23. May 2009
Chinese court sentences six monks in Chamdo
(TCHRD) Chinese authorities in Chamdo (Chin: Qamdo) sentenced six Tibetan monks to varying prison terms for their alleged involvement in two explosions that occurred near the government administrative building in Choekhor township, Jomda (Jiangda) county, Chamdo Prefecture on 05 January 2009, causing damage to property but no casualties. According to TCHRD, the monks, from Dhen Choekor monastery, were probably part of a group of seven arrested following the blasts and various protests held in January 2009.
24. May 2009
Dam protest in Tawu County
(TCHRD) The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) reports that Tibetans in Dawu (Daofu) county have protested against the construction of a major hydroelectric dam. During the protest, six Tibetan women were reportedly shot and seriously injured. The Chinese government is building the dam between Nyagchu (Chin: Yajiang) and Dawu county, resulting in the large-scale involuntary displacement of local Tibetans, in Kardze (Chin: Ganzi) TAP, Sichuan province. The local authorities issued orders to local Tibetans to assemble at Tawu county headquarters for a public announcement, essentially to give them notice to leave their homes. Following the announcement, and after local people expressed their anger in an impromptu demonstration, Chinese security personnel, both Public Security Bureau (PSB) and People’s Armed Police (PAP) lobbed tear gas and, at one stage, allegedly opened fire. At least six Tibetans including a 70-year-old woman, sustained serious injuries. The injured Tibetans were taken away to a nearby hospital but there is no information about their condition.
27. May 2009
Dalai Lama offers donation to religion department at US university
(VOA) The Dalai Lama has offered to donate $100,000 to help save the religious studies programme at Florida International University, according to Voice of America (VOA). The religious studies department is due to be shut down as part of $27 million in budget cuts. In a letter to the university president Modesto Maidique, the Dalai Lama said "understanding and appreciation of diversity of religions is critical in fostering a culture of genuine tolerance and peaceful existence". He said if the department were to close down, it would "not be easy to rebuild it". The Dalai Lama received an honorary doctorate of divinity from the Florida school in 1999. He visited it again in 2004.
28. May 2009
Mine standoff said to be resolved
(RFA) Talks may have resolved a standoff over a planned gold mine in Markham (Chin: Mangkang) county, Chamdo (Chin: Qamdo) prefecture, at a site Tibetans consider sacred, a local official has said, but Tibetan residents say tensions over the mine remain high, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA). Protests over the proposed mining plans have been under way for three to four months, following local authorities' approval of Chinese mining and lumber firm, Zhongkai Co.'s plans to excavate the area. On 16 May, a contingent of police and security forces arrived, but as many as 500 Tibetans blocked the road leading to the site, where Tibetans have historically worshipped, conducting rituals there in the event of drought. An official at the Markham county business bureau, said the protest had nearly concluded. He said: "We settled the dispute through negotiations to make sure both parties are satisfied with the settlement-that is to say that the mining project should not cause environmental pollution in the future and that the local people will receive a certain amount of compensation".
29. May 2009
Tibet complaint against Radio 4 upheld
(pressgazette) The BBC Trust has ruled that Radio 4's Today programme breached impartiality guidelines when it interviewed an academic about Tibet without mentioning his political affiliation. Professor Barry Sautman of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology appeared on Radio 4's flagship morning news programme in March 2008 to discuss the demonstrations taking place in Tibet. One listener complained that Sautman, who is unsympathetic to the Tibetan independence movement, was introduced only by his name and university, and it had not been made clear what his political stance was. The BBC's editorial guidelines state: "We should not automatically assume that academics and journalists from other organisations are impartial and make it clear to our audience when contributors are associated with a particular viewpoint". The Trust said that although Sautman was a credible interviewee, it still upheld the complaint, agreeing that Sautman's political views should have been mentioned when he was introduced.
30. May 2009
Danish premier and foreign minister meet the Dalai Lama
(Tibet.net; Xinhua) The Dalai Lama arrived in Copenhagen and was immediately driven in a motorcade, escorted by five Danish police motorcyclists, to meet Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen and later Foreign Minister Per Stig Møller. He thanked Prime Minister Rasmussen for meeting him on the first day of his visit to Denmark, which is taking place to give teachings and a public talk on "Peace Through Inner Peace". Wu Baiyi, an expert on European studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) said that the meetings with foreign leaders were "dangerous" with possible consequences for ties with China. Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said that Beijing remains opposed to "foreign political figures having official exchanges with the Dalai Lama".
02. Jun 2009
Nathu-la border trade grinds to a halt
(UNI) No trade had taken place so far between the Indian state of Sikkim and Dromo (Chin: Yatung) county, Shigatse (Chin: Shigaze) prefecture in the TAR, across the Nathu-la pass since it opened for business on 04 May, reported United News of India (UNI). Traders from both the sides complained about the number and type of items they are allowed to trade with each other, under the terms of a Sino-India deal that allowed the opening of the Nathu-la pass in 2006. Indian traders are permitted to export only 29 items, while the Tibetan side can export just 15 items. Most of these items listed in the trading schedule are obsolete and do not have any real commercial value, a fact which both sets of traders have highlighted in the past three years demanding that the range of goods be increased, the report said.
