The Tibet Post International e-Newspaper

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Vol. 03, Issue 114, Print Issue 38, 15 August 2014

Tibetans and supporters celebrate 68th Independent Day

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B o d - K y i - Cha-Trin

Tibetan women play an increasingly prominent role : Sikyong

A Voice For Tibet Bi-monthly

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Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay greets India on 68th Independence Day

By Yeshe Choesang: 15 August 2014

Tibetans, Indians and Tibet supporters together celebrating the 68th Independence day of India, in Dharamshala, India, on 15 Ausgust, 2014.

Photo: TPI/Dawa Phurbu

By Penny Saffron: 15 August 2014

Dharamshala: - Tibetans, Indians and Tibet supporters were gathered at McLeod Ganj main square and celebrate India’s 68th Independent Day. Performing the national anthems, distributing Indian sweets, and waving Indian and Tibetan national flags, all supporters stood together to celebrate India’s Independent Day. The event was organised by three Tibetan associations namely Regional Tibetan Women’s Association, Students for a Free Tibet-India, and Regional Tibetan Youth Congress.

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Sikyong urges Tibetan civil servants to improve language skills

Sikyong Dr.Lobsang Sangay addressing the participants of the training, 02 August 2014. From left: Ms. Tenzin Tsering, Mr. Tenzin Dhoden (Acting Director of Reception Centre), Secretary Migyur Dorjee, Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, Mr. Jhetung Tenzin, and Mr. Jampel Choesang. Photo: CTA/DIIR

By Kathryn Middel-Katzenmeyer: 05 August 2014

Dharamshala: -On 2August 2014, around 30 Tibetan civil servants, from Office Assistants to Senior and Junior Clerks, began a fourmonth intensive training on language proficiency for junior level staff of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) at the Tibetan Reception Centre in Dharamshala.

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, political leader of the Tibetan people, encouraged building on language skills in order to more effectively perform duties of the Tibetan civil servants.

Addressing the inauguration of the training, Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay said: “We regularly get recommendations from senior officials about the need to improve the language, particularly Tibetan language proficiency of the younger generation of Tibetan staff. Therefore, P-5.....

Dharamshala: - Tibetan community in exile on Friday morning, August 15 celebrated the 68th Independence Day of India in Dharamshala of northern India, the headquarters of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA).

The Indian national flag was hoisted in front of Kashag (Cabinet) House before a function organised by the CTA to mark the occasion. Ministers and other senior officials of the CTA attended the brief ceremony Friday to mark the special occasion.

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the political leader of the Tibetan people greeted the people of India on their 68th independence day and praised the government of India and its people for their hospitality and kindness extended to the Tibetan people and the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama for more than five decades.

“Today is the 68th Anniversary of independent Day of India, because India’s freedom movement led by Mahatma Gandhi was successful and India regained its independence,” Sikyong said.

‘Democracy and unity in diversity in India is a role model for the whole world,’ Sikyong said.

“Specially, today is the first year of Narendra Modi’s prime ministership to celebrate India’s Independence Day. On behalf of all Tibetans in and outside Tibet, I wish Shri Narendra Modi and his Cabinet team a very successful term, because, he always see a successful India and successful Tibetans,” Sikyong Dr Sangay said at the special function, when expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the government of India and all the Indian people in India and across the world.

“The aspiration of Tibetan people inside Tibet is that: the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and restore freedom for Tibet one-day. We hope the day will happen soon, when that day come, all Tibetans in and outside Tibet united and we will celebrate the day in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa,” Sikyong told reporters when asked if he feel ‘bad when Tibetans can not celebrate their own independence day.’

Sikyong, Dr Lobsang Sangay with top officials of of Himachal Pradesh during a function organised by the Indian administration in Dharamshala, India, on 15 August, 2014. Photo: TPI/Yeshe Choesang

Sikyong was invited as a guest to an official function held at the DC Office, District Kangra in Dharamshala organised by the Indian administration to observe the independence day celebration. He also offered warm greetings to Vidya Stokes and other top officials of of Himachal Pradesh at the function.

A march-past by contingents of police, guards, students and cultural programmes were main attractions of the celebrations.

Smt. Vidya Stokes, Irrigation & Public Health Minister of H.P. State was the chief guest for the function.

Dharamshala: - The French Tibetan Association formally adopted Sonamling a Tibetan settlement based in Ladakh in the Northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, under the ‘Sister Shichak’ initiative of the 14th Kashag.

A representative from the French Tibetan Association also went to visit the Tibetan settlement last week.

The ‘Sister Shichak’ programme is an initiative taken on by the 14th Kashag led by Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay to strengthen ties between Tibetans living in the west with the Tibetans residing in India, Nepal and Bhutan. It is based on Unity, Innovation and Self-Reliance, the three guiding principles that are part of the 14th Kashag.

According to the Tibetan administration, the initiative aims for the Tibetan communities in the West to extend a helping hand to needy Tibetan settlements based in India, Nepal and Bhutan. To enhance financial, cultural and social co-operation, and establish a strong bond with them. The Central Tibetan Administration has identified 10 Tibetan settlements under this initiative.

In early of June this year, the Tibetan Community of New York and New Jersey took the lead in the ‘Sister Shichak’ initiative by formally adopting Norgyeling (Bhandara) Tibetan Settlement in Maharashtra state and Rabgyeling (Hunsur) Tibetan settlement in Karnataka state of India.

Sarah college marks 16th founding anniversary

Police open fire on crowd of protesters in Tibet

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay addressing the 16th founding anniversary of the College for Higher Tibetan Studies at Sarah near Dharamshala, India, on 14 August 2014. Photo: TPI/Choneyi Sangpo

By Penny Saffron and Gin Chen: 15 August 2014

France Tibet community adopts Tibetan settlement in Ladakh

Members from France Tibetan Association with officials of the Home Department and staff of the Tibetan settlement office based in Ladakh. Photo: CTA/DIIR

By Becky Bargh: 12 August 2014

Just before that function, Sikyong among the guests paid tribute to a war memorial at the entrance of Dharamshala, Kangra Valley. The war memorial was built to honour and remember those brave Indian soldiers who sacrificed their life for the country in the Post Independence Era.

Dharamshala: - The College for Higher Tibetan Studies successfully marked its 16th founding anniversary on 14th Aug 2014.

Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay congratulated the former and present staff, and students for their considerable achievements.

He mentioned the Institute has made great contribution to the Tibetan society in the field of education.

Ven Jamphel Dakpa, the principal of the college, spoke about the evolution and study programs of the college.

The college offers studies on Tibetan literature and language and trains students in personal development, management skills and education, including modern subjects and innovations to keep abreast with developments in an increasingly literate and P-2.....

Images from Tibet also show two unidentified Tibetans suffering gunshot wounds to their backs and heads. The details of other injuries remain unknown. Photos provided by TPI reader

By Yeshe Choesang: 13 August 2014

Dharamshala: - Sources coming out Tibet say at least ten Tibetans were seriously injured when Chinese paramilitary police opened fire on crowds of Tibetan protesters in Sershul county in eastern Tibet calling for the release of their respected leader.

‘The incident came one day after a respected Tibetan man secretly detained from his home by Chinese authorities for allegedly opposing Chinese repressive policy,’ sources in the region said.

“Wangdak, 45, was secretly taken away from his home by Chinese police at night 12 a.m., August 11, 2014 ,” Ven Chabra Drimey Gyaltsen, a Tibetan monk currently living in exile in India told The Tibet Post International (TPI), citing sources in the region.

The next day, over hundred Tibetan residents in the County (Chinese: Shiqu town, Dêgê county in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in China’s Sichuan province) gathered in front of a building in a rare rally to demand the release of the highly respected Tibetan man,” Ven Gyaltsen said Wednesday.

Chinese security forces opened fire on a crowd of Tibetan protesters that wounded at least 10 Tibetans very seriously.

“Several Tibetans were severely injured after Chinese paramilitary forces opened fire on the large crowds. Wangdak’s brother Sangpo and one of Wangdak’s sons, who were among the crowds seriously injured,” Ven Gyaltsen added.

Images also show two unidentified Tibetans suffering gunshot wounds to their backs, heads and hands. The details of other injuries remain unknown.

‘For fear of arrest and torture by Chinese police, many young Tibetan men escaped from their village and hiding across mountains. Several of their family members, including women in the township remain under constant surveillance in their homes, and have reportedly severely beaten during questioning

by Chinese police,’ sources said.

