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Tibet : Two Tibetans set themselves on fire and a protester killed by chinese police in Ngaba
Redazione - Lun, 13/08/2012 - 21:42
Two Tibetans set themselves on fire Monday in protest against Chinese rule in Ngaba county , triggering clashes between local Tibetans and police that resulted in a Tibetan beaten to death.Amid the rising tensions, some sources said there was a third self-immolation in the county, but the incident could not be immediately confirmed.The two confirmed self-immolations on Monday evening set the stage for bigger protests by Tibetans and a heavy police presence.Lungtok, a monk from the restive Kirti monastery in Ngaba, and another Tibetan, believed to be a layperson and identified as Tashi, torched themselves at around 6:00 p.m. local time to highlight their opposition to Chinese rule in Tibet.A large contingent of police and Public Security Bureau personnel arrived at the site of the self-immolation and imposed stern restrictions in the area. The Tibetans gathered in the area clashed with police and the situation became very tense. One Tibetan died from being beaten by the police.
There were no immediate details of the condition of the two self-immolators who, according to witnesses, were whisked away by Chinese security forces to a nearby hospital.
A large number of Tibetans are protesting against the Chinese authorities and the situation is grim and serious.
‘Be united to ensure the Dalai Lama’s return,’ a self-immolator's last words
Phayul[Sunday, August 19, 2012 17:07]
DHARAMSHALA, August 19: Months after Rikyo, a Tibetan mother of three, burned herself to death, a note left behind by her calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama has made its way to exile.
The Dharamshala based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in a release yesterday said they received the note, written in Tibetan in black ink on white paper, from a reliable source with contacts in the region.
In the note, Rikyo, 36, calls on her fellow Tibetans to be united and preserve the Tibetan culture and language to ensure the return of the exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama.
“Prayers for world peace and happiness! To ensure His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s return to Tibet, do not indulge in slaughtering and trading of animals, do not steal, Speak Tibetan, do not fight.”
Rikyo set herself ablaze on May 30, near the Jonang Zamthang Gonchen monastery in Zamthang (Ch: Rangtang) county, in the distraught Ngaba region, the nerve centre of the ongoing wave of self-immolations in Tibet. She succumbed to her injuries at the site of her self-immolation protest.
In the note, Rikyo further urges local Tibetans not to fight with Chinese authorities if she falls into their hands alive and tells her family not to worry.
“Bearing all sufferings of the sentient beings on myself, Do not resist by fighting if I get into Chinese hands alive, Be united, Study Tibetan culture, On fire I burn, do not worry my family.”
With Chinese authorities threatening to take away her body, Rikyo was cremated the same day in a haste near the Jonang Gonchen monastery.
Over 5000 Tibetans attended the grand funeral ceremony to express solidarity and pay their last respects. Prayers were held until the next morning under the watch of a heavy security presence.
Rikyo is survived by her husband, Nangtong, 41 and three children – two sons, Lobsang 17, Kunga, 10, and daughter Semlha, 14.
The deepening crisis inside Tibet has witnessed large scale anti-China protests and a series of self-immolations that has now seen 50 Tibetans set themselves on fire, since 2009, demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile.
'Anti-terror exercise in Lhasa a ploy to crackdown on peaceful protests'
Phayul[Sunday, August 19, 2012 23:40]
DHARAMSHALA, August 19: A Tibetan member of parliament has warned that China will use its recent anti-terrorism exercise in Tibet’s capital Lhasa as a ploy to launch “indiscriminate crackdown on peaceful Tibetan protesters, labeling them as terrorists.”
Lobsang Yeshi, author of the paper titled ‘Dragon’s Terrorist Designs- The myth of the Tibetan Terrorism’ www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=29274&t=1 told Phayul that since 9/11, China has employed the ‘war on terror’ as a “massive state strategy to crush the Tibetans as terrorists” and has launched a multi-lateral campaign to achieve this “vicious” objective.
“In order to falsely indict innocent Tibetans as terrorists, Chinese security forces concoct and stage terrorist attacks and incidences, forge documents and frame evidence, implant weapons and bombs, send agent- provocateurs and wage an unabated propaganda war,” Yeshi said.
China’s state-run Global Times reported earlier this week that Chinese security forces conducted an anti-terrorism exercise at the Gongkar airport and railway station in Tibet's capital Lhasa.
The report said that the exercise named “Plateau Guards 2012” was held amid fears that "hostile forces" may attack the region in a bid to sabotage the 18th National Congress of the ruling Communist Party of China, which will most likely be held in November to select the country’s new set of leaders.
The paper quoted one Xiong Kunxin, a professor with the Minzu University of China, as saying that "outside infiltrators and some people incited by the Dalai clique may launch terrorist attacks in the region."
“Tibet faces terrorism threats from within and outside the country. The Dalai clique and hostile forces in the West hope to bring China into widespread chaos," Xiong told the paper.
The Tibetan lawmaker noted that China’s repeated attempts at labeling Tibetans as terrorists is “undoubtedly the most ridiculous and ruthless accusation China has launched on Tibetans thus far.”
Yeshi, who is also a former youth leader, cautioned that the apathy shown by world leaders at China’s accusations could lead to the situation inside Tibet spiraling out of control.
“I strongly urge the governments, reputed scholars and researchers and human rights watchdogs to effectively intervene to stop China in its vicious campaign before this gross injustice on the Tibetans spirals out of control to the detriment of all,” Yeshi added.
Since the massive uprisings of 2008, Tibet has witnessed numerous demonstrations and protest against Chinese rule. Tibetans continue to burn themselves demanding freedom in Tibet and return of exiled Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama.
18/08/2012 12:08
TIBET – CINA
Mistero sulla sorte di cinque monaci tibetani arrestati dalla polizia cinese
Tre giovani sono stati fermati il 12 agosto; altri due il 16 mentre si trovavano all’interno del monastero. Il fermo disposto per presunto “coinvolgimento” nelle recenti auto-immolazioni. Fonti di Tchrd: situazione di estrema “tensione”.
Dharamsala (AsiaNews) - Sono ancora ignote le sorti di cinque giovani monaci tibetani, arrestati nei giorni scorsi durante una serie di raid della polizia cinese nel monastero di Gyalrong Tsodun, a Barkham, nella contea di Ngaba (provincia del Sichuan). Lobsang Sangay, 19 anni, Yarphel e Namsay, entrambi di 18, sono stati prelevati dalle forze di sicurezza il 12 agosto, mentre si trovavano all'interno delle loro celle nel monastero. Il loro stato di salute e il luogo in cui sono rinchiusi è al momento sconosciuto. Quattro giorni più tardi, il 16 agosto, gli agenti hanno fermato altri due monaci: il 20enne Thupwang Tenzin e il 22enne Asong, anch'essi prelevati all'interno del centro buddista.
Fonti del Centro tibetano per i diritti umani e la democrazia (Tchrd) riferiscono che i monaci sono vittime di "arresti arbitrari", perché sospettati di "coinvolgimento" nelle recenti auto-immolazioni che si sono verificate nei pressi del monastero a marzo e agosto 2012 (cfr. AsiaNews 14/08/2012 Pestaggi e arresti mentre due tibetani si danno fuoco). al momento non sono chiari i capi di imputazione e non si hanno particolari informazioni sulle loro condizioni e il luogo di detenzione.
Le autorità cinesi negli ultimi giorni hanno rafforzato i dispositivi di sicurezza e sorveglianza attorno al monastero, al cui interno vivono circa 300 monaci e dove il 13 agosto scorso si sono dati fuoco due giovani per protesta contro Pechino. Reparti speciali dell'esercito e polizia presidiano l'area e vi sono restrizioni al movimento delle persone, religiosi compresi. Testimoni oculari confermano che la situazione è di forte "tensione ed emergenza".
Nonostante le numerose proteste e i continui appelli di organizzazioni e Paesi stranieri, la polizia cinese continua ad arrestare e a sequestrare chiunque manifesti dissenso. In questi mesi, Pechino ha aumentato la sua stretta conto il popolo tibetano, che secondo gli esperti sta subendo una vera e propria colonizzazione. Le restrizioni cinesi comprendono il divieto di insegnare la lingua e la religione tibetana; l'imposizione di politiche di sviluppo inappropriate, tutte a favore dell'etnia han e attacchi continuati e di diverso tipo all'élite culturale e intellettuale del Tibet.
Per questo decine di giovani tibetani, monaci e laici, hanno scelto l'autoimmolazione come gesto estremo di protesta. Dall'inizio del 2012 sono decine i tibetani che si sono dati fuoco per criticare la dittatura di Pechino e chiedere il ritorno del Dalai Lama in Tibet. Il leader spirituale tibetano ha sempre sottolineato di "non incoraggiare" queste forme estreme di ribellione, ma ha elogiato "l'audacia" di quanti compiono l'estremo gesto, frutto del "genocidio culturale" che è in atto in Tibet.
