24/04/2009
US President Obama warned to not meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Dharamshala: TibetPost-23-April-2009- China warned US President Obama to not meet with the Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama today in Beijing at regular news conference of Chinese Foreign Ministry. A Chinese spokeswoman told that US President Barack Obama should not meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama, when he visits the United States in October.
President Bush and Bill Clinton met with Tibetan leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his previous visits in United State, in 2007, President W. Bush met with His Holiness at the White House in high official level, presented the U.S. Congress' highest civilian honor, calling the monk a "universal symbol of peace and tolerance." but immediately China warned US President Obama to not meet with His Holiness even a meeting between two leaders have not been confirmed.
Spokeswoman for Foreign Ministry, Jiang Yu at a regular news conference today in Beijing claimed that China oppose any engagement in "separatist activities" His Holiness while asking to comment on a possible meeting between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and US President Obama. "We firmly oppose the Dalai's engagement in separatist activities in any country under whatever capacity and under whatever name," she said.
"We have made representations to the United States urging the U.S. to honor its commitments and not allow the Dalai to engage in separatist activities in the United States," she continued.
China warned and made heavy pressures on many countries, particularly Asian and African countries for last 50 years, regarding His Holiness the Dalai lama's abroad visits and meetings with world leaders, in 2008, China canceled a major summit with the European Union because French President Nicolas Sarkozy met His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Barack Obama's administration has already faced heavy criticism on Chinese sensitive human rights and trade issues after the Secretary of State Clinton said during her trip to Beijing that the United States would not let its human rights concerns interfere with cooperation with China.
Tibetan spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be arrived in US tomorrow; he will visit Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Boston and New York during his visit to the country for 16 days from 24 April - 9 May.
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15/04/2009
Chinese make arrests and heavy restrictions in Machu district, Eastern Tibet
Dharamshala: TibetPost-14-April-2009 - On 10 April, 2009 a traditional festival of religious ritual dance took place at the Sarma Monastery in Walpan township in Machu district, eastern Tibet. Over 200 Chinese armed forces arrived at the monastery and, without any explanation or warning, they publicly searched, frisked, and beat participants in the festival. They also took their flint and knives. Authorities then searched the home of a Tibetan named Shilok where they found a wolf skin and proceeded to allege that the man had a gun.
The police took the skin and brutally beat Shilok. His friends, Konbe, Lobsang, and Dakpa from Ngapa argued with the policemen, saying that they could not take the wolf skin without evidence and that it was against the law for the officials to do so. Chinese authorities then handcuffed and arrested the three men. Members of the public attending the festival reacted to the arrests and began to fight with the police, throwing stones at them, injuring eight of the policemen. They then proceeded to take back the four men who had been arrested from the authorities.
Due to the brutal beating, Konbe was left with a severe head injury and was admitted to Lantu Hospital. Lobsang received two broken ribs, but managed to escape with Dakpa. Shilok was arrested on 12, April, 20009 in Walpan township, Machu district and is now being held in the Machu District Prison.
After the incident, Chinese Reeducation Officials from Sarma Monastery, officials of Walpan township, other representatives from local villages, and Machu district officials called a meeting. In the meeting, it was said that Machu district in Gansu Province, a monastery called Rugon in particular, was a main source of separatist activities and movements. The authorities continued, saying, "We must arrest the main five criminals, including Goshul Lobsang."
On 28 March, 2009, Chinese armed forces gave one bag of rice, a handbag, and a photo depicting Tibetans in Chinese uniform in front of the Potala Palace waving the red Chinese flag, meant to symbolize the Communist party, to each monk in monasteries in Machu district. However, Tibetan monks did not come to receive the blood-scented gifts with the exception of reeducation officials in the monasteries and some of the elder monks.
Chinese officials in the area give strong warnings to Tibetans living in Machu District, prohibiting access to such media as Radio Free Asia or Voice of America. Authorities erected over 170 official Chinese satellite dishes and insisted on taking any privately-owned satellite dishes capable of receiving media from outside China.
