The Secret Tibet (The Forbidden world)

Dharamshala: The Tibet Post International-The Tibetan Government-in-exile this morning marked the centenary of the 13th Dalai Lama Thupten Gyaltso's exile to India.

The official ceremony was held at main Tibetan temple in Dharamshala, India, where His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama's residence based for last 50 years.

It was attended by officials from the three strands of the government-in-exile - the assembly, the cabinet and the judiciary - together with several non-government organizations.

Tibetan Prime Minister Professor Samdhong Rinpoche told the audience that, in 1910, the Chinese Manchu Dynasty invaded Tibet, driving the 13th Dalai Lama into exile.

"The 13th Dalai Lama worked assiduously for Tibet," he said, "and maintained good relations with neighbouring countries, so the centenary of his exile is well worth remembering, especially by those in government.

"It was the fifth Dalai Lama who founded the first Tibetan government, the Gaden Phodrang Shogle Namgyal. He had many plans to improve his country. Unfortunately he was not supported by his compatriots, and his successors faced many subsequent invasions from Nepal, China and Britain.

"In 1912," the Prime Minister continued, "the Chinese were ousted from Tibet, and the 13th Dalai Lama declared it an independent state.

"All countries mark the anniversaries of important figures and their deeds, and the Tibetan Government-in-exile is correct to do the same."

The Prime Minister concluded that, "2012 will be the centenary of the 13th Dalai Lama's return to Tibet, and this anniversary should also be marked, along with our own dreams of returning home to join our country-people."

Mr Penpa Tsering, speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-exile, related the life story of the 13th Dalai Lama.

He said that when he returned to Tibet, the 13th Dalai Lama instituted many changes to government policy, based on his experiences in India, regarding, for example, hunting and forestry regulation, and tax laws. He also sanctioned the founding of tea plantations, and the introduction of electricity and telephony.

Mr Penpa Tsering concluded that we must maintain previous advances in Tibet and Tibetan culture, but also respond to changing times, as did the 13th Dalai Lama.

Dharamshala: The Tibet Post International, Envoys of Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said Tuesday they had urged China in talks last week to find a mutually acceptable solution to the Tibetan problem based on the Memorandum. During the ninth round of talks, Tibet's side has submitted an 'explanatory' note of Memorandum to the Chinese leadership to clarify its stand on autonomy for Tibet.

The special envoy of His Holiness, Gyari Lodi Gyaltsen and envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen told a press conference in Dharamshala where Tibetan government in exile based that they were committed to continuing dialogue with China, but Beijing should stop "baseless accusations" against His Holiness, such as referring to him as a "separatist."

"We called upon the Chinese side to stop the baseless accusations against His Holiness and labeling him a separatist. Instead, we urge the Chinese leadership to work with him to find a mutually acceptable solution to the Tibetan problem based on the Memorandum. This will ensure stability, unity and the development of a harmonious society," Gyari Rinpoche said, reading from a statement.

"His Holiness the Dalai Lama speaks on behalf of the Tibetan people, with whom he has a deep and historical relationship and one based on full trust. It cannot be disputed that His Holiness legitimately represents the Tibetan people, and he is certainly viewed as their true representative and spokesperson by them. It is indeed only by means of dialogue with His Holiness the Dalai Lama that the Tibetan issue can be resolved. The recognition of this reality is important," the statement added.

"A major difference between the two sides is the conflicting perspectives on the current situation inside Tibet. So, in order to have a common understanding of the real situation, we suggested a common effort to study the actual reality on the ground, in the spirit of seeking truth from facts. This will help both the sides to move beyond each others' contentions." the statement continued.

"Since His Holiness the Dalai Lama has consistently made his position clear on the future of Tibet within the framework of the People's Republic of China, given political will on the Chinese leadership's side we do not see any reason why we cannot find a common ground on these issues," the statement said.

Dharamshala: The Tibet Post-Central Tibetan Government In-Exile released a statement today to extend its heartfelt condolences to the family of Ngabo Ngawang Jigme, a former Tibetan minister who assumed various military and political responsibilities in Tibet both before and after 1959.

