filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen to a women’s prison

Phayul[Tuesday, January 22, 2013 13:16]

Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen DHARAMSHALA, January 22: After suffering harsh treatment and months of solitary confinement at the Xichuan labour camp in Siling, eastern Tibet, Tibetan filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen has been shifted to a women's prison. Calling it "an unusual move," the Switzerland based group Filming for Tibet, which supports the work of Tibetan filmmakers, said Wangchen has been transferred to the Qinghai Provincial Women's Prison, the main prison for women in China's Qinghai province. Self-taught filmmaker Wangchen conceived and shot the film "Leaving Fear Behind" (Tib:Jigdrel) to portray life in Tibet in advance of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. He was arrested on March 26, 2008 for filming interviews with ordinary Tibetans on their views on the Beijing Olympics, the Dalai Lama and Chinese government's policies in Tibet. Shortly after his footage was smuggled overseas, Wangchen disappeared into Chinese detention. He was sentenced to six years in prison for "subversion" on December 28, 2009 following a secret trial. In January 2010, he was denied appeal. The latest development was learned following a visit to Wangchen by close family members on January 15, 2013, during which he spoke of previous harsh treatment at Xichuan labour camp, including several months of solitary confinement that started in March 2012. Now being held in "improved conditions," Wangchen and his family members are unaware of the reasons for his transfer, particularly to a women's prison with "no other Tibetan inmates or political prisoners." "Although we are relieved to hear that Dhondup Wangchen is in stable health, we share Dhondup Wangchen's own concerns as he says he feels isolated and alone in this prison," said Gyaljong Tsetrin, cousin of Dhondup Wangchen and President of "Filming for Tibet". "There is still well over a year until Dhondup Wangchen will have served his six-year sentence for making 'Leaving Fear Behind', it is our wish that in this time Dhondup Wangchen suffers no maltreatment and be granted access to books so that he can study, something he has repeatedly requested but has been forbidden from doing." It has been reported that Wangchen contracted Hepatitis B in prison and is in poor health. International calls for his release received a major boost last year when Wangchen wasawarded the Committee to Protect Journalists' 2012 'International Press Freedom Award.' The US based global press freedom group recognised Wangchen's efforts for his "courageous reporting" and "risking his life and liberty to reveal abuses of power and human rights violations." Wangchen's hard-hitting documentary has been screened in over 30 countries with his wife Lhamo Tso travelling internationally to campaign for her husband's release. In November last, Chinese authorities framed murder charges against Golog Jigme Gyatso, a Tibetan monk who assisted Wangchen, after he went missing in September 2012 and was feared arrested. Chinese officials in Kanlho made an announcement offering 2,00,000 Chinese Yuan (US$32,116) for information on Jigme, alleging charges of murder. Local Tibetans expressed fear that Jigme could have died in prison after suffering severe torture at the hands of Chinese prison guards.

98th self-immolation in Tibet

Phayul[Tuesday, January 22, 2013 16:19]

DHARAMSHALA, January 22: In confirmed reports coming out of Tibet, another Tibet set himself on fire today in Bora region of Labrang, eastern Tibet in an apparent protest against China’s continued occupation of Tibet. Kunchok Kyab, 23, self-immolated near the Bora Monastery at around 12 pm (local time). Initial reports suggest that Kunchok Kyab passed away in his fiery protest. According to our sources, he is survived by his wife and a ten-month old infant. Details on today’s self-immolation protest, the third since the new year, are awaited at the time of filing this report. On December 2, last year, a Tibetan male, Sungdue Kyab set himself on fire on a road leading to the Bora Monastery. He survived his self-immolation protest and is reportedly being kept in a heavily fortified hospital in Kanlho.  Since 2009, as many as 98 known Tibetans have now set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile. Despite repeated appeals by the Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration to refrain from such drastic acts, Tibetan self-immolations have persisted.  The CTA maintains that the self-immolations “represent a new threshold of Tibetan despair and resentment, and a worsening of the vicious cycle of unrest-repression-more unrest,” while attributing the current crisis in Tibet “the political and religious repression, economic marginalisation, social discrimination, cultural assimilation and environmental destruction in Tibet.”