‘Large numbers of armed Chinese security forces arrived in Shokpa town shortly after the incident,’ sources said, adding “the town is completely surrounded by Chinese forces.”

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TYC 45th Working Committee Meeting kicks off in Gangtok

The 45th Tibetan Youth Congress Working Committee Meeting held in Gangtok, Sikkim State of India, on 11 August, 2014 Photo: TPI

By Jane Cook: 12 August 2014

Gangtok: - Over a hundred participants from Tibetan Youth Congress Regional Chapters in India, Nepal and Bhutan have gathered in Gangtok, Sikkim on 11 August for the 45th Tibetan Youth Congress Working Committee Meeting.

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OPINION TPI NEWS New Zealand politician rejects pro-China Tibet document Editorial: The Tibet Post International

15 August 2014

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By John Sudworth, BBC News: 15 August, 2014

Do not be fooled by Chinese propaganda on Tibet and Tibetan people 15 August 2014

Dharamshala: - As Tibetans and peace-loving people around the world, we realize that there is a Chinese propaganda waged to capture the hearts and minds of Tibetans. It is now waged using not only their modern weapons, but also their state-run television, radio and other types of media. While we fight using the method of freedom, non-violence, human rights and democracy, China will use any tools to try and win.

Threaded into used by the communist regime, there is, of course, the tool of “propaganda.” While people can engage in propaganda either knowingly or unknowingly, it is important that we are able to identify it, so that we will not be deceived. Propaganda is mostly used by communist leaders, politicians, dictators and totalitarians. It can be found almost everywhere in Tibet and China.

As the military crackdowns on the Tibetan people in many parts of Tibet continued.The whole world knows that China has made several totally false claims about the current situation in the region. At the end of a two-day conference organised by China’s Communist Party that concluded on 13 August, the so called “Lhasa Consensus” was issued which was reportedly extremely critical of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetan people. Without a fair confirmation, China immediately claimed it had the backing of all 100 delegates from China and 33 countries which comprised some “scholars, politicians and journalists.”

China’s false claims on Tibet will soon fade, because we learned just one day after the meeting that what the world was told by China that this was untrue. Elsewhere, China ‘s government has a bad reputation about the propaganda used by the Communist Party of China to sway public and international opinion in favour of its policies.

The recent propaganda statements are nothing but just another well-prepared attack on Tibetans and peace and freedom loving media. These include, “The Dalai clique’s statements on Tibet are distorted and incorrect. Many Western media reports are biased, and “Tibet enjoys sound economic growth, social harmony, deeprooted Tibetan culture and beautiful natural scenery, and the people enjoy a happy life”.

The communist regime falsely says that selected delegates are shameless liars about Tibet when claiming that Tibetans enjoy a happy life. “We are not surprised to see the claims because it is something that is so far from reality.” The former mayor of Christchurch, New Zealand, Sir Bob Parker, told BBC from Lhasa that he was not happy to be associated with the document that China is calling the ‘Lhasa Consensus.’ He said that he was “aware” that the statement was made but he “certainly hasn’t signed up to it.”

He said, “I think a number of people who were there were a little surprised to hear about that statement. Certainly the conference that I’ve been attending has been focused on sustainable development and there were no real political themes running through it at all.”

One part of the agreement stated: “Participants unanimously agree that what they have actually seen in Tibet differs radically from what the 14th Dalai and the Dalai clique have said.

Propaganda is the only tool they use. Proper investigative journalism is severely lacking and international reporting on China and Tibet is also banned. Tibetans inside Tibet have been warned

by Chinese officials that they would be severely punished for talking to foreign journalists.

Accurate Chinese media representation of Tibet issues is crucial. Any and all media reports are censored or biased.

Foreign journalists are rarely allowed entry into Tibet, and when they are, they are closely chaperoned by Chinese officials. “Tibet is a special case,” the government tells reporters, when asked why access is tightly restricted. What Chinese government propaganda claimed as ‘Development of Tibet’ shows only a self-created picture of beautiful life for Tibetan people in Tibet.

A new propaganda technique they use now is; if they can’t win the argument spread by government propaganda, they directly attack the person.

According to the New York Times, a London-based advocacy group, Free Tibet has identified nearly 100 fake Twitter accounts, which are being used to spread the Chinese government’s propaganda on Tibet on the microblogging site. The accounts reportedly portrayed the Chinese regions of Tibet and Eastern Turkestan in a flattering light, despite decades of unrest in the regions.

Turn the spotlight on. Now the time has come for Chinese to ask themselves, Where do they go to get their reputation back? According to an online survey conducted in China in 2006, 65 percent of respondents said that if they were reincarnated, they hope not to be Chinese, a revelation that inspired the book I Don’t Want to Be Chinese Again by Hong Kong writer Joe Chung.

As a result of the ongoing Chinese government’s hardline policies, Tibetans feel culturally devastated, disempowered, disenfranchised, and marginalized on various fronts. China still says that it is in Tibet’s interest to build long term stability and social harmony.

But that can only be achieved through dialogue.

The world was shocked by China’s attempt to deny the Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People presented in 2008. It is not only by the stunt of lying to others, but also of breaking their promises. The “17-Point Agreement” promised to leave Tibet, language and political institutions intact in exchange for accepting China’s sovereignty.

Former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in 1979 once said that “Except for independence, all other issues can be settled through discussions.” The statement has drawn widespread castigation in Tibet, where it is now seen as a huge insult to the rights of six million Tibetans of Tibet. They never kept these promises. It reflects China’s totalitarian nature and ignorance of democracy and freedom.

Last Month, Beijing published a white paper on its “one country, two systems” policy over Hong Kong, stressing that the Chinese authorities in Beijing has “comprehensive jurisdiction” over Hong Kong.

Beijing made it explicit that “the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong is subject to the regime’s authorisation” and that the principle of “two systems” is subordinate to the idea of “one country.”

The white paper tried to clear a breach of promise

by Deng Xiaoping that “Hong Kong will remain unchanged for 50 years” after the end of British colonial rule in 1997.

Hong Kong’s example clearly holds a greater Chinese identity, because its bad reputation encouraged a greater Chinese identity which sparked strong backlashes in Tibet, Inner-Mongolia and Eastern China. Other reasons for the Chinese not to grant meaningful autonomy to Tibet include identity; the fact that the Tibetans are not Chinese, and Tibet is not Macau or Hong Kong.

Chinese communist totalitarians led by Xi Jinping in Beijing still seek to restore the former dictator Mao Tse-tung’s old Chinese political system commonly well-known as the “Cultural Revolution”.

Should the current Chinese administration in the year 2014 be able to continue the ethnic cleansing and genocide driven disaster that started in the Cultural Revolution?

Tibet Festival held in France

By Penny Saffron: 13 August 2014

Paris: Maison du Tibet (Tibet House) in Paris organised the first Festival of Tibet and Himalayan People in Mandelieu-La Napoule on 9-10 August.

Mandelieu-la Napoule is a French city located in south France and is a famous seaside resort. The festival was visited by over 700 people during the two days.

The Thangthong Nyaiyang cultural troupe of the France Tibetan community shows their exquisite

and captivating performance of Tibetan dance and songs, story-telling, live construction of sand mandala, and Tibetan cuisine. Apart from performing stands, they could buy Tibetan artefact and books on Tibetan cultural and way of life.

The festival is initiative to showcase Tibet’s rich cultural heritage and aims to promote and preserve the unique Tibetan cultural identity amid intensified Chinese policy of sinicizationback home in Tibet.

Shanghai: - The former mayor of Christchurch, New Zealand, Sir Bob Parker, says he is not happy to be associated with the document which China is calling the ‘Lhasa Consensus.’

Produced at the end of the recently-concluded Fourth Forum on the Development of Tibet held at the Tibetan capital this week, the document is highly critical of the Dalai Lama as well as the Western media.

It also speaks in glowing terms about China’s economic policies in Tibet.

China claims that the 100 or so conference attendees “unanimously agree that what they have actually seen in Tibet differs radically from what the 14th Dalai and the Dalai clique have said.”

“Participants notice,” it says,” that Tibet enjoys sound economic growth, social harmony, deeprooted Tibetan culture and beautiful natural scenery, and the people enjoy a happy life”.

