Next Event: Tea party in Corsham

Afternoon Tea Party

Come and enjoy a selection of ‘Jing’teas from

 ****    around the World     ****

Sunday 20th November

3pm till 6pm

in Church House, Church Street, Corsham.

Music, lovely teas, company and cakes.

Also table top sale, Fairtrade and   other stalls

Free admission.  Everyone Welcome!

For Tibet Relief

We will have a selection from Teapigs:

Peppermint  (Tummy Tonic) 

Super Fruit ( bursting summer berries)

Darjeeling Earl Grey ( the new grey)

English Breakfast (morning glory)

From Jing: 

Jasmine Silver Needle  (exceptional white tea )

Organic Jade Sword (outstandingly fresh green tea)

BlackCurrant & Hibiscus ( a rich whole fruit infusion)

Chamomile Flowers ( a deeply soothing infusion)

Peppermint Leave ( a intensly refreshing digestiv)

English Breakfast ( pure assam breakfast tea)

Organic Bohea Lapsang  (the original authentic Lapsang )

Other Teas 

Clipper Pure Green Tea

Afternoon Ceylon (delicate and uplifting)

We also have ordinary Tea.  

Fire spreads in Tibet – Monk self immolates in Kardze

Phayul[Tuesday, October 25, 2011 15:56]

By Sherab Woeser
DHARAMSHALA, October 25: Phayul is receiving confirmed information from Tibet that another Tibetan monk self-immolated in an apparent protest against China’s occupation today.
According to sources in exile, Dawa Tsering a 38 year-old monk from Kardze Monastery in eastern Tibet set himself ablaze at around 9.30 am local time.
A monk from Sera Jey monastery in south India, Lobsang Dakpa, while confirming the news told Phayul that Dawa Tsering self-immolated within the walls of the Kardze Monastery.
“Dawa Tsering was engulfed in flames as he shouted slogans for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and the re-unification of the Tibetan people,” Dakpa said.
Chinese security personnel who have been stationed in the monastery since the 2008 pan-Tibet uprisings, arrived at the scene and doused the flames.
According to sources, Dawa Tsering refused medical attention and is currently being described in critical condition with severe burn injuries.
“When the Chinese police tried to take Dawa Tsering away, he cried and pleaded not to be taken away,” Dakpa said.
As of now the situation in and around the monastery is being described as tense with monks protecting Dawa Tsering inside the monastery and armed Chinese security guards surrounding the monks and the monastery.
This is the tenth instance since March this year when Tibetans inside Tibet have set themselves on fire demanding the return of the Dalai Lama from exile and protesting Beijing’s repressive policies in Tibet.

Chinese police rushed in after Tibetan flag, leaflets appeared in Serta County

(TibetanReview.net, Oct17, 2011)  Amid escalating protests in the face of rising Chinese repression, a Tibetan national flag was seen displayed on a local Chinese police building while leaflets were pasted on both sides of the street in Khakor Township of Serta (Chinese: Seda) county in Kardze prefecture, Sichuan Province, early in the morning of Oct 13, reported RFA.org and other Tibet-related sources Oct 14-15.

The leaflets, written in Tibetan and Chinese, were reported to call for Tibetan freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama; they were seen pasted on the walls of other Chinese government buildings as well.

The incident was reported to have prompted a massive police deployment in the area and a hunt for those who might have carried out the clandestine overnight protest actions.

The report cited Serta Tsultrim Woeser, a native from the county who now lives in India, as saying the authorities had summoned the local Tibetans to meetings on Oct 14 for this purpose.

A similar incident had occurred on China’s National Day of Oct 1, when the authorities’ trashing of a Tibetan national flag on the Serta town street after taking it down from a four-storied building provoked a protest involving more than 200 Tibetans.

