the tibet post international-newspaper

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I n t e r n a t i o n a l

Rs.5Vol. 01, Issue 41, 15 May 2011

US Again Criticizes China

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His Holiness the Dalai LamaReceives Amnesty Award

Dharamshala: - On May 4, His Holiness, the DalaiLama, received the inaugural edition of a "Shine aLight on Human Rights" award from the renownedhuman rights organisation Amnesty Internationalin Long Beach, California. According to the websitewww.boingboing.net, His Holiness accepted thereward saying "I am just a single monk; no more, noless," later adding for the Amnesty volunteers andhuman rights advocates assembled, "Your work isgood. Please continue."Amnesty International's U.S. executive directorLarry Cox, in an address before the handover of theaward, said that the award honored the fact that hehas "tirelessly and peacefully defended the rightsof people everywhere" for over 50 years. Coincidingwith the Dalai Lama receiving the first-of-its-kindaward, this month also marks the 50th anniversaryof the human rights organization's own founding."Individuals in some ways have more power thangovernments; the individuals, the artists, theactivists who are compelled to change society--wemust protect them", said His Holiness and addedthat "You must persist. If you believe that the goalof your work must materialize in your lifetime, it iswrong. It's still worthwhile, even if you never live tosee it materialize."Commenting on the ever decreasing freedom ofinformation in Chinese society he said: "More

Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama receives theAmnesty International's Shine a Light Award fromJoselyn Reyes, (L) from Amnesty's Roosevelt High

School student group in Los Angeles, with Larry Cox,(C) executive director of Amnesty International USA at

the Carpenter Performing Arts Theatre of the LongBeach State University, California May 4, 2011. Photo:

Reuters

Troops Increased at India-Tibet Border

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announces therelease of the 2010 International Religious Freedom

Report November 17, 2010 at the State Departement inWashington, DC. Photo: Reuters

By Cornelius Lundsgaard, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: The Chinese government, in caseof a threat scenario with India, now has thecapability of deploying more than half-a-milliontroops and sustaining them for over a month onthe Indo-Tibetan border, also called the Line ofActual Control, according to the Indian Express.Last month a presentation was given to PMManmohan Singh by the Indian Army, disclosingthe details of Chinese army capacities and therecent build-up of infrastructure in the so-calledTibet Autonomous Region.As part of major infrastructure upgradation in Tibetand east Turkestan, China has plans to establish

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Exhibition of History of Tibet

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Dharamshala: - In a recent turn of events at theKirti monastery in Ngaba County, two monks were,on May 2nd, sentenced to three years ofimprisonment each. The monks are LobsangDhargye, 31, and Kunchok Tsultrim, 33, both from

Two Monks Sentenced to 3 Years


By Sangay and Cornelius, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: On May 3rd, 'The Tibet PostInternational' was invited for the inauguration of abrand new exhibition at the Tibet Museum located

Late Phuntsok's Funeral at Kirti Monastery on 19 March,Ngaba county, eastern Tibet. Photo: TPI

The so called PLA Soldiers patrolling along India-TibetBorder. Photo: FIle

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Arunachal CMDorjee Khando

Passes Way..

Page 04.

Tibet Youth’sIndefinite

Hunger strike.. Page 06.

17th Karmapa Calls Upon China toResolve the Kirti Monastery Issue

Dharamshala: - In a press release by theKarmapa's Office of Administration, His Holiness,the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, who is thehead of the Karma Kagyu School of TibetanBuddhism called for a peaceful resolution to theKirti Monastery of Eastern Tibet standoff.In a special prayer meeting on May 4th that wasorganized by twelve different organizations basedin Dharamshala, he said he would join His Holinessthe Dalai Lama and His Eminence Kyabche KirtiRinpoche in their appeal to the Central ChineseGovernment and the international community topeacefully resolve the current crisis of KirtiMonastery in Ngaba region of eastern Tibet.

The 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Rinpoche in Dharamshala, India. Photo: TPI/File

By Gautam Ashok, The Tibet Post

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Kalon Kelsang Yangkyi Taklha opened a New Exhibitionwhich shows the History of Independent Tibet, on 3rd

May 2011, Dharamshala, India. during press brief, anorganiser presenting a white scarf to the Kalon of DIIR.

Photo: TPI

Dharamshala: - The Tibetan Women’sAssociation (TWA) is taking proactive andcomprehensive measures to solicit outside supportin the battle to resolve the unrest at Tibet’s KirtiMonastery. They stress the importance of endingthe repression immediately and peacefully.With over 15,000 members spread across elevencountries in four continents, the TWA is wellpositioned to spread this urgent message and bringthe conspicuously quiet international communityinto the folds of the area’s escalating violence.


Dharamshala: - As the United States opened atwo-day annual talk with China on May 9, VicePresident Joe Biden and Secretary of State HillaryClinton both voiced their concerns over the humanrights situation in China.


TWA Fights for Tibet Justice

By Adam Sirrah, The Tibet Post


soldiers, more [surveillance] cameras, they buildmistrust and fear. Harmony is based on trust... sothis is totally the wrong method. Censorship shouldnot be there; there should be free information, afree press, and then an independent judiciary andgradual government change can follow. That willdevelop trust and harmony within China, and withthe outside world. A closed society with notransparency creates suspicion."The lifespan of a totalitarian regime is generallylonger than that of an elected government," hecontinued. "But China belongs to the Chinesepeople, and not the government. 1.3 billion Chinesepeople have the right to know reality, and to judgewhat is right and what is wrong for themselves" healso said.In another occasion of celebrating the spiritualleader, the Dalai Lama was bestowed with a honorarydoctorate upon his arrival to the city ofMinneapolis, Minnesota. The doctorate was givenfrom the University of Minnesota where he is togive talks today and tomorrow. At the reception,the university thanked His Holiness for being aninspiration to all of them and conveyed their heartfeltgratitude for his presence.Director May Jo Kereitzer said, "There is no onemore appropriate for this honour than His Holinessthe Dalai Lama, whose vision for peace and non-violence has inspired thousands around the world."

The Kirti monastery, which is located in the Ngabaregion of eastern Tibet (Ch: Western China), hasbeen tense following the self-immolation attemptand death of Ven Phuntsok, a 20-year-old monkfrom the monastery in mid-March. This act ofprotest was aimed to against the Chinese centralgovernment in Beijing and also to mark, the thirdanniversary of the Uprising in 2008. In the latestreports two monks were sentenced to jail forparticipating in the peaceful protests. Chinesesecurity forces and police have continued toblockade the monastery.Media reports state that the ongoing military siege

The Tibet Post2 TPI VIEWS & ANALYSIS15 May, 2011 Dharamsala

London: - Since it's formation in 1959the Tibetan Government in Exile hasbeen taking small aided steps towardsa Westernised definition of democracy.It has even taken some momentoussteps such as the creation of theTibetan Supreme Justice Commissionin the 1990's and the establishment ofthe Kalon Tripa role in the early 2000'showever, these were all done under thesupreme leadership of His Holiness theDalai Lama. Now the TibetanGovernment in Exile (TGiE) must takeits first steps alone and when LobsangSangay is officially inaugurated asKalon Tripa (Prime Minister) later thisyear accompanied with a new officialcharter relinquishing His Holiness ofhis political supremacy they will nolonger have him to rely upon.The governmental charter as it standsplaces the Dalai Lama at the pinnacleof political power, "His Holiness ishead of the nation, and also head ofadministration, the executive. Andwhatever executive actions areimplemented, all of these are done inthe name of His Holiness." ManyTibetans living inside occupied Tibetand all over the world have beenresistant to the retirement of HisHoliness from political power,including those within the TibetanParliament whose role it is to furtherthe democratic movement. Many haveasked why now or why at all. HisHoliness has been the leading voice inthe change to a democratic rather thanautocratic political system and thechange now is to ensure that thechange continues. In His Holiness'speech to the Tibetan Parliament theday following his announcement ofpolitical retirement echoes thissentiment, "if we are to implement sucha system from this time onwards, I willstill be able to help resolve problems iscalled upon to do so. But, if theimplementation of such a system isdelayed and a day comes when myleadership is suddenly unavailable, theconsequent uncertainty might presentan overwhelming challenge".It is not only for the furthering of theTibetan democratic movement that HisHoliness has made such a monumentaldecision but also to shield the title ofDalai Lama from external manipulation.Following his death even if Chinacreates its own 15th Dalai Lama,Tibetans will have a democraticallyelected leader they can look to beyond

What Does the Future Hold forTibetan Democracy?

United States andChina Fighting Over

Cyberspace Article by Cornelius Lundsgaard, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: As the worlds two leadingnations these days are meeting for afriendly talk in the US, China and the USare at the same time stepping up theirefforts to, respectively, harness and setfree the unruly powers of the internet.According to USA Today, last week,China established a new governmentagency which is to make sure that itsmore than 450 million "netizens" areadhering to the government imposedrestrictions on internet-use. This comesafter Chinese President Hu Jintao inFebruary called for stricter governmentmanagement of the Internet. The StateInternet Information Office appearsintended to help improve coordinationamong the dozen or more Chinesegovernment ministries and agencies withan interest in the Internet, i.e. the sale ofcensorship software which could proveto be a lucrative source of income.Quoting the New York Times, themushrooming growth of China's Internetbusiness has spawned a sort of land rushfor regulatory turf by governmentagencies that see in it a chance to gainmore authority or more money, or both.The announcement to set up this newagency indicated that the office wouldwork with other government units thatregulate parts of the Internet, but thevague wording of the announcementleaves the inner workings of the newestaddition to Chinese cyber-controlunexposed.A somewhat similar development is takingplace in the US where, in February, a"Coordinator for Cyber Issues" wasappointed to "bring together the manyelements in the State Department workingon cyber issues to more effectivelyadvance U.S. cyber interests" accordingto a Department of State Press Statementon April 20. The Department willapparently invest $28 million in grantfunding to help Internet activists aroundthe world, with allocations forcircumvention services, allowing users toevade internet firewalls, and training forhuman rights workers on how to securetheir e-mail from surveillance.Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton said "webelieve that governments who haveerected barriers to internet freedom,whether they're technical filters orcensorship regimes or attacks on thosewho exercise their rights to expression andassembly online, will eventually findthemselves boxed in."

US-China War cyberspace. Photo: TPI/file

By James Dunn, The Tibet Post

Dr. Lobsang Sangay, speaking during a panel discussion held in Dharamshala, India.Photo: TPI/file...

Senior Defense Analyst Richard Weitz,on the website Second Line of Defense(sldinfo.com) argues that while theDepartment cooperates with othercountries to fight transnationalcybercrime and funds the building ofcyber capabilities in foreign lawenforcement agencies, "it can do littlewhen these cyberattackers enjoy thesupport and sanctuary of foreigngovernments" he writes.This may have been the case when theUS-based activist website change.orgfound itself under attack by Chinesehackers after running a hugely successfulpetition for the release of famous Chineseartist and activist Ai Weiwei. The attackis being investigated by the FBI and hasbeen condemned by the State Departmenthas condemned.On April 15, Congressman DanaRohrabacher, who is Chairman of theOversight and InvestigationSubcommittee of the House ForeignAffairs Committee, held a public hearingon the subject of Chinese cyber-attackson the US. On the day of the hearing,Reuters ran a story revealing that secretU.S. State Department cables are able totrace computer system attacks, to whichRohrabacher commented: "They havetraced these to the Chinese military itself.An April 2009 cable even pinpoints theattacks to a specific unit of the ChinesePeople's Liberation Army." He also saidthat "Chinese cyber attacks on U.S. assetsnow number in the thousands every year"and claimed that China by doing this haddefined itself as "the enemy of the US".

the Chinese governmental control, whowill be removed from Chinese religiousmanipulation. The handover of powercould also stave off a possible crisisof leadership in the Tibetan in Exilecommunity in the event of the DalaiLama's death.Additionally a clearly labelled politicalleader, separate from the religiousaspects will ensure that world leaderscan no longer avoid public politicaldiscussions about Tibet. Until now,with the Dalai Lama holding bothpolitical and religious leadership,world leaders have been able to meetwith the Dalai Lama in his religiouscapacity, avoiding the political issues.Now world leaders will come underincreased pressure from Tibetans allaround the world and the Tibetsupporter community to meet with theelected Tibetan leader on a solelypolitical basis.It will be hard to create a clear split ofthe religious and political aspects ofTibetan life much like that of Westerncultures specifically because religionstill plays a ruling part in Tibetan life.Mahatma Gandhi once said, "thosewho say religion has nothing to dowith politics do not know what religionis" this sentiment rings true in the caseof Tibetan politics because despite theDalai Lama's retirement he will still beheld in the highest esteem because ofhis religious leadership.There are however, large obstaclesLobsang Sangay must overcomefollowing his inauguration in August.From talking to Tibetans inDharamshala and around the world,Lobsang's main qualities that resultedin them voting for him were his age andhis educational background rather

than his political expertise. Tenzin, a21-year-old monk originally from Lhasaspoke to me following the election,"We now have our own BarackObama". This sentiment of hope hasbeen banded around frequently by theyounger generations (who he is highlypopular with) but with little politicalexperience it is yet to be seen whatsort of a leader Lobsang will be.Primarily his obstacle will be that hehas been elected head of agovernment, which no countryofficially recognises and away from thespotlight of His Holiness he mustassert the Tibetan Government'sinternational importance.However, this election is a highlysignificant step in a process ofstrengthening the political institute ofTibetans in Exile internationally,through the vast developments indemocracy and the creation of a clearsplit in the secular and the religious.Additionally the election of LobsangSangay, with his extensive knowledgeof international law, democraticconstitutionalism, conflict resolutionand Chinese politics will add seriousclout to Tibetan Government in Exile'sinternational credibility.His role will not only be Kalon Tripabut the face of the Tibet campaignfollowing the death of His Holiness.He is going to face the near impossibletask of emanating the popularity of HisHoliness worldwide, however,Lobsang does not usher in a completechange in the policies that HisHoliness upheld. Policies such as the‘Middle Way Approach', whichaccepts Tibet within the framework ofthe Constitution of the ChineseGovernment, but seeks out a strongand genuine right to self-government(autonomy) for all the Tibetannationalities within China."I am assuming leadershipresponsibility against the backdrop ofHis Holiness' magnanimous decisionto devolve political authority to electedleaders. In contrast to the Jasminerevolution where people are giving uptheir lives to secure democracy, HisHoliness' gesture demonstrates hisfaith in the Tibetan people. HisHoliness the Dalai Lama is myinspiration and I will seek to achievethe ambitious objectives he has set forus," Lobsang said in his acceptancemessage.As the Tibetan people take a leap intothe democratic darkness, one thing iscertain, internationally Tibet will neverbe seen the same again.

