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His Holiness speaks on secular ethics for modern education Vol. 04, Issue 155, Print Issue 79, May 15, 2016 China arrests a Tibetan Buddhist monk for peaceful protest in Tibet

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Tibet too needs China’s help to develop economically: His Holiness

By Yeshe Choesang: May 09, 2016

Lobsang Thupten, a Tibetan monk from Kirti Monastery in Ngaba County, Amdo Province of Tibet. Photo: TPI

By TibetNet: April 29, 2016

Dharamshala — Chinese police in Ngaba County of north-eastern Tibet have detained a Tibetan monk after he staged a solo protest against the Chinese government repression and failed official policy in Tibet.

Lobsang Thupten, a Tibetan monk from Kirti Monastery staged a solo protest on Monday, around 3:00 p.m. on May 2, walking down the Ngaba County street whilst holding a portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,’ Ven Sonam, a Tibetan living in Switzerland told TPI on Monday.

“Chinese police immediately arrested him at the spot, but details cannot be confirmed,” he said, citing local sources in the region.

Thupten is a native of village no. 1 of Meruma town, Ngaba County in Amdo Region of north-eastern Tibet Tibet (Ch: Aba County, Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture in the northwest of Sichuan Province),” Ven Sonam added, saying “His current conditions remain unknown.”

The video footage and photos also show the monk from Kirti Monastery, staging a solo protest on a street in Ngaba county on Monday afternoon.

Most parts of Tibet have suffered severe crackdowns and been under heightened restrictions and controls in the past six decades, that China calls it a “peaceful liberation”. But Tibetans say the main causes of the Tibetan people’s grievance, including China’s political repression, cultural assimilation, economic marginalisation, social discrimination and environmental destruction in Tibet.

Osaka, Japan — The spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, on Monday said that it is the only realistic solution to resolve the Tibet issue in a mutually beneficial way, Tibet too needs China’s help to develop economically.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Monday arrived in Osaka city of Japan, where a group of over one hundred Taiwanese and Mongolian devotees welcomed him with bouquets and traditional Tibetan scarves.

“As for Tibet, we have a huge land and a rich culture but we need China’s help to develop economically,” he told reporters in Osaka in Japan.

“I really admire the concept of federation, such as the European Union, where countries are foregoing their sovereign rights to join the union,” His Holiness the Dalai Lama said.

The Nobel Peace laureate believes in the “Middle Way Approach” that implies not seeking “Independence” for Tibet, but a “Meaningful” or “Genuine” Autonomy” for all Tibetans living in the three traditional provinces of Tibet within the framework of the People’s Republic of China.

The spiritual leader also applauded the reconciliatory spirit of the Japanese and the Germans. “Even though two atomic bombs were dropped in Japan, most Japanese have reconciled from the past and doesn’t carry sentiments of vengeance anymore. The same goes for the Germans,” he said.

“Similarly, Tibetans should be realistic and preserve its rich cultural traditions through genuine autonomy,” His Holiness said, emphasising that ‘common interest should be more important than independence at this crucial juncture in our country’s history.

A Tibetan girl welcomes His Holiness the Dalai Lama in traditional Tibetan custom at Narita International Airport, Japan, 8 May 2016. (Photo/ Masaya Noda)

His Holiness will give teachings on Shantideva’s A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (Tib: Chodjug) to about 2700 devotees at

Tibetan writer Lomig is handed 7-year term on unknown charges

Beijing bars German Parliament rights chief from China over Tibet issue

By Yeshe Choesang: May 12, 2016

Berlin — In an unprecedented development, the Chair of the Human Rights Committee of the Federal German Parliament, Michael Brand, has been banned by the Chinese government from traveling to China as head of a committee delegation to visit China and Tibet this May. The reason for this entry ban is his ongoing criticism of the human rights situation in China and Tibet. Brand was planning on visiting China and Tibet at the end of May, together with a delegation from the Committee on Human Rights.

In a newspaper article Wednesday, May 11, Brand criticizes the Chinese government for “repeated attempts to blackmail” and intimidation for Tibet related reports on his website and his attendance at Tibet related events in Germany. A diplomat of the Chinese embassy in Berlin made “absurd accusations” and urged him to delete articles on his website critical of Chinese policies in Tibet.

“This was an attempt to censor me and blackmailing”, Brand said.

“For example, in May of 2015, Brand had given a speech at Tibet Initiative Deutschland’s annual membership meeting in Frankfurt.

The Chinese ambassador had previously asked him to cancel this participation in the event,” Brand added.

“We are deeply concerned about the level of censorship, pressure and intervention the Chinese government has recently exhibited in Germany. Whenever a politician or member of the government even slightly criticizes the human rights situation in China and Tibet, the highly sensitive Chinese government suspends any form of dialogue,” Executive Director, Tibet Initiative Deutschland e.V., Nadine Baumann, said in a statement.

“The fact that Mr. Brand was requested not to attend our annual membership meeting is a sign that the Chinese ambassador wants to prevent any kind of work on human rights issues. This is absolutely not acceptable in a democratic country like Germany. These massive encroachments upon basic rights are intolerable,” Baumann said.

“The growing attempts of the Chinese government to influence our legal system, our values and our freedom are becoming more and more tangible. Therefore, we expect the German government to intervene,” Baumann added.

The Chinese government said that the Human Rights Committee of the Federal Parliament is still invited to visit the PRC, but not its chairman, according to the article. Brand instead insisted “The Federal Parliament itself decides about the composition of its delegations.”

The International Campaign for Tibet Germany, in a statement Thursday, May 12, also welcomed the comments by the Chairman of the Human Rights Committee. ICT Germany Executive Director Kai Müller: “The reported attempts to blackmail and intimidation are unacceptable and symptomatic of Beijing’s systematic attempts to silence criticism about its policies in Tibet.”

“Banning the Committee Chairman Brand indicates a lack of sincerity of the Chinese government to engage in any genuine human rights dialogue. Committee Chairman Brand shares the same fate as a number of United Nations Human Rights experts who have been seeking to visit the PRC for some time already, to no avail. The Chinese government must instead open up, allow criticism and make a serious commitment to bring about change”, Müller said.

Jo Lobsang Jamyang, 28, (pen name: Lomik) a Kirti monk, from Meruma in Ngaba, Amdo, Tibet. Photo: TPI

By Yeshe Choesang: May 09, 2016

Dharamshala — A Tibetan writer has been sentenced to seven years and six months by a Chinese court in Tibet over a year after being detained on unknown charges.

Jo Lobsang Jamyang, 28, (pen name: Lomik) had been taken into custody last April in Ngaba (Ch: Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture) county in north-eastern Tibet, Indiabased monk Kanyak Tsering told the TPI Monday.

“According to our reliable sources, Jamyang was handed a 7-year and 6-month sentence sometime recently. The trial took place at the Wenchuan county court in Ngaba prefecture.

‘Details concerning the charges on which Jamyang was convicted and on his present condition were not immediately available,’ the Tibetan source in exile said, citing local contacts.

The police immediately arrested him while he was Walking in the Street of Ngaba County, on Friday night, April 27, 2015 at 11PM. The report suggests that he was severely tortured whilst in Chinese police custody.

Jamyang “has been held in detention, without being brought to trial or informing his family of his whereabouts, for over a year,” Ven Tsering said, added that “the charges on which he was tried by the court are not known.”

Jamyang hails from Meruma in Ngaba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, and his family lives in in village no.3 of nomadic villages in Meruma town. His father’s name is Jodor and mother’s name is Jamkar.

He joined Kirti monastery at a young age, and was studying in the Prajnaparamita class. He has also taken part time courses in non-religious studies at Larung Gar monastery in Serta and the Northwest Minorities University in Lanzhou.

He has participated in many speaking events, and wrote numerous poems and regular social commentary, including on freedom of expression for writers in Tibet. A collection of his poems has been published as “The swirling yellow mist”.

Kirti monastery is one of more than 20 monasteries of the Gelugpa sect and one of the most important such places inside Tibetan lands.