Sir Bob is still in Tibet, being given a tour of the countryside and other sites of interest.

Speaking to him on his mobile phone I asked if he had indeed endorsed the statement.

“Not at all,” he said. “I’m aware that the statement was made but I certainly haven’t signed up to it. I think a number of people who were there were a

Tsewang Rigzin, a graduate student of Development Practice from Laney Graduate School at Emory University.

Photo:TPI

little surprised to hear about that statement.”

“Certainly the conference that I’ve been attending has been focused on sustainable development and there were no real political themes running through it at all.”

Sir Bob Parker though is happy to go on the record explaining why he chose to attend the conference.

“I came here as a New Zealander with a unique opportunity to get into Tibet and see some of these unique communities with my own eyes,” he told BBC News.

“There seems to be a good degree of openness and happiness in the communities that I’ve been to.”

“But I’m not a Tibet expert, I’m not a global

politician, I’m just a citizen who had a chance to come to a very special part of the world to see some of these things with my own eyes.”

Free Tibet argues that much of Chinese economic development has been a vehicle for the mass migration to Tibet of the majority Han Chinese population and the stripping out of Tibet’s resources.

As a result, it says, Tibetans are largely shut out of their own economy.

It suggests few foreign visitors would be aware of this fact “from the window of a car or the comfort of a plush meeting room.”

“It remains to be seen,” the group asks in its latest statement, “whether the report that they all agree with the outrageous and wholly inaccurate statements in the ‘consensus’ is true.”

We know now that at least one of them doesn’t agree. Sir Bob says he will be making his displeasure clear to the Chinese authorities.

“I’m not happy to be included in a document that states some very powerful political perspectives.

I don’t actually think that’s fair and I don’t think that’s what I signed up to do by coming here and I will be making that point,” he said.

“Having said that I’m thrilled to have come here and had a chance to look at the countryside and to meet people.”

Tibet’s Glaciers at Their Warmest in 2,000 Years

Melted ice water streaming down the Purog Kangri glacier – third largest in the world – within the Changtang national nature reserve in Shuanghu county in south-west Tibet. Photograph: Purbu Zhaxi/Corbis

By Stian Reklev and Kathy Chen, Reuters: 14 August, 2014

Beijing: - The Tibetan plateau, whose glaciers supply water to hundreds of millions of people in Asia, were warmer over the past 50 years than at any stage in the past two millennia, a Chinese newspaper said, citing an academic report. Temperatures and humidity are likely to continue to rise throughout this century, causing glaciers to retreat and desertification to spread, according to the report published by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research.

Sarah College marks 16th......

...... continued from front page technological world. Students from more than 15 countries, including Tibet and Himalayan regions in India also study at the college.

Sikyong felicitated the newly appointed professors and associate professors with traditional Tibetan white scarf. He distributed prizes and certificates to monks and students during the function. 2,137 students have graduated from this college since 2000. There are 253 students currently studying at the college.

The College is a branch under the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamshala.In August 2001, the education Department of the CTA named the college as “College for Higher Tibetan Studies and recognised it as a standard college for imparting Tibetan studies.

The Institute of Buddhist Dialectics and its partner Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, US offers both a semester and summer study abroad program for students interested in both India and Tibet.

Under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the late Ven Lobsang Gyatso took the task of establishing the college in 1991. After completion, His Holiness formally inaugurated it on 13 August 1998.

Since 1998 the college has educated young Tibetan students in the fields of Buddhist philosophy and Tibetan studies, with the integration of modern subjects, global perspectives, and practical skills training.

The report says ‘the Tibetan plateau, whose glaciers supply water to hundreds of millions of people in Asia, were warmer over the past 50 years than at any stage in the past two millennia, a Chinese newspaper said, citing an academic report.’

Temperatures and humidity are likely to continue to rise throughout this century, causing glaciers to retreat and desertification to spread, according to the report published by the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research.

“Over the past 50 years, the rate of temperature

rise has been double the average global level,” it said, according to the report on the website of Science and Technology Daily, a state-run newspaper.

Glacier retreat could disrupt water supply to several of Asia’s main rivers that originate from the plateau, including China’s Yellow and Yangtze, India’s Brahmaputra, and the Mekong and Salween in Southeast Asia.

In May, Chinese scientists said Tibetan glaciers had shrunk 15 percent - around 8,000 square km (3,100 square miles) - over the past 30 years.

The new report said a combination of climate change and human activity on the plateau was likely to cause an increase in floods and landslides there. However, rising temperatures had also improved the local ecosystem, it said.

The scientists urged the government to work to reduce human impact on the region’s fragile environment.

But Beijing is building a series of large hydropower projects there, with construction of several mega-dams expected to start by 2020.

China has built thousands of dams in the past few decades in a bid to reduce its reliance on imported fossil fuels.

India, too, is planning a number of hydro plants along the Brahmaputra river - more than 100 proposals are under consideration - as the country strives to boost electricity generation.

Glacier retreat could disrupt water supply to Asia’s main rivers including Yellow, Yangtze, Brahmaputra, Mekong and Salween, The Guardain also said in its eport.

TYC 45th Working Committee ......

The opening ceremony was held Tuesday (11 August) morning at Cho Ka Sum Hall in Gangtok and attended by high ranking officials and ministers of the Sikkim government including Chief guest Mr. R B Subba (Human Resource Development Department/Youth Affairs Minister of Sikkim), Mr. Kasur Gyalo Dhondup (elder brother of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama), Mr. Sonam Gyatso (Deputy Speaker of Sikkim Legislative Assembly), Mr. Sangay Dorje (Additional Director General of Police), Thukchu Lachungpa (Former Forest Minister of Sikkim& Current President of Citizen Forum) as well as ex TYC Centrex members, representatives of local Tibetan assembly, Tibetan NGO’s, representatives of local monasteries and Tibetans living in Gangtok.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chief Guest Mr. Subba said that it is an honor to hold the 45th Working Committee Meeting of TYC in Gangtok and wishes TYC success in your works for Tibet’s freedom and independence.

Mr. Subba also stated, “I understand that Tibetan Youth Congress is the largest Tibetan NGO in exile and I know that the work you do is very important for Tibet. We believe that basic human rights and freedom should be something that all human beings

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enjoy. The situation inside Tibet must be resolved soon and I hope and pray that His Holiness will be able to return to a Free Tibet in the near future”.

Chief Guest Kasur Gyalo Dhondup, spoke of the importance of youth participation and said that TYC is a very important organization in our movement because it provides a platform for our youth to be involved in our struggle.

He said that there will be difference in opinions in our society but most importantly we all must work for Tibet. He also stated that change is inevitable and change will come to Tibet.

TYC President Tenzing Jigme spoke about the organizations aims and goals for the future and urged all members to make sacrifices and take responsibility for our movement. He added that we have to be more creative and strategic in our campaigns and recognize that we can all make a difference in our struggle for Tibet.

The 45th Working Committee meeting will be held for six days from Aug 11-16. This is the first time that this meeting is being held in the Himalayan region of India. Members of TYC will have discussions on a variety of topics ranging from Tibet’s freedom and independence, campaigns to release political prisoners, security of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and strengthen Tibetan Youth Congress.

3 TPI NEWS Tibet News China jailed eight Tibetans A list of 45 prisoners smuggled out of Tibet: exiled rights group over an alleged petrol blast The Tibet Post International

15 August 2014

By Jane Cook: 13 August 2014

A young Tibetan man marching alone in the Manimego street, dege County, eastern Tibet, scattering paper flyers and shouting slogans calling long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, April 8, 2014. Photo: TPI

By Jane Cook: 05 August 2014

Dharamshala: - Emerging reports coming out of Tibet say eight Tibetans have been sentenced to up to 9 years in prison for their alleged links to a young man who allegedly set off a petrol bomb at a Chinese police building in Dege County, eastern Tibet in 2012.

Yeshe, 36, was sentenced to 9 years in prison and stripped of his political rights for 4 years, while Pema Norbu, and Jigga, had been sentenced to five and four years in prison respectively and deprived of political rights for 3 years.

Tsering Phuntsok, Bugod, 49, Gedun, Lhaksam, and Sogon, were sentenced to 3 years imprisonment and deprived of political rights for 2 years.