Breaking: Second self-immolation in the new year

Phayul[Friday, January 18, 2013 18:10]

Tsering Phuntsok's body burns on the ground in front of Chinese police station in Drachen village in Khyungchu region of eastern Tibet on January 18, 2013. DHARAMSHALA, January 18: The wave of self-immolation protests in Tibet against China's continued occupation of Tibet shows no sign of abating with reports just in of yet another fiery death in Khyungchu region of Ngaba in eastern Tibet. Initial reports have identified the Tibetan self-immolator as Tsering Phuntsok. According to a Swiss based Tibetan, Sonam, the protest occurred at around 3:15 pm (local time). "Tsering Phuntsok set himself on fire in front of the local Chinese police station in Drachen village of Khyungchu region," Sonam told Phayul. "He passed away at the site of his protest." Chinese security personnel arrived at the scene and bundled away Tsering Phuntsok's body to Barkham, the same source said. Tsering Phuntsok is survived by his wife and two children. Photos of today's self-immolation protests show the charred body of Tsering Phuntsok, still on fire, lying on the ground. A number of people could be seen surrounding the body. Reports suggest that monks of the Amchok Monastery are currently carrying out a prayer service for the deceased. This is the second self-immolation protest in Tibet since the beginning of the new year. In 2012 alone, as many as 82 Tibetans set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile. Chinese authorities in the region have intensified their repressive policies by criminalising the self-immolation protests, arresting family members and friends of protesters and off late, confiscating thousands of satellite TV dishes aimed at creating an information black hole in the region. "Tibet is getting into the global evening news because of self-immolations and so there's this anxiety to bring it under control," Michael Davis, a law professor and Tibet expert at the University of Hong Kong told AP. He warned that the new leadership "will be particularly anxious not to have any of these problems blow up in their face." "I think self-immolations and all of this suggest that they are not winning the hearts and minds of the Tibetan people and in fact the more repressive they are, the more resistance they encounter, so it's a kind of vicious circle," Davis said.

Tibetan woman self-immolated in Beijing last year: Reports

Phayul[Monday, January 14, 2013 16:55]

Firefighter teams are posted to Tiananmen Square in Beijing, last November during the 18th Communist Party Congress. (Photo/Tom Lasseter/McClatchy) DHARAMSHALA, January 14: In reports finally emerging, an elderly Tibetan woman apparently self-immolated in China’s capital city of Beijing in September last year. She is believed to have set herself on fire in protest against illegal land grabbing by Chinese authorities in the Keygudo region of eastern Tibet following the devastating 2010 earthquake. According to the Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration, Passang Lhamo, a 62-year-old native of Keygudo torched herself on September 13, 2012 after “repeated appeals to the central authorities in Beijing failed to yield any concrete results.” She was reportedly taken to hospital where she was treated for "severe burn injuries." Passang Lhamo was forced to head to Beijing after local authorities in Keygudo refused to allow her to retain her ancestral home following the major rebuilding process in the region.  According to CTA, a series of “illegal land grabbing by Chinese authorities have left hundreds of Tibetans homeless” in Keygudo region. “Despite the much propagated hype around the Chinese government’s overwhelming relief efforts to resettle affected Tibetan families, the ground realities have remained a far cry from the promises made by the central government,” a report on its official website tibet.net said. Growing resentment against the Chinese government’s reconstruction plans last year saw the self-immolation protest by a Tibetan mother of two in Keygudo town. Dickyi Choezom had set herself on fire on June 27 in Keygu town near the Dhondupling Monastery during a public protest against Chinese government policies of forced eviction and land seizures. She was reportedly taken to a hospital in Siling following which no information on her wellbeing and whereabouts have been made available. Around 70 Tibetan families had taken part in the protest, raising slogans for ‘Right over our own land’ and ‘Rights over our own wealth.’ Tibetans in Keygudo have been protesting China’s redevelopment plans that have ousted them from their ancestral lands to make way for government buildings following the devastating April 2010 earthquake. In 2011, around 300 Tibetans had led a mass protest in the main intersection of the town against the government takeover of their land. Many of the protesters were wounded and several were detained in the bloody crackdown that followed.