The excutive cabinet (Kashag) of the Central Tibetan Administration is sad to hear the news about the passing way of Ngabo Ngawang Jigme, the former Kalon of the Tibetan government. The Kashag remembers his life-long contributions and mourns his demise.

Ngabo was a senior Tibetan government official, appointed to the post of Kalon by none other than Regent Takdrag Rinpoche. Honest and patriotic, he always spoke out the truth even under the most trying and difficult circumstances.

In 1980s, during his meetings with different Tibetan representatives and fact-finding delegations, Ngabo explained that there was never a history of Tibetan Government paying taxes to China. He stated that while signing the 17-Point Agreement, then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, at the request of the Tibetan representatives, had promised that, though time was not ripe, all Tibetan areas would be eventually united under one administration. In 1989, he clarified with historical backgrounds and facts that the Chinese propaganda about the Tibetans enthroning the present Dalai Lama with the acceptance and the permission of the Chinese Government is not true.

He urged that Tibet's special status should be acknowledged as it has signed an agreement with the Central Government, unlike other minorities. In 1991, he again called on the Central Government to implement articles of the 17-point Agreement in general and specifically those articles which state that Tibet's political status will not be changed. Further more, he, along with the 10th Panchen Lama, made great efforts to preserve and promote Tibetan language. In short, he was someone who upheld the spirit of the Tibetan people.

We offer condolences to his wife and family.

The Tibet Post International: First, tell us a little bit about your history.

Dharamshala: The Tibet Post-I'm from the United States, and was born in Baltimore. My dad was a travel journalist and he started me traveling when I was very young. I started studying Dharma about twelve years ago. I run my own businesses, designed a fashion line, just wrote a book, and do marketing consulting, journalism, and modeling. About a year and a half ago, I came over to India to do some volunteer work, and started to spend all of my afternoons up here in Dharamsala. I started to work with the Hope Center, and loved it, so I started my own NGO to support youth-run nonprofits that are India-based that are helping the Tibetan community. Now, I spend at least six months out of the year living here in Dharamsala, teaching and working.

TPI: And how about the completion of your education?

Miss Heidi Minx: I completed a Bachelor's degree, with concentrations in Cultural Anthropology, Sociology and Art.

TPI: So, how are you involved with the Tibetan issue?

Well, right now, I'm involved by trying to raise as much awareness as possible. In the United States, most of my friends are musicians, and there are a lot of young people that are influenced by their music. We're recording a CD right now, Jailhouse Records, and it's really to educate young people. And in the meantime, I've also started to connect with a lot of the more established Tibetan support groups: International Campaign for Tibet, the Tibet House. I had a conversation with Ganden Thurman, and it really solidified [the importance of] raising awareness for Tibet in a country where most people don't know where Tibet is on a map or know who a Tibetan is-what's the music, what's the culture. So, that's really the Tibet House's aim, but it's also my aim.

While I'm living here, I do a lot of blogging and a lot of video interviews with my friends to show what they're doing, what their political situation is, why they live in exile, and really work to introduce my friends here to my friends on the other side of the world, to show a personal connection. I also try to do as much as possible to support the arts; the Cultural Revolution was a catastrophe, and so much art was lost...I've built websites for the Institute of Tibetan Thangka Art, which is free to its students for five years; for the thangka artist here, Tashi Darjee. Through projects like that, and through the Hope Center, building them websites, helping them raise awareness, and have a face on a more global platform.

Personally, my background is very rock and roll, and punk rock-most of my friends grew up on the streets-so, we never had a problem if we saw something was wrong, saying it; and growing up on the East Coast and growing up in a democracy where you're taught to say exactly what you want, and if something is wrong, you're taught to question it. That, combined with the Buddhist teaching of "question everything, and test it, and make sure that it's right, and correct, and true."

So encouraging social responsibility among young people is really important [to me]. I think the younger generation is very aware right now about what older generations have done that have put us in a bad state-be it the environment, be it the economy-and that young people are becoming more and more aware, even if it's just small things like remembering to recycle...and I also think that some of the generation above mine, maybe the Baby Boomer generation, as it's called in the US, is leading for social responsibility. You've got George Clooney really using his voice to raise awareness for Darfur, you've got Bono working hard for AIDS awareness, and I think celebrities are starting to tie in more and more to social causes, which is extremely important.