Pechino risponde attaccando il Dalai Lama, colpevole di sostenere "terroristi, criminali o malati mentali".(NC)
Tibetan freedom movement will succeed: Lobsang Sangay.
Patna, August 19: Tibetan Prime Minister-in-Exile Lobsang Sangay today expressed hope that the Tibetan people's aspirations will bear fruit and the Dalai Lama will return to Lhasa during his lifetime.
Stressing that their movement was based on the Indian ethos, he said, "The Tibetan freedom movement is a 'Made in India' concept as the exiled people of Tibet have adopted the Indian culture and democratic values, with a thrust on non-violence in their pursuit of independence."
The Tibetan people have adopted the tenets of Indian Constitution drafted by the legendary freedom fighter Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar to elect their government in-exile through elections and as such believed in democratic right of equality in their path for freedom, Sangay said at a seminar on the topic 'Role of Tibet in Future Geo-Politics'.
He said that his and the Tibetan people's faith in attainment of freedom of their country has been buoyed by a series of events across the world that has brought political changes in several countries.
There was a spring revolution taking place in many Arab countries even as Myanmar has released the iconic leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi from imprisonment to take a small step in the direction of setting up a democratic government, Sangay said.
Earlier, South African leader Nelson Mandela successfully led an agitation to end apartheid in his country while languishing in a jail, the exiled Tibetan leader said and exuded confidence that the people of Tibet will succeed in their endeavour for freedom.
Sangay expressed hope that the 14th Dalai Lama will return to Lhasa during his lifetime upon attainment of freedom of Tibet and said that his country will welcome the Indian people with open arms and the visitors from India will not be required to carry visa and passport for pilgrimage to the holy Kailash Mansarovar temple.
The Tibetan PM-in-exile attacked China for its "expansionist aspirations" and said that Beijing has set up 23 military divisions in Tibet and laid railway lines and five airfields there as part of its military strategy against India.
Besides building air and railway infrastructure in Tibet and Nepal, China has constructed a port near Sri Lanka to monitor activities near Kanyakumari, he claimed.
However, unlike some countries who may be scared of China's emergence as a global power, the people of Tibet were not bothered at all and all that they aspired for was independence of their country, Sangay said.
He also sought to run down China's economic development as devoid of democracy in contrast of India's development as a global power on the foundation of democracy.
Sangay also thanked the people of Bihar for lending moral support to the Tibetan freedom movement and recalled that the great leader Jai Prakash Narayan had supported their aspiration and solicited support from the people of the state. (PTI)
Student Protesters Sentenced
2012-08-17
Two young Tibetans are singled out for punishment.
Authorities in a Tibetan prefecture of China’s Qinghai province have handed jail terms of three years each to two student protest leaders who had been held in detention since March, a relative of one of the young men said on Friday.
Tashi Tsering, 22, and Choeyang Gonpo, 21, were picked up on March 18 following student demonstrations four days earlier challenging Chinese rule and opposing policies favoring Chinese over Tibetan as the language of instruction in area schools.
The two men, both students at the Kangtsa County School of Nationalities, were charged with advocating independence for Tibet, but were chosen from other students for prosecution because of their age, a relative told RFA on condition of anonymity.
“[Chinese authorities] explained that Tashi and Choeyang were singled out because of their status as head and assistant monitors of their class,” the relative said.
“Secondly, both of them were of legal age for action to be taken against them. Therefore, they were picked out for detention and sentencing,” he said.
Sentencing date unknown
Details of when the sentences were handed down were not immediately clear.
“We know that they were sentenced by the Qinghai provincial level court, but the details are still not known,” the man said.
Family members were able to meet with the two men on July 16 in the prison complex at Duoba in the Qinghai provincial capital of Xining, the man said.
Attempts to visit the two in jail had been made over 20 to 30 times before without success, the man said.
Tibetan community leaders had advised family members not to be “too aggressive” in their search for the young men for fear of endangering their safety, he said.
The March 14 student protest in Kangtsa involved more than 4,000 young Tibetans from Qinghai schools, including 100 to 200 students from the Kangtsa School of Nationalities.
It was the largest protest since October 2010, when thousands of Tibetan middle and primary school students from four Tibetan prefectures in Qinghai province demonstrated for days against the language change policy.
Reported by Gaitho for RFA’s Tibetan service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Copyright © 1998-2011 Radio Free Asia. All rights reserved.
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YESHE.
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Pawo Lungtok and Pawo Tashi who self-immolated jointly on August 13, 2012 in Ngaba, Amdo region of Eastern Tibet. We honor best their sacrifice by actively supporting the very cause their offered their lives for, Tibet’s independence. Since that action, one Tibetan has been killed by Chinese paramilitary and many others injured, the area has now been flooded with Chinese forces.
http://tibettruth.files.wordpress.com/2012...artflagtib1.png
http://tibet.net/2012/08/20/dalai-lamas-eu...-role-in-tibet/
http://tibet.net/2012/08/20/kalon-tripa-re...an-immolations/
http://tibet.net/2012/08/21/prominent-tibe...ed-for-7-years/
http://tibet.net/2012/08/20/self-immolator...eturn-to-tibet/
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id...racing+festival. -
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Tibet : Chinese authorities arrest a famous singer
Redazione - Mar, 21/08/2012 - 15:45
Phul Chong was arrested in Barkham County, center of Ngba province, Amdo region.Where-abouts and the heath condition of the singer remains unclear.Prior to his arrest, Phulchung released five albums.They all talked about the Tibet issue, life in Tibet and Tibetan national pride.He was thus always taken in for questioning by police and was warned to stop creating such literature.This year he released his latest album, “Khurge Nonpai Ngatso” which loosely translates to “We Are Pressed Down”.Phul Chong was born in Amchok Village, Marthang County, Amdo region. He comes from a nomadic family and is educated up to middle school. He is said to have trained himself while grazing yaks and his music is popular amongst the nomads as he expresses their sentiments. Many Tibetans refer to him as "Pride Singer".
This is one more instance that reaffirms China’s policy of detaining prominent artists that assert Tibetan national identity and civil rights.
In defiance of the authoritarian regime and its repressive politices in Tibet, Tibetan artists, writers, poets, spiritual leaders and intellectuals in Tibet and in exile are engaged in a Tibetan cultural renaissance, using new technology and mediums to create and share their work.
Hundreds of Tibetan dissidents including intellectuals, spiritual leaders, artists and writers have been arrested, tortured and imprisoned since Tibet occupation.
Tibet : Tibetans detained during Ngaba protest crackdown
Redazione - Mer, 22/08/2012 - 08:57
Two known Tibetans were detained during a violent crackdown on a protest staged by local Tibetans that followed the twin self-immolation of Tashi and Lungtok this month in Ngaba.Sources contacting TCHRD indentified the two Tibetans who were detained along with unknown others on 13 August as Bhongo Kyi, 44, and Chechok, 48.Both sustained serious injuries as security personnel resorted to indiscriminate beatings to suppress the protest.Their current condition and whereabouts remain unknown.In addition to Bhongo Kyi and Chechok, there were others who were also beaten and detained.However, their details cannot be obtained at the moment.
Bhongo Kyi was also among the 200 Tibetan civilians, mostly senior citizens who had been camping near a road close to the Kirti Monastery last year to prevent security forces from forcibly taking 300 monks from Kirti Monastery to an undisclosed location where the authorities said the monks were to receive 'legal education'. She was soon detained for a month following which she was forced to attend 'legal education' sessions for days.
Bhongo Kyi hails from Lhade Ghapma village in Ngaba County and her father's name is Yarphel.
Chechok belongs to Yangkhotsang household in Jolep Village of Ngaba County.
Tashi, 21, a former monk and Lungtok, 20, a monk at Kirti Monastery set themselves on fire in Ngaba to protest against Chinese government on 13 August 2012.
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China Deploys Armed Forces At Tibet Horse-Racing Festival
Tuesday, 21 August 2012 16:12 Thu Flower, Tibet Post International
Dharamshala: Chinese government authorities decided to take stringent precautions to prevent against self-immolations and all other kinds of protest at the popular annual horse-racing festival at Machu county in Kanlho (Chinese: Gannan, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province), north-eastern Tibet.
On 12 August, 2012, hundreds of armed forces personnel, specifically People's Armed Police, were deployed at the horse-racing festival in order to ensure that no Tibetans will use the public event to stage any protest, including, but not limited to, self-immolations, suicide, smashing, or looting. In addition, local Chinese authorities also issued 11-points public notice requesting Tibetans to refrain from expressing their grievances at the open event. The note, written in both Tibetan and Chinese, prohibited anyone from carrying ‘hazardous' objects, such as flammable liquids and poisonous items, as well as engaging in any protest activities. Violating these rules will result in punishment varying anywhere from imprisonment to prosecution in courts.
