Early day motion 2327 self-Immolations in Tibet

 SELF-IMMOLATIONS IN TIBET

• Session: 2010-12
• Date tabled: 31.10.2011
• Primary sponsor: Hamilton, Fabian
• Sponsors: Bottomley, Peter,  Caton, Martin, Durkan, Mark, Leech, John, Shannon, Jim

That this House is greatly saddened by the disturbing news of 10 incidents of self-immolation in eastern Tibet by young Tibetan monks, former monks and a nun, five tragically losing their lives; condemns the Chinese government's ongoing repression in Tibet that serves to exacerbate the frustration and desperation felt by the Tibetan people; calls on the Prime Minister to make a public statement of concern about this grave situation; and further calls on the Government to make urgent representations to the Chinese government to urge that it takes measures to ease the situation by withdrawing its troops from Kirti monastery, to verify the condition and whereabouts of the monks who have disappeared since self-immolating, to allow international independent observers to visit the region and to respect the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people including the right freely to practise their religion.

Note: there have now been 11 self-immolations

Take Action- Ask your MP to sign

Check to see if your MP has signed by visiting  http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2010-12/2327

Forced Nomad Resettlement

Watch the Video then take action




What You Can Do -

Go to this web site and http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5380/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1306 send a letter to the party secretarys of the Chinese provinces that cover Tibet.

Tibet's Political Leader, Dr. Sangay Testifies Before US Congress

Wednesday, 09 November 2011 12:38 Tibetan Administration Official Media. Tibet Net

Washington, DC: - The political leader (Kalon Tripa) of the Central Tibetan Administration, Dr. Lobsang Sangay's final two days of his first visit to US capital, Washington, DC since assuming office saw him keep up a hectic schedule of meetings with top congressional members and conducting various press interviews. Day four of the visit (November 3) started with a meeting with Senator Marco Rubio, the young and rising Republican Senator from the important U.S. electoral state of Florida. Senator Rubio was remarkably well informed on the current situation in Tibet and demonstrated real interest on Tibet. He lamented President Obama's less than enthusiastic support for the Tibetan issue.
In a meeting of two young leaders (the Senator is 40 years old), the Senator told the Kalon Tripa that he was inspired by the Tibet cause, proud to be associated with the issue and wanted to lend his voice and support. He accepted the Kalon Tripa's invitation to visit Dharamshala. Kalon Tripa and his team came away from the meeting feeling that Tibet had made a new and important friend.
The meeting with Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH) was focused on Nepal as the Congressman had recently come back from a trip to Nepal and Bhutan. Representative Chabot is the Chair of Middle East/South Asia Subcommittee. He expressed concern on the situation of Tibetans in Nepal.
In his meeting with Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY), Ranking Member, Foreign Operations Subcommittee, the Kalon Tripa thanked the US Congress and government for supporting various Tibetan programs and also invited her to visit Dharamshala.
A highlight of day four was the Kalon Tripa's testimony before the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. The hearing drew a full house of audience and three of the committee members attended. Dr. Sangay paid tribute to the late Congressman Lantos in his oral presentation and touched on the outbreak of self-immolation cases in Tibet, the transition in Tibetan political leadership, how the hardline policies of the PRC government was not working in Tibet, how the Tibet issue can be resolved, and His Holiness' recent statement on reincarnation and emanation.
Dr. Sangay was warmly welcomed by both the Co-Chairs of the commission - Representative James McGovern (D-MA) and Representative Frank Wolf (R-VA). Rep. Wolf in particular spoke out strongly against the Chinese government and described it as a "fundamentally immoral and evil government." He stated that the Chinese government was bound to fall as they had taken a page out of the playbook of Nicolae Ceaușescu of Romania.
The Congressman was particularly upset to learn that the Nepalese government had refused to issue exit passes that would allow 5000 Tibetans to immigrate to the US. He, along with Rep. McGovern, stated that they would write and summon the Nepalese ambassador in Washington, DC and request the Nepalese government to allow the Tibetans to leave Nepal. The Congressman threatened to zero out all US foreign aid to Nepal if the latter did not issue the exit visas to the Tibetans.
Another important witness testifying before the Commission was Kirti Rimpoche whose trip was organized by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). Since many of the Tibetans who had committed self-immolation in Tibet were related to Kirti Monastery, CTA felt it would be beneficial for the Committee members and staff to hear directly from Rimpoche.
Immediately following the hearing, the Kalon Tripa had a meeting with Democrat Leader Pelosi, a long and steadfast friend of Tibetans, and her staff, Jonathan Stivers. Leader Pelosi expressed admiration for His Holiness in his move to transfer his political powers and welcomed the transition in Tibetan leadership to the next generation of Tibetans.

