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Bundestag V-P Claudia Roth to Tibet: “Thank you for your courage”

“our cause is securing human dignity of the people of Tibet,” Nancy Pelosi Vol. 03, Issue 128, Print Issue 52, March 15, 2015

Tibetan admin. offers prayer service for Norchuk

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His Holiness: Tibetan culture offers unique qualities to the world

By Oliver Arnoldi: March 11, 2015

A prayer service for Norchuk held at the main Tibetan temple in Mcleod Ganj, Dharamshala, India, on March 13, 2015. Photo: TPI/Jigme Gyatso

By Dawa Phurbu: March 13, 2015

Dharamshala — The Central Tibetan Administration, Friday organised a prayer service for Norchuk who died after setting herself ablaze on 5 March 2015.

Tibetans and supporters, including monks and nuns from monasteries and nunneries around Dharamshala and officials of the Central Tibetan Administration attended the prayer service.

Kalon Pema Chhinjor, who was officiating as the Sikyong, gave the condolence remarks at the prayer service. The prayer service was led by Ven. Ngawang Topgyal, a senior spiritual teacher at Namgyal monastery.

At least 136 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009 calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans. Out of the 136, 117 have died while the rest were critically injured or their whereabouts remain unknown to this day.

Tibetan NGO’s Solidarity with Norchuk

Upper Bhattu, HP, India –His Holiness the Dalai Lama expressed that “Tibetan culture is unique in the many qualities it offers to the whole world” during a teaching led by him at Sherabling Monastery in upper Bhattu on March 11.

His Holiness was invited to Sherabling by the 12th Chamgon Kenting Tai Situ Rinpoche to consecrate its statues and the shrine in its temple hall, as well as to receive a long life offering by Situ Rinpoche which will be preceded by the Long Life Initiation of Amitayus and the transmission of the Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment. His Holiness will also inaugurate the Lungrik Jamphel Ling Institute, the new learning centre of the monastery.

These events will take place on March 12.

Addressing a congregation of over one thousand Tibetan and international guests — including Chief Justice Commissioner Mr Kagyu Dhondup, members of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile and representatives of Tibetan non-governmental organisations, schools and institutions — His Holiness underlined that “Tibetan culture is not only about religion; its values apply to both religious and non-religious people.”

His Holiness paid tribute to Situ Rinpoche for his unceasing devotion to Tibetan Buddhism, especially for his focus on the educational development of monks: “There are many who build temples and monasteries but Situ Rinpoche is one of those few whose focus on education is exemplary.”

The sentiment of His Holiness was echoed in the address of Mr Penpa Tsering — Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile — who said: “It is praiseworthy that under the leadership of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, many Tibetan spiritual leaders — like Situ Rinpoche — have created tremendous educational opportunities in exile and abroad.”

“During the past 38 years, through many difficult circumstances, Situ Rinpoche has developed this institution that has facilities for all aspects of education, including medicine, dialectics, philosophy and advanced Tibetan language studies. At its completion, attended by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, this is a great time for all of us.”

The sustained work of Situ Rinpoche and other monks was

His Holiness the Dalai Lama addresing at the Palpung Sherabling Monastery, Keori, Himachal Pradesh, India, on March 11, 2015. Photo: TPI/Yeshe Choesang

mentioned in the address of Kalon Pema Chinjor — Minister for the Department of Religion and Culture — who said: “Thanks to our great enlightened masters who managed to escape into exile, Tibetan culture has spread. In the past 56 years, people from around the world have found that Tibet’s religion and culture is very precious.”

Chinjor also honoured His Holiness, who he described as a “champion of peace”.

While Chinjor commended the older generation of Tibet’s community-in-exile, he highlighted concern for the future:

“Today, big questions about Tibetan culture still remain. We need to see whether we have people in the [approximately 800] centres of Buddhism around the world who are really qualified to teach future generations.

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Sherabling offering long-life prayer to His Holiness

Tibetan woman dies after setting self on fire in Ngaba County, Amdho Tibet

A candle Light vigil for the 47-year-old woman Norchuk burned herself to death in protesting against Chinese policies. Photo Credit - Tempa Nyaa Nekoda

By Yeshe Choesang: February 24, 2015

Dharamshala — Expressing solidarity with the Tibetan woman who immolated her self in protest against the Chinese oppression in Tibet, Tibetans living in exile organised a candle light vigil, on March 9.

A 47-year-old Tibetan woman identified as Norchuk, set herself ablaze on Friday in her village Ngaba, Amdo in North-eastern Tibet. She succumbed to her injuries and died on the spot.

Norchuk was 136th Tibetan to immolate herself in protest of Chinese policies. Various other Tibetan NGOs like SFT, Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) and Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) jointly organized a candle light vigil in Dharamshala.

Monks and nuns led by the 12th Chamgon Kenting Tai Situ Rinpoche offering long-life prayer to His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Sherabling monastery, Upper Bhattu, H.P., India, on March 12, 2015. Photo: TPI/Yeshe Choesang

TYC activists storm Chinese embassy in Delhi

China hints at resuming talks with Dalai Lama

Protesters interlocked their hands and tried to form a chain around the embassy before police stepped in and dragged them away. Photo: TPI

By Yeshe Choesang: March 10, 2015

Zhu Weiqun, the director of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs CPPCC. Photo: Media file

By PTI: March 11, 2015

Beijing — Hinting at resuming talks with the Dalai Lama for the first time in several years, China today said it is open to a “discussion” with the Tibetan spiritual leader on “relevant issues” other than independence for Tibet or “greater autonomy” for his Himalayan homeland.

“We hope the Dalai Lama can abandon his separatist stance and his deceptive ‘middle way’ approach,” Zhou Weiqun, head of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China’s advisory legislative body told a media briefing in Beijing.

While accusing the 79-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader of attempting to destabilise Tibet by “instigating” self- immolation protests in which over 120 Tibetans were killed, Zhou however said China is open for discussions with the Dalai Lama other than independence and related issues.

“China hopes that in the future he will know that he is doing the wrong thing and correct himself and P- 7...

Norchuk, a 47-year-old Tibetan woman from Ngaba County, Amdho Region of north-eastern Tibet. Photo: TPI

By Yeshe Choesang: March 6, 2015

Dharamshala - A Tibetan woman died on Thursday after setting herself on fire, protesting against the Chinese government’s repressive policies in Tibet.

“Norchuk, a 47-years-old Tibetan woman, set herself on fire right in Ngaba County, Amdho Region of northeastern Tibet, (Ch: Aba county of Sichuan Province, China, Thursday night,” a sources told the Tibet Post International.

Sources described her as a resident of Dhowa village, Trotsik Yultso town in Ngaba County and her husband’s name is Paltsal.

“She participated in the annual prayer of the Ngayul Dephu Monastery and presented her with an award after making vows not to eat meat her whole life for long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” the sources added.

This latest brought the total verified number of self-

immolations in Tibet to 136 since February, 2009 and and of them 117 were reportedly passed-away due to their severe injuries.

Ven Kanyak Tsering, coordinator of Kirti monastery in Dharamshala, on Sunday confirmed Norchuk’s selfimmolation protest, citing contacts in the region.

“Her father’s name is Tsedhak, and her mother’s name is Woedon. She leaves behind two daughters and one son—Mangga, Tsezin Kyid, and Puntsok.” said Ven Kanyak Tsering.

“Local Tibetans cremated her body on Friday morning as they feared the Chinese authorities would forcibly take her body away” - frequently the authorities cremate the bodies of self-immolators, against the wishes of the family, Ven Tsering added.

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New Delhi – Indian police on Tuesday detained over a hundred Tibetan Youth Congress activists who were protesting outside the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi on the anniversary of a failed 1959 uprising against China’s rule in Tibet.

They shouted “Free Tibet” and “Rise up for freedom,”while others tied themselves together with an iron link chain. Some Tibetan men had painted their bodies and faces in the yellow, blue and red colours of the Tibetan flag, according to media reports.

“We want to send a clear message to the Chinese government that as long as the illegal occupation of Tibet continues, as long as the oppression continues, the discrimination continues and Tibetan people are denied human rights and freedom,” said Tenzing Jigme, TYC President who was also arrested at the protest in Delhi.

TYC also called upon all Tibetans to remain united and steadfast in our movement. The Chinese government will never be able to break Tibetans’ will and spirit.

TYC said they were dedicating their protest to the memory of the 136 Tibetans who have self-immolated since 2009 to protest Chinese rule in Tibet.

TYC is the largest Tibetan NGO in exile working for the freedom and independence of the Tibetan people. TYC has more than 35,000 members and 88 chapters worldwide.

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Editorial:

Tibet and the global economy: is today’s China poisoning the West?

March 15, 2015

Dharamshala — The democratic ideals of freedom and liberty that the world enjoy today were won through a decades-long struggle.

However, despite the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights, a popular future slogan may arise among the Western world who fought for these principles: “Today’s China is tomorrow’s Western world”. Gradually, their values are becoming one and the same.

But many still believe that so-called democracies are increasingly pernicious, and in the long run, as dangerous as totalitarian and authoritarian systems. Some of the most famous political leaders of all time and the most influential political scientists have defined Western states as being consistently guided by principles of democracy. But, many predict that these principles are endangered! Their fear is that the Western world will become another Soviet Union sooner or later; a free and open capitalist market economy transformed into a communist one modelled on China’s example.

Sometimes silence reflects the ambivalence over human rights and freedom. Democratic nations should at all times be fond of an equal and open society, but there are certain periods at which they compromise their values for the interests of party politics. Has communist China bought the world’s silence on human rights abuses?

Whatever freedoms you have cannot exist in a political vacuum. There must be some way of assuring and protecting our rights and freedom — government must be held accountable. We must remember that democracy never lasts long.

It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself, if we do not maintain principles. Therefore, world powers should also be mindful about China’s credibility, otherwise there will be economic and political consequences.

Some might say that there never has been a democracy that did not commit suicide. It is in vain to say that democracy is less vain, less proud, less selfish, less ambitious, or less avaricious than authoritarian China. It is simply not true. However, according to recent studies, many democracies around the world are on the verge of a ‘democratic meltdown’, due to the failure of government political elites to respect universally valid democratic principles, including liberty and social justice.