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Peaceful protests in Karze, eastern Tibet: 15 Tibetans arrested
Dharamshala: TibetPost-14-April-2009- A peaceful anti-Chinese occupation protest broke out in the Kham Tehor regionand and fifteen Tibetan protestors were arrested. Related information about 15 Tibetan political prisoners was put on display by Chinese authorities throughout Tibet. On 5 April, 15 Tibetans who were involved in the peace protest in Kham Karze as well as the farming protest in Karze, in which farmers in the area refused to cultivate their land as a means of protesting the Chinese occupation, were loaded into a large truck that was heavily guarded by Chinese armed military forces.All heads of the 15 prisoners were shaved and they were forced to put on Chinese prison uniforms. The truck carried the prisoners from Karze county to Lhopa township, and from there onward to Rongpatsa areas in Dhargye county and a collection of many other places with an entourage of 20 Chinese police vehicles. On the way, the Chinese armed policemen broadcasted via microphone messages to all Tibetans within earshot, “These prisoners engaged in separatist activities and they are a danger to the safety of our nation.
The consequence will be the same for anyone who chooses to follow their path.” Threatening civilians with military weapons such as electric rods in addition to broadcasting their warning, Chinese authorities took the Tibetan prisoners from county to county on display. The Tibetan prisoners on the truck were bound to the truck with heavy chains, making escape for the prisoners impossible. All sides of the truck were covered in Chinese slogans, the meanings of which could not be ascertained by witnesses.
Additional information about the prisoners:
1. Jampa Dhondup, age 27, from Tsitsang Monastery in Karze was arrested as a result of his involvement in the farming protests on 19 March, 2009.
2. Taphing, around age 56, from Thamel Dretak village in Karze was arrested on 19 March, 2009, under many accusations
3. Tsering Wangrab, age 42, from Kangning Nang village in Lhopa township in Karze was arrested as a result of his involvement in the farming protests in Karze on 21 March, 2009. Information about the other prisoners remains unknown.
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Chinese authorities raid a monastery for surprise inspection and arrest five monks
Dharamshala: TibetPost-14-April-09 –Tsitsang Monastery in Karze eastern Tibet was raided, every room was inspected, and five monks were arrested in the middle of the night on 1 April, 2009. Armed Chinese police stormed Tsitsang Monastery in Karze county and proceeded to search each monk’s residence, beating monks and looting as they went.
Chinese police also arrested four or five monks and still have not released them. The only information that has been attained thus far concerning the five Tibetan prisoners is about Sonam Nyima, a monk staff member from Tsitsang Monastery from Lhopa township in Karze county, eastern Tibet.
Sonam Nyima, the son of the late Dawa Dhondup (father) and Pal Dickyi (Mother, who is still alive) and his brother, Tsering Gyurme, age 26, also from Tsitsang Monastery, joined a peaceful protest in Karze County on 18 March, 2009.
When the Chinese security department in Karze county publicized the new Arrest Policy Number One of 2008, sa o called "result of potential threat to the safety of the nation", Tsering Gyume was forced to escape into hiding and has not yet returned.
Sonam Nyima’s younger half brother, Tenzin Ngodup, age 24, from Tsitsang Monastery joined the peace protest on 10 May, 2008, with a monk friend, and as a result of their involvement in the demonstration, they were arrested and sentenced to three years imprisonment.
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10/04/2009
A detailed account of protests in Karze County, Eastern Tibet
Dharamshala: TibetPost-9-April-2009-China occupied the whole of Tibet in 1949, and for 60 years Tibet has since been gripped by violence and terror that has lead His Holiness the Dalai Lama to describe life inside of his homeland as "hell on earth". Since Tibetan Uprising Day last March, the Chinese Government has imprisoned, tortured, and murdered hundreds of Tibetans, treating Tibetan people with inhumane cruelty. On a daily basis, Chinese authorities are increasing their heavy restrictions on Tibetans in all parts of Tibet.Local authorities held a mandatory meeting, forcing Tibetans in Karze to attend, and issued a warning to those distributing ad writing the pamphlets, a new form of protest. Officials also warned that whoever was writing the documents would be imprisoned and their farms seized by the government. Beginning on 19 March, authorities began to arrest many Tibetans in Karze and in surrounding counties. Some villagers were forced to escape to hill stations.