The day ended with an interview with Al Jazeera for their The Stream program.

Day five and the last day of the visit started off with interviews with VOA Mandarin service and with the VOA Tibetan television program. Kalon Tripa also met with Washington Post, which published his op-ed on the unfolding tragedy in Tibet centered around the growing cases of Tibetans committing self-immolations. The final event of the day was a reception organized by the Capital Area Tibetan Association (CATA) both for the Kalon Tripa and Kirti Rimpoche.

China rebukes Mongolia over Dalai Lama visit

Phayul[Wednesday, November 09, 2011 20:19]
By Tendar Tsering

DHARAMSHALA, November 9: China on Tuesday expressed its routine disappointment at Mongolia for allowing the Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama’s visit.

Hong Lei, the spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry told
reporters that Beijing has lodged its "stern representations" with Ulan Bator over the visit of the Tibetan leader reviled by Beijing as a “separatist” but admired world over as a champion of peace and a an eminent Buddhist leader.

"The Dalai Lama always uses the opportunity of furtive visits to
publicize Tibetan independence, smear the Chinese government and play
up issues related to Tibet," Lei said. "we have always opposed any
country providing a platform for the Dalai Lama to engage in
activities to split China in any form."

According to Reuters, the Mongolian government had restricted the Dalai Lama to one lecture on Tuesday in the city's new sports stadium 'Buyant-Ukhaa', built on Chinese aid. More than 6,000 devotees attended the lecture, reports suggest. "The stadium got full and thousands of devotees were outside
the stadium to listen to the Dalai Lama talk," said a Mongolian
devotee who attended the talk.

The Mongolian Transportation Minister Battulga Khaltma told reporters following a cabinet meeting that the Dalai Lama's lectures for Wednesday and Thursday will be relocated to a less controversial location.

However, Choijamtsa, the head of Gandhan Tegchiling monastery in Mongolia, who is one of the core organisers of the visit said that they are determined to go ahead with the planned lectures at the decided venues.

"This is Mongolian territory and Mongolian property and we are going
to do it even if others oppose it," said Choijamtsa.

Don't cut Tibet, Tibetans tell India's censor board

Phayul[Tuesday, November 08, 2011 11:50] By Tendar Tsering

DHARAMSHALA, November 8: A decision by the Film Certification Board of India to blur out Tibetan national flag and free Tibet banner from the much anticipated Bollywood film ‘Rockstar’ by noted director Imtiaz Ali, known for his hit films like ‘Jab We Met’ (Tibetan dancers’ hip shaking moves to ‘Yeh Ishq Hai’ number alongside Kareena Kapoor) has sparked off protests by Tibetan exiles here.

Imtiaz Ali, one of Bollywood’s young successful directors, has been asked by the Censor board of India to either blur out the images or remove them completely from the film that will hit theatres on November 11, 2011.

The India Chapter of the Students for Free Tibet (SFT) Monday staged a protest against the Censor Board of India which it accused of “grotesque violation of free speech”.

"It is extremely disturbing that such a grotesque violation of freedom of speech is happening in the world's largest democracy," said Dorjee Tseten, director of SFT, India. “By caving in to Chinese pressure, the Censor Board is allowing China to threaten the freedom and liberties that Indians enjoy.”

However, television promotion of the film and the song “Sadda Haq, ethey rakh” (put here, my right) with the Tibetan national flag not blurred out can still be seen on various television channels.

Dorjee said that it is a matter of speech for the Indians and a matter of survival for the Tibetans. "We won't let the freedom of speech kowtow to Chinese pressure," said Dorjee, urging the people of India to join the Tibetans in protecting the freedom of speech and expression.