After the deadly crackdowns following peaceful protests across Tibet, starting from 10 March 2008 there was growing anger among local Tibetans over the continuing crackdown by Chinese military forces. This included disappearance, arbitrary arrests and the establishment of more police stations in Tibetan areas, including Dege county.

‘Tashi, a young Tibetan from Regpa village, Nyangor township, Dege County (Chinese: Dêgê County in Garzê Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in China’s Sichuan province) in Kham region of eastern Tibet, reportedly killed himself by detonating a petrol bomb with his motor-bike at a police office building on 24 February, 2012,’ sources said.

Sources added that, ‘just a few days before the

incident, Tashi told some of the local residents that he wanted to end his life in protest against the imposition of a variety of increasing Chinese repressions and particularly wanted to end the disruptions from newly built Chinese Police Stations.’

The eight men were reportedly arrested after the incident but the reasons for their arrest were not made clear at the time and charges and dates on which they were sentenced are still not known or specified. According to the source, they are currently being imprisoned at a Chinese Prison in Minyak County of Kham, eastern Tibet.

A young Tibetan man was arrested in April this year after marching alone along a street in Dege County, scattering paper flyers and shouting slogans calling for the Long Life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The young Tibetan’s whereabouts and other details remain unknown since his arrest.

In January 2014, over 20 Tibetans were detained in a massive crackdown on protests over the construction of tunnels linking the high-way in Dege County. Local Tibetans called for an end to the construction which has led to the collapse and damage of many ancient residential buildings.

In August 2010, a Tibetan was killed and around 35 severely wounded after Chinese security forces opened fire on demonstrators in Dege Palyul County. Local Tibetans are concerned about the impact of gold mining on their livelihoods.

China jails six Tibetans over mining protest in Phenpo, Tibet

Over 100 homes have been forcefully moved out of areas where massive mining operation started in 2009. Since then, the whole ancient Tibetan village is completely under-water. Photo: TPI/Phurbu

By Yeshe Choesang: 04 August 2014

Dharamshala: - Sources coming out of Tibet say Chinese authorities in Phenpo county in central Tibet have handed jail terms of up to 12 years to six Tibetans for protesting against a mining operation.

Kunga and Pema, were sentenced to terms of 12 years over their alleged roles in the protest against Chinese mining activities on Gyawodhong area in Phenpo County in Tibet (Chinese: Linzhou Xian, Autonomous Region), Phurbu, a Tibetan man living in exile in Dharamshala told the Tibet Post International.

Choeying Woeser, Ngawang Yeshe, and Penpa, who also come from Phodhoe Village in Phenpo Lhundup County were sentenced to terms of 11 years, while Pema Gyalpo received a term of eight years, sources further said.

‘They were sentenced for their roles in the protesting against the mining projects which

started from 2000, at the junction of two major rivers in on Gyawodhong area; ‘Phendho Lhachu’ and ‘Radring Tsangpo,’ source has said.

The authorities forcefully removed 119 Tibetan homes from the mining site, when the operation was started in 2009. Since then, the whole Tibetan town is completely underwater,’ he said, citing sources in the region.

The six had been charged with their roles allegedly aimed at”splitting” Tibet from China and with leading a protest to protect the environment,’ sources added.

Other sources have said that ‘Chinese government had started mining operations in Dhung village in Khartse township of Phenpo county in 2005, which is located around 70kms from Gyawodhong mining site and over 400 Tibetan families were reportedly forced to move from their homes to a new place.’

There were no reports of arrest and detention at the time the incident occurred. But sources said, ‘Chinese officials severely restricted the movement of Tibetans in County.’

‘Tibetans in the county united in protesting against the mining operations and they complained that the operations are also highly harmful to the environment and expropriating their farmland to enable mining work to expand, resulting in their livestock dying from a lack of pasture,’ he said, adding, ‘those Tibetans who led the protests have been severely punished.’

Dharamshala: - Releasing a list of 45 Tibetan political prisoners as latest evidence of the repression carried out in Tibet, the exiled Tibetan human rights organization said Chinese authorities have imposed harsh measures on Tibetans during and after the 2008 peaceful uprising.

“The list from Sichuan Province shows the details of “45 Tibetans who were arrested between 2008 and 2009,” The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) added: “All of the prisoners on the list were held in Deyang Prison, located in Huang Xu Town in Deyang City, Sichuan Province.”

“This is the latest evidence from Tibet of the harsh measures the Chinese imposed during and after the 2008 Tibetan Uprising,” the exiled rights group said.

According to the report, ‘10 out of 45 are still serving their sentence with two Tibetans serving life sentences. Pema Yeshi, a layman from Nyagri County in Kardze Prefecture initially received the death sentence with two years’ reprieve, which was later commuted to life.

Tsering Tsomo, Executive Director for the group said ‘18 former and current prisoners on the list who were not listed in their Political Prisoners Database’.

She said ‘the list was compiled by Gonpo Trinley while he was held in the prison from 2008-2009.

He smuggled the list out of Tibet when he arrived in India on 2 August 2014.’

Gonpo Trinley, is 25 years old, and comes from Village no. 7 in Serkhar Township in Kardze (Ch: Ganzi) County in Kardze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. He was born on 1 August 1989 and was brought up as a farmer, attending the township’s school until, at 17, he joined the local Sakya Nyadrag Monastery and became a monk.

On 21 June 2008, during the 2008 Tibetan Uprising, Gonpo Trinley and his older cousin Nyida Sangpo staged a non-violent protest outside of the Kardze County police station. They distributed leaflets and shouted slogans calling for the “return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet.” Within minutes, People Armed Police officers showed up and began beating the cousins after which they were taken to the county detention centre.

At the detention centre, Gonpo Trinley and Nyida

Gonpo Trinley’s laogai prison release order issued by Deyang Prison near Chengdu city, Sichuan Province. Sorces TCHRD

Sangpo were interrogated. During the two hour long interrogation they were constantly beaten. The police were fixated on the cousins falsely admitting that their small protest was organized by some larger organization. After the interrogation, Gonpo Trinley and Nyida Sangpo were put in separate cells. For the next six months, Gonpo Trinley only ever went outside or saw the sun when he was taken to his montly interrogation session.

After six months of solitary confinement, Gonpo Trinley and 14 other Tibetan detainees, including his cousin, were paraded around town. The government issued warnings through loudspeakers that they would “strike hard on criminals.” When the parade was over, nine of the 15 detainees were transferred the Dartsedo (Ch: Kangding) County.

Gonpo Trinley spent a year in the Dartsedo Prison.

On 16 July 2009, Gonpo Trinley and his cousin were sentenced to ‘reform through labour’ (laogai) by a local court. Gonpo Trinley received a sentence of two years and six months, along with deprivation of political rights for two years. His cousin was sentenced to three years. The court sentenced seven other Tibetans with varying terms of two to six years.

Gonpo’s Trinley’s prison release order shows that he was charged with ‘incitement to split the country’ the report said.

After sentencing, the nine Tibetans including Gonpo and his cousin were sent to Deyang Prison, which is located about 2 hours away from Chengdu city, the capital of Sichuan Province. Gonpo Trinley estimated that there were about 2,700 prisoners at the Deyang Prison. Forty-three were Tibetans.

However, due to strict controls it was almost impossible for the Tibetans to meet and interact. At Deyang Prison the Tibetans were subjected to closer

scrutiny by prison authorities and each Tibetan prisoner was constantly followed and watched by about four Chinese prisoners.

At the Deyang Prison Gonpo Trinley was kept with around 300 other prisoners in Unit 3. There were 6 other Tibetans in his unit whilst the other Tibetans were scattered among the remaining units. In Unit 3 Gonpo Trinley was put to work making canvas shoes. Everyday from 8am until 5pm he worked with only a break for lunch. The work was organized like an assembly line, with each person making a small piece of each shoe. If at the end of the day the work unit did not meet their target everyone was forced to stand for two hours.

Their diet was meager. For breakfast they were given a steamed bun and watery rice porridge. For lunch and again for dinner they were given rice and vegetables. They were never given enough food to fill their stomachs.

For one hour each day, Gonpo Trinley and his work unit were given “political education” sessions. These sessions consisted of watching government TV news channels and then listening to a lecture from a prison official explaining the main issues of some of the news stories. Once a month for 15 minutes, prisoners in Deyang Prison were allowed to see their parents or relatives. They could only talk to their visitors on the phone through a glass window.