There are eight townships in the Nyinsab area in Karze County: Thingkha, Lhopa, Sungo, Trangben, Rongsha, Serchu, Kadrak, Dhadho. Each of the farmers in these townships have eight farming operations and each farming operation supports 40 families; each larger family has 130 Ha of land, while smaller families are entitled to 30 Ha. Income for the larger families is 15,000 kg of grain, and 1,500 kg for smaller families. The average income of each family is 3,500 kg of grain; the annual income is 8,960,000 kg of grain. One third of the weight of the grain is peas. In one year there are 120-130 trucks carrying peas to sell in China. One third of the grain is barley, and one third is wheat.
Normally the best grain resource of Kham, Eastern Tibet is in Karze County. Therefore, counties such as Sershul, Dege, Nyakrong, Palyul, Jodha, Goojo, Chamdho, and nomad areas depend on Karze for grain. According to the Tibetan calendar, the year begins on 16 February, and it is during that time that crops are planted.
This year in an unprecedented form of protest, Tibetans have resolved to stand up to the severe violence that has rocked Tibet since March of last year. Despite the large numbers of Chinese military forces sent to the area and to enforce sowing of fields, the people of Karze have resisted and the majority of the land remains unplanted, the traditional time for planting having passed. Even if the land were planted now, the grain would not have time to mature and the fields would not yield sustainable amounts of grain. This is only a detailed account of the situation in the Nyingsub areas in Karze, but the neighboring townships and villages such as Dharjye, Dongkhor, Bery, Zakhog, Drakgo, and Choknri are seeing similar forms of peaceful resistance to Chinese brutality.
Chinese authorities have been arresting anyone and everyone not farming in Karze County and showing no mercy - even those as young as fifteen are being arrested, detained, or tortured.
Since March of this year, Tibetans in Karze have stood up against the Chinese government and peacefully protested Chinese rule. 72 individuals including monks, nuns and lay people have been arrested, 71 still in prison and one killed. Their names, ages, and villages have been released in addition to details surrounding their arrests. They are as follows:
Name Age Township Village When Arrested Where Arrested
1. Paga 30 Rongtsa Phunsum 01-Nov-08 Karze District
2 Pema Yangsto 22 Sungo Shilu Ritrod Monastary 05-Mar-09 Karze District
3 Jampa Lhamo 36 Tranben Yipakhak 05-Mar-09 Karze District
4 Tsering Dakpa 17 Su-ngo Shilu Ritrod Monastary 05-Mar-09 Karze District
5 Rinchen Phuntsok 15 Su-ngo Shilu Ritrod Monastary 05-Mar-09 Karze District
6 Choenyi Gyatso 18 Su-ngo Nyakrong 05-Mar-09 Karze District
7 Lobsang Khadro 22 Thingkha Gewa Drak 06-Mar-09 Karze District
8 Palga A 30 Dhadho Tsoshi 07-Mar-09 Karze District
9 Palga B 34 Tsogo Chokri Aduk 09-Mar-09 Karze District
10 Choetso 16 Lhopa Khangnyi Nang 10-Mar-09 Karze District
11 Tsering Lhamo 17 Lhopa Tsawu Nang 10-Mar-09 Karze District
12 Choedon Lhamo 17 Lhopa Dhokar Teng 10-Mar-09 Karze District
13 Sonam 17 Lhopa Khangnyi Nang 11-Mar-09 Karze District
14 Sonam Gonpo 24 Nyakrong Thangkyi 11-Mar-09 Thangkyi
15 Pema Yeshe 28 Nyakrong Nyida 11-Mar-09 Thangkyi
16 Tsewang Gyatso 24 Nyakrong Thangkyi 11-Mar-09 Thangkyi
17 Ngodup Dorjee 28 Thingkha Drongsar 11-mar-09 Karze District