In reality, the world must know that China forcefully occupied the defenceless and peaceful Tibet in 1949 using military power.

Despite the opposition of Tibetans, Chinese suppressed the voices of Tibetan people and claimed to the world that Tibet was a part of China. The credibility of China is nothing; anything that it said isn’t reliable.

Tibet’s example should raise alerts for Taiwanese people about the future of Taiwan.

Taiwan should be careful if they are negotiating with China about Taiwan’s future. The same thing that happened to Tibet and Hong Kong could happen to Taiwan— it would lose its freedoms if it decided to return to China.

Taiwan enjoys democracy while Hong Kong is unlikely to get genuine universal suffrage in the foreseeable future. In that sense, Hong Kong is more like Tibet, inner Mongolia and eastern Turkistan. Tibetans have long viewed Nepal as a sanctuary and an ally in the past, but the situation is now at a turning point as China’s growing influence causes great damage to the country’s international image. Unlike in Taiwan, where Tibetans can freely voice views on human rights and freedom, Nepal has not yet fully realised the implications of democratic victory. It’s a living example of what Hong Kong and Nepal might become if Beijing interferes more invasively in its affairs. Tibet is what everyone hopes any country will not be.

Tibet, Xinjiang, Taiwan and Hong Kong are recognised as global hot topics among the international community — especially Tibet — one of the most controversial issues of the past half century. Whether intentionally or not, occupation and repression always creates economic, political and moral costs, not only for China but for many.

A denial of freedom never earns the love and respect of the population that surrounds you.

The crisis of world silence on freedom and dignity is in its worst state in the past few decades.

The recent political strategy in some countries favouring economic interests over human rights is increasing. The best example is Tibet: first comes excuses, then comes silence, then comes denial, and then comes mockery, but never an official word of responsibility or apology regarding 1.2

million Tibetan deaths, and to several million victims of human rights abuses.

China ironically uses the policy of ‘One Country Two Systems’ for Hong Kong today. This is a facade that Beijing consistently presents to the outside world. In reality, the regime’s political system is still deeply rooted in Maoism and pro-Sovietism which only superficially calls for peace, justice, equality and freedom.

This guise was originally derived from the policy used in Tibet during the early 1950s and completely failed. The problem is that the communist regime does not keep its promises.

According to the current situation in Hong Kong, Tibet and eastern Turkistan’s today will be Hong Kong’s tomorrow, and Hong Kong’s today will be Taiwan’s tomorrow.

The conditions in China for the Middle Way Approach to solve the issue of Tibet has not yet publically materialised. The Approach would be openly accepted by the masses if only they knew the truth. It is difficult to have a breakthrough on policy in Tibet as the whole region is under military control. However, many Chinese scholars believe that the Approach — in the long run — is the best solution to Tibet’s political issues.

However, China’s international image has been greatly tarnished from their policies of cultural genocide against the Tibetan people. Tibetan Buddhism is one of the most influential religions in the world. Nobody predicted that Buddhist science would have a huge global impact, nor Tibet’s contribution towards a cultural realisation of a peaceful and harmonious world. Also, 60 years ago, it was an impossible for China to imagine Tibet on the world stage and for there to be international pressure for a negotiation between Tibet and China.

Like the urgent situation in Tibet, the nationality crisis was a key reason for the collapse of the Soviet Union. There is every possibility that China could go the same way as the Soviet Union did if the regime does not change its policies on its occupied nations. The Chinese social system is similar to that of the former Soviet Union — it controls everything.

However, it is nearly impossible to resolve the above issues in China, Tibet, eastern Turkistan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, if Xi Jinping’s “China’s Dreams” and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach will not meet each other half way. But, if the Tibetan spiritual leader could visit China and Tibet, especially Wutai Shan Mountain, it would be a big breakthrough for the overall situation — a great and historical possibility that China could become a great moral power.

One of the biggest problems is that discussing Tibet related issues has been academically forbidden in China and Tibet for the past six decades. Whether intentionally or coincidentally, the Chinese government does not allow scholars to study the Tibet issue, Tibetan history or the current situation in Tibet freely.

World leaders including renowned religious scholars and political observers as well as many eminent Chinese intellectuals expressed their genuine support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach — it is regarded as the best political method to resolve the issue.

Teaching people in China the truth about His Holiness the Dalai Lama, his thoughts, his words, and the Approach should be a top priority.

The so called “One Country, Two Systems” is completely not working and Hong Kong’s dream of enjoying greater democracy in the future seems like it will never come true. The recent protests in the region show that the “One Country, Two Systems” policy has not been politically or legally implemented. Many express their concerns that China will eventually change the current system into “One Country, One System”.

Our struggle for freedom can be as great as we want it to be since we believe in truth and justice.

Non-violence will prevail if we believe in ourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if we are willing to sacrifice the little things like short-term economic interests and stand up for universal principles that the free world should uphold.

As the Tibetan people went into exile, it enabled Buddhism and peaceful non-violent struggle to spread all over the world. Those elders who sacrificed their lives for the principles of democracy and freedom are sources of guidance in times of need. They can give us inspiration in times of freedom and their legacy can motivate us in times of struggle. Our struggle must continue until the end because success is not final and failure is not forever.

OPINION

The Tibet Post International

Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile honours patriotism of three generations of Tibetans

By Oliver Arnoldi: March 10, 2015

Dharamshala - Thousands of people gathered in and around the Main Temple in Dharamshala this morning in a show of solidarity for Tibetan National Uprising Day. The congregation – also observed as Tibetan Martyrs’ Day since 2013 – commemorated the 56th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising against the Chinese occupation of Tibet, where estimates of Tibetan deaths range between 80,000 and 430,000 lives.

A rousing communal performance of the Gyallu [Tibetan national anthem] and Dentsig Monlam [Prayer of Truth] was led by the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts, before Penpa Tsering – Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile – addressed the crowds on the lower concourse of the Temple.

“On behalf of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile, I would like to commemorate with great fervour the patriotic men and women of Tibet who sacrificed everything – including their very lives – for the religion, polity and people of Tibet, and to express solidarity with those who continue even today to suffer oppression and torture under the policy of violent repression of the Communist Party of China,” he said.

Tsering recounted the formative years of China’s occupation of Tibet, stating that the “spontaneous protest” of thousands of Tibetans in 1959 is “indelibly etched in the history of Tibet. At the time, the communist government of China resorted to distortion of Tibet’s history and its sovereignty. It took to amalgamating Tibet’s culture with its own despite the fact that the two were entirely incompatible, thereby seeking to destroy its unique identity.”

“It deprived the Tibetan people of their religious faith and freedom. It vandalised and recklessly exploited Tibet’s territory and its resources, thereby setting out to destroy the environment of the Tibetan Plateau. It trampled on the Tibetan people’s rights as human beings and put an end to the Tibetan people’s freedom of speech,” he added.

These are elements of Chinese rule that continue today, and which have been continually protested against by Tibetans in a non-violent manner.

Tsering stressed that “the Chinese leadership should understand that it is impossible for peaceful Tibetan protests to come to an end so long as there is no just resolution of the issue of Tibet.”

Tsering also expressed that, despite the “outstanding efforts” of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in regard to Sino-Tibetan relations, “successive leaderships of China have invariably taken recourse to nothing but subterfuge, never even remaining true to their own words. Apart from numerous other breaches of faith, they did not respect even the so-called 17 Point Agreement, which was entirely dictated by them and which they forced the Tibetan side to sign at gun point.”

Due to this, Tsering commented that it is “not

Mr Penpa Tsering, Speaker of the TPiE addressing the 56th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day in Dharamshala, India, on March 10, 2014. Photo: TPI/Dawa Phurbu

surprising that in 1987 and 2008, the second and third generations of Tibetans – who have been brought up under the red flag of China – led protests which were widespread and took place in all three traditional provinces of Tibet, including in Lhasa.”

After paying tribute to the known 136 Tibetans who have committed acts of self-immolation between 2009 and March 5 2015, Tsering honoured Tibet’s spiritual leaders – including His Holiness, the leaders of the four great schools of Tibetan Buddhism and of the Yungdrung Bon religion – who managed to escape into exile and “preserve, defend and spread the substance of the Tibetan religious traditions and Tibetan culture in free foreign countries, including India.”

However, he demanded that “today’s generation must prove it is up to the task of carrying forward the accomplishments and aims of the older generation. All sections of the Tibetan people must therefore make concerted efforts by assuming responsibilities in an all-round manner and without any shortcoming.”

“In particular, it must be understood that the most important essence of the life of a people is its linguistic culture, both spoken and written.

We must look up to the young Tibetans in Tibet for the kind of efforts they are making towards protecting the Tibetan linguistic heritage under the violent repression of the Chinese government. It is important for us to make efforts to ensure that we do not become Tibetans who are ashamed to call ourselves Tibetan.”

Tsering followed this plea by detailing the enhanced repression more recently felt by Tibetans under occupation: “New leaders of China have contended that in order to govern China, the border areas should be well governed. Through the use of such remarks, tens of thousands of Chinese officials have been sent to Tibetan inhabited areas,

including in the Tibet Autonomous Region, and have taken up long-term residence within the Tibetan communities, including in the monasteries, and have carried out surveillance on the activities of local Tibetans day and night. In doing so, they have harassed the monastic communities by rendering them unable to devote their times to prayer services and religious studies.”

“They have also exercised tight controls and restrictions on the local Tibetan people’s political rights, freedom of speech, their day-to-day occupational pursuits, their freedom of movement, and so on. This situation continues today. [...] Not a week passed [in 2014] without there being at least one arrest or imprisonment of a Tibetan. [...]

We would again like to make an emphatic call on the Chinese leadership to implement a policy of seeking truth from facts and of being true to their own words in addressing the situation in Tibet. [...] There is absolutely no change in our resolve to seek a negotiated solution through the Middle Way approach, which is mutually beneficial to China and Tibet, as a part of our efforts to resolve the current critical situation in Tibet.”

Tsering concluded his address by returning his thoughts to Tibet’s supporters and its leadership: “I would like to take this opportunity to express immense gratitude to the countries, organisations, and individuals – especially the government and people of India – who have been extremely kind in giving support on the issue of Tibet and in providing humanitarian and other forms of assistance to the Tibetan people living in exile.”