The Dalai Lama to join mass prayer gathering for self-immolating Tibetans

Phayul[Tuesday, October 18, 2011 20:30]

DHARAMSHALA, October 18: Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be joining a mass prayer gathering tomorrow at Tsug-la Khang in the exile seat of Dharamshala. The day-long prayer session and hunger fast is being organised by the Kashag (cabinet) to “express solidarity with all those who lost their lives and with all other Tibetans who are incarcerated for their courage to speak up for the rights of the Tibetan people”. Gyalwang Karmapa and Kirti Rinpoche, along with the entire staff of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) will be taking part in the prayer session. Since March this year, nine Tibetans have self-immolated in Tibet, protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet and demanding the return of the Dalai Lama from exile. Lobsang Phuntsok (20), Tsewang Norbu (29), Khaying (18), Choephel (19), and Tenzin Wangmo (20) have all succumbed to their injuries, while there is no information on the well being and whereabouts of Lobsang Kelsang (18), Lobsang Kunchok (19), Kelsang Wangchuk (17), and Norbu Damdul (19). Announcing the jointly planned activities in India and the world-at-large with the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay last week called upon “all Tibetans and Tibet supporters in the free world to join efforts and organise activities in their respective regions”. “We appeal to the United Nations, freedom-loving countries and people around the world to show their support and solidarity with the Tibetan people at this critical stage,” Dr Sangay said. “Given the undeclared martial law in Tibet and the increasing cases of self-immolation, the international community must press the government of People's Republic of China to restore freedom and resolve the issue of Tibet through dialogue … we urge the international community and the media to send fact-finding delegations to ascertain the situation on the ground inside Tibet.”

Tibetan exile administration begins solidarity movement

Phayul[Tuesday, October 18, 2011 19:39]

By Tendar Tsering 35 Tibetan lawmakers began a 24-hour hunger fast in the Indian capital New Delhi led by Speaker Penpa Tsering (l) and Deputy Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel (r) on October 18, 2011. DHARAMSHALA, October 18: A group of 35 Tibetan parliamentarians are currently sitting on a 24-hour hunger fast in the Indian capital city of New Delhi. Led by Speaker Penpa Tsering and Deputy Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, the Tibetan lawmakers are marking a day’s protest in the heart of the national capital to show solidarity with the sacrifices being made by Tibetans inside Tibet under the banner of Tibetan Solidarity Movement. "35 Tibetan parliamentarians are observing fast in Delhi and other parliamentarians are leading solidarity campaigns in other regional areas," said B. Tsering, a spokesperson for the movement. The recently announced Tibetan Solidarity Movement is a joint campaign of the Kashag (cabinet) and the Tibetan Parliament in Exile to express solidarity and grave concern over the deteriorating situation inside Tibet since 2008, particularly, the recent tragic acts of self -immolation. Prior to the fast, Tibetan parliamentary delegations visited numerous embassies in the capital and met with political and spiritual leaders, lobbying for support for the grievances raised by Tibetans inside Tibet. The fasting parliamentarians will also lead a candle light vigil later in the day at Jantar Mantar in memory of the nine Tibetans who have self immolated since March this year. As part of the movement, around 3000 Tibetans from all over India and Nepal will take part in the Global Solidarity Fast at Rajghat tomorrow followed by a peace march led by Tibetan Monks and Nuns. The massive protests are planned till Friday, but it might continue depending on the situation inside Tibet. A Tibetan parliamentary delegation met with Yashwant Sinha, former union Finance Minister and senior BJP leader in New Delhi as part of raising support for the grievances of the Tibetans inside Tibet. Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting in Dharamshala, last Friday, Kalon Tripa Dr Sangay said that the “Tibetan parliament and Kashag will continue to have dialogue on what else to do in weeks and months to come”. Addressing the press earlier today, Speaker Penpa Tsering urged the People's Republic of China to review its existing policies in Tibet in order to fulfil the aspirations of the Tibetan people for a “truly harmonious society”. "We are gravely concerned about the deteriorating situation inside Tibet that has driven the Tibetans to such desperate acts," Tsering told reporters following the fiery death of a 20-year old nun Tenzin Wangmo in Ngaba, eastern Tibet yesterday. “The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile urges the UN to call on China to genuinely uphold the international human rights standards and allow international independent fact-finding delegations and media to visit Tibet and in particularly Kirti monastery, the nerve centre of the recent self-immolations."

