The Xi-Ma Meeting: A Tiny Hope for Peace
I n t e r n a t i o n a l
China’s new dams in Tibet impact on Asian freshwater: Sikyong P- 5 ... Vol. 03, Issue 144, Print Issue 68, November 15, 2015 Pelosi voices support for His Holiness during China visit
B o d - K y i - Cha-Trin
A Voice For Tibet Bi-monthly
P-5 ... www.thetibetpost.com
Rs.10
Tibetan is the best language for studying Buddhism: His Holiness By Molly Lortie: 03 November 2015
US Democratic leader Pelosi and congressional delegation in front of the Potala Palace in Lhasa during their historic visit to Tibet this week. Photo: Leader Nancy Pelosi’s Office By Yeshi Choesang: November 14, 2015
Dharamshala — The spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, enjoys strong support in the United States, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi told Chinese officials during an official visit this week to the remote Himalayan region of Tibet, while expressing concern about human rights of Tibetan people. ““We engaged in candid talks with the Secretary of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), Chen Quanguo; Vice Party Secretary of TAR, Baima Chilin; and Party Secretary of Lhasa, Qi Zhala regarding the importance of respecting Tibet’s autonomy, its ecology, and the human rights and religious freedom of its diverse people,” US House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement. Pelosi, a long time friend of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and supporter of Tibetan issues in the US Congress, was leading a senior US Congressional delegation on a rare visit to Tibet, which China has ruled with an iron fist since 1949, when it was occupied by the Communist China— killing of 1.2 million of 6 million Tibetans and destroying more than six thousand temples and monasteries. P-2...
Pelosi praises progress in Tibet: State-Run Media By Yeshi Choesang: November 14, 2015
Dharamshala — During her meeting with Chen Guoquan Beijing-appointed Chinese party chief in Tibet on Tuesday, US House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi praised Chinese government for “progress progress in Tibet,” a state-run Chinese newspaper has reported on Friday. US House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and six other Democratic lawmakers traveled to the so called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) before meeting the head of China’s top legislature in Beijing on Thursday. An article published in a Chinese state-owned newspaper, ‘Tibet Daily’ claimed that Pelosi “highly praised” developments in Tibet, including “the efforts made by the Chinese government to protect religious freedom, ethnic culture and the environment.” Chen Guoquan, the party chief in TAR warned his party members and cadres, to avoid any appearance of any wrongdoing, just ahead of the US Democratic lawmakers’ trip to the in region this week, a report published by the party’s central anti-corruption and discipline agency, on Monday. “We must severely punish those party members and cadres who don’t have firm beliefs and ideals, who don’t share the same mind with the party and the people, who have ‘two faces’ when it comes to the important question of what’s right and wrong,” Mr Chen said. “Pelosi spoke highly of the great transformation in the new Tibet and the efforts by the Chinese government in guaranteeing freedom of religion, protecting ethnic tradition and culture and ecological environment,” the Tibet Daily, reported. “Thanks to the efforts by the Chinese government, the living standards of Chinese people, including Tibetan people, have improved significantly. People all over the world have recognized this, and you have every reason to feel proud of this,” Pelosi was quoted as saying by the Tibet Daily. The Chinese State-Run Media reported on Thursday that “Chen Guoquan, Party secretary of the Tibet autonomous region, met in Lhasa on Tuesday afternoon with the US delegation.” “Chen extended a welcome to the US delegation and expressed his appreciation to the efforts and contributions made by Pelosi in supporting the healthy development of China-US relations over the years,” the report said. The report said Chen “hoped that on issues relating to Tibet, the US will keep its promise of respecting China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and does not support activities aimed at separating China.” The report said Mr Chen “called on the US not to allow a visit by the Dalai Lama and not to provide any form of support of activities by Tibetan separatist forces.” ‘Chen also briefed US lawmakers of the social and economic development of Tibet and hoped Pelosi would have a deeper understanding of Tibet through the visit,’ the report said. He said ‘he also hoped Pelosi will help introduce the real, prosperous and harmonious Tibet to Americans and the world.’ “Thanks to the efforts by the Chinese government, the living standards of Chinese people, including Tibetan people, have improved significantly. People all over the world have recognized this, and you have every reason to feel proud of this,” Pelosi was quoted as saying by the Tibet Daily.