of Kirti Monastery has resulted in thearrest of over 300 monks includingreligiour leaders and writers, and thedeath of two elderly local residents dueto police beatings. This has in effectraised fears that if the authorities didnot abandon use of force, the situationmay deteriorate into large scale violencethat would the lives of lives of hundredsof unarmed and innocent Tibetans.In an earlier press meet in New Delhi onMay 2nd, the 17th Karmapa said that,"frequent peaceful protests carried outby the Tibetans are symptoms of a

broken and wounded peopledesperately crying out for therestoration of their cultural identity,religious and human rights." He alsothanked the Indian Government of Indiafor giving him refuge since his arrivalfrom Tibet in January 2000."I am not a Chinese spy, agent or plantin India. Tibet is under CommunistChina's totalitarian regime and, unlikedemocratic India; there is no religiousfreedom there. Many Tibetans,including the illustrious heads of thedifferent sects of Tibetan Buddhism had

17th Karmapa Calls Upon China to ..........to flee to India following the CulturalRevolution. India is my home now and Iwould never do anything against theinterest of the country or her people,"This statement comes after allegationsof financial impropriety were placedagaint the spiritual leader in early 2011.Welcoming the clean chit given toKarmapa Ogyen Trinley by the CentreIndian government in foreign currencycase, a representation of 18 Buddhistorganizations of Sikkim, in February thisyear jointly welcomed the Centre'saction, according some media reports.

TPI H.H THE DALAI LAMAThe Tibet Post 315 May, 2011 Dharamsala

His Holiness Begins Talks on PublicSecular Ethics, Human Values

His Holiness the Dalai Lama greeting the over 6,000 audience members at the University ofSouthern California's Board Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, USA, on May 3, 2011,

where His Holiness participated in a panel discussion on "Secular Ethics: Origins, Elementsand Their Function in Society". (Photo/Steve Cohn)


Dharamshala: - On his current tour ofthe US, the Tibetan spiritual leader HisHoliness the Dalai Lama yesterday, May3rd, gave a talk on "Secular Ethics,Human Values and Society" at theUniversity of Southern California (USC).Throughout the talk he wore the USC'sbaseball cap which, in a case ofserendipity, matched the colours of histraditional monk's robes, as he touchedon topics as diverse as theconsciousness of animals, thestrengths of India's multiculturalsociety and the nature of happiness.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Sad-dened by Dorjee Khandu's Death

His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet. Photo: TPI/file

Dharamshala: - Tibetan spiritual leaderHis Holiness the Dalai Lama onSaturday respectfully sent a message(letter) of sympathy and condolencesto the Governor of Arunachal Pradeshover the death of Arunachal PradeshChief Minister Dorjee Khandu in arecent helicopter accident.In a message to (Retd) J. J. Singh - theGovernor of Arunachal State, HisHoliness the Dalai Lama expressed hissadness at learning of his friend ChiefMinister Dorjee Khandu's death in ahelicopter accident.His Holiness recalled the fond welcomethat Mr Dorjee Khandu had extendedto him on his recent visit to Tawang.His Holiness has also extended hiscondolences to Mr Khandu's family and

By YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

His Holiness recently announced hisexit from politics, at least to the pointthat he is stepping down as the politicalleader of the Tibetan people. On thistour of the US it seems, therefore, thathe has chosen to focus mostly onspiritual matters. He did, however,comment on the assassination of OsamaBin Laden in response to a questionfrom the audience.According to the L.A. Times, HisHoliness, the Dalai Lama, said that, as ahuman being, Bin Laden may havedeserved compassion and even

forgiveness. But, he said, "Forgivenessdoesn't mean forget what happened. (...)If something is serious and it isnecessary to take counter-measures,you have to take counter-measures."His statement has been the subject ofanalysis in the American media, somesuggesting that the Dalai Lama is callingBin Laden's death a justified one, whileothers indicate that he is merely tryingto baffle people in a good-humouredattempt to provoke the individual's owncritical sense.And good-humoured he seemed,stating that "Today, I feel terrific" as acomment to his condition of a sorethroat which delayed his departure fromJapan to the US by 2 days. Accordingto the Pasadena Star News, his happydemeanor was underlined when,answering the question from a studentabout whether it was best to work for abig corporation and make more moneyor to follow a passion for working for anon-profit, the Dalai Lama replied "Youare your own master. Follow your heart,and if anyone asks about your decision,you can blame me!"Today, May 4th, His Holiness will bereceiving the Shine a Light?award fromrenowned human rights organisationAmnesty International in Long Beach.Later in the day he will be giving a talkon Compassion and GlobalLeadership?at the University ofCalifornia, Irvine, before moving to thenext stop in his itinerary, the TibetanAmerican Foundation of Minnesota.

His Holiness Meets George W Bush,Talks on Democracy

His Holiness the Dalai Lama is greeted byPresident George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura

Bush in Dallas, Texas, on 10 May 2011.Photo/Layne Murdoch

By The Tibet Post International

Dallas, Texas, USA, 10 May 2011 - HisHoliness the Dalai Lama began his dayon 10 May with a meeting with formerUS Special Coordinator for TibetanIssues, Paula Dobriansky. Therefore, heleft for the residence of President GeorgeW. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush for ameeting with them. His Holiness spentaround an hour with them. PresidentBush said he was honoured with HisHoliness' coming. Later, speaking at aluncheon where President Bush wasthere, His Holiness said he had beenwaiting to meet President Bush again,calling him "my dear friend."His Holiness went from the Bushresidence to the Meadows Museum ofSouthern Methodist University, the

venue of an interview on democracyconducted by Ambassador JimGlassman, who is the Executive Directorof the George W. Bush Institute Theinterview will be broadcast on PBS(American public television) and alsoarchived in the Bush Center'sdemocracy collection. In the interviewHis Holiness dwelt on his overall viewof democracy being universal andexplained the historical development ofthe Tibetan democratic experience.Thereafter, His Holiness attended aluncheon hosted by the George W.Bush Center and was greeted at the doorby President Bush. AmbassadorGlassman in his welcome remarksannounced that during the meeting withPresident Bush, His Holiness hadpresented a copy of the draftdocument, having His Holiness'editorial correction, which resulted inthe Constitution of Future Tibetpromulgated in 1963. He said that thisdocument is the first contribution to TheFreedom Collection at the George W.Bush Institute, which "presents thepersonal stories of struggle andachievement told by the men andwomen who led freedom movementsfrom the last century through presentday." Ambassador Glassman added thatthe document is being regarded as thefounding document of the collection.The document is the copy of the Tibetanmanuscript, Principles of theConstitution of Future Tibet, which wasthe framework for the Draft Constitutionof Future Tibet of 1963. The Bush Centeris releasing a statement on thisdocument and photos on its Facebook

page.President Bush spoke next andrecognised some individuals, includingformer senator Bill Frist. He said that hehad been looking forward to today'smeeting with His Holiness saying thatduring his presidency there have beenextraordinary moments and some ofthese were his meetings with HisHoliness. He said, "When you spendtime with him, you realise that there issomething unusual about him." ThePresident called His Holiness"courageous but humble" and "adelight to be around." "When I think ofthe Dalai lama, I smile," he said. He saidthat His Holiness was courageous inthe defense of liberty and understandsthat freedom means peace and he is aman of peace. Terming His Holiness'presence as a "priceless contribution"to the Bush Center and a "great gestureof friendship," the President invited himto the podium.His Holiness began by saying that sincetheir last meeting during theCongressional Gold Medal ceremony in2007, he had been looking forward tomeeting President Bush, whom he called"my dear friend." Revealing thatPresident Bush had telephoned himsoon after his gall bladder surgery, HisHoliness said that he felt greatlytouched by the gesture.His Holiness said that he consideredthe President's support as being pro-justice and not pro-Tibet.His Holiness said that irrespective ofthe status of people, whenever he metanyone he viewed that at thefundamental human level. Thus, from

the first meeting with President Bush,His Holiness said that he found him "awonderful person, a good person."Terming President Bush' laudatorywords about him as being "positiveexaggeration," His Holiness said he wasfundamentally just one of the six billionhuman beings working to contribute hisshare for the wellbeing of humanity.Emphasising the importance ofdeveloping inner peace, His Holinesssaid that even President Bush wouldknow from his experience that moneyand power alone did not bring aboutinner peace. He added that scientistshave also found that a warm-heartedperson enjoyed better health.His Holiness said his approach atpromoting these human values is notbased on religious belief but developedout of common sense, commonexperience and through scientificevidence.His Holiness said that at the secondarylevel, he was a Buddhist and in thecourse of his meetings with leaders ofthe different spiritual faith, he found thatall religions had the potential of bringinginner peace. Therefore, there was theneed for inter-religious harmony, hesaid, adding that whether one liked it ornot, realistically we all have to livetogether.Talking about Tibet, His Holinessexplained that everyone knows that hehad relinquished politicalresponsibility. However, he said he wasa Tibetan. From this perspective heasked the people to understand theimpact of Tibet to the world. Hespecifically highlighted the issue ofTibet's ecology saying that Chinesescientists have termed the Tibetanplateau as the Third Pole to indicate itssignificance, equal to the north and thesouth poles. He said many of the rivers

of Asia originate in Tibet and that morethan a billion people depend on thewater from these rivers.His Holiness said caring for Tibetanecology had nothing to do with politics.He commended former Chinesepresident Zhu Rongji for recognisingthe importance of Tibetan forests forthe environment and limitingdeforestation for national interest. HisHoliness, however, said that dues tocorruption, etc., environmentaldegradation, including indiscriminatemining continue to be taking place inTibet.His Holiness concluded by suggestingthat the participants in the luncheon whomay know of ecologists could think offorming teams, in full co-operation withChinese government officials, to studythe status of Tibetan environment andto find ways to protect it.His Holiness then took some questionsfrom the audience in a session that wasmoderated by Ambassador PaulaDobriansky. To a question on whetherthe Chinese Communist regime wassustainable and whether there wouldbe a democratic China, His Holiness saidthat China would change although noone knew when it would be. He said theChinese authorities seem to be nervousabout their position and referred to thereport that the internal security budgetof China surpassed that of the externaldefense budget.Asked what were his greatest lessons,His Holiness said that the loss of hiscountry was one; being the longestguest of the Government of India wasanother; appreciating the freedom ofspeech was another. His Holiness alsosaid he learnt that tragedy brings aboutmore inner strength adding that the

the families of all those who died withhim.In May 2008, Chief Minister DorjeeKhando visited Dharamsala andextended formal invitation to HisHoliness the Dalai Lama to inauguratea multi-speciality hospital at Tawang.During Dorjee Khandu's visit toDharamshala, he used to bravelycriticise China's treatment of Tibetansand its harsh policy on Tibet, at onetime saying "we are unhappy over thepresent situation inside Tibet".In 2009, His Holiness visited the 300-year-old Tawang monastery, wherevarious religious discourses are held forthe Buddhist community in the state.The visit coincided with 50 years havingpassed since his arrival in Tawang in1959 after a failed uprising in Tibetagainst China.


