The Secret Tibet (The Forbidden world)

(Dharamshala: TibetPost-01-01-2009)-Visiting guests from The Miami University, Ohio, signed an agreement of Memorandum of Understanding with the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics, Dharamshala, today. The primary purpose of the agreement is cultural and academic exchange between the two universities.

Students from each campus will spend time studying at the other in an effort to learn and share philosophies, thus producing “…responsible and educated people for the harmony of the world, something that is needed now more than ever before”, said Geshe Kalsang Damdul, Deputy Director of the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics.

The Miami University delegation met the Tibetan spiritual, His Holiness the Dalai Lama yesterday, prompting His Holiness. to endorse the exchange. The signing represents an ongoing effort by both schools to expose their students to the world. The exercise is an extension of H.H. the Dalai Lama’s original desire to teach students widely recognized academic subjects such as science and western philosophy, in addition to the traditional curriculum. It was felt that the best way to do this is by human-to-human relations. Both schools feel that agreements such as these are important in initiating such relations.

Ven Tsering Phuntsok, the Minister of Religion and Culture Department also praised the exercise saying that he is very pleased that the two institutions are sharing their common experiences, as our two communities share very different perspectives, environments, religions, and cultures. “Thirty people have thirty different thoughts, and thirty yaks have sixty horns” an ancient Tibetan proverb he recited, meaning that every human sees things differently than everybody else, and that people can benefit from these differences of perspective.

The event commenced with the Tibetan traditional lighting of butter lamps by the Chief Guest, Minister of Religion and Culture, Tsering Phuntsok.

The Institute of Buddhist Dialectics at McLeod Ganj charges itself with the higher education of Tibetans in exile. Combining Buddhist philosophies, literature, and language with modern Western subjects has been used to create effective members of society. Education at all levels is considered crucial for the autonomy of a people, as the educated are more able to sustain cultural identity and are better equipped to handle positions of responsibility and control.

(Dharamshala: TibetPost-01-01-2009-www.tibetpost.net)-The pre-Olympics unrest in Tibet took the International Olympic Committee (IOC) by surprise and had to react with crisis management to the rising tensions around the Beijing Games, IOC president Jacques Rogge said in an interview.

But the Olympic supremo also told yesterday’s edition of Germany’s Sueddeutsche Zeitung that the Games would have been a disaster had the IOC openly criticized hosts China over human rights issues instead of conducting a silent diplomacy.

“We achieved the maximum. The Games would have been a fiasco if we had dealt more aggressively with China,” said Rogge four months after the Olympics in the Chinese capital.

“We believe that we delivered a few very clear messages to the Chinese. They acted upon some and not upon others. That’s their sovereignty,” he said.

“We are no sovereign organization, but it was clear that the IOC had to deal with China as if it was a government. You work with a government whose support you need you can’t be in a state of war with it,” Rogge said.

“There was crisis management ... We knew there would be criticism [when the IOC elected Beijing]. But no one could foresee the outbreak of violence in Lhasa on March 10,” he said.

“That changed the conditions, set the world against the torch relay and against China,” Rogge said.

“We were surprised that the protests came from the Tibetans who are normally non-violent. You can’t change the course of history and we definitely underestimated the bloody unrest. From then on we were no longer the actors, we had to react,” the Belgian said.

The IOC was criticized for its role around the Games, but Rogge said that he also had a responsibility for the athletes.

He named the completion of the torch relay a success as well as China’s new foreign media rules and its environmental improvements.

Rogge said the future of the torch relay remained uncertain because of the protests which also occurred around the 2006 Winter Games relay.

The IOC president said the organization had done its best with almost 5,000 doping tests around the Games and reiterated that the frozen samples will be tested for new-found drugs as soon as reliable methods are available.

Rogge named target tests the main weapon to catch cheaters: “Target tests are the only things that work. They raise the number of hits in a big way.”

Blood profiles set up together with the World Anti-Doping Agency are also designed to single out offenders.

Looking at the global economic crisis, Rogge said that next year’s Winter Games in Vancouver, the Summer Games in London in 2012 and the Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, in 2014 are safe thanks to government guarantees.

But he also said the IOC would have been “foolish” if it had not postponed the US TV rights talks for the 2016 Games because of the recession.

(The Tibet Post International 16 December 2008)-(Beijing)-China is opposed to the use of torture and doubts a new report saying torture is widespread in Tibet, the Foreign Ministry said on 10 December. The Free Tibet group said in a report released on Wednesday that the use of torture in restless Tibet was widespread and routine and officials regularly ignored legal safeguards supposed to be in place to prevent it.

"We have noticed this report, and we think that torture is an abuse of human rights," Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told a news briefing. "China opposes torture, and Chinese law strictly bans it.”