18 Dawa Tsering 25 Lhopa Dzongnang 14-Mar-09 Karze District
19 Dhondup 26 Lhopa Dzongnang 14-Mar-09 Karze District
20 Lobsang Ngodup 25 Lhopa Dzongnang 14-Mar-09 Karze District
21 Namsal Dorjee 28 Thingkha Zuza Dha Gechung 14-Mar-09 Karze District
22 Karma Norbu 17 Thingkha Zuza Dha Gechung 14-Mar-09 Karze District
23 Rinchen Wangsal 16 Thingkha Zuza Dha Gechung 14-Mar-09 Karze District
24 Sangye Tsering 17 Thingkha Zuza Dha Gechung 14-Mar-09 Karze District
25 Kalsang Dhondup 26 Lhopa Khazur Ladhun 15-Mar-09 Karze District
26 Palden Nyima 40 Lhopa Khangnyi Nang 15-Mar-09 Karze District
27 Namkha Gyaltsen 37 Lhopa Tsitsang Gon 15-Mar-09 Karze District
28 Lobsang (Lobyang) 25 Lhopa Golu Phug 16-Mar-09 Karze District
29 Jampa Gyaltsen 30 Lhopa Dhokar Tengdrong 16-Mar-09 Karze District
30 Dhorjee Lhamo 37 Lhopa Khangnyi Nang 16-Mar-09 Karze District
31 Phuntsok Rabgye Serchu Serchu Tengdrong 16-Mar-09 Karze District
32 Lobsang Gyurme 29 Lhopa Sertok 16-Mar-09 Karze District
33 Tsewang Choegyal Rogtsa Midha 16-Mar-09 Karze District
34 Loga Rongtsa Tsangma Dha 16-Mar-09 Karze District
35 Rinzin Woeser 23 Lhopa Dhokar Tengdrong 17-Mar-09 Karze District
36 Ngoga Su-ngo Dru-nga 17-Mar-09 Karze District
37 Jampa Su-ngo Dru-nga 17-Mar-09 Karze District
38 Lhamo Dekyi Su-ngo Gyalsey Gon 17-Mar-09 Karze District
39 Norbu Lhopa Gyalsey Gon 17-Mar-09 Karze District
40 Jamyang 24 Rongtsa Punsum 17-Mar-09 Karze District
41 Tse Tenzin Lhopa Troklo 17-Mar-09
42 Yangchen Lhopa 18-Mar-09 Karze District
43 Jampa Dhondup 27 Lhopa Tsitsang Gon 19-Mar-09 Karze District
44 Sonam Gonpo 46 Lhopa Phulyul Nang 19-Mar-09
45 Taphun 56 Serchu Thamed Daltak 19-Mar-09
46 Kunkun 60 Kar-rag Karag 20-Mar-09 Home
47 Tsering Wangrak 42 Lhopa Khangnyi Nang 21-Mar-09 Karze District
48 Dukar Dorjee 40 Lhopa Khangnyi Nang 21-Mar-09 Home
49 Pachen 30 Lhopa Khangnyi Nang 21-Mar-09 Home
50 Lo Tenpa Lhopa Dzonglo Nang 21-Mar-09
51 Pema Yangtso 26 Lhopa Gyalsey Tsungon 22-Mar-09 Karze District
52 Serser 23 Sharshog Ade Drokde 23-Mar-09 Karze District
53 Two Normad nuns 23-Mar-09 Karze District
54 Yangkyi 33 Rotsa Lamdrak Tsungon 24-Mar-09
55 Sonam Yangchen 28 Rotsa Lamdrak Tsungon 24-Mar-09
56 Yeshe Dhargye 22 Su-ngo Gyesang Dha 24-Mar-09
57 Phuntsok 27 Drakgo Drakgo Gon 25-Mar-09
58 Thupten Trinley 30 Satoe Nyakrong Wudheng Drong 28-Mar-09
59 Jampa Sonam 19 Su-ngo Khangmar Gon 28-Mar-09
60 Tenzin Phuntsok 20 Serkha Beri Bokchok 31-Mar-09
61 Kalsang Tsering 30 Serkha Beri Bokchok 31-Mar-09
62 Yeshe Gyatso Dzapa 00-Mar-09
63 Jampa Wangchuk Dzapa 00-Mar-09
64 Yeshe Wangchuk Dzapa 00-Mar-09
65 Dhungtruk Dzapa 00-Mar-09
66 Nedme Dzapa 00-Mar-09
67 Sonam Palden Dzapa 00-Mar-09
68 Lobsang Tenzin Dzapa 00-Mar-09
69 Dhondup Dzapa 00-Mar-09
70 Jamyang Choephel Dzapa 00-Mar-09
71 Tenzin Pema Dzapa 00-Mar-09
72 Jampa Lodoe Dzapa Beri Gon 00-Mar-09
01:38 Posted in Environment | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: tibet post
09/04/2009
Chinese authorities sentence two Tibetans to death in Tibetan capital Lhasa
Dharamshala: TibetPost-8-April-2009 – China’s official news agency, Xinhua announced today that two Tibetans have been sentenced to death for starting deadly fires in the Tibetan capital Lhasa riots last year. Two others were sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, and one more was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The five were tried in three separate arson cases, in which altogether seven civilians were killed and five shops torched in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, according to the court verdicts.
