Two Tibetan teenagers burn selves to death

Phayul[Wednesday, February 20, 2013 15:50]

Tibetan self-immolator Rinchen, 17, in an undated photo. Two Tibetan teenagers set themselves on fire in Kyangtsa region of Zoege, eastern Tibet on February 19, protesting China’s continued occupation and repressive policies in Tibet. Rinchen, 17 and Sonam Dhargey, 18 have succumbed to their burns. According to the exile base of Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, the two teenagers carried out their fiery protest at around 9:30 pm (local time) yesterday. “It is not currently known what slogans they raised during the protest,” Kirti Monastery in a release said. “The families of the two teenagers are in possession of their bodies and are hoping to carry out their final rites without any interference from the Chinese authorities.” Rinchen's parents are Dhondup Tsering and late Aadon. Sonam Dhargye's parents are Tsering Dhondup and Takho. Confirming the reports, the Dharamshala based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy today said both Rinchen and Sonam Dhargye attended the local primary school in Kyangtsa. “After finishing his primary school, Rinchen attended another school in Wenchuan for a few years and moved to Qinghai, where he worked,” TCHRD said. “At the time of self-immolation, Rinchen was on his Losar (New Year) holiday visiting his family in Kyangtsa.” With the latest self-immolations, as many as 104 known Tibetans living under China’s rule have now set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile. Eight fiery protests have already taken place inside Tibet since the beginning of the new year, in addition to Tibetan monk Drupchen Tsering's self-immolation protest in Kathmandu, Nepal on February 13. The global rights group Human Rights Watch earlier this month said the self-immolations in Tibet are taking place in the context of the Chinese government’s "long-standing repressive policies in the Tibetan areas that have seen severe restrictions on Tibetans’ rights.” “To date there has still been no concerted effort from the Chinese government to address the underlying grievances in Tibet, which have contributed to the rising number of self-immolations by Tibetans,” HRW said.

Tibetans demand immediate action by world leaders

Phayul[Monday, February 18, 2013 23:32]

Tibetans and supporters in Dharamshala, north India, carrying out a protest rally demanding immediate joint action by world leaders on Tibet on February 18, 2013. (Phayul photo/Norbu Wangyal) DHARAMSHALA, February 18: With the number of Tibet self-immolations crossing the tragic milestone of 100 this month, Tibetans in the exile headquarters of Dharamshala today carried out a major rally demanding immediate joint action by world leaders. Hundreds of Tibetans and supporters took part in a protest rally earlier this morning from the Mcleod Ganj Square to Lower Dharamshala, carrying Tibetan national flags and raising slogans for freedom and international intervention in the Tibet crisis. The day-long events were jointly organised by the five major Tibetan NGOs, the Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women's Association, Gu-Chu-Sum Former Political Prisoners’ Movement, National Democratic Party of Tibet, and Students for a Free Tibet, India. On February 17, Namlha Tsering, 49, became the 102nd known Tibetan living under China’s iron-fisted rule to self-immolate protesting China’s occupation and demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama.  In a move, which has been internationally condemned, Chinese authorities have sought to criminalise the self-immolations by handing out heavy sentences to Tibetans for “crimes” related to the protests. Addressing the press at the beginning of the rally, the organisers blamed China’s “repressive policies and severe crackdown” on Tibetans for provoking the unprecedented wave of self-immolations. "We strongly condemn the Chinese government's response to the recent protests and immolations in Tibet, which are exacerbating the situation and the suffering of Tibetans," said the organisers. Over a hundred Tibetans stage a die-in protest in Dharamshala, north India holding pictures of Tibetan self-immolators on February 18, 2013. (Phayul photo/Norbu Wangyal) "Moreover, in an attempt to shift the blame for the wave of self-immolation protests in Tibet, the Chinese government has launched a chilling crackdown and a smear campaign that paints Tibetans as criminals and religious fanatics and accused His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibetans in exile." The marchers upon reaching Kacheri, the local Indian Judicial Complex, observed a minute’s silence in honour of all Tibetans who have sacrificed their lives for Tibet. A die-in protest was also held at the main square with more than a hundred Tibetans lying down on the ground holding pictures of Tibetan self-immolators. Speaking at the rally, the organisers demanded world leaders to institute multi-lateral mechanisms to advocate for the rights of Tibetan people and urged the Chinese government to reassess its “draconian policies” in Tibet. They also called on Beijing to allow UN representatives and media groups to travel freely in Tibet to be able to determine the impact of Chinese policies and the level of individual freedom. In the evening, a candle light vigil and a special prayer service was also held in honour of Tibetan self-immolators. Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Tibetan people, in a statement last week called the Tibet self-immolations “ultimate acts of civil disobedience against China’s failed rule in Tibet.” “Instead of owning the onus of tragedy in Tibet – a self evident responsibility of its over 60 years of continuous iron-grip rule in Tibet – China relentlessly and irresponsibly accuses His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan leadership of inciting these self-immolations,” Sikyong Sangay, who is currently in the US said.