Ngaba County in the region are under heavy surveillance by Chinese security forces, which control their movement, restrict entry to the areas by outsiders, and deploy re-education teams in monasteries.

Authorities quickly suppress and arrest monks and ordinary people there who participate in any peaceful political protests.

the Osaka International Convention Center from 10 – 13 May. His Holiness the Dalai Lama will return to India on Saturday, 14 May. China says Tibetan “election” is just “political slapstick”

By Yeshe Choesang: May 04, 2016

Dharamshala — China on Tuesday reiterated that the Tibetan “government-in-exile” has no legitimacy and its “election” is just “political slapstick,” the state-run media Xinhua reported Wednesday.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei made the remarks in response to the final “election” results announcement by the Tibetan officials on April 27, 2016. He added that the so-called “government-in-exile” is not recognized by any country.

As for the claim by the “government-in-exile” that fewer Tibetans-in -exile have gone to India because of hindrance

by China’s national security department, Hong said “this only reflects the unpopularity of the overseas Tibetan separatist groups.”

Dr Lobsang Sangay has been re-elected as Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration amid hopes that the democratically elected political leader will vigorously pursue the cause of a genuine autonomy for all Tibetans living in the three traditional provinces of Tibet within the framework of the People’s Republic of China.

A total of 150,000 Tibetan refugees live across the world, a majority of them in India. Of more than 90,000 registered voters, nearly 60,000 cast ballots on March 20, election officials said on April 27 in declaring that Dr Sangay had been re-elected as Sikyong, or political leader. Election officials also declared that 45 parliamentarians have been elected and most of them are of younger generation.

Dr Sangay, 47, was born and brought up in India. He won 57% of the vote to defeat his only rival, the Tibetan parliament speaker Mr Penpa Tsering, according to the Tibetan election officials in the northern Indian city of Dharamshala, where the CTA, is headquartered.

Both Sangay and Tsering have taken up the “middle way” approach advocated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, 80, that seeks “genuine autonomy” for Tibetan people living in the three traditional provinces of Tibet rather than independence from China.

However, the CTA is nothing less than the Government of Tibet which was forced to accept the Seventeen Point Agreement in 1951.

China has ruled Tibet with an iron fist since Chinese troops invaded Tibet, in 1949. After the invasion, Tibet was divided into six parts of which five were incorporated into neighbouring Chinese provinces. What China refers to as Tibet nowadays is only a part of the original Tibet, called the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and covers an area of about 122,200 sq, of Tibet’s 850,000 sq, roughly the size of Western Europe.

The TAR is strictly governed by the Chinese Communist Party, with the active support of the military. The Party rules through branch offices in each province, autonomous region and autonomous prefecture. Subordinate to the Party is the government, which carries out policies designed by the Party.

China has established the full panoply of Party and government offices to administer TAR as exists in China. In Lhasa alone, there are over 60 departments and committees almost all of which are directly connected to their national offices in Beijing. Thus, TAR is “autonomous” in word only; in fact, the TAR has less autonomy than Chinese provinces. The top TAR post, the Party

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TPI NEWS

May 15, 2016

5.5 Magnitude quake hits Tibet, over 60 people reportedly injured

By Harish K. Raman: May 12, 2016

Dharamshala — A shallow magnitude-5.5 earthquake reportedly struck the mountainous region of Tibet on Wednesday, May 11, injuring 69 people, collapsing houses and damaging bridges and roads.

The quake struck at 9:15 a.m. local time, Gatha town, 70 kilometers northwest of Gyamotang village, near Chamdo County, at a depth of just 10 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake region is near Amdo region of Tibet (Ch: Qinghai province to the north).

Latest sources say more than 10,000 residents have been relocated in the region in the wake of Wednesday’s earthquake.

On the other hand the China Earthquake Networks Centre monitored the epicentre at 31.99 degrees north latitude and 94.94 degrees east longitude, with a depth of seven kilometers, according to the Chinese state-run media Xinhua News Agency.

Soren, director of the Regional Seismological Bureau, said the epicentre is located in Gatha Town, the site of two major Buddhist temples.

Roads leading to the village have caved in. Township authorities have reportedly sent machinery for emergency repairs and to assist quake relief.

It gave no estimates for numbers of collapsed houses or damaged roads and bridges in Chungpo Tengchen

County, eastern Tibet.

The state-owned “China News Service” reported that the earthquake had set off landslides. The tremor left over a hundred houses destroyed, and 69 people injured. Twelve severely injured people from Gatha village (Ch: Kata Town), the quake’s epicenter, are currently being treated in hospital.

The Xinhua quoted the regional seismological bureau as saying that the epicenter was in Gatha Town, over 823.4 kilometers from the capital Lhasa and the site of two major Buddhist temples.

The town’s chief administrator, identified by the single name of Samphel, told Xinhua he had seen two injured people on his way to help with rescue efforts in a village 10 kilometers away. Roads leading to Guodong village crumbled, the Xinhua said, hampering rescuers.

Calls to the town, county and city authorities rang unanswered, although the Tibetan regional fire service had said in an online statement that rescuers were on their way to Gatha.

The region of western China in the foothills of the Himalayas is an active earthquake zone, and a 2010 quake in nearby Yulshul County (Ch: Yushu) in Kham Province of eastern Tibet, killed almost 3,000 people.

Nearly 90,000 people were killed in China’s worst quake in recent years, a 7.9 magnitude temblor that struck Sichuan province in May 2008.

Denial of adequate medical treatment to prisoners inhuman– HRW

By Yeshe Choesang: May 09, 2016

New York — Chinese authorities continue to deny medical treatment to political prisoners, including journalist in China, Tibet and other regions, the US based rights group Human Rights Watch says “Preventing access to adequate medical treatment is cruel, inhuman”.

“The denial of medical care amounts to cruel and inhuman treatment in violation of the United Nations Convention Against Torture, to which China is a party,” Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report, issued on Friday, May 6, 2016.

“The Chinese authorities should immediately ensure two critics of the government whose health is deteriorating have immediate access to adequate medical care,” Human Rights Watch said.

Imprisoned veteran activist Guo Feixiong, 49, and outspoken journalist Gao Yu, 72, are feared to be at grave risk.

“Chinese officials are earning an ugly reputation over their willingness to let political prisoners get terribly sick – and even die – in detention,” said Sophie Richardson, China director. “The only appropriate response is for authorities to immediately facilitate access to adequate medical care for Guo Feixiong and Gao Yu, and all others who need it.”

The report further stated that “Chinese authorities have denied adequate medical care in detention for other critics of the government. Grassroots activist Cao Shunli died in March 2014, about 20 days after being transferred while in a coma from detention to a hospital. “ The report says the “authorities originally detained her for trying to participate in the 2013 Universal Periodic Review of China’s human rights record at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. Before she died, she told her lawyer that the authorities repeatedly denied her access to adequate medical care, even though she was suffering from tuberculosis and liver disease.”

The report also expressed concern over “the family of prominent Tibetan monk Tenzin Delek Rinpoche

who was informed of his death in a Sichuan prison in July 2015. He had been imprisoned for 13 years on baseless charges after a trial that did not meet minimum international standards. Before his death there were repeated reports that he was being tortured and that he was in deteriorating health.”

Condemning China on its attack on Human Rights, the report says “Failure to provide prisoners access to adequate medical care violates the right to health under the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, which China has ratified. In its 2015 review under the Convention Against Torture, China was criticized for its failures to provide such care and resulting deaths in detention.”

“The UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Mandela Rules) state that the provision of health care for prisoners is a government responsibility,’ the HRW said. Prisoners “should have access to necessary health-care services free of charge without discrimination on the grounds of their legal status” (rule 24). In addition: The HRW stated that “All prisons shall ensure prompt access to medical attention in urgent cases. Prisoners who require specialized treatment or surgery shall be transferred to specialized institutions or to civil hospitals. Where a prison service has its own hospital facilities, they shall be adequately staffed and equipped to provide prisoners referred to them with appropriate treatment and care (rule 27).”

