Tibetan Review
China has ordered about 500 Tibetan village households in Lhundup (Chinese: Lingzhi) County of Lhasa City to move out by Sep’11 as their villages would be submerged under water from a hydroelectric project being built there, reported Radio Free Asia online (RFA, Washington) Dec 9. The project affects up to 4,000 Tibetans in six villages and towns in the county’s Phodo area.
The dam project will be completed in Phodo area of the county and some households have already been displaced, the report said, citing local Tibetan sources. The others had been ordered to move out by Sep’11, before the dam’s water reservoir gets filled up. They were already said to be under orders not to plough their land or harvest any crop.
The report quoted an unnamed local Tibetan source as saying “the Chinese are building bridges and blocking the flow of the river,” while houses had already been built “exclusively for the Chinese soldiers who have arrived to work on the dam.”
While none of the Tibetan households wanted to move out of their ancestral land, the authorities were reported to have also turned down their request to be relocated in the same area. The report said some villagers had already been moved to relatively further off places such as Yulnga, Taglung, Radreng, and Lhasa.
Each household has been offered a compensation of 10,000 yuan (about US$ 1,500) which they can use only to build their new homes. Those moved to Lhasa have no choice but to sell their cattle due to lack of spaces for pasture and stable.
Phodo already had some 1,000 Chinese soldiers stationed there as a security measure. Two thousand more were reported to have arrived there to build the dam.
With three rivers near Phodo—namely, Radreng, Lhachig, and Pachoe—being set to be dammed, other neighbouring areas are also set to be affected.
Also set to be submerged were said to be a famous iron-link suspension bridge and a small nunnery.
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Monday, 27 December 2010
Social discontent in China lowest since 2006
(TibetanReview.net, Dec17, 2010) More Chinese are worried about inflation and their personal future than before, BBC News online Dec 15 cited China’s top think tanks as saying. People in small towns and rural areas are becoming especially dissatisfied with their lives, it cited the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences as saying in their annual Book of China's Society.
The report said some key indicators show that in China overall satisfaction with jobs, social security, and leisure provisions had reached the lowest point since 2006.
The researchers paint in their annual survey a picture that is a far cry from the harmonious society the country's leadership trumpets, the report added. It said that despite China's phenomenal growth, there has been a drop in people's confidence in the economy and in the government's ability to manage economic, social and international affairs.
However, apparently to ensure the political correctness of their survey, the researchers are said to put this down to the impact of the international financial crisis, rather than any widespread abuse of power or increasing restriction on moving up the social ladder.
The report said some key indicators show that in China overall satisfaction with jobs, social security, and leisure provisions had reached the lowest point since 2006.
The researchers paint in their annual survey a picture that is a far cry from the harmonious society the country's leadership trumpets, the report added. It said that despite China's phenomenal growth, there has been a drop in people's confidence in the economy and in the government's ability to manage economic, social and international affairs.
However, apparently to ensure the political correctness of their survey, the researchers are said to put this down to the impact of the international financial crisis, rather than any widespread abuse of power or increasing restriction on moving up the social ladder.
Many Chinese apologetic about Beijing’s Tibet policy
(TibetanReview.net, Dec23, 2010) The Dalai Lama has said Dec 18 he had been receiving an unending stream of visitors from Mainland China recently, in groups of two and three, and sometime even 10, reported the exile Tibetan government-run Tibet.net Dec 21. He has said many of them had told him that as Chinese people they felt ashamed and expressed apology over the suffering inflicted on Tibetans by the Chinese government. “With tears in their eyes, they beseech me not to forget the Chinese people,” he was quoted as saying.
Speaking to the Tibetans and local people in remote Ravangla town of Sikkim, the Dalai Lama had said, “It would be difficult to many Chinese to support our call for complete independence, but our present middle-way policy which is not ‘we win, you lose’ kind of stand, would be beneficial to both China and Tibet.”
He has said that since Mar’08 protests across Tibet, Chinese scholars had written over 1,000 articles, with about 200 of tem being by people living in Mainland China. “All these are 100 per cent in support of our Middle-Way policy and critical of the Chinese government’s wrong policies on Tibet,” he was quoted as saying.