British MPs condemn China over self-immolations

Phayul[Monday, February 18, 2013 16:04]

With the number of Tibetan self-immolations crossing the tragic milestone of 100 this month, a group of British Members of Parliament condemned China's crackdown in Tibet and called on the Chinese government to examine their policies in Tibet and urgently address the grievances of the Tibetan people. Namlha Tsering, 49, became the 102nd known Tibetan living under China’s iron-fisted rule to self-immolate when he set himself ablaze on February 17 in Labrang region on eastern Tibet protesting China’s occupation and demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama. The group of bipartisan MPs issued their public statements on February 13, a day when two Tibetans, Drugpa Khar, 26, and Drupchen Tsering (Druptse), 25 self-immolated in Amchok, eastern Tibet and Kathmandu, Nepal respectively. Fabian Hamilton, Labour MP and Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet said China must engage with the Tibetan people and address their grievances in order to bring an end to the self-immolations. “China must recognise that it is the failure of their policies in Tibet that have led to not only the 100 self-immolations but also widespread peaceful protests in Tibet,” the lawmaker from Leeds North East said. “China must respect the human and civil rights of the Tibetan people and allow them the freedom to express their unique cultural identity without fear of persecution.” Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench) called on China to examine its policies in Tibet and “afford the Tibetans the rights and freedoms to which all people are entitled, such as the freedom of expression and freedom of religion.” Airing similar sentiments, Labour MP Kate Hoey pointed out that China should “urgently respond” to the grievances of the Tibetan people if it wanted to be respected as a global super-power.  “The Chinese leadership must talk to representatives of the Tibetan people, open Tibet to the rest of world and allow independent access to foreign media, humanitarian agencies and international observers. The British government must not allow China to go unchallenged about their appalling treatment of Tibetans,” she said. Labour MP Cathy Jamieson urged Chinese leaders to “ease tensions by withdrawing its armed forces and ending its repressive policies,” instead of responding with “military aggression and 'de facto' martial law conditions” to the ongoing protests in Tibet. Conservative MP Tim Loughton in his remarks said the “heart-rending decision to self-immolate” by over a hundred Tibetans is “indicative of the failure of China's policies in Tibet.” Also on the same day, the Friends of British in Tibet, a group of British people with direct family ties to Tibet going back over 200 years, wrote to Prime Minister David Cameron urging the British government to take a “leadership role in addressing the grave situation in Tibet.” The letter signed by former government employees, who served in an independent Tibet during British Raj in India, suggested that PM Cameron’s government offer assistance to the new Chinese leadership to “overcome the deadlock in their talks with the Tibetan Government in Exile.” The letter further urged him to “review and strengthen UK policies to ensure that Her Majesty’s Government’s position on Tibet both effectively reflects our nation’s standards on human rights, and grants a commensurate value to the national historical culture of the Tibetan people.” “The majority of the British people support the restoration of human rights in Tibet. The UK has an on-going responsibility and duty to Tibet, having signed treaties with this nation in the past,” the group said.