The Tibet Post4 15 May, 2011 Dharamsala TPI INTERNATIONAL

Top Level Bilateral Talkson Tibet-Nepal Trade

Dharamshala: A meeting in the so calledNepal-Tibet Trade Facilitation Committee(NTTFC), a top level forum for bilateraltrade talks, has resulted in the formationof a working committee at the borderpoint for trade barrier simplification,according to the Himalaya Times. Themeeting took place in Kathmandu onMay 9-10 and was led by joint secretaryat the ministry Toya Narayan Gyawaliwhile the visiting delegation was led byYe Yinchuan, deputy secretary generalof so called Government of TibetAutonomous Region.During the two-day meeting, aMemorandum of Understanding wassigned between the two parties for aNepal-Tibet Trade Fair which is to takeplace from November 2-6, also inKathmandu. Under-Secretary of Ministryof Commerce and Supplies BinodAcharya told the Himalaya Times that"As per the MoU, the trade fair will havearound 50 stalls each from Nepal and

French MPs' Tibet Group Raises ConcernOver Repression in Ngaba

Vice minister of China's General Administration of Press and Publication arrives atTribhuvan International Airport on a trip to Kathmandu on Wednesday, 11 May 2011.

nepalnews.com/rh


Paris: Supporting His Holiness theDalai Lama's appeal to the internationalcommunity over the Chinesegovernment's repression on Kirtimonastery in Tibet, the Tibet WorkingGroup in the French Parliament hadlodged an urgent representation to theFrench foreign minister and the Chineseambassador in Paris.The Tibet Working Group had drew theattention of the two officials on thedeteriorating situation borne out ofmilitary blockade of Kirti monastery,which left 2 Tibetans dead and over 300monks detained.In an appeal letter to foreign minister MrAlan Juppe on 3 May, Tibet WorkingGroup's president Lionnel Luca said,"Our country cannot remain indifferentto the situation of the monks of Kirtimonastery and the Tibetan populationof the area. I would, therefore, like to knowthe position of France on this situation."Similarly, Mr Luca also sent a letter toChinese Ambassador Kong Quan askinghim about the condition of over 300monks detained from the Kirtimonastery.The Tibet Working Group reaffirmedHis Holiness the Dalai Lama's concernthat the situation at Kirti monasterywould become explosive if force is usedin handling the crisis.His Holiness the Dalai Lama also made

By Tibetan government News Agency:Tibet Net

Tibetan Parliamentary delegation with Mr. Lionel Luca, President of the Tibet Supportgroup in the Lower House of the French Parliament and Mr. Tashi Wangdi Representative

of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Brussels. Photo: File

China".During the two-day talks that concludedon Tuesday, Nepal had sought Chineseassistance to give leverage to its exportsby ensuring transparency in customs,providing trade-related services andsupporting development of trade-relatedinfrastructures. "Representatives fromNepal and Tibet discussed thesimplification of non-tariff barrier,encouragement to Chinese investmentand increased Chinese technicalassistance in Nepal" said Acharya.Also on the drawing board was a branchof Chinese bank on the Nepal side of theborder, a move that is thought to alleviatelong standing trade problems related topayments. "The Chinese side hasassured us that they are ready to open abranch of Chinese bank in Nepal. Theyhave promised to take up matter with thecentral government," said Toya NarayanGyawali, joint secretary at the Ministryof Commerce and Supplies (MoCS).

UNPO Congratulates NewlyElected Tibetan Prime Minister

UNPO members' sitemap. Photo: UNPO


Dharamshala: - The General Secretaryof the Unrepresented Nations andPeoples Organization (UNPO) has onMay 2nd issued a statement welcomingthe election of Dr. Lobsang Sangay tothe Tibetan Premiership and saying that"the UNPO wishes Dr. Sangay everysuccess in the many challenges that willlie ahead and readily offers its supportto help realize the goals and ambitionsof the Tibetan people which he and theCTA represent."During the election, the UNPO joinedthe International Network of

Parliamentarians on Tibet (INPaT)election observation mission thatmonitored the election process acrossthe world. This participation"represented the latest in two decadesof collaboration" as Tibet had afounding role when the UNPO wasestablished in 1991.The Unrepresented Nations andPeoples Organization (UNPO) is aninternational, nonviolent, anddemocratic membership organisation.Its members are indigenous peoples,minorities, and unrecognised or

occupied territories who have joinedtogether to protect and promote theirhuman and cultural rights, to preservetheir environments, and to findnonviolent solutions to conflicts whichaffect them. Among its members areminorities like the Kurds of Iran and Iraq,the Hmong people of SE Asia andTaiwan.

an appeal on 15 April to express hisconcern over the prevailing situation inKirti Monastery and requested theInternational community and the foreigngovernments to persuade the Chineseleadership to exercise restraint inhandling the situation.The Chinese government has sealed offKirti Monastery by deploying armedsecurity forces to crackdown onTibetans and stopped the essentialsupplies to the monastery. The localTibetans fearing the risk of massivedetention of the monks are confrontingthe soldiers who are enforcing the

blockade of the monastery. In thesubsequent crackdown, many Tibetanswere severely beaten and arrested.The death of Phuntsog, a 21-year-oldmonk from Kirti monastery who sethimself on fire on 16 March this year toprotest China's repression in 2008 ledto the blockade of monastery by theChinese authority.The Tibetans gathered at the monastery,who were mostly elders, were severelybeaten by the police as they attemptedto resist the police from taking away300 monks in 10 military trucks on thenight of 21 April.

Arunachal CM's Dead, Sad News Confirmedas Chopper Found


Dorje Khando.photo: File

Dharamshala: - The chief minister ofIndia's Arunachal state Dorjee Khanduwho also well-known and respectedleader was presumed dead onWednesday when search teamslocated the wreckage of his helicopterthat went missing four days ago, butthe other four bodies were mutilatedand charred beyond recognition,officials said.According to Indian news agencies,Indian soldiers trekked to themountainous site in northeast India toidentify bodies after the wreckage wasspotted during a massive groundsearch. Indian officials today indicatedthe sad news that Arunachal PradeshChief Minister Dorjee Khandu and fourothers may not have survived the crashof the helicopter in which they weretravelling on Saturday."The crash site has been located andsome bodies have been sighted,"Home Minister P. Chidambaram said inNew Delhi. "It is not good news."Dorjee Khandu, a member of the rulingCongress party, was appointed in 2007as chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh.The helicopter, which was carrying

Khandu, two pilots and anotherpassenger, lost contact with air trafficcontrol in bad weather on Saturdaymorning soon after take-off. It wastravelling from the Tawang region ofArunachal Pradesh near the Chineseborder to the state capital Itanagar.Searches by Indian Air Forcehelicopters had been hampered bycontinuing poor weather and specialsatellite images had also failed to findthe wreckage.Thousands of soldiers, police andparamilitary troopers conductedsearches through the difficult terrainunder the helicopter's planned route,while neighbouring Bhutan has alsosent out patrols. The AS350 B-3 single-engine helicopter disappeared afteranother crashed in Tawang on April 19,killing 17 people and injuring six.Both aircraft were operated by PawanHans, a service which provides one of

the major air links across the isolatednortheastern region of India.Dorjee Khandu was in the Indian ArmyIntelligence Corps and worked therefor more than seven years. He receiveda gold medal for the meritoriousintelligence services rendered duringBangladesh War. Later, he wasengaged in social activities for villagepeople of Tawang District and lookedafter their welfare up till 1980. In 1980,he was selected uncontested as theFirst ASM and worked in samecapacity till 1983. In March 1990, hewas elected uncontested to the FirstLegislative Assembly of the State ofArunachal Pradesh from Thingbu-Mukto constituency. In March 1995,he was re-elected to Second LegislativeAssembly of the State of ArunachalPradesh from the same constituency.He became the Minister of State forCooperation from 21 March 1995.

The Tibet Post 515 May, 2011 DharamsalaTPI TIBET

Tibetan Books Bannedin Chinese Raid at

Ngaba Schools

Dharamshala: - Around April 22, thestudents' textbooks and other readingmatter were raid by Chineseauthorities, and any books notendorsed by the government wereconfiscated and burned, according toa latest Tibet report. Students werewarned that they are not allowed topossess any book without an officialstamp of approval. The many studentswho come from Ngaba county weretold that they may not return to theirhomes for an indefinite period, andwould not be allowed to return thereduring the summer vacation.A latest report received by The TibetPost International, it will be rememberedthat students of the Ngaba prefectureupper middle school (in Barkham) wenton hunger strike from March 17 insympathy with the suicide of Kirti monkPhuntsok and the situation of theNgaba people, and in emphatic protestagainst the state's singular resort todeployment of police and armed troopsto deal with the situation in Ngabacounty, and the arrests andsuppression of the population there.

Late Buddhist monk, Phuntsog's funeral outside Kirti Monastery on 19 March,Photographs of police build up after Phuntsog's self-immolation and photos of his

funeral. Photo: TPI


Two Monks Sentenced up to 3 Years inPrison in Eastern Tibet

Armed Chinese paramilitary police standguard along the street at the old Tibetan

quarter in Lhasa, Tibet June 28, 2010. Chinacan maintain its grip on Tibet "forever", a

senior official said on Tuesday, butconceded that a heavy security presence was

still needed to ensure order in Lhasa twoyears after deadly riots. Picture taken June

28, 2010. Photo: Reuters


Dharamshala: - Two Tibetan monkshave been sentenced to imprisonmentfor protesting against the seizure of theirmonastery's land by the Chinesegovernment in Jomda region in Chamdoin eastern Tibet's Kham Province, ahuman rights organisation based inDharamsala said.A local Chinese court has sentencedthe two monks, Trulku Jangchub andPesang from Jophu Monastery, to threeyears and two and half years in prisonrespectively in March this year, theTibetan Centre for Human Rights andDemocracy (TCHRD) said in a pressrelease on 2 May.Trulku Jangchub, 25, was arrested forhis role in leading a protest against theChinese authorities for taking Jophumonastery's compound under theircontrol on the pretext of developing thearea in December 2009. During theprotest, the monks and the local peopledemanded that the place belonged tothe monastery and it should remain withit, TCHRD said quoting a source.Pesang, who was arrested in January2011 and held in detention in Jomda,would be soon transferred to PowoTramo Prison, the source said.

another 70.000 km of black-top roads,to extend the Qinghai-Tibet Railwayfrom Golmund to Lhasa and thereon toShigatse (close to Sikkim), to constructrailways connecting Kathmandu,Myanmar, Bhutan, Pakistan and CentralAsian republics as well as plans to build11 new rail lines in Tibet and Xinjiang,which will ensure rapid deployment oftroops or so called PLA.Also included in the report wasinformation that there are eight airfieldsin Tibet, including five operationalones; 18 air bases in Tibet and eastTurkestan have the capability to putIndia under range of Sukhoi 27 aircraft.

China Claims"Harmoni-

ous", MonksSay "Threat-

ened"

the province of Amdho. The two monkswere both sentenced by the so-calledPeople's Court of Ngaba county andtransported away to serve their time inundisclosed locations.Lobsang Dhargye, who bears his father'sfirst name, became a monk at Kirtimonastery as a child. In 2000 he joinedthe Lhasa monastery of Dirpung to studyBuddhist philosophy there. However, in2008 he was captured on cameraparticipating in a demonstration stagedby monks from Dirpung monasteryagainst the Chinese government. Hisparticipation in the protest landed him 5months behind bars in differentdetention centres, after which he wassent back to his native Ngaba provinceand told to stay in the area until furthernotice, less he obtained permission toleave the county. On April 11 this year,

military police forces came to hisdormitory and arrested him without priornotice.Kunchok Tsultrim, born to father Lotsuland mother Sonam Dolma, is also a monkof Kirti monastery and furthermore hewas serving as the treasurer of themonastery up until his arrest on March16. The charges on which he wasincarcerated are unknown at this time ofpublishing.On May 5, the Chinese police andmilitary forces occupying the Kirtimonastery put an end to a month-longstrike on the part of the monks. The strikewas begun on April 2 and entailed themonk's absence from the so-called re-education classes held by Chinesecommunist agents, but it was called offwhen the Chinese authorities stated thatif the monks did not attend and complete

a 3 month re-education program, theperiod of re-education might beprolonged up to a year, adding that they"would not give up" on schooling themonks in the ways of communism.Presently, Kirti monastery is stilloccupied by plain clothed military andpolice personnel, but in the surroundingareas, uniformed forces have been seenhiding in the hills and spying on the localinhabitants. Similarly, all of thedormitories in Kirti monastery have beenequipped with surveillance cameras andmicrophones, leaving the monksconstantly supervised.The newest addition to Kirti monastery,a cluster of dormitory-rooms in theeastern part of the compound, have beenentirely taken over by Chineseauthorities and now serve as the quartersfor military and police officers.

Two Monks of Kirti Monastery Sentenced to 3 Years Each

The students were then forciblyconfined, had their mobile phonesconfiscated and internet access cut,and were forbidden from makingoutside contact.According to Ven Kanyak Tsering,one of the media coordinators ofDharamshala based Kirti monastery, onApril 12, two of the elderly people whotried to oppose the soldiers at Kirtimonastery were killed, and a group ofyounger people were detained. Thisgroup was taken to a detention centrewhere they were subjected to beatingsand mistreatment. The other olderpeople in that group were taken to acompound next to the Ngaba riverwhere they are being put through adaily program of reeducation.On May 8th it was learned thatChogyam of the Chogyam Tsanghouse, age about 33, in the ChukleGongma pastoral area of Ngabadisappeared around April 15. Hismother's name is Manay. On aboutMay3, personnel from the provincialState Security bureau in Chengdu andpolice came to search his mother'shouse, and his own house up in thepastoral area. At that time it becameclear that he is being held in detentionin Chengdu. He left behind his wife andone year old child.There are many similar cases ofdisappeared people who have beenmissing for very long periods,apparently being held by State Securityand Public Security, about whom noinformation whatsoever can be foundas to their whereabouts orcircumstances. When the Kirti monkauthor Go Sherab was detained, forexample, nothing more was knownabout him until he was eventuallyreleased. (Go Sherab was released inChengdu on May 5. he is not permittedto return to Ngaba. The exact date ofhis detention is not known).Since April 18, older women (aged 50-60) with citizenship cards have beenallowed to come and go from themonastery (e.g., to visit relatives), buton May 6 it was announced that visitswould not be allowed more than oncea week. Soldiers and police have beenposted at the entrance to eachmonastic dormitory, and controltightened.

Trulku Jangchub is currently in hospitalas he was tortured in the prison.Since 10 March 2008, Tibetans livingacross Tibet held peaceful protestsagainst the People's Republic of China'soppression in Tibet. The Tibetans madeunprecedented calls for the return ofHis Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibetand fundamental human rights forTibetans living inside Tibet.