“The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile also takes this opportunity to express immense gratitude for every bit of the infinite concerns His Holiness the Dalai Lama has shown and the deeds he has accomplished for the benefit of the Buddhist faith and all sentient beings.”

“Spirit, resilience and conviction” honoured on Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day

By Oliver Arnoldi: March 13, 2015

Dharamshala –The central Tibetan Women’s Association (TWA) and its 56 regional chapters across the world commemorated the 56th anniversary of Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day on March 12.

Both the central TWA and Regional Tibetan Women’s Association (RTWA) honoured the anniversary with a small event at Martyrs’ pillar, Tsuklagkhang. Hundreds of women – including Tibetan nuns, laypeople and foreign supporters – congregated at the pillar before marching peacefully to Kachari, Dharamshala.

Honourable Kalon Gyari Dolma – former Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile – attended the event as chief guest and addressed the congregation, stressing that now was a time to be united in the Tibetan struggle: “The right to commemorate the March 12 uprising belongs to all people of the three provinces of Tibet. So we must collectively respect the significance and meaning irrespective of what your personal opinions are and work together.”

Tashi Dolma – President of the TWA – also spoke.

She lauded the “the brave Tibetan women from the three provinces in Tibet who 56 years ago staged a peaceful yet powerful resistance against the brutal Chinese forces staging a forceful occupation of Tibet. The spirit, resilience and conviction of that resistance have continued to this day and Tibetan women are at the forefront of our nation’s peaceful, non-violent movement.”

Dolma said that the self-immolations committed

by Tibetans in- and outside of Tibet (136 inside and 6 outside) since February 2009 in protest to the draconian policies of the Chinese government “are engraved in our hearts and

Tibetan women in exile joined the Tibetan Women’s Association commemorated the 56th anniversary of Tibetan Women’s Uprising Day in Dharamshala, India on March 12. Photo: TPI/Dawa Phurbu

we stand in solidarity with them.”

She also mentioned the annual report of the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), which claims that there are 2110 listed Tibetan political prisoners in Chinese prisons: “Under the harsh surveillance of Chinese authorities, there is random detention and criminalisation of family members, friends, and neighbours of the individuals arrested and convicted. TWA calls on the Chinese government to stop these arbitrary arrests of the innocent people and to release all the political prisoners including Gedhun Choekyi Nyima (the eleventh Panchen Lama), Tulku Tenzin Delek and Jadrel Rinpoche.”

Dolma also elaborated on the less widely known

issue of inter-ethnic marriage between Tibetan and Chinese people that is being encouraged by the Chinese government via a reward scheme.

She described the policy – which came into effect last year – “as a callous plot to annihilate the Tibetan cultural identity.”

Her ultimate tone, however, was characteristically resilient: “This year marks 66 years of China’s illegal occupation of Tibet. Within these six decades, the Chinese government’s efforts to repress the Tibetan people with their policies have failed. Tibetans continue to engage in peaceful and cultural forms of resistance and have openly and defiantly expressed their reverence and faith in His Holiness the Dalai Lama.”

3 TPI NEWS Tibet News Buddhist monk calling for equal rights Annual Monlam festival held under heavy in Tibet arrested and disappeared restrictions at Kubum County, Amdho, Tibet The Tibet Post International

By Yeshe Choesang: March 8, 2015

Gedhun Phuntso holding a portrait of the Tibetan spiritual leader with a yellow Tibetan scarf, in Ngaba township, Tibet, on March 8, 2015. Photo: TPI

Dharamshala - Chinese authorities in Ngaba County of north-eastern Tibet Friday have detained a Tibetan Buddhist monk for staging a peaceful solo protest by shouting slogans such as “freedom and equal rights for the Tibetans in Tibet” and “the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet.”

“Gedhun Phuntsok, an 18 year-old monk from Kirti monastery was arrested while staging a solo protest in the street of Ngaba township shouting slogans— protesting against Chinese rule in Tibet,” Ven Kanyak and Lobsang Yeshi, from the India based Kirti Monastery told the Tibet Post International (TPI) on Sunday afternoon.

“Phuntsok walked about for few minutes in the street (About 1:30 pm local, March 8, 2015) while raising a portrait of the Tibetan spiritual leader with a yellow Tibetan scarf, shouting slogans such as “Equal rights for Tibetans in Tibet” and “the Return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet,” the source said citing contacts in Tibet.

“Chinese security personnel arrived at the site of the protest after few minutes,” they said, adding “after that he’s disappeared.”

March 15, 2015

The sources said that “after the arrest his condition and whereabouts remain unknown.

“Her father’s name is Tagya, and her mother’s name is Rig-go.

Phuntsok is a native of Chayultso Chukley Gabma village, Ngaba County in Amdho Region of north-eastern Tibet (Ch: Aba County, Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in the north-west of Sichuan Province). He became monk at a young age at Kirti Monastery where he studied Buddhist philosophy and culture, and Tibetan language.

A photo of his protest received from the area also shows the monk staging a lone protest by carrying a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama with a yellow Tibetan scarf.

A large number of armed Chinese security forces and police are also deployed onto the Ngaga town streets and surrounding areas during the past few weeks. The sources said that the Chinese government has currently imposed a tight control over the movement of Tibetans, including monks of the monastery.

The heightened security presence appears aimed at preventing protests on the coming March 10 anniversary of a failed 1959 Tibetan revolt against Chinese rule.

The Chinese regime also has imposed severe restrictions on internet and phone connections by increasing a wider crackdown on communications across Tibet in an attempt to prevent any news reaching the outside world.

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

However, authorities in Beijing still claim that “China ‘peacefully liberated’ Tibet, and that the “Tibetans are living in a Maoist socialist paradise” in Tibet.

TCHRD report documents crisis of maternal and child health in Tibet

By Oliver Arnoldi: March 9, 2015

Health Kalon Dr Tsering Wangchuk releases the TCHRD’s report at the DIIR Lhakpa Tsering Hall, Dharamshala, India, on March 5, 2015. Photo: TPI/Choneyi Sangpo

Dharamshala - The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) has released a special report on Tibetans’ right to healthcare, entitled In the Shadow of Development: Maternal and Child Health in Crisis in Tibet.

The report documents how a failing system of public healthcare has caused critically poor levels of maternal and child health to persist in Tibet, despite significant improvements in conditions in the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

The report pinpoints that Tibetan women and children living in rural areas bear some of the highest risk in the PRC for birth-related illness and death, while maternal and infant health in Tibet is the worst in the PRC by a wide margin.

In the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) in 2009, maternal and infant mortality were the highest in the PRC, 8 and 2.7 times higher than the national average, respectively. 3.6% of children were severely malnourished, over twice as high as the average in the PRC, and life expectancy in the TAR was 8.5 years shorter than average and the lowest in the PRC. The report finds that poor health is the result of a severely inadequate system of public healthcare.

In the TAR in 2009, 33% of women and 41% of infants received systematic healthcare, the lowest

rates of care in the PRC and almost half the national average. Healthcare is reportedly worst in rural communities, where underfunding of the health system, scarce obstetric care facilities and shortages of qualified obstetric doctors severely limit service capabilities.

Even where healthcare is accessible, the utilisation of services by patients is limited and the quality of care is often poor. Such issues are compounded by the high rates of poverty and poor education affecting many rural Tibetan communities.

The report judges that the PRC’s neglect of maternal and child health in Tibet constitutes a clear violation of Tibetans’ right to healthcare.

It also demonstrates the disparity between the positive evaluations of health in the PRC and more candid outside studies.

Most significantly, the UN Millennium Development Goals campaign has failed to realise the severity of health inequity between Tibet and the PRC. Therefore, although maternal and child health appears to have improved greatly throughout the PRC, Tibetan women and children continue to bear a highly disproportionate share of the PRC’s mortality.

More positively, the report argues for a broad, government-led intervention that combines improvement to the existing clinical system with the development of a decentralised, community worker-based system of rural healthcare to drastically improve conditions in Tibet.

The model incorporates the strengths of three highly effective maternal and child healthcare programmes in Tibet and focuses on increasing access to healthcare, increasing utilisation of available health services and the improvement of healthcare quality.

Ultimately, the report demonstrates that poor maternal and child health in Tibet is not a problem for development, but a miscarriage of social justice.

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A large number of Chinese troops with machine guns, riot gear, and military type vehicles deployed at Kubum County, north-eastern Tibet, on March 5, 2015. Photo: TPI

By Yeshe Choesang: March 5, 2015

Dharamshala: — Emerging reports coming out Tibet say Chinese authorities have imposed a heavy restriction on Tibetans during during the final day of Tibetan Monlam Festival ceremony that took place in Kubum County, north-eastern Tibet, on Thursday.

“An unprecedented large number of Chinese troops with machine guns, riot gear, and military type vehicles deployed in hopes of preventing or stopping potential protest against Chinese rule at the Kubum Monastery in Amdho region, northeastern Tibet, on March 5, 2015,” Ven Golok Jigme, a Tibetan monk living in exile told The Tibet Post International (TPI) Thursday.

Sources said that ‘Thousands of Tibetans, including monks and pilgrims have gathered at the Kubum Monastery for the annual festival.’

Latest images received by the TPI also reveal heavy military deployments in these areas, where Tibetans reportedly severely repressed by the Chinese government.

“Several monasteries in Amdho region, including Labrang Tashi Kyil monastery, Shitsang Garsar Monastery, Bora Monastery, Choney Monastery were also kept under constant surveillance during the festival,” Ven

Jigme said, citing sources in the region.

“A crowd of Tibetans gathered at the Gomang monastery in Ngaba County on March 4, 2015, openly celebrated the 80th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama —combines the traditional festival,” he further said.

“A group of Chinese officials arrived at the scene. However no restriction or arrests were made at the time,” he added.

“They also displayed portraits of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, former Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche and Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay,” he added.

Monlam Chenmo is a one-week period during which the Buddha performed various miracles.

The two weeks of holy days are observed with the Tibetan Great Prayer Festival beginning on Tibetan New Year, and, on the final day - the Day of Miracles - many fesitvals and rituals are organised.