Trinley was released on 21 October 2010. When he returned home he received a grand welcome from local Tibetans and monks at his monastery.

However, even after his release Gonpo Trinley was not truly free. He was barred from resuming his studies and rejoining his monastery. Local authorities prohibited him from leaving Serkhar Township without permission.

He was constantly monitored and forced to report to the Public Security Bureau. Every week, Gonpo Trinley was forced to report his activities and movements to township authorities and each month he had to go to the County Public Security Bureau office. Eventually, Gonpo Trinley left his hometown for an extended pilgrimage to monasteries in Sertha (Ch: Seda) County and Derge (Ch: Dege) County.

After extensive travel, Gonpo reached Nepal in June 2014 and arrived in India on 2 August 2014.

Throughout all his travels he carried the list of his fellow Tibetan prisoners from Deyang Prison.

Tibetan administration commemorates World Hepatitis Day

By Kathryn Middel-Katzenmeyer: 31 July 2014

Dharamshala, 31 July, 2014: - Viral Hepatitis takes the lives of approximately 1.4 million people annually.

However, until now, Hepatitis has been largely ignored or unknown, particularly in developing countries and underprivileged communities.

The World Hepatitis B Day is commemorated every year on 28 July in honor of the birthday of Nobel Laureate Professor Baruch Blumberg, who discovered the Hepatitis B virus. This important day is marked globally to create awareness and understanding about viral hepatitis, its complications, and how to prevent it.

The World Health Organization designated this year’s theme as “Hepatitis: Think again”. The key message of the campaign was centered on five main pillars: awareness, prevention, vaccination, stigma and taking part. At the core of the campaign was the need to think again about the unknown facts of this silent killer and to resolve the emergent public health challenges related to hepatitis particularly through the collective efforts of policy makers, healthcare workforce, and the general public.

In the context of the exiled Tibetan population, the Department of Health recognizes Hepatitis B as a major public health problem. Hepatitis B screening tests come at a high cost, and unfortunately, so do treatments. This consequently leads to economic struggle for infected individuals.

Lack of accurate and pertinent data about Hepatitis B has been a significant hurdle for the Health Department to overcome in furthering appropriate initiatives to control Hepatitis B among the Tibetan community. Therefore, the Health Department in collaboration with John Hopkins University conducted a cross sectional prevalence study of Hepatitis B in 2013 among a representative sample of 2769 people in a Tibetan settlement in South India. As per the preliminary findings, the prevalence of chronic Hepatitis B is 8.9% among the screened people.

To reduce the burden of Hepatitis B, the Department of Health is actively engaged

in planning and implementing Hepatitis B control initiatives. Under the Mother and Child program, all children under five years of age are being provided free Hepatitis B vaccination and Hepatitis B immunoglobulin. The role of screening for Hepatitis B and providing vaccination to children above 6 who might not have received vaccination is of particular importance because youth who are infected with Hepatitis B are at increased risk for chronic Hepatitis B and liver cancer. Therefore, the Kalon stated, “...we are going to implement a new pilot project, Hepatitis B Control Project among School Children this year to screen, and vaccinate a total of 2000 school children between the ages of 6 to 18”.

A Hepatitis B needs assessment was implemented at Sonamling Tibetan settlement in Len and Jhangthang areas in Ladakh, India in May 2014, in collaboration with University of Rochester and University of Hawaii. This program was aimed to understand the perceptions and level of awareness about Hepatitis B among the local Tibetan population in Ladakh. The findings of this study will give important qualitative understanding about the community’s knowledge, attitudes and stigma about Hepatitis B. The findings will also assist the Department of Health in evidence based planning of future hepatitis B control program for the Tibetan community particularly in providing assistance for screening and treatment support among the needy people.

In addition to these above mentioned efforts, the most important way to control Hepatitis B among our community is through prevention and better awareness about Hepatitis B. Health Education Section of the Department of Health will continue to work to build greater awareness about Hepatitis B through mobile health education, health education sessions by field health workers and publishing of educational brochures in both Tibetan and English. The Health Kalon urged every Tibetan to become educated about Hepatitis, particularly Hepatitis B; get tested for hepatitis B and to seek clinical guidance at your respective health centers in case you need treatment; avoid

Dr. Tsering Wangchuk Minister, Department of Health, Central Tibetan Administration. Photo: TPI

sharing potentially contaminated items, such as needles, razor blades, and tooth brushes. He also stressed the importance of always have protected sex with a partner.

If you are tested positive for Hepatitis B and are pregnant, it is very important to have your newborn receive Hepatitis B Immunoglobulin just after birth to prevent acquiring Hepatitis B infection from the mother.

If someone in your family is infected with Hepatitis B, it is important for other family members to get screened and vaccinated appropriately.

Lastly, protect yourself, your family and most importantly your children from Hepatitis B by getting vaccinated and complete the three doses of Hepatitis B vaccination at your health center.

The statement concluded with encouragement for every Tibetan to commit to understanding more about viral hepatitis and how to prevent it. Through the collective efforts of the Central Tibetan Administration, general public, monastic communities, school administration and NGOs, broader Hepatitis prevention and awareness programs, and the elimination of Hepatitis B from the Tibetan community, is in the future.

4

TPI NEWS

15 August 2014

Horoscopes for the month of August, 2014 Sorces: Always Astrology ARIES (Mar. 21- April 20) Follow your gut feeling regarding your business ventures. Love relationships will flourish.

Communication will be the source of your knowledge and you must be sure to spend time with those who have more experience. Your ability to be a self starter will help get things done and motivate others. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You can come into money; however, perhaps not under the best circumstances. You can win points if you present your ideas this month. You need to look into some private matters before you can proceed with your plans. Attend seminars that will bring you in contact with the right people. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

TAURUS (Apr. 21- may 21) Go out with friends. You can make reasonable bids on real estate or large items for your home. Don’t be too confident that coworkers are on your side.

People who try to persuade you to do things their way will annoy you. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) You may have a tendency to put on weight. Romantic encounters will develop through colleagues.

Children may be on your mind. Those close to your heart may be difficult to reason with. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

GEMINI (May 22-June 21) Do something special for them. Exercise is always a good way to relieve stress. Your sensitive nature will allow others to read you well. You are best not to nag or criticize. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Do not invest in ventures that only appear to be lucrative. Overindulgence could cause problems for you with your loved ones. Don’t spend too much in order to impress others. Be careful not to hurt the ones you love. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

CANCER (June 22-July 22) Your talents are likely to be discovered. You might find added popularity with those around you this month. Don’t let your partner start any arguments.

Passion should be redirected positively. Investments concerning your residence will be profitable. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Problems with female members of your family may play on your emotions. Catch up on overdue paperwork. You can expect opposition from family as well as colleagues. Don’t give your heart too readily. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Sunday.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) If you can get away for a vacation, do so. Opportunities to make advancements through good business sense are apparent. This will not be the time to give too much to your children. You can enhance your cash flow if you pick up additional skills. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Monday.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 21 -Feb. 19) Friends and relatives may be hard to take this month.

You can deal with large institutions or government agencies successfully this month. Pay attention to small but important details. You will do best to entertain those you wish to close deals with. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Tuesday.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Don’t blow situations out of proportion. You’ve been a little down and you need a lift. Your outgoing, aggressive nature will attract someone you’ve been eager to meet. Your lover will be annoyed with your participation. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

PISCES (Feb. 20-Mar. 20) Travel will be favorable. You have to believe in yourself and your talents. Don’t let others know about your private affairs. You can develop your creative talents if you take the time to practice your art. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Thursday.

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Public schedule of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Month Of Ausgust/September/October, 2014

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 Teaching in Dharamsala, HP, India from September 24 to 26: His Holiness will continue to give teachings from Shantideva’s A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (chodjug) at the request of a group of Southeast Asians at the Main Tibetan Temple. Contact Website: www.tibetanbc.org Teaching in Dharamsala, HP, India from October 6 to 9: His Holiness will give teachings on Nagarjuna’s Fundamental Wisdom Treatise of the Middle Way (uma tsawa sherab) at the request of a group of Taiwanese at the Main Tibetan Temple.