Exile Tibetans and supporters protest against Film Certification Board of India for their decision to blur out Tibetan flags and 'Free Tibet' banners in the Bollywood film 'Rockstar', Dharamshala, India. November 7, 2011 (Phayul photo/Norbu Wangyal)

“Tibetans are dying for freedom. In the last eight months, eleven Tibetans in Tibet have set themselves on fire in protest against Chinese rule,” said Dorjee. “At this critical time – when Tibetans are suffering so desperately under Chinese repression – one would expect India to be promoting and protecting the Tibetan people’s basic human rights, not censuring their struggle in a free country simply because China demands it be done.”

Activists with Students for a Free Tibet are planning rallies and actions in several cities, including Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Calcutta and Dharamsala, to protest the “controversial” decision by Censor Board of India.

Members from the SFT will head for Mumbai to meet CEO of the Censor Board and the filmmaker.

Social networking sites like facebook and twitter are being bombarded with tweets and posts expressing disappointment at the censor board’s decision. “Outraged that our film censors cut a Bollywood movie's references to Tibet, violates freedom of speech, reduces us to China's level. Worse, the censors undermined our Government's standard explanation to Beijing that in our democracy we cannot control/restrict our media,” tweeted Shashi Tharoor, Member of Indian Parliament (LokSabha) and Former Under-Secretary General, United Nations.

Dalai Lama arrives in Mongolia

Phayul[Tuesday, November 08, 2011 21:37] By Tendar Tsering

DHARAMSHALA, November 8: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Mongolian capital Ulan Bator Monday on a three day visit, that has been kept confidential by the organisers until the last minute to avoid angering China.

The Dalai Lama is expected to hold several public lectures and meet with Buddhist leaders of Mongolia.

During the Tibetan leader’s last trip to Mongolia in 2002, China cut
off all train links to the country for two days in an apparent retaliation for inviting the Dalai Lama, reviled by Beijing as “a splittist”.

"This morning, an Air China flight bound for the Mongolian capital was
delayed. Officials in Beijing said weather conditions were poor,
despite sunshine in Ulan Bator," reported the BBC news service on
Tuesday.

The Mongolian government has said that the visit is neither political nor official but a religious visit on the invitation of the Dalai Lama’s devotees in Mongolia.

However, according to government sources, the president of Mongolia is likely to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader.

Historically, Tibetans and Mongolians share a long history of priest – patron relationship. In 1578 the Mongol ruler Altan Khan bestowed the title Dalai Lama meaning ‘Ocean of Wisdom’ on Sonam Gyatso, the third in the lineage of the Dalai Lamas.

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TAKE ACTION on Tibet

China has to be called to account, not only to end the current crackdown in Kirti monastery, but also to respect the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Tibetan people. The British government must publicly state its concern over the current situation and, along with other international governments, persuade China to ease the increasingly tense situation by withdrawing its troops from Tibetan regions, especially from Kirti monastery, review its repressive policies in Tibet and grant universally recognised human rights to the Tibetan people.

1. Contact your MP 
2. Leave a message on the FCO website
3. Write to the Chinese Ambassador
4. Sign the global pledge to Stand Up for Tibet
5. Attend the London protests at Downing Street and the Chinese Embassy (Wed 2 November)

1. Contact your MP and ask them to:
►  sign Early Day Motion 2327: Self-immolations in Tibet which condemns China's ongoing repression in Tibet and calls for the Prime Minister to make a public statement of concern (read the text of EDM 2327). NB. If your MP has already signed, you can thank them for standing up for Tibet and ask that they also take the following actions. Click here to find out if they have signed   
►  call on the British government and the Foreign Secretary to make a public statement of concern on China's repressive policies in Tibet which, since March this year, has led to nine monks and two nuns undertaking the desperate act of self-immolation.
►  write to the Chinese Ambassador in the UK urging for China to ease the situation by withdrawing its troops from Kirti monastery and respecting the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people including the right to freely practice their religion.
►  to write to the Foreign Office to urge that pressure is put on China to allow international independent observers and journalists to visit Tibet and particularly Kirti monastery.
►  Also ask your MP to sign the Global pledge to 'Stand up for Tibet' (see point 3)
To find your MP go to www.writetothem.com or findyourmp.parliament.uk.