“The last two weeks has seen a massive deployment of Chinese armed forces to several areas in the traditional Tibetan regions of Amdo and Kham — aimed at preventing protests ahead of the 56th Anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day, which took place in Tibet’s capital Lhasa on 10th March 1959,” said a source on the condition of anonymity.

China choosing Dalai Lama like Castro naming pope – Sikyong

By Yeshe Choesang: March 5, 2015 Dharamshala – For China to find a successor to the Dalai Lama would be like former Cuban leader Fidel Castro choosing the pope, the Tibetan leader said on Tuesday, in response to comments by a senior Chinese official, according to reuters.

The Chinese-appointed governor of Tibet on Monday accused the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader of blasphemy for suggesting he would not be reincarnated when he died. The governor, Padma Choling, repeated that Beijing had the right to decide.

Tibetan Buddhism holds that the soul of a senior lama is reincarnated in the body of a child on his death. China says the tradition must continue and it must approve the next Dalai Lama.

“It’s none of Padma Choling or any of the Communist party’s business, mainly because Communism believes in atheism and religion being poisonous,” the prime minister of the government-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay, told Reuters.

“It’s like Fidel Castro saying, ‘I will select the next pope and all the Catholics should follow.’ That is ridiculous,” said Sangay, who resides in the Indian mountain town of Dharamsala, like the Dalai Lama.

Sangay’s comments came on the anniversary of a failed 1959 uprising against Beijing’s rule that prompted the Dalai Lama to flee to India, where he has lived since.

In an earlier speech, Sangay urged China to allow Tibetans to govern their region, but denied Beijing’s accusations that the Dalai Lama and the government in exile were “splittists” seeking Tibetan independence.

The Dalai Lama’s envoys were ready to engage in dialogue with their Chinese counterparts at any time, he added.

He has also said he will not be reborn in China if Tibet is not free and no one, including China, had the right to choose his successor “for political ends”.

Videotaping the Life Stories of Elderly Tibetan Refugees in Nepal, Tibet

By Yangchen Dolma: March 4, 2015

Moraga, California, USA: – The Tibet Oral History Project is travelling to Nepal in April to videotape the life stories of some of the most aged Tibetans still with us. This oral history endeavor is urgent. The elders who can recount what Tibet was like before fleeing after the Chinese invasion are now in their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s.

The elders’ eyewitness accounts ensure that the wisdom culture and true history of Tibet will not be forgotten, but will instead be preserved for generations to come.

The Tibet Oral History Project (TOHP) has often been encouraged to document the stories of Tibet’s elders living in the Kathmandu area.

As one Tibetan welfare officer said, “There is a sizable Tibetan population in Nepal, most of whom arrived shortly after Tibet’s occupation and now are quite elderly.There are many varied and rich stories that need to be documented before we lose these elders.”

Because they found refuge close to their beloved Tibet, these seniors will be able to describe family traditions, local customs, and spiritual practices undiluted by travel to distant refugee settlements.

This important mission in Nepal will document eyewitness accounts of Tibet’s vibrant culture, unique traditions, language, and cherished Buddhist religion. The videos and interview transcripts will be accessible worldwide to persons interested in Tibet through various media. TOHP will also distribute the collection to the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives in India, the U.S. Library of Congress, and

Phari Wangdu and Tenzin Wangmo who were interviewed by the Tibet Oral History Project. Photo: Tibet Oral History Project

20 university libraries and Tibetan refugee communities around the world.

These new interviews from Nepal will be added to the 226 oral histories of Tibetan elders living in exile in India and in the United States, which are already in TOHP’s collection.

Interview transcripts and video clips can be found online at www.tibetoralhistory.org and on YouTube. The project’s efforts are endorsed

by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Speaker of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, and the Kashag (Tibetan Cabinet) along with many other Tibetan organizations.

Interviewee Thupten Chonphel, age 72, told TOHP, “If I had education, I should put my story in writing. However, I can neither write nor speak well, so it could not be done. Today you have given me a great opportunity to tell my life experiences and I am very grateful to you. I feel I have received a golden opportunity.”

This complex and costly endeavor to interview elders in Nepal will only be possible with the

support of individuals worldwide. To learn more about TOHP’s mission to Nepal and how you can contribute, visit the Nepal campaign webpage at http://igg.me/at/tohp.

TOHP was initiated in 2003 by Marcella Adamski, Ph.D to record the early life experiences of Tibetan elders, who were forced to flee their homeland in 1959 following the Chinese occupation. The group decribes itself a non-profit organization committed to making the elders’ oral history interviews accessible via the Internet in order to share with the world the culture and history of Tibet.

Tibetan woman ...

... continued from front page

the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration- regarded by China as a subversive.

But, Tibetans have denied such accusations, saying that the main cause of self-immolation is “Beijing’s hard-line policies, including political repression, economic marginalization, environmental destruction, cultural assimilation and denial of religious freedom.”

Those include restrictions on Buddhist religious practices, educational policies that promote the Mandarin language over Tibetan, and official efforts to ostracize His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

China says Tibet has always been part of its territory, but Tibetans say Tibet was virtually independent for centuries until Chinese troops invaded in the 1950s.

The situation in Ngaba remains tense as authorities cordoned off many areas recently and put restrictions on Tibetans’ movement and communication lines.

4

TPI NEWS

The Tibet Post International H.H THE DALAI LAMA Five Tibetan assoc’s offer long life His Holiness the Dalai Lama gives teaching from the Jataka Tales March 15, 2015

prayer to HH the 14th Dalai Lama

By Oliver Arnoldi: March 4, 2015

Dharamshala: - A long life prayer service was offered to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama by the Belgium Tibetan Association, Chikdrel Association, Dhasa Tsongpa Community, Lhasa Association and Lhoka Association at the Main Tibetan Temple, Dharamshala, India, March 4.

This ceremony began at 6am with a ritual performance led by Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche, the current head of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. The ritual is dedicated to His Holiness for his long life. His Holiness graced the ceremony at around 8.30am, after which the long life prayer offerings began.

Addressing the ceremony, His Holiness expressed his appreciation and thanks to the members of the five Tibetan organisations who were there to greet him and offer prayers for his long life.

“The long life prayer ceremony is rooted in a strong spiritual bond between the teacher and his disciples. The best way for the disciples to fulfil the wishes of the teacher is to engage in virtuous activities. However, one should examine whether what the teacher is preaching is reasonable or not, and practise accordingly,” His Holiness said.

“As we are known in the world for our warmheartedness and morality, Tibetans must uphold these values. These values not only help you in leading a meaningful life, but also encourage the flourishing of the Buddha’s

teachings,” he added.

His Holiness recounted how - on reaching the age of 13 - he was offered long life prayers by different monasteries in Tibet to ward off obstacles. He also said how long life prayers could not be arranged when he reached 25 as he had to flee the Chinese invasion of Tibet.

“Now you have offered the long life prayers on the occasion of my 80th birthday. Apart from a minor knee problem, I am in very good health and should be able to live for over 100 years,” he further said.

“Most importantly, every Tibetan should take the responsibility and work for the cause of Tibet with dedication and sincerity in this life time,” the Nobel Peace Prize laureate said, adding that “there should not be a feeling of regret when one passes away.”

Members of the Tibetan community, including Chief Justice Commissioner Kagyu Dhondup, Tibetan political leader Dr Lobsang Sangay, Tibetan Parliament Speaker Mr Penpa Tsering, Tibetan ministers, Justice Commissioners, members of the Tibetan Parliament, and representatives of the non-governmental organisations, schools and institutions attended the ceremony.

As His Holiness turns 80 this year, Tibetan communities both inside and outside Tibet have been holding occasional prayer gatherings and religious ceremonies for His Holiness’s long life and well-being.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his teaching on the Jataka tales at the Main Tibetan Temple, Dharamshala, India, on March 5, 2015. Photo: TPI/Dawa Phurbu

By Oliver Arnoldi: March 5, 2015

Dharamshala: - His Holiness the Dalai Lama gave a short teaching from the Jataka Tales (Life Stories of the Buddha) at the Main Tibetan Temple in Dharamshala on March 5.

Addressing a large audience on the lower concourse of the Temple, His Holiness began the teaching at 8.30am by analysing how perceptions of Buddhism have changed in the past few hundred years.

“Only a small number of people used to know what Buddhism was about. Despite Buddhism spreading the length and breadth of Tibet, the

significant rates of illiteracy meant that the majority of the population believed that the teachings of Buddha could be assimilated on faith alone,” he said.

“In the 21st century, when mass education is considered vital, and the West grows increasingly interested in Buddhism, it is much better understood. As Buddha’s teachings declare: ‘just as a goldsmith would test his gold by burning, cutting and rubbing it, so must you examine my words and accept them, not merely out of reverence for me.’”

His Holiness made it clear that while all religions are united in their attempts to teach

people to be kind and compassionate, only the Buddha has asked for his teachings to be examined in order to discover whether they actually make sense.

“We need reason, investigation and logic to develop faith and to free ourselves from Samsara and to become enlightened, for the benefit of all sentient beings.”

The rest of the teaching – which was briefly interrupted by rain – was spent deconstructing the essence of Buddhist philosophy, the Four Noble Truths: the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering.

“We should know suffering,” His Holiness said. “Not just painful experiences, but pervasive existential suffering.”

He explained that suffering arises from ignorance, which arises from the misconception that there is an independent self.

“Buddhism is the only religion that rejects an independent self. Its core principle is the idea of dependent origination: we are interconnected with all sentient beings.

Therefore, the ethical practice of this principle is non-violence. We should see our negative feelings – our disturbed minds – as our enemies and all sentient beings as our friends.

The belief in this principle in turn will lead to the development of a peaceful mind,” His Holiness asserted.

Despite the importance of this idea, His Holiness concluded the teaching with a caveat regarding the pursuit of the religion it upholds: “Don’t just live in service to Buddhism; be practical about how you incorporate it into your life.”

Report submitted to UN highlights shocking use of torture in Tibet

By Steve Shaw: March 10, 2015

During the long life prayer ceremony organised by five Tibetan organisations at the main Tibetan temple, in Dharamshala on March 4, 2015. Photo: TPI/Dawa Phurbu

The Dalai Lama will celebrate his 80th Birthday with a Global Compassion Summit

By The Huffington Post: March 12, 2015

The Dalai Lama will celebrate his 80th birthday this summer with a Global Compassion Summit in Southern California, the nonprofit Friends of the Dalai Lama announced Thursday.

