mine in order to give them a broader perspective and the sense that they are not alone.”

Dr Barry Kerzin offered a mala or rosary as an analogy of the mind or consciousness, citing the string as indicating its continuity and the beads as like the moments of mind that follow one after the other. Its circularity is also indicative of the mind’s having neither beginning, nor end.

Junko Tanaka-Matsumi gave a presentation about Mapping the Minds of Children, beginning by saying that children’s minds change from moment to moment. She pointed out that when you see that Japan comes second in the world for provision of science education it would appear that all is well with the Japanese education system.

However, in the classroom there are children who cannot follow what the teacher is saying. They display disruptive behaviour such as not remaining in their seats and because of the sense of homogeneity no special help or provision is made for them. Reinforcement of positive behaviour in children increases their self-esteem and encourages positive peer interaction.

Makoto Nagao stated that the function of the mind is best mapped or revealed in conversation and applied this to the special area of developing care-giving robots. Such robots should be able to converse with those for whom they are caring. Dr Nagao suggested that developing robot dialogue systems will not only help those for whom the robots care, but could lead to clarification of how the mind reacts to external stimuli, so furthering understanding of mental function. This will be an unusual route to mapping the mind.

In response to a question about who he has in mind as benefiting from meetings like this he said: “I always think of the 7 billion human beings alive today as physically, emotionally and mentally the same. Externally things may have been different, but even several thousand years ago our emotions would have been the same. The Buddha was once like us, but through persistence and hard work he transformed his mind. In this 30 year partnership with scientists we have learned many useful things and, unless they are merely being polite, scientists are learning a good deal about the mind too. Between us we are working on a curriculum to introduce secular ethics into the education system. Scientists are participating in this project not out of a wish for material reward, but because of the long term benefit it will provide. Our aim is a happier humanity and it won’t be achieved just through prayer or wishful thinking but by learning to deal with our destructive emotions.”

His Holiness the Dalai Lama inaugurates Zabsang Choekorling monastery

By CTA official Media: Tibet Net: 29 April 2014

Dharamshala:-His Holiness the Dalai Lama yesterday inaugurated the newly constructed Ngagyur Zabsang Choekorling monastery at the Tibetan settlement in Chauntra in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh.

Addressing the gathering at the ceremony, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that the new monastery should serve as an advanced center of learning Tibetan Buddhism, particularly under the Nyidrak lineage of Dzogchen teachings in Tibetan Buddhism.

He also said that the successful completion of the monastic structure is just one minor fulfillment of the goal. “The real goal is the in-depth study of the Tibetan Buddhist texts and spread the teachings of the Buddha, he said, adding, “just reciting mantras and building large monasteries is not enough.”

He also advised the Tibetan people and the monks to take pride in their Buddhist identity and make more effort in studying both science and Buddhist philosophy.

He thanked the sponsors for their generous donations towards building the new prayer hall. Thanking the local Indian people for their continued support towards the Tibetan people, he said without their support the monastery as well as the Tibetan settlement couldn’t exist.

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, who was present on the occasion, also addressed the ceremony. He said that the existence of rich traditions of Tibetan Buddhism in Tibet is the result of remarkable efforts made by Tibetan Buddhist masters and scholars, who have traveled to India to study Buddhism in the past. Tibetan Buddhism now is widely practiced and is one of the most respected religions in the world, Sikyong said, adding, it is mainly due to the efforts of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Lamas

His Holiness the Dalai Lama during the inauguration of Zabsang Choekor Ling, 28 April 2014. Photo: TPI/Choneyi Sangpo

who continue to serve people through the teachings of Tibetan Buddhism.

Sikyong also talked about the importance of education and the steps taken by the 14th Kashag to improve the standard of Tibetan education.

“During the special conference of 2008, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has spoken about the lack of focus on improving the education standard since coming into exile.

Therefore, the 14th Kashag has prioritised education as one of its most important policies and it has produced some positive results as well,” he said. “Education is the only way through which Tibetans in exile could fulfill the

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aspirations of our brethren inside Tibet,” he said.

Speaking about the Middle Way Approach of the Central Tibetan Administration, Sikyong said it is the only realistic solution to resolve the Tibetan issue through a non-violent and mutually beneficial way. “The Middle Way Approach was formulated through a democratic process by soliciting the views of the Tibetan people and approval of the Tibetan parliament,” Sikyong said.

“US President Barack Obama has expressed his wholehearted support to the Middle Way Approach to resolve the Tibet issue when he met His Holiness the Dalai Lama recently,” he added.

Mr Penpa Tsering, the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, was also present on the occasion.

In his address, he said: “It is really important that Tulkus and Rinpoche’s need to learn in depth the Tibetan Buddhist philosophies so that they can serve the Tibetan community as well as all sentient beings.”

After lunch, His Holiness paid a visit to Dzongshar Shedra and Drikung Kyagyu Bhumang Jampaling Monastery to conduct consecration rituals.

Mr Ngawang Phelgyal Gyechen, the Chief Justice Commissioner of the Tibetan Supreme Justice Commission, Deputy Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, members of Parliament, Nyidrak Rinpoche, Shatrul Rinpoche and other dignitaries were also present at the function.

British-Tibetan movie Little Tibet 2

By Paul

Golding : 30 April 2014

London, 30 April 2014: - The world premiere of Little Tibet 2, hosted by Tibet Society, will be held on Saturday 17 May 2014 at the Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square, London.

Little Tibet 2 is the story of one man’s journey to discover his heritage and set eyes on a homeland he has never seen. It is produced, directed and stars UK-based Tibetan Nawang N. Anja-Tsang (Sonam).

Philippa Carrick, CEO of Tibet Society, said, “Tibet Society is delighted to be hosting the world premiere of Little Tibet 2. The film is both compelling and, at times, unexpectedly moving. Sonam has a great way of bringing his experiences on the road to life, giving a personal and very human insight into his journey.”

Ms Carrick added, “It is testament to Sonam’s drive and talent that he not only raised funds to make the film, but he pretty much shot all the footage whilst being undercover as a tourist, especially

when he reached Mustang. It is an amazing achievement.”

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