Dharamshala — The spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, said Tuesday that “the best language for receiving teachings of the Buddha is Tibetan.” Thousands of Tibetans and devotees gathered early Tuesday morning, November 3, at the main Temple in McLeod Ganj to participate in a teaching and long life offering for His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. After the cancellation of several planned appearances and general concerns for His Holiness’s health, the Tibetan community and other devotees came out in large numbers to receive the teaching and pray for his long life, with the total number of devotees at more than 7,000. The long life offering was organized in collaboration by several organizations including the Barkham Tibetan communities; Sogshoe and Tridho, and the standing committee of Dhokham Chushi Gangdruk based in Dharamshala. The day was celebrated in accordance with Lhabab Duchen, a Buddhist festival celebrated to observe the descent of the Buddha from heaven back to Earth. Prior to initiation of the long life offering ceremony, His Holiness conducted preparatory rituals for the Long-Life Empowerment he was to give. “Since it is an auspicious day, I thought I’d begin by making a reciprocal offering to you of a Long-Life Empowerment. We have groups of today’s sponsors, residents of Dharamshala, people from the Trans Himalayan regions and others who come from traditionally Christian countries gathered here today.” The Nobel Peace Prize laureate began the event with a teaching and empowerment, revisiting the roots of Buddhism in Tibet which was spread by Indian masters who not only built monasteries and spread teachings, but encouraged the Tibetan language to grow into the spiritual depth it now commands. “Particularly, Master Santaraksita advised Tibetans to study the Buddha Dharma in our own language, so since the 8th century when he came to Tibet, we have a Tibetan translation of over
His Holiness the Dalai Lama addresses the crowd gathered during the long life offering ceremony for His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the Main Tibetan Temple, Dharamshala, India, on November 3, 2015. Photo: TPI/Choneyi Sangpo
100 volumes of the words of the Buddha,” His Holiness said. “Over 200 volumes of texts on these teachings. So today we can say that the complete teachings of the Buddha exists in Tibetan language,” he added. “The best language for receiving teachings of the Buddha is Tibetan. The reason is because before Buddhism came to Tibet, Tibetan language didn’t used to have a vast vocabulary, but since we began to translate Indian literature into our own language, Tibetans began coining new words so in this way Tibetan has become very rich in vocabulary when it comes to understanding the philosophy of Buddhism. Tibetan words for the Sanskrit
China detains father of four for calling for freedom in Tibet
terms in philosophy are quite exact.” “We can think of Buddhism in terms of three main categories - philosophy, science and religion. The religious part involves principles and practices that are of concern to Buddhism alone, but the Buddhist philosophy of interdependence as well as the Buddha science of mind and human emotions are of great benefit to everyone,” His Holiness added. Following the teaching was a long life prayer for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and a short presentation in the yard below the temple by Barkham Tsogsho dedicated to the Tibetan leader including several offerings and a dance performance. P-2... Worldwide support for Tibet growing tremendously: DIIR Kalon
DIIR Kalon DICKI Chhoyang speaking to the participants of Asia regional Meeting of ITN, 11 November 2015. Photo: DIIR By DIIR: November 11, 2015
Armed Chinese paramilitary force deployed in Ngaba county, eastern Tibet, 19th October 2011. Photo: TPI/file By Yeshe Choesang: 30 October 2015
Dharamshala — Sources coming out of Tibet say a Tibetan father-of-four was arrested by Chinese authorities in Ngaba County, north-eastern Tibet for a staging peaceful protest against Chinese rule by shouting slogans calling for freedom in Tibet and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. “Tashi, a 31-year-old man was held by Chinese police on October 26, within minutes of having started his protest march on the county-town street,” said Kanyak Tsering, a monk from Dharamshala-based Kirti Monastery October 30. “Tashi took to the main street of Ngaba town, holding a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” and shouted slogans calling for “freedom in Tibet” and “return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” Ven Tsering said. “Chinese authorities arrived at the scene within minutes and arrested him. His conditions remain unknown and he is currently in Chinese police custody,” the monk said, having spoken to someone who asked to remain anonymity. Tashi, a native of village no. 5 of Meruma town, Ngaba County in Amdo Region of north-eastern Tibet Tibet (Ch: Aba County, Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in the north-west of Sichuan Province). “His wife’s name is Kalpe and has four children: two sons and two daughters.” Fear is growing in Ngaba Count of Tibet as dozens of Tibetans, including monks and women were arrested and