Chinese authorities arrest eight Tibetans

Phayul[Monday, January 14, 2013 16:54]

By Phuntsok Yangchen DHARAMSHALA, January 14: In continuing crackdown on the spate of self-immolation protests in Tibet, Chinese authorities have arrested eight Tibetans, including a family member of a self-immolator, for sharing information with outsiders in the Luchu region of Kanlho, eastern Tibet. The eight arrested Tibetans have been identified as Kalsang Samdup, Nyima, Lhamo Dhundup, Dorjee Dhundup, Kalsang Kyab, Kalsang Sonam, Kalsang Namdren, and Sonam Kyi. According to exile sources, Kalsang Samdup, a 44-year-old monk of the Sherab Phuntsok Rabgayling Monastery, was questioned by Chinese authorities at his monastic quarters on December 20, 2012, and was arrested the next day for having contacts with outside “splittist” forces. The seven other Tibetans, all laypeople, were arrested three days later on charges of contacting outsiders and sharing information on the self-immolation protest of Tsering Namgyal, who set himself on fire near a local Chinese government office in Luchu on November 29, 2012. Tsering Namgyal passed away in his fiery protest and is survived by his wife Choekyong Tso, their two children, Dorjee Kyi, 7, and Kalsang Dolma, 3, and his parents. Among those arrested, Kalsang Namdren is a brother-in-law of Tsering Namgyal. The only female among the detainees, Sonam Kyi was earlier arrested for allegedly sharing information with outsiders on the 2008 mass uprising in Tibet’s capital Lhasa. She has since been banished and forbidden from visiting the capital city by Chinese authorities. According to the same sources, Nyima was later released after Chinese authorities seized his mobile phone and other equipments. The condition and whereabouts of the arrested Tibetans remain unknown. Following the recent spike in the wave of self-immolation protests, Chinese authorities, instead of addressing the grievances of the protesters, have announced a series of strict security measures, charging anyone found inciting or abetting self-immolations with murder and penalising people for offering condolence and prayers for the self-immolators.  Several Tibetans have been arrested and sentenced to lengthy jail terms on charges of sharing information on the self-immolation protests. Since 2009, as many as 96 known Tibetans have set themselves on fire protesting China’s rule and demanding freedom and the return of Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama from exile. The new year has already witnessed a fiery start with the self-immolation of Tsering Tashi, 22, who passed away in his protest in Amchok region of Sangchu, eastern Tibet on January 12, 2013. The Dalai Lama recently renewed calls for a “thorough investigation” into the causes behind the wave of self-immolations while speaking to a major Indian new channel. “Last year, when this (self-immolation) first happened, I was in Japan and I said that the time has come the Chinese government must carry thorough investigation and find the cause of these sad events,” the Tibetan spiritual leader said. “These events are symptom of some cause.” He further noted that two to three generations of Tibetans inside Tibet have “really suffered a lot” under China’s rule.

Toll rises to 96 in Tibet

Phayul[Saturday, January 12, 2013 16:08] Tibetan self-immolator Tsebhe in an undated photo. In confirmed reports coming out of Tibet, a young Tibetan man set himself on fire today in the Amchok region of eastern Tibet in continued protest against China’s occupation of Tibet. Tsering Tashi (Tsebhe), 22 years of age, succumbed to his injuries at his protest site. Speaking to Phayul, Ajam Amchok, an exiled Tibetan with close contacts in the region said Tsebhe self-immolated in the middle of Amchok town in Sangchu region of Kanlho, eastern Tibet. “Tsebhe set himself on fire in Amchok town at around 1 pm (local time),” Ajam said. “He succumbed to his injuries at the protest site following which local Tibetans were able to rescue his body from falling into the hands of Chinese security personnel.” The same source noted that getting further information on today’s fiery protest is “very difficult” as his contacts are wary of growing Chinese surveillance and monitoring on all modes of communication. “All that we know as of now is that Tsebhe’s body has been carried to his home in Keynang village and monks are performing prayers,” Ajam said. Tsebhe’s self-immolation protest, the 96th known instance in Tibet since 2009, marks the continuation of the fiery protests into the new year.  Burning body of Tsebhe, who self-immolated in Amchok region of Sangchu in Kanlho, eastern Tibet on January 12, 2013, protesting Chinese rule over Tibet. The protests recorded an alarming spike in November last, coinciding with the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, during which 28 Tibetans set themselves on fire. The self-immolators have demanded freedom in Tibet and the return of exiled Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Following the wave of self-immolation protests, Chinese authorities in the region have announced cash rewards for those “exposing crimes” related to the self-immolation protests and issued an ultimatum warning those who have “committed fault” to turn themselves in.  Despite repeated international calls for restraint and reconsideration of its policies, China has hardened its stance on the self-immolation protests and announced stricter measures including pressing of murder charges against anyone caught aiding or inciting self-immolations.