The spiritual leader will kick off three days of events focusing on the role of compassion in the world by speaking July 5 at the Honda Center in Anaheim, according to the organizers. The Dalai Lama’s birthday is July 6.

The next two days of events at the University of California, Irvine, will include discussions with the Dalai Lama’s friends, fellow Nobel laureates, and other leaders with whom he has collaborated or shares common values on working toward universal peace, according to the announcement.

“His Holiness has devoted his life’s work to positively guide audiences all over the world to open their minds and hearts to peaceful and compassionate existence,” the Venerable Lama Tenzin Dhonden, the Dalai Lama’s personal emissary for peace and the founder and chair of Friends of the Dalai Lama, said in a statement.

Dhonden elaborated on why compassion was the chosen topic in an interview with The Huffington Post. Compassion, he suggested, is integral to addressing everything from poverty to war and violence.

“Compassion is the antidote to suffering. If you think of it this way, the cultivation of compassion has a direct effect on suffering. This applies at a personal level as well as at a global level,” Dhonden said.

“A lack of spirituality and too much focus on selfish attainment creates competition, not with

each other but against each other,” he added.

“When you see the other as enemy, the result is destruction, even self-destruction. When compassion is applied, there is a respect for the values of others and it becomes important to coexist in an interdependent world.”

Dhonden grew up at Namgyal Monastery, the Tibetan Buddhist leader’s personal monastery in Dharamshala, India. Over the last decade, he has organized several of the Dalai Lama’s global appearances.

He described Friends of the Dalai Lama as “dedicated to uniting a global audience and building a network of global innovators” in support of the Dalai Lama’s vision in six areas: “human values, social integrity, interreligious dialogue, environmental protection, compassionate education and ethical leadership.”

Anaheim was chosen as one location for the 80th birthday celebration, he said, in part because of its City of Kindness initiative. Similarly, UC Irvine, which hosted the Dalai Lama in 2004 and 2011, has “really carried on the values His Holiness shares. They value the education of the heart as much as they value the education of the mind.”

In particular, Dhonden pointed to a Kindness Month project and various efforts to promote compassion in medicine at the university.

Behind both initiatives were UC Irvine students who had received Dalai Lama scholarships.

Tickets for the Global Compassion Summit events, which are being coordinated in partnership with UC Irvine and the Irvinebased nonprofit Center for Living Peace, go on sale April 2.

London - A report has been submitted to the United Nations Committee Against Torture that documents the repression, state violence, and torture in Tibet that followed the Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule in March and April 2008 and continues into the present.

Produced by Tibet Watch, with support from Gu-Chu-Sum and Free Tibet,the Torture in Tibet report uses in-depth and shocking testimony from survivors to highlight incidents of torture and torture-related deaths.

It also highlights11 incidents since 2008 in which Tibetans have been killed when security forces fired upon protests, and how China used political pressure to block a case put before the Spanish National Court (AudienciaNacional), under the principle of universal jurisdiction. The case accused former Chinese officials of crimes against humanity, genocide, torture and terrorism against the Tibetan people.

Forms of torture documented include the handcuffing of one prisoner to a burning stove, beatings with electric batons and electric shocks to the mouth, immersion in cold water and suspending prisoners in the air from their handcuffs.In one of the most shocking testimonies, torture survivor GologJigme who was arrested following his involvement in the Tibetan documentary, Leaving Fear Behind,described to Tibet Watch how he was tortured while shackled to an iron chair.

“I was put onto the chair without any clothes and they tried all sorts of tortures while I was there, like beating my back with tiny metal sticks, kicking me and giving electric shocks to my mouth. The pain the chair caused was too extreme to feel any of the pain caused by the metal sticks and kicking. When they gave me electric shocks, I could feel nothing.

I only smelt the burning of my own flesh.”

He suffered horrific wounds as a result of the torture and continues to be haunted by the ordeal.

“During all my time under arrest, this was the worst form of torture I suffered. One of my ribs was broken and my joints suffered very badly.

Whenever I remember that chair I feel scared, even to this day. I felt like it would be better to die than survive being tortured on that chair. I was kept on the chair days and nights. At one point, my feet got swollen and, to my horror, all my toenails fell off.

“Besides the iron chair, the pain of thirst was the second worst torture. Due to the blood loss from my body, I felt like I was dying from thirst, but was only given a very small amount of water. Over time, I got used to hunger and sleep deprivation, but never to being thirsty.”

Tenzin Namgyal, another torture survivor described beatings, which were so severe they left him with permanent damage to his legs and detailed the agony of electrocutions: “The weather is really cold in Tibet between March and April. It is the time for snow and some rivers freeze. They forced me to sit in cold water

Goshul Lobsang died at the age of 43 on 19 March 2014 having served three years of an 11 year prison sentence. Photo: TPI

with only underwear and my feet were stuck to the ice. Then they burned my body using electrical currents, even my tongue.

“They tortured me through various ways but I didn’t admit any wrongdoing so they hung me on the door by my hand chains. Due to this, I have many scars on my hand even today. We were many political prisoners together and they mistreated us all the same way. All the political prisoners were beaten and tortured. None of them were treated better than me, but some were treated worse than me.”

The report also highlights three cases of political prisoners dying as a result of torture and notes that there has been a pattern of gravely ill Tibetan political prisoners in China being released early in order to reduce the number of deaths in detention.

The submission urges the UN to take action and warns that without effective mechanisms

to enforce China’s theoretical ban on the use of evidence obtained by torture, it’s highly likely that security forces continue will continue to use torture with impunity.

“In recent years, China has drawn its own Iron Curtain around Tibet, making it increasingly difficult and dangerous for former political prisoners and victims of torture to escape and tell their stories,” saidLhagyariNamgyalDolkar, Vice President Gu-Chu-Sum Movement of Tibet.

“Despite this, the voices and stories that come from Tibet make very clear that China’s control still depends on brutalising anyone who it sees as any sort of threat. We’re pleased to be able to provide the UN with first-hand evidence of that brutality but what we can offer only scratches the surface. Our thoughts are with those still imprisoned in Tibet and bravely enduring the mental and physical torture that still goes on.”

Hundreds of German cities and thousands of citizens demand an end to the violence in Tibet

By Yeshe Choesang: March 10, 2015

Berlin, March 10th 2015 - protests against the human rights violations in Tibet are taking place in about 25 German cities today. The demonstrations and vigils are part of the campaign “Raise your Flag for Tibet” organized by the NGO Tibet Initiative Deutschland (TID). Hundreds of cities, municipalities and administrative districts throughout Germany are raising the Tibetan flag on public buildings in solidarity with Tibetans around the world. „The human rights situation in Tibet has increasingly deteriorated since Xi Jinping came to power in 2013, despite our initial hopes for a new, dialogue-oriented Tibet policy of the Chinese government”, says Nadine Baumann, Executive Director of TID. “This especially concerns basic civil and political rights such as freedom of opinion, freedom of

assembly and freedom of religion.”

In Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich protest rallies will be held in front of the Chinese Consulates. In Berlin, TID and the Association of Tibetans in Germany (VTD) are organizing a demonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy. Thousands of Tibetans and Tibet supporters will show their solidarity with Tibet. The campaign is also supported by German politicians and artists.

Today, Tibet Initiative Deutschland (TID) accompanies Claudia Roth, Vice-president of the German parliament, (Bündnis90/ DIE GRÜNEN – Green Party) to the commemoration ceremony in Dharamsala, India. TID’s Chairman, Mr. Wolfgang Grader, will also be joining Claudia Roth at her meeting with the Tibetan exile and refugee community, and with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. With this visit, TID aims to strengthen advocacy for Tibet in Germany.

5 EXILE NEWS TPI NEWS Truth and nonviolence like the two We urge China to let Tibetans govern Tibet: Sikyong The Tibet Post International

March 15, 2015

sides of a coin, says Tibetan scholar

By Yangchen Dolma: March 3, 2015

Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche speaking to the staff and teachers of Upper TCV school in Dharamshala,H.P., India, 28 February. Photo: CTA/DIIR

Dharamshala: - Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, a former Kalon Tripa said ‘truth and NonViolence are like the two sides of a coin — therefore, if there is a defect in one, the other too will be defective.’

During an interaction with upper TCV teachers and staff, Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, former Kalon Tripa of the Central Tibetan Administration talks about ethical motive, inner mutual honesty, Non-Violence and more, according to a Tibetan official media report.

The gist of Rinpoche’s guidance talk to the staff focused on ethical motive, the need for responsible altruism, relation between teachers and students, the merits and need for inner mutual honesty – and to do one’s duties well, by remembering the kindness of

His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

At the start, Rinpoche emphasised the need to make a habit of regarding the preciousness of time, and then outlined the need for a discerning wisdom knowing to adopt the positive and discard the faults –what to adopt and what to discard–by oneself, without having to follow other’s hearsay.

In continuation, Rinpoche pointed out how in the modern civilization people consider the rights greater than duties; by understanding thoroughly through succession of experiences the civilization, Mahatma Gandhi wrote the book “Hind Swaraj”, to point out the shortcomings of the modern civilization.

As resource means to maintain and develop an ethical conduct in today’s hectic society, Rinpoche recommended [the attendees] to study His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s books “Ethics for The New Millennium” and “Beyond Religion: Ethics for The Whole World”. “ For those who work in education field, not only they need to be more meticulous and more in-depth than others, they also need to be able to go about [with their knowledge] by knowing the things by oneself, not by assumption,” Rinpoche advised.

Rinpoche also spoke of how the British Raj had created, in the Indian education system, factors for Indians not to have independent mental intelligence during their rule in India.

In continuation, Rinpoche advised: If ethical conduct declines there would not be security and stability in society; the demarcation of what constitutes as ethical and unethical (good and bad conducts) is Non-Violence (Non-Harm); truth and Non-Violence are like the two sides of a coin — therefore, if there is a defect in one, the other too will be defective; because violence and non-violence are categorized so because of the difference in motive, it is therefore necessary to have good benevolent motive.