The brutal crackdown by the Chinesegovernment that ensued left an

estimated 227 Tibetans dead, over 6810arrested and 510 sentenced."The deaths were caused due toindiscriminate firing by the PRC forcesduring the demonstrations; severebeatings and torture of detainees duringarrest, interrogation and detention; anda built-up of insurmountable repressionand suppression that drove someTibetans to commit suicide," noted acomprehensive report on the 2008uprising in Tibet published last year bythe UN, EU and Human Rights Desk ofthe CTA's Department of Information& International Relations. (2008Uprising In Tibet: Chronology AndAnalysis)"A total of seven Tibetans have beensentenced to death, out of which twowith immediate death sentence weresubsequently executed and five arecurrently facing suspended deathsentence or death sentence with a two-year reprieve. Lobsang Gyaltsen andLoyak, both 25-year-old, were executedon 20 October 2009. The other fivefacing suspended death sentences areTenzin Phuntsok, 27; Kangtsuk, 22;Penkyi, 21; Pema Yeshi, 28; and 23-year-old Sonam Tsering. The judicial processwas devoid of fair trial and independentlegal representation," the report said.

A Man Arrested in Eastern Tibet for Freedom SlogansBy YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: - Lobsang Palden, a localTibetan official of Thangjuk township,Dege Dzakhog county, eastern Tibet (Ch: Ganzi Tibetan AutonomousPrefecture, Sichuan), has been arrestedafter he drawing slogans calling forfreedom in Tibet and long life HisHoliness the Dalai lama.According to reliable informationreceived by the The Tibet PostInternational (TPI), Lobsang, Thangjuktownship leader was immediatelyarrested on May 1st 2011 after drawingslogans on a plywood with hissignature, near his home in Thangjuktownship, Dege Dzakhog county.Several other similar slogans such as"Free Tibet" and "long life His Holinessthe Dalai Lama" found after the armedChinese police raiding his house.The source said, Lobsang was arrestedfor allegedly painting separatist slogansfor free Tibet and circulating pro-

independence posters. He was leadinga Buddhist stupa construction inThangjuk township. After being arrestedby the Chinese police, there is no wordyet whether his family was informedabout his arrest.Gyapon Lobsang Palden, 34 a Tibetanand leader of the Thangjuk township,Dege Dzakhog county, eastern Tibet.Inlast month, Chinese authoritiesreportedly announced that they werelooking for 3 young Tibetans who havegone into hiding after staging a protest.The Chinese authorities have detainedand fined family members of the 3 menwho are on the run after putting upposters and leaflets calling forindependence.Since 2008 protests in this Himalayanregion, over 28 monks and lay peoplefrom the Dzakhog Gonsar monasterywere arrested after they staging peacefulprotest to against repressive rule of theChinese government. 9 people were still

missing, one monk died and 5 monksamong 7 who after being released fromChinese prison reportedly suffer fromserious health conditions.

Gyapon Lobsang Palden, a local Tibetanofficial of Thangjuk Township of Dege

Dzakhog county eastern Tibet.Photo: TPI/file

6 15 May, 2011 Dharamsala The Tibet PostTPI TIBET IN EXILE

Tibetan Community Mourns PassingAway of Arunachal CM

Dharamshala: - Kalon Tripa (Chairman)of the Central Tibetan Administration,Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche on Friday senta message (letter) of sympathy andcondolences to the chief secretary ofArunachal Pradesh over the death ofArunachal Pradesh Chief MinisterDorjee Khandu in a recent helicopteraccident.According to the official media 'TibetNet', the 'Central Tibetan Administration(CTA) has mourned the sad demise ofArunachal Pradesh Chief MinisterDorjee Khandu, who perished in a recenthelicopter crash.'"My colleagues in the Kashag join me inmourning the tragic demise of Mr DorjeeKhandu, the Honourable Chief Ministerof Arunachal Pradesh. We offer ourdeepest condolence to all the late chiefminister's family members," Kalon TripaProf. Samdhong Rinpoche said in acondolence message sent to the statechief secretary."Mr. Dorjee Khandu's tragic death is ahuge loss for not only the people ofArunachal Pradesh but also for thepeople of India. During his tenure as thechief minister, Mr Dorjee Khandubrought immense development toArunachal Pradesh and vastly improvedthe quality of life enjoyed by the peopleof the state."We Tibetans will particularly remaingrateful to the late chief minister DorjeeKhandu for contributing to improving the

Kalon Tripa (Chairman) of the Central Tibetan Administration, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche.Photo: TPI/file


On Tuesday TWA’s president and vice-president met with the Governor ofChina’s Sichuan Province in New Delhiand presented him with a petition called“Appealing for Immediate LegalProtection for Tibetans inside Tibetfacing Persecution”. Thisunprecedented meeting of a Chineseofficial and Tibetan NGO resulted in anassurance that the governor “Will lookinto the matter.”This appeal followed Monday’s launchof the Global Petitioning and LobbyingWeek, an initiative aimed at using theorganization’s 57 international chaptersto elicit the intervention of internationalarbitrators. It implores organizations,governmental and public, to help withthe following: immediate legalintervention and prevention of thebrutal treatment of Tibetans in NgabaRegion; pressure the ChineseGovernment to loosen press restrictionsinside Tibet and allow foreign media toenter the region; allow religiousfreedom; halt oppression and othertravesties currently occurring in Tibet.The organization’s actions come in thewake of two more violent deaths. Sixty-year-old Dongko and 65-year-oldSherkyi were reportedly beaten to death

last week during their attempts todissuade the Chinese Police fromdetaining another three hundred monks.Claims from eyewitnesses at the sceneprovided the following account:"People had their arms and legs broken,one old woman had her leg broken inthree places, and cloth was stuffed intheir mouths to stifle their screams."According to the TWA the recentinundation of armed Chinese forces inTibet’s ethnic areas has created anenvironment ripe for social turmoil.They warn that “The threat of force andviolence [looms] large and the absenceof international intervention and lackof adequate legal protection and freemedia coverage will only exacerbate thesituation.”The organization reminds the public ofwhat happened in 2008 on the eve ofthe Beijing Olympics and the publicoutcry that followed. The currentsituation, urges the organization, canbe stopped before it reaches such atragic outcome. But help is needed.The TWA will continue their campaignby meeting with members of the IndianParliament and the High Commissionersof 125 countries in Delhi to lobby fortheir support.

Tibetan Women’s Group Fights for Justice

Tibet Youth's Indefinite HungerStrike Enters 12th Day

This fast is participated by three executive members of Tibetan Youth Congress - DhondupLhadar (Vice President -Center), Tenzin Norsang (Joint Secretary-left) and Konchok

Yangphel (Finance Secretary-right). Photo: TYC


Dharamshala: - Three executive memberof Tibetan Youth Congress are enteringthe 12th day of a hunger strike today(Friday 06th May) in New Delhi to protestthe ongoing lock-down of KirtiMonastery and brutal crackdown onpeople of Ngaba, Tibet includingpeaceful Buddhist monks. The IndefiniteHunger Strike started on 25 April at JantarMantar, New Delhi.Two Tibetan have reportedly killed in aclash with Chinese police during a raidon Kirti monastery where recentlytensions have run high over the 20 year-old monk Phuntsok of Kirti Monasteryin Ngaba County committed a selflessnon-violent act of self immolation for thecause of Tibet.According to TYC, in Jantar Mantar, atthe site of TYC Indefinite hunger strike,the physical condition of the threehunger strikers shows a clear sign ofdeterioration. It has been ten days signthey last ate anything solid. Living onlyon water in this heat is daunting yet theyremain resolute and determined in theirendeavour.Tsewang Rigzin, President of the Tibetan

Youth Congress said at the start of thehunger strike that, "the continuing siegeof Kirti Monastery, kidnapping of over300 monks and killing of three elderlyTibetan by Chinese army recently is clearviolation of human rights of the Tibetanpeople urged the internationalcommunity to support the Tibetanpeople". He further added, "the criticalsituation in Ngaba, Tibet needs toaddressed by the UN and also in theChina-US annual human rights meetingthis week"This fast is participated by threeexecutive members of TYC - Mr. DhondupLhadar (Vice President), Mr. TenzinNorsang (Joint Secretary) and Mr.Konchok Yangphel (Finance Secretary)."In the meantime, the President TsewangRigzin and the General Secretary TenzinChokey visited the US Embassy to meetwith Sameer Sheth Chief of Global Issuesunit. The meeting lasted almost an hourand a half. Although Mr Sheth appearedto be well informed and had readextensively on the situation in Kirti aswell as the general state of affairs of theTibetan people", said a latest TYC report.

lives of the Tibetan refugees in the stateand ushering harmony between theTibetan refugees and the people ofArunachal Pradesh."In the tragic death of Mr. Dorjee Khandu,the people of Arunachal Pradesh lost anoutstanding Chief Minister and for

Tibetans, a dear friend," Kalon Tripa saidin the condolence message.In May 2008, Arunachal Pradesh ChiefMinister Dorjee Khando personallyvisited Dharamsala and extended formalinvitation to His Holiness the Dalai Lamato inaugurate a multi-speciality hospitalat Tawang.During his meeting with His Holinessthe Dalai Lama and Kalon Tripa Prof

Samdhong Rinpoche in Dharamsala, thechief minister expressed solidarity withthe people of Tibet and the TibetanCentral Tibetan Administration. TheKashag hosted a luncheon reception inhonour of the chief minister's visit toDharamsala.

At the invitation of chief minister DorjeeKhandu, His Holiness the Dalai Lamavisited Tawang, Dirang and Bombila inArunachal Pradesh from 8 - 15November 2009.The chief minister is also one of thesponsors for the 32nd Kalachakrateachings by His Holiness the DalaiLama to be held in Sarnath from 1 - 10January 2012.

Tibetan Community Mourns PassingAway of Arunachal CM

Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche addressing the 10th founding anniversary of TibetanCentre for Conflict Resolution in Dharamsala, India, on 6 May 2011. Photo: TPI

Dharamshala: - A battery of topdignitaries, including Kalon Tripa,Speaker of Tibetan Parliament, DrKuldeep Agnihotri, Kasur TenzinGeyche Tethong, Mr Ajay SinghMantia, President of Indo-TibetanFriendship Association and othersgraced the occasion.The Tibetan Centre for ConflictResolution (TCCR) today celebratedthe completion of ten years of itsservice towards promotingunderstanding and non-violent meansof resolving conflicts in society. It wasfounded on 6 May 2001.The director of TCCR, Karma Lekshey,briefed the gathering about theactivities of the organisation infostering non-violent methods toresolve conflicts in the Tibetansettlements. "We impart skills ofconflict resolution by organisingextensive trainings on inter-culturalinteractions and the friendly relationsbetween the Indian and Tibetancommunities", he said.Mr Lekshey said, "The TCCR hasorganised around 200 activities toreach over 5,500 Tibetans in India,ranging from youth in the settlementsin south and newly arrived refugeesfrom Tibet".Describing the 21st century as thecentury of dialogue, Kalon Tripa Prof.Samdong Rinpoche underlined theimportance of dialogue to achievereconciliation.

Kalon Tripa highlights a quote from HisHoliness the Dalai Lama's speech thatconflicts are created by human mind,and the means for its solution shouldalso come from human intelligence.Kalon Tripa also stressed thesignificance of the combination ofBuddhist philosophy and westernmodern conflict resolution as an idealapproach towards conflict resolution."If the source of conflict is settled onthe basis of mutual understanding byusing knowledge and wisdom is agood way of resolving conflict," saidKalon Tripa quoting verses fromBuddha's philosophy.Speaker Penpa Tsering also shared hisviews on activities of TCCR as more ofconflict prevention than conflict

resolution. He rephrased theimportance of searching for reality andaccepting it than betting on wining andlosing which will only result in furtherconflict and chaos in society.Speaking on the occasion, KasurTenzin Geche Tethong also expressedhis deep appreciation for the sincereand consistent work of TCCR.He said: "I thought TCCR willsomehow fall short at the initial stagebut I am very proud to be a part of thiscelebration and I admire the successof TCCR on this special occasion."Congratulating the remarkable serviceof TCCR, Dr Kuldeep Agnihotriemphasised the role of NGOs in ademocratic society to enhanceeffective means of resolving conflicts.