“It’s bad enough that China sends peaceful activists and journalists to prison for years,” Richardson said. “But to deprive them of medical care even to the point of allowing their death is the ultimate in inhumane treatment,” the report further added.

In a further effort to strengthen the “iron fist policies” that have emerged since 2013, China’s Communist Party has escalated its heavy repression of human rights activists, journalists, writers, lawyers, bloggers, singers and other religious and ethnic minorities under President Xi Jinping’s authoritarian leadership.

Chinese President Xi in Auckland, New Zealand, on November 21, 2014. Photo: Greg Bowker/Getty Images

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The Tibet Post International

Tibetans protest against Chinese mining in Minyak County, Tibet

Tibetans in Minyak County, eastern Tibet protestin against Chinese mining operation at a sacred, on May 4, 2016. Photo: TPI

By Yeshe Choesang: May 06, 2016

Dharamshala — More than 100 Tibetans have protested against Chinese mining operations at a site considered sacred by local Tibetan residents, drawing a large police force to the area and prompting fears of clashes.

‘The protest took place at Yulshok Gargye in Minyak County, Kham Province of eastern Tibet (Ch: Minya, Kangding County, Sichuan, China),” on May 4, 2016,’ Aka Penpa, a monk from South India told the TPI. He said that “the ongoing mining has led to toxic wastes being dumped into the river resulting in

the death of a large number of fishes.”

“About 100 local Tibetans then gathered in Yulshok Gargye to demand an end to the project and calling for urgent action to protect environment and wildlife,” he added.

The locals have engaged in shouting slogans “there is no rule of law for the Communist Party” and saying they lied to us, they cheated on us, they betrayed us and broken promises.

‘Chinese authorities deployed dozens of police forces in vehicles to the protest site, immediately after the event,’ TPI’s source said.

“The situation is still very tense, as there are

growing fears among the locals that the security crackdown, may take place in the open sky,” sources said, adding: “It is also unknown whether or not the Chinese authorities arrested any of these Tibetan protesters.”

Yulshok Gargye is a sacred place located in the Minyak County, less than 20 minutes walk from the center of Pa-Lhagang, which is one of the holiest site in Tibetan Buddhism.

Waste from the mines, in operation since 2005, but stopped in recent years because local protests against the project, which has been dumped in the “Lhuchu River,” resulting in the death of large numbers of fishes. Sources said “they restarted the mine in April this year, resulting in the death of another large numbers of fishes.”

“Tibetan nomads have protested the Chinese mining operations, which poison drinking water and kill herd animals,” he added.

The protest site is also located near Mt Minyak Gangkar, one of the highest mountains in Kham region of eastern Tibet, which is located near Dartsedo City. It is with elevation of 7556m. The town of Dartsedo was an important trade center between Tibet and China, and for centuries its importance lay on the tea-horse trade. Mt Minyak Gangkar is also one of the most sacred snow capped mountain in the Kham region.

Mining operations in Tibet have led to frequent standoffs with Tibetans who accuse Chinese firms of disrupting sites of spiritual significance and polluting the environment as they extract local wealth.

The operations also have caused landslide, severe damage to local forests, grasslands, and drinking water. Waste from the mines has been dumped in the rivers, and mining activities have polluted the air.

Sino-Tibetan conference urges China to engage dialogue on Tibet

By Yeshe Choesang: May 05, 2016

Dharamshala — The Sino-Tibetan Friendship Associations Wednesday released what they refer to as the “Final Declaration of the First International Conference” on Tibet held recently in Taipei, Taiwan, that “affirms the principles and values of finding truth, environmental protection, constitutional government and dialogue.”

In light of the continued deterioration in the state of environment, religion and culture and human rights in Tibet under the rule of Chinese government, Tibetan and Chinese associations and experts from across the globe have gathered in Taiwan for the First International Conference of Sino-Tibetan Friendship Associations in 2016.

In the statement, the conference also urges all to cherish the democratic experience of Taiwan and to condemn the Chinese government’s suppression of Taiwan’s freedom and democracy as well as its international space.

The three-day conference features presentations and discussions on a whole g a m u t o f i s s u e s r e l a t e d w i t h Ti b e t a n d China by 150 people, including scholars, intellectuals, writers, activists and students from all over the world, including those from the US, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India, Spain Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The Conference was organised by the Taiwan Office of Tibet in Taipei, claims it is a major project of the China Desk of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR).

The Sino-Tibetan Conference “Finding Common Ground” was held in Taipei, the Captial of Taiwan, where the conference came to the following consensus: The Common Consensus of the Conference; According to historical facts, Tibet is historically an independent country.

The national self-determination is an innate right of the Tibetan people.

The realization of a genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people is integral to the constitutional transformation in China.

While condemning the White Paper published by the Chinese Government in 2015, Tibet’s Path of Development Is Driven by an Irresistible Historical Tide, for distorting and negating the Middle-Way Approach, the conference supports the Middle-Way Policy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration.

We oppose the Chinese government for stating that the Tibet issue is an internal matter. The concern for Tibet’s human rights, religion and culture, language and environment is not only a right but a responsibility of the

Participants raise their hands in support of Tibet issues during the conference in Taipei, April 23, 2016. Photo: TPI/Artemas Liu

international community.

Appeal to the International Community; To urge the Chinese government to initiate, under the supervision of the United Nations and the international media, dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Central Tibetan Administration.

Since the protection of Tibet’s environment is directly related to the environment and the future well-being of the entire humanity, we urge the international community to take collective responsibility for it.

To constitute an independent investigative group to probe the cause of Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche’s death in prison and the truth behind the torture of Tibetan political prisoners and the deaths in detention centers.

Appeal to the Chinese Government; Since the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of reincarnation is an integral part of Tibetan culture, we oppose the Chinese government’s brutal intervention in the matters of recognizing reincarnation. Only His Holiness the Dalai Lama has the right to make decision on the issue of the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.

The Chinese government should immediately release the Panchen Lama and all other political prisoners of Tibet.

Economic development cannot be undertaken at the expense of the destruction of Tibet’s environment. The interest and opinion of Tibetan people must be taken into conside`ration in the decision-making process.

The Tibetan nomadic way of life must be respected.

The economic development must not turn Tibetan

nomads into environmental refugees.

The Tibetan language must be respected and protected. The Tibetan language should be made the first official language in all public and official spheres.

While writing the textbook of Tibetan language and history, their content should reflect Tibetan history and culture.

Appeal to the Central Tibetan Administration; The Central Tibetan Administration, while conducting an annual survey of books published in Tibetan, English and Chinese as well as other languages, the promotion of Tibetan writing is important.

To convene a global conference of Tibetan Buddhism in order to strengthen better exchanges and cooperation among Tibetan Buddhist centers.

To continue organizing Sino-Tibetan meetings to conduct discussions.

Appeal to the NGO’s On humanitarian grounds, [we] urge the cessation of the Tibetan protests in the form of self-immolation.

Making full use of the cyberspace to promote awareness about the reality in Tibet and the ideas of freedom and democracy as well as [in reaching out to] to the Chinese people and [raising their awareness] To [oppose] the colonialism and the policy of cultural genocide carried out by the Chinese government in Tibet.

To establish a liaison office for coordinating the Sino-Tibetan friendship associations across the globe and facilitating implementation of future works.

Tibet 3 TPI NEWS Sikyong releases book titled ‘The Penpa Tsering appointed as new representative to Washington, DC Old and New Century of Tibet’ The Tibet Post International

May 15, 2016

By Yangchen Dolma: May 07, 2016

Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay (L) launches the book, LTWA Hall, Dharamshala, India, April 29, 2016. Photo: TPI/Dawa Phurbu

By Yangchen Dolma: April 30, 2016

Dharamshala — Dr Lobsang Sangay, Sikyong or the democratically elected political leader of the Tibetan people released a new book written by late Mr Gonpo Dorjee, a former Tibetan parliamentarian, at a function in Gangchen Kyishong, Dharamshala, India, on Friday, 29 April.