20,000 Chinese officials in Tibetan villages for patriotic education

Phayul[Tuesday, October 18, 2011 18:10]

By Tendar Tsering DHARAMSHALA, October 18: In wake of the fiery episode of self-immolations in Tibet, China is reportedly planning to send 20,000 Chinese officials to Tibetan villages in the so called Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) to “re-sculpture the minds of Tibetans”. "These Chinese officials will stay one year in the Tibetan villages to espouse patriotism and love for China," said Bawa Kalsang Gyaltsen, a member of Tibetan parliament and a China expert based in Dharamshala, the seat of Tibetan administration in exile. According to Gyaltsen, Chinese national flags and photos of Chinese leaders in large quantity will be distributed in all Tibetan villages. "Usually Tibetans in the villages put up photos of Chinese leaders on the altars and walls when Chinese officials visit the villages and pull them down once they leave," said Gyaltsen. “But now, under constant watch, the villagers would be facing greater repression.” This move of penetrating Tibetan villages is amongst the many policies being employed by the newly appointed Chinese party boss in Tibet, Chen Quanguo. Chinese government’s patriotic re-education campaigns in Tibetan monasteries and nunneries have been widely opposed by Tibetans and condemned by international observers. It is to be seen how Tibetan villages, which have an ethnic Tibetan majority unlike bigger towns and cities in TAR react to the new policy. Human Rights Watch in a press release last week had said that repressive policies and provocative policing techniques by the Chinese authorities were responsible for greater unrest and escalating tensions in the region. In this year alone, nine Tibetans, including a 20-year old nun, set themselves on fire protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

Situation in Tibet spiraling out of control

Phayul[Monday, October 17, 2011 23:35]

By Sherab Woeser Tibet Burning: A campaign poster calling world's attention and support for the sacrifices being made by Tibetans inside Tibet. DHARAMSHALA, October 17: Reports coming out of Tibet confirm the demise of yet another Tibetan, this time a nun, after she torched her body in an apparent protest against China’s continued occupation of Tibet. Tenzin Wangmo, around 20 years of age, set herself on fire at around 1 pm local time in the Ngaba region of eastern Tibet today. The exile base of Kirti Monastery, citing eyewitnesses, in a release today said that Tenzin Wangmo self immolated on a crossroad near her monastery, the Mamae Dechen Choekhorling Nunnery, about 3 kms away from Ngaba County. “Tenzin Wangmo was engulfed in flames as she marched on the streets for nearly 7 to 8 minutes raising slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile and religious freedom in Tibet,” the release said. Tenzin Wangmo died immediately. According to the release, nuns from the Mamae nunnery carried Tenzin Wangmo’s body to the nunnery and despite repeated warnings from Chinese security personnel, refuse to give possession of the deceased’s body. “The Chinese authorities have given the nuns an ultimatum to either hand over the deceased’s body or bury Tenzin Wangmo’s body by tonight,” the release said. The situation around Mamae nunnery, which is the largest nunnery in the Ngaba region with over 350 nuns, is being described as tense. This is the ninth incidence in this year alone when a Tibetan has been driven to the extreme sacrifice of burning one’s own body as a last resort of peaceful action against the Chinese government’s repressive policies in Tibet. The first 17 days of October has already witnessed five self-immolations in Ngaba region. Khaying, Choephel, and Tenzin Wangmo succumbed to their injuries while Kesang Wangchuk is being described in critical condition. There is no information as yet on the whereabouts of Norbu Damdul who was last seen being taken away by Chinese security personnel on October 15. The Central Tibetan Administration in a release earlier today said that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be presiding over the “grand prayer service to mourn the tragic self-immolations in Tibet” scheduled for October 19 in Dharamshala, north India.

