Jan- Feb 2016
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
TIBETAN BULLETIN THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE CENTRAL TIBETAN ADMINISTRATION VOLUME 20 - ISSUE 1 JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2016 FOCUS China: No End to Tibet Surveillance Program **** FEATURE Thousands Pray for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Recovery at Dharamshala **** WORLD PRESS Chinese Celebrities Warned Not to Mix with Exiled Tibetans : AP **** OBITUARY His Eminence Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche (1926 - 2015) www.tibet.net/en/tibbul Dr BP Singh, former of Governor of Sikkim and 2014 Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi with His Holiness the Dalai Lama before the ‘Celebrating His Holiness’ event in New Delhi, India on January 4, 2016. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/ OHHDL Artistes from the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) presenting cultural performances during Losar - Tibetan new year ceremony - at Tsuglakhang on 9 February 2016. His Holiness the Dalai Lama with Tibetan school children on on the final afternoon of his visit to Tashi Lhunpo Monastery in Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India on January 1, 2016. Photo/Tenzin Choejor/OHHDL www.tibet.net/en/tibbul FOCUS 8. China: No End to Tibet Surveillance Program - Human Rights Watch 14. UN Human Rights Chief Deeply Concerned by China Clampdown on Lawyers and Activists TIBETAN BULLETIN Tibetan Bulletin is an official bi-monthly FEATURE journal of the Central Tibetan 16. Thousands Pray for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Recovery at Administration. Dharamshala 17. Tibetan New Year’s Greeting from His Holiness the Dalai Lama 18. His Holiness the Dalai Lama Addresses IAS Association in Bengaluru Signed articles or quotations do not 19. Indian Friends Host 80th Birthday Celebration for His Holiness the Dalai necessarily reflect the views of the Central Tibetan Administration. Contributions Lama at New Delhi are welcome and may be addressed to the editor, Tibetan Bulletin. However the publisher regrets its inability to return unused articles unless they are WORLD PRESS accompanied by a self-addressed envelope with adequate postage. 24. Chinese Celebrities Warned Not to Mix with Exiled Tibetans Tibetan Bulletin is distributed free of - Associated Press charge. To subscribe please email the cir- culation manager or see page 2. 25. Tibet Closed to Foreigners Again But Tourism Booms Editor - CNN Jamphel Shonu Email: [email protected] 26. For U.S., Taiwan Vote Changes Calculus Over ‘One China’ Asst. Editor Tenzin Yangchen - The New York Times Layout & Design 27. European, US and Australian Lawyers Call for China to End Rights Dorje Tsering Crackdown Circulation Manager - The Guardian Tenzin Rabka Email: [email protected] Tibetan Bulletin is published by: OBITUARY Department of Information and International Relations, 30. His Eminence Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche (1929 - 2015) Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamshala- 176 215 H.P. India Tel: +91-1892-222510 / 222457 REGULARS Vol. 20, Issue 1 News From Tibet & Exile ......4 JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2016 Contact ................................. 31 Quotes ............................32 NEWS FROM TIBET & EXILE Kalon Dicki Chhoyang Rights Situation in It further drew attention towards the accelerating environmental destruction Meets Canadian Tibet did not Improve and climate change taking place in Parliamentarians in 2015: TCHRD Tibet. “The rate of China’s use of coal as a fuel is more than the rest of the other Annual Report countries using coal put together, yet the government during the COP 21 meet The Tibetan Center for Human last year in Paris put forth resolutions Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), a for effective cutback of carbon emission prominent Tibetan rights group based in only after 2030, until then they plan to Dharamshala, released its 2015 annual look the other way,” Ms Tsering Tsomo report on Friday, 19 February 2016. pointed out. The annual report, available in Tibetan, The 194-page report encompasses English and Chinese, documented two detailed research material with chapters prime developments, namely China’s on religious freedom, rights to privacy DIIR Kalon Dicki Chhoyang with Canadian and chilling effects, environment, civil Parliamentarians at Ottawa. attempt to include “legal justifications for repression” and the sinister effort of and political rights and international Ms Dicki Chhoyang, Kalon of the community. Department of Information and the Chinese government that “prioritised rhetoric over substance”. International Relations, visited Ottawa TCHRD is a non-governmental where she met Members of Parliament organisation based in Dharamshala. It from all political parties. Her visit Addressing a press conference to mark the launch of the annual