The book titled ‘The Old and New Century of Tibet’ documents the history of Tibet from Nyatri Tsenpo, Tibet’s first king in recorded history, till 1986.

The two-volume book is a culmination of a decade-long effort by the writer to record Tibetan history as well as his personal experience of escaping into exile, following His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s advice to elderly Tibetans to write about their personal experiences of Tibet for future references.

The function was attended by senior officials and MPs, including Rinchen Khandro former Kalon and Director of Tibetan nun’s project, Dongchung Ngodup former Kalon for Department of Security, Sonam Choephel Shosur Chief Election Commissioner, Tashi Tsering Director of Amnye Machen Institute, Ngawang Yeshe LTWA General Secretary.

Addressing the book release function, held at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA) in Dharamshala, The chief guest Sikyong Dr Sangay said: “Some of my staff at the Kashag Secretariat have read the book and they told me that the book is very well written, easy to understand and contains a lot of vital information on Tibetan history.”

“Therefore, I applaud the hard work put in by the writer as well as by the staff of the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives to publish this book,” Sikyong said, while urging the younger Tibetan generation to read the book.

He also urged the younger generations to study the hard work

of the elder generation of Tibetans and the real situation in Tibet, by reading the books written by those elder generations.

Mr Dorjee, passed away on 26 April, just three days before the launch of the book. Sikyong also expressed his profound condolences at Mr Gonpo Dorjee’s demise and prayed for his swift rebirth.

A Brief Introduction of Gonpo Dorjee’s life history and his works made by Ngawang Yeshe, LTWA General Secretary.

Tashi Tsering extended his deep sympathy and sincere condolence to Dorjee’s family. ‘We recently planned it well that he will join us in Dharamshala, after completing the book publishing process. But unfortunately he passed away on Tuesday morning, April 26, at 6.am,’ said Tsering.

He said that the book documents the history of Tibet from Tibet’s first king, Nyatri Tsenpo to history of Tibetans, inside and outside Tibet, till 1986. The book also has a foreword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.’

Mr Dorjee served his community as a MP, an journalist, and then an author, till 2016. He had served as MP from U-Tsang province in 1972. However, he resigned and returned to his home in Darjeeling two years later due to health issues. But, he continued working for the “Tibetan Freedom” newspaper till 1992.

The publication of the new Tibetan history book came at a significant time as the Chinese government has further strengthened its sovereignty claims over Tibet.

A group of the Chinese Communist party puppets from Tibet recently visited few countries, include the United States and during their meetings with the foreign officials, they said that “Tibet has always been part of China, and there is no basis for Tibet issue.”

Tibetan leaders condole passing of Sakya Dagchen Rinpoche

By Steve Shaw,Molly Lortie: May 05, 2016

Dharamshala — His Eminence Sakya Dagchen Rinpoche reportedly passed away on the evening of April 29th at his home in Seattle, Washington in the U.S. Rinpoche was holder of one of the two main Sakya lineages of Tibetan Buddhism and passed away at 88 years old.

Members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile and Kashag held a prayer service and also expressed their condolences in a letter to Rinpoche’s family and disciples, saying, “we are saddened to learn of the passing away of His Eminence Sakya Dagchen Rinpoche Ngawang Kunga Sonam of Phuntsok Phodrang. We offer our deepest condolences to his family and disciples... Rinpoche has spent his entire lifetime engaged in dharmic activities for the sake of humanity as well as for the collective merit of Tibetans inside and outside Tibet. Therefore, his demise is a huge loss to Tibetan Buddhism as well as to his numerous disciples and devotees.” Kashag added, “we pray for his swift rebirth so that he can continue his noble teachings and dharma activities for the benefit of all sentient beings.”

His Eminence Sakya Dagchen Rinpoche was born on November 2nd, 1929 in Southwestern Tibet. He was born into the Phuntsok branch of the Khon lineage of the Sakya School to Sakya Trichen Ngawang Thutop Wangchuk and Dechen Dolma. At the age of six, he joined the main Sakya monastery.

Later, under the guidance of his father, the 40th throne holder of the Sakya school, and other distinguished teachers, he received instructions in all the teachings of the sutras and tantras. He also received the unbroken Khön lineage transmission of the Sakya Vajrakilaya and Hevajra empowerments and the complete Lamdre, the main teachings of the Sakya tradition.

In 1949, at the age of 20, Rinpoche married Jamyang Palmo, who descends from a family of lamas and doctors in Kham.

Together they raised five sons. Rinpoche met His Holiness the Dalai Lama at Potala Palace in 1947 when he toured Lhasa.

In 1958 Rinpoche was forced to flee Tibet with his family and came into exile in India where he lived for a year in Darjeeling giving teachings and empowerment.

Rinpoche was then invited to participate in a study of Tibetan civilization through the University of Washington in the United States, where he later co-founded the Sakya Thekchen Choeling in Seattle, one of the first dharma centers in the west. He worked with Deshung Rinpoche to work actively to impart the teachings of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and ritual practice to westerners.

Since then, Rinpoche has traveled extensively around the world and built several more dharma centers and taught countless disciples in India, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Europe and many other places.

Rinpoche is survived by his wife and sons.

A prayer service was held in Dharamshala, India, on May 5, 2016, for His Eminence Sakya Dagchen Rinpoche. Photo: CTA/DIIR

Dharamshala — The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) announced on Saturday that Penpa Tsering has been appointed as the new Representative for the Office of Tibet, Washington, DC. Mr Tsering, who has been serving as the Speaker of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Tibetan Parliament-inExile, will take charge from 1 July 2016, a release from the Kashag secretariat stated, on May 7, 2016.

Mr Tsering and Dr Sangay were the two final candidates vying for the post of Sikyong in the final election. Dr Sangay is re-elected as the Sikyong for another five year term. While he accepted defeat and congratulated Dr Sangay, Tsering said: “As per tradition and as one of the final two candidates of the Sikyong election, I came here to congratulate incumbent Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay for his victory.”

Mr Tsering was born in 1967 at Bylakuppee, south India and He graduated with Economics Major from the Madras Christian College, Chennai. He worked as the Executive Director at the Tibetan Parliamentary and Research Centre (TPPRC) at New Delhi from 2001-2008. He graduated with Economics Major from the Madras Christian College, Chennai.

He was elected to the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth Tibetan Parliament-in-exile. Mr Tsering was elected as the Speaker of the fourteenth Tibetan

Mr Penpa Tsering at the main temple in Dharamshala, India, on December 10, 2015. Photo: TPI/Tsetan Tashi

Parliament-in-Exile with Mr Karma Choephel on 31 May 2006.

The Tibet office is the official agency of the Dalai Lama and the CTA, based in Dharamshala, India.

It was established in New York, in 1964 and shifted to Washington DC recently, to raise the issue of

Tibet at the United Nations and seeks support for the Tibetan cause in the United States, Canada and Latin American countries.

The representative is also responsible for looking after the welfare of around 15,000 Tibetans living in the US and Canada.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Europe.

According to the CTA, Mr Phuntsok has dedicated more than 35 years of his life in

service of Tibetan community. He joined the administrative service in 1993 as head of the Africa & Middle East Desk, DIIR, during which he played a pivotal role in arranging His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s maiden visit to South Africa and meeting with former President Nelson Mandela in 1996.

He continued his service in various capacities at different departments of CTA, notably as the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in South Africa from 1997 – 2001. He then served as the Representative for Office of Tibet in Brussels and Paris from 2001 – 2005, and as the Chief Representative Officer of the Southern Tibetan Settlements, Bangalore from 2010- 2012.

He was appointed as the Secretary of Department of Information and International Relations on 8 February 2013.

Tashi Phuntsok appointed as new Rep for Office of Tibet, Brussels

By Yeshe Choesang: May 12, 2016

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) announced on Tuesday that Tashi Phuntsok has been appointed as the new Representative for Office of Tibet, Brussels.

Mr Phuntsok, a civil servant who served for over 35 years in the CTA, will take charge from 1 July 2016, a release from the Kashag secretariat said, on May 10, 2016.