03. Jun 2009
Two Monks disappeared after raid in Labrang Monastery
(TCHRD) Chinese security forces arrested two monks from Labrang Monastery on 14 May 2009 during a raid on their residences within the monastery by large numbers of PSB officers. Their whereabouts and current status remain unknown. According to TCHRD, this is the fourth time they have been arrested since protests began in Labrang in 2008. The two monks are Tsundue Gyatso and Sonam Gyatso. When pressed by the men's relatives, PSB officials said that a new round of questioning was required to "clarify" matters relating to last year's protests.
03. Jun 2009
Promotion of Mandarin in TAR
(Xinhua) Chinese authorities have launched a major programme to promote Mandarin Chinese (Chin: putonghua) across the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). A Xinhua report said that the language was now being widely used by Tibetan people in both urban and rural areas. After four years, 23,000 teachers, college students and civil servants have attended Mandarin training and testing courses and obtained certificates for the Mandarin proficiency test, according to Xinhua. A Mandarin training and testing network had been established in the TAR, with one regional Mandarin training and testing centre, five stations at colleges and seven at prefectural level. Since April 2005, when the Tibet Regional State Language Affairs Commission was set up, six prefectures have now set up similar commissions. The latest step in promoting Mandarin was the opening on 27 May of a training course for examiners of Mandarin testing at regional level. The course, the third of its kind, will train specialists in conducting Mandarin tests for all industries throughout the TAR, Xinhua reported.
03. Jun 2009
Nepali team visits border
(The Himalayan) Nepali officials and journalists have visited the entry point to the TAR Kimathanka, to inspect the border for the first time in 40 years. The Nepali team had travelled to the area following complaints by locals of encroachment on 338.5 hectares of Nepali territory by the Chinese side. The team returned to the district headquarters after visiting Hatiya, Chepuwa and Pawakhola. Tulasi Prasad Gautam, who led the team, said they would report their findings to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other concerned authorities. Mohan Bogati at Kimathanka Police post said most of the pillars marking the border needed repair. Chinese officials had barred the team from reaching Dendang, saying that they needed clearance from higher authorities to let them in.
04. Jun 2009
The Dalai Lama's statement on the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Students' Democracy Movement
(Tibet.net) On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square students' democracy movement the Dalai Lama honoured "those who died expressing the popular demand for the government to be more accountable to its people". "The students involved in the Tiananmen Square movement were neither anti-communist nor anti-socialist. Their speaking out in defence of the Chinese people's constitutional rights, in favour of democracy, and taking a stand against corruption, truly conformed to the underlying beliefs of the Chinese Communist government", he said, taking reference to the then party chief Zhao Ziyang. He also expressed the view that the forthcoming 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China presents an opportunity to review the events of June 1989. "Great changes have taken place in the People's Republic of China since 1989", he said "Today, it is a global economic power poised to become a superpower. It is my hope that the Chinese leaders have the courage and far-sightedness to embrace more truly egalitarian principles and pursue a policy of greater accommodation and tolerance of diverse views. A policy of openness and realism can lead to greater trust and harmony within China and enhance its international standing as a truly great nation".
04. Jun 2009
Police blame monk's suicide on stress
(Xinhua) Chinese police in Qinghai province have issued a statement in which they claim that a monk who recently committed suicide was suffering from stress resulting from heart disease and the death of members of his family. According to the Central Tibetan Administration's (CTA) website Tibet.net, the monk, identified as Shedup (or Shadri) killed himself on or around 02 April 2009 in his room at a monastery in Rebgong (Chin: Tongren) county, Malho (Chin: Huangnan) TAP, Qinghai province. Tibet.net said at the time that Shedup had been arrested in March 2008 for participating in a protest in Rebgong, and was allegedly tortured during his detention. He was then released but his name appeared on the wanted list before the anniversary of the Lhasa uprising on 10 March 2008 In order to avoid arrest and, he believed, further torture, Shedup took his own life. According to police in Qinghai however, the reason he committed suicide was because of "psychological stress". The statement said the family of the monk "concurred with the investigation results".
04. Jun 2009
Restriction on religious activities during Saga Dawa
(Tibet.net) Chinese authorities have reportedly stepped up restrictions on the religious activities of Tibetans in the Lhasa area during Saga Dawa, the fourth month of the Tibetan lunar calendar. Tibetan Buddhists traditionally believe that generous deeds committed during this month will yield particular merit. Tibet.net sources said government offices in Lhasa have convened meetings of staff members and people under their jurisdiction and allegedly issued strict orders, particularly to students and government officials, not to visit temples during the festival. The normal life of people has been affected as the government have sent security reinforcements and deployed a large number of intelligence officers across the city. The authorities are also examining the details of foreign tourists visiting the region.