Protests Taiwan mark Tibet uprising anniversary

Tibetans and Taiwanese supporters thronged the streets of Taipei to commemorate Tibetan National Uprising Day, March 8, 2015. Photo: TPI/Artemas Liu

By Penny Chiang: March 10, 2015

Taipei — A crowd of Tibetan and Taiwanese supporters thronged the streets of Taipei to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan Uprising and express solidarity with Tibetans.

Waving Tibetan flags — also called snow lion flags and seen as symbols of Tibetan independence — the marchers accused the Chinese government of infringing upon the human rights and religious freedom of Tibetans.

The demonstrators paid tribute to the 1959 uprising, which led to the flight of the Dalai Lama and the establishment of the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala, India.

The event was jointly organised by Tibetan support groups and Taiwanese human rights organizations, the protesters also paid respect to more than 130 Tibetans who have self-immolated since 2009 to protest what they call the Chinese occupation of Tibet.

Mr Dawa Tsering, head of Tibet religious foundation of H.H. the Dalai Lama, and Tashi Tsering, the president of Tibetan Welfare Association, legislator Chiech-Ju Chen, Ni-An Chu, Yi-kang Tuan, and Mei-Li Jhou, the chief of Taiwan Friends of Tibet, and representatives of other Taiwanese NGOs attended the gathering.

The procession drew a diverse crowd of different nationalities, as monks draped in maroon-and-yellow robes walked alongside Taiwanese supporters dressed in traditional Tibetan garments.

Activists in Tibet face a common threat with those in Hong Kong and Taiwan: repression of human rights by the Chinese government, Taiwan Association for Human Rights Secretary-General Chiu E-ling said.

The theme of this year’s parade, “Next Stop: Tibet,” refers to mass protests that began in Taiwan and Hong Kong last year, she said, adding that prodemocracy activists from both sides of the Taiwan Strait must stand in solidarity with Tibetans in their human rights campaign.

The theme also conveys organizers’ hope for Tibetans to be allowed to return to their homeland, as the Dala Lama and his followers have been barred from entry into China for more than five decades, organizers said.

They accused President Ma Ying-jeou’s administration of ignoring China’s treatment of Tibetans and urged the government to take a stand on the issue.

“While Taiwan and China establish evercloser economic ties, Taiwan’s government has failed to stop the Chinese government from massacring Tibetans,” Green Party cochair Lee Ken-cheng said.

After walking from Taipei’s Zhongxiao-Fuxing MRT station, the demonstrators lay down on the pavement together in memory of the selfimmolated Tibetans when they reached Sun Yatsen Memorial Hall.

Chen, Chiech-Ju said, “the rights of those Tibetans in Taiwan should be ensured.” Chou, Ni-An said, “Taiwan stands with Tibet.”

Tuan, Yi-kang stated that “the voices in China are muted and cannot receive enough respect; since Taiwan shares a very similar political situation with Tibet, we should cooperate with Tibetans.”

Tashi Tsering said, “the repression from china is undeniable no matter what attitude that Beijing government chooses toward Tibet.

Therefore, the fight for the human rights in Tibet will be continued.”

Hung Chung-Yen, president of the Green Party Taiwan, said in 2012 that Green Party has passed a

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay addressing the 56th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day in Dharamshala, India, on March 10, 2014. Photo: TPI/Dawa Phurbu

Dharamshala - Delivering his speech in commemoration of the 56th Anniversary of the Tibetan Peoples National Uprising Day on 10 March, the political leader of Tibet Dr Lobsang Sangay urged the Chinese leadership to let Tibetans govern Tibet, stressing that “the rhetoric coming out of China today is that Tibetans have become their own masters.”

Tibetans from all over the world commemorate the 56th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day on 10 March. Tibetans and supporters offer tribute to the Tibetan Martyrs who have sacrificed their lives for the freedom in Tibet.

Thousands of Tibetans and their supporters gathered at the Main Tibetan Temple in McLeod Ganj to listen to the annual public statement of the Central Tibetan Administration led by Sikyong (political leader) Dr Lobsang Sangay and the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile Penpa Tsering.

Dr Sangay in his speech praised the US President Obama for his recent comment about His Holiness the Dalai Lama, calling the spiritual leader of Tibet “a powerful example of what it means to practice compassion”.

He said that “we also welcome President Barack Obama’s comments at the annual breakfast prayer in Washington D.C, describing His Holiness the Dalai Lama” as a “good friend” and “a powerful example of what it means to practice compassion” and a person who “inspires us to speak up for the freedom and dignity of all human beings.”

“We are gathered here to remember the brave men and women who gave their lives for the cause of Tibet fifty-six years ago,” Dr Sangay said, adding that “We are also gathered here to remind ourselves to carry forward the non-violent struggle of the Tibetan people with great determination, courage and resolve,” Sikyong said.

Dr Sangay reiterated that his administration is committed to the Middle-Way Approach as the only solution to resolve the problem of Tibet.

“We remain fully committed to the Middle Way Approach of not seeking separation from China but genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people.

The Tibetan leadership strongly believes that the only way to resolve the issue of Tibet is through dialogue between the Envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the representatives of the Chinese leadership. The Envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama are ready to engage in dialogue with their Chinese counterpart any time and any place.”

Speaking about the deteriorating situation in Tibet, Sikyong said that “the situation of increased restrictions is so excessive that even Chinese tourists have been moved to comment that the present conditions in Tibet are like a ‘war zone’.”

“Tibetans must swipe their identity cards that are embedded with sophisticated second generation chips at multiple checkpoints in major urban centers under constant surveillance cameras. As one Tibetan has described this indignity: “Your identity card is like your shadow. Without it you cannot move.”

Sikyong added that “the situation in Tibet remains grim but the enduring spirit of Tibetan people is strong and getting stronger. Ever since the 2008 peaceful protests erupted, and the ongoing self-immolation protests throughout the plateau, Tibet is under virtual lockdown. Restrictions on movements of Tibetans have greatly intensified.”

“Of particular concern to Tibetans is the China State Council’s announcement in 2014 to upgrade the status of the towns of Shigatse and Chamdo to that of cities. Though Tibetans welcome economic development in the form of modernization, their experience in the face of urbanization is one of economic marginalization, social exclusion and environmental destruction,” he said.

Tibetan political leader said “Lhasa as a prime example, has seen an exponential urban expansion that has attracted migrant Chinese workers from all over China. This population shift has transformed the heart of Tibetan culture into another “Chinatown”, where Tibetans live in small ghettos surrounded by an expanding urban China.”

“We fear the same negative transformation will happen to Shigatse and Chamdo, immeasurably reducing the ability of the Tibetan people to preserve their culture and identity. At the same

resolution that is supporting Tibet movement. “the feeling of a threat from China is also very strong for Taiwanese people.” He said, “we disagree with what China government did for the people of Tibet, and the issue of Tibet is much more wellknown in Taiwan these days.”

Dhundup Gyalpo, secretary of the Tibet Religious Foundation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama — said the event’s main purpose was to honor the pain and suffering that Tibetan activists endured.

During the event, Amnesty International Taiwan’s children’s group distributed the picture book “Over the Himalayas” in order to introduce Tibetan issues to younger generation.

When the crowd arrived at the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, they lied down as a symbolic way paying homage to those self-immolated 136 Tibetans. The crowd formed a human chain as ‘T’, which implied both “Tibet” and “Taiwan for Tibet.”

Kaohsiung City Government set March 10 as Tibet day and named a street as “Tibet Street” in 2009, and Ding Yun-Gong, the head of the Kaohsiung city government information office mentioned that Kaohsiung City Government has paid attention to Tibet issues for many years.This is the first time for Kaohsiung City government to take part in the Tibetan uprising day.”

In the evening, the parade holding at night in the Kaohsiung city show how difficult Tibetans cross Himalaya mountains and then go back their hometown.

At the same time, another night rally held in Taipei

Liberal Square. The film “Fire in the Land of Snow Self-Immolations in Tibet” was screened in the beginning.

Dawa Tsering mentioned that there were few people in the past, but now there are lots of young people, means that there are more hope in the future.

Mr Tsering said Tibet issue also actually is connected with Hong Kong. “In the past, they thought it’s not Hong Kong’s business, but, nowadays, ‘Tibet’ today is Hong Kong’s tomorrow.’ So, today people in Hong Kong choose to stand with Tibet.”

Tenzin Namda, the deputy of Tibetan Welfare Association, tendered his deepest thanks to local activities, “We won’t forget you.” He said.

Although Beijing has begun to loosen up on restrictions that barred Tibetans from attending religious events, Taiwan Tibetan Welfare Association vice president Tenzin Namda said he considers recent reforms to be mostly superficial, as key teachings of Buddhist philosophy are still banned.

Beijing has attempted to prevent Tibetans from learning their culture, which centers on Buddhist philosophy and ideas of universal compassion, he added.

Other local NGOs also expressed their solidarity for Tibet, including society in Soochow University, Formoshark, Restoration of Taiwan Social Justice, etc.

On March 10 evening, Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Hong Kong all stood together for Tibet uprising day.

By Yeshe Choesang: March 10, 2015

time, Tibetans equally fear that Chinese settlers will overwhelm and swamp rural and nomadic Tibet,” Sikyong added.

These are some of the many challenges we confront in Tibet, Sikyong said he believes that Tibetans have “the determination, resolve and the collective will to surmount them. Tibetans in Tibet have survived one state-sponsored disaster after another.”

“Disasters like the Great Leap Forward in the 1950s and the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s have not shaken the enduring spirit of the Tibetan people. From the martial law imposed in Lhasa in 1989, to the “strike hard campaigns” to stifle dissent, and campaigns like the Western China Development programme have not diminished the courage of the Tibetan people,” he said.

Since 2009, there have been verified 136 selfimmolations all across Tibet. Dr Sangay said that “from the 1959 uprising, which we honor today, through the decades of peaceful protests, including the 2008 pan-Tibet demonstrations and more than one hundred self-immolations, the Tibetan will to live as one cohesive people and fight for justice remains firm.”

“In Tibet, artists sing, paint and write, all with an emboldened spirit and a heightened sense of responsibility to the Tibetan cause. Within Tibet, a new spiritual, cultural and intellectual renaissance reinforces Tibetan pride and unity.

