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07/11/2008
His Holiness the Dalai Lama congratulates Barack Obama
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 (The Tibet Post International 6 November 2008) His Holiness the Dalai Lama congratulated United States President-elect Barack Obama on his election win in a message sent Wednesday November 5, 2008.Obama defeated opposing candidate Senator John McCain to become the first African-American elected President of the United States in the election held on Tuesday November 4, 2008. In his message, His Holiness wrote, “I am encouraged that the American people have chosen a President who reflects America's diversity and her fundamental ideal that any person can rise up to the highest office in the land. This is a proud moment for America and one that will be celebrated by many peoples around the world.” As a United States Senator and Presidential candidate, Obama has repeatedly voiced his support for the Dalai Lama and the struggle of the Tibetan people for greater human rights in Tibet. In a statement following the uprisings in March of this year Obama said, “If Tibetans are to live in harmony with the rest of China's people, their religion and culture must be respected and protected. Tibet should enjoy genuine and meaningful autonomy.” The President-elect and His Holiness last met at a US Senate Foreign Relations Committee event in 2005. During the Dalai Lama’s July 2008 visit to the United States they corresponded through telephone and post but were unable to meet face-to-face due to Obama’s tight campaign schedule. The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile also sent their congratulations to the new President-elect. In their congratulatory message, Speaker Karma Chopel wrote, “During the course of the electioneering, we have noted with satisfaction your interest in the Tibetan issue and your growing support for the Tibetan cause. Your distinguished predecessors, irrespective of their party affiliations, have supported the Tibetan issue strongly and have had a close and friendly relationship with our leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama. We hope that you will not only maintain the tradition but give an added thrust in view of the strong resentment shown openly by our people living under the Chinese rule in Tibet,” Full text of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s message to President-elect Barack Obama: November 5, 2008 H.E. Barack Obama President-elect of the United States of America Washington, DC U.S.A. Dear President-elect Obama, Congratulations on your election as the President of the United States of America. I am encouraged that the American people have chosen a President who reflects America's diversity and her fundamental ideal that any person can rise up to the highest office in the land. This is a proud moment for America and one that will be celebrated by many peoples around the world. The American Presidential elections are always a great source of encouragement to people throughout the world who believe in democracy, freedom and equality of opportunities. May I also commend the determination and moral courage that you have demonstrated throughout the long campaign, as well as the kind heart and steady hand that you often showed when challenged. I recall our own telephone conversation this spring and these same essential qualities came through in your concern for the situation in Tibet. As the President of the United States, you will certainly have great and difficult tasks before you, but also many opportunities to create change in the lives of those millions who continue to struggle for basic human needs. You must also remember and work for these people, wherever they may be. With my prayers and good wishes, Yours sincerely, THE DALAI LAMA |
15:59 Posted in Freedom of expression | Permalink | Comments (4) | Email this | Tags: (the tibet post international 6 november 2008) his holiness the, 2008.
Tibetan Delegation returns to India: no word on success of talks
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(The Tibet Post International 6 November 2008) NEW DELHI--TheTibetan delegation, led by Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama Kasur Lodi Gyari, returned to India from Beijing today after participating in the eighth round of talks with China, but gave no word on how the meetings went. The purpose of this trip was to follow up on the discussions that took place earlier in July of this year, and to present the Chinese leadership with a memorandum on genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people.Gyari said in a press release following the delegation’s arrival in New Delhi that official statements concerning the outcome of this week’s meetings will not be released until after a special meeting of the Tibetan people is held later this month in Dharamsala.
But in an official statement released from Beijing, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and director of the Communist Party's United Front Work Department Du Qinglin, who met with the delegation, ruled out giving Tibet the meaningful autonomy they seek, saying that His Holiness the Dalai Lama should "face reality," the associated press reported.
"It is impossible for Tibet to become independent, semi-independent, or independent in a disguised form," Du said. "The Dalai Lama should respect history, face reality, comply with the times and correct his political stance fundamentally."
H.H the Dalai Lama has maintained since the 1980’s that he seeks for Tibet a meaningful autonomy—not independence—under Chinese rule in order to protect and preserve Tibetan culture.
Chinese leadership has denied Tibet the same degree of autonomy it grants its other autonomous territories Hong Kong and Macau under the “one country, two systems” formula. "We will never allow someone to hold a banner of 'real nationality autonomy' and damage the national unity," Du said.
Lodi Gyari was joined in Beijing by Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen, senior aides Sonam N. Dagpo and Bhuchung K. Tsering, both members of the Task Force on Sino-Tibetan Negotiations, and Kalsang Tsering from the Secretariat of the Task Force.
In addition to the discussions about autonomy for Tibet, Chinese authorities took the delegation on a tour of the Muslim ethnic minority region Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to demonstrate Beijing’s ability to handle minority concerns.
Full text of Tibetan delegation’s press release:
Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen and I, accompanied by senior aides Sonam N. Dagpo and Bhuchung K. Tsering, both members of the Task Force on Sino-Tibetan Negotiations, and Kalsang Tsering from the Secretariat of the Task Force, visited China from October 30 to November 5, 2008. We returned to India on November 6, 2008.