"I'm not certain about this group or what evidence they have presented to censure China about torture in Tibet. If there is evidence, we are willing to investigate the details. But if there is none, we can't accept this groundless criticism, and it will have no positive effect," he added.

Chinese troops marched into Tibet in 1950 and the region's spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, fled into exile in 1959 after a failed uprising against Beijing's rule.

Mountainous and remote Tibet was rocked by anti-Chinese protests earlier this year, which China blamed on the Dalai Lama, whom it brands a separatist. He has repeatedly denied the claims.

China has vowed to stamp out torture in its judicial system, described as widespread by some critics, in the face of international and domestic pressure.

Last month, the U.N. Committee Against Torture, in a rare public review of China's record, expressed dissatisfaction with a "very serious information gap" about abuses in the country where criminal justice information is often considered a state secret.

In the March 10th Tibetan protests, at least 218 Tibetans were killed, over 1290 injured and more than 6,705 arrested, according to Exiled Tibetan official statistics.

Many thousands were reported to have had been arrested indiscriminately from the streets, markets, and their homes in the aftermath of the peaceful protests, which engulfed Lhasa on March 10 and then widely spread to all parts of Tibet later. Thousands of Tibetans are still in custody.

(The Tibet Post International 15 December 2008)-Dharamshala: Thousands of Tibetans carrying traditional scarves, flowers and incense, joined by local Indian residents and foreign tourists and well-wishers, accorded a warm and ceremonial welcome to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on his arrival in Dharamshala on Saturday. His Holiness returned after successfully concluding visits to Nigeria and three European countries.

The deputy speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Mrs Dolma Gyari, acting Prime Minister Ven Tsering Phuntsok and Minister Ngodup Dongchung received His Holiness at the Gaggal, Kangra Airport near Dharamshala. Representatives from both official and non-governmental organizations were present at the airport for the warm reception.

Other dignitaries of the Central Tibetan Administration, including the Chief Justice Commissioner, justice commissioners, members of Tibetan Parliament, members of the cabinet, heads of independent bodies and secretaries of the departments welcomed His Holiness at his residence.

Tibetan spiritual leader the His Holiness left Dharamshala on 25 November for visits to Lagos in Nigeria, from where he left for Czech Republic, Belgium and Poland.

The highlights of His Holiness’s the Dalai Lama visit was his address to the plenary session of the European Parliament in Brussels on 4 December and meetings with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and fellow Nobel Peace Laureates marking the 25th anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to former Polish President Lech Walesa in Republic of Poland.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, shared his genuine concern of great Autonomy for Tibet during his meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Gdansk, Poland, on 6 December.

“I had a very nice meeting and he (President Sarkozy) also showed genuine concern about Tibet and I expressed my appreciation to him that in spite of inconvenience he stood firm on principle,” His Holiness The Dalai Lama told reporters about the meeting.

President Nicolas Sarkozy said Friday he "regrets" tensions with China over his recent meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama and expressed confidence that relations would soon improve. "I regret this friction," Sarkozy said at an EU summit in Brussels. "It is in Europe's interest to have good relations with China and it is in China's interest to have good relations with Europe." "We will find the means to talk again, but not at the price of denying our own European values," Sarkozy said.

During his visit in Czech Republic, Tibetan spiritual leader met Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, members of Parliament, deputy prime minister and former president of Czech Republic, Mr Havel.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to Poland from 5 –12 December, he met with President Lech Kaczynski, the speaker of the Senate, Hon. Bogdan Borusewicz, and addressed members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, parliament members and members of the Polish Parliamentary Group for Tibet.

The Jagiellonian University in Krakow, the oldest and one of the most prestigious universities in Poland, conferred its honorary doctorate on Tibetan spiritual leader for “promoting the attitude of respect and understanding towards peace and harmony for the people of different worldviews and religious beliefs and peaceful struggle for great autonomy of Tibet and the recognition of the human rights of Tibetan people”.

The Polish city of Wraclaw bestowed Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama with its honorary citizenship.

At an important point, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is voted the most respected world leader among Western Europeans and Americans, a poll being made public on 5 December, Friday shows, while Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany does the best job of combining respect with worldwide influence.

Those were among the first findings of a new survey, “World Leaders,” to be conducted every two months by Harris Interactive for the International Herald Tribune and the all-news channel, France 24.

(The Tibet Post International 13 December 2008)-Chinese authorities are continuing the violent crackdown on Tibetans in all parts of Tibet using military force. China has begun executing plans to shut down schools and hospitals and arbitrary arrests of Tibetans in Tibetan capital Lhasa and Karze (Ch:Ganzi) County, Karze "Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture," Sichuan province, eastern Tibet.