The Dalai Lama has said that although Buddhism had reached China some 400 years before it did in Tibet, knowledge about the religion was much richer in the latter. “Therefore, it is very important that we should always keep our identity as Tibetans and feel proud of it,” he was quoted as saying.
The visit on Dec 18-19 was the Dalai Lama’s fifth to the Ravangla Tibetan settlement.
Speaking to the Tibetans and local people in remote Ravangla town of Sikkim, the Dalai Lama had said, “It would be difficult to many Chinese to support our call for complete independence, but our present middle-way policy which is not ‘we win, you lose’ kind of stand, would be beneficial to both China and Tibet.”
He has said that since Mar’08 protests across Tibet, Chinese scholars had written over 1,000 articles, with about 200 of tem being by people living in Mainland China. “All these are 100 per cent in support of our Middle-Way policy and critical of the Chinese government’s wrong policies on Tibet,” he was quoted as saying.
The Dalai Lama has said that although Buddhism had reached China some 400 years before it did in Tibet, knowledge about the religion was much richer in the latter. “Therefore, it is very important that we should always keep our identity as Tibetans and feel proud of it,” he was quoted as saying.
The visit on Dec 18-19 was the Dalai Lama’s fifth to the Ravangla Tibetan settlement.
WikiLeaks on Tibet: Environment tops Dalai Lama’s Tibet concerns
(TibetanReview.net, Dec19, 2010) One set of leaked confidential US diplomatic dispatches revealed on the WikiLeaks website are reported to show that the Dalai Lama may be shifting strategy to reframe the Tibet issue as an environmental concern, that there may be a widening generational gap between ageing Tibetan leaders and the new generation, and that India’s policy toward Tibetans was likely to be determined by public sentiments.
The Dalai Lama told US diplomats in 2009 that the international community should pay more attention to climate change rather than politics in Tibet because environmental problems were more urgent, Guardian online (UK) Dec 17 cited secret American cables leaked by the WikiLeaks website as revealing.
In particular, he was reported to have told Timothy Roemer, the US ambassador to India, during a meeting in New Delhi in August that “political agenda should be sidelined for five to 10 years and the international community should shift its focus to climate change on the Tibetan plateau.”
“Melting glaciers, deforestation and increasingly polluted water from mining projects were problems that ‘cannot wait’, but the Tibetans could wait five to 10 years for a political solution,” he was reported as saying.
The Dalai Lama was also reported to show that he criticized China’s energy policy, saying dam construction in Tibet had displaced thousands of people and left temples and monasteries underwater.
Mr Roemer was reported to have speculated, in his cable to Washington reporting the meeting, that “the Dalai Lama’s message may signal a broader shift in strategy to reframe the Tibet issue as an environmental concern”.
The cables were also reported to reveal the desperate appeals made by the Dalai Lama for intervention by the US during the unrest in Tibet in the spring of 2008. Following heavy crackdown on demonstrations and rioting, he was reported to have pleaded with US officials to take action that would “make an impact” in Beijing. He was reported to have embraced the embassy’s officials and “made a final plea” at the end of a 30-minute meeting.
“Tibet is a dying nation. We need America’s help,” he was quoted as saying.
US officials were also quoted as saying in the dispatch, “A widening generational divide finds Tibetan leaders unable to resolve growing dissatisfaction among younger Tibetans.” The report said that in Jun’08, US officials reported that their visit to six Tibetan refugee settlements across north and north-eastern India “underscores concerns that frustrated and dissatisfied Tibetan youth ... could pose serious problems”.
The cable was reported to have a section titled “A militant Shangri-La?” under which the officials explained: “Their frustration’s effect on the Tibetan movement could be exacerbated by the passage of time, as the Dalai Lama’s increasing age inevitably slows down his gruelling travel schedule and his potential ability to continue to capture the world’s attention on his people’s plight.”