"In the notice, China has stated several points but the main issue is they are afraid that Tibetans might protest against the government and they are warning us not to set ourselves ablaze or protest against the government,"
stated Dolkar Kyap, a Machu native and member of Tibetan Parliament in exile.
The annual Machu horse-racing festival has thousands of attendees from all over Tibet as well as China, and is considered as one of the most well-known events in the Tibetan province of Amdo. However the event has been discontinued for some years since the waves of protest occurring in 2008 in Tibet.
Previously in March 2012, Chinese authorities in Kanlho issued a notice throughout the entire prefecture discouraging any form of anti-government protest. Instead, they insisted that the public report directly to the police any ‘illegal' activities intended at disrupting ‘social stability and national unity.'
Singer arrested for praising the Dalai Lama and Kalon Tripa Dr Sangay
Phayul[Wednesday, August 22, 2012 16:43]
DHARAMSHALA, August 22: In an increasing onslaught on Tibetan intellectuals and artists, another well-known Tibetan singer was arrested earlier this month for singing songs in praise of the Dalai Lama and Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay.
Achok Phuljhung, around 30 years of age, was arrested on August 3 from a teashop in Barkham region of eastern Tibet by Chinese security personnel. He had been on the run for over two months after an arrest notice was issued against him by Chinese authorities.
There is no information on his current wellbeing and whereabouts.
Widely recognised by local Tibetans as among the “Nationalistic Singers,” Phuljhung has five albums under his name. Many of his songs call for the unity of the Tibetan people and evoke pride and nationalism among Tibetans.
In his latest album titled, “We, who are Duty Bound,” Phuljhung sings in praise of Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and the elected leader of the Tibetan people, Dr Lobsang Sangay.
“Noble teacher (the Dalai Lama), the Wish-fulfilling Jewel and Saviour of the Tibetan people; Let us Tibetans go to seek his blessing; Noble leader Lobsang Sangay, Leader of the Tibetan people; Let us Tibetans go to him to seek our welfare,” reads a section of the song.
Exiled Tibetans with contacts in the region have said that three monks from the Golok region, who have contributed lyrics to his albums, are also currently in hiding, fearing arrest.
Phuljhung’s arrest comes just days after another popular Tibetan singer, Chogsel, was arrested and banned from singing on charges of threatening social stability.
A veteran of four albums, Chogsel was currently working on his next album in collaboration with other famous Tibetan singers. His first album, ‘Dream of the ruddy faced Tibetan’ contains a tribute to His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Tibetans promoting Tibetan national identity and culture have been the target of China’s widespread onslaught on intellectuals, especially after the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
On April 19, Lo Lo, a well known Tibetan singer was arrested in Yushul region of eastern Tibet on suspected charges of singing songs calling for Tibet’s independence.
The 29-year-old singer’s arrest came months after he released an album titled “Raise the flag of Tibet, sons of the snow.”
The title song of the album calls for independence of Tibet and reunion of the Tibetan people – messages that are common to the slogans raised by the 49 Tibetans who have self-immolated in Tibet since 2009.
In mid February, another popular Tibetan singer, Ugyen Tenzin was arrested for praising the Dalai Lama and Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay.
Two school students sentenced for ‘advocating independence for Tibet’
Phayul[Wednesday, August 22, 2012 14:34]
By Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, August 22: A Chinese court in eastern Tibet has sentenced two Tibetan students to three years in prison for their role in a major student’s protest earlier this year against government policies of favouring Chinese over Tibetan language in Tibetan schools.
The two students, Tashi Tsering, 22 and Choeyang Gonpo, 21, both from the Kangtsa County School of Nationalities, were sentenced to three years in prison by a provincial level court. They were held in detention since March this year.
According to the US based news service RFA, the two “were charged with advocating independence for Tibet.”
It is believed that Tashi and Choeyang were singled out for trial and sentencing because of their status as head and assistant monitors of their class and also because both of them were of legal age for action to be taken against them.
Details on when the sentencing was passed are not clear.
Family members of the two students were allowed to visit them on July 16 at the prison complex in Duoba after being denied on many previous occasions.
In March this year, thousands of Tibetan students had taken to the streets in eastern Tibet demanding language rights after Chinese authorities replaced Tibetan language textbooks of regular subjects with Chinese language.
There were reports of students’ protests from Rebkong, Tsekhok, and Kangtsa areas of Amdo.
It was earlier reported that more than one hundred students from the Kangtsa School of Nationalities had taken part in the protests on March 14 “calling for self-ownership of land” and "equality for languages.”
In another incident in Rebkong on March 4, around 700 students from the Rebkong County National Middle School, ripped their new textbooks in Chinese language and tried to march into the town calling for language rights.
The students’ protests were largest since October 2010, when thousands of school students in Rebkong had marched on the streets, protesting a Chinese government decision to replace Tibetan with Chinese language as the medium of instruction in Tibetan schools.
Peaceful Tibet Protest Terminates In Brutal Crackdown
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 14:46 Ruta Vilkaite, The Tibet Post Internationa
Dharamshala: Following the twin self-immolation of layman Tashi (21) and Kirti monastery’s monk Lungtok (20) on the 13th of August in Ngaba County, eatern Tibet, a protest against the Chinese government ended in a violent crackdown where two demonstrators were beaten brutally and then detained.
The two arrested were identified as Bhongo Kyi (44) and Chechok (48), claimed an undisclosed source. Both Tibetans suffered serious injuries due to security’s attempt to suppress the protest. A number of other protesters encountered harsh beatings and later also taken into custody. The whereabouts of these people remains unknown.
Bhongo Kyi has previously objected to the Chinese decision to take 300 Kirti Monastery’s monks to receive “legal education”. She, together with other 200 citizens, camped close to the monastery blocking the road. Shortly, she was imprisoned for a month and afterwards forced
to attend 'legal education' sessions. It is known that Bhongo Kyi comes from Lhade Ghapma village in Ngaba County where she lived with father Yarphel.
Chechok, the other captive, is known to belong to Yangkhotsang family in Jolep Village of Ngaba County.
During the last 63 years of the Chinese occupation of Tibet, many people have protested peacefully against enforced rule. To most of nonviolent demonstrations, protests and self-immolations, Chinese respond with military force. Unfortunately, thousands of people have lost their lives in these clashes which still continue to occur.
21/08/2012 12:51
TIBET – CINA
Sichuan, monaco tibetano condannato a 7 anni di carcere duro
La sua colpa è quella di aver diffuso notizie e fotografie sull’auto-immolazione della monaca Tenzin Wagmo. Arrestato e torturato per 8 mesi, è riapparso per il velocissimo processo e la lettura della sentenza. Intanto, le autorità proibiscono ai tibetani il suicidio: “Chi infrange la legge, rischia l’arresto”.
Pechino (AsiaNews) - La Corte intermedia del popolo della prefettura tibetana di Ngaba (Sichuan) ha condannato a 7 anni di carcere duro Yonten Gyatso (nella foto durante la lettura della sentenza), monaco di 37 anni "colpevole" di aver diffuso la fotografia della monaca auto-immolata Tenzin Wagmo. I giudici lo hanno ritenuto colpevole anche di "aver diffuso informazioni politiche all'estero" e di "aver cercato di contattare per telefono i funzionari delle Nazioni Unite preposti alla sezione diritti umani". Gyatso è stato destinato alla prigione di Mianyang, nella provincia del Sichuan.
Il primo arresto del monaco risale al 18 ottobre del 2011. Gli agenti hanno fatto irruzione nel monastero Khashi Gyephel Samteling, dove Gyatso era maestro cantore [umze, carica interna ai monasteri buddisti di grande prestigio] e direttore della disciplina interna. Dopo l'arresto, era stato incarcerato e torturato nella prigione di Bhugang, nei pressi della capitale del Sichuan. Da allora è sparito per riapparire durante il processo.
Nel frattempo, i tentativi di fermare le auto-immolazioni da parte delle autorità comuniste rasentano il ridicolo: un cartello, diffuso durante la famosa gara equestre di Maqu, proibisce il suicidio ai presenti. Le autorità comuniste hanno infatti permesso, dopo uno stop di 4 anni, di celebrare la gara: un lungo percorso a cavallo in cui 12 squadre si sfidano per 5 giorni fra velocità e resistenza.
Tuttavia, data la notorietà della gara, i funzionari locali hanno inviato centinaia di agenti in tenuta anti-sommossa per prevenire ogni possibile protesta. Inoltre, hanno emanato un ordine pubblico in 11 punti che di fatto proibisce ai locali di "esprimere ogni forma di dissenso". Nel testo si proibisce "il trasporto e l'uso di materiali infiammabili e velenosi" e la diffusione di volantini "dal contenuto politico, religioso, culturale ed economico".
Il punto n°10 recita: "E' vietato mettere in atto ogni forma di protesta, dimostrazione, appello, auto-immolazione e suicidio". La pena per chi dovesse violare questo regolamento, secondo il punto n°11, "è la detenzione nei casi più leggeri di infrazione. Per chi infrange invece il punto 10 è previsto l'arresto e il giudizio davanti a un tribunale competente".