The main purpose of this trip was to follow up on the discussions held during the seventh round in July this year. We presented a memorandum to the Chinese leadership on genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people.
In Beijing we met with Mr. Du Qinglin, Vice Chariman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and Minister of the Central United Front Work Department, on November 4, 2008. We also had a day-long discussion Mr. Zhu Weiqun, Executive Vice Minister, and Mr. Sithar, Vice Minister of the Central United Front Work Department, on November 5, 2008. An official from the Tibet Autonomous Region, Pema Trinley, Executive Vice Governor, was also present in the Chinese side. We had a briefing, organized by the United Front, by experts on Chinese Constitution and the Law on Regional National Autonomy at the China Tibetology Research Center. It was moderated by Mr. Lhakpa Phuntsok, Director of the Center. We also visited the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
This morning we briefed Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche, Chairman of the Tibetan Cabinet, in New Delhi about our discussions. As a special general meeting of the Tibetan people is being convened later this month at the suggestion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, we have been advised not to make statements about our discussions before this meeting.
Our host for this visit was the Central United Front Work Department of the Chinese Communist Party. The United Front Work Departments of Beijing City and the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region were also involved with our visit. We thank them for their hospitality.
New Delhi
November 6, 2008
15:57 Posted in Freedom of expression | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this | Tags: (the tibet post international 6 november 2008) new delhi--thetib, led by special envoy of his holiness the dalai lama kasur lodi g, returned to india from beijing today after participating in the, but gave no word on how the meetings went. the purpose of this t, and to present the chinese leadership with a memorandum on genui
China sentenced 55 Tibetans as the 8th round of talks began
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 (The Tibet Post International 6 November 2008)-China sentenced fifty-five Tibetans who took part in the March protests against Chinese rule in Lhasa, Tibet on 5 November 2008 as representatives of the estranged Tibetan leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama took part in the eighth round of talks with China in Beijing.Pema Tsewang, Chinese-appointed vice chairman of the regional government for Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), announced the sentencing during a meeting with Michael Andrew Johnson, visiting member of the Australian House of Representatives. "Following the violence, police detained 1,317 people, of whom 1,115 were subsequently released. The rest stood trial,” said Tsewang, according to the official Xinhua news agency reported 5 November 2008. This is the overall number given since the government began sentencing people for their roles in the peaceful demonstrations in Lhasa Tibetan capital, on March 14. The Chinese government ruthlessly cracked down on peaceful Tibetan demonstrators across Tibet leaving 218 Tibetans dead, 1290 injured and 6705 arrested or detained since 10 March 2008. According to state-controlled Chinese media, "rioters torched 120 houses and 84 vehicles and looted 1,367 shops, causing a direct economic loss of about USD 47 million. 18 civilians and one police officer died and 382 civilians and 241 police were injured." Previous reports from the Chinese government said 30 people had been convicted of arson, robbery, disrupting public order and attacking government offices, among other crimes, as of April 29. Their sentences ranged from three years to life. Chinese official news agency "Xinhua" did not elaborate on the length of prison terms awarded to the fifty-five or on what charges their convictions took place. It is unknown if they had legal representation. The sentences of the other 147 people who stood trial are also unknown. Civil rights groups and international communities condemned the arbitrary detention of Tibetans for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression and opinion to voice their grievances with China. |
China Arrests Tibetan Monk Jigme
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(The Tibet Post International 5 November 2008) DHARAMSALA--Sangchu County, eastern Tibet, People’s Armed Police (PAP) and Public Security Bureau (PSB) arrested Tibetan Buddhist monk Jigme on 4 November 2008 from a home in Labrang for reasons unknown, according to the Tibetan Center for Human Rights and Democracy.PAP and PSE officials in military trucks raided the Labrang home around 1 p.m. and took Jigme away to an undisclosed location. The official reasons for his arrest and where he is detained are unknown.
In September Jigme provided information on China’s crackdown of the March protesters to foreign media including the Associated Press and the Voice of America's Tibetan Service before going into hiding for fear of the repercussions of sharing information.
Earlier, on 22 March 2008, Jigme was arrested and detained for two months for suspicions of participation in protests that occurred in Labrang on 14 March 2008. While in custody he was tortured to extract a confession of his involvement in the protests, his injuries so severe that he lost consciousness twice. He was temporarily released in May on medical grounds.
In addition to Jigme, two other monks from Labrang who spoke out to foreign media have been missing since 9 April 2008.
China arrested another Tibetan monk, Jigmey Gyatso, the camera-man of filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen, who interviewed 108 Tibetans in eastern Tibet this year for his 35 minute video "Leaving Fear Behind," which was aired abroad. Jigmey Gyatso was released in October.
The rights group condemned the arbitration detention of Tibetans for expressing grievances and peaceful exercise of the right to freedom of expression and opinion.
The Chinese government ruthlessly cracked down on peaceful Tibetan demonstrators across Tibet since 10 March this year, which left 218 Tibetans dead, 1290 injured and 6705 arrested or detained so far.