TPI: There are two kinds of Buddhists: one kind becomes Buddhist through learning and understanding, and the other by following beliefs. So, my question is, are you a real Buddhist?

I know that there are millions of people in the world that know so much more about dharma than I do. And I'm not gonna say I'm the perfect Buddhist, and I wake up and I meditate every morning-because I don't. But, what I do know is that I try to consider everybody else before myself, and that I think action "off of the mat"-it's a little key phrase that so many Western Buddhists use-I think that putting compassion into action is the most important thing.

TPI: So, yesterday was the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. Based on your experience with Tibetan women here in the exile community, what do you think about their equality?

I think in different places, there are so many different answers, and it depends on society. There shouldn't be violence against anyone. I remember on March 12th of this year, when it was the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan women's uprising, TWA did their event at the temple. There was a movie that was screened, and in it the Dalai Lama made a great comment. He said, "I think the Tibetan women were the first feminists...and we've never recognized them as being any different from our men. In fact, there's no reason that the next Dalai Lama cannot be a woman."

So, to that end, I don't see many restrictions on a man can do this, but a woman cannot. I was never brought up to believe that a man can do anything that a woman cannot do, and frankly, there wouldn't be any men without women.

One of the most disturbing things to me is, I remember reading one book that talks about the sterilization and one-child policy in China, and how it's affecting so many of the Tibetan women. And while it exists throughout China, the policy specifically against Tibetan women is such cultural genocide that it's insane...I don't understand why, if there should only be one child...after the one child, why isn't the Chinese [or Tibetan] man given a vasectomy? Why is it the woman?

TPI: So what do you say about equality in exile? Is it exactly equal, 90%, 80%...?

Most of my friends that live here, who have come into exile, are young girls who are living by themselves, going to classes...really pursuing their education. And I see my young friends here that all get along together really well, both [genders] sitting in classes together."

I think maybe I want to say 80% though, because I do still see some shyness. I lot of the nuns, I find, are very shy, and don't come to class. I don't have enough experience to say, "Is that the nunneries not encouraging them to come to the classes?"-or is that out of shyness?

I think, more than anything, it is not inequality; it is a cultural shyness that sometimes will hold women back because of their own accord.

In terms of violence against women, from my own experience, I have not seen domestic abuse here like I have in the United States. I think in general there is much more respect for women.

TPI: Especially from the Dalai Lama.

Absolutely!

TPI: So, why do you find it important to teach English to Tibetans?

I think that English has somehow become a very international language. In almost every country in the world, English classes are available, and people can speak it. So, there are several reasons. One is that it will enable them to get jobs and work if they choose to leave Dharamsala.

The second is that there's no reason why people should not be able to tell their stories. My friend Wen, who runs Common Ground Café, holds the same opinion that when people talk, one-on-one, and share their stories, two things happen: you believe them or you think they're lying; but when you become a personal judge, and you watch their body language, then you believe, and then you begin to question, why did this happen, and how did it happen, and what can I do?

So, cultural interchange is crucial to solving problems, and it's something that the Dalai Lama often said started this problem: that Tibet did not have cultural interchange back in the 40s and 50s. So, teaching English I think for that reason is very important, and it's also why I'm learning Tibetan right now, so that I can be a better teacher, and I can understand my students.

Lastly, with teaching at IBD (Institute of Buddhist Dialectics), I see that so many Geshes are part of the IBD language program. The Dalai Lama wanted the Geshes to learn either English or Chinese to be able to continue to spread Tibetan dharma. And I think that spreading dharma is extremely important.

TPI: So, last last question. You said that you are funding or helping to financially support Tibetan NGOs?

I work hard in the US to raise funds. I have my own NGO status in the United States and I work to raise money to be able to put towards small projects here in the community, whether it's paying for Ita's website, for Tashi's website, for the Hope Center's website. I work with Kipa at Jumpstay in Action, and we funded two trips for the elders at Jonbling to be able to have a private audience with His Holiness the Karmapa. There's another project that I'm working on right now with a nonprofit based in California, called Samosors, to bring an outsource work center here into the community.