As regards the Indian government’s policy towards the Tibetans, US officials were reported to have said repeatedly in a Mar’08 confidential cable that it was likely to be decided by public sentiment. “A rise in violence — either by Tibetans here or by the Chinese security forces in Tibet — could quickly tip the balance in favour of the side with greater public support,” Shiv Shankar Menon, the current Indian national security adviser and then India’s top diplomat, was quoted as having explained to the US ambassador.
The Dalai Lama told US diplomats in 2009 that the international community should pay more attention to climate change rather than politics in Tibet because environmental problems were more urgent, Guardian online (UK) Dec 17 cited secret American cables leaked by the WikiLeaks website as revealing.
In particular, he was reported to have told Timothy Roemer, the US ambassador to India, during a meeting in New Delhi in August that “political agenda should be sidelined for five to 10 years and the international community should shift its focus to climate change on the Tibetan plateau.”
“Melting glaciers, deforestation and increasingly polluted water from mining projects were problems that ‘cannot wait’, but the Tibetans could wait five to 10 years for a political solution,” he was reported as saying.
The Dalai Lama was also reported to show that he criticized China’s energy policy, saying dam construction in Tibet had displaced thousands of people and left temples and monasteries underwater.
Mr Roemer was reported to have speculated, in his cable to Washington reporting the meeting, that “the Dalai Lama’s message may signal a broader shift in strategy to reframe the Tibet issue as an environmental concern”.
The cables were also reported to reveal the desperate appeals made by the Dalai Lama for intervention by the US during the unrest in Tibet in the spring of 2008. Following heavy crackdown on demonstrations and rioting, he was reported to have pleaded with US officials to take action that would “make an impact” in Beijing. He was reported to have embraced the embassy’s officials and “made a final plea” at the end of a 30-minute meeting.
“Tibet is a dying nation. We need America’s help,” he was quoted as saying.
US officials were also quoted as saying in the dispatch, “A widening generational divide finds Tibetan leaders unable to resolve growing dissatisfaction among younger Tibetans.” The report said that in Jun’08, US officials reported that their visit to six Tibetan refugee settlements across north and north-eastern India “underscores concerns that frustrated and dissatisfied Tibetan youth ... could pose serious problems”.
The cable was reported to have a section titled “A militant Shangri-La?” under which the officials explained: “Their frustration’s effect on the Tibetan movement could be exacerbated by the passage of time, as the Dalai Lama’s increasing age inevitably slows down his gruelling travel schedule and his potential ability to continue to capture the world’s attention on his people’s plight.”
As regards the Indian government’s policy towards the Tibetans, US officials were reported to have said repeatedly in a Mar’08 confidential cable that it was likely to be decided by public sentiment. “A rise in violence — either by Tibetans here or by the Chinese security forces in Tibet — could quickly tip the balance in favour of the side with greater public support,” Shiv Shankar Menon, the current Indian national security adviser and then India’s top diplomat, was quoted as having explained to the US ambassador.
Sunday, 5 December 2010
Take action for Human Rights Day, 10 December 2010
Friday, 10 December 2010 is Human Rights Day, the 62nd anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is also the day of the ceremony of the Nobel Peace Prize, which was this year given to Liu Xiaobo, a Chinese human rights defender and advocate of genuine autonomy for Tibet who the Chinese government have imprisoned.
Tibet Society members and supporters are encouraged to take the following actions in the run-up to 10 December:
1. Ask your MP to sign EDM 1114: Human Rights Day 2010
2. Write a letter of support to Liu Xiaobo
3. Write to the Chinese Ambassador to the UK
4. Attend the candle-lit vigil outside the Chinese Embassy on 10 December
1. Ask your MP to sign EDM 1114: Human Rights Day 2010
An Early Day Motion has been submitted in Parliament for MPs to sign calling for the release of Liu Xiaobo and encouraging the British government to support processes which will bring about freedom, human rights and democracy for all the people of China, Tibet and East Turkestan.
The full text of the EDM can be found at http://www.tibetsociety.com/
To find out your MP’s contact details go to http://www.writetothem.com (where you can also send your MP a direct email).