Two Tibetans shot as unrest spreads

Phayul[Monday, October 17, 2011 23:53]

By Sherab Woeser DHARAMSHALA, October 17: Two Tibetans were shot for staging a peaceful demonstration demanding an end to China’s occupation of Tibet yesterday. Multiple sources with links inside Tibet are confirming the incidence that occurred outside a police station in Serthar County, Kardze, eastern Tibet. According to sources, a group of Tibetans gathered outside the police station and started raising slogans demanding freedom in Tibet and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile. Reacting to the peaceful demonstration, Chinese security personnel started firing at the crowd, injuring two and arresting seven. The UK based group, Free Tibet in a report identified the two as Dawa and Druklo and said that “one was shot in the leg, the other in the torso”. “It is not known why security personnel opened fire, nor are there further details about the wellbeing and whereabouts of Dawa and Druklo, but it has been reported that they were taken from the scene by the local community,” the group said. Serthar County had recently witnessed repeated shows of discontent over Beijing’s heavy-handed rule. On October 1, a huge portrait of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and a Tibetan national flag were unfurled from the top of a building in the central town of Serthar. Chinese authorities’ removal of the portrait and flag entailed an impromptu demonstration by over 200 Tibetans. Later on October 13, a huge Tibetan national flag and flyers demanding the return of the Tibetan spiritual leader and freedom in Tibet were pasted outside Chinese security and administrative offices in the region. Following the announcement of campaigns by the exile administration to show solidarity with the sacrifices being made by Tibetans inside Tibet, beginning with the 24-hour hunger strike by Tibetan parliamentarians tomorrow in the Indian capital of New Delhi, calls for action have also been made from inside Tibet. Sources say that envelopes containing a “call for action” on October 19 are being distributed at restaurants and shops in the Serthar region.

Monks sentenced in Ngaba in connection with Phuntsog's death

From FreeTibet.Org: Ngaba prison terms

Monks sentenced in Ngaba in connection with Phuntsog's death 

China has sentenced six monks, in connection with the death of Phuntsog, a monk from Kirti Monastery, Ngaba County who died on 17 March after setting himself on fire. All six monks were very closely related to Phuntsog.

UPDATE Three monks were sentenced in September. Two of them Dorjee, only 16 and Tseko, 22 are said to be Phuntsog's best friends. Lobsang Darjee is one of Phuntsog's brothers. The charges against are not known. All three were sentenced to re-eduation through labour. Re-education through labour is a system of administrative detention in China, issued by the police not a judicial court. In 2008 the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture concluded that re-education through labour is " systematic form of inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment, if not torture".

Photo: Tibet Post

Lengthy prison sentences

Three monks were sentenced in August to lengthy prison sentences. Phuntsog’s uncle, Tsundue was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment for “intentional homicide” which included delaying treatment. Tsering Tamding, 22 and Lobsang Tenzin, 21 were sentenced to 13 and 10 years respectively for “plotting and assisting” in the self-immolation.

Chinese state media reports that the three monks ‘confessed to their crimes’ raises the risk they were ill-treated while in custody and may have been subject to degrading treatment or even torture. 

The charge that other monks instigated and assisted Phuntsog have been rigorously denied by a spokesperson at Kirti Monastery in Dharamsala, India and do not reflect the non-violent nature of Tibetan opposition to China’s occupation.

Although it has been impossible to confirm exactly what led to the delays in Phuntsog being taken to hospital, we can only speculate that this was informed by concerns that Phuntsog might be taken into detention. 

Tabe, another monk from Kirti monastery who set himself on fire in 2009 was detained at the scene and his whereabouts remain unknown. Tabe’s parents are able to visit him at the invitation of authorities but for very limited periods. Tabe has also been used for propaganda purposes. In July this year he was interviewed on a local TV channel where he said he regretted what he did. It is not possible to confirm if Tabe gave the interview under duress.