I try to cap my projects at $200, but I try to fund small things that will enable small NGOs to grow. For the Hope Center, I worked for printing and designing, helping them design all their postcards and their brochures. So, they had things to sell, to be able to sustain income. So it's not so much check writing-that's not the motive-it's more being able to put money towards different small projects in the community, and sometimes it's just using my skills. I think I helped six different NGOs fill out their Rowel Fund applications.

TPI: And sorry, I forgot. Can you tell us about your tattoos?

I started getting tattoos when I was 17, before it was popular. I've always used it as a way to express my beliefs. The Dharma tattoos started about ten years ago. I have "Om Ma Ni Padme Hum" on my chest, the Tibetan flag on my arm...

TPI: Do the tattoos protect you?

I'm not sure if it protects me-I think maybe that's just good karma.

Interviewed by YC. Dhardhowa, editor for The Tibet Post International

The Tibet Post: Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama sent a message to the visiting Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama through a group of Japanese lawmakers Sunday saying he is hoping to meet with His Holiness again, group sources said. Hatoyama avoided directly meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, apparently considering Japanese relations with China, which sees the Buddhist leader as a separatist trying to tear Tibet from Chinese rule. But the message may draw criticism from China.

Before becoming prime minister in September following a historic victory in the general election, Hatoyama met His Holiness the Dalai Lama in November 2007 as secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan and expressed support for ‘‘high autonomy'' for Tibet. His Holiness the Dalai Lama received Hatoyama's message from a bipartisan group of Japanese lawmakers on the Tibetan issue, headed by DPJ member Seishu Makino, at a Tokyo hotel.

Noble Peace laureate, His Holiness the Dalai Lama said he has sent a personal letter to Hatoyama to celebrate his inauguration as prime minister, according to the sources.

According to Kyodo News, His Holiness the Dalai Lama thanked the Prime Minister for the message and told the lawmakers he was pleased that Hatoyama, with whom he has met several times, has become prime minister.

Hatoyama was appointed as prime minister in August, replacing Liberal Democrat Taro Aso, and has been in office since 16 September.

www.thetibetpost.com-Dharamsala, India: Around one hundred Tibetans and foreigners, mostly young adults, gathered in the hall of the Tibetan Welfare Office on the evening of 14 October to participate in a dynamic discussion entitled, "Is Autonomy Really Possible Under PRC Rule?". The prominent speakers in this debate were Michael Davis, a professor at Hong Kong University and graduate of Yale Law School; and Lobsang Sangay, a Tibetan lawyer and researcher at Harvard Law School. Tenzin Tsondue, from "Talk Tibet," acted as moderator and host.

Davis spoke on the official Chinese position concerning Tibetan autonomy, and suggested ways that Tibetans could frame their struggle within Chinese and international law. He explained the key requests of the 2008 Tibetan memorandum and urged the exile government to continue to "push forward" with this, despite Chinese officials' inflexibility.

He also praised the diversity in political opinions and demands within the Tibetan exile community, proclaiming, "That's the way human rights movements work."

Davis further recommended that Tibetans use the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which China ratified, to argue their case at the international level. This Declaration protects the human rights and self-determination of indigenous minorities around the world, and coincides largely with the demands listed in the Tibetan Memorandum.

Lobsang Sangay then informed the audience of five types of power that can and have been utilized in past struggles for autonomy and against authoritarian governments, comparing the Tibetan movement to others around the world. He analyzed where the Tibet struggle stands on each of these aspects, and suggested which particular areas Tibetans and Tibet supporters can improve upon to make their case for freedom more effective.

Sangay described the first type of power, "people power," as occurring when citizens of a country try to overthrow an authoritarian leader or government system that they don't approve of.

He explained that in some cases, "people power" struggles rely heavily on outside support from groups of "a similar background" living outside the country in question. The greatest example of this is the 40 million African Americans who supported the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa during the 1990s.

Assessing the case for Tibetan "people power," the Harvard-trained lawyer noted that while there are 500 million Buddhists in the world, many of them reside either inside China, or in other East and Southeast Asian countries to which His Holiness the Dalai Lama has very restricted access. Mongolia and Bhutan, who share the most with Tibet in terms of location, religion and culture, are landlocked countries that depend heavily on China.