disappeared in recent months. Earlier this month, Chinese authorities detained a 15-yr-old Tibetan monk for staging peaceful protest and shouting slogans calling for “freedom in Tibet” and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.” The situation in Ngaba County has deteriorated with “patriotic re-education” campaign since widespread peaceful protests swept most parts of Tibet in 2008. Tibetans are arbitrarily arrested, severely beaten, and imprisoned by the Chinese police forces for staging peaceful protests and even expressing their views in favour of human rights, including religious freedom. All communications, include Internet lines in the county and surrounding areas severely restricted and oftenly blocked, except for Chinese government offices and institutions. Tibetans are under heavy surveillance by the increasing number of Chinese police forces, with security checkpoints and Chinese work team officials monitoring their movements and activities, as was reported earlier. The list of Tibetans arrested and detained by the Chinese police and security forces for staging peaceful protests in favor of freedom in Tibet and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, is consistently growing in recent months. This tendency clearly contradicts China’s recently released white paper, which claims that Tibet has reached its ‘golden age’.
Dharamshala — “The worldwide sympathy and support for the just cause of Tibet is growing tremendously across the world,” said Kalon Dicki Chhoyang of the Department of Information and International Relations, while addressing the final day of International Tibet Network’s (ITN) Asia Regional Meeting, held in Dharamshala “As we take a hard look at where we stand in terms of Tibet support groups, I notice that the interest and support for Tibet is growing tremendously. Therefore, we have to be organised in such a way that we can harness that support to highlight the Tibet issue,” she said. Underlining the importance of making the Tibet issue relevant to current trends of the world, DIIR Kalon said that we have to find a way to make the Tibet issue topical. “For instance in the case of environment, we made a concerted effort to link Tibet to COP21 by drawing on the importance of the Tibetan plateau to south Asia and other parts of the world,” she said. “The recent All-India Tibet Support Groups Meeting was held in Assam. Assam is significant as the Brahmaputra flows from Tibet into their backyards. Therefore, even if the people of Assam is not interested in politics, they are interested about their access to water because it’s going to affect their livelihood,” she added. Highlighting the importance of the Tibet issue to sustain nonviolence in the world, she said, “In a world constantly confronted with violent conflicts, we need to sustain and support non-violent political movements. Tibet is probably one of the oldest non-violent political movements and support for the Tibetan movement is crucial to encourage other peaceful movements.” Clarifying the Chinese government’s allegation that the unrest in Tibet is due to the insidious conspiracy from the exile community, she explained that the Tibetan movement is led by Tibetans inside Tibet and not by exiles. “The Central Tibetan Administration and other Tibetan groups are just amplifying the aspirations and wishes of the Tibetan people to the free world on their behalf,” she explained. Emphasizing the role of Central Tibetan Administration as the legitimate and democratic representative of the Tibetan people, she said, “The older generation of the Tibetan people has invested tremendous effort in setting up this institution and it’s imperative that we don’t lose sight of their hard work and sacrifice.” Forty-six delegates from 14 Tibet support groups based in ten countries including the US, UK, Bangladesh, Taiwan, Kenya, Malaysia, Philippines, Italy and India took part in the meeting.