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Lhasa 'Like a Vast Prison'
2012-08-23
Chinese authorities set up body scanners and monitor phone calls in the Tibetan capital.
Chinese authorities have implemented a massive security clampdown in Lhasa, pouring police into the Tibetan capital and setting up checkpoints with airport-style body scanners in busy downtown areas, residents said on Thursday.
"Lhasa city has been turned into a large prison," one Tibetan resident of Lhasa told RFA's Tibetan service. "There are police everywhere in groups of 10 or more with rifles, batons, and fire extinguishers on each of them."
She said police had set up security checkpoints for pedestrians near the popular tourist area of the Barkhor Market and the pilgrimage route around the city's central Jokhang Temple.
"Body scanning checkpoints have been installed at different points, and Tibetans are being regularly scanned and checked," she said, adding that body scanning gates had been set up around the Potala Palace, the former residence of Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.
A second Tibetan resident said that Tibetans arriving from out of town were being denied entry to the city.
However, this same treatment wasn't being extended to Han Chinese, who have poured into the Himalayan region since the completion of the Golmud-Lhasa railroad in 2006.
"They are stopping the Tibetans at the gates, while the Chinese are free to go anywhere and enter from everywhere in Lhasa," he said.
"Tibetan villagers from the Lhasa area cannot enter from Yukhu or Kuru Bridge, so the real victims are the Tibetans."
Simmering tensions
He said that Tibetans from other Tibetan regions in southwestern China had been expelled from Lhasa and sent home, unless they were able to show a residence permit for the city.
"All those without permits have been sent back to their hometowns," the man said. "Lhasa is overflowing with Chinese, and the Tibetans cannot get involved in arguments with them."
He said that ethnic tensions are simmering below the surface of the order imposed by armed security forces.
"If any Tibetan is involved in a dispute, the Tibetans will be the losers," he said. "If we speak and argue with the Chinese, they call this the 'politics of separation.'"
"We cannot engage the services of lawyers, and in fact the Chinese lawyers are scared to take Tibetan cases."
A third Tibetan resident agreed. "Now Lhasa and the surrounding areas in Tibet really look like a vast prison," he said. "We cannot do anything."
He said that authorities were monitoring all phone traffic coming into Lhasa from overseas, although it was unclear if this was a temporary measure.
"If relatives living in foreign countries call their family members in the Lhasa area, this sets off a red warning light at police monitoring stations in Lhasa, and the conversation is recorded," the man said.
Han also checked
Some Han residents of Lhasa said they, too, were being subjected to tight security, however.
"They have set up those security scanners, and you have to walk through the scanner," said a Lhasa-based migrant worker surnamed Yao.
"They are also checking identity papers and so on, especially if you go to the Jokhang Temple and the Barkhor."
"Basically, we have stayed in a restaurant for the past two days. We haven't been out."
While this month sees the celebration of the annual Shoton yogurt festival, some residents said the city's tight security no longer seems linked to any specific event.
"It's not just the past couple of days," said a second Tibetan woman. "It's been like this the whole time."
"It's very strict, but it is usually like this over here now; we have got used to it," she said.
"They won't let people gather on the streets, let alone allow any Tibetan-Han [conflict] to take place."
"It's checks, checks, checks ... Everyone has to undergo checks. They search you near the Barkhor Market with machines."
Other areas targeted
Recent reports indicate that the stringent security measures aren't limited to Lhasa.
Chinese authorities have detained more than 1,000 residents of a restive Tibetan county since March, targeting mainly educated youth involved in promoting the revival of Tibetan language and culture, local sources said this week.
The crackdown followed the deployment of large numbers of security forces to Driru county in the Nagchu prefecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) in March following demonstrations in the area, residents said.
In a growing wave of opposition to Beijing's rule in Tibetan areas, 49 Tibetans have self-immolated since February 2009, with nearly all of the fiery protests taking place in Tibetan-populated provinces in western China.
The first self-immolation protest in Lhasa was reported in May, when two young Tibetan men set themselves on fire in a central square of the heavily guarded city.
The ruling Chinese Communist Party has launched a nationwide "stability" drive in recent months, targeting activists, dissidents, and potential political flashpoints like Tibet and the troubled northwestern region of Xinjiang ahead of a key leadership transition at the 18th Party Congress later this year.
Reported by Yangdon Demo for RFA's Tibetan service and by Qiao Long for the Mandarin service. Translated by Karma Dorjee and Luisetta Mudie. Written in English by Luisetta Mudie.
Copyright © 1998-2011 Radio Free Asia. All rights reserved.
China forces Tibetan families to register for resettlement
Phayul[Thursday, August 23, 2012 15:11]
Phuntsok Yangchen
DHARAMSHALA, August 23: In another report of forced displacement of Tibetans by the Chinese government, around 400 families in Gonjo area of Kham, eastern Tibet have been forced to sign up for resettlement.
Local Chinese authorities have been forcing Tibetan residents of the Medho village in Gonjo to register for resettlement without notifying where and when they will be relocated. According to sources, so far, more than 400 families have registered for resettlement against their will.
Although threats of displacement have been looming over the residents for some time now, the immediate cause of the strict official orders issued this month are not clearly known.
While some locals believe that a speculated project to dam the Drichu river could be behind the government orders, others think that a major mining project in the region could have prompted the decision.
Exile sources with contacts in the region say that the Tibetan families do not know when and where the authorities will start relocating them.
Local Tibetans have demanded that the Chinese authorities re-construct their village’s existing monasteries, the Re Khe Monastery, Drag Ma Monastery, and Gon Sar Monastery, at the area of their relocation.
In May this year, Chinese authorities grabbed land from the nomadic villages of Setong, Dragmar and Seru in eastern Tibet to accommodate thousands of new Chinese migrants. The Tibetan nomads were given strict orders that their herds will not be allowed to remain on the lands taken by the government and were advised to sell their animals to the slaughterhouse to reduce numbers.
In March 1998, the Chinese government announced its new policy to end the nomadic way of life in Tibet, as conceded by the then Tibet Party Secretary Zhang Qingli, to not only promote economic development, but to “counteract the Dalai Lama’s influence.”
According to a Xinhua article published in January 2011, since the policy’s implementation, 1.43 million Tibetan nomads and farmers have been moved into new or fixed settlement homes while another 185,500 families are expected to be moved by 2013.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=101...elevant_count=1
Die-in action at Times Square today in honor of the self-immolations
Chinese's Intimidation, Violence, and Beatings of Foreign Reporters
Friday, 24 August 2012 14:01 Thu Flower, The Tibet Post International.
Dharamshala: Foreign press associations expressed concerns about recent beatings and violence against foreign news reporters working in China.
In a statement on Tuesday (21 August, 2012), the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China (FCCC) located in Beijing stated that foreign journalists have been assaulted on multiple occasions, detained, and even had their valuable equipments confiscated. "We are particularly concerned that a number of these incidents have involved members of the official security forces and associated elements," said the FCCC.
One of the recent incidents included the beating of Japanese journalist of Asahi Shimbun by local police while he was covering a demonstration in late July of 2012. Shortly after, his costly equipments were seized by police authorities and have yet to be return. Later in August of the same year, a German television crew was attacked and held hostage by a mob for nine hours while they were documenting pollution at a chemical factory, due to alleged claims of them being spies.
Martin Patience of BBC says Chinese authorities claimed that foreign reporters have unfettered access to conduct work in the country; however there are restrictions when it comes to the controversial Tibetan regions.
The FCCC and its corresponding organizations in Hong Kong and Shanghai advocate for the protection of journalists from violence and intimidation of all forms by Chinese authorities.
Mando Village People are Ordered to Move Away
Thursday, 23 August 2012 14:43 Ruta Vilkaite, The Tibet Post International
Dharamshala: Several years ago, the Chinese officials in Mando Village in Gonjo County have ordered local people-nomads- to move away. This order has been issued a couple of times in the past; however, it was ignored by people who refused to leave their homes.
On 16th August of this year, the Chinese officials have arrived to Mando Village and once again ordered locals to leave. To make sure that the order will be followed this time, the authorities registered the details of the local people. A total number of 400 nomad families were forced to leave their partially permanent living places.
On that note, all families requested that if they were to move, the 3 monasteries that are in the town, Reke, Dhakmar, Gonsar, would be built in a new place in a better condition than the ones present.
Local people and officials have guessed that the reason behind this forced families movement is the government's plan to build a dam on the river Ditchu. Somebody even assumed that the Chinese want to extract minerals which would mean that mining works would be established in Mando Village.
Nomads were not informed of the actual reasons for moving away or where they should reside. This created a confusion and anxiousness between people.