Another self-immolation rocks Tibet, Toll reaches 102

Phayul[Sunday, February 17, 2013 18:53]

Namlha Tsering, 49, sets himself on fire in Sangchu region of Labrang, eastern Tibet on February 17, 2013. DHARAMSHALA, February 17: In reports just in, another Tibetan set himself on fire today in the Labrang region of eastern Tibet protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet. Namlha Tsering, 49, carried out his fiery protest at around 5:40 pm (local time) in Sangchu region of Labrang. His current condition is not known although sources say chances of his survival are minimal. Photos received by Phayul show Namlha Tsering sitting cross-legged in the middle of a street even as high flames are rising from his body. In another photo he is seen fallen on his back with fire still leaping from his body.  An exiled Tibetan, Sonam, citing sources in the region told Phayul that eyewitnesses have expressed fear over his death.  “It is very unlikely that he could have survived his protest as the fire was burning very strongly,” Sonam cited an eyewitness as saying. Chinese security personnel arrived at the scene of the protest, doused the flames and bundled him away. In another photo, a number of armed forces could also be seen parading on the street soon after the protest. Since 2009, as many as 102 Tibetans living under China’s rule have set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile. Tibetan self-immolator Namlha Tsering, 49. In the past few weeks, China has sentenced a Tibetan to death with a two-year reprieve and several others to lengthy jail terms of up to 13 years for “crimes” related the self-immolation protests. In a statement released earlier this week, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Tibetan people noted that the ongoing and unprecedented self-immolations by an increasing number of Tibetans in Tibet are the “ultimate acts of civil disobedience against China’s failed rule in Tibet.” “Concrete steps that the leaders of the world need to take immediately are to send Ms Navi Pillay of UNHCR on a visit to Tibet and investigate the real causes of self immolations, and convene a meeting to discuss and address the crisis in Tibet,” Sikyong Sangay said. Speaking to reporters, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland on Friday said the US remains deeply concerned by the reports of Tibet self-immolations, terming the rising numbers “horrific figures.” "We call on those who are immolating or those who might be considering this to think hard about whether it's the best way to express yourself," she said.  "We also, as we always do, call on the Chinese government to address its own policies in Tibet that have caused these kinds of tensions and frustration," Nuland said in response to a question.  "I think you can tell from the situation that it remains quite tense," she added.

Tibet continues to burn

Phayul[Friday, February 15, 2013 07:04]

DHARAMSHALA, February 15: A Tibetan father of three set himself on fire in Amchok region of eastern Tibet on February 13, a day observed by Tibetans as the centenary celebrations of His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama’s Proclamation of Tibetan Independence. Drugpa Khar, 26, set himself on fire in Amchok town in Sangchu region of Kanlho at around 1 pm (local time). He reportedly succumbed to his injuries. No further details are available about the protest at the time of filing this report. The self-immolation comes weeks after a court in the region sentenced six Tibetans tolengthy jail terms of up to 12 years for rescuing the body of Tibetan self-immolator, Dorjee Rinchen, 57, from falling into the hands of Chinese authorities last October. With Drugpa Khar’s fiery protest, the total number of known self-immolations by Tibetans living under China’s rule has now reached 101. The self-immolators have called for Tibet’s freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile. According to exile sources, Drugpa Khar is survived by his parents Tamding Tsering and Tamding Tso. His youngest child is one year old and the eldest is aged six. On February 13, another Tibetan self-immolated in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet. With 96 per cent burns, the Tibetan monk succumbed to his injuries later that day. As the number of Tibet self-immolations breached the 100 mark, the International Tibet Network, a global movement of 185 Tibet advocacy organisations, urgently called for “more visible coordination of action” by world governments. The Network, in a release, accused Chinese authorities of responding to the self-immolation protests with “an even greater crackdown, thereby increasing the chances that more Tibetans will self-immolate.”  "This staggering figure of 100 individual self-immolation protests must bring the world to its senses. This milestone demands widespread condemnation of China's failed policies and of its brutal crackdown in Tibet," said Tenzin Jigme, International Coordinator of the Network. "Each one of these incidents is a personal tragedy, but the combined total of 100 people setting light to themselves in protest warrants an international response. We urgently call on world governments to issue a joint statement of concern on this tragic occasion and to collectively formulate a diplomatic initiative that will directly address China's leaders over the crisis they have created in Tibet." In a statement released yesterday, Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay, the elected head of the Tibetan people noted that the ongoing and unprecedented self-immolations by an increasing number of Tibetans in Tibet are the “ultimate acts of civil disobedience against China’s failed rule in Tibet.” “Concrete steps that the leaders of the world need to take immediately are to send Ms Navi Pillay of UNHCR on a visit to Tibet and investigate the real causes of self immolations, and convene a meeting to discuss and address the crisis in Tibet,” Sikyong Sangay added.

