26. Oct 2009
Dalai Lama prays for executed Tibetans
(Tibet.net)The Dalai Lama led prayers for the four Tibetan youngsters who were recently executed by the Chinese government for their alleged role in arson and killing during demonstrations in Lhasa in March 2008. The prayers were offered during the launch of the Dalai Lama's biography at the Norbulingka Tibetan Cultural Institute. In his condolence message to the victims and their family members, the Dalai Lama expressed his "deep sadness" over the death sentences to the Tibetans. Four Tibetans - Lobsang Gyaltsen, aged 27, born in Lhasa, Loyak, aged 25, of Tashi Khang, Shol township, Lhasa and Penkyi, aged 21 - were executed on 20 October. The identity of the fourth person is still unknown.
27. Oct 2009
Foreign Ministers of India, China meet
(PTI) The Foreign Ministers of China and India met in Bangalore to discuss bilateral relations with the aim of looking at ways to address the border question and other issues. External Affairs Minister, S M Krishna, and his Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi met to review the entire gamut of bilateral ties, two days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had talks with Premier Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the ASEAN and the East Asia Summits in Thailand, and agreed not to allow differences to impede development of bilateral relations. The two sides struck a conciliatory tone saying the ties were on a "very good terms" and the boundary disputes can be resolved amicably.
27. Oct 2009
(1 comments)
Zhang Qingli: fight against separatism remains very serious
(AFP; Xinhua) The Communist Party secretary in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) has said the fight against separatism remains "very serious", state media reported. In a speech in the regional capital Lhasa, Zhang Qingli urged all levels of government, as well as the military, to step up efforts to ensure public order, the Tibet Daily reported. "Since 2005, we have made important contributions to safeguard overall social stability... by hitting hard and preventing separatism and by building a solid line of defence to strike at hostile people", Zhang said. But, "at present the anti-separatist struggle in our region remains very serious", the paper quoted him as saying. In his speech, Zhang praised the TAR government and people for their handling of the situation, but added: “we must strengthen the management of overall public order, make greater efforts to resolve those prominent issues that influence social order, ensure state security and safeguard social harmony and stability in our region".
30. Oct 2009
Protest in Kardze
(Tibet Post) The Tibet Post reports that on 10-13 March 2009, inhabitants of four villages in the Upper Lhopo region of Dege county, Kardze TAP, Sichuan province let their livestock eat their crops “as a form of peaceful protest against the violence enacted by the Chinese government throughout Tibet since 10 March 2008". A few neighboring villages also followed their example. Recently, the same four villages refused to accept tractors from the government, and some local young adults expressed their dissatisfaction with Chinese rule. As a result, Chinese authorities and security officers arrested eight Tibetans in October 2009.
30. Oct 2009
EU condemns Tibetan executions
(PTI) The Chinese government drew condemnation from the European Union over its execution of Tibetans allegedly involved in the 2008 Tibet protests. "The European Union condemns the recent executions of two Tibetans, Mr Lobsang Gyaltsen and Mr Loyak", the Swedish EU Presidency said in a declaration on behalf of the 27-bloc nation. "On the basis of its principled opposition to the death penalty, the EU, on 8 May 2009, called for a commutation of the death sentences handed down by Lhasa Intermediate People’s Court".
05. Nov 2009
India stops journalists covering Dalai Lama visit
(AP) The Indian government refused to allow foreign journalists to cover the Dalai Lama's visit to to Arunachal Pradesh. Permits allowing foreign correspondents to travel to the state were not given, and the government revoked passes previously provided to four of them, including two Associated Press journalists. Foreigners require special government permission to visit the mountainous state. "We are incredibly surprised and disappointed to learn that reporters' visas to Arunachal Pradesh have been canceled ahead of the Dalai Lama's visit", said Heather Timmons, president of the New Delhi-based Foreign Correspondents' Club.
06. Nov 2009
Tibetans protest in Tianjin
(RFA) Radio Free Asia's (RFA) Tibet service reports that police have arrested nearly 100 Tibetans protesting outside the headquarters of a company called TIENS in the northeastern municipality of Tianjin, in China, that they say cheated them through a pyramid scheme: The protesters were beaten, handcuffed, and dumped into vehicles, before being transported, probably, to Chengdu in Sichuan, Tsephel, a spokesman for the group said in a telephone interview. "I think we will (...) be handed over to our respective local authorities", he said. "We are going to press the local government to compensate our losses. We cannot remain quiet and silent. Each of us should be compensated with 100,000 Yuan (UK£8,870; US$14,644; EUR€9,858)", he added. Tibetans reportedly staged similar protests in several Chinese cities against TIENS, a purported health-products company.