Another Tibetan has 'vanished'
Recently, Tsering Wanggyal, a Tibetan businessman, was arrested by the Chinese police and was reported that he has 'disappeared'.
It has been reported that Tsering was already arrested at the beginning of this year, after the protest broke for three days (15-18 March) in Ba County, Amdo region. After the investigation of Tsering's participation in this uprising, he was set free to go.
However, the reason for his current detention or whereabouts stays unknown to his wife Rigsum Tso and other family members.
China Sends Home Severely Tortured Tibetan Protestors
Wednesday, 22 August 2012 15:01 Amanda peters,The Tibet Post International.
Dharamshala: - In March 2012, Tibetans from Ba County of Amdho region in north-eastern Tibet (Chinese: Qinghai province) organized a protest against China's policies towards Tibetans. However, to break up this peaceful demonstration, Chinese police threw a bomb in the crowd. This resulted in many getting injured and then rushed to the nearest hospital.
Recent reports from other news agencies suggest that due to the deteriorating physical condition of some of the victims, they were sent home.
On March 14, hundreds of Tibetans from Ba County gathered in town to protest China's occupation of Tibet. They carried the Tibetan flag bearing the snow loin, as they shouted out slogans for a "Free Tibet". Soon after it began, Chinese police arrested 50 monks that were part of the protest.
In response to this, on March 15, many local Tibetans gathered in front of the county court to protest against the authorities' actions. As the protest continued three days later, about 300 Tibetans gathered in front of the county government's offices. They demanded that the authorities release the arrested monks. However, the police responded to their demands my throwing explosives amongst the demonstrators.
A source from Ba County, currently residing in south India shared that during the incident a twelve year old child was killed and many that were injured were sent to hospital.
He also added that a Tibetan who was sent to hospital to receive treatment was asked to go back home by authorities.
"The Tibetan, Gyari Thar, was one of the most severely injured and was in a critical condition. However, he was sent home by the authorities. So far he is neither active nor can speak and his family is very worried as he now eats through a feeding tube inserted in his throat. "
The source told news agencies that his condition is deteriorating with the passing of each day.
In order to compensate for their actions, Ba County authorities took a decision to pay 250,000 yuan to Gyari Thar's family, as well as, give them a 120 square meter house. The government also paid for all his medical expenses.
However in the last few months, he hasn't responded to any treatment and his condition continues to worsen. He is now being fed through a tube in his throat. It is highly improbable that he is going to survive.
In another incident, the Tibetan Ministry reported that in 2008, eleven Dege Monastery monks who were accused of organizing a protest and distributing leaflets about Tibetan independence were arrested. They were given varying sentences to service in Mianyang Prison.
Two of the monks that were imprisoned were tortured severely and then released due to their extremely poor physical health.
The report quoted sources within saying, the local government released information that 30 year-old monk Yeshi Gyaltso was partially paralyzed and mentally instable. Officials from Dege Monastery have thus sent him to the Kangding hospital, but to no avail. He was then sent back to his hometown.
Authorities also released information about 40-year-old monk Jampa Wang Jiu. His legs and waist were seriously injured and he is in a critical state. The monastery and the local Tibetans are fund-raising for both of them to seek better medical treatment, but their condition seems exacerbated.
The cases of Chinese police brutality continue to mount in Tibet. Peaceful protestors are being detained in prison for disrupting "national security" and "committing act of terrorism". They are then physically and mentally tortured severely till they become vegetables and then are sent home.
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Tibet : Two Tibetans set themselves on fire in Ngaba
Redazione - Lun, 27/08/2012 - 13:43
Two Tibetan lay persons have reportedly set themselves on fire Monday morning at around 11.00 am, August 27, 2012 (Tibet Time) in Ngaba county.There were no immediate details of the two self-immolators who have set themselves on flames to protest against Chinese occupation.Situation report with additional information regarding the latest self-immolations in Tibet, we expect more details later and will make those details available soon as possible.
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‘Don’t encourage, but self-immolations understandable and very sad,’ says the Dalai Lama
Phayul[Thursday, August 30, 2012 16:52]
DHARAMSHALA, August 30: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama has said that although he doesn’t encourage self-immolations, the ongoing wave of fiery protests in Tibet was “understandable and very, very sad.”
The Dalai Lama was speaking to Reuters in a week when two more self-immolations in eastern Tibet against China’s continued occupation of Tibet took the self-immolation toll past 50.
"I will not give encouragement to these acts, these drastic actions, but it is understandable and indeed very, very sad," the 77-year-old Tibetan leader said.
"Now the Chinese government, they should investigate what are the real causes. They can easily blame me or some Tibetans but that won't help solve the problem."
After relinquishing his political duties last year to the elected Tibetan leadership, the Dalai Lama has been reluctant in responding to political queries, particularly regarding the self-immolations.
In a July interview to The Hindu, the Tibetan leader said it is best for him “to remain neutral” on the self-immolations, calling it “a very, very delicate political issue.”
“Now, the reality is that if I say something positive, then the Chinese immediately blame me,” he said. “If I say something negative, then the family members of those people feel very sad. They sacrificed their… life. It is not easy. So I do not want to create some kind of impression that this is wrong.”
China has been consistent in blaming the Dalai Lama and the exile Tibetan administration for inciting the self-immolations.
However, in many of the last notes and messaged left by the Tibetan self-immolators, they have called for freedom in Tibet and the return of the Dalai Lama and opposed China’s occupation and repressive policies.
Choephag Kyab and Sonam, who carried out a twin self-immolation protest on April 19 near a local government office in Barma township, recounted the suffering of the Tibetan people due to the lack of fundamental human rights and the forced occupation of Tibet in their last recorded message. www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=31278&t=1
So, for the restoration of freedom in Tibet and world peace, both of us in sound mind, are setting ourselves on fire,” Choephag Kyab and Sonam state. “The Tibetan people’s suffering due to denial of freedom is far greater that the tragedy of setting our bodies on fire.”
Tamding Thar, a lay Tibetan who set himself on fire on June 15 in front of a local Chinese police station in Chentsa, eastern Tibet wrote www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=31612&t=1: “With the yearning for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his land, For Tibet to be ruled by Tibetans, I set my body on fire as an offering of light.”
The US Congressional Commission on China in a special report http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id...failure&t=1&c=1 this month noted that the wave of self-immolations is “concurrent with increasing Chinese Communist Party and government use of legal measures to repress and control core elements of Tibetan culture, and with the failure of the China-Dalai Lama dialogue process to achieve any sign of progress.”
The Dalai Lama’s strongest statement yet on the self-immolation protests came in April this year when he told a media crew www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=31226&t=1 from Taiwan that “this problem (self-immolations) has been started by the totalitarian, blind, unrealistic policies.”
“Now, the concerned people should carry realistic work and look for the causes of these self-immolations. That’s important,” the Dalai Lama had said. “All these problems are happening due to certain conditions and certain causes.”
With two more Tibetans self-immolating this week we are again seeing a despairing response from within some sections of the exiled Tibetan community, people are asking in what way are such sacrifices securing either the attention of a largely indifferent world, or advancing the cause of Tibet’s independence struggle. These are entirely understandable reactions to what are painfully distressing events, yet in a key sense they are the wrong questions, as they are based upon an erroneous understanding that these actions seek a global response, an international condemnation to China’s tyrannical occupation of Tibet. Sure, it would be extremely welcome to see a concerted and forceful response from the international community to the horrors of China’s human rights atrocities against Tibetans. Yet the political and economic interests of nations ensures a shameful appeasement of China, faces turning away from the decades of suffering endured by Tibet, relieved only by platitudes and hand-wringing. Recall the assurances of the United Nations to the Tibetan hunger-strikers earlier this year? In which, fearful of the prospect of Tibetans starving to death on its New York doorsteps, the UN promised a detailed and urgent investigation into China’s actions in Tibet. Thus far silence, evasion and inaction has followed. So the fiery sacrifices of these Tibetans, even were they seeking international support for Tibet, would; due to the marble-heart of realpolitik, remain ignored or at best offered disingenuous words of concern, measured so as not to offend China.
It is fatuous to even consider that these actions are in themselves trying to secure independence for Tibetans, which inevitably invites the questions, what is the purpose of such sacrifice and who is the intended audience? Perhaps these self-immolations are more accurately understood as expressions of resistance, in which it is the action itself that is the protest, a declaration of Tibetan independence and loyalty to the Dalai Lama. They also defy China’s occupation and are a dramatic reminder that the spirit for Tibet’s national freedom and identity remains undiminished. The sight of Tibetans engulfed in flame, holding aloft the symbol of Tibet’s independence must also have an incredible impact upon the local Tibetan community where they occur, no doubt generating sadness and anxiety but also reinforcing a sense of solidarity, national identity and encouraging a determination to oppose China’s occupation.