Discussion in Vancouver, BC, Canada on October 21: His Holiness will participate in a forum with leading scientists in economics, neuroscience, psychology and public policy on the theme Science of Education of the Heart in the afternoon at the Vancouver Convention Center. Contact Website: www.dalailamacenter.org Teachings in Vancouver, BC, Canada on October 23: His Holiness will give a Buddhist teaching based on Geshe Langri Thangpa’s Eight Verses of Training the Mind (lojong tsikgyema) and confer the Avalokiteshvera Empowerment (chenrezig wang) organized by the Tibetan Cultural Society of British Columbia and Tsengdok Monastery at UBC Thunderbird Arena. Contact Website: www.dalailamavancouver.com Dialogue in Birmingham, Alabama, USA on October 25: His Holiness will participate in a dialogue on Neuroplasticity and Healing organized by the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Interfaith Event in Birmingham, Alabama, USA on October 25: His Holiness will participate in an interfaith dialogue entitled Beyond Belief at The Alabama Theater.

Public Talk in Birmingham, Alabama, USA on October 26: His Holiness will give a public talk in the afternoon at the Regions Field.

Teaching in Boston, MA, USA on October 30: His Holiness will give a day-long Buddhist teaching based on Geshe Langri Thangpa’s Eight Verses of Training the Mind (lojong tsikgyema) and confer the Generation of Bodhicitta (semkyi) organized by the Vietnamese Buddhist community at the Wang Centre for Performing Arts. Contact Website: www.prajnaupadesa.net Talk in Boston, MA, USA on October 31: His Holiness will give a talk at the International Symposium for Contemplative Studies organized by the Mind and Life Institute in the morning at the Boston Marriott Copley. Contact Website: http://www.mindandlife.org Panel Discussion in Boston, MA, USA on October 31: His Holiness will participate in a panel discussion entitled Global Systems 3.0: Equitable Solutions and Global Change organized by The Dalai Lama Centre for Ethics and Transformative Values in the afternoon. Contact Website: http://www.thecenter.mit.edu

Sources: Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

TPI NEWS

The Tibet Post International

Tibetan speaker calls for more efforts to empower women

By Jane Cook: 05 August 2014

‘As I said before, Tibetan women must help each other, putting more effort into empowering themselves. The equal rights for women guaranteed by the Charter of [the Tibetans-in-Exile], depends on themselves taking the equal opportunity,’ Penpa Tsering further said.

The event also featured a book launch: Legal Handbook on Indian Laws and Acts Protecting Women and Children in India, (Tibetan and English Version) and Legal Empowerment of Tibetan Women in Exile-India, A Research Report, 2014.

“Human values are neither masculine nor feminine, they are human values and that is how we want our children to grow up, not as a boy or a girl, but as a human being with equal opportunities,” said Ms Kamla Vhasin.

Other speakers include Tsering Wangchuk, Special Consultant of Tibetan Cabinet; Lobsang Yeshi, Member of Tibetan Parliament in Exile; Tenzin Tseyang, Women’s Empowerment Desk of Tibetan government in exile; Ms Jasmeen Patheja, Activist and Artist; Karma D Namgyal Khortsa, Advocate and Dhardon Sharling, Member of Tibetan Parliament in Exile.

“The training will cover vital areas such as the practical aspects of understanding gender, patriarchy, gender socialization, tackling dilemmas and stereotypes, breaking the silence and the cycle, strategic communication-good practices and innovative tools, combating gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual violence, step by step guide to unapologetic walking, collectively defining sexual violence via mind mapping, building and sharing testimonies amongst group, evidence wall and insight generation, taking safe community pledge, and action for equality, empowerment and development,” the group said in a statement.

In its statement the womens group also said it “believes that a program such as this one will remove the stigma, scepticism surrounding the need for any programs on women, gender and legal empowerment which TWA deem as social and a community imperative for bolstering the political and intellectual representation of Tibetan women in exile.”

Photo: (1) A group photo of the participants with the 17th Karmapa. Photo: (2-4) Tashi Dolma, TWA President; Penpa Tsering, the speaker of the TPiE (c) and Kamla Bhasin, South Asia’s leading Gender Trainer. Photo: TPI

Dharamsala, August 4, 2014: - Maintaining equal rights for Tibetan women guaranteed by the Charter of the Tibetans-in-Exile, Penpa Tsering, speaker of the Tibetan Parliament urged Tibetan women to strengthen their efforts to develop the empowerment of women.

A five-day training of Legal Empowerment of Tibetan Women in Exile, India began in Dharamshala, India, on 3 August. It is organised by the Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) and will conclude on 7 August.

The participants had an audience with 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee and had a discussion on ‘Gender Identities-It’s all in the Mind’ from a book written by the young Karmapa Rinpoche, The Heart is Noble: Changing the World from Inside Out.’ The opening ceremony was graced by Mr Penpa Tsering, the speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile and Ms Kamla Bhasin, Feminist Activist, a Social Scientist by Training and South Asia’s Leading Gender trainer, which was attended by over 70 people, including representatives from Tibetan NGOs, five members of Tibetan Parliament in exile and 49 participants and six men from across India representing a cross-section of the exiled Tibetan population.

Speaker Penpa Tsering said ‘Even though we do not have too much discrimination against women in comparison to some other societies.’

‘There are many changes in our communities, both inside and outside Tibet. But we know that there is still a great need for the promotion of Tibetan women in various fields,’ he added.

Sikyong urges Tibetan ...... we have organized this training today for those who have not received proper training from the public service commission earlier.”

Sikyong also underlined the importance of language skills in the day to day working of the administration and also for the betterment of individual career prospects in the future.

“The chief language of correspondence in the Central Tibetan Administration is Tibetan, and to some extent, English. Therefore, it is extremely important to build on our language skills to ensure clarity and effectiveness in our correspondence,” he said, adding, this training will also come in handy when they apply for internal job promotions through civil exams.

“The four month training will also help you to understand the intricate technical details of Tibetan bureaucracy, including the Tibetan charter, which in turn will help you to perform your duties more effectively. So, this training is a two-pronged strategy to develop the skills of the staff as well as the effectiveness and efficiency of the organization,” Sikyong further said.

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Mr. Jampel Choesang, Commissioner of the Tibetan Public Service Commission, spoke about the reasons for organizing and expectations from this training. “We are organizing this four-month intensive training on Tibetan and English language to ensure an improved delivery of public services,” he said.

Mr. Migyur Dorjee, Secretary of the Public Service Commission, narrated a brief biography of the two resource persons who will be conducting the four-month training to the staff.

The Tibetan language classes will be conducted

by Mr Jhetung Tenzin who has over 35 years of experience in the field. The English classes will be conducted by Ms Tenzin Tsering who is a former reporter with AFP. The training (2 August-2 December, 2014) is organized by the Tibetan Public Service Commission under the advisory of the Kashag, to enhance Tibetan and English language proficiency of Tibetan civil servants serving at various departments and settlement offices of the CTA.

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Adviser Dr Franz Pahl Former speaker of South Tyrol, Italy Adviser Mr Thomas Kemeil A software engineer, Austria Adviser Mr Shalinder Kumar A professional graphic designer, India Adviser Ven Thupten Yarphel A Tibetan writer, India Editor in Chief Yeshe Choesang Chinese Editor Keary Huang Tibetan Editor Choneyi Sangpo Project Manager Matthew Singh Toor Dawa Phurbu Reporter Photographer Artemas Liu Layout & Design Choneyi Sangpo Circulation Jigme Gyatso Office Assistant Gelek Gyatso

Contributors to this editon Keary Huang Taiwan Jane Cook UK Kathryn Middel-Katzenmeyer US Becky UK Penny Chiang Taiwan Dawa Phurbu India Gin Chen Taiwan Yeshe Choesang India Choenyi Sangpo India Jigme Gyatso India Gelek Gyatso India Himalayan Literacy Trust Room #, Top Floor, New Varuni House Temple Road, McLeod Ganj: 176219 Dharamshala, Distt. Kangra H.P., India

E-mail: editor@thetibetpost.com Skype: dhardhophonya1959 Mobile: +91-9882423566 www.thetibetpost.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/tpinews

INTERNATIONAL

15 August 2014

5

UK politician under fire over comment that ‘Tibetans live happily’

By Yeshe Choedsang: 14 August

Dharamshala: - Lord Davidson, a senior British politician was blasted as insensitive by Tibetans and Tibet supporters after making comments on Tibet.

Neil Davidson, Labour’s shadow Advocate General sitting in the House of Lords of the British Parliament made comments while speaking out about the situation in Tibet at a two-day forum on the development of Tibet held in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet on August 12, organised

by China’s Communist regime.

