Tibet Society Newsletter February 2019 “If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito” His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama News of the Tibet Society, what’s happening in Tibet and the Tibetan Exile world, and news of His Holiness the Dalai Lama We are delighted to report some changes to our Council After 50 years as a dedicated and The new co-chairs are Pempa the founding of the inspirational Society member, Riki Lobsang, a professional accountant Society by British Hyde-Chambers has who has previously served as people with a first hand stepped down from Chairman of the Tibetan Community knowledge of a free his 10-year stint as in Britain and Tomer Ben, a publisher Tibet. During the last Society Chair. Riki’s who has recently founded the sixty years countless contribution to the International Jewish thousands across the Pempa Lobsang Society and to Tibet Buddhist Council. world have benefitted over the years has Riki leaves us from His Holiness’s teaching and from been immeasurable with this message: Tibet’s spiritual heritage. But within Riki Hyde-Chambers and we are delighted This year is the Tibet, Tibetans cannot have the same that he will be staying on as a member of sixtieth year of His access to the Dalai Lama or their the Society Council, and as our Hon Holiness’s flight and spiritual heritage. So we have much to President, so that we can continue to the exodus of Tibetan Tomer Ben do so that the voice of Tibet can be benefit from his wisdom and expertise. refugees. It is also the sixtieth year of heard. International Mother Language Day: a Plea for Tashi The Tibet Society joined a coalition human rights, we join the calls from of 11 Tibet and human rights around the world, from the United support groups to send a letter to Nations and many of your trading Chinese President Xi Jinping on partners, including the United States International Mother Language Day, and the European Union, urging you 21 February, with a plea for Tashi to immediately and unconditionally Wangchuk, the man spending years release Tashi Wangchuk. in prison for exercising his human Wider action is also required to right to ask for the children of Tibet redress the harm done to the Tibetan to be educated in their mother language. We call on you to comply tongue. with international law and the Some extracts from our letter Chinese Constitution and reverse the follow: The right of peoples under protects the right to ‘take part in effective ban on the teaching of Tibetan. Chinese Communist Party rule to cultural life’. If the Chinese Communist Party’s stated learn, develop and preserve their Despite these agreements and commitment to minority rights is to be native languages is protected under protections, Tibetans continue to taken seriously, Tibetans must be China’s own constitution; Article 4, have their language rights allowed to learn and promote their provides that ‘[e]thnic minorities’ systematically violated, as Chinese language and be able to use it in their right to learn, use and develop their authorities increasingly marginalise day to day lives. own spoken and written languages is the Tibetan language. […] Learning We call on you to ensure that the guaranteed in accordance with the in the Tibetan language has been Chinese government complies with its law’ […] and minority languages are removed from the curriculum in international obligations to respect the protected under a range of other laws schools […] fundamentally cultural and linguistic rights of the and regulations. They are also undermining the human rights of the Tibetan people, and demand the protected in the International Tibetan people. immediate and unconditional release of Covenant on Economic, Social and The letter goes on to mention Tashi Wangchuk. Cultural Rights, which your Tashi Wangchuk saying, The appalling Our letter was widely published government ratified in 2001, most treatment of Tashi Wangchuk demands around the world — the Hong Kong Free specifically in Article 13 on the right immediate action. As organisations Press printed it in full and Free Tibetan to education and Article 15, which dedicated to freedom of expression and Heroes posted a video on Facebook. Confucius Institutes Under the Spotlight