They are after all heroes, but the political nature and objectives of their protests sits uneasily with the current position of the Tibetan Administration, keen to avoid mention of Tibet’s independence and desperately trying to assure China that it seeks only improved autonomy under Chinese rule. Aware though of the profound support and emotion within the Tibetan Diaspora towards those who self-immolate, it has to be seen to show respect and honor such sacrifice. Yet it does so by avoiding any mention of the political demands made by such Tibetans and chooses to represent their actions as a response to China’s policies, or as the only, desperate, means of protest due to the intensity of China’s suppression of Tibetans. While there maybe a shadow of truth in that for the most part this is a political and cynical version of events, designed to dilute, evade and ignore the central objective common to the majority of such protest, Tibetan independence.
Let us journey to an alternative landscape for a moment, a flight of fancy in which these Tibetans are embraced as they should be by their exiled Administration, as inspiring martyrs to Tibet’s true cause, a reminder to Tibetans everywhere that the only solution that guarantees genuine protection and respect of Tibet’s culture and national identity is the restoration of its independence. Imagine the effect upon the exiled Tibetan community if their sacrifice was seen, not only in terms of tragedy and pain, but as selfless inspiration and courage. Would such a re-interpretation be followed by questions as to why they are offering their lives to asserts Tibet’s rightful national independence yet in exile their Administration is surrendering Tibetan nationhood in exchange for Chinese rule?
These individuals are sending an immensely powerful message, not to the corrupted offices of the UN or Washington DC, but to fellow Tibetans, is their overtly political sacrifice being understood or is it getting lost in the emotional response, the massed prayers and despair and frustration felt among exiled Tibetans? It has been noted by others that the best way to respect the sacrifices made by these Tibetan martyrs is to actively support the cause they gave their lives for, that means advocating, protesting for Tibetan independence. Yet even as the harrowing images of self-immolation emerge from Tibet, and reports document such protests demanding Tibet’s national freedom, the momentum to promote the policy which would accept Chinese rule with limited and cosmetic improvements in autonomy goes on regardless, trampling over the charred remains of Tibet’s heroes.
China calls Arunachal Pradesh 'southern Tibet'
PTI | Aug 30, 2012, 07.10PM IST
NEW DELHI: China "illegally" refers to Arunachal Pradesh as south Tibet and claims around 90,000 sq km of Indian territory there, Rajya Sabha was informed today.
"China disputes the international boundary between India and China in the eastern sector and claims approximately 90,000 sq km of Indian territory in the state of Arunachal Pradesh," minister of state for external affairs E Ahamed said in written reply.
"China illegally refers to Arunachal Pradesh as 'southern Tibet'," he said.
The minister said China has been told that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India.
India, China to discuss CBMs
India and China are expected to discuss revival of their 'hand-in-hand' exercise and more confidence building measures during the three-day visit of Chinese defence minister General Liang Guanglie starting September 2 in Mumbai.
During the first visit by a Chinese defence minister in last seven years, the two sides will discuss ways of strengthening their defence ties, ministry officials said.
The two sides will also discuss holding of the exercise 'Hand-in-Hand' in China next year, they said.
Guanglie will hold discussions with defence minister A K Antony on the last day of his visit.
The bilateral exercises had started in 2007 but were put on hold after a series of hiccups in the defence ties between the two sides.
The first exercise was held in Kunming in 2007 in China whereas the second was held in India at Belgaum in 2008.
After the denial of visa to the then Northern Army Commander Lt Gen B S Jaswal by the Chinese in 2010, India froze all bilateral defence exchanges with Beijing.
Though the defence exchanges have started now, there are still some problems as China declined to issue visa to an IAF officer belonging to Arunachal Pradesh.
Arunachal again in contention on eve of Chinese Defence Minister's visit
Phayul[Friday, August 31, 2012 16:31]
DHARAMSHALA, August 31: Ahead of Chinese Defence Minister’s visit to India, New Delhi reasserted Thursday its claim over the north-eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China “illegally” refers to as southern Tibet.
The upper house of the Indian parliament, Rajya Sabah, was informed by Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed that China "illegally" refers to Arunachal Pradesh as south Tibet and claims around 90,000 sq km of Indian territory there.
"China disputes the international boundary between India and China in the eastern sector and claims approximately 90,000 sq km of Indian territory in the state of Arunachal Pradesh," the Minister said responding to a question by Rajya Sabha BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad.
"The fact that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India has been clearly conveyed to the Chinese side," Ahamed added.
General Liang Guanglie will be the first Chinese defence minister to visit India in seven years when he lands in Mumbai on September 2 for a three-day visit. The two sides are expected to discuss ways of strengthening defence ties at a time when the Himalayas is seeing a build up of infrastructure and weapons on both sides.
This year alone, China conducted at least three military exercises on the Tibetan plateau. In July, the People’s Liberation Army test fired three new surface-to-air missiles in Tibet, tailor-made for operations in the plateau’s high altitude terrain and rarefied atmosphere. PLA said that the exercise was targeted at enemy aircrafts from the “south-east” direction - an obvious reference to India.
This was followed by a live missile firing exercise inside Tibet conducted by Chinese air force J-11 aircraft on August 10.
Earlier this week, China announced the test-firing a new generation inter-continental ballistic missile called Dongfeng-41, capable of carrying up to 10 nuclear warheads within a strike range of 14,000 kilometers.
India’s Defence Minister A.K. Antony recently told Parliament that the government was regularly monitoring all developments in the region while responding to queries on infrastructure-building by China along the border.
“Required measures have been initiated through development of infrastructure and operational capabilities to achieve desired levels of defence preparedness to safeguard the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of India," he said in a written reply.
Srikanth Kondapalli, Chairman of the Centre for East Asian Studies in Jawaharlal Nehru University told The Hindu that the PLA has held “at least 21 exercises” in the Tibet region over the past one-and-half years, all designed for “specific scenarios.”
“These exercises also convey to India that they are gearing preparations in high altitude conditions. China wants to convey that it is testing and strengthening its conventional deterrents and enhancing military capability in hostile territory," Kondapalli said.
India and China occupied Tibet share a 3488 km long disputed border which was the cause of a short but bloody war in 1962. Since then, the two Asian giants have shared uneasy military ties with a series of border talks failing to yield much result.
UN human rights chief urged to make Tibet "urgent priority"
Phayul[Friday, August 31, 2012 16:35]
DHARAMSHALA, August 31: A global movement of Tibet advocacy groups has written an open letter to United Nations human rights chief, Navi Pillay, urging her to make Tibet an “urgent priority” in her second term in office, as the self-immolation toll in Tibet crossed 50 this month.
The International Tibet Network, a global coalition of 185 Tibet advocacy groups, while congratulating Pillay on the renewal of her mandate for two years beginning September 1, expressed deep concerns over her failure to speak out forcefully on the human rights situation in Tibet.
In the letter dated August 30, the group said there is “ample evidence” that China is the “primary violator” of human rights in Tibet and has thus failed in its responsibility to protect the Tibetan people and their rights under Chinese and international law.
“Given the history of Chinese rule in Tibet and the critical circumstances of the current situation, including more than 50 Tibetan self-immolations to date, we strongly believe that a qualitatively different response from the international community is warranted,” the letter reads. “Your active engagement on the Tibet issue is necessary to bring about such a response.”
The group noted that it is urging governments around the world to press China for an agreement on dates for the UN human rights High Commissioner’s visit to Tibetan areas that have been experiencing the most intense protests and crackdown.
In March this year, following the month-long hunger strike by three Tibetans in front of the UN Headquarters in New York, Pillay had sent a letter, assuring that her office was working with China on finalising a date for her trip to Tibet.
In the letter, Pillay further added that she had "assigned special rapporteurs of the United Nations to look into the situation inside Tibet."
The International Tibet Network, while making a polite inquiry into what steps her office has taken since March towards fulfilling those assurances, expressed hope that the High Commissioner’s office will continue to exert “every effort” to get China to agree dates for such a visit at the earliest.
With the 21st Session of the Human Rights Council beginning on September 10, the group further called on Pillay to express concern over the “deteriorating” human rights situation in Tibet in her Update Report to the Council.
Two senior US Congress men, James P McGovern and Frank R Wolf, in a letter to Secretary Hillary Clinton this month had “strongly urged” the US to “work with partner nations and establish a contact group on Tibet to carry out strong, visible public diplomacy on this human rights crisis.”
The two suggested that the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting in September offered an “opportunity to take steps towards forming such a contact group.”
China again lobbies embassies not to meet Tibetan delegation
Phayul[Friday, August 31, 2012 18:34]
DHARAMSHALA, August 30: The Chinese embassy in New Delhi has once again issued letters and even paid visits to foreign embassies in the Indian capital, telling them not to receive a visiting Tibetan delegation from Dharamshala.
The Tibetan parliamentary delegation, led by Speaker Penpa Tsering, has been in the Indian capital for almost a week now, calling on foreign missions, seeking urgent and concrete actions to end China’s repressive policies in Tibet.