The UK politician has come under fire for saying that ‘the Chinese government has done a great job in developing Tibet to the current stage, where people live happily.”

China’s major state-run media has reported that the British lawmaker told them that ‘the western media merely write about people’s happiness in China’s Tibet and know little about the type of development taking place in there.’

Describing economic development in Tibet as “remarkable,” Lord Davidson said “many western reports are written by enthusiasts of the Dalai Lama. And they may feel uncomfortable when their presumptions or assumptions are challenged. It is uncomfortable and expensive to have their prejudice challenged.”

“There is a gap between the western media coverage on Tibet and the real Tibet,” he said, adding: “many western media are profit-making but traveling to Tibet is too costly, which is also a reason why they couldn’t come and report on the spot in Tibet.”

Uk based Free Tibet Director, Eleanor Byrne-Rosengren

Chinese police ......

...... continued from front page Sources also said ‘police beat and detained many Tibetan protesters and their condition is still unknown.’

“Local Chinese authorities have ordered a group of local Tibetan women to perform in order to give warm reception for a senior Chinese delegation who recently visited the county. But, the Tibetan performers later told their village leader Wangdak that the Chinese authorities harassed them during the visits of senior Chinese officials,” sources said.

According to the sources, Wangdak adamantly opposed officials’ unlawful acts toward the Tibetan women and argued with local authorities to seek justice. However the authorities accused him of organising “illegal” festival and prayer offering in response to his criticism.

‘He has been accused of organising events “illegally”, including an offering of incense and horse racing festival in Dhanma township without permission,’Gyaltsen said.

“Although the festivals have been held for hundreds of years and the cultural events are not illegal,” Wangdak responded by saying that the “Constitution also guarantees the freedom of religious worship.”

Authorities in the county and Chinese media did not reported the incident. Sources said that “Shokpa and Danma villages in Dege County are now kept under heavy surveillance by armed Chinese paramilitary forces.”

In Tibet today, Tibetans are being arbitrary arrested, imprisoned and tortured for merely expressing their suffering under Chinese rule.

Beijing authorities however still claims that “China ‘peacefully liberated’ Tibet, and Tibetans today are happy under Chinese rule.”

Tibetans and supporters ...... ...... continued from front page “Tibetans wish India a Happy Independent Day.” The slogan says. Then Tenzin Dolma, President of Regional Tibetan Women’s Association-Dhramashala said, “Tibetans take great inspiration from India’s freedom struggle, especially Gandhi’s nonviolent principles of resistance, gives us hope that Tibet will also enjoy freedom soon.”

Jyotsna George, Campaigns Director of Student for a Free Tibet-India said, “My ancestors struggled hard everyday for many years to win independence for my country, where I enjoy freedom today. As a Indian, I find my responsibility to take their spirit of resistance forward by standing in solidarity with the Tibetan freedom movement, also grounded in nonviolence resistance.”

The event was also joined by a group of Taiwanese students from the Taipei based SFT-Taiwan. The group is currently on a visit to the Tibetan community in Dharamshala to explore Tibetan culture and the political movement.

“I am really touched with Tibetans and Indians for their freedom struggle. Paricularly they absolutely remain united to fight for the principles of nonviolence, even it is a way to get through difficulties. But, in Taiwan, there is a struggle between political parties and states’ issues. I think freedom is something very important that we shouldn’t lose at any cost,” said Penny Saf Chiang, a member of the SFT-Taiwan.

“I feel very special today to see the Indians and Tibetans joined together in celebrating the Independence day of India. Its really touching, because these two nations have maintained a decade long good relationship,” said Gin Chen, another member of the SFT-Taiwan.

According to the organisers, for India’s Independent Day, there are a lot of Tibetans who study the India’s history and move on toward their Tibet movement for freedom, and spread their messages to other places in India, and across the world.

Tibet-Lhasa-China-2014

said that ‘the reports have not been independently verified but if correct, the comments by Lord Davidson at the Chinese government’s Fourth Forum on Development of Tibet back Chinese propaganda and provide a deeply misleading picture of life for Tibetans.’

“We hope that the comments attributed to Lord Davidson significantly misrepresent his contribution at this event.

If the reports are accurate, Lord Davidson should have acquainted himself with the facts before regurgitating China’s propaganda on Tibet,” she said, adding that “in reality, international media are banned from Tibet by the Chinese government.”

“Economic development in Tibet is far from what it seems from the window of a car or a plush meeting room in Lhasa,” she said.

“We must respond to those few governments or

officials who make irresponsible statements over Tibet.

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,” T.J. Nyima, a Tibetan livinging in exile said.

“Such irresponsible comments against six million Tibetan people currently suffering oppression also harm the Tibetan people’s efforts to expose Tibetan fortitude in the nonviolent struggle,” he added.

China is ranked 175th out of 180 countries in the press freedom index that Reporters Without Borders published in February and is more deserving than ever of inclusion in the Reporters Without Borders list of Enemies of the Internet, the latest version of which was issued earlier this month.

By Kathryn Middel-Katzenmeyer: 07 August 2014

healthcare needs of Tibetan women. He said: “Socio-political issues aside, we also try to look after the healthcare needs of women through various healthcare programs, including the reproductive health and mother and child health programs conducted by the department of health.”

Speaking on education, Sikyong emphasised the importance of education for the overall empowerment of women and called for a collective investment in education from all corners of Tibetan society.

He said that as compared to the past, there is an increased attention towards education in the Tibetan community. “This year, 321 students scored above 75% in the class 12 board exams. It is an increase of 150% as compared to 127 students in 2010.

Moreover, the department of education sanctioned 507 scholarships worth 3.4 crores this year. The majority of recipients of these scholarships are girls,” he said.

Condemning the recent sexual violence incidents in Gopalpur, Mundgod, and in Nepal, Sikyong assured the strictest possible measures to curb such incidents in the future, and urged that there would be zero-tolerance towards such incidents.

“Such incidents are criminal in nature and against the law of the host country. Therefore, the perpetrators will be handed over to the police without any hesitation,” Sikyong said, adding, the Kashag has published a guideline to pre-empt such incidents from happening in future.

The five-day training is attended by 65 participants including five men, from various parts of India.

The inaugural session of the training was presided over by Mr. Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile.

Women play a prominent role in Tibetan society: Sikyong

Dharamshala: - Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sanga expressed the 14th Kashag’s firm commitment towards women’s empowerment and gender equality, saying Tibetan women are playing an increasingly prominent role in all aspects of contemporary Tibetan society.

He was speaking Wednesday (6 August) at a fiveday “training for trainers” program on the legal empowerment of Tibetan women in exile, which was organized by the Tibetan Women’s Association.

In his address, Sikyong talked about the importance of women’s empowerment and its pertinence in today’s world for a holistic growth of a community. He also spoke about the 14th Kashag’s priority placed on gender equality, as encapsulated in ‘Unity’, one of the three guiding principles of the current Kashag.

Sikyong said that women are playing an increasingly prominent role in all aspects of contemporary Tibetan society. “We have two female Kalons in the 14th Kashag, heading two of the largest departments of the Central Tibetan Administration. There are also an increasing number of women leading the Tibetan struggle at the grassroots level,” Sikyong said.

“Even among the staff, over 30% of the current staff in the Central Tibetan Administration is female.

Over 24% of the joint secretary level officials in the CTA hierarchy are women, with two additional secretaries. We have also appointed a woman as the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in South Africa, to emphasize the role played by women in the administrative and politics of the democratic Tibetan community,” Sikyong added.

Sikyong also spoke about the steps taken by the Central Tibetan Administration to cater to the

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay addressing durintg the 2nd day of a five-day training of Legal Empowerment of Tibetan Women in Exile, organised by TWA, 5 August 2014. Photo: TPI

6

TPI NEWS

The Tibet Post International Back Page Focus It’s in Chinese interest to give Tibet more autonomy: Sikyong His Holiness the Dalai Lama

15 August 2014

By Yeshe Choesang: 08 August 2014

Dr Lobsang Sangay, elected head of the Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI/Yeshe Choesang

Dharamshala:- The elected political leader of the Tibetan people, Dr Lobsang Sangay says the people in Tibet will be happy if they are given more autonomy

by China “within the Chinese constitution”.