Monk in Ngaba becomes 100th to self-immolate

Phayul[Wednesday, February 13, 2013 21:41]

Kirti Monastery monk Lobsang Namgyal in an undated photo. He is the 100th known Tibetan to self-immolate under China's rule since 2009 demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama.

In confirmed reports, a Tibetan monk set himself on fire on February 3 in the Ngaba region of eastern Tibet protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet.

Lobsang Namgyal, 37, a monk of the Kirti Monastery has become the 100th known Tibetan to self-immolate under China’s rule since the wave began in 2009.

Following immense security clampdown in the region, the news of Lobsang Namgyal’s fiery protest reached exile on February 13, a day being observed by Tibetan exiles all over the world as the 100th year of His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama’s Tibetan Proclamation of Independence.

According to the exile base of the Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, Lobsang Namgyal set himself ablaze near the local police building in Zoege at around 6 am (local time). He passed away at the scene of his protest.

“Lobsang Namgyal, engulfed in flames, shouted slogans for the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama as he ran towards the local police building,” Kirti Monastery said in a release citing sources in the region.

Lobsang Namgyal’s identity was confirmed after Chinese police found his identity card and a letter from inside a bag near the protest site. The contents of the letter are not yet known.

“Chinese security personnel bundled away his body from the site and carried out his cremation without informing his family members,” Kirti Monastery said. “Only his ashes were handed over.”

In September 2012, Lobsang Namgyal had all of a sudden gone missing for two weeks prompting frantic searches from his family members and friends. It was later found out that he was taken into custody by Chinese security personnel for unknown reasons.

Upon his return, local Chinese authorities made it difficult for him to continue his stay at the Monastery and was forced to live with his relatives in the nomadic pastures. However, Chinese officials followed his movements and continued to harass him, the release noted.

Before carrying out his self-immolation protest, Lobsang Namgyal reportedly came to the Kirti Monastery to offer prayers.

Currently, all movement of his relatives are being closely watched by the police and their phone calls are being monitored, the release added. His younger brother, monk Lobsang Sangay, was also detained for a few days following the protest.

Lobsang Namgyal is survived by his father Karkho and mother Kar Kyi and eight brothers and sisters.

Earlier today, a Tibetan monk in the Nepali capital of Kathmandu set himself on fire protesting China’s rule in Tibet. Clear details about the protest and the identity of the monk are still not available.

Breaking: Tibetan monk self-immolates in Nepal

Phayul[Wednesday, February 13, 2013 09:27]

An unidentified Tibetan monk self-immolates in Kathmandu, Nepal on February 13, 2013, the day marking 100 years of the declaration of Tibetan Independence by His Holiness the 13th Dalai Lama.