report, Ms works to promote and protect human marked the first opportunity for the rights of Tibetans in Tibet and to educate Central Tibetan Administration to Tsering Tsomo, Director of TCHRD, said: “In 2015, China passed laws on the exile Tibetans on human rights present its policy positions to newly- concept and democratic principles. elected members of parliament national security and counter-terrorism following the Canadian federal election that appear to do little but provide China Losar – Tibetan New in October 2015. with a convenient pretext to continue violating human rights. Moreover, Year Celebration at US The visit was hosted by the Canadian China failed to implement any measures Parliamentary Friends of Tibet (PFT) that contribute positively to the already State Department and its recently-appointed Chair, MP degrading ecosystem which many The Office of the US Special Arif Virani. experts say is “irreversible” by pursuing a policy of prioritising rhetoric over Coordinator for Tibetan Issues at the State Department hosted its annual Addressing parliamentarians during a substance.” Losar celebration this afternoon. This is reception organised in her honour by the the second Losar event organised under PFT, Ms Chhoyang provided an overview TCHRD also condemned China’s Under Secretary Sarah Sewall who also of the Middle Way Approach and urged continued violation of international law, MPs to promote the Tibetan administra- which as a result, led more and more serves as the US Special Coordinator for tion’s efforts to re-engage in constructive issues involving Tibet to become issues Tibetan Issues. dialogue with the Government of China. of international concern in the last year. She emphasised principled adherence to The Losar celebration within the State non-violent strategies as an important di- “Religious figures were targeted Department building follows the Losar mension of the Tibet struggle and a rea- for disappearance, detention, and, greeting by Secretary of State John son why resolution of the conflict in Tibet sometimes, death. Local Chinese police Kerry on February 10. In that press should be actively supported by world also detained monks and laypeople, statement, Secretary Kerry said “on governments including Canada. and in many cases, they used pretense behalf of President (Barack) Obama and to detain community leaders, who are the people of the United States, I offer While in Ottawa, Kalon Dicki Chhoyang frequently religious leaders,” a press our warmest wishes to all of the peoples also met with representatives of non- release issued by TCHRD said. of the Himalayan region celebrating governmental organisations working on Losar for a joyful New Year. The United issues related to human rights violations It also added that the trend of abusing States joins you in celebrating the history faced by Tibetans living in Nepal, the human rights to silence dissent was and vibrant culture of the peoples of the importance of addressing climate change frequently used in Tibet where solo Himalayan region, including those in on the Tibetan plateau, and efforts to protesters were quickly arrested and Bhutan, Nepal, India, and Tibetan areas document the Tibetan experience in artists, poets, and intellectuals targeted of the People’s Republic of China.” Canada. for arrest. 4 TIBETAN BULLETIN JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2016 NEWS FROM TIBET & EXILE At the State Department event, Under was organised on 25 January by both the “If any shop or store possessed photos secretary Sarah Sewall greeted the monastic and lay community in Tehor of the Dalai Lama and displayed these attendees with Losar greetings and Township, Drango County. before the date of this notice, these stressed that the event was organised should be voluntarily surrendered to the to highlight and support the unique and The prayer ceremony for His Holiness Draggo County Office of Culture and rich Tibetan culture. She expressed her the Dalai Lama’s health was held Discipline by Feb. 2,” the notice says. hope to continue this tradition at the following the news of His Holiness’ State Department. medical treatment at Mayo Clinic in the “Those who delay in handing these United States. over, or who never turn them in, will be Members of the local Tibetan punished severely,” the notice reads. community, dressed in traditional Local authorities have deployed heavy attire, set up an altar and received security forces to monitor and control The notice also added that Tibetans are Under Secretary Sewall with traditional both the monastic and lay community welcome to display photos of China’s offerings. Losar khapsays, chang in Tehor following the arrest of the two past and present leaders referring to the (Tibetan wine) and Tibetan butter tea monks. former heads of the Chinese Communist was served to everyone. Representative party. Kaydor Aukatsang and the staff of the Ven Pagah is almost 40 years old and Office of Tibet attended the event. Other