According to Xinhua, of those convicted, Lobsang Gyaltsen got death penalty for “setting fire to two garment shops in downtown Lhasa on March 14 that killed a shop owner Zuo Rencun”.
In another case, Loyar, Gangtsu (Loyak Gyatso), and Dawa Sangpo reportedly “torched a motorcycle dealership in the Deqen (Dechen)Township in Lhasa's Dagze County on March 15 last year”. Five people, including the shop owner Liang Zhiwei, Liang's wife, son and two employees, were left dead.
Loyar received a death penalty, Gangtsu (Gyatso) was given a death sentence with a two-year reprieve, and Dawa Sangpo got life imprisonment, according to the court verdicts.
In the third case, Tenzin Phuntsok was sentenced to death, but also with a two-year reprieve. He was convicted of “setting fire to a garment shop which spread to a neighboring garment shop in downtown Lhasa on March 14 last year. A shop owner Liu Guobing and his wife were injured and Liu's daughter was burnt to death”, the report claimed.
"His crime deserves the death penalty, but judges reached the verdict while taking into consideration that he had been put up to the violence and showed a positive attitude in admitting his crime after he was arrested," the court spokesman said.
On 14 March of last year, peaceful protests broke out resulting in a severe Chinese crackdown. Subsequently, the movement spread throughout Tibet and China’s stronghold on the region has since tightened.
Xinhua claims that the crimes of the five Tibetan defendants resulted in seven deaths and the destruction of five shops in Lhasa. The Chinese government also claims that Tibetan rioters were responsible for 21 deaths, while representatives from the Tibetan government in exile hold that it was over 200 Tibetans killed in the riots.
Last month marked the 50th anniversary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s flee from Tibet into exile in India, a month which China acknowledged as “50 years of liberation in Tibet”. His Holiness has called the situation in Tibet “hell on earth”, lamenting the 1.2 Tibetans who have died as a direct result of Chinese communist rule.
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07/04/2009
His Holiness opens 18th Mind and Life Conference in Dharamshala
Dharamshala: TibetPost-6-April-2009 – Scientists, religious scholars, and intellectuals gathered in His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s private audience room this morning for the first of five days of “intimate dialogue” entitled “Mind and Life XVIII: Attention, Memory and Mind: A Synergy of Psychological, Neuroscientific, and Contemplative Perspectives”. This is the 18th in a series of conferences organized by the Mind and Life Institute, co-founded by His Holiness in 1987.Since 1987, these international science dialogues have contributed greatly to the relationship between science as it exists in the modern world and ancient religious traditions. Eleven Mind and Life Dialogues have taken place in Dharamshala, and seven in Europe and the United States. Participants engage in in-depth, cross-cultural discourse, beginning with presentations by cognitive scientists for 60-90 minutes followed by 90 minutes of dialogue. In the afternoon, cognitive scientists and Buddhist scholars will give 30-45 minute presentations followed by two hours of dialogue.
