25. Sep 2011
Dalai Lama outlines succession process
(RFA; Xinhua) The Dalai Lama will decide at age 90 whether he will have a reincarnated successor but added that Beijing will have no say in who will succeed him as Tibet's spiritual leader if he decides the tradition should continue. His announcement, which followed a gathering of Tibetan Buddhist leaders in Dharamsala, hinted that he could choose to end the 600-year-old tradition of selecting a succeeding Dalai Lama through reincarnation. But he said that if the tradition does continue, he would draw up clear guidelines before his death. In response, China said that it has never been up to the Dalai Lama to pick his own successor and that Beijing will identify who is the next incarnation of the Tibetan spiritual leader.
27. Sep 2011
China to launch 'Third Battle Campaign' in Tibet
(www.chinatibetnews.com) According to www.chinatibetnews.com, the Regional Party Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and the TAR government held a conference in Lhasa in preparation of the celebration for the founding of the PRC on 01 October. A 'Third Battle Campaign' was launched to ''win this year's stability maintenance'' during the meeting. Autonomous Region Party Secretary Chen Quanguo stressed four points in the meeting. The first, he said, is to ensure that no political case arises. He added: ''Struggle against separatism shall be dealt in-depth, to effectively maintain social stability and ensure long-term stability in Tibet'.' Secondly, problems should be ‘tackled from the base when it is small’. Thirdly, all the monasteries shall be closely watched along with intensified patriotic re-education sessions. Religious activities and religious affairs shall be carried out according to the law. Lastly, he said that comrades of party and government (and every official) have the main responsibility for maintaining stability.
27. Sep 2011
Buddhist conference confirms Jonang as a separate school
(Phayul) A high-level conference of Tibetan Buddhist practitioners and teachers confirmed the 11th century Jonang tradition as a major school of Tibetan Buddhism. The endorsement came during the three-day 11th Buddhist conference held in Dharamshala that was attended by heads and representatives of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism and the ancient Tibetan religion of Bon. The conference accorded the status of a separate sect to Jonang, noting its distinct philosophical standpoint and tradition within the sphere of Tibetan Buddhism. According to the north India based Jonang Takten Phuntsok Choeling Monastery, the Jonangpa tradition was founded in 1027 A.D. and has distinct philosophical viewpoints.
01. Oct 2011
Tibetans protest in Serthar
(Tibet.net) Over 200 Tibetans, including monks and laymen, held a peaceful protest in front of the main entrance of Serthar (Chin: Seda) county in Kardze (Chin: Ganzi) TAP, Sichuan province, reports received by the Central Tibetan Administration say. According to eyewitnesses, the protests flared after a large photo of the Dalai Lama and a huge Tibetan flag were removed from a four-storey building and "thrown in the street". This sparked off an immediate protest and the crowd swelled as more and more Tibetans joined the demonstration. Leaflets carrying slogans for the long life of the Dalai Lama and urging Tibetans to fight for their freedom were also distributed.
03. Oct 2011
More self-immolations
(RFA) A young Tibetan monk from a monastery under restriction by Chinese security forces in Kardze TAP, set himself alight, the third such protest in a week, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA). The monk, identified as Kalsang Wangchuk, who is 17 or 18 years old and from Kirti monastery in Ngaba (Chin: Aba) prefecture, set fire to himself near the vegetable market in Ngaba town, exile Tibetan sources said, citing contacts in the area. In an earlier protest, two young monks, Lobsang Kalsang and Lobsang Konchog, aged between 18-19 years old and also from Kirti monastery, self-immolated on 26 September. Lobsang Kalsang is the brother of Phuntsog, a monk also from Kirti monastery who died after setting himself on fire in March 2011.
04. Oct 2011
Tibetan Monk Detained Again
(RFA) Chinese authorities in Gansu province have detained a Tibetan monk for the fifth time in as many years - and again without filing formal charges against him, according to his brother. Jigme Gyatso, a monk at Labrang monastery in Kanlho (Chin: Gannan) TAP was picked up on 20 August 2011 and is being held in the Kanlho Public Security Bureau detention centre, the man’s brother, named Sonam, told RFA. "After he had been missing for several weeks, the Kanlho Public Security Bureau confirmed that they are holding him", Sonam said. "They wouldn’t say why he is detained, but they told our family that he could face a term in jail if he doesn’t abide by state law".
05. Oct 2011
South Africa denies refusing Dalai Lama visa
(Monster & Critics) South African officials denied that the government had refused the Dalai Lama a visa - the day after he had announced the cancellation of a trip to the country to attend the 80th birthday celebrations for Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Spokesman for the Department of International Relations Clayson Monyela said the Dalai Lama had made the announcement while South Africa was still deciding on the matter and denied that Pretoria was acting out of concern that China would be angered by such a visit. Critics say that the government had stalled for too long, leaving him no choice but to cancel. Tutu, who had been trying to obtain the visa since June, lashed out at the government, the ruling African National Congress and President Jacob Zuma, saying: "Mr Zuma, you and your government don't represent me. You represent your own interests". The Dalai Lama last visited the country in 1996, when Nelson Mandela was president. This is the second time he has been unable to come, however, after the government in 2009 denied him entry.
06. Oct 2011
Tibetan film maker wins prize at Vancouver film festival
(Epoch Times) At the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF), the 18th annual Dragons and Tigers Award for Young Cinema has been one by Tibetan director Sonthar Gyal. His film, The Sun-Beaten Path won the $10,000 cash prize. The film tells the story of Nyma (Yeshe Lhadruk), a boy who embarks on an emotional pilgrimage from his home in Golmud to Lhasa after the accidental death of his mother (Lhakyed Ma). Nyma travels along the highway rebuffing offers by strangers to drive him home, attracting the sympathy of an old man (Lo Kyi) who insists on becoming Nyma’s companion. VIFF jury member Simon Field, the former head of cinema at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, presented Gyal’s award. "The jury admired its remarkable cinematic qualities and its ability to tell a moving story with complex emotions through one face and one landscape", Field said. "We were also impressed by the way the film draws such distinctive characters and by its persuasive evocation of Tibetan culture. It brings us a powerful voice from a new ethnic cinema".
07. Oct 2011
(4 comments)
More self immolation in Ngaba
(Phayul) Two more Tibetans set themselves on fire in an apparent anti-China protest. One is feared dead while the other is being described in serious condition. This is the second incident in a week following the self immolation of Kalsang Wangchuk, and the third in two weeks, folowing the self immolations of Lobsang Kalsang and Lobsang Konchog a week ago. The exile base of Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, described the two as Choephel aged 19 and Khayang (Lhungyang) aged 18, both former monks of Kirti Monastery in eastern Tibet.
"At around 11.30 am Tibet time, Choephel and Khayang set themselves ablaze in the central town of Ngaba district. With hands joined in prayers, both of them raised anti-China slogans", the statement said.