Speaker Tsering, while addressing a press conference in New Delhi accused the Chinese embassy of lobbying foreign embassies, sending their staff with a letter telling them not to meet the Tibetan delegation.
However, representatives of the diplomatic missions have seemingly ignored Chinese ‘persuasions’ and went on with their planned meetings with the Tibetan delegation.
Speaker Tsering said 23 embassies, including that of England, Japan, Taiwan, Switzerland, New Zealand, Belgium, Jordan, Hungary, Germany, Canada, and the Czech Republic among others, have already met the Tibetan parliamentarians. The offices of the United Nations and the European Union in the capital have also received the delegation.
Speaking to Phayul, one of the delegates, Geshe Lobsang Nyendak said that they have been raising the critical situation inside Tibet, heralded by the ongoing wave of self-immolations, during their talks with the representatives of the diplomatic missions. He added that the delegation has also been urging the respective governments to “immediately intervene and impress” upon the Chinese leadership to look into the actual causes of the Tibetan people’s discontentment.
The Tibetan Parliament, in an appeal letter presented to the embassies, has expressed hope that their governments will “continue to stand for truth, justice, equality, freedom, human rights and human dignity.”
“Such values cannot be held hostage to tyranny, suppression and inhuman treatment in the name of development nor in the face of growing China’s military, economic and political clout,” the appeal letter reads. “Subjugation of these values will not only be encourage China’s authoritarian ways but will also be self defeating in the long run for a peaceful world, in the pursuit of short term national interests.”
The Tibetan Parliament added it was “highly unlikely” that the self-immolations would stop in the immediate future.
“The responsibility of the exiled Tibetan community and the Administration is to make sure that the anguished voices of the Tibetans inside Tibet are heard by the international community and seek their help in resolving the issue,” the appeal letter states. “Watching the trend, it seems highly unlikely that self-immolations will stop in the immediate future and every time the phone rings, we are left wondering, who next?”
Earlier this year, the Chinese embassy had issued a letter to the diplomatic missions, warning of adverse effect to bilateral relations if they met with a visiting delegation of Tibetan parliamentarians.
That time too, China’s muscle flexing went largely ignored as a host of Ambassadors and representatives met with the four-member Tibetan parliamentary delegation led by MP Karma Chophel.
Press Release on Tragic Self-Immolations in Tibet
August 30, 2012 4:06 pm
Press Release
30 August 2012
The Central Tibetan Administration is gravely concerned by the deteriorating situation in Tibet. Despite repeated appeals by the Central Tibetan Administration to refrain from drastic actions, over 51 Tibetans have now set themselves on fire in protest against the Chinese government’s repressive policies.
Since March 2009, over 51 Tibetans between age of 16 – 64, comprising of monks, nuns, student, nomads, farmers, have now set themselves on fire asking for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans.
The whole of Tibet is effectively under undeclared martial law, and remains closed to foreign tourists and journalists. Such brutal response from the Chinese government has pushed an increasing number of Tibetans to continue taking drastic steps. The responsibility for the tragic self-immolations in Tibet lies entirely with the Chinese government, so does the solution.
The international community, including governments and parliaments of countries such as Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, South Africa, and the US, have expressed serious concern over the critical situation in Tibet. Resolutions have been passed and statements issued urging the Chinese authorities to take proactive steps to ease security clampdown in Tibet, address the underlying grievances of Tibetans through dialogue, and cease promoting policies that threaten the Tibetan language, culture, religion, heritage and environment. The Central Tibetan Administration urges the Chinese government to heed the urgent appeal of the international community.
The Chinese people, who have the right to know the real situation in Tibet, include individuals who have expressed their concern over the grim situation in Tibet. This included renowned Beijing-based artist, Ai Weiwei, who recently expressed his personal embarrassment at how the Chinese government is dealing the tragic self-immolations of Tibetans in Tibet.
We appeal to individual governments to use their good offices to engage the Chinese government to end the crisis in Tibet at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting in September, to allow fact-finding delegation and international media to visit Tibet, and to pursue substantive dialogue with the Central Tibetan Administration to resolve the issue of Tibet.
Media contacts:
Mr Tashi, Secretary for Information
+91 9816843798
Mr Lobsang Choedak, Press Officer
+91 98822 32476
Dalai Lama sees “encouraging signs” of shift in China
August 29, 2012 7:58 pm
By John Chalmers and Frank Jack Daniel
Reuters / 29 August 2012
DHARAMSHALA: There are encouraging signs that attitudes towards Tibet are shifting in China, the Dalai Lama said on Wednesday, adding that the exiled Tibetan leadership is ready for fresh talks on his homeland if there was a genuine change of heart in Beijing.
The spiritual leader said in an interview that it was too early to tell if China’s next president – who is almost certain to be Xi Jinping after a Communist Party Congress later this year – would adopt a new stance that could break decades of deadlock over Tibet. But he was reassured by what he had heard.
“I can’t say for definite, but according to many Chinese friends, they say the new, coming leadership seems more lenient,” the Dalai Lama, 77, told Reuters in his audience room in the Indian Himalayan foothills town of Dharamsala.
“If their side … for their own interest are thinking more realistically we are ready for full cooperation with them.”
His comments were more upbeat than just a few weeks ago when he declared that resuming formal negotiations – frozen since 2010 – was futile unless China brought a more realistic attitude to the table and that it was useless trying to convince China that he was not seeking full independence for Tibet.
The Nobel peace laureate said there had been a stream of visitors to Dharamsala from China, among them people who told him they had connections with senior Communist Party leaders.
“We don’t know who is who … everything is a state secret, so it is difficult to say,” he said, but added that some officials in China now appeared to agree with intellectuals that a new approach to Tibet is needed.
“These are very, very encouraging signs,” he said.
“No formal talks, but there are sort of signs among the Chinese officials or top leaders.”
China has ruled Tibet since 1950, when Communist troops marched in and announced its “peaceful liberation”.
The Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959 following a failed uprising, has accused China of “cultural genocide”. Beijing considers him a separatist and does not trust his insistence that he only wants greater autonomy for his Himalayan homeland.
“FORCE HAS FAILED”
A spate of self-immolations in China in protest over its rule in Tibet has heightened tension in recent months.
As the number who have set themselves on fire topped 50 this week, Indian-based rights groups said there had been a massive security clampdown in Tibet and Tibetan areas of China, and in some instances protesters were beaten even as they were ablaze.
The Dalai Lama has refrained from calling for a halt to the self-immolations.
“I will not give encouragement to these acts, these drastic actions, but it is understandable and indeed very, very sad,” he said. “Now the Chinese government, they should investigate what are the real causes. They can easily blame me or some Tibetans but that won’t help solve the problem.”
In June, two of the Dalai Lama’s envoys to negotiations with China resigned over what they said was a deteriorating situation inside Tibet and Beijing’s lack of a positive response to Tibetan proposals for genuine autonomy.
Asked if he thought that with a change of leadership ahead in China there was now a better prospect for resuming talks soon, the Dalai Lama said it was difficult to say and it could take six to 12 months after Xi becomes president before any shift becomes apparent.
In the early 1950s, the Dalai Lama knew Xi’s father, Xi Zhongxun, one of the most liberal leaders of the Chinese revolution, who was known to have had a less hardline approach to Tibet.
The Dalai Lama said he was sure China would, sooner or later, realise that “using force for 60 years completely failed” and its revolutionary leader Mao Zedong’s idea that power came from the barrel of a gun was “outdated”.
Earlier this year, the Dalai Lama said he had information suggesting Chinese women spies had been trained to attack him with a slow acting poison. Asked about his safety by Reuters on Wednesday, he said he knew of no more plots but that his security detail frequently encountered Tibetans who confessed to being paid by China to spy on him.
“Sometimes these agents are a good source of information, these Tibetans receive some sort of salary or something, and they tell us everything,” he said.
Apparently in good health, the spiritual leader said he was looking forward to another 10, 15 or 20 years of life, and joked that China seemed more interested in who would be reincarnated as the next Dalai Lama after his death than he was himself.
(Editing by Robert Birsel)
Tibetan Kills Herself At Bank
2012-08-30
She commits suicide after rejecting charges she misused public funds.
A Tibetan woman has died after drinking acid and self-immolating in a Tibetan region of the western Chinese province of Gansu after she was accused of embezzlement at the bank where she worked, a source close to the family said.
Jamyang Metok, 25, died on Saturday after drinking sulfuric acid and setting fire to herself at the front entrance of the Industrial and Commercial Bank (ICB) in Kanlho (in Chinese, Gannan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, sources close to the family said.
"She worked at the local branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank in Tianzhu county," a Tibetan source familiar with the case said.
"After she got back from a holiday...in Guangdong, the head of the ICB branch accused her of embezzling money, and of misuse of public funds."
"This woman all of a sudden swallowed sulfuric acid and set fire to her clothes," the source said. "She died on the spot, right there at the main door of the bank."
