06. Nov 2011
Thousands gather for immolation nun's cremation
(RFA) Thousands of Tibetans gathered near a monastery in Sichuan province for the cremation of a nun who died in the 11th self-immolation incident in Tibetan areas during 2011. Palden Choetso, from a nunnery in Tawu (Chin: Daofu) county in Kardze (Chin: Ganzi) prefecture set herself on fire 03 November. "Palden Choetso's body was cremated [...] at the same spot near Nyitso monastery where [earlier self-immolation protester] Tsewang Norbu's body was cremated", a Radio Free Asia (RFA) source said. "Unprecedented numbers of people converged on Tawu to show their solidarity and support", the source said. Led by monks and nuns from Nyitso and from other monasteries in the area, hundreds of laypeople joined in the funeral procession for the nun. "The monks had planned to erect a monument for the nun at the cremation site, but the Chinese authorities will not allow this", the RFA source said, adding that police and security forces have now surrounded Nyitso monastery.
06. Nov 2011
Tibet trade fair concludes I Kathmandu
(Republica) The 13th "Nepal-China Tibet Economic and Trade Fair" concluded at the Bhrikuti Mandap Exhibition Hall in Kathmandu, recording transactions worth more than Rs 50 million (UK£390,000; US$616,000; EUR€455,000. The five-day fair promotes trade and commerce between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), according to the organisers. Stalls of Tibetan traders dealing with sanitary wares, handicraft items and meat products drew numerous local buyers. Chinese entrepreneurs said the event provided them with a good platform to promote their business and explore opportunities to establish business partnerships in Nepal. The fair showcased a total of 80 stalls - 40 each from Nepal and China.
07. Nov 2011
Rights groups appeal to China
(RFA) In a direct appeal to President Hu Jintao, Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International (AI) have called on the Chinese Beijing to end the "repressive" policies in Tibetan areas that are being blamed for 11 self-immolations so far in 2011. The joint letter asks that China carry out a "comprehensive review of the human rights situation across the Tibetan plateau and to end legal and policy restrictions that breach human rights in the region".
07. Nov 2011
Dalai Lama blames Tibetan burnings on Chinese policies
(AFP; Reuters; RFA) The desperate conditions Tibetans face under Beijing's rigid controls are behind the spate of self-burnings in Tibetan areas of Sichuan, the Dalai Lama told a news conference in Tokyo. "Including many Chinese from Mainland China who visit Tibet, they all have the impression things are terrible [...] some kind of culture genocide is taking place", the Dalai Lama said. However, Beijing has urged condemnation of the incidents. "Not condemning self-immolations but playing them up and inciting others to follow examples is challenging the common conscience and moral bottom line of human kind", Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei said, according to AFP. He added that the suicide attempts are "related to separatist forces overseas".
08. Nov 2011
Burned monk refuses treatment
(RFA) Dawa Tsering, a Tibetan monk badly burned on 25 October 2011 after setting himself alight, has refused a Chinese offer of medical help, saying that he regrets not having died in his protest, according to a RFA. Tsering was rushed to a Kardze hospital after fellow monks extinguished the flames. But he refused medical treatment and was brought back to his monastery with severe burns and wrapped in bandages. "On 07 November, three government officials accompanied by a doctor visited Dawa Tsering's room in the Kardze monastery", a Kardze monk told RFA. "All were dressed like Chinese", he said. "Only the doctor spoke. He tried to convince Dawa Tsering to go to a major hospital for treatment free of charge, but the injured monk did not respond to the offer." "In fact, he refused to utter even a word", the monk said.
09. Nov 2011
China rebukes Mongolia over Dalai Lama visit
(Reuters) Beijing has expressed its disappointment at Mongolia for allowing the Dalai Lama to visit. Hong Lei, spokesman at the Chinese Foreign Ministry told reporters that Beijing has lodged its "stern representations" with Ulan Bator over the visit. According to Reuters, the Mongolian government restricted the Dalai Lama to one lecture at the city's new sports stadium, 'Buyant-Ukhaa', built with Chinese aid. More than 6,000 devotees attended the lecture, reports suggest. The Mongolian Transport Minister Battulga Khaltma told reporters that more of the Dalai Lama's lectures would be relocated to a less controversial location.