Mr Phuntsok, ‘Secretary of Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR), will take charge either from 1 July 2016 or when necessary documents are issued by the Belgian government,’ the Kashag secretariat stated.

It added that he will take over the charges from acting Representative of Office of Tibet, Brussels, Mr Kalsang Gyaltsen, Special Representative of

DIIR Secretary Tashi Phuntsok. Photo: CTA/DIIR

Exile scholarship program urges for return of Tibetan Alumni

By Yeshe Choesang: May 13, 2016

Dharamshala — Tibetan Scholarship Program Alumni Association (TSPAA), in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and the Tibet Fund, New York, has launched its brand new website, while calling for return of the alumni to contribute to their community.

According to the TSPAA of out of over 410 TSP alumni till date, only 150 are serving the Tibetan community, with 85 at CTA and 65 in Tibetan schools they mentioned in a press statement.

However, in the statement issued by TSPAA there are no details about the 260 TSP recipients who may have not returned to serve their community in exile.

According to TSPPA Public Relations Officer, Tenzin Jamyang, “Many [of 260] have returned but they went back after completion of their set terms of service.”

Among the attendees for the event were guests from Embassy in New Delhi: Mr Matthew Asada, First Secretary for Exchanges and Education; Mr J.P. Das, Country Exchanges Advisor; and Ms Shailey Tucker, Alumni Affairs Coordinator.

His Holiness’s message to the alumni was read out “Its very good both for the community and yourselves that you will be learning new ways and methods to address problems, a new way of thinking and doing things is important as we could learn from it; but, at the same time remember your cause, why you are being sent there; not to settle and work there but to return on completion of your education and serve the community and our cause. So, I congratulate you on your achievement and knowledge and pray that you return to serve our cause and people in whatever way you choose.”

“My selection for the Tibetan Scholarship Program (TSP) gave me a rare opportunity. My legal education at Harvard Law School made profound impact in my life,” “ Dr Lobsang Sangay - TSP 1995. Sikyong (Political Leader), of the Central Tibetan Administration.

“As the democratically elected political leader, much of my keen desire in bringing change to the Tibetan society and transforming ideas into action come from my education. Therefore, I fully encourage Tibetans to participate in Tibetan

Scholarship Program and become a strong advocate for Tibet and Tibetan people,” he added.

The web site aims to maintain the Association’s contact with all the alumni and to keep the Tibetan community well-informed about their works. It highlights how TSP alumni from different academic and occupational backgrounds are contributing back to the Tibetan community and the world at large. The site’s main features include personal testimonies, events calendar, mentorship opportunities, and a special section on “TSP-Story.”

“The Tibetan Scholarship Program which enables young Tibetans to pursue further studies in America is extremely useful in improving the capacity of the Tibetan exile community. I was one of the first to greatly benefit from this program way back 1988 when the program gave me a scholarship to study journalism at Columbia University from 1988 to 1989. The course I took at the Graduate School of Journalism greatly helped me to improve the quality and design of the Tibetan Bulletin which I edited for many

years”. Thupten Samphel - TSP 1988. Director, Tibet Policy Institute.

On being asked of the effective implementation of this programme and its outcome of encouraging future generations to apply for such skill building programs Mathew K, Asada said “The question is not of what they learn but what they get to bring back to their communities in Nepal, Bhutan or India. What happens is that they experience a vast new culture, form of education and thinking and on coming back to their community and working for its betterment they encourage others to avail of the same opportunities they were given; while giving back to the community at large.”

The new web site was launched at a press conference in Dharamshala, India, by the chief guest, Mr Ngodup Tsering of Department of Education, Central Tibetan Administration.

TSP was founded for eligible Tibetan refugees residing in Bhutan, India, and Nepal obtain the chance to complete a two-year Master’s Degree program in the United States and return back to serve their community in exile.

A group photo during the launch of a new website of Tibetan Scholarship Program Alumni Association, in Dharamshala, India, on May 12, 2016. Photo: TPI/Dawa Phurbu

4

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Dharamshala — A bicycle rally that aims to highlight the critical situation in Tibet and to bring awareness about 11th Panchen Lama, will be organised by Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC).

“The cycle rally will begin from Dehradun on May 17, which is the day when Panchen Lama was arrested and end in Delhi on May 23, 2016,” TYC said in a statement, issued on Monday.

“TYC is organizing a ‘Cycle Rally for Panchen Lama’ to raise awareness about his situation, the condition of Tibetans living under the hard-line policies of the Chinese government and show our solidarity to our brothers and sisters inside Tibet,” the TYC said.

“We seek accurate information about Gedhun Choekyi Nyima’s whereabouts and well-being and we urge the United Nations as well as governments of the world to pressure the Chinese government to show us concrete evidence that Panchen Lama is indeed alive and well,” they added.

The statement said Tibetans from Dekyiling, Poanta Sahib, Puruwalla, Raipur, Rajpur, Herbertpur, Nainital, Mussorie, Delhi, Dharamshala and Bir Tibetan Settlements will be taking part in this cycle rally.

On May 23rd, 1951 the “17-Point Agreement” was signed between Tibet and China under Chinese pressure. “Ending the rally on May 23rd will highlight the facts about the 17 point agreement and our position which is we do not accept the agreement as it was signed under duress”, says TYC VP Tamdin Hrichoe.

In 1995 His Holiness the Dalai Lama recognized a young boy, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, as the 11th Panchen Lama; the second most important spiritual leader in Tibet. Chinese authorities abducted Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family just weeks after; he was six-years old.

Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the 11th Panchen Lama, and his family have been missing since 1995. The last time we had any information about his whereabouts was in 2010 when Chinese-appointed Tibet Governor, Padma Choling, told reporters that Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family are now living a good life as ordinary citizens in Tibet. China seeks to legitimize its rule in Tibet by claiming it plays a crucial role in the identification of Tibet’s two most important spiritual leaders, the Dalai Lama and in this case the Panchen Lama.

After repeated attempts to gain access to the boy, no international agencies or human rights organizations (including the United Nations) have been allowed to visit Gedun Choekyi Nyima or his family, and their condition remains uncertain. In an attempt to establish their authority over all “internal affairs” of China (political or otherwise) the Chinese leadership nominated and selected their own 11th Panchen Lama

in November 1995. Their selection of six-year-old boy named Gyaltsen Norbu, is another young victim in China’s plan to undermine and control the Tibetan people, their faith, religion, and their nation.

The TYC is seeking help from the world to free the 11th Panchen Lama and is asking the governments and international organizations to pressure China to meet the following demands: 1. Urge China to give evidence that the 11th Panchen Lama Gendun Choekyi Nyima is alive

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LEO (July 23-Aug 22) Be sure to organize events that will keep the children busy. Resist any idle chatter. Overstatement will be your downfall. You might be overly emotional concerning situations at work. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Friday.

VIRGO (Aug. 23 -Sept. 23) Visitors may be likely to drop by. You should expect to have changes in your home. You should consider getting your whole family involved in a project at home. Don’t evade important issues; you may find yourself backed into a corner. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

LIBRA (Sept. 24 -Oct. 23) You can expect to have a problem with your lover.

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SCORPIO (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22) Your talents might just be discovered. You could be your own worst enemy if you overreact to something you’re told. Don’t lend to people who have given you negative vibes. Changes regarding family members will set you off. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Saturday.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23 -Dec. 21) Money problems will be difficult to deal with if you have a partner. Deep discussions may only lead to friction. Your best gains will come through helping others emotionally. Romance may be likely if you travel. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22.- Jan. 20) You may have difficulties with someone who lives with you. You can offer your help to others but back off if they appear to be offended by your persistence. This will not be the day to lend money to friends or family.

Try to understand their point of view. Your luckiest events this month will occur on a Wednesday.

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Youth leaders from 16 countries meet His Holiness

His Holiness the Dalai Lama meeting with special guests and youth leaders from 16 countries, in Dharamshala, India, on May 3, 2016. Photo: TPI/Choneyi Sangpo

By Harish K. Raman: May 03, 2016

Dharamshala — Aspiring young leaders from 16 countries and the spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama on Tuesday spoke about the virtues of European union as another example where diverse people have come together to share a common identity.