"She said she wasn't guilty of corruption...but the branch boss tried to pin this crime on her, and she tried to protest, but to no avail."
"I don't know whether she was corrupt or not, but I don't think such a young person would drink sulfuric acid if it wasn't a set-up."
Jamyang Metok was a native of Huirui district and a graduate of the Qinghai Nationalities Institute, the source said. Her father's name was Drongre and her mother's name was Jomo Tsering.
Her family had scattered her ashes on the Tashi Longwa mountain following their daughter's funeral on Monday.
Incident denied
An employee who answered the phone at the ICB branch in Tianzhu denied the incident had taken place.
"No, no, no, I never heard of this," the employee said. "No, no, this never happened...I can guarantee this 100 percent, and other people will back me up."
"There are a lot of rumors flying around right now...making stuff up out of nothing."
Jamyang Metok's uncle declined to answer questions when contacted by RFA, hanging up the phone immediately after being asked about his niece.
An official who answered the phone at the Gansu provincial ruling Chinese Communist Party committee complaints office declined to comment.
"I don't really know about this...everyone's in a big meeting this morning, so perhaps you could call again tomorrow," the official said.
It was unclear whether Jamyang's suicide had any political motivation beyond the dispute with her boss.
Before Jamyang's suicide, 51 Tibetans have set fire to themselves since February 2009 mostly in protest against Chinese rule and calling for the return of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual leader, who now lives in exile in Dharamsala, India.
Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin service. Translated and written in English by Luisetta Mudie.
Copyright © 1998-2011 Radio Free Asia. All rights reserved.
Tibetans Blocked from Return
2012-08-30
Chinese police deport Tibetans seeking to rejoin their families.
In what appears to be a growing trend, Chinese border police have deported to Nepal two groups of Tibetans who had sought to re-enter Tibet, some in hopes of reuniting with family members, according to Tibetan and Nepalese sources.
One group of 11 men was forced over the border to Nepal on Aug. 29, while a second group of four men and one woman was sent back on Aug. 23. All had been held by Chinese police at a detention center in Shigatse, Tibet, after being detained at border crossings with Nepal at Dram, Nangpa La, and Nyalam.
Six of the men in the first group are married and have children living in Tibet, sources said.
On their return to Nepal, both groups were taken to the Tibetan Refugee Reception Center in Kathmandu with the assistance of United Nations refugee workers.
After a short stay at the refugee center, the group of five who were sent back to Nepal on Aug. 23 paid fines and were released, and have now traveled into India, sources said.
One, a businessman, had left Tibet earlier in the year to attend religious teachings given in India by exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama. The others—three men and a woman—had lived and studied in India for several years, and had attempted to rejoin their parents and families inside Tibet.
The group of 11 who were sent back on Wednesday, though natives of Dingri county in Tibet, are now stateless, having had their residency papers for Tibet confiscated by Chinese police at the border with Nepal.
Move kept secret
Speaking to RFA from the refugee center in Nepal, one of the men said that their forced return to Nepal came as a surprise.
“Initially, they kept our deportation very secret. [The Chinese] didn’t say anything to us in Dingri or Shigatse,” he said.
“Then, at Nyalam, the Chinese police informed us that they were carrying out official orders from the Tibet Autonomous Region to return us to Nepal.”
“They didn’t give any reason for confiscating our Chinese personal identity papers,” another returnee said. “They just said that those were not going to be of any use to us.”
The men are now worried about trying to cross again into Tibet without papers, and feel they have been left in a limbo, several said.
In June, Chinese border police forced back into Nepal a group of Tibetan pilgrims seeking to re-enter Tibet after confiscating their Tibetan residency permits and detaining them for a week, also in Shigatse.
About 20,000 Tibetan refugees live in Nepal, and Beijing is becoming more aggressive in urging Kathmandu to restrict their activities and to help control the movement of Tibetans in both directions across the countries’ shared border.
Reported by Thupten Sangyal and Lumbum Tashi for RFA’s Tibetan service. Translated by Dorjee Damdul. Written in English by Richard Finney.
Copyright © 1998-2011 Radio Free Asia. All rights reserved.
Entire Tibet Under Undeclared Martial Law: Exile Govt. Calls For Help
Thursday, 30 August 2012 18:25 YC. Dhardhowa, The Tibet Post International
Dharamshala: - With the wave of self-immolation protests spreading across Tibet, the entire region is now 'under undeclared martial law.' The Chinese regime has now been banned international tourists and journalists from entering the all parts of Tibet, exile Tibetan government said on Thursday, August 30, 2012.
"The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is gravely concerned by the deteriorating situation in Tibet. Despite repeated appeals by the Central Tibetan Administration to refrain from drastic actions, over 51 Tibetans have now set themselves on fire in protest against the Chinese government's repressive policies," said CTA in a statement.
"Since March 2009, over 51 Tibetans between age of 16 - 64, comprising of monks, nuns, student, nomads, farmers, have now set themselves on fire asking for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans," the statement said.
The Tibetan government in exile said that the "whole of Tibet is effectively under undeclared martial law, and remains closed to foreign tourists and journalists. Such brutal response from the Chinese government has pushed an increasing number of Tibetans to continue taking drastic steps. The responsibility for the tragic self-immolations in Tibet lies entirely with the Chinese government, so does the solution."
"The international community, including governments and parliaments of countries such as Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, South Africa, and the US, have expressed serious concern over the critical situation in Tibet," CTA said.
"Resolutions have been passed and statements issued urging the Chinese authorities to take proactive steps to ease security clampdown in Tibet, address the underlying grievances of Tibetans through dialogue, and cease promoting policies that threaten the Tibetan language, culture, religion, heritage and environment. Central Tibetan Administration urges the Chinese government to heed the urgent appeal of the international community," the statement further added.
However, the authorities have simply ignored or disregarded those resolutions call upon Hu's regime to respect human rights and religious freedoms of Tibetan people.
CTA also said, "the Chinese people, who have the right to know the real situation in Tibet, include individuals who have expressed their concern over the grim situation in Tibet. This included renowned Beijing-based artist, Ai Weiwei, who recently expressed his personal embarrassment at how the Chinese government is dealing the tragic self-immolations of Tibetans in Tibet."
"We appeal to individual governments to use their good offices to engage the Chinese government to end the crisis in Tibet at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting in September, to allow fact-finding delegation and international media to visit Tibet, and to pursue substantive dialogue with the Central Tibetan Administration to resolve the issue of Tibet," the statement concluded.
Tibet : Tibetan nomads set fire to the gold miners’ tents in Gade
Redazione - Gio, 30/08/2012 - 09:46
Tibetan nomads have driven Chinese gold miners away from a sacred mountain in Tibet, vowing to give up their lives if necessary to protect the site, the abode of a local god.They set fire to the gold miners’ tents and launched 24-hour patrols around the mountain located in the Tibetan-populated Gade county in the Golog prefecture in a bid to keep the gold miners at bay.The nomads are now watching for intruders on the mountain.The mountain, called Dringye Ngo Sorma, is known for the beauty of the lake at its base, for the green meadows on its slopes, and for other characteristics typical of a sacred mountain.
On Aug. 10, Chinese miners arrived in the valley at the foot of the mountain and made plans to extract gold from the valley.And though local government officials warned Tibetan residents of the area not to interfere with the work, the gold miners’ tents were set on fire two days later.
The authorities could not detain the persons involved in the burning, as they had all escaped and gone into hiding.
On Aug. 14, Tibetans from the four nomadic groups in the area of Tsangkor Sholma gathered at the mountain, but the Chinese miners had by then fled from the area.So the Tibetans conducted a grand smoke-offering ceremony at the site and then went back to their homes.
Two nomadic groups are now watching the lower valley of Dringye Ngo Sorma, while another two groups guard the valley of another mountain.So now the Tibetans are watching these valleys around the clock, both day and night.
Tibetan residents of the area have refused all orders to let the mining work proceed and have vowed not to allow the extraction of “even one handful of soil” from the sacred mountain.
Mining operations in Tibetan regions have led to frequent standoffs with Tibetans who accuse Chinese firms of disrupting sites of spiritual significance and polluting the environment as they extract local wealth.
On Aug. 15, Chinese security forces shot dead a Tibetan and detained six others as they dispersed a crowd of 1,000 Tibetans protesting the resumption of mining operations in Markham county in Tibet, according to Tibetan sources.
Last year, China’s official media reported that investment in the exploration of mineral resources in the Tibet Autonomous Region will be accelerated over a five-year period.
Tibet has large proven and potential reserves of vital deposits, but little exploration has been done so far, the Xinhua news agency reported.
Initial studies show that the Tibet Autonomous Region has China’s largest chromium and copper reserves, while most of its iron, gold, silver, potassium, oil, and natural gas reserves remain unexplored, the report said.
Free Tibet ?!?! Free violence !!! |