The 46-year-old Dr Sangay elected head of the Central Tibetan Administration, who completes three year in office Aug 8, told the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) he believes that the Tibetans will be happy if the Chinese give them more autonomy.

“Yes, it would be in China’s own interest as we are seeking genuine autonomy within the Chinese constitution for the people in Tibet,” Dr Sangay said

during an interview by Vishal Gulati of IANS at Dharamshala, hill station in Himachal Pradesh, India.

“We do believe in ‘middle-way’ that even international leaders, including US President Barack Obama, and many Chinese intellectuals, such as imprisoned Nobel Peace Laureate Liu Xiaobo, support.”

About China’s seriousness over the issue, he said: “China should be serious over the issue because its sovereignty, territorial integrity and stability are all addressed if the genuine autonomy is granted to Tibetans.”

“We hope the Chinese government will review its hardline approach and introduce liberal policies towards Tibetans. I hope that President Xi Jinping will accept dialogue as the only way to resolve the Tibet issue peacefully,” Sangay said.

The Tibetan administration, headquartered in Dharamshala, launched a campaign June 5 to reach out to the international community to counter the Chinese ‘misinformation campaign’ on its ‘middle-way approach’.

Sangay said the response from the international community has been positive towards resolving the issue. “Many including the US Senate and the European Union passed resolutions over the issue.”

But Sangay believes in dialogue.

Asked about his initiatives to resume talks between the Dalai Lama envoys and the Chinese, Sangay said: “After the devolution of political authority by His Holiness the Dalai Lama (in 2011), one of our main objectives was to ensure a smooth transition in the aftermath.”

“I am happy to say the transition has been as smooth as it could be.”

China and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s envoys have held nine rounds of talks since 2002 to resolve the Tibetan issue. During the last round of talks – the ninth one – held in Beijing in January 2010, the government-in-exile submitted an explanatory note to the Chinese leadership to clarify its stand on autonomy for the Tibetan people.

At the end of the round, the statement which the Chinese side issued said the two sides had “sharply divided views, as usual”.

CTA releases guidelines for sexual assault free society

Ms. Tsewang Dolma Shosur and Ms. Tenzin Tseyang of the Department of Home at the launch. Photo: CTA\DIIR

By Yangchen Dokma: 14 August 2014

Dharamshala: - The Tibetan administration admonished Tibetans in exile — “Sexual Assault Free Tibetan Society” — as it released a guideline designed to preempt sexual assault cases in the Tibetan community.

The Women’s Empowerment Desk of the Department of Home, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Tuesday released a guideline to create a “Sexual Assault Free Tibetan Society,” the Tibetan administration media “Tibet Net” reported on Tuesday, 12 August.

The report said “the guideline was created under the

guidance of the Kashag to pre-empt sexual assault cases in the Tibetan community.”

Ms. Tsewang Dolma Shosur, Joint Secretary of the Department, released the book. Over 60 representatives from various Tibetan +institutions based in Dharamshala, including staff of the CTA, Tibetan schools and non-governmental organisations, attended the ceremony.

“The guideline is aimed at creating awareness about sexual assaults, vulnerability issues and promote corrective measures to enhance the involvement of the

whole section of society to work towards creating a sexual assault free Tibetan society,” said Tenzin Tseyang, co-ordinator for the women’s empowerment desk.

She said “the guideline contains specific reference to parents, school authorities, workplace and youth. Many expert views had also been included to make it relevant, effective and applicable.”

“The Department of Home hopes to mitigate the vulnerability of Tibetan women and men in sexual assault cases with the release of this guideline,” she further added.

2014 Hong Kong Tibet Film Festival will be held in September

By Penny Saffron: 13 August 2014

Dharamshala: - The 2014 Hong Kong Tibet Film Festival will be held in Hong Kong, on September 26-28. With the help of the organizer of Zurich Tibet Film Festival, the film festival will show screen films and a large number of micro movies related to Tibet.

Hong Kong Tibet Film Festival council says ‘those filmmakers and photographers of films all attribute to inside and outside Tibet, so those films are more

realistic and help people to comprehend Tibetan’s sight of life, identity, reflections and affection.’

In a press statement to the Tibet Post International, the organisers said that ‘it will invite audiences from Hong Kong, China and Taiwan, and screen the following films: Old Dog (director :Pema Tseden), Bringing Tibet Home (director : Tenzin Rigdol), Summer Pasture (director : Lynn True, Nelson Walker, Tsering Perlo), Girl From China (director : Sonam Tseten), Tibet In Song (director

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: Ngawang Choephel). It will screen micro movies won award in competition for Tibet documentary of Zurich Tibet Film Festival: Canh Ba Ba (turtle soup)(director :Tsering Tashi Gyalthang) and Repaired Glasses (director : Geleck Palsang) and etc.’

“Old Dog” directed by Pema Tseden is a new-wave Tibetan films, it doesn’t include any of the flourishing beauty but shows a dismal, despairing area where the cities look like post-apocalyptic wastelands and the countrysides don’t seem to contain a speck of life.

While Pema Tseden’s outlook on things is unrelentingly critical, it’s not being negative for the sake of it – there’s some true passion behind it, with plenty to say on all topics, ranging from the younger generation’s lack of connection, to their heritage and the troubling relationship between Tibetan and China.

“Bringing Tibet Home” directed by Tenzin Rigdol is a documentary film about the artist Tenzin Rigdol’s art project named “Our Land, Our People” to bring 20,000 kilos of native Tibetan soil across the Himalayas from Tibet to India and display this soil on a platform in Dharamshala giving a chance to thousands of exiled Tibetans to walk on their home soil. For some, this is the first time that they will have set foot on their homeland. Through this groundbreaking site-specific installation, it will enable the displaced to ‘Return’ home.

offers prayers for Taiwan disasters

By Yeshe Choesang: 10 August 2014

His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Photo: Media File

Dharamshala: - Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sanga expressed the 14th Kashag’s firm commitment towards women’s empowerment and gender equality, saying Tibetan women are playing an increasingly prominent role in all aspects of contemporary Tibetan society.

He was speaking Wednesday (6 August) at a fiveday “training for trainers” program on the legal empowerment of Tibetan women in exile, which was organized by the Tibetan Women’s Association.

In his address, Sikyong talked about the importance of women’s empowerment and its pertinence in today’s world for a holistic growth of a community.

He also spoke about the 14th Kashag’s priority placed on gender equality, as encapsulated in ‘Unity’, one of the three guiding principles of the current Kashag.

Sikyong said that women are playing an increasingly prominent role in all aspects of contemporary Tibetan society. “We have two female Kalons in the 14th Kashag, heading two of the largest departments of the Central Tibetan Administration. There are also an increasing number of women leading the Tibetan struggle at the grassroots level,” Sikyong said.

“Even among the staff, over 30% of the current staff in the Central Tibetan Administration is female.

Over 24% of the joint secretary level officials in the CTA hierarchy are women, with two additional secretaries. We have also appointed a woman as the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in South Africa, to emphasize the role played by women in the administrative and politics of the democratic Tibetan community,” Sikyong added.

Sikyong also spoke about the steps taken by the Central Tibetan Administration to cater to the healthcare needs of Tibetan women. He said: “Socio-political issues aside, we also try to look after the healthcare needs of women through various healthcare programs, including the reproductive health and mother and child health programs conducted by the department of health.”

Speaking on education, Sikyong emphasised the importance of education for the overall empowerment

of women and called for a collective investment in education from all corners of Tibetan society.

He said that as compared to the past, there is an increased attention towards education in the Tibetan community. “This year, 321 students scored above 75% in the class 12 board exams.

It is an increase of 150% as compared to 127 students in 2010. Moreover, the department of education sanctioned 507 scholarships worth 3.4 crores this year. The majority of recipients of these scholarships are girls,” he said.

Condemning the recent sexual violence incidents in Gopalpur, Mundgod, and in Nepal, Sikyong assured the strictest possible measures to curb such incidents in the future, and urged that there would be zerotolerance towards such incidents.

“Such incidents are criminal in nature and against the law of the host country. Therefore, the perpetrators will be handed over to the police without any hesitation,” Sikyong said, adding, the Kashag has published a guideline to pre-empt such incidents from happening in future.

The five-day training is attended by 65 participants including five men, from various parts of India.

The inaugural session of the training was presided over by Mr. Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile.

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