The Society’s campaign Chinese Communist Party will spotlighting Confucius be in power in the future in Institutes is bearing fruit! We, China, and […] increase our along with Free Tibet, made a influence around the world’.” submission to the Conservative The report also notes that “an Party for their inquiry into increasing number [at least 27] Confucius Institutes. The of universities around the world Conservative Party Human have terminated contracts and Rights Commission has closed Confucius Institutes. recently launched a new report “Incidents of censorship or calling for a review of “all suppression of discussion are agreements between British highlighted in the report, institutions and the Confucius discrimination and violate the including the widespread ban on Institutes”. Equality Act 2010 in their hiring discussion in Confucius Institutes around On the surface, Confucius Institutes processes; the world of the three key ‘sensitive’ are educational and cultural centres topics: the Tiananmen massacre; Tibet teaching Chinese language and • An investigation into whether and Taiwan. Cases of employees of promoting Chinese culture. They come Confucius Institutes are being used Confucius Institutes facing discrimination with funding for the schools and to monitor and intimidate students due to their beliefs are also detailed as a universities concerned, but there have and/or teachers in the United concern. been numerous reports that these Kingdom; “The report makes ten institutes are being used to silence recommendations, including calling discussions about “sensitive topics” • A requirement that, where Confucius for a suspension of further agreements including Tibet, Taiwan, Falun Gong Institutes provide teaching in Chinese between British universities and and the Tiananmen Massacre of 1989. history or culture, a truly schools and Confucius Institutes until These institutes are directly funded independent, holistic, balanced, and a review is completed. The report also and directed by the Chinese government, comprehensive curriculum is recommends measures to ensure which maintains overall control over the adopted, to allow for discussion of a transparency from Confucius teaching materials used in classes and diversity of topics, including Tibet, Institutes based in the United the teachers employed. There is growing Taiwan and the Tiananmen Kingdom.” concern worldwide that these institutes massacre. The report and its recommendations are promoting Chinese propaganda to have been widely reported in the British our younger generation. An increasing The Commission’s press release dated and European media, reaching as far number of universities have closed their February 18 notes that the report “calls for a afield as the Hong Kong Free Press. Confucius Institutes in recent years. review of all agreements between British The Times, under the heading The Tibet Society’s submission to institutions and the Confucius Institutes, “Chinese whispers: Confucius Institutes the inquiry called on the UK authorities concluding that these educational and are welcomed in Ireland even as other to “seize this opportunity to highlight the cultural centres embedded in universities nations kick them out” writes, “The UK ways in which these institutes are and schools around the world represent an last month became the latest country to limiting discussions on Tibet in order to extension of the Chinese Communist Party’s launch an inquiry into Confucius prevent censorship and protect freedom propaganda efforts and ‘threaten academic Institutes, centres located on university of expression”. Four of the ten freedom and freedom of expression’. campuses around the world that are suggestions in our submission have been “The report notes that in 2007 the funded by the Chinese government. included in the Conservative Party HR then head of propaganda for the Beijing claims that these are educational Commission recommendations: Chinese Communist Party, Li facilities aimed at teaching the country’s Changchun, described Confucius language and culture. Critics are • An investigation into claims that Institutes as ‘an important part of concerned that they suppress free Confucius Institutes impede China’s overseas propaganda set-up’, speech and spread propaganda. freedom of expression and academic and in 2010 Xu Lin, the director- “The FBI launched an investigation thought in discussions – particularly general of the Hanban, an agency of the into American branches this year, and in regard to the Tiananmen Ministry of Education which oversees there is growing disquiet in Australia.” massacre, Tibet and Taiwan – in Confucius Institutes, said that: The article goes on to quote an assistant order to prevent censorship and ‘Confucius Institutes […] are an professor at Dublin University’s school protect freedom of expression. important part of soft power. Because of politics, who says he would like we want to expand our influences, we “university administrators to realise that • An investigation into whether do not deny this. We agree.’ China’s in dealing with China and inviting the British educational institutions, President at the time, Hu Jintao, Confucius Institutes on campus, you’re including universities and schools, endorsed Confucius Institutes as a way putting academic freedom at risk.” with Confucius Institutes and ‘to cultivate and prepare a group (or Chinese students are big business classrooms, are involved in army) of people to make sure the for Irish universities, says The Times. Tibet News

