Tuesday 22 April 2014

China scraps human rights talk with UK

Phayul[Wednesday, April 16, 2014 09:33]
DHARAMSHALA, APRIL 16 : 
China has cancelled a bilateral human rights dialogue with Britain, accusing the British government of interfering in its internal affairs by using human rights as a pretext.

Chinese and British officials were to meet for a round of Human Rights Dialogue in London on Wednesday.

"The UK should stop making irresponsible comments and using human rights issues to interfere in China's internal affairs, to create the conditions for the human rights dialogue between China and the UK in the next round," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.

"Britain's path on this issue is not helpful to dialogue and discussion on the subject of human rights, and not good for the stable development of the health of China-U.K. relations," Hua added.

In its annual human rights report, Britain listed China as "a country of concern" saying it had observed increased curbs on freedom of expression, association and assembly in 2013. The report had made references to human rights issues and unrest in Xinjiang and Tibet. 

British Prime Minister David Cameron had cited the resumption of the dialogue this spring as one of the successes of his December visit, which followed a diplomatic standoff between China and UK due to his meeting with the exiled Tibetan leader Dalai Lama in 2012.

"We are disappointed that the Chinese government this week unilaterally postponed the dialogue, which was due to take place on 16 April. It is not for us to say why it was postponed,” a Foreign Office spokesman told the Guardian

"We are now in discussion to agree new dates for the dialogue. We consider the dialogue to be an important part of our bilateral relationship with China. It was agreed at the last UK-China summit in December 2013 by the prime minister and Premier Li [Keqiang].

"We have registered our disappointment with the Chinese government. We believe a human rights Dialogue is essential, and are working on agreeing new dates."

Nicholas Bequelin, senior Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, said: "China is responding to a critique of its shortcomings on human rights by cutting back further on human rights engagement.

"I don't think that indicates that China is genuinely committed to the outcomes of this dialogue … China is trying to intimidate its international partners by walking away from the table."

Tuesday 15 April 2014

Little Tibet 2 showing at the Pound Arts Centre in Corsham Sat 24th May 2014

Little Tibet 2 will be showing at the Pound Arts Centre in Corsham on Saturday 24th May 2014, see trailer below.  The director Sonam will be there to take Q & As


Little Tibet 2 is a moving follow-up to Little Tibet where Sonam, a young Tibetan man living in the UK, went to Ladakh in search of the culture and traditions of his homeland, occupied Tibet.
In Little Tibet 2, Sonam traces his father's footsteps through Nepal to Mustang, where the Tibetan language is still widely spoken and the traditional culture of Tibet remains. Sonam encounters a Yogi, has an audience with the King of Mustang, meets western trekkers and investigates a fascinating restoration project training local woman in traditional arts and crafts enabling them to conserve temple wall paintings that are widely regarded as masterpieces of the fifteenth century.
The film's climax is an encounter with a veteran of the Tibetan guerilla army that operated from bases in Mustang during the 1960s and 1970s. Sonam learns about life in the 2000 strong army that included his father who fought with the guerillas. The encounter leads to the boarder of Tibet.

Tibetan immolates self in Tawu

Phayul[Tuesday, April 15, 2014 22:18]
Thinley Namgyal
Thinley Namgyal
DHARAMSHALA, April 15: A Tibetan man today set himself on fire to protest against China’s occupation of Tibet, said Tawu Lobsang Jinpa, a Tibetan living in exile with close contacts in a region.

Thinley Namgyal, 32, set himself ablaze around 12 noon (local time) in Tawu County of Kardze region, in the traditional TIbetan province of Kham. Thinley succumbed to his burns. His body was taken to Gangthel monastery and was later handed over to his family.

Thinley lived with his father Dulho and mother Pelha in Khangsar township, Tawu County. He became the 131st Tibetan to self-immolate in Tibet protesting against China’s occupation of Tibet and its hard-line policies since 2009.

Following Thinley's self immolation, Tibetans and supporters here took part in a candle light vigil to express solidarity with his protest and mourn his death. 

The candle light vigil was jointly organized by regional chapters of Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women’s Association and Students for a Free Tibet, India.