A Tibetan monk today set himself on fire today near the holy stupa of Boudhanath in the heart of Nepalese capital city Kathmandu.

In a photo received by Phayul, the monk could be seen engulfed in towering flames. No further information is available on the identity of the monk or his condition, although our sources in the region fear for the worst.

According to eyewitnesses, the monk was severely burned and was later rushed to a hospital.

Further information is awaited.

Across the Himalayas, as many as 99 Tibetans have set themselves on fire protesting China’s occupation and demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile.

The self-immolation today coincides with the 100 years of the declaration of the “Tibetan Proclamation of Independence” by His Holiness the Great 13th Dalai Lama.

Exile Tibetans and supporters all over the world have planned major events to commemorate the historic event reasserting Tibet’s independence.

In recent years, following growing ties between Nepal and China, Kathmandu has clamped down strictly on Tibetans refugees living in the country.

This is not the first occasion when a Tibetan has set himself on fire in Kathmandu. In November 2011, a Tibetan monk Bhutuk set himself ablaze at the same spot.

He survived his fiery protest and later escaped to India following a large scale manhunt by Nepali police.

Tibetans to mark 100 years of Independence Proclamation

Phayul[Tuesday, February 12, 2013 23:51]

Thubten Gyatso, the Great 13th Dalai Lama

DHARAMSHALA, February 12: Exactly 100 years after His Holiness the Great 13th Dalai Lama declared the “Tibetan Proclamation of Independence,” Tibetans and supporters all over the world are geared up to celebrate the historic event, reasserting Tibet’s independence.

Thubten Gyatso, the 13th Dalai Lama, was forced to take refuge in British India from 1910 – 1912 following the Manchu invasion of Tibet.

When the Manchu (Qing) Dynasty collapsed in 1911, Tibetans expelled the remnant Manchu forces from Tibet, paving way for the Dalai Lama to return and exercise a political authority not seen since the reign of the great Fifth Dalai Lama.

The overthrow of the Manchu forces and return of the Dalai Lama to Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, proved historically significant for Tibetans as it marked the full restoration of Tibet’s independence.

The 13th Dalai Lama declared Tibet’s independence on February 13, 1913 (8th day, first month, water ox Tibetan year) by making the ‘Tibetan Proclamation of Independence,’ a five-point public statement reasserting Tibetan Independence.

For more than three decades following the proclamation, Tibet was to enjoy complete independence, free from any foreign control, until the occupation of invading communist Chinese forces.

In the Indian capital New Delhi, Tibetan Youth Congress, the largest pro-independence group in exile, will be holding its fourth preliminary Rangzen Conference to mark the event.

After holding a series of similar conferences in Europe, Taiwan, and North America, the conference in India is planned as a build up to a major international Rangzen (Independence) Conference later this year.

As part of the commemorations, TYC has also commissioned an exhibition of documents, artifacts, and photos corroborating Tibet’s nationhood.

An image of the re-creation of the 1913 Tibetan Proclamation of Independence.

The Dharamshala based Tibetan Women’s Association, in a release said the largest Tibetan’s women’s group in exile “stands firmly for the undeniable truth that no one can rewrite and remake history.”

“As vividly described in the five points of Tibetan Declaration of Independence, Tibet was an independent nation from the time of King's reign,” TWA said.

“It is out of China's arrogance and shamelessness that she illegally occupies Tibet with the untruthful idea that this region is an inseparable part of mainland China.”

To mark the event, the 56 regional chapters of TWA, spread all over the world, will be distributing copies of the Tibetan Proclamation of Independence.

In the exile headquarters of Dharamshala, the centennial celebrations will be marked with a day-long programme organised by the Students for a Free Tibet, India.

The group will be organising a ‘Tibet Independence Exhibition: Reclaiming History’ at the TCV Day School followed by a talk on the topic, ‘His Holiness the 13th Dalai and Independence of Tibet.’ The celebrations will continue into the evening with the ‘Tibetan Independence Day Concert’ at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts.