The violent crackdown on Tibetan protesters since 10 March this year in Tibet has left 219 Tibetans dead and 1294 injured as of 31 October.

Around 5,600 people are still under arrest or detention and more than 1000 are reportedly missing, reliable sources in Tibet reported.

According to reliable information received from Tibet, on the morning of 22 November, a group of Tibetans consisting of 4 nuns and an unknown number of youth raised Tibet independence slogans around Bharkor Square in Lhasa. As soon as the protest began, the protesters were severely beaten up and taken into custody by the Chinese police. The identities of the protesters could not be ascertained.

Similarly, since the beginning of November, some Tibetans were arbitrarily picked up from their homes in Lhasa by a joint team of Chinese secret agents and officials of the Public Security Bureau. The reason behind those arrests still remains unclear and those arrested continue to remain in protective custody.

Plans to shut down private schools and hospitals in Tibet

Moreover, according to reliable information, the concerned departments in Lhasa have started monitoring private Tibetan schools, with the authorities planning to shut down many of the schools.

Similarly, the Chinese authorities are keeping close vigil on private schools and small health centers in Karze, Tibet. The campaign aims to hinder those dedicated Tibetans in carrying out welfare projects for the local residents and suspect political motives behind such activities.

On 1 December, reliable sources in Tibet reported about a decree to shut down the most prestigious and recognized educational and health institutions in Karze. These include the hospital and school owned by Khangsar Kyabgyon Tulku and Lamdag Tulku hospital and Karze Intermediary Tibetan language school.

Expressing deep concern and disappointment, parents and other Tibetan residents, both young and old, have voluntary approached the authorities and submitted petitions appealing for them not to close schools and hospitals.

Large numbers of armed security forces have kept the whole region under constant surveillance.

Moreover, the authorities convene meetings in every monastic institution under the pretext of preventing peaceful demonstrations by Tibetans. During the meetings, pre-emptive measures are being issued, such as the government's supervision on renovation of monastery complexes. All the monks and nuns are ordered not to cause riots, for which they are required to register for a new book, exiled Tibetan official media reported.

On 09 December, more than 300 Chinese activists, including lawyers, writers, scholars and artists, issued an online statement, urging greater freedoms for Tibet and Tibetan people and an end to China's one-party rule. Reports say the Chinese authorities have detained two of the signatories before the statement was even issued.

The online statement – '08 Charter – proposed 19 measures to improve rights in China, including promoting an independent legal system, calling for freedom of association, and ending the monopoly of China’s one party rule.

It coincided with Wednesday’s 60th anniversary of the U.N. General Assembly’s adoption of the Universal declaration of Human Rights, a document that inspired many later human rights treaties.

“This charter promotes the same ideas and values that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts, such as freedom of the press, freedom of association, independent justice, freedom of religion and environmental protection,” said lawyer Mo Shaoping, who signed the statement.

“It has nothing that goes against China’s constitution,” he said.

The police detained two of the signatories, Zhang Zhuhua and Liu Xiaobo, an outspoken writer and political critic who had previously been jailed for his role in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

On Tibet, Chinese intellectuals and lawyers have expressed similar sentiments, calling for fair trial and offering free legal assistance to all those Tibetans arrested by the Chinese government for taking part in peaceful protests in Tibet this year.

Leading Chinese lawyers, including Zhu Jiuhu, a Beijing-based attorney, supported genuine autonomy for Tibet and asked the Chinese government to resolve the issue of Tibet through meaningful dialogue. Chinese dissident writer Zhao Dagong praised Zhu’s willingness and courage to openly advocate the His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s positions.

The general secretary of United Nations, Ban Ki-moon on 12, December, Friday called on China to continue its dialogue with representatives of the Tibetan leader-in-exile His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

"I hope the Chinese authorities will continue to resolve this issue through dialogue," Ban told journalists.

Ban said he hoped the dialogue would continue "in a sincere manner, so all the concerns concerning Tibet will be resolved smoothly and harmoniously."

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Lauds Chinese Activists Call for Democracy in China

I am greatly encouraged by the launching of a Charter ’08 by academics, artists, farmers and lawyers in China on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Their call for political, legal and constitutional reform is admirable.

I personally believe that President Hu Jintao’s call for a harmonious society is a laudable initiative that can provide space to the viewpoints being expressed by a growing number of Chinese people.  A harmonious society can only come into being when there is trust among the people, freedom from fear, freedom of expression, rule of law, justice and equality.

I would like to urge the Chinese leadership to consider making efforts to bring about unity and stability in a civilized way.

I would also like to take this opportunity to call upon the government of the People’s Republic of China to release prisoners of conscience, including Hu Jia, who have been detained for exercising their freedom of expression.

THE DALAI LAMA

Friday, December 12, 2008