Tabe lying on the street surrounded by armed police in February 2009

Free Tibet believes that these prosecutions are part of a wider pattern of abuses in response to the acts of self-immolation, which are aimed at preventing further acts of protest as well as deterring people from disseminating information within Tibet and externally, including to the international media who are unable to report freely from Tibet. The acts of self immolation secured global media coverage exposing how desperate some Tibetans have become, in direct conflict with the images and rhetoric the Chinese state promotes.

20-year-old Lobsang Tenzin alias Tenjam was sentenced to 10 years in prison on 30 August 2011.

It is understood that anyone closely associated with any of the three monks who self-immolated are “under intense pressure”. According to Chinese state media, a monk accused of emailing a photograph of Phuntsog to ‘a monk living abroad’ will be sentenced shortly. Another monk from Kirti monastery, Gotsang Jamyang, is already serving a 6-year sentence for sending information about Tabe’s self –immolation in 2009. Two monks from Nyitso monastery, where Tsewang Norbu resided before he self-immolated in August, have also been detained on unknown charges. Following the 2008 protests, there was a similar spate of sentences for those accused of sharing information, including a life sentence for a young Tibetan NGO worker in Lhasa, accused of emailing information about the protests overseas.

Enough is enough: A call for global campaign for Tibet

Phayul[Saturday, October 08, 2011 22:16]

By Sherab Woeser 'Light a lamp for Tibetan Martyrs'. Tibetan NGOs in Dharamshala light candles remembering the fiery sacrifices of Tibetans inside Tibet on October 8, 2011. (Photo/SFT India) DHARAMSHALA, October 8: Following the tragic incidents of self immolations in Tibet and a benumbed unresponsiveness from the exile Tibetan administration, a global coalition of Tibetans and supporters are planning a mass mobilisation at Chinese embassies across the world on Wednesday November 2. Under the banner “ENOUGH! Global Intervention to Save Tibetan Lives”, the International Tibet Network (ITN) is calling on its member networks, which exceed 180 organisations worldwide, to “visibly lobby and pressure their governments to make a joint statement, collectively démarche China about the situation in Ngaba, and institute a multi-lateral mechanism that can progress future strategy on Tibet.” In an urgent appeal letter, ITN is urging Tibet Support Groups to take part in a step by step process to build political pressure on China, through lobbying respective governments and increasing grassroots support as a build up to the G20 summit in France from November 3 – 4. President Hu Jintao will be representing China at the G20 summit. Reminding its member organisations that “Tibet and Tibetans need a roar of support from the international community,” ITN warned that unless the international community intervenes, these “desperate acts may continue”. “We believe that the desperation behind these immolations warrants a large scale international response, both to put pressure on China to address Tibetans' legitimate grievances, and to show Tibetans in Tibet that we have heard them and are responding to their anguish,” ITN said. In a call for campaign, Tenzin Dorjee, executive director of Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) and one of the main organisers of the campaign said that China's “systematic repression and tyrannical rule” in Tibet was driving Tibetans to take extreme actions. “While these young men have decided to sacrifice their lives, it's not an escape from life's suffering they are seeking. It's freedom. Not only for themselves, but for their nation”, Dorjee said. Pushing for a coordinated international response to condemn China’s repressive measures in Tibet, Dorjee encouraged Tibetans and Tibet supporters to take part in the global campaign. “On November 3-4, Chinese President Hu Jintao will sit with world leaders in Cannes, France at the G20 summit. On Wednesday, November 2nd, we're calling for a mass mobilisation in Cannes, France and cities around the world to intensify the pressure on China.” Yesterday, two Tibetans, Choephel and Khayang, both in their late teens had torched their bodies, continuing the fiery episode of anti-China protests. While Choephel is feared dead, Khayang is reportedly in serioius condition. Earlier, leaflets had surface in Ngaba town and Kirti Monastery warning that “if the present situation continued, many more people were prepared to give their lives in protest.”