The Tibet Post International
TPI NEWS
H.H T HE D ALAI L AMA
April 30, 2015
5
Archbishop Tutu visits His Holiness in McLeod Ganj Nobel Peace Laureates talk finding and creating more joy in the world By Yeshe Choesang: April 19, 2015
His Holiness presents a khatag to fellow Nobel Peace Prize laureate, archbishop Desmond Tutu, at the Main Temple in McLeod Ganj. Photo: TPI
Dharamshala — Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Laureate from South Africa, arrived in Dharamshala Saturday afternoon who is on a week-long visit to collaborate a book titled ‘Book of Joy. He was received at the Gaggal airport by the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the political leader of the Tibetan people and Ngodup Dongchung Kalon for the Department of Security had also arrived at the airport to welcome the Archbishop. Speaking to media at the airport, His Holiness the Dalai Lama hailed the Archbishop as a ‘genuine good human being’ and His Holiness
said he was happy to have his friend with him in Dharamshala. His Holiness the Dalai Lama last visited South Africa when Nelson Mandela was the president. “I am so thrilled to be with my dear friend, often things and people try to keep us apart but the love that we have for each other and the goodness of god’s universe ensures that we will meet.” Archbishop Tutu told reporters at the Gaggal airport on his arrival from South Africa. He further denounced the current South African government for denying visa to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and also expressed amazement over China’s government apparent deep sense of insecurity over His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
By Molly Lortie: April 20, 2015
Gansu, Qinghai and other areas that Tibetans and people of other ethnic minorities inhabit in compact communities should be incorporated into a unified administrative region.” “Third, it demands ‘a high degree of autonomy’ that is not subject to any constraint whatsoever from the central government, denies the leadership of the central government and Tibet’s present social and political systems, and proposes to establish an ‘autonomous government’ under which ‘Tibetans’ (in truth the Dalai party) take full charge of all affairs other than diplomacy and national defense.” “Fourth, it opposes the central government to garrison troops in Tibet and, despite its superficial agreement that the central government holds the authority over national defense, it demands that the central government ‘withdraws all Chinese troops’ to turn Tibet into an ‘international zone of peace.’ “And fifth, in total disregard of the fact that the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has been a multi-ethnic region since ancient times, it denies the access of other ethnic groups to ‘Greater Tibet’ and drives them out of regions where they have lived for generations.” Of the five points, genuine autonomy in particular, China clearly takes issue with, as the white paper claimed that it “is a mask that conceals the true aim of realizing complete independence; and its purpose is to deny China’s sovereignty over Tibet and establish a “Greater Tibet” beyond the jurisdiction of the central government.”
“I do not know why the South African government is denying visa to His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” he said. “I invited the Dalai Lama to be part of my birthday celebrations in South Africa. However, I was surprised to know that he had been denied visa by the government. I talked to the Dalai Lama on the phone and enquired how many divisions of the army he had because of which the Chinese government was afraid of him.” Answering the question Tutu said: “They are right; spiritual leader is something to be taken seriously.” Desmond Tutu said. To mark His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 80th birthday, the two Nobel peace laureates will spend time together in Dharamshala ‘in deep dialogue and playful laughter as they share their experience of how to find joy in the face of life’s challenges.’ It acquired the pair’s collaborative “The Book of Joy” in what the bookseller described as a “very spirited” 12-way auction. Their discussion will form the basis of the text, with the pair - who call each other “spiritual brother” - also inviting members of the public to ask the questions about joy and happiness they most want answered on the authors’ Facebook pages. The most popular will be addressed during the meetings this April, according to multiple media reports. 83-year-old Archbishop Tutu, who flew to Dharamshala from Amritsar after paying obeisance at Golden Temple on Friday, would stay in the hill-town till April 26. This has been Tutu’s second visit to the CTA headquarters in since 2012.