715 May, 2011 DharamsalaThe Tibet Post TPI FREEDOM OF PRESS

38 Heads of State and Warlords SowTerror Among Journalists

Paris: - The list of Predators of Press Freedom, released each year on 3 May, World PressFreedom Day, has 38 names this year according to the Paris based Reporters Without

Borders. Photo: RSF


Paris: - The list of Predators of PressFreedom, released each year on 3 May,World Press Freedom Day, has 38 namesthis year - 38 politicians, governmentofficials, religious leaders, militias andcriminal organisations that cannot standthe press, treat it as an enemy anddirectly attack journalists. They arepowerful, dangerous, violent and abovethe law.Middle East: predators of press freedomstart to toppleThe kingpins of repressive machinery,political leaders of regimes hostile tocivil liberties and direct organizers ofcampaigns of violence againstjournalists - they are the predators ofpress freedom. They prey on the media.See all the predators (http://en.rsf.org/predators,21.html)There are 38 predators this year. Prideof place goes to North Africa and theMiddle East, where dramatic andsometimes tragic events have takenplace in recent months. It is the Arabworld that has seen the most importantchanges in the 2011 Predators list.Heads have fallen. The first to go wasTunisia's President Zine el-Abidine BenAli, who was forced to step down on 14January, thereby giving his people thechance to explore the entire range ofdemocratic possibilities.Other predators such as Yemen's AliAbdallah Saleh, who has beenoverwhelmed by the wave of protestssweeping his country, or Syria's Basharal-Assad, who is responding with terrorto his people's democratic aspirations,could also fall. And what of MuammarGaddafi, the Guide of the Revolution,now the guide of violence against hispeople, a violence that is deaf toreason? And Bahrain's King Ben AissaAl-Khalifa, who should one day haveto answer for the deaths of four activistsin detention, including the onlyopposition newspaper's founder, andthe vast repressive operation againstpro-democracy protesters?Freedom of expression has been one ofthe first demands of the region'speoples, one of the first concessionsfrom transitional regimes, and one ofthe first achievements, albeit a veryfragile one, of its revolutions.Attempts to manipulate foreignreporters, arbitrary arrests anddetention, deportation, denial of access,intimidation and threats - the list ofabuses against the media during theArab Spring is staggering. Thosedetermined to obstruct the media didnot stop at murder in four countries -

"We worry about the impact on ourdomestic politics and on the politics andstability in China and the region. Wesee reports of people, including publicinterest lawyers, writers, artists andothers who are detained ordisappeared" said Clinton and added,"we know over the long arc of historythat societies that work towardrespecting human rights are going tobe more prosperous, stable andsuccessful." "That has certainly beenproven time and time again, but mostparticularly in the last months" she saidin a reference to the calls for morefreedom and democracy which haveerupted across the Middle East andwhich are believed by many analysts tobe the main reason behind China'srecent crackdown on its dissidentsincluding prominent artist and activistAi Weiwei.Clinton also said that "fears andmisperceptions linger on both sides ofthe Pacific." "I will be very open aboutthat," she said. "Some in our countrysee China's progress as a threat to theUnited States; some in China worry thatAmerica seeks to constrain China's

growth. We reject both of those views.We both have much more to gain fromcooperation than from conflict. The factis that a thriving United States is goodfor China and a thriving China is goodfor America."Similarly, Vice President Biden spoke ina conciliatory tone but neverthelesstouched on disagreements. "We'venoted our concerns about the recentcrackdown in China, including attacks,arrests and the disappearance ofjournalists, lawyers, bloggers andartists. And again, no relationshipthat's real can be built on a falsefoundation. Where we disagree, it'simportant to state it. We'll continue toexpress our views in these issues, aswe did in the Human Rights Dialoguein Beijing two weeks ago."Biden also said that "President Obamaand I believe strongly, as does theSecretary, that protecting fundamentalrights and freedoms such as thoseenshrined in China's internationalcommitments, as well as in China's ownconstitution, is the best way topromote long-term stability andprosperity of any society."

This week's talks are the result of anagreement in 2009 between PresidentBarack Obama and Chinese PresidentHu Jintao. More than a dozen U.S.agency heads will meet with theirChinese counterparts, includingTreasury Secretary Timothy Geithner,Federal Reserve Chairman BenBernanke, Commerce Secretary GaryLocke, and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis.As the officials spoke, about twodozen protesters highlighted anotherChinese human rights issue as theychanted "Shame on China!" and heldsigns outside the building that read"China -- Stop Military Crackdown inNgaba, Tibet!" Less than a month ago,on April 14, US State Departmentspokesman Mark Toner brought thisparticular issue to the public eye as heexpressed White House concerns withthe development in the Tibetan region."We have seen that Chinese securityforces have cordoned off the Kirtimonastery" he said then and addedthat "we believe these are inconsistentwith internationally recognizedprinciples of religious freedom andhuman rights."

US Criticizes China Again for Poor Human Rights Record

Syria, Libya, Bahrain and Yemen. Thefatalities included Mohamed Al-Nabous, shot by snipers on thegovernment's payroll in the Libyan cityof Benghazi on 19 March, and twojournalists directly targeted by thesecurity forces in Yemen on 18 March.There have been more than 30 cases ofarbitrary detention in Libya and a similarnumber of foreign correspondents havebeen deported. Similar methods havebeen used in Syria, Bahrain and Yemen,where the authorities make everypossible effort to keep the media at adistance so that they cannot broadcastvideo footage of the repression.The media have rarely played such askey role in conflicts. These oppressiveregimes, already traditionally hostile tomedia freedom, have treated control ofnews and information as one of thekeys to their survival.Journalist have been direct targeted bythe authorities or caught in thecrossfire of the violence betweenactivists and security forces, remindingus of the risks they take to performtheir essential job of reporting thenews.The need to be at the reporting frontline, and often the front line of theviolence, has taken a heavy toll onphotojournalists since the start of theyear. Reporters Without Borders paystribute to the Franco-Germanphotographer Lucas Melbrouk Dolega,who was hit by a police teargasgrenade in Tunis on 17 January anddied three days later, and to TimHetherington, a British photographerworking for Vanity Fair, and ChrisHondros, an American photographerworking for Getty Images, who werekilled by a mortar shell in the Libyancity of Misrata on 20 April.Rest of the worldIn Asia, some leaders have beenreplaced by others without any changeto the repressive systems they control.Thein Sein has replaced Than Shwe atthe head of the regime in Burma (where14 journalists are in prison). TheCommunist Party chose Nguyen PhuTrong to succeed Nong Duc Manh inVietnam (where 18 netizens arecurrently jailed). In both countries, onepredator has taken over from another.They are the figureheads of regimesthat use imprisonment as a way tocensor and allow no hope of a politicalopening. One-party system attitudes,clan interests and a national unityideology characterize theseimpenetrable dictatorships, now jittery

about the pro-democracy movementssweeping the world.The shockwaves from the Arab Springhave affected the policies pursued byChina's predator, President Hu Jintao,and Azerbaijan's predator, PresidentIlham Aliyev. They fear that this is avirus that could spread. More than 30dissidents, lawyers and human rightsactivists are being heldincommunicado in China. There is noway of finding out what has happenedto them. One of the latest victims is theinternationally famous artist Ai WeiWei. No one knows where he is beingheld. The Azerbaijani authorities haveadopted various tactics with theopposition and media in response toattempts to hold Arab-styledemonstrations in Baku. Facebookactivists have been jailed. Reportersfor the opposition newspaper Azadlighave been kidnapped and threatened.Journalists trying to cover the protestshave been arrested and beaten. TheInternet has been blocked.Other predators remain tragically trueto themselves. Issaias Afeworki inEritrea, GurbangulyBerdymukhamedov in Turkmenistanand Kim Jong-il in North Korea headthe world's worst totalitarian regimes.Their cruelty is staggering. Theirextreme centralization of authority,their purges and their ubiquitouspropaganda leave no space for anyfreedom.Iran's predators - MahmoudAhmadinejad, reelected as the IslamicRepublic's president in June 2009, andAli Khamenei, the Supreme Leader -are the architects of a relentlesscrackdown marked by Stalinist-styletrials of opposition politicians,journalists and human rights activists.More than 200 journalists and bloggershave been arrested since June 2009, 40are still held and around 100 have hadto flee the country. An estimated 3,000journalists are currently out of workbecause their newspapers have been

closed down or have been banned fromrehiring them. Reporters WithoutBorders calls for a special human rightsrapporteur to be sent to Iran as a matterof urgency, in line with the resolutionadopted by the United Nations HumanRights Council on 24 March.The other side of the Atlantic has seenan unusual addition to the list ofPredators of Press Freedom - themilitias of Honduran businessmanlandowner Miguel Facussé Barjum,which have had their hands free toharass opposition media since the June2009 coup d'état - especially the smalland often modest community radiostations that wage a David-and-Goliathbattle against big business andpolitical interests.Pakistan and Cote d'Ivoire - two of thepriorities for the coming yearReporters Without Borders plans tocontinue working on the issue oforganized crime's violations of mediafreedom. The initial report on thissubject, issued in March 2011, will bedeveloped, especially with a view tothe visit that United Nations HighCommissioner for Human RightsNavanethem Pillay is due to make inthe coming months to Mexico, whereseven journalists were killed in 2010.Violence is also the major problem inPakistan, where 14 journalists havebeen killed in a little more than a year.It continues to be one of the world'smost dangerous countries for themedia. Media organizations in the mosthazardous regions must reinforcemechanisms for protecting theirjournalists, who are too often exposedto danger.In Mexico and Pakistan, as in thePhilippines, protection of the media ishandicapped by impunity. Thenegligence of local officials, theinsolent freedom with which criminalgangs operate and corruption allconspire to ensure that investigationsinto violence against journalists rarelylead to arrests. Media freedom cannotprogress if impunity is not combatedeffectively.As regards the Internet, the priority forReporters Without Borders will be todefend net neutrality, which is being

threatened by proposed legislation inseveral countries. The organization isconcerned about the growing pressure- varying in intensity according to thenature of the regime - on Internet sectorcompanies, especially Internet serviceproviders, to assume the role of Internetregulator.A big news story in recent months, Côted'Ivoire continues to be a priority forReporters Without Borders and hasbeen even since it monitored the mediaduring the two-round presidentialelection in October and November. Fromthe attacks on journalists who supportAlassane Ouattara to the recent threatof a witch-hunt against LaurentGbagbo's supporters after Ouattara tookoffice in early April, Reporters WithoutBorders has followed the crisis closelyand will continue to monitordevelopments.In Turkey (which received a ReportersWithout Borders country visit in April),the problem is not just repressive laws,especially the counter-terrorism andstate security laws, but also and aboveall abusive practices by the courts andjudges due to their lack of knowledgeof investigative journalism. The latestexample is the jailing of Ahmet Sik andNedim Sener, two journalists who arewell known for their investigativecoverage of the Ergenekon conspiracycase and the functioning of the Turkishpolice and judicial systems.In northern Iraq's autonomous regionof Kurdistan, the security forces of thetwo parties that control the governmenthave responded with violence to arecent wave of street demonstrationsand journalists have been among thefirst to suffer.More and more journalists and netizensare being prosecuted in Vietnam, wherethe Communist Party follows itsChinese big brother's model as regardsgovernance and repression. ReportersWithout Borders continues to closelymonitor China and Iran, two countriesthat devour their journalists.The international community's silenceon many countries such as Azerbaijan,Vietnam, Eritrea and the central Asiandictatorships (especially Turkmenistanand Uzbekistan) is more than culpable

The Tibet Post8 15 May, 2011 Dharamsala

5-Day Lectures And ExhibitionOn Tibetan Culture Heritage

The Dzogchen Forum was held at Congress-Exhibition Center in Moscow from 26 to 30April 2011. It was organised by International Dzogchen Community, under the spiritual

leadership of Choegyal Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche. Photo: TPI/file


Moscow: - The Dzogchen Forum washeld at Congress-Exhibition Center inMoscow from 26 to 30 April 2011. It wasorganised by International DzogchenCommunity, under the spiritualleadership of Choegyal Namkhai NorbuRinpoche, and was participated by over20 cultural and spiritual organisations,including Moscow-based Save TibetFoundation, which works for thepreservation and promotion of Tibetancultural and spiritual heritage. A seriesof lectures, seminars, presentations andexhibitions on Tibetan cultural andreligious affairs were held during 5 daysfestival in Moscow. On the first openingday, Prof. Namkkai Norbu gave a talk onthe Essence of Nature and Energy, whichwas attended by over 1000 audience.On 29 April, His Holiness the DalaiLama's Representative to Russia & CIS,Nawang Rabgyal, gave a talk on theimportance of the teachings by HisHoliness the Dalai Lama to Buddhistsfrom Russian-speaking world inNovember 2009 and December 2010 inDharamsala, and the cultural and spiritualcontact and connection between Tibetand Russia.Representative Rabgyal, while talking onthe subject, further narrated: "Accordingto historical records, there has had beenlong cultural and spiritual contact andconnection for several centuries, about400 years, between Tibet and Russia.Thetraditional Buddhists in Buryat, Kalmykand Tuva Republics in RussianFederation follow the Tibetan Buddhismand they regard His Holiness the DalaiLama as their supreme spiritual leader.The Buddhism began to spread to threeRepublics in the 17th century.

at the main Temple of the Dalai Lama inDharamshala. Set in the modernsurroundings of the museum's whitechalked walls, frosted glass partitionsand high ceilings, the exhibition, called"Glimpses of the History of Tibet", waslaunched by Kalon Kesang Y Takla,Kalon for the Department of Information& International Relations of the CentralTibetan Administration, whoceremoniously scissored a green ribbonand held a short welcome speech."We have been receiving many manyrequests from Tibetan communities and

different Tibetan settlements asking forsome kind of exhibition which reflectsthe past history of Tibet" she said andcontinued, "in the past the museum hasbeen displaying mostly the activities ofthe different communities and ourapproach for non-violence andautonomy through non-violent means.Now we have here the history of Tibet,reflecting (...) what was Tibet before"."Glimpses of the History of Tibet" isthe brainchild of renowned expert onTibet, Claude Arpi, whose effort todocument the country's history seems

New Exhibition Shows the Historyof Independent Tibet

TPI TIBET IN EXILE

Interestingly, the 7th Dalai Lama had sentletter and gift to Tsarina Catherin theGreat, Queen of Russia, in 18th centurythrough Zayab Pandita, the first Kalmykscholar, who had studied in Tibet.Moreover, Russia was the first Europeancountry, which had diplomatic contactwith independent Tibet in the beginningof 20th century.The great 13th Dalai Lama and RussianTsar Nicolai-II had exchanged severalcorrespondences and gifts throughAvang Dorjiev (Nawang Dorjee), thegreat Buryat scholar, who became the13th Dalai Lama's Ambassador to RussianTsar.The first Buddhist Temple (DatsangKuntse- Chosling) in Europe was builtin St. Petersburg, capital of Russia, in1910 with financial contribution from the13th Dalai Lama, Mongolian governmentand Buddhists in Russian Federation.His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama firstvisited Russia (Soviet Union) in 1979 andit was followed by several visits duringwhich He gave public teachings andinitiations. Currently there are about 200Buddhist centers and Datsangs inRussian Federation, which follow thetradition of Tibetan Buddhism."Representative Rabgyal's talk wasfollowed by screening a documentaryfilm in Russian produced during the 2010teaching in Dharamsala which is entitledas: MESSAGE FROM His Holiness the14th DALAI LAMA TO RUSSIA. TheSave Tibet Foundation distributed 25-paged booklet about teachings of HisHoliness to Russian Buddhists inDharamsala in 2009 and 2010 andforthcoming teaching on 19-21December 2011. Moscow-base TibetHouse also joined the Dzogchen Forum.

integral to the exhibition. Consisting of25 segments, the exhibition ambitiouslyattempts to provide the visitor with acomprehensive understanding of thehistory of Tibet, from the geologicalformation of the Tibetan Plateau to thepresent day occupation of Tibet byCommunist China. "We have been verypleased that he kindly presented a setfor us to have here at the museum" saidKalon Kesang Y Takla, commenting onArpi's work.