09. Nov 2011
(5 comments)
Officials force monks' return
(RFA) Chinese authorities in Tibet are forcing the return of monks and nuns to a monastery abandoned following a bomb attack on a government building, according to RFA sources in Tibet. At least 10 of the monks and nuns have been unaccounted for following the 26 October bombing in the Chamdo (Chin: Qamdo) prefecture in the TAR, which took place in the early morning hours and caused no injuries. Chinese security forces moved into the area in large numbers, leading the monks and nuns of nearby Karma monastery - suspected of involvement in the blast - to flee harassment. "On 30 October, the authorities called all residents of the Karma area to a meeting and ordered that the monks and nuns who had left return within three days or face arrest", a Tibetan resident told RFA. "They said that if the monastery's senior leaders did not return within two days, they would be shot".
10. Nov 2011
Tibetan self-immolates in Kathmandu
(HURON; TibetInfoNet) A monk whose name is given as Butuk or Buthi poured eight litres of petrol over himself and set himself on fire at the Stupa of Bauddha, close to Kathmandu at around 7:00am local time. He suffered only minor injuries to his arms, as four Tibetans in the vicinity immediately interceded, took off his robe and took the monk away. Police, under the command of District Police Chief, DSP- Shyam Gwayali, searched for him throughout the day but could not find him. The incident is said to have generated considerable concern at Nepal's home ministry out of a fear that such incidents might bring considerable pressure from foreign embassies. Police stated that they believe the incident was staged. The monk evaded police and fled to India on the East route (he finally reached Dharamsala on 17 November). A Tibetan woman, who had collected the monk's robe after the incident, was detained by police for a few hours. Another monk, called Hise, was also arrested. Although he had nothing to do with the incident, he was probably arrested because he belongs to the Porong monastery, which has a long tradition of clashes with Nepali police. He was held overnight but finally released the next day. The monk who set himself alight was not attached to any monastery. He had come from India and lived in Bauddha alone in a rented room.
10. Nov 2011
U.S. government "alarmed" by Tibetan self-burnings
(ICT) US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton used the occasion of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum to address the issue of self-immolations in Tibet. Speaking at the East-West Centre in Honolulu, Ms Clinton said the United States is "alarmed by recent incidents in Tibet of young people lighting themselves on fire in desperate acts of protest [...] We continue to call on China to embrace a different path". The remarks were made shortly before a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.
13. Nov 2011
Nepal home ministry angry at Tibetans
(Telegraph Nepal) Nepal's Home Ministry spokesperson Sudhir Kumar Sah told the Rajdhani Daily: "The government is in a very difficult situation since the Tibetans have begun setting themselves on fire. The government of Nepal is committed on its one China policy. We will not allow any activities that go against the interest of our neighbours. This will lead to a situation where the government may have to slash all the facilities being granted to the Tibetans residing in Nepal, such as that of their freedom to move even". Sah also made it clear that the government may decide to put a ban on their business activities and their freedom of movement.
14. Nov 2011
Tibet's news media to be bilingual in five years
(Xinhua) Chinese officials in the TAR said they planned to have all local media releases published or broadcast in both Chinese Mandarin and the Tibetan language in the next five years. According to Xinhua, the government will support the publication and distribution of video products, books, newspapers and magazines in both Mandarin and Tibetan and also aid translating TV programmes into the Tibetan language, said Chen Quanguo, Tibet's Party chief. "This will help all ethnic groups read and understand", Chen said at the TAR Congress of the Communist Party of China being held in Lhasa.
14. Nov 2011
China "to give Tibetan monks welfare benefits"
(BBC; Global Times) China plans to give Tibetan monks welfare benefits in an apparent attempt to improve "stability", with monks able to claim pensions, medical insurance and living allowances. Chen Quanguo, recently appointed Communist Party chief in Tibet, made the announcement at the TAR Congress of the Communist Party of China. "The government will take great pains to ensure that public services such as electricity, water, telecommunications, radio and TV stations are provided to the local monasteries", he is also quoted as saying by the Global Times. He added that there would also be personal help, including allowances, for monks and nuns living in the TAR. It was also announced that the local government would send "one or two special agents" even to monasteries with less than 20 monks.
18. Nov 2011
Tibetan arrested in Tagste
(TCHRD) The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) reports that on 01 November 2011, a Tibetan man, named Lhaten, was arrested by plainclothes police outside his children's school. He was reportedly asked to attend the school, in Tagtse (Chin: Dazi) county, Lhasa Municipality, TAR, and the police were waiting for him. Lhaten, who is around 44 years old, is allegedly suspected of having a connection with Dhondup Wangchen, a Tibetan film maker who was sentenced to six years imprisonment for alleged subversion after he made a documentary called 'Leaving Fear Behind' ahead of the 2008 Olympics. Currently, there is no information about Lhaten's health or whereabouts.