2. Write a letter of support to Liu Xiaobo
Send a letter or card to Liu Xiaobo in Jinzhou Prison congratulating him on the award of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Address: Jinzhou Prison
Nanshan Road 86
Taihe District
21013 Jinzhou City
Liaoning
People's Republic of China
Note: Though Liu Xiaobo may not get to see the letters, it is quite possible that he will receive word that the prison is receiving letters on his behalf. Former political prisoners have said that such knowledge gives them a tremendous source of strength and encouragement. Letters to a prison also send a signal to the authorities that their behaviour towards an individual prisoner is under scrutiny, which can result in better treatment for the prisoner and occasionally reduced sentences.
Read more about Liu Xiaobo at: http://www.tibetsociety.com/
3. Write to the Chinese Ambassador to the UK
Send a letter to Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the UK, urging the Chinese government to immediately and unconditionally release Liu Xiaobo. Also demand the Chinese government releases all political prisoners in Tibet and China and upholds the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Address: Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the UK
Chinese Embassy
49-51 Portland Place
London W1N 3AH
Salutation: Dear Ambassador
4. Attend the candle-lit vigil outside the Chinese Embassy on 10 December
On Friday 10 December, Chinese, Uighur & Tibetan Solidarity UK (CUTS UK, a coalition which includes Tibet Society) will be holding a solidarity candle-lit vigil outside the Chinese Embassy (from 6.00pm - 8.00pm). Supporters of all Chinese democracy, Uighur and Tibetan groups are encouraged to attend the vigil and call upon the Chinese government to release all political prisoners in the PRC. CUTS UK will also be sending a message to the Embassy to release Liu Xiaobo.
Date: Friday 10 December 2010
Time: 6.00pm-8.00pm
Venue: opposite Chinese Embassy, 49-51 Portland Place, London W1B 1JL.
To see a list of all Tibet-related events go to http://www.tibetsociety.com/
These actions, can be found on our website, with further links and information at:
NEWS: Tibet Society urges Prime Minister to call for release of Liu Xiaobo
On 2 December, Tibet Society (as part of the coalition group Chinese, Uighur & Tibetan Solidarity UK) delivered a message to Prime Minister Cameron, calling on him to make a public statement on Human Rights Day urging the Chinese government to release Liu Xiaobo and to release all political prisoners. It also urges the British government to publicly support a process which will allow real freedom, human rights and democracy for all citizens in China, including Tibetans. To see the text of the letter go to: http://www.tibetsociety.com/
Read about Liu Xiaobo support for Tibetan Autonomy at Tibet Political Review
Saturday, 4 December 2010
A change of direction for the Tibetan cause says Dalai Lama's Rep.
The following detail was released to the press on 30 November 2010 and summarizes the Bath 27th November event
A message of peaceful engagement with the Chinese on a personal level was given to over 50 people who attended a talk by Thubten Samdup at Manvers St. Baptist Church, Bath on 27th November. Mr Samdup, who is the representative of the Tibetan Government in Exile and the Dalai Lama in Europe, stated that there may be as many as 20,000 Chinese students in the UK which provides an opportunity for constructive dialogue.He related his experience to the audience of over 30 years as a non-violent protester in Canada where he shouted "Free Tibet, China out, until I was blue in the face!" which he said achieved great sympathy and support amongst ordinary people but little political change in China. He said that time is running out for the Tibetans as some of the 150,000 refugees are third generation and that meaningful change needs to be achieved in the next 15 years.
"Tibet has many friends in the West..." he said, ".. but since 2002 there have been 9 rounds of talks between the exiled Tibetans and the Chinese Government which have not produced results because the Chinese Government are not interested." In the past,Mr Samdup has faced audiences in the UK that are overwhelmingly Chinese but has been able to initiate debate that fosters sincere understanding. "When ordinary Chinese are engaged on a personal level,they are shocked at their government's response." He went on to say, "The Chinese Students in the UK today will be the politicians and business leaders of tomorrow in China, it's vital that they are made more aware of the issues". He explained that ordinary Chinese are being contacted by the Exiled Tibetan Governmentusing online chat rooms based in China as well as using other web technology. He further stated it's in the interests of the rest of the world that a non-violent peaceful resolution is found that allows exiled Tibetans to return to Tibet.