The U.S. Institute of Peace and the Tibetan Nobel peace laureate have joined in a project to strengthen the abilities of youth leaders working to build peace in the world’s most violent regions.

His Holiness’s meeting with members of the Youth Leaders’ Exchange, young women and men from trouble-torn countries across the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia, dedicated to managing conflict in non-violent ways.

The world’s most violent conflicts are being occured in recent decades, within its most youthful populations. In the five countries that suffered more than one million, nearly 80 percent of recent deaths from violence (Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria), half of all people are younger than 22. Breaking this pattern requires leadership from within the younger generations being targeted.

His Holiness, who at the age 15 was thrust into the leadership of his people as they faced the Chinese occupation and systematic erosion of their cultural and religious identity. Like some of the participants, he fled his country as a refugee and has lived for years in exile.

In Dharamshala, the youth leaders will share their experiences and ideas on improving their communities’ abilities to manage conflict nonviolently, notably by drawing on human values, compassion and their communities’ own resources.

They will hold morning dialogues with His Holiness the Dalai Lama on ways to build inner strength for their work.

The education and sharing afforded by this program will expand the effectiveness of the participants as they work to transform conflicts at home into peaceful change. The program will provide a platform for greater international advocacy of youth priorities in peace and security.

On the first day of interaction on Tuesday morning, the moderator Nancy Lindborg, President of USIP asked His Holiness if he had any preliminary remarks to make. His Holiness addressed the students spreading his message of peace, harmony and compassion, not only for human beings but for all sentient beings. The basic tenets of Buddhism including the message of world peace and respect for living beings are best manifested in his personality.

“There are Muslims who are isolated even to this day similar to Tibetan people a hundred years ago when there were less than one hundred thousand Tibetans...India is the unique example-where all religions stay together in spirit of brotherhood and harmony,” His Holiness said, adding: “So, India I think is a good example of different people living in peace, further India has the second highest population of Muslims in the world along with Christians, Jews and other religions, they want to live in peace.”

“No one wants war or bloodshed, not even those who do not believe in any religion; peace and harmony along with love and compassion is something every living being irrespective of who or what it is wishes to achieve. The European union on the other hand is also a fine example of unity where people belonging to different nations come to get her to forge a singular identity,” he said.

“Whether we like it or not we only have one planet to stay in, there is no other home; So, instead of

complaining or negative feeling it has to be us as human beings who work towards peace. Not Buddha, nor Mohammed or Jesus ever asked for violence in the name of religion or culture, it is humans who have done so; hence it has to be humans who have to remedy this situation and establish peace.”

“All 7 billion human beings have a common experience in that we all appreciate love. We all have a seed of love and affection within us and the potential to cultivate greater love and compassion.

If we want to create peace in the world it has to start with the heart, with inner peace.”

While expressing appreciation of the efforts of those countries that have extended help to refugees currently fleeing war and destruction, His Holiness reiterated that the real long-term solution is to restore peace in the countries they are fleeing. The first step towards that is to achieve a cease fire followed by encouraging the competing sides to begin to talk to each other.

“As a Buddhist monk and student of the Nalanda tradition,” His Holiness said, “I have been trained to use logic, to employ my human intelligence.

Analysis is a powerful way to solve problems. The American psychologist Aaron Beck has told me that on the other hand when we are angry with something or someone, the object of our anger seems to be completely negative. And yet 90% of that feeling is a result of our own mental projection. We are faced with a gap between appearance and reality. We tend to grasp at the appearance at the expense of reality.”

His Holiness talked about the three aspects of religious traditions, the religious aspect, such as the practice of love; the philosophical aspect, such as whether or not there is a creator god; and a cultural aspect such as the Indian caste system or the sense of gender discrimination in Buddhism.

He suggested that when such cultural aspects are no longer appropriate, they should be changed.

He also talked about the importance of peace to have a healthy body and mind which ensures physical, emotional and mental stability. He also spoke of the need to forgive and accept the situation. While speaking on friendship he made a distinction that friendship is not measured by what you give and receive but by mutual trust and understanding.

On moral values, Holiness made a distinction that morals should be based on human values; the sanctity of any life is universal. He also spoke the need for internal disarmament as a path to achieve peace saying that internal disputes need to be solved first with love and compassion.

These statements made by His Holiness have been reiterated by him in his teachings and speech over many years in a time when the world is going through a tough period that has lead to the birth of radicalism, mutual hatred between groups and regular show of violence around the world.The Youth Peace leaders from around the world.

Participants in this program, in their 20s and early 30s, are peace-builders from 14 countries: Afghanistan, Egypt, Iraq, Kenya, Libya, Morocco, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and Uganda. Many have faced war or been uprooted by it. Some have lost friends or family to bloodshed; others have lived in exile as refugees.

A participant spoke His Holiness’s dedication over several years to his practice and teachings that peace is possible, practical and attainable. She also said that as many youngsters have been and continue to be inspired by his lifelong journey embodying his commitment. He is one of the most influential people standing up for world peace and lifelong

H.H THE DALAI LAMA

May 15, 2016

5

His Holiness speaks on secular ethics for modern education

By Jane Cook: May 11, 2016

Osaka, Japan — Speaking about proposals to introduce secular ethics into modern education, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said ‘religion no longer commands the universal appeal it once had, there is a need instead for a secular approach to human values.’

As His Holiness began the first of the four-day teachings on ‘Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life’ at the Osaka International Conference Center Tuesday morning, over 2700 well-wishers, mostly devotees from Taiwan, lined up to greet him.

“First of all, I’m just one of 7 billion human beings alive today. As human beings we are all fundamentally the same. We share a common experience in that we are all born from a mother,” he said, adding: “We survive because of her care and affection. Scientists working with young infants are coming up with findings that suggest that basic human nature is compassionate.”

Common sense tells us that even if a family is poor, if they live in an atmosphere of affection they tend to be happy. A wealthy family, well provided for, but afflicted by suspicion and jealousy, tends to be unhappy. Clearly where there is love and compassion, happiness follows.

“We are social animals. We need friends and friendship depends on trust. Showing concern and affection for others is how we establish trust. Because we are interdependent, love and compassion are important in our lives. Recently I was encouraged to hear on the BBC that increasing numbers of young people regard themselves as global citizens.

“Similarly, the creation of the European Union is an instance of nations that once fought each other dedication along with courageous work. she further states that the knowledge imparted by him of peace, harmony and hope needs to be taken back by the participants to their home countries.

Harry is a trainer and community activist working on conflict resolution, civic engagement, interreligious peace, and legal reform from Myanmar (also known as Burma). He is executive director of The Seagull, an organization based in Mandalay that promotes human rights. As communal tensions have grown in Myanmar, erupting into violent conflict in 2012, Harry has worked in creative ways to bridge community divides and promote inter-religious understanding.

“Most of the communities heal through having a lot of dialogue and making people feel that their pain and loss are recognized and heard by other people in the communities,” Harry has said. “I have worked with some of the victims of violent religious conflict in Burma, and learned that their trauma can be healed through a long process of listening to their stories, recognition of people lost, and through a longer-time dialogue with members of the perpetrator communities.”

Khadija participated in the U.S. State Department’s Mandela Washington Fellowship in 2015, focusing her work on the healing of trauma and on social reconciliation after the decades-long civil war in Somalia. Concerned about the lack of preserved history or storytelling in her community, Khadija is determined to change the world’s perspective on Somalia. Khadija is the founder of Mogadishu City Volunteers, which provides leadership training to young people and aims to make Mogadishu a better and safer place through volunteering.

“I’m that young girl whose struggle for survival started from that fateful day when all the residents were running away from their homes,” Khadija has said. “The only memories I have from my past are of the destructive, violent conflict, displacements, bloodshed and the cries of my people for peace; thus, I dedicated my life to peace building. … I guess this is something that has been in my blood as both my father and grandfather are traditional peace-builders. I have always wanted to be a beacon of hope for the people of Somalia—a country that suffered from turmoil and lawlessness for decades, where everybody bears psychological scars from the atrocities of civil war and healing and reconciliation are absolutely necessary in order to move forward.”