New Internment Camps Watkins aims to celebrate spiritual and that democracy is in retreat. China An exclusive satellite image published teachers, activists, authors and thinkers remains a country “in the spotlight”. Tibet by The Print on 12 February has that change the world. has been ranked the second least free revealed three new forced re-education country in the world for the fourth year in camps under construction in Tibet — Tibetans Ousted a row, after Syria. Freedom House is camps that are becoming known by the A new report by Radio Free Asia states, based in the United States and conducts term “gulag”, which likens them to the “Tibetan university graduates are facing research and advocacy on democracy, Soviet Russian forced labour camps of increasing difficulty finding jobs in political freedom and human rights. the last century. China claims that these Tibetan regions of China, with Han forced labour camps are “Re-education Chinese flooding job markets and Art 4 Peace Through Labour” (RTL) camps. civil service exams slanted more and The Art for Peace Awards 2019 has The Central Tibetan more toward Han applicants.” been presented to the Tibetan Administration (CTA)’s Human Rights Quoting their local sources, they Community in Exile, recognising it as Desk reports that China is now report that few Tibetans now find an exemplary community of harmony, converting monasteries to gulags, or employment in the government sector peace and happiness. Art 4 Peace is a constructing new monastery gulags in Tibetan areas, nor in private non-government organisation which which target Buddhist monks and nuns companies and corporations.” promotes “World Peace and Love” in Tibet, and that they are being built through arts and artists “from every on remote sites and with high security Year of Tsongkhapa culture” around the world. Kasur features including thick walls. 2019 will be observed as the Ngodup Dongchung from the Bureau of According to the CTA, International Year of Tsongkhapa, HH the Dalai Lama received the award innumerable Tibetans have been commemorating the 600th anniversary of on behalf of the Tibetan people in exile. detained and tortured in RTL camps his death. The Geluk International since 1955 for opposing the human Foundation has announced that the International Support rights violations taking place in Tibet celebration is in recognition of the A worldwide coalition of Tibet support under Chinese Communist Party rule – “extraordinary contribution” made to the groups called on their governments earlier and that this has been occurring since world by the renowned 14th century this month to adopt a resolution before China officially acknowledged Tibetan Buddhist master Tsongkhapa — addressing human rights in China, with the existence of RTL camps. the founder of the Geluk tradition. particular focus on Tibet, Uyghur and The Print published a previous other ethnic minority regions at the article on 1 August, 2018 reporting on Funding Sanctioned upcoming session of Human Rights China’s political re-education centres – in The US$17 million funding promised by Council. They refer to issues raised in this case focusing on the camps in the the United States for Tibet and the China’s recent Universal Periodic Review Muslim majority East Turkestan Tibetan exile community has been signed and say the international community must (Xinjiang) which have been set up to “re- by US President Donald Trump under the demonstrate that it “will defend the wire the political thinking of detainees”. Consolidated Appropriations Act 2019. universality of human rights”. The International Campaign for US$8 million will go to Tibetans in Tibet Tibet, the Washington-based Tibetan and Tibetan communities in China, US$6 Tibetan Language Classes Banned advocacy group, published a report on million for Tibetans in India and Nepal Officials in Nangchen County, Qinghai 14 February, saying that a new training and US$3 million to the Tibetan province have banned informal Tibetan camp for Party workers has been institutions and governance in exile. language classes being taught in opened in Tibet’s Shigatse prefecture Additional programmes are in progress monasteries. An order was issued “intended to provide ideological under the US government. calling on Communist Party cadres training to some of the thousands of responsible for managing monasteries in Party cadres who have been deployed Lockdown in Tibet the region to “understand the harmful across Tibet in recent years in private Tibet is in lockdown ahead of 10 March nature of monasteries running open homes, monasteries and schools and in — the 60th anniversary of Tibetan schools.” line with Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s National Uprising Day. Visas for foreign Tibetan students returning home agenda of deepening control”. visitors to Tibet are unavailable until 1 during the winter holidays have, in April and Tibetans are being banned recent years, brushed up on their native Most Influential from taking part in religious activities as language by studying poetry and HH the Dalai Lama China takes measures to avert potential literature with monks and other has