From the humble gatherers of caterpillar fungus to the tireless truck drivers, farmers and nomads, to monks and nuns, Tibetans talk the night away in common aspiration to live in dignity and with a common identity. These pockets of ideas and oases of Tibet’s common aspirations will merge into a bright future for all people of Tibet,” he said.

“The rhetoric coming out of China today is that Tibetans have become their own masters. To make this rhetoric a reality, we urge the Chinese leadership to let Tibetans govern Tibet. As China plans to observe the 50th anniversary of the so-called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), hardliners in Beijing should heed that repression will only generate resentment. We have noted President Xi Jinping’s comments that Tibetan culture and language should be preserved yet, the local authority’s 20-point internal directives in Amdo undermines both.”

In this regard, we remain deeply appreciative of the recent U.S. State Department’s statement that encourages dialogue between the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Chinese leadership: “We believe that all people in the PRC would benefit from the fruits of dialogue and urge the Chinese Government to seize the opportunity to further engage with the Dalai Lama.”

He said he is “glad to report that within India, we see increasing awareness of the importance of Tibet and more platforms provided for the discussion of the issue of Tibet. There is also the realization that the Central Tibetan Administration is both a genuinely democratic political entity and an effective one. The pride of our democracy is its public participation and we continue to encourage the Tibetan public’s deeper engagement in the democratic process.”

This year, the Tibetan people and our friends throughout the world will celebrate His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday. On this landmark occasion, we pray for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s long life and continued good health. The hallmark of the Tibetan people is non-violence, and the values embraced by our elder generation: humility, integrity and resilience which should be embraced by younger generations. This is our political capital as well as political resource.

Above all, Sikyong said “the first priority of the Kashag is education. In this effort the Kashag encourages Tibetans from all walks of life to be deeply involved in their children’s education.”

He particularly expressed his thanks to “all our Tibet support groups from Berlin to Brussels and Canberra to Cape Town and from Tokyo to Taipei, in their noble efforts and for supporting justice and freedom for Tibetans. Amid extremism and violent conflicts around the world, Tibet is a model of moderation and non-violence which is worthy of your continued support. We also express our profound gratitude to the people and Government of India for their generosity and hospitality.”

With profound hope and gratitude, on behalf of six million Tibetan people, Sikyong offered his sincere prayers for the long life of His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama. “Today, we honor and pay our deepest respects to the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives for the cause of Tibet. With enduring spirit, may all Tibetans remain steadfast to the cause our forefathers and mothers, our sisters and brothers, and to all those who have devoted their lives to end the suffering of Tibetans and restore freedom for Tibet.”

6

TPI NEWS

March 15, 2015

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CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) Be prepared to take care of the issues at hand. Think twice before you speak. Only bite off what you can chew. You may find that your boss is not delighted with your work lately. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

LEO (July 23-Aug 22) You must not allow them to force you to rush. Don’t expect new acquaintances to be completely honest about themselves. Don’t tell others of your plans.

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March 15, 2015 TIBET WORLD 7 Tibetan non-violent struggle is an example Bundestag V-P Claudia Roth: “Thank you for your courage” against silence and indifference.” for other struggles to follow: Says Sikyong Roth also praised the untiring work of His

The Tibet Post International

TPI NEWS

By Oliver Arnoldi: March 10, 2015

Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay with members of the Tibet group in French National Assembly. Photo/ Olivier Adam

By Tibet Net: March 13, 2015

Paris, 12 March: “The non-violent struggle of the Tibetan people must be commended and is an example for other struggles to follow,” said Mr. Michel Raison, President of the Tibet Group in the French Senate during a press conference with Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay at the French Parliament today.

“We are happy to invite you to the French National Assembly before the rally for Tibet on 14 March,” said Mr Jean P Gille, the President of the Tibet Group in the National Assembly.

Mr. Raison said that the human rights of the Tibetan people are most important and the Tibet supporters in both the French National Assembly and Senate are working together for Tibet.

“The French people support us for being involved in the non-violent struggle of the Tibetan people,” he said.

Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay, the democratically elected Tibetan political leader thanked the members of the French Parliament for their support.

“The international community should support Tibet because of the non-violent struggle of the Tibetan people,” said Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay. “It is not an extremist or violent struggle as we see in many parts of the world.”

He said support for Tibet is support for non-violence and peace, so that others might follow non-violent.

Six different journalists covering major TV and radio stations, newspapers and news agency interviewed the Tibetan political leader.

During the interviews he said that he had come to the land of liberty. “However, the opposite of liberty is taking place in Tibet. There is repression and oppression in Tibet today,” he said.

Repression by the Chinese authorities is not bearable which is leading to self-immolations by Tibetans. If they stop repression in Tibet, there will be no self-immolation he said. We continue to discourage Tibetans from self-immolation.

136 Tibetans have self-immolated since February 2009 and 116 of them have sadly died. The last self-immolation took place on 5 March 2015 in

China hints ...

... continued from front page

stop disturbances in Tibet region and can contact us to discuss relevant issues,” Zhou said.

“We will not discuss about independence and related issues with him but other issues we can have a discussion,” he said.

This is perhaps the first time a senior Chinese official has spoken about talks with the Dalai Lama who last year had expressed a wish to undertake a pilgrimage to a sacred mountain in Tibet, informally conveying it to Beijing.

However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spiked any speculation in this regard saying that the Dalai Lama should genuinely give up his attempt to split China and stop undertaking separatist activities.

Talks between Dalai Lama’s representatives and Chinese officials were stalled since 2010 and failed to make any progress even after the Nobel laureate said he regarded Tibet as part of China.

Beijing however continues to question his demands like Greater Tibet, which Chinese officials say extends to vast tracts of areas besides calls for self-rule in the Himalayan region with the central government renouncing all powers except defence and foreign policy.

His comments came as Tibetan exiles marked the “Tibetan National Uprising Day”, yesterday.

Flag waving followers of the political exile protested in India and Nepal urging China to end its “colonisation” in the holy land, a state-run Xinhua news agency report said.

Zhou said central government will not talk about Tibet’s “high-level autonomy” or “Greater Tibet” with the Dalai Lama and called on him and his followers to stop inciting self-immolation among the Tibetan people and sincerely discuss with the central government about his future.

Zhou also said fewer world leaders have met with the Dalai Lama in the past few years which reflected the monk’s growing unpopularity compared to the development and stability in Tibet in recent years and rising living standards of Tibetans.

Ngaba, Tibet.

Sikyong expressed his concern about the large migration of Chinese population into Tibet, which is leading to the economic marginalisation, cultural assimilation and environmental destruction.

“Inside Tibet, nothing has changed, in fact it has gotten worse,” he said.

The security surveillance has been increased and the introduction of with second-generation chips ID cards has been introduced to monitor the movements of Tibetans by the Chinese security authorities.

He said there are Chinese police sharp shooters on rooftops and security check post all over the towns and cities in Tibet.

Dr. Lobsang Sangay said over 1 billion people in Asia drink and depends on the water from rivers that start in Tibet. There will be shortage of water due to the deforestation and melting of glacier in Tibet. Tibet is referred to as the Third Pole as it holds the third largest deposit of glacier after North and South Pole.

China has been building lots of dams in Tibet on the Brahmaputra and there are fears in India that the river will be diverted to China.

There are concerns amongst experts that soon there will be war over water he said.

In response to questions from the media about the dialogue with China, the Tibetan political leader said that the Envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama are ready to engage in dialogue with their Chinese counterpart any time and any place. He said that the Middle WayApproach does not seek separation from China but genuine autonomy for the people within framework of the Chinese constitution.

Resolving the Tibetan issue will bring moral respect to China, he said. Moral respect must be earned but not by military might and strength.

The Tibetan political leader said that His Holiness the Dalai Lama remains the primary voice of Tibet and the Tibetan people. His Holiness has the respect of all Tibetans.

On 14 March, Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay will address the Europe Stands for Tibet Rally organised by the Tibetan Communities and Tibet Support Groups in Europe.

China lodges strong protests with any country and world leader who meets or hosts the Dalai Lama.

US President Barack Obama met the Tibetan leader at an inter religious prayer meeting or at a private back door meeting to mellow down Chinese protests.

“We hope that the Dalai Lama’s visits will not affect the development of the good relationship between China and relevant countries,” Zhou said.

He also said the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has to be endorsed by the Chinese government and branded the Tibetan monk’s call for ending the long tradition of appointing the top cleric of Tibetan Buddhism through reincarnation after his death, as a “dual betrayal” of his motherland and his faith.

“The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama has to be endorsed by the central government, not by any other sides including the Dalai Lama himself,” Zhou said reiterating criticism made by another Chinese Tibetan official Padma Choling two days ago.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama said last year that he does not wish to have a successor, and that the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of reincarnation should cease with his death.

“Politically speaking, he has betrayed his homeland.

The reincarnation of the Dalai Lama must be approved by the central government. Without the central government’s approval, all would be illegitimate.

“Religiously speaking, he has betrayed Tibetan Buddhism and the succession system of the Dalai Lama which requires strict religious rituals,” Zhou said.

He said the Dalai Lama had taken a very irresponsible and disrespectful attitude towards the reincarnation, citing the political exile’s earlier claims that his reincarnation could be “a female, a foreigner or even a bee”.

“Now he is talking about a termination of the reincarnation,” Zhou said, asking “is it irresponsible to his own faith?”

He said Tibet has enjoyed stability since the end of the 2008 unrest in the region.

“Now the Dalai Lama has to tout his own religious title to gain attention, which has no future,” he said.

Dharamshala: - German Green Party politician and Bundestag Vice-President Claudia Roth joined Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-inExile Penpa Tsering and Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay at the Main Temple in Dharamshala this morning to express her support for Tibetan National Uprising Day. Roth addressed thousands on the lower concourse of the Temple in commemoration of the 56th anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan uprising against the Chinese occupation of Tibet, where estimates of Tibetan deaths range between 80,000 and 430,000 lives.

“My dear Tibetan family. This is a very special, a very emotional, and a very touching moment for me,” she said. “Thanks for 56 years of non-violent resistance, thank you for your strength and your commitment, thank you for your courage, thank you for your endless patience.”