After a break for tea, the meeting was opened up to the Youth Leaders, inviting them to share their experiences or ask questions, which His Holiness answered. He mentioned that while members of the 20th century generation to which he belongs have created all sorts of problems in the world, it is going to be up to members of the 21st century generation to clear them up. However, he said that if they start now, towards the end of the century the world might have become a more peaceful, happier place.

A crucial factor will be improving and broadening education to include a better understanding of the workings of the mind and emotions. He remarked that having a calm mind makes it much easier to employ common sense.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his teachings at the Osaka International Conference Center in Osaka, Japan on May 10, 2016. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL

putting the past behind them and giving priority to their common interests.

We could all do well to adopt such a mature approach and regard ourselves as global citizens.

Instead we tend to think in terms of ‘us’ and ‘them’, despite, as I mentioned above, the fact that as human beings we are all the same; members of one family.”

Describing education today as focused on materialistic goals, but with little to say about how to find peace of mind, His Holiness noted that that used to be the province of religion.

“Today, however, when religion no longer commands the universal appeal it once had, there is a need instead for a secular approach to human values. He mentioned proposals to introduce secular ethics into modern education.

Looking back to the origins of Tibetan Buddhism, His Holiness recalled the efforts of the Bodhisattva abbot Shantarakshita working with the adept Guru Padmasambhava and King Songtsen Gampo.

Later, after Tibet had fragmented politically, the King of Ngari invited Atisha. He wrote his ‘Lamp for the Path’ and established the Kadampa tradition.

‘Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life’ is one of the six classic texts of the Kadampas.”

“Today, the crucial thing is to study,” His Holiness advised. “In exile, monasteries that only performed rituals in the past have instituted programmes of

study. Nuns too have been studying and the first group will shortly graduate and will be awarded Geshe-ma degrees.”

“We all need to be 21st century Buddhists, which means we at least understand the nature of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, the teacher, his teaching, the path to cessation, and the community of those who put it into practice,” he added.

Modern scientists are interested to compare these modes of thought with their own findings. Where the Chittamatra or Mind Only school asserts the unfindability of external phenomena, Quantum Physics suggests that external phenomena depend on the perceiving mind.

His Holiness cited what he considers the Buddha’s scientific approach, quoting him as advising his followers not to accept what he said at face value, out of devotion, but to test it through investigation and experiment and only accept it if it makes sense.

Turning to the text he was to teach, His Holiness stated that its main thrust was generating the awakening mind and an understanding of emptiness.

The first chapter begins by outlining the benefits of the awakening mind, while the ninth presents an explanation of emptiness to which the preceding chapters are preliminary. It is observed that while compassion focuses on sentient beings; wisdom focuses on enlightenment.

Hollywood removes Tibet from superhero movie

By Steve Shaw: May 05, 2016

London — The screenwriter of an upcoming Hollywood blockbuster said he believes the Tibetan origins of a key character had to be changed to avoid isolating the Chinese audience.

Doctor Strange is based on a popular comic book that follows a doctor who travels to Tibet and gains supernatural abilities from a Tibetan called the Ancient One. However in the upcoming film adaptation, released later this year, all references to Tibet have been removed. The superhero instead travels to Nepal and his mentor is played by British actress Tilda Swinton.

In an effort to justify the changes to the source material Robert Cargill, one of the film’s writers, explained to film criticism website Double Toasted that the decision was made because the character presented a “cultural landmine”.

“The Ancient One was a racist stereotype who comes from a region of the world that is in a very weird political place,” he said. “He originates from Tibet, so if you acknowledge that Tibet is a place and that he’s Tibetan, you risk alienating one billion people who think that that’s bulls**t and risk the Chinese government going, ‘Hey, you know one of the biggest film-watching countries in the world? We’re not going to show your movie because you decided to get political’.

“The only way this character could be more awkward is if he had been made back in the thirties and instead of going to the Orient went to Palestine and learned from a Palestinian master. That’s the only way this could be any uglier than this one now.”

Cargill’s comments sparked controversy online and many people claimed that the writer hadn’t realised that by changing the roots of the character and erasing references to Tibet it meant the film is being political for economic reasons, and it is siding with China.

Cargill later said his comments were his own personal views and did not reflect the view of Marvel Studios, the company behind the film. He also said he had no involvement in the film’s casting process.

Marvel also responded by highlighting it’s record on diversity and saying that Swinton was cast because she will be playing a Celtic iteration of the Ancient One character. Their defence did not directly address the questions raised about Tibet.

While the writer’s comments were not confirmed by the studio they do show how far attitudes toward Tibet have shifted in Hollywood. Being reluctant to acknowledge the nation’s existence in case, according Cargill, it would get “political” is a dramatic contrast to nineteen years ago when Hollywood released two big budget epics that tackled the Chinese occupation and highlighted its cultural implications, the Golden Globe-nominated Seven Years in Tibet and Oscarnominated Kundun.

Alistair Currie, campaigns and media manager for Free Tibet spoke to TPI about this issue and said the act of self-censorship by Marvel appeared “misguided” and has harmed to the studio’s reputation.

“China does not pretend Tibet doesn’t exist and having a Tibetan character wouldn’t necessarily have offended the Chinese authorities. It’s deeply disappointing that in his comments, however, Robert Cargill seemed to see this as a disagreement on which it was best to be neutral, rather than an injustice on which one should take a side. That is playing into China’s hands.”

Currie added that Marvel’s decision might also be a reflection of how challenging the commercial filmmaking environment can be for directors with commitments to controversial projects. “Of course, a country or tradition is almost always best represented by its own people but an outsider’s perspective can sometimes be illuminating too. Even a flawed film by a non-Tibetan could have a positive impact if it addressed the political issues with sensitivity and courage and was seen by enough people. As things stand, unfortunately, independent films often struggle to find a market and Tibetan films have difficulty reaching wider audiences. They deserve to and we hope that will change.”

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Back Page Focus CPJ’s open letter to Xi urges to end press restrictions in Tibet Tibetan prisoner May 15, 2016

citing unnamed sources outside of China, have reported that the Wenchuan People’s Court in Sichuan province sentenced Jamyang to seven years and six months in prison in a secret trial. According to a relative of Jamyang’s who lives outside of China speaking to the media, prosecutors accused Jamyang of separatism and of leaking state secrets. “ “local authorities held Jamyang for more than a year without informing his family of his whereabouts, in violation of Chinese law, and that he was tortured during this time, the letter said, citing sources with an exile Tibetan group.

“Tibetan writers have said they believe that his arrest and conviction were due to articles he published that were critical of the Chinese government’s policies in Tibet, including on environmental degradation,

restrictions on free speech, and the causes of selfimmolations and other protests in 2008,” Robert Dietz, CPJ Asia Desk said.

The CPJ also said that they find these reports to be deeply troubling, and they therefore urge you to instruct your government to disclose the following information: On what charges was Jamyang arrested?

Was his family informed of his arrest? If not, why not?

Did Jamyang have access to a lawyer or family between the time of his arrest and his trial?

When did his trial begin? When did it end?

Was his trial held behind closed doors? If so, why?

On what charges was Jamyang convicted?

What evidence supported his conviction?

The letter calls on the President to launch a serious and thorough investigation into reports that authorities tortured Jamyang. “We also request that you instruct your government to launch a serious and thorough investigation into reports that security officials tortured Jamyang during his first year of detention.”

The letter notes that Jamyang was one of 49 journalists jailed in China at the time of CPJ’s most recent annual prison census, which showed China to be the leading jailer of journalists worldwide.

The open letter to Xi also highlights lack of freedom of information in Tibet. “We further ask you to remove restrictions on journalists’ access to the Tibetan Autonomous Region and Tibetan areas of western China. Last year, three-quarters of foreign reporters who sought permission to visit were rejected, according to a survey by the Foreign Correspondent Club of China.”