Exiled Tibetan Community CongratulatesDr. Lobsang Sangay

Harvard Law School research fellow Lobsang Sangay has been elected the prime ministerof the Tibetan government in exile, during a panel discussion held in Dharamshala, Ind in

2008. Photo: TPI/file

Dharamshala: - In a congratulatorymessage to his successor, Kalon TripaProfessor Samdhong Rinpoche andmembers of the Kashag have expressedtheir optimism for having the newlyelected next Kalon Tripa, Dr. LobsangSangay, lead the Central TibetanAdministration during an historic timeof transition."As the present change in leadershipcoincides with a significant transitionin the exile polity, we place great hopeand feel at ease to have a young,educated, honest and determined newKalon Tripa," Kalon Tripa ProfessorSamdong Rinpoche said.Pointing to the fact that Dr. LobsangSangay won the election with 55% ofthe total votes cast he also said "I andmy fellow members of the Kashag wouldlike to extend our congratulations to DrLobsang Sangay for winning theelection with an overwhelmingmajority" and added that they, "wishhim success in all future endeavoursand at the same time extend ourfelicitations."After winning the elction Dr. LobsangSangay said that, "I view my electionas an affirmation of the far-sightedpolicies of His Holiness the Dalai Lamaand another important step towards therealization of his vision of a trulydemocratic Tibetan society. I believe thesuccess of the recent Kalon Tripa and


Chitue elections and the activeparticipation of the Tibetans in theelections is a significant moral victory.""I want to express my sincereappreciation and extend my deepestsupport to the people in Tibet whocontinue to show tremendous courageeven in the most difficult of situations.Our hearts and minds are steadfastlywith them" he also said and added, "Iurge every Tibetan and friends of Tibetto join me in our common cause toalleviate the suffering of Tibetans inoccupied Tibet and to return HisHoliness to his rightful place in thePotala Palace."

As the current Kalon Tripa ProfessorSamdhong Rinpoche's five-year tenureends on August 14 2011, Dr. LobsangSangay's official inauguration ceremonyis expected to take place just after thatdate.In 2001 the Tibetan parliament, on theadvice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,amended the Charter of the Tibetans inExile to provide for direct election ofthe Kalon Tripa (Chairman of theCabinet) by the exile populace. TheKalon Tripa, in turn, nominates the otherKalons (cabinet members), and seeksthe parliament's approval for theirappointment.

Tibetan Student Group Urges IndianMPs to Pressurize China

Ajit Singh, President of Rashtriya Lok Dal, senior member of Parliament-Lok Sabha.Photo: SFT

By Cornelius, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: - In a press release datedApril 28 the NGO Students for a FreeTibet (SFT) informs that they arespearheading a campaign of lobbyingto Indian members of parliament in thelight of the recent crackdown in Ngaba,eastern Tibet. In a two day effort theSFT has delivered appeal letters toMembers of both houses of Parliamenturging the Indian Government to putpressure on Beijing.In the coming days SFT's Indiandelegation will meet with IndianParliamentarians with the support of theTibetan Parliamentary and PolicyResearch Center. Various foreignmissions in New Delhi will also bereceiving appeal letters on the issue ofthe situation in Ngaba."We will continue visiting people ofinfluence here in New Delhi and appealfor their help in demanding the Chinesegovernment end the military siege inNgaba and release all those unjustlyarrested," says Tenzin Jigdal, ProjectDirector of Students for a Free Tibet -

India. "We also call on governments'around the world to intervene beforemore innocent Tibetan lives are lost."

In the statement SFT writes that theChinese authorities should"immediately end the violent crackdownand repressive "patriotic re-education"campaign in Ngaba and withdraw troopsfrom Kirti monastery and surroundingareas". They also demand theunconditional release of all Tibetansarrested or imprisoned in Ngaba.SFT also calls for Beijing to "allow aninternational and independent fact-finding mission to visit Kirti monasteryin Ngaba, along with members of theforeign media". As a final demand theystate that Chinese authorities should"Respect the right of Kirti monks tofreely practice their religion and respect

their right to movement"."The situation in Ngaba is deterioratingas Chinese authorities continue theirblatant violation of Tibetans' humanrights," says Tenzin Choedon, NationalDirector of Students for a Free Tibet -India. "Everyone we have met in theIndian Government is concerned aboutthe dire situation in Ngaba and hasexpressed their solidarity with theTibetan people."So far SFT's Indian delegation has metwith Rajya Sabha MP Shri Mohan Singh,Lok Sabha MP Mmr. C.M. Chang, LokSabha MP Chaudhary Ajit Singh, RajyaSabha MP Shri Satyavrat Chaturvediand Lok Sabha MP, and former UnionMinister of India, Shri RaghuvanshPrasad Singh, who raised Tibet'sindependence during the last Parliamentsession in March, 2011.

915 May, 2011 DharamsalaThe Tibet Post

Ten Actions to Support People inNgaba of Eastern Tibet

Plain-clothed police carrying wooden and iron sticks, march on Ying Xiong Avenue nearthe main market in Ngaba Town around 5pm, 16 March 2011 just after protests took place

following the self-immolation of Phuntsok. Photo: TPI

Dharamshala: - Tibetans and theirsupporters worldwide have engagedin protests, vigils, fasts, hunger strikes,peace marches, and governmentlobbying activities to pressure theChinese government to end its attackon Tibetans in Ngaba region of easternTibet. The international community,governments around the world andinternational NGOs urged to bepeaceful sense of justice to help theTibetans. "We can't just wait & see,weneed the real action to change thissituation", said the statement.The following is the list of 10 actionsthat you could do to show yoursupport!1) Call on U.S. Secretary Clinton andthe U.S. Administration to speak up forNgaba during meetings with Chineseofficials in Washington, D.C.2) Organize a solidarity protest:Tibetans and their supportersworldwide have engaged in protests,


Tibetan Youths inExile Learning theEcology of Tibet

CST Sonada school children. photo: Tibet Net

Dharamshala: Tibetan youth arelearning about the fragile ecology oftheir homeland thanks to researchersfrom Tibet 's Environment andDevelopment Desk (EDD).Researchers Ms. Chokyi and Mr.Jigme Norbu spoke today withstudents at the Central School forTibetans (CST) in Kalimpong aboutthe most pressing concerns facing theTibetan Plateau.The talk was part of an ongoingcampaign to raise awareness amongTibetan youth about the issues facingthe unique and diverse ecology of"The Third Pole". The series beganlast year with talks held at the TibetanChildren's Village School in Ladakh.Their tour of northern India began atthe CST Darjeeling and CST Sonadaon Tuesday. They also visited theSambhota Tibetan School inPokhriabong. A statement from EDDsaid that the "Talks concluded withgood responses from both thestudents and teachers."This year's program includes thescreening of a documentary called"Meltdown in Tibet". The film'swebsite reiterates many of the issuesdiscussed by the researchers. It isalso a reminder of theinterconnectedness of our world andthat the Plateau's destruction spawnsfrom activities of all corners of theglobe.The greatest threat is thedisappearing glaciers which are theorigin of many of Asia's major rivers.These glaciers are melting faster thananywhere in the world. Withoutconcerted efforts, disappearingglaciers could have devastatingeffects for some 1.8 billion peoplewho depend, directly and indirectly,upon this water source. The heatingof the world's atmosphere hasaccelerated drastically in recentyears, largely a result of humanactivities. The world's largestcontributors of green house gases inabsolute numbers are China, the U.S.and India, but the per capitaemissions are far greater in developednations than in developing ones.Another point of discussion was thedamming of the rivers. Five of theWorld Wildlife Fund's ten mostthreatened rivers originate on the

By Adam Sirrah, The Tibet PostInternational

TPI PRESS & STATEMENTS

Tibetan people were hardened by ourtragedy.His Holiness said that the world washeading towards a positive direction inresponse to another question. Herecalled his conversation with the lateQueen Mother of England who hadlived for most of the 20th century andwho had said that the humanity wasbecoming better as during herchildhood days the issues of humanrights and right to self-determinationwere not known. His Holiness alsoreferred to increased ecologicalawareness as well as interest ofscientists in inner values that showedthe world was becoming better. HisHoliness reminded everyone of theimpact of global warming and said someof his people have said that next year2012 there would be some solar storm.When asked whether he considered itan auspicious sign to be sharing thesame birthday on 6 July with PresidentBush, His Holiness first joked that thequestion should be asked to thePresident. His Holiness said that someTibetans believe that being born on the

same day it was in order to worktogether. His Holiness said he was bornin Asia and President Bush was bornhere but he believed that this meant thatthey had the same purpose for theirlives. He said he was fully committed todemocracy and suggested thatPresident Bush to speak more forcefullyfor the promotion of democracy.Referring to the development in NorthAfrica and the Middle East, His Holinesssaid he felt that President Bush couldmake a contribution on these issues.Following his remarks, His Holinesspresented a mounted Tibetan scrollpainting of the Buddha for the GeorgeW. Bush Center.His Holiness then departed forFayetteville in the state of Arkansas forthe next stage of his visit. On arrivalofficials of the University of Arkansasreceived him. His Holiness will have twoevents at the University on 11 May.These will be webcast live on 11 May at9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m (7 pm and 11 pmin India and 8:30 pm and 12:30 am inTibet) will be streamed live at http://dcestream.uark.edu/HHDL.

His Holiness Meets GeorgeW Bush.........

vigils, fasts, hunger strikes, peacemarches, and government lobbyingactivities to pressure the Chinesegovernment to end its attack onTibetans in Ngaba. Send details ofyour protest [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected fromspambots. You need JavaScriptenabled to view it and we'll help spreadthe word!3) Send an urgent petition to SichuanParty Secretary, Liu Qibao who has thepower to stop the crackdown. Ask yourfriends & family to sign and helpspread the word.4) Send an urgent letter calling on yourgovernment leaders to take thestrongest diplomatic action possiblecalling on China to:- Immediately withdraw security forcesfrom Ngaba;- Unconditionally release all detainees;- Allow international observers and

media unrestricted access to Ngaba.Find your representativesRead more about SFT India's lobbycampaign for Ngaba on the SFT blog.5) Fax a letter in Chinese to the SichuanPublic Security Department: +(86) 2886663 961. Copy Chinese text below(English translation underneath). Youcan also fax the letter to the ChineseEmbassy or Consulate nearest you:http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zwjg/2490/FAX to Public Security Department,Sichuan:I am deeply concerned about thesituation in Ngaba County (Ch: AbaTibetan Autonomous Prefecture,Sichuan Province). Following the deathof Phuntsok Jarutsang, a monk fromKirti monastery, on 16 March 2011there has been a violent andintimidating crackdown againstTibetans by the Chinese authorities.I demand that you immediately:- release all the Tibetans who have beenarbitrarily detained.- cease with the crackdown andintimidation of Tibetans in Ngaba andthe monks at Kirti Monastery.- stop the forced political re-educationat Kirti Monastery, which violatesTibetans' basic right to religiousfreedom.- allow independent international mediaand government officials to visit theareaI have alerted my Beijing embassy andgovernment representatives to thegrave situation in Ngaba and haveurged them to raise this issue withChinese officials. Your continuedcrackdown in Tibet only serves tofurther garner global support for theTibet cause and tarnish China'sinternational reputation.6) Sign the following Online Petitions:- Amnesty International's urgent actionappeal for Ngaba- International Tibet Network's appealto world leaders- International Campaign for Tibet'sappeal to the U.S. Ambassador toChina, Jon Huntsman.7) Read the global statement issued bythe International Tibet Network, ofwhich SFT is a member organization.Circulate this statement to your localmedia contacts.Watch video footage smuggled fromNgaba (in Tibetan, courtesy of Voiceof America)View dramatic photos (courtesy of FreeTibet)8) Call your Embassy in China: Explainthe ongoing human rights situation inNgaba and urge them to press theChinese government to immediatelyend the siege in Ngaba: http://www.chinahighlights.com/embassy/embassy-in-china/beijing/9) Call Chinese authorities in Sichuanand demand the immediate release ofthose detained and for an end to themilitary crackdown in Ngaba.10) Call the Chinese Embassy in yourcountry: Tell them that peopleworldwide are watching the situationin Ngaba, Tibet closely and demandthe release of all those detained in theprotest: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zwjg/2490/Thank you for your support. Together,we can help Tibetans in Ngaba defendtheir rights and protect their belovedmonastery.