By Yangchen Dolma: April 21, 2015
Dharamshala — A conversation was held between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu to bring more joy and happiness to the troubled world. According to the information of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, in their face-to-face conversation at His Holiness’s residence in Dharamshala, on Monday, April 20, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu discussed methods for creating and finding more joy or happiness in the world. The Tutus were accompanied by Doug Abrams and other members of Human Journey, a new initiative co-founded by Archbishop Tutu and Abrams committed to spreading the African understanding of ubuntu—the realization that each of us thrives only when all of us thrive. This morning, His Holiness met with Archbishop Tutu at his residence to hold the first of several conversations that Abrams plans to shape into the ‘Book of Joy’. This will be modelled on the earlier ‘Book of Forgiving’ that the Archbishop wrote with his daughter Mpho. The two spiritual leaders laughed a great deal as they explored what joy is in terms of happiness, love and compassion. Archbishop
His Holiness the the Dalai Lama and Archibishop Desmond Tutu at His Holiness’s private residence in Dharamsala, HP, India on April 20, 2015. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL
Tutu pointed out that despite the pain involved in giving birth, mothers cradle the newborn with joy. He challenged His Holiness to explain how he remains so joyful in the face of trouble and His Holiness replied by quoting the Indian philosopher who said that you need to assess the situation and if something can be done, there’s no need to worry. What you need to do is take action. and if there’s nothing to be done, worrying won’t help. On Saturday, April 18 His Holiness the Dalai Lama went to Kangra Airport to receive his old friend Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter Mpho and welcome them to Dharamshala.
Tibetans urge world action to release Tibet’s missing Panchen Lama
China says middle way feigns acceptance of sovereignty in Tibet
Dharamshala — On Wednesday, April 15th, China released the latest of a total 13 white papers since 1990 regarding Tibet. White papers are meant to address complex issues and act as an authoritative guide to a comprehensive solution. While the white paper addressed many facets of the state of Tibet, its clear that the greatest aim was to discredit His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and his Middle Way Approach. The white paper denounces the plan, summarily stating that, “Under the ‘middle way,’ the Dalai group feigns acceptance of China’s sovereignty in Tibet to seize the reins of power and set up a semi-independent political regime under the control of the ‘Tibetan independence’ forces, and ultimately seek full sovereignty and achieve ‘Tibetan independence’ when its governing power is consolidated.” Justifying this point, the white paper lays out five essential wrong doings of the Middle Way. “First, it denies the fact that Tibet has been an integral part of China since ancient times; instead it claims that Tibet was ‘an independent state’ which was ‘occupied by China in 1951,’ and that ‘Tibetans have the right to independence from a historic perspective.’” “Second, it seeks to establish a ‘Greater Tibet’ that has never existed at any time in history, claiming that the ‘Tibet issue’ concerns 6 million Tibetans and that Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan,
In contrast, the Middle Way approach, as His Holiness has defined it, “safeguards the vital interests of all concerned parties... [F]or Tibetans: the protection and preservation of their culture, religion and national identity; for the Chinese: the security and territorial integrity of the motherland; and for neighbors and other third parties: peaceful borders and international relations.” The Central Tibetan Administration clearly laid out the intended meaning of a ‘high degree of autonomy’ in a recent statement regarding the issue. The statement read, “as a part of the multi-national state of the PRC, Tibetans can benefit greatly from the rapid economic and scientific development the country is experiencing. While wanting to actively participate and contribute to this development, we want to ensure that this happens without the people losing their Tibetan identity, culture and core values and without putting the distinct and fragile environment of the Tibetan plateau, to which Tibetans are indigenous, at risk.” While China continues to claim that Tibetans are “masters of their own fate,” the demand for genuine autonomy comes from the 66 years of imprisonment for Tibetans possessing images or teachings of the Dalai Lama, the destruction of more than 6,000 monasteries and other religious symbols across Tibet, and the killing of over 1.2 million out of a total 6 Tibetans, all of which suggest the immediate and desperate need for China’s dreaded ‘genuine autonomy.’