The conferences aim to advance knowledge and to alleviate suffering by fostering communication between leaders in both scientific and religious fields. It also aims to promote the creation of a contemplative, compassionate, and rigorous experimental and experiential science of the mind which could guide and inform medicine, neuroscience, psychology, education and human development.
In his address to the press this morning, His Holiness expressed his firm belief that these ongoing discussions were changing the minds of the global community. “I think we have brought some interest to people who are normally not too concerned with the inner world”, His Holiness said. “Simply, we are living beings with minds, with consciousness, with experience, with emotion. We can’t limit these things. We want happiness – happiness inside the mind.” His statement, it seems, brings light to the fact that the fruit of these conferences should not be limited to the scholars present the meetings – they should bring awareness and understanding to anyone and everyone willing to listen.
“I think that over the last 20 years, our small group I think out of our serious discussion at least I think we made some contribution … Our life, its ups and downs - I think the main factor which governs our life (to much up, too much down), is emotion. So it is logically very important to know the very things which make our lives much happier – so therefore this is not just a religious matter, but a method for a better world, a happier world.”Subjects to be covered in the next five days include: Multi-tasking, Meditation and Contemplative Practice; The Buddhist Contribution to First-person Cognitive Science; Mental Processes Underlying Attention, Visual Perception, and Cognitive Control; Paying Attention to Awareness; Mental Processes for Attention and Cognitive Control in Children and Adolescents; The Utility of Improving Attention and Working Memory with Mindfulness-Based Training; Attention-Emotion Interface; Results of the Shamatha Project; Embodiment and Intersubjectivity; Education, Application, Buddhism, and Technology.
Participants for the 18th 'Mind and Life' conference:
* Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness, the XIV Dalai Lama
* David E. Meyer, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, University of Michigan
* B. Alan Wallace, Ph.D., President, Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies
* Anne Treisman, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, Princeton University
* Rupert Gethin, Ph.D., Director of the Centre for Buddhist Studies, University of Bristol, UK
* Adele Diamond, Ph.D., Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, University of
British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
* Amishi Jha, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania
* Clifford Saron, Ph.D., Assistant Research Scientist, Center for Mind and Brain, UC Davis
* Elizabeth Phelps, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology, New York University
* Shaun Gallagher, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy and Cognitive Science, University of Central
Florida
Interpreters:
* Geshe Thupten Jinpa, Ph.D., President of the Institute of Tibetan Classics in Montreal
* B. Alan Wallace, Ph.D., President of the Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies
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03/04/2009
Nominees for next prime minister of Tibet Government. in exile
Dharamshala: TibetPost-02-April-2009-Tibetan democracy in exile differs from that in other democratic nations, the parliament in exile is not formed by multi-political parties. Now, as the current prime minister’s term comes to a close, there is considerable discussion about who will succeed him, the majority of Tibetan people in exile still no nominees conformed about the next Tibetan prime minister. The third successive civil servant to hold the post will also be directly elected by the people since establishing the new election system. Mr Lobsang Phuntsok, a Tibetan residing in Canada submitted to The Tibet Post 10 of his nominees for next prime minister. Within the last year a private website: www.kalontripa.org, documenting the search for nominees for the next prime minister, has been launched. Currently the website does not catalog any nominees from the people.
To resolve the Tibet issue Mr. Lobsang sights the election of the next prime minister as critically important’ “I think the nominees for the next prime minister should not come from the Tibetan Youth Congress, and it would be advantageous if the candidate was born post 1950s.”
1. Lobsang Saigay USA
2. Nangyal Tsering Australia
3. Jamyang Dorjee India
4. Ngawang Dorjee India
5. Thuptenn Samdup Canada
6. Tsegyam India
7. Tenzin Choeden North America
8. Bhuchung Tsering USA
9. Lobsang Nyendak USA
10. Konchok Tsondue India
In the past 50 years Tibetan democracy has developed considerably, and the people’s knowledge and participation in the democratic process is increasing, including ever growing voting rates, and various kinds of workshops are given by government and non government organizations.