Tibetan Plateau and much of thedanger comes from the voraciousappetite for hydropower of thesurrounding countries. China is theworld's largest builder of dams. Theworld's largest dam is the ThreeGorges Dam along the Yangzi River. Amere three years after opening, thedam has flooded neighbouring areas,displaced 1.3 million people, and dailycollects some three tonnes of refuse.It is described by environmentalexperts as an "Ecological time-bomb".Resource extraction is anotherpertinent discussion topic on the tour.Among many issues associated withmining on the Plateau is that it releasesarsenic, a poisoning metalloid, into thegroundwater. Using arsenic-ladenwater is already a health problemaround Asia.Recent mineral discoveries in themountainous and previously isolatedterrain of the Plateau have causedinvestors to froth. China welcomesforeign capital and expertise to extractminerals. Canadian companies areleading the way. Montreal-basedBombardier led the construction of therailway that connects the resource-rich mountains to export zones.Canada-based mining companies thatare involved in the area include: LaraExploration, Sterling Group, Inter-CiticMinerals Inc., Eldorado Gold andChina Gold International ResourcesCorp. Ltd. On top of the inherentenvironmental consequences of theseactivities, they perpetuate thedomination of the Tibetan people bythe Chinese.The struggle facing the region'secology is an imminent threat. Directorof Ecological Buddhism, Dr. JohnStanley, stated in 2008 that withoutimmediate action, "Asian civilizationwill not survive" and that the currentagenda of the countries whoselivelihoods are so dependent upon theTibetan Plateau has "no bearing onthe survival of billions of people, orcivilization as we know it."Changing the management ofhumanity's most important survivalmechanism is vital. The EDD is doinga good job spreading this message toyouth. They will continue their effortstomorrow at Sambhota Tibetan Schoolin Gangtok and on May 2 at CST inRavangla.

The Tibet Post10 15 May, 2011 Dharamsala TPI INTERNATIONALOversea Chinese Praise Exile Tibetans'

Democratic Elections

Members of Chinese delegation from worldwide reading the official statements ofgovernment in-exile during the 50th anniversary of Tibetans come to India, Dharamshala,

India. Photo: TPI

His Holiness the Dalai LamaVisits 2nd largest US Tibetan

CommunityDharamshala: - Media sources frominside China have decried Tibet's recentelections as inconsequential andillegitimate. But outside China there areat least two Chinese organizationssinging praise about Tibet's newpolitical leader, Dr. Lobsand Sangay.The Chinese-Tibetan FriendshipAssociations in New Zealand andAustralia issued a statement on April30 offering their "Heartycongratulations to Dr. LobsangSangay." The statement also said thatChinese proponents of democracy arehappy about the stepping stone thiselection demonstrates - that Tibetansare taking proactive measures to reformtheir system of governance from thearchaic form practiced over the pastseveral centuries toward a moderndemocratic one.They suggested that the only hope forTibetans to receive respectful treatmentin their homeland is by the loosening ofChina's authoritarian rule.The group, consisting of Han Chinese -totalling over six hundred thousand inthe country - and Tibetans living inAustralia, was formed at the request ofthe Dalai Lama following 2008's riots.Since then, Tibetans and Chinese aroundthe world have reached out to each otherto form similar organizations in NewZealand, Japan, Switzerland and othercountries. There are around fifty millionHan Chinese living outside China, andthe Dalai Lama has spoken about theimportance of including this populationin the Tibet-China peace process.Over the past couple decades HanChinese, motivated by governmentalmigration policies and other incentives,have been flocking to Tibet. Someestimates suggest that the Hanpopulation living in Lhasa is double thatof Tibetans. This has created muchanymosity between the two groups.But the sprouting of Chinese-TibetanFriendship groups show that they canbe eager to and capable of cooperatingunder different circumstances.The Chinese group also acknowledged

By Adam Sirrah, The Tibet Post

Tibetan Buddhist leader Dalai Lama bless members of the Tibetan community as theybrought prayer shawls and beads for him to bless at St. Thomas University on Saturday, May7, 2011 in St. Paul, Minn. The U.S. raid that killed Osama bin Laden was understandable, theDalai Lama said Saturday, yet it also saddened him because of his lifelong commitment tononviolence. The Tibetan Buddhist leader told reporters that violence easily gets out of

control and causes resentments that breed additional enemies , like more Osama bin Ladens.(AP Photo/The Star Tribune, Richard Tsong-Taatarii)


Dharamshala: On Sunday May 8th HisHoliness the Dalai Lama visitedAmerica's second largest Tibetancommunity based around the Twin Citiesarea in Minnesota. At the University ofMinnesota's Mariucci Arena, the DalaiLama first took part in a Medicine Buddhaceremony and later in the day held aspeech on the subject of "Peace ThroughInner Peace".At the morning ceremony, which were topromote "personal and societal healing",around 6,000 people received blessingsand took part in the cultural and spiritualceremony lead by His Holiness, the DalaiLama. To begin with he first talked aboutthe roles of the different religions intoday's society and underlined that allreligions have the same potential forunbiased compassion. To the largecrowd, which included an estimated 2000Tibetans, His Holiness emphasized the

need for studying and practicing theBuddhist philosophy and advised thatserious Buddhist practitioners shouldmeditate on the four foundation ofmindfulness: mindfulness of body;mindfulness of feelings; mindfulness ofmind; and mindfulness of Dharmas,before he ended the ceremony byreminding the gathering that mererecitation of prayers is not enough andsaid that peace would not come throughprayer; peace will come through action.Before the afternoon's public addressbegan, University President RobertBruininks bestowed a doctorate ofhumane letters on the Dalai Lama, thehighest degree available at the Universityof Minesota. After receiving thishonorary degree, His Holiness began hisspeech, talking about the importance ofeducational institutions like theUniversity incorporating secular moralethics into the curriculum. He said thatthe modern education system began overa thousand years ago in Europe and that,at that time, the Church took upon itselfthe role of promoting inner peace. Overthe years, the influence of the Churchdeclined as did family values. Therefore,now there was a need for the educationalinstitutions to step in to teach people oninner values.As the Dalai Lama's appearance inMinnesota coincided with Mother's Day,he also recalled the kindness of hismother and said that he learned from her

about warmheartedness. He paid tributeto mothers as the source of affection andwarmth in their children by saying that"by nature we all have the potential [for]warm-warmheartedness because we allcome from our mother," he said. "We'vegrown up under mother's tremendousaffection. We all have the sameexperience. That's very very important."He said that those individuals whoreceived maximum affection from theirmother when young developed muchdeeper inner calm when they are grownup. Similarly, those individuals who didnot receive affection and who may evenhave suffered abuse had a negativeoutlook when grown up.His Holiness also said he appreciated theUniversity of Minnesota's effort inincorporating the study of spirituality.His visit also coincides with the officiallaunch of the Tibetan Healing Initiative

(THI) at the University's Center forSpirituality & Healing. The new THIinitiatives will include research on thebenefits of blending Tibetan healing withconventional health practices andintegrating Tibetan practices intoregional clinic and hospital settings.Taking questions from the audience, HisHoliness touched on matters as diverseas China's tightening control with itsintellectuals, the benefits of the Internetand whether the World was gettingbetter or worse. To the latter he repliedthat he felt the World was getting betterbased on facts like a growing awarenessof the importance of ecology, scientistsseriously studying the mind, public callson ban on nuclear weapons and otherindications of a growing awareness. Healso recalled his conversation with thelate British Queen Mother in 1996 duringwhich he sought her view of the 20thcentury since she had lived for most ofit. The Queen Mother had unhesitatinglyresponded that the world was gettingbetter because in the beginning of the20th century there was no concept ofhuman rights and self-determination.His Holiness' last visit to the area was in2001, making this the second visit in 10years. In that decade the Tibetancommunity of Minnesota, second onlyto that of the greater New York area, withan estimated 6-7,000 Tibetans, has seena rise in numbers and an increase incommunity activities. The latter was

reflected in the many side-eventsplanned around His Holiness' visit,including music and dance workshops,a debate on "Impermanence and theTibetan Community in Exile", culturalperformances, documentary screeningsand a photo exhibition. According tolocal newspaper Star Tribune, the firstwave of Tibetan refugees coming to theTwin Cities began in 1992 after federallawmakers passed a resolutionauthorizing 1,000 immigration visas forTibetans in India and Nepal to come tothe United States in 1990.During his Minnesota visit, His Holinessalso found time to attend a privateluncheon with more than a hundreddonors and dignitaries as well as meetingwith State Governor Mark Dayton who"greeted the Dalai Lama in his capacityas spiritual leader of the Tibet and a majorworld religious figure" - a standardpractice for politicians who meet with HisHoliness to avoid any politicalundertones. Despite the politicalsensitivity of receiving the Dalai Lama,however, former President George Bushdid bestow him with the nation's highestcivilian honour, a Congressional GoldMedal in 2007, while the president wasstill in office.

the intentions behind the recentcrackdown at Kirti Monastery, citingthat it is part of a strategy to suppressminorities.

The organization promised that it willwork harder toward the goal of ademocratic China and a harmoniousTibet.

Taiwan DPP Congratulates Dr.Lobsang, the new PM of Tibet

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP Taiwan). Photo: DPP

By Keary Huan, The Tibet Post

Taipei: - The Democratic ProgressiveParty (DPP) of Taiwan has sent a messageof congratulations to Dr. Lobsang Sangay,the newly-elected Prime Minister of theTibetan government in exile. The DPP saidin the message that "the DemocraticProgressive Party congratulates electedleader Dr. Lobsang Sangay, and it alsopleased to see that the governmentleaders are democratically elected by theTibetan people. The election result is notonly a victory for the Tibetan governmentin exile, it is also a victory for all Tibetanpeople.""DPP is looking forward to have the PrimeMinister Dr. Lobsang Sangay visitingTaiwan and to a more firmly basedfriendship.""His Holiness the Dalai Lama hasannounced his retirement in March. Nolonger being a political leader of Tibetgovernment in exile, he will transit hispower to the elected political leader, forestablishing a better democratic systemfor Tibet and its people. We believe that itis an important milestone to build ademocratic election system for Tibetanpeople," the message reads.During His Holiness the Dalai Lama'sTibetan government in exile leadership,he fully committed to fighting for theTibetan people's human rights anddemocratic freedom. His Holiness hasvisited Taiwan many times, and he hasshown deep feelings for the people of

Taiwan; when Taiwan suffered from thetyphoon, His Holiness also visited theaffected areas in Taiwan withouthesitation."Prime Minister Dr. Lobsang Sangay isan expert on international human rightslaw, he won the election, whichhighlighting the aspirations of theTibetan people's eager for democracyand freedom," said DPP. "TheDemocratic Progressive Party is urgingthe Chinese government to take theopportunity for a sincere dialogue withthe Tibetan Prime Minister. We alsodemand the Chinese authorities'attention to the Tibetan people'sdetermination for a genuine autonomyfor Tibet. Freedom and basic humanrights protection must be seriouslyimplemented into Tibetan life.""As a new democratic nation, Taiwan isexperiencing the hardships of thedemocratic process, but it alsounderstanding the precious fruit offreedom; we support the Tibetan peoplewho are working hard for freedom anddemocracy. The DPP appeals that theMa Ying-jeou administration shouldactively communicate with China onhuman rights and democracy, showsupport for democracy in Tibet, and notbe afraid of offending the Chineseauthorities by deliberately avoiding thequestion of Tibet, resulting in damageto the international image of Taiwan."

The Tibet Post InternationalHimalayan Literacy TrustC/O BookWorm, Mcleod Ganj-176219Dharamsala, Distt. Kangra, H.P India

Advicer Mr. Thomas KeimelAdvicer Dr. Vincent BrucelEditor in Chief Mr. YC. DhardhowaChinese Editor Ms. Keary HuangAssistant Editor Mr. Sangay DorjeeCircular Ven Phuntsok DhondupPublisher Mr. Tenzin KungaEditor, Tibet Post Europe Mr. James DunnReporter Ms. Pema Tso

Tele: 0091-1892-224641Moble:+91-9882423566

E-mail: [email protected]

Contributors for this Editon

Keary Huang TaiwanMathew Singh Toor IndiaYC. Dhardhowa IndiaSangay Dorjee IndiaPema Tso IndiaCornelius Lundsgaard DenmarkSamuel Ivor EnglandAdam Sirrah Canada

I n t e r n a t i o n a l

1115 May, 2011 DharamsalaThe Tibet Post TPI TIBET

Imprisonment of TibetanMonk and Writer Sherab

Gyatso

Tension Continues in Tibet'sNgaba, Parliament Appeals

to the World

Ven Sherab Gyatso, Buddhist monk andwriter from Kirti Monastery, Ngaba region

of eastern Tibet. Photo: Khabdha

By Sangay Dorjee and CorneliusLundsgaard, The Tibet Post


The Tibetan Parliamentary delegation ledby Mrs Gyari Dolma (centre), Ven Sonam

Tenphel (2nd left) and Mrs Tsering Youdonbrief Danish Embassy's Deputy AmbassadorMr Danny Annan on the situation in KirtiMonastery in northeastern Tibet. Photo:

Tibet Net

Dharamshala: - Tibetan monk and writerSherab Gyatso, who has hitherto beenassumed missing, has recently been

Dharamshala: - Three MPs - MrKalsang Gyaltsen, Ven. Sonam Tempheland Mrs Tsering Youdon - were part ofthe delegation. In a letter addressed tothe ambassadors of various Embassies,the delegation sought for visit of factfinding delegation to Kirti monastery inNgaba in northeastern Tibet to helprestore human rights and normalise thesituation.As the tension in Ngaba region of Tibetcontinues, the delegation from theTibetan Parliament-in-Exile headed byDeputy Speaker Dolma Gyari haveapproached the foreign embassies inNew Delhi for their help to diffuse thecrisis.The foreign governments were alsorequested to support free andindependent media to visit Ngaba andother parts of Tibet.The delegation also called on thegovernments to urge the Chinesegovernment to release the detainedmonks and allow the monastery to carryout their religious activities.It was also mentioned in the letterregarding the continual violentrepression on the Tibetans by theChinese authorities. The letter said:"Arbitrary arrests, torture and death ofBulug of Jomda region in Dege on 25March 2011 and death of Jamyang Jinpafrom Amdo Labrang in Tashikyil on 3April 2011 are some of the recenttestimonies of death as a result ofinhumane treatment by the Chineseauthority."