Effects of devastating earthquake in Nepal reaches Tibet By Molly Lortie: April 27, 2015
Dharamshala – Expressing great sadness regarding the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal yesterday, including the loss of many lives and widespread damage to property, His Holiness the Dalai Lama wrote to the Nepali Prime Minister, Sushil Koirala, on Sunday, April 26th, 2015. “The people of Nepal and Tibetans have been neighbours throughout history and many Tibetan refugees live in Nepal. I offer my condolences to you and to those who have lost members of their families, friends and their homes in this tragedy.” He added: “As a token of solidarity with the people of Nepal, I have asked the Dalai Lama Trust to make a donation towards rescue and relief efforts.” The 7.9 Richter scale tremor that struck Nepal on Saturday also affected parts of Tibet. The two border ports to Nepal were seriously affected. Reports indicate that the death toll in Tibet has reached 20. In addition to the reported deaths, a total of 58 people have been injured, four continue to be missing and 12,000 others evacuated. The quake also toppled 1,191 houses, damaged roads and cut off telecommunications in two counties in Shigaze. The massive earthquake in Nepal, the worst in over 80 years, has so far claimed over 3,600 lives and left more than 6,000 others injured. Officials
Devastating Nepal quake kills over hundred, some in Everest avalanche, Photo: TPI
have warned that the number of casualties will most likely continue to rise as rescue teams reach remote mountainous regions of western Nepal. According to reports, rescuers continued to scour Indian villages and towns bordering
Nepal as India’s death toll reached 62, including 40 in Bihar, with nearly 260 injured. In Bangladesh, four people died, two of them from heart attacks, when the quake struck, according to a report by the Daily Star.
Mr Tashi Phuntsok, Information Secretary of DIIR, during the press briefing, Dharamshala, India, on April 21, 2015. Photo: TPI/Choneyi Sangpo By Molly Lortie,: April 22, 2015
D h a r a m s h a l a — T h e C e n t r a l Ti b e t a n Administration (CTA) held a press conference Tuesday appealing for the international community’s assistance for release of the Panchen Lama Gedhun Chokeyi Nyima who has not been seen since his disappearance in May, 1995. On May 17, 2015, which is marked as International Solidarity Day with Tibet, Tibetans and supporters will make an impassioned plea for the release of the 11th Panchen Lama and organize various initiatives surrounding the appeal. ‘’The event is to coincide with the anniversary of the disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, one of the most revered religious leaders in Tibet. The CTA calls upon the international community to join us in an appeal for his release,’’ the CTA said. “This year will mark the 20th anniversary of his disappearance at age six. Till date, his whereabouts and well-being remain unknown,” the CTA spokesperson Mr Tashi Phuntsok told reporters in his April 21 press briefing. On 14 May 1995, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, aged six, was recognised by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of the 10th Panchen Lama. Within three days of the announcement, he was abducted, making him one of the youngest political prisoners in the world. Declaring his case an enforced disappearance in April 2 0 11 , t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s ’ Wo r k i n g Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances held China responsible for his disappearance and stated that the Chinese authorities have “continually
refused to divulge any information about him or his whereabouts, making his case an enforced disappearance”. The Panchen Lama’s disappearance has attracted international attention due to his young age. Arbitrary detention and sentencing in prison without due process is common in Tibet today. According to the Tibetan NGOs, there are currently over 2,000 Tibetan political prisoners. The Central Tibetan Administration’s appeal letter further stated that “A number of human rights bodies including the UN Committee against Torture, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, as well as the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, have all called for the Panchen Lama’s whereabouts to be made known. However, China has turned a deaf ear to these pleas to allow contact with the Panchen Lama and continues to detain him.” “The case of the Panchen Lama is not only the story of an innocent six-year old child disappearing for 20 years, but also a blatant symptom of political repression and lack of religious freedom. The enforced disappearance of the 11th Panchen Lama is a vivid case of China’s aggression against Tibetan people by hijacking a centuries-old traditional Buddhist practice of reincarnation for political ends.” said Tashi Phuntsok, Spokesperson of the CTA. The Central Tibetan Administration has appealed to Tibet supporters worldwide to call for the release of the Panchen Lama and all political prisoners in Tibet through different channels including social media. The campaign’s Facebook handle is “solidarity with tibet” and hashtag is #Releasepanchenlama.