"Now that leaves us, Tibetans. We had a people's revolution in Tibet last year, from Tibetans from all across Tibet, but it was not enough." Sangay concluded.

In terms of "money power," Sangay stated that the Tibetan movement and government in exile receive the most support from Tibetans in India, as well as those working in America and other Western countries. He said, "Tibetans are hinting to their leaders that, "If you organize something dramatic and interesting and dynamic, we will fund you as much as we can."

In Sangay's opinion, Tibetans should continue exclude the third type of power-"militant power"-from their struggle. "The Tibetan nonviolent model is one that other activists movements around the world want to emulate...that's something to be proud of," he declared.

Political power, Sangay stated, occurs when, "you strategically assert political power within the system that you are in." He pointed out that the Uighurs in Xinjiang assert more autonomy than the Tibetans, and as a result have had fewer religious centers destroyed.

Sangay added that, "the other side of political power is the Tibetan government in exile." By acting as the legitimate representatives of the Tibetan people, and developing a democratic system, the exile government does hold a certain amount of international political clout. "So we are making progress...this is the institution we can build on to assert our political power," he reasoned.

Finally, Sangay argued that, "Most movements have succeeded because of their accumulated knowledge power." He thus focused on education as the foremost area for Tibetans to improve upon.

"If we accumulate enough knowledge power, we will have money power. If we get that, then we will get political power. If we get that, we can get genuine autonomy, or independence, or self-determination...whatever you choose," Sangay reasoned, emphasizing that, "It's in our hands."

During the question and answer period, both Sangay and Davis discussed the education systems inside Tibet and in the exile community, noting that the Tibetan government in exile is very responsive to suggestions for improvement, and even Chinese education officials realize that the current situation is not acceptable. Davis mentioned the work of a woman named Tashi, who created a school in eastern Tibet that serves 400 children. Davis explained that in the case of this school, "just by changing the way they educated kids in primary school, they had a much higher success rate on the Chinese entrance exams for university."

Sangay noted, however, that education really comes down to a matter of individual effort, rather than a "big solution" or "magic formula." He described his own life, as a farmer's son from "the smallest of all the Tibetan settlements in India," and credited his "relentless determination" as the reason for his academic success.

"If you have passion for Tibet, anger for Tibet-if you feel humiliated by the Chinese government-use that energy towards your education. If you have compassion for Tibet, use that towards your education," he implored the audience.

Moderator Tenzin Tsondue added an important dimension to the "knowledge power" issue by highlighting that the tremendous March 2008 protests were initiated by ordinary Tibetans who had little higher education, but a deep knowledge of their own traditions. While the movement can use higher education to deal with the outside world and especially the Chinese, traditional knowledge remains crucial as a uniting factor among Tibetans.

www.thetibetpost.com-A source from Tibet said on October 1st, three young Tibetan adults were arrested by Chinese police in Sogdzong County, eastern Tibet. Gyaltsen, aged 25, Nyima Wangchuk, 24, and Yeshe Namkha, 25 - all residents of Dara village - were taken to Nagchu county and have not been heard from since. Police have refused the arrestees' families any contact with them.

An anonymous source from Tibet told us he suspects that police had been monitoring Gyaltsen, Wanchuk and Namkha's internet activities and QQ (messenger service) accounts, through which they shared photographs of and speeches by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Our source also said the police had accused the three of being in communication with individuals outside of China.

He continued that farmers and nomads from Sogdzong County are finding it impossible to carry out their work at present, because government officials require them to attend 'patriotic' meetings every day, at which the virtues of the Chinese government are extolled. Further, villagers visiting Sogdzong County town face police harassment, with ID and security checks.

Our  source also reported that police banned monks from Sog Tsandan Monastery from celebrating the post-summer retreat holiday this year. Armed Chinese police detained the monks for a meeting with Chinese officials and did not allow them to visit their families, as is customary.

summer retreat is observed by monks over the summer months, during which time they remain inside their monastery to avoid harming the many insects that emerge during the season.

News report provided by Mr Ngawang Tharpa and English translation from Tibetan made by The Tibet Post