told to be held incarcerated in Chengdu,province of Sichuan writes Indian-based public talk webpage khabdha.Gyaltso disappeared around March 16,the day of young Kirti-monk Phintsok'sself-immolation. He had been on hisway to the Tsongon region of easternTibet (Ch: province of Qinghai) topublish his second book, but when helearned of the self-immolation and thesubsequent protests and unrest, hedecided to go to Ngaba county wherethe Kirti monastery is located. However,on his way to Ngaba, he disappearedand only recently has it become knownto the public that he is in fact heldprisoner in Chengdu.Sherab Gyatso himself is native toNgaba county and is an ordained monkfrom Kirti monastery. Deemed a skilfulwriter and debater, he has on severaloccasions been invited to addressstudents at the Northwest Universityfor Nationalities on issues related toTibetan culture and the education ofTibetans. Gyatso is also a successfulresearcher and has travelled extensively

around China, India and Nepal in thatcapacity. In 2009 he published his firstbook titled "Time to Wake up", a bookthat quickly became hugely popular allover Tibet.In 1998 Gyatso was arrested for the firsttime, when around 40 monasteries -including Kirti monastery - weresubjected to Chinese authorities' "re-education" programs. In a response tothis, Gyaltso made and put up postersdescribing the exact laws of China thatthe Chinese authorities werethemselves seen breaking, includingfreedom of religion, freedom of speechetc.. His actions then caused him 4 yearsof imprisonment when he was arrestedfor being the one responsible for theposters.After serving his time and beingreleased, Gyatso then went to studyBuddhism in Lhasa, but, when theunrest of 2008 happened, he was foundto be leading a group of Kirti monksprotesting in the streets of Lhasa. Hewas promptly arrested again and had toendure more than a year ofimprisonment before being released.According to www.khabdha.org, somesources say that Sherab Gyatso hasnow been released from the Chengduprison but is unable to return to Ngabacounty on account of the Chineseauthorities denying him the right totravel beyond the region of Chengdu.

Families Demand Release of Monks,Several Others Arrested


Dharamshala: - The whereabouts ofover 300 monks since they were removedfrom the Kirti monastery of Ngaba regionof eastern Tibet following a police onthe night of 21 April, which left twoelderly Tibetans dead due to policebeating.The families and relatives of the Tibetanmonks detained from Kirti monastery innortheastern Tibet have attempted tolodge their complaint to the regionalgovernment authority in Ngaba, KanyagTsering, a monk of Kirti monastery inDharamsala, said.The families and relatives of thosedetained monks who hail fromKhangsarma village in Chigdril districtin Golog went to Ngaba to lodge theircomplaint over the arbitrary detentionof the monks on 29 April, KanyagTsering said. He said they also intendedto demand the immediate release of themonks.As they were travelling to Ngaba in

around 20 cars, Chinese security forcesin 10 large military vehicles blockedthem at some 5 km from the regionalgovernment office in Ngaba beforebeing handed them over to the police inChigdril district.More Arrests:Meanwhile, there is no let up in thearbitrary detention of monks at Kirtimonastery. Four monks, includingLobsang Kunchok, aged 28, a native ofThawa Ghongma, were detained ataround 9 am (local time) on 28 April.The names of the other three monks andtheir whereabouts remain unknown,

Kanyag Tsering said.Moreover, another monk named TseringDamdul has been taken into policecustody for his alleged role in takingthe burned body of Phuntsog into themonastery. Phuntsog, a 21-year-oldmonk of Kirti monastery, killed himselfby self-immolation on 16 March toprotest China's brutal repression on thepeaceful protests in Tibet in 2008.Phuntsog's tragic death createdresentment among monks of Kirtimonastery and the general public, whichresulted in the military blockade of themonastery.His Holiness the Dalai Lama and theCentral Tibetan Administration hadmade urgent appeal for restraint by theChinese government in resolving thecrisis at Kirti Monastery. The CentralTibetan Administration had also urgedthe international community,governments and parliaments aroundthe world to make an appeal to theChinese government to release thedetained monks at once.

China Builds Up Army Capacity On India-Tibet BorderBy Cornelius Lundsgaard, The Tibet Post

Dharamshala: The Chinesegovernment, in case of a threat scenariowith India, now has the capability ofdeploying more than half-a-milliontroops and sustaining them for over amonth on the Indo-Tibetan border, alsocalled the Line of Actual Control,according to the Indian Express. Lastmonth a presentation was given to PMManmohan Singh by the Indian Army,disclosing the details of Chinese armycapacities and the recent build-up ofinfrastructure in the so-called TibetAutonomous Region.

As part of major infrastructureupgradation in Tibet and eastTurkestan, China has plans to establishanother 70.000 km of black-top roads,

to extend the Qinghai-Tibet Railwayfrom Golmund to Lhasa and thereon toShigatse (close to Sikkim), to constructrailways connecting Kathmandu,Myanmar, Bhutan, Pakistan and CentralAsian republics as well as plans to build11 new rail lines in Tibet and Xinjiang,which will ensure rapid deployment oftroops or so called PLA.Also included in the report wasinformation that there are eight airfieldsin Tibet, including five operationalones; 18 air bases in Tibet and eastTurkestan have the capability to putIndia under range of Sukhoi 27 aircraft.

The so called PLA Soldiers patrolling alongIndia-Tibet Border. Photo: FIle

The delegation expressed deep concernabout military blockade imposed on themonastery, which has virtually turnedthe monastery into a jail. The delegationstrongly disapprove it as the mostundemocratic and uncivilized action onthe part of the Chinese authorities."The Tibetan people's freedom ofreligion is threatened and their humanrights grossly violated with over 300monks forcibly taken away by the para-military forces to some unknownlocations," the delegation said."...the government authority instead oflistening to the grievances of the peoplecontinues to use force and suppressthe people", they added.The appeal letter was send to theEmbassy of France, Royal DanishEmbassy, High Commission for Britain,Canadian High Commission, Embassyof Republic of Poland, Embassy of theKingdom of Belgium, Embassy ofAustria, Embassy of the United Statesof America, Embassy of the CzechRepublic, Australian High Commission,Embassy of the Federal Republic ofGermany, Royal Norwegian Embassyand European Union Commission.The foreign Embassies expressed theirdeep concern about the sufferings ofthe Tibetan people in Ngaba andassured their full support to bring anend to the repression.The Bureau of His Holiness the DalaiLama and the India-Tibet Co-ordinationOffice in New Delhi jointly arranged thedelegation's meeting with the foreignEmbassy officials.Core Group for Tibetan Cause India toobserve 'A Day of Kirti Monastery'The Core Group for Tibetan Cause,India, met with the TibetanParliamentary delegation to discuss theChinese government's repression onKirti Monastery in northeastern Tibet.Dr. N.K. Trilhka, National Convener ofCore Group for Tibetan Cause and Mr.S.P. Malaviya, a former minister of Indiabriefed Mr Jaswant Sinha, a formercabinet minister of India, about theworsening situation in Tibet.Mr Jaswant Sinha, former foreignminister of India, expressed his deepconcern about the prevailing situationin Tibet and extended his full supportfor the Tibetan people.

The Tibet Post12 15 May, 2011 Dharamsala TPI FREEDOM IN EXILETibetan Parliament Condoles

Demise of Arunachal CM

His Holiness Prays for Safe Returnof Arunachal CM

Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in-Exile,Mr Penpa Tsering. Photo: TPI/File

By Tibet Net

By JNS

Tibetan prime minister, Prof Samdhong Rinpoche speaking at a function, Dharamshala,India. Photo: TPI/file

Dharamshala: The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile has expressed its deepcondolence over the sad demise ofArunachal Pradesh Chief MinisterDorjee Khandu, who passed away in atragic helicopter crash.In a condolence message sent to the

Dharamshala: Tibetan spiritual leaderHis Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama isconcerned about Arunachal PradeshChief Minister Dorjee Khandu after thehelicopter carrying him went missing,his aide said on Sunday."His Holiness is deeply concernedabout the situation and is praying forthe safe return of Dorjee Khandu andothers," Tenzin Taklha, joint secretaryat His Holiness the Dalai Lama's office,told IANS.The Nobel laureate is now in Japan,where he offered prayers and providedsolace to the survivors of thedevastating March 11 earthquake.Tibetan leader had visited ArunachalPradesh on the invitation of Khandu inNovember 2009. His Holiness the DalaiLama inaugurated a hospital there for

state chief secretary, the TibetanParliament said it was deeply worriedand prayed for the safe return of thechief minister as the helicopter carryinghim and his colleagues went missingfor the last almost four days."The state of Arunachal Pradesh andthe Tibetan people have had historicalrelationship, which was furtherstrengthened and deepened during thetenure of Dorjee Khandu La's chiefministership. The Parliament remainshighly appreciative of his leadership andconcern," Speaker Penpa Tsering saidin the message."The Tibetan Parliament in Exileexpresses its deep condolence to thepeople of Arunachal Pradesh. We wishto convey our condolence to all thebereaved family members of the latechief minister," the message noted.

Tibetan Official to Attend Funeralof late Arunachal CM

Kalon for the Department of Religion andCulture. Photo: TPI/File


Dharamshala: - The Kalon for theDepartment of Religion and Culture ofthe Central Tibetan Administration willpay his last respects to the lateArunachal Pradesh Chief MinisterDorjee Khandu in Tawang.According to a report on the officialmedia 'Tibet Net", Kalon TseringPhuntsok has left Dharamsala on lastSaturday for Tawang to attend the statefuneral of late chief minister scheduledon 10 May. He will offer his condolencesto the concerned officials and familymembers of the late chief minister onthe occasion.He will visit Tawang monastery toconduct prayer service on 11 May. Heis also expected to meet with the Tibetan

community. He will return Dharamshalaon 14 May.Mr Dorjee Khandu along with 4 of hiscolleagues died in a tragic helicopteraccident near Tawang recently.

which he contributed Rs 2 million.It was through Tawang that in 1959 HisHoliness the Dalai Lama escaped the

Chinese authorities to enter India. Thesixth Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso,was born in the Tawang region in 1682.

Tibetan Govt. Deeply Saddened by Demiseof Arunachal CM

By The Tibet Post


Dharamshala: - The Kashag of theCentral Tibetan Administration onWednesday condoled the sad demiseof Arunachal Pradesh Chief MinisterDorjee Khandu, who died in a helicoptercrash in Lobothang near TawangDistrict.In a condolence message, Kalon TripaProf Samdhong Rinpoche expressed"deep sadness and worry about thetragic demise of a young, honest andone of the best chief ministers ofArunachal Pradesh Dorjee Khandu.""Moreover, he has brought immensedevelopment and improvement in thelives of the people of Arunachal Pradeshand the Tibetans living there in peaceand harmony," Kalon Tripa said."Since his death is a great loss to boththe Tibetans and the people ofArunachal Pradesh, I, along with mycabinet colleagues offer our prayers and

heartfelt condolences to the people ofthe state and his family members,"Kalon Tripa said.A special prayer service will be

organised by the Department ofReligion and Culture at theTsuglagkhang, the main temple inDharamsala on 5 May, Kalon Tripa said.

His Holiness the Dalai LamaArrives in Tokyo

By The Tibet Post


Tokyo: - After a brief rest His Holinessoffered special prayers in private atGokokuji, a Japanese Buddhist templein Tokyo for an hour. The prayer isdedicated to help prevent recurrenceof disasters like the recent devastatingearthquake and tsunami.His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrivedat Tokyo Narita Airport this morning.Today there will be a public memorialprayer service in remembrance of thevictims of the tragic earthquake andtsunami that struck Japan last month.Coincidentally this mass prayermeeting happens to be on the 49thday, which according to Buddhisttradition is the end of formal mourningperiod.On 30 April, His Holiness the Dalai

Lama will leave for the United Stateson a two-week visit.

-Report filed by Tsewang GyalpoArya, Office of Tibet, Japan

World Champion Surfer,Women's Activist Boycotts

China

Cori Schumacher. Photo: File


Dharamshala: - In an effort to raiseawareness about human rights issuesin China, the reigning Women's WorldLongboard Surfing Champion CoriSchumacher recently took a drasticstep in deciding to boycott theAssociation of Surfing Professionals(ASP) Longboard Tour this year.One of the events will be taking placeon Hainan Island in China and whenSchumacher, an avid women's rightsactivist, received the invitation for theevent, which would be subsidised bythe Chinese government she wasfaced with a dilemma, "I felt like I hadtwo choices: I could go with my

reservations and wear a 'Free Tibet'shirt. Or, I could stand up for what Ibelieve in and hopefully call moreattention to these issues through aboycott," she told the Del Mar Times.Schumacher pointed out that thedecision to host the 2011 World Tourin China, "followed an important UScongressional hearing on China's 'OneChild Policy,' a policy sanctioned bythe Chinese government that isimplicated in gendercide, sexualslavery, forced sterilization and forcedabortions." wrote lifesitenews.com.In her much lauded career as a long-board surfer Schumacher has chosennot to be sponsored but rather work aregular 9-5 job to support herself inorder to be able to speak her mindwithout contractual restrictions.Women's Rights Without Frontiers(WRWF), a human rights group thatfocuses on China, applaudedSchumacher for her decision, callingher a woman of "tremendous courage,conviction and backbone - a shininglight not only to female athletes, butto all women who are struggling forbasic human dignity, all over theworld."

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