Tibetan singing sensation, Karma Emchi, who shot into fame with his viral song ‘Shabhaley’ will be performing at the concert.

SFT, India in a release said, “Tibetans are countering China’s claims to their homeland and asserting their determination to be free” by publicly celebrating their history as a sovereign nation.

“At this time when the Chinese government is doing everything in its power to crush the Tibetan resistance, we believe that a commemoration of the 1913 Tibetan Proclamation of Independence will refresh our spirits, reaffirm our vision and strengthen the struggle to achieve freedom for the Tibetan people,” the group said.

Tibet and Lithium Extraction

At the last Cafe Momo (10th Feb) I presented a synopsis of Gabriel Lafitte's article
Tibet's resource Curse which describes the issues around Lithium extraction in Tibet.  Lithium is the chief component in Lithium Ion batteries that are used in laptops, mobile devices, smart-phones etc.
The audience was greatly interested in issue and asked many question and gave comments.  I will try to document that outcome here:

How do you prolong the life of your Lithium Ion battery?  There are some good web sites that provide useful information - try Battery University. The main tip is to keep them cool,  if using your laptop off the mains then take the battery out (before booting).

What are the specific environmental issues in Tibet regarding Lithium extraction?  The main issue here is the use of toxic solvents in the extraction process such as pentanol, tetrahydrofuran, cresol  isobutanol and chloroform.  The article reference above also states:

'.. Lithium enters rivers and drinking water from many industrial sources. Its toxicity has been scientifically studied in fish, other aquatic creatures and mammals. A team of Canadian and Finnish scientists have found that lithium is “potentially detrimental to the juvenile rainbow trout.” Lithium fed experimentally to rats caused developmental deformities, according to a 2004 scientific report. '

Because of some of the medical applications of Lithium (as an anti depressant) it has been suggested that it is put into drinking water.  see http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/shortcuts/2011/dec/05/should-we-put-lithium-in-water 

At high levels it can cause death, the following link provides some understanding of the toxicity of Lithium and  http://www.cec.uchile.cl/~dpineda/archivos/Litio_papers/litio_efectoxic.pdf

Take a look at the following links

• https://sites.google.com/site/lithiumminecom/lithium-mining-in-china
• http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/pollute-08012011121357.html

This only a quick overview and more understanding is required here

Would similar issues be occurring in the other major producing countries (Chile and Australia)? This is possible however the issue is intensified by the fact that China is not a democracy that allows a plurality of views and a free press.  It therefore lacks the 'checks and balances'  that may bring such issues to focus.  Both Chile and Australia enjoy an independent judiciary.  Further work is required here and I welcome further comments.


All for now

China jails 5 Tibetans for 10-14 yrs for peaceful Jan’12 protest

(TibetanReview.net, Feb11, 2013) China on Jan 26 jailed five Tibetans to jail terms ranging from 10 to 14 years for their involvement in a protest which took place nearly a year ago in Draggo (Chinese: Luhuo) County of Karze (Chinese: Ganzi) Prefecture, Sichuan Province, reported Radio Free Asia (Washington) Feb 8. It was a peaceful protest which turned violent when Chinese security forces fired into the crown, killing and injuring several Tibetans.
The report said the Draggo county court jailed monks Tashi Dargye and Namgyal Dondrub for 14 years each. It also jailed a layman named Trinley to 10 years while two other laymen, of unknown name, have been jailed for 11 years each.
The protest had taken place on Jan 23, 2012 after the Chinese authorities ordered the local Tibetans to celebrate their upcoming traditional New Year, something they had already decided against to express their sadness over the self-immolations and deaths of fellow-Tibetans.
The two monks were reported to have been identified from security cameras which captured the protest. They were also said to have figured in security camera pictures of 2008 Tibetan protests in the area.