been listed as one unrest at this sensitive time of year. This volunteers at monasteries, these classes of the most year marks 60 years since HH the Dalai are not political. The Chinese state spiritually influential Lama fled Tibet. media, the Global Times, says the living people for classes were “unnecessary because 2019. The London Democracy in Retreat claims made by various monks in the UK based bookshop Watkins has Freedom House has released its 2019 area that Tibetan students studying in published its Spiritual 100 List in its report which says that for the 13th other parts of China have few February issue of MIND BODY SPIRIT, consecutive year, there is a “consistent opportunities to expose themselves to placing His Holiness third on the list. and ominous” decline in global freedom, their native language were false”. Tibet Society News and Campaigns

Tibetan Uprising Day: 60th Anniversary Losar Celebrations! The Tibetan National Uprising is commemorated annually by 5 February was Losar — the Tibetan New Year — with exiled Tibetans and Tibet supporters on 10 March, the celebrations taking place around the world, although anniversary of the 1959 uprising in Lhasa when tens of restrictions on the thousands were killed and HH the Dalai Lama fled to India. festivities were reported Our events will remember all victims of the Chinese from Tibet with police in occupation of Tibet as well as calling for an end to China’s the streets of Lhasa and oppressive policies and for action from the international government workers community. forbidden to visit monasteries. Show your support for Tibet by joining our events! His Holiness the Dalai March 4 – 10 is lobby week! You can make a difference — Lama greeted Tibetans give or send our postcard (see below) to your MP , or write to inside and outside Tibet her/him using the text from the postcard (available from the with his Losar message, “Despite facing through a Tibet Society). challenging period, we have successfully drawn admiration Tuesday, March 5: Wreath-Laying Ceremony, London and recognition for the unique The Tibet Society and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for culture and religion of Tibet. Tibet (APPGT) will host a Wreath-Laying ceremony at the This is chiefly due to the Memorial to All Innocent Victims of Oppression, War and valour, courage and Violence at Westminster Abbey to remember the Tibetans indomitable spirit demon- who have died under China’s occupation of Tibet. strated by Tibetans inside Tibet Sunday March 10: Tibet Freedom March and Rally and the unity observed by all (from 1:30pm) the Tibetans worldwide. Hence Gather from 1:30pm on Richmond Terrace, London SW1 I wish to thank you all for (opposite Downing Street). March starts at 2:30pm. Rally preserving the unity of the from approx 4pm outside the Chinese Embassy, 49-51 three traditional provinces of Portland Place, London W1B 1JL. Tibet.” Sunday March 10: Tibet Uprising Commemoration In Dharamshala, seat of the (doors open 5:30pm, finishes 9pm) Tibetan Government-in-Exile, A Tibetan cultural evening and a great way to wind up after the Tibetans and supporters rally! Refreshments will be available. Venue: Mahatma Gandhi Tibetan Community (UK) gathered for celebrations in Hall, Indian YMCA, 41 Fitzroy Square, London W1T 6AQ North celebrates Losar Tsugla Khan, the main temple A Tibetan parliamentary delegation will be in the UK during Lobby Week and the Uprising anniversary events. The in Dharamshala, with delegation will be: Acharya Yeshi Phuntsok, Deputy Speaker of Losar messages from the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile; Khenpo Jamphal Tenzin; the Kashag, or Khenpo Kada Ngedup Sonam; Mr Sonam Norbu Ratsa. Cabinet, and Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, President of the Tibetan Government-in- Exile. Celebrations with the Tibetan community UK in London

The Tibet Society, the world’s first Tibet support group, was founded in 1959. The Society seeks justice for Tibet through parliamentary lobbying, campaigns and actions.

Published by the Tibet Society 2 Baltic Place, London N1 5AQ Tel 020 7923 0021 / [email protected] @tibetsociety / www.facebook.com/TibetSociety A Date for Your Diary! Patron: His Holiness the Dalai Lama The next APPGT (All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet) Hon President: Riki Hyde-Chambers meeting is on 11 March from 12—1pm at Portcullis House in Chairpersons: Pempa Lobsang and Tomer Ben the Houses of Parliament. The delegation from the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile will be there and it is a particularly important Tibet Society Contact: Gloria Montgomery, Director meeting as it coincides with the 60th anniversary of Tibetan Email: [email protected] Uprising Day. Members of the public are welcome, this is a great tel: 020 7923 0021 / or 07377 890148 way to show your support for Tibet in Parliament. It’s free but you need to book your ticket by March 10. Newsletter Editor: Jenny James