Roth expressed her concern that the issue of Tibet has not been given sufficient attention: “I am worried that the Tibetan struggle, one that has justice on its side, will be forgotten by the international community. It is a warning from history as we commemorate the past. It is a day to be mindful, a day

Holiness the Dalai Lama for his country: “The Dalai Lama symbolises a world without hatred or exclusion. He is an ocean of wisdom and he never fails to bring sunshine into our lives, even when clouds are over our heads.”

“At a time of so many wars, so many crises, Tibet has a figurehead who has come to represent building bridges rather than creating divisions,” she added.

Roth lamented the inclusion of Tibet in the 2014 Freedom of the World report’s Worst of the Worst list, which identifies the world’s most repressed cultures: “Tibetan people are campaigning for their religion, human rights, environment, culture and language. This is not a crime but a fundamental right and belongs to the Tibetan people.”

“Change is essential and change is possible as long as we don’t look away and aren’t intimidated by the Chinese government. Their integration into the world economy makes them a force to be reckoned with but there needs to be cultural leadership. Let me ask Beijing, how are the international community meant to support China when they have repressed human rights to such an extent?”

Roth went on to discuss the environmental

Ms Claudia Roth, Vice-President of German Bundestag addressing the 56th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day in Dharamshala, India, on March 10, 2014. Photo: TPI/Dawa Phurbu

impact Chinese occupation has had on Tibetan ecology, including the need to address the effects of Chinese mining, damning and consumption of Tibetan water.

She later underlined that “today is a day of solidarity. I stand here to express solidarity with you and to remember the victims of the 1959 uprising and the subsequent major protests in 1989 and 2008.”

Dr Sangay subsequently thanked Roth for her speech: “From the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving such a passionate, detailed and heartfelt speech. Claudia Roth is one of the few politicians who not only says what she means, but also does what she says.”

Rep Nancy Pelosi joins protestors at rally for Tibet uprising anniversary

U.S. Rep Nancy Pelosi speaks in front of San Francisco City Hall, California to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the Tibetan uprising on March 10, 2015. Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

By Yangchen Dolma: March 13, 2015

San Francisco, US — Commemorating of the 56th Tibetan National Uprising Day in San Francisco, US, Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Ms Nancy Pelosi said she remains committed to helping Tibetans secure human rights and dignity.

Over a hundred Tibetans and Tibet supporters gathered in front of the San Francisco city hall to mark the event.

Among the crowd of Tibetan supporters gathered outside of the City Hall were Pelosi, San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi and

Supervisor John Avalos, offered their support for Tibetans while commemorating the anniversary of the Tibetan uprising and paying tribute to the ongoing resistance.

Addressing the gathering, Pelosi said, “our cause is securing the human rights and human dignity of the people of Tibet. To us, it is inevitable that Tibetans will be able to secure their rights and dignity.”

“To the Chinese it is inconceivable that such a thing will happen. We have to bridge the distance between what is inconceivable to the Chinese and the inevitable to us,” Pelosi said when expressing her strong support and

solidarity with the Tibetan people.

Ms. Pelosi also told the gathering “the situation in Tibet is a challenge to the conscience of the world.” “ We w i l l c o n t i n u e s t a n d i n g u p a n d speaking out,” Pelosi said, adding that she agreed with signs in the crowd that read, “China is responsible.”

Pelosi also said she remains committed to helping Tibetans secure human rights and dignity and said she hopes His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who will turn 80 years old soon, will have a long life and that Tibet will again belong to Tibetans.

Mirkarimi described the 1959 uprisings as a “brutal genocide,” while Avalos condemned the “illegal occupation of Tibet by China” in his address to the crowd.

“We will fight with you to make sure your voice is heard,” Avalos said.

Mr Kaydor Aukartsang, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to North America, said the situation in Tibet remains grim and that current conditions are like a war zone.

He urged everyone taking part in the rallies held around the world today not to believe the rhetoric coming out of China that Tibetans are their own masters. He said the Tibetan people are not governing themselves.

Among the chants recited by the crowd as they headed into the street to march toward the Chinese Consulate on Laguna Street were, “Human rights in Tibet” and “China is guilty, guilty of genocide.”

Tibetans and supporters marched from the Chinese Consulate to Justin Herman Plaza near the Ferry Building, where a candlelight vigil was held at evening.

Bundestag V-P Claudia Roth: “I ask China to accept Tibet’s open hand”

By Oliver Arnoldi: March 10, 2015

Dharamshala - German Green Party politician and Bundestag Vice-President Claudia Roth has asked for “China to accept Tibet’s open hand” in the interest of granting the country a genuine, democratically-based autonomy.

Speaking alongside Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay at a press conference held at the Central Tibetan Administration’s Lhakpa Tsering Hall, Department of Information and International Relations, on March 9, Roth paid tribute to Tibet.

“I am excited, honoured, privileged and incredibly happy to be here. I first met the Dalai Lama 25 years ago when I was Vice-President of the Green Group in the European Parliament.

Now, I come with an open heart to share your problems, your sorrows, your tears, your smiles and your wonderful food,” she said.

She also relayed advice she received from Danielle Mitterand, her late friend and former first lady of France: “’Don’t forget, forgetting would kill.’ One must not forget the hardships and efforts of the Tibetan people. We must learn from them.”

Roth – a former Chair of the Bundestag’s Human Rights Board – added: “Our basis of living together must be the dignity of human beings. Dignity does not belong to a particular race, religion or gender. It belongs to any human being. In a world full of crime and terror and bloodshed, we need dignity more than ever.”

This dignity, Roth argues, needs to be given back to Tibet by the Chinese government:

From left: Kalon Dicki Chhoyang, Vice-President of the German Bundestag Ms Claudia Roth, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay and Mr Wolfgang Grader from Tibet Initiative Deutschland (TID) during a press conference in Dharamshala, India, on March 9, 2015. Photo: TPI/Dawa Phurbu

“There is not a Tibetan demand for separation.

There is only a real demand for conversation in the pursuit of genuine autonomy. I ask China to accept Tibet’s open hand.”

She was clear to point out, however, that while “I am a very good friend of Tibet, I am not an enemy of China.”

Dr Sangay commented that he was delighted to receive Roth in Dharamshala: “I thank her on behalf of all Tibetans, including those inside Tibet, to have come here. We are grateful that a person of such stature travelled all the way

from Germany to Dharamshala to show her support and solidarity.”

He added: “Your presence here sends a strong message of hope to us that despite the repression and suppression, there are friends, especially friends [of political significance], who take the trouble to be with the Tibetan people in our hour of need.”

Invited by Dr Sangay, Roth will be guest speaker at the 56th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day at the Main Temple, Dharamshala on March 10.

8

March 15, 2015

TPI NEWS

Back Page Focus

Media watchdog unblocks banned websites in 11 Countries

By Yeshe Choesang: March 13, 2015

Paris, France — To mark World Day Against Cyber-Censorship, the Paris-based global press freedom watchdog “Reporters Without Borders” Thursday has launched “Operation Collateral Freedom” to unblock nine censored websites in 11 countries that are on its list of “Enemies of the Internet.”

The Tibet Post International, which is blocked in China since its establishment, is one of the nine sites due to be restored by the media watchdog.

The “Enemies of the Internet” report that media watchdog publishes every year spotlights countries whose governments censor the Internet and deprive their inhabitants of online to access independently-reported news and information.

The Global Press freedom group said the campaign aimed at protecting a number of websites from censorship in China, Vietnam and other countries.

To combat online censorship, the group said it is “making the following 9 censored websites accessible in 11 countries where they are currently banned and blocked.”

Two websites in China and one in Vietnam have had mirror sites set up, along with websites in Cuba, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kazakhstan, countries reckoned by Reporters without Borders to be “enemies of the internet”.

Using the technique known as mirroring to duplicate a censored site and place a copy on the servers of the likes of Amazon, Microsoft and Google, nine websites that are currently blocked now have another publishing outlet.

The countries concerned could block these services but almost certainly will not. Blocking Amazon or Microsoft or any major cloud computing service provider would cripple the thousands of tech companies that use them every day. The economic and political cost of blocking the mirror sites would therefore be too high.

That is why this operation is called “Collateral Freedom.” It exploits the collateral opportunities offered by the natural disinclination of governments to do themselves harm.

This operation, which will be maintained for several months, uses the domain names

and IP addresses of these cloud computing service providers.

The nine mirror sites are accessible only via https. Https is the secure version of http, the standard protocol for Internet browsing. All traffic between the user’s browser and an https website is encrypted, so using https prevents others from seeing the content of the visited webpages and therefore prevents any attempt to filter out content by using keywords.

The Tibet Post International, which is blocked in China, is now available at another address.

Mingjing News, which is censured in China, is now available. Dan Lam Bao, blocked in Vietnam, has been mirrored.

Reporters Without Borders is renting bandwidth for the initiative – dubbed Operation Collateral Freedom – and is asking internet users to help pay for any extra bandwidth needed to keep the mirror sites going.

While it would still be possible to block access to the mirrored sites, the fact that they are hosted on such popular servers means that there would be massive knock-on effects for other much-used services. Encryption is also in use to help prevent the risk of blocking by keyword. The full list of sites that make up Operation Collateral Freedom are: * Grani.ru, blocked in Russia * Fergananews.com blocked in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan

* The Tibet Post International, blocked in China * Dan Lam Bao, blocked in Vietnam * Mingjing News, blocked in China * Hablemos Press, blocked in Cuba * Gooya News, blocked in Iran * Gulf Centre for Human Rights, blocked in United Arab Emirates * Bahrain Mirror, blocked in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia To make freely-reported news and information available in these countries, all Internet users are invited to join in this operation by posting this list on social networks with the #CollateralFreedom hashtag.

Operation Collateral Freedom is the brainchild of GreatFire — RSF’s partner organization — operated by Chinese activists that has already created unblockable mirror sites of Deutsche Welle, Google and China Digital Times.

GreatFire’s tools and technology are freely available online for anyone to use to combat online censorship.

The group said it is posting an opinion piece by GreatFire co-founder Charlie Smith, entitled “How to fight censorship with freedom of speech,” on our 12 March website (12mars.rsf.org). GreatFire’s tools and experience were our source of inspiration for this year’s World Day Against Cyber-Censorship.

The Tibet Post International