“CPJ has documented Tibetan journalists’ and writers’ being harassed and imprisoned for their work.Therefore, we also urge your government to respect press freedom and due legal process, and to abide by Chinese laws as well as China’s international treaty obligations,” the letter concludes.

home it pursued policies to diminish the voices of individuals and organizations advocating for human rights and genuine rule of law. During the past year, as in recent years, the central and/or provincial governments continued to forcibly remove crosses and bulldoze churches; implement a discriminatory and at times violent crackdown on Uighur Muslims and Tibetan Buddhists and their rights.”

While in general China has remained consistent in its denial of religious freedom and human rights, the report noticed a great increase in targeting of human rights lawyers and religious freedom advocates, noting that in July of 2015 alone, over 200 lawyers, defenders, and advocates were arrested, detained, or disappeared.

Specifically regarding Tibetans, the report highlighted several events, including the death of popular political prisoner Tulku Tenzin Delek Rinpoche, who died in prison after his family’s

applications for medical probation due to serious health issues were allegedly denied; and the 20th anniversary of the Panchen Lama, who disappeared at the age of five just days after he was recognized as the reincarnation of the high Tibetan leader.

With such serious offences, the USCIRF again recommended that China be designated a “country of particular concern,” or CPC, for its “systematic, egregious, and ongoing abuses.” The State Department has designated China a CPC since 1999.

As China grows as a world power and continues to interact with the United States politically and economically, the report recommends that, “to reinforce to China that such leadership must go hand in-hand with the respect for and protection of religious freedom and related human rights, the U.S. government consistently should integrate human rights messaging – and specifically religious freedom – throughout its interactions with China.”

the Pliocene, when most regions outside of the Tibetan Plateau were relatively warm. Protovis himalayensis eventually gave way to more recent ancestors of Ovis species. Despite morphological changes, its unique disposition towards harsh, cold climes remained.

When the last ice age arrived 2.6 million years ago, Ovis species were primed to take advantage of new territory.

“With the present discovery of a primitive sheep in the Himalaya, we thus offer another example of our previous out-of-Tibet hypothesis,” Wang Xiaoming, senior curator of Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, explained in a news release.

“Ancestral sheep were adapted to high-elevation cold environments in the Pliocene, and during the Pleistocene

they began to disperse outside their ancestral home range in Tibet to northern China, northern Siberia, and western Asia,” added Wang, a visiting professor with the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing. “The sheep thus joined several other mammals, such as big cats, arctic foxes, hypercarnivorous hunting dogs, and woolly rhinoceros in their expansion out of Tibet during the Ice Age and gave rise to elements of the Pleistocene megafauna.”

Unlike other megafauna species like mammoths and saber-toothed tigers, which succumbed to climate change and human predation, wild mountain sheep were able to seek refuge in the high peaks as the planet once again warmed.

Scientists detailed their latest discovery in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.

Lobsang Jamyang, 28, (pen name: Lomik) and his book title: “The swirling yellow mist”. Photo: TPI

By Yeshe Choesang, May 13, 2016

New York — A U.S.-based media watchdog Committee to Protect Journalists says it has sent an open letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping Wednesday, calling for a serious and thorough investigation into reports that authorities tortured Tibetan writer Lomig and asking about the reasons for his imprisonment.

“We at the Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent, international press-freedom advocacy organization, write to express our concern for Tibetan blogger Lobsang Jamyang, also known as Lomig, and to ask your government to disclose information about the reasons for his imprisonment,” the letter notes.

In the CPJ’ letter to Xi, they said, “News websites,

Chinese policies ‘do not comply with int’l standards:’ US annual report

By Molly Lortie, May 03, 2016

Dharamshala — The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom released its annual report on Monday, May 2nd, concluding frankly that “China’s approach to religious freedom and related human rights does not comply with international standards.”

On an international scale, the report noted that the year 2015 saw notably greater violations of human rights and obstacles to religious freedom as a whole, contributing to ‘worldwide suffering.’ “By any measure, religious freedom abroad has been under serious and sustained assault since the release of our commission’s last Annual Report in 2015,” the report said.

Reporting specifically on China, the report highlighted, “While the Chinese government sought to further assert itself on the global stage, at

New species from Tibet reveals origin of Ice Age mountain sheep

By Harish K. Raman, May 12, 2016

Dharamshala — Modern wild sheep, Ovis, is widespread in the mountain ranges of the Caucasus through Himalaya, Tibetan Plateau, Tianshan-Altai, eastern Siberia, and the Rocky Mountains in North America.

In Eurasia, fossil sheep are known by a few isolated records at a few Pleistocene sites in North China, eastern Siberia, and western Europe, but are so far absent from the Tibetan Plateau.

In a paper published May 4 in the “Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology”, paleontologists from the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and La Brea Tar Pits and Museum at Los Angeles reported a new genus and species of fossil sheep from the Pliocene of Tsadha County in Tibet (Ch: Zanda County, TAR).

Researchers believe a new fossil -- and the new species it represents -- proves mountain sheep originated in the highlands of Tibet.

Scientists have long argued that the last ice age’s megaherbivores originated in Tibet and spread out across the regions neighboring the Tibetan Plateau as glaciation proliferated.

The only problem: until now, researchers weren’t able to uncover the fossils of any ancient mountain sheep on the Tibetan Plateau.

The newly unearthed sheep fossil was discovered in a Pliocene layer of the Zanda Basin in Tibet.

It belongs to a new extinct species, Protovis Himalayensis. Scientists say the species is an ancestor of modern wild sheep, which are organized under the genus Ovis and found in the mountains of North America, Eurasia and Europe.

This primitive horned sheep adapted to the cold, hard demands of mountain living during

Fig.1 Holotype of Protovis himalayensis, in frontal-lateral view (A) and dorsal view of horncores (B) , and cross-sectional shapes at four intervals along left horn. Credit: WANG Xiaoming

The Tibet Post International

released after finishing two-year prison term

Lobsang Tenpa, a Buddhist monk from Kirti monastery, Ngaba County, north-eastern Tibet. Photo: TPI

By Yangchen Dolma, May 05, 2016

Dharamshala — Authorities in Ngaba County of north-eastern Tibet have released a Tibetan monk from prison after he served a two-year sentence for protesting against the Chinese government failed policies in Tibet.

Lobsang Tenpa, a Tibetan monk of Ngaba Kirti monastery was released at the completion of his two year prison term, on May 5, 2016. Tenpa was arrested soon after the protest on April 26.

He reportedly suffered severe torture when he was in police custody.

Losang Tenpa, 19, was sentenced to two years imprisonment, by the Barkham Intermediate People’s Court on November 7, 2014 for “separatist activities against the motherland,” following his peaceful protest. Another Kirti monk, 20-year old Lobsang Gyatso, was sentenced to three years following a similar solo protest in April in which he called for freedom and for His Holiness the Dalai Lama to be allowed to return to Tibet.

Both were severely tortured on detention, after they demonstrated on the main street of the county town of Ngaba near the monastery, known among Tibetans as ‘Martyrs Road’ because it has been the site of a number of

Tibetan self-immolations and protests.

Earlier TPI report said Tenpa wore a handdrawn Tibetan national flag and called for freedom in Tibet, and that His Holiness the Dalai Lama must be allowed to return. The report said, Tenpa’s family members were called to attend the hearing on November 7 at the Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture Intermediate Peoples Court but were given no opportunity to engage a lawyer on his behalf.

Tenpa comes from Meuruma township, in Ngaba, and joined Kirti monastery at a young age. He has two older half brothers who are both monks.

The Kirti monastery has been under strict Chinese surveillance after monks repeatedly set themselves on fire protesting against the hard-line policies pursued by the Chinese authories in Beijing.

Tibetan monks and nuns have been subjected to harsh ‘patriotic re-education’ programmes.

Tibetan students have been sentenced to harsh prison terms for advocating for the right to use their language, and the friends and families of Tibetans who have self-immolated have been detained and interrogated.