2. Leave a comment on the Foreign Office website
The Foreign Office have just published their latest quarterly human rights update, which makes reference to the immolations in Tibet and that the FCO has raised the incidents with Chinese officials. Though the FCO's actions are welcome, the British government must do more. Leave a comment on the FCO website urging the British government to:
►  make a robust public statement of concern, in light of the recent immolations, which calls on the Chinese government to ease tensions by withdrawing its troops from Kirti monastery in Ngaba and to review its policies in Tibet to bring an end to the oppression of the Tibetan people.
►  continue to raise their concerns with their Chinese counterparts at every opportunity
►  raise the self-immolations incidents with the Chinese Ministry of Religious Affairs, asking why, if there is religious freedom in Tibet as is purported, monks and nuns are undertaking such drastic forms of protest.
Click here to go to the Human Rights report update on the FCO website. The comment section is at the bottom of the page.
Further reading: Extract of FCO report & further details I Parliamentary question & response

3. Write to the Chinese Ambassador to the UK, calling on the Chinese government to:
►  confirm the condition and location of Lobsang Kelsang, Lobsang Kunchok, Kelsang Wangchuk and Norbu Damdrul, all of whom self-immolated in Ngaba and were taken away by security forces.
►  end the military lockdown at Kirti monastery and withdraw the security forces from Ngaba.
►  release all the monks and lay-people who have been detained and imprisoned since March and provide independent legal counsel for all those facing charges.
►  respect the fundamental right of the Tibetans to freely practice their religion.
►  review its existing policies in Tibet in order to fulfill the aspirations of the Tibetan people for a truly harmonious society.
Address: Ambassador Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Embassy, 49-51 Portland Place, London W1B 1JL.
Email: ambassador@chinese-embassy.org.uk
Note: The Embassy occassionally disables this email address (so your email is returned). If that is the case please try political@chinese-embassy.org.uk and/or press@chinese-embassy.org.uk.    

Another nun burns herself to death in Tibet

Phayul[Thursday, November 03, 2011 16:03]

By Tendar Tsering

A file photo of Peldon Choetso who died after setting herself on fire, protesting China's continued occupation of Tibet, in Tawu, Kham, eastern Tibet on November 3, 2011.

DHARAMSHALA, November 3: Phayul is receiving confirmed reports of yet another self-immolation by a Tibetan nun in Tibet.

Palden Choetso (also known as Choesang), 35, a Tibetan nun from the Gaden Choeling (also called Dharkar Choeling) near Nyitso monastery in Kham Tawo region of eastern Tibet set herself on fire today at around 12:40 pm local time.

"She died of severe burn injuries after setting herself on fire calling for freedom in Tibet," said Bawa Kalsang Gyaltsen, a member of Tibetan Parliament-in-exile.

"Currently, Palden Choetso’s body has been kept at the Nyitso monastery and Chinese Armed Police have surrounded the monastery. As per latest information, the Chinese police are forcing the monks to handover the deceased’s body," added Kalsang.

This is the eleventh self-immolation in Tibet since March this year and the second instance when a nun has set herself on fire protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet and demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.

Coinciding with the two day G-20 submit in France beginning today, Tibetans and Tibetan supporters in more than 60 cities in 25 countries across the world are urging world leaders to raise the urgent issue of self immolations in Tibet with the Chinese president Hu Jinaao at the G-20 summit.

"These unprecedented acts by Tibetans are the ultimate form of non-violent action and TYC recognizes these as valuable sacrifices," said Tsewang Rigzin, the president of Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC)-the largest Tibetan pro-independence group in exile at the launch of the global movement.

Gabriel Lafitte on Tibetan Nomads

Here are three video tals given by Gabriel Lafitte at the Tibetan Environment conference April 2011

Gabriel Lafitte on Tibet's Nomads (Part 1) from sftuk on Vimeo.

Gabriel Lafitte on Tibet's Nomads (Part 2) from sftuk on Vimeo.

Gabriel Lafitte on Tibet's Nomads (Part 3) from sftuk on Vimeo.