Mr Samdup was questioned for more than an hour by the audience who raised topics as diverse as using sport to promote the Tibetan cause, to possible legal actions in the courts. The meeting was jointly Sponsored by The Tibet Society in London and the Bath District Tibet Support Group. You can see the full filmed meeting on bathdisttibet.blogspot.com
A message of peaceful engagement with the Chinese on a personal level was given to over 50 people who attended a talk by Thubten Samdup at Manvers St. Baptist Church, Bath on 27th November. Mr Samdup, who is the representative of the Tibetan Government in Exile and the Dalai Lama in Europe, stated that there may be as many as 20,000 Chinese students in the UK which provides an opportunity for constructive dialogue.He related his experience to the audience of over 30 years as a non-violent protester in Canada where he shouted "Free Tibet, China out, until I was blue in the face!" which he said achieved great sympathy and support amongst ordinary people but little political change in China. He said that time is running out for the Tibetans as some of the 150,000 refugees are third generation and that meaningful change needs to be achieved in the next 15 years.
"Tibet has many friends in the West..." he said, ".. but since 2002 there have been 9 rounds of talks between the exiled Tibetans and the Chinese Government which have not produced results because the Chinese Government are not interested." In the past,Mr Samdup has faced audiences in the UK that are overwhelmingly Chinese but has been able to initiate debate that fosters sincere understanding. "When ordinary Chinese are engaged on a personal level,they are shocked at their government's response." He went on to say, "The Chinese Students in the UK today will be the politicians and business leaders of tomorrow in China, it's vital that they are made more aware of the issues". He explained that ordinary Chinese are being contacted by the Exiled Tibetan Governmentusing online chat rooms based in China as well as using other web technology. He further stated it's in the interests of the rest of the world that a non-violent peaceful resolution is found that allows exiled Tibetans to return to Tibet.
Mr Samdup was questioned for more than an hour by the audience who raised topics as diverse as using sport to promote the Tibetan cause, to possible legal actions in the courts. The meeting was jointly Sponsored by The Tibet Society in London and the Bath District Tibet Support Group. You can see the full filmed meeting on bathdisttibet.blogspot.com
Sunday, 28 November 2010
Sunday, 3 October 2010
Where are we today and where do we need to go?
Mr. Thubten Samdup
H.H. Dalai Lama’s representative
in London will be speaking in Bath
On Saturday 27th November 7:30pm
Manvers St. Baptist Church
 |
| Mr Samdup with the Dalai Lama |
Mr Samdup will be talking on the present human rights, environmental and socio-cultural situation in Tibet. He will also cover the positive work being done by the CTA based in Dharamsala, India, under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama towards a peaceful resolution to the issue of Tibet.
Mr Samdup brings with him great experience and insight. He has been the former member of the parliament in exile representing Tibetans in North America. He also founded and served as the President of the Canada Tibet Committee from 1987 – 2004. There will be an opportunity for supporters and interested citizens to gain information, meet other people in the community, discussion and also a question and answer session.
The location of the event is at Manvers Street Baptist Church, Bath, BA1 1JW, near to the Bath Railway Station. The talk by Mr Sampdup will be on Saturday 27th November 2010 at 7.30 pm.
Admission is £4.00 [concession rate of £3.00 for age under 18 and over 60].
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
More donations to the Earthquake Appeal
The successful showing of 2 films, "Compassion in Exile" and "Leaving Fear Behind" on the 21st July at Gastard Village Hall raised £91.
We have therefore decided to donate £100 to Tibet Relief Fund's Emergency Earthquake Appeal. We take this opportunity to thank all those people who have supported the group.
We are now looking forward to late November when we will have H. H. Dalai Lama's representative in Britain speak on Tibetan issues. Look out for this forthcoming event which will be held in Bath.
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
H H Holiness Dalai Lama Birthday 6th July 2010
It is the 6th July 2010. It is H H Holiness Dalai Lama's birthday today. The Bath District Tibet Group wishes H H Dalai Lama a very happy birthday. We pray and wish for his long life, health and happiness for the benefit of all beings. We thank him for all the kindness and continuing inspiration in promoting world peace.
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