China frequently claims that the Tibetan government in exile is still ruled by theocratic principals, and that the Tibetan government aims to continue serfdom. If this claim is well founded or if it is propaganda, the international community, including European countries, United States, New Zealand, Japan, and India, must discern for themselves based upon their knowledge of the Tibetan Issue and the Tibetan people’s self determination and desire for genuine democratic.
The question of who will serve as the incumbent Prime Minister is an essential juggernaut in attempting to discern the future of the Tibet issue. The dearth of nominees is concerning especially considering the volatile atmosphere in which he will take office. The nominee must be awakened to the responsibility placed upon whoever is to become prime minister, as His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be in his 80s during his time of service.
01:28 Posted in East and South-East Asia | Permalink | Comments (3) | Email this | Tags: tibet post
Tibetan monk murdered in Drakgo County Chinese authorities then stage his suicide
Dharamshala: TibetPost-2-April-2009- A 27-year-old Tibetan monk, Phuntsok Rabten, was beaten to death by Chinese police on 25 March in Drakgo County of Sichuan Province (Luhuo Country in Chinese). While there is some controversy over the exact details of the monk’s death, it appears that he was seen posting flyers that urged Tibetans to stop tending their fields or cultivating their crops to protest the Chinese repression and ill-treatment of Tibetans. The monk was severely beaten and died at the scene. Chinese authorities tossed his body over a cliff in an effort to conceal the true means of his death.Konchog Norbu, a former resident of Drango Country who now lives in South India, said in a report that a group of Drango monks took up the matter with police upon recovering the monk’s body. The authorities refused to take responsibility for the murder of the monk.
The monk’s leaflet was reported to urge the Tibetans to forego tending their fields as a mark of respect, “and to express our solidarity” with “our brothers and sisters who were tortured, injured, detained and killed in the last year's peaceful demonstration” even “if we die of hunger and starvation”. The leaflet was reported to warn, “If anyone … still goes on to plant crops in fields and harvest them, I will come with a black scarf to greet them."
On 30 March, the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy based in Dharamshala, said that Phuntsok had posted his seven-page leaflet in a number of public places, including walls of a branch office of the Drango police headquarters, on the local Shara Thang-do Bridge, and on trees lining roads and highways. He was caught while posting the flyers on the walls of an automobile service center.
As police came to arrest him, the monk reportedly sped away on a motorbike, but was caught when he could no longer climb up a hill. He was severely beaten on the spot and died shortly afterwards, the report said. Eyewitnesses are reported to have seen that the monk’s body bore bruises and cuts indicating that he was beaten to death.
That same day, police also arrested two other monks in Drango County. They too had urged farmers to stop working the land as a sign of protest. In addition, police arrested about 20 protesting farmers two days later, beating 11 of them so badly that they had to be hospitalized.
Another report said that a team of Chinese security forces arrived at Draggo Township on Mar 26 and 27, carrying sacks of fertilizers, and ordered the Tibetans to use them on their land. These actions taken on the part of the Chinese Government can be uncannily likened to the forced celebration of the Tibetan New Year (Losar) in Tibet when the Tibetans were urged not to celebrate the holiday as a means of protesting the Chinese occupation in solidarity.
Another report said that others had been arrested in connection with the farming boycott campaign, including monks Olu and Thubten of the Minyak monastery in Draggo, both held on Mar 25, and Paga (son of Tseten Dolma), held on Mar 23. It said that men in six villages in Draggo all “escaped into the hills” to avoid detention after being severely beaten by police.
There can be no doubt that whatever controversy remains concerning the facts of the incidents in Draggo County are connected to limited media access in the area, and many other areas of Tibet. Journalists have been restricted from most areas in Tibet and members of the Tibetan media in the country run the risk of having their work banned and being heavily punished by Chinese authorities.
01:25 Posted in East and South-East Asia | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: tibet post