The third Cafe Momo

Sunday's Cafe MoMo was a great success raising £200.  Over 50 people attended who enjoyed Hot chocolate, home make cakes and live music with Ruth on the paino.  Below are a few images of the occasion 

A Tibetan Journey by Trike

Burning Tibetan calls for independence

Phayul[Saturday, December 08, 2012 18:47]

Tibetan self-immolator Pema Dorjee set himself on fire demanding the Dalai Lama's return and Tibet's independence outside the Shitsang Monastery in Luchu, eastern Tibet on December 8, 2012. In no respite to the wave of fiery protests inside Tibet, a second Tibetan today set himself on fire protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet.  Pema Dorjee, 23, set himself on fire in the Luchu region of eastern Tibet at around 4:30 pm (local time). A group of exiled Tibetans from the region told Phayul that he succumbed to his injuries at the protest site. “Martyr Pema Dorjee set himself on fire in front of the main assembly hall of the Shitsang Monastery in Luchu,” the group said. “A large number of Tibetans who were at the Monastery to offer prayers witnessed the self-immolation protest.” Today, the 25th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan Lunar calendar is observed as Gaden Ngamchoe, the day of Je Tsongkhapa's Parinirvana. Tibetans all over, observe this day by offering lamps in monasteries, temples, stupas, and at homes to venerate the mortal departure of Lama Tsongkhapa, a great 14th century Tibetan Buddhist master. According to Sonam, an exiled Tibetan, Pema Dorjee raised slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Tibet’s independence. “Pema Dorjee raised slogans calling for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, independence of Tibet, unity of Tibetans and for the land of Tibet to be ruled by Tibetans,” Sonam said citing a contact in the region.  “There are heavy restrictions placed around the monastery as of now,” the same source added. Pema Dorjee is a native of Chokhor village in Shitsang region of Luchu. His village is located at around a distance of 30kms from the Shitsang Monastery.  With two self-immolations today, the ongoing wave of fiery protests in Tibet, which began in 2009, has witnessed 94 Tibetans set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama. The exile Tibetan administration maintains that the current situation in Tibet has stemmed from “several decades of Chinese misrule in Tibet” and discontent of the Tibetan people arsing from “political repression, cultural assimilation, economic marginalisation, and environmental destruction.” Urging people not to remain “idle bystanders,” the elected head of the Tibetan people Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay recently called for a Global Solidarity Day to be observed on December 10, Human Rights Day. Sikyong Dr Sangay urged Tibetans and supporters to “light a candle or lamp, observe a minute’s silence, and a say a prayer for all those who have died for the cause of Tibet, and locally organise vigils and rallies."

Tibetan monk passes away in latest self-immolation protest

Phayul[Saturday, December 08, 2012 17:47]

Tibetan self-immolator Kunchok Phelgye in an undated photo. DHARAMSHALA, December 8: The alarming escalation in self-immolation protests continues in Tibet with another Tibetan setting himself on fire protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet. In fresh reports coming out of Tibet, Kunchok Phelgye, a 24-year-old-monk from the Sumdo Monastery in Dzoege region of eastern Tibet passed away in his self-immolation protest today. The exile base of the Kirti Monastery in Dharamshala, in a release, said that Kunchok Phelgye set himself on fire in front of the main assembly hall of the Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery at around 5:20 pm (local time). “Kunchok Phelgye was enveloped in flames and his hands were joined in prayers as he raised slogans for the long life and return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Kyabje Kirti Rinpoche, the exiled head of Kirti Monastery,” the release said citing sources in the region. “He also raised slogans calling for the return and reunification of Tibetans.” Kunchok Phelgye succumbed to his injuries at the site of his protest. Monks of the Monastery surrounded Kunchok Phelgye’s burning body and began to recite the prayer, “Losang Gyalwa Kungi Nyingje Ter…” (usually recited in Kirti Rinpoche’s honour). Later, Kunchok Phelgye’s body was carried to his quarters in the Monastery where hundreds of monks and local Tibetans continue to visit to offer their last respects and prayers. 24-year-old Tibetan monk Kunchok Phelgye's body burns outside the Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery in Dzoege, eastern Tibet after he self-immolated demanding the reunification of Tibetans on December 8, 2012. “Right now hundreds of monks are gathered and offering prayers for the deceased,” the release said. "Local Chinese authorities have now placed Taktsang Lhamo Kirti monastery and the surrounding villages under security blockade." Kunchok Phelgye has nine members in his family. His parents are Kunchok Kyab and Dolma Tso. Since his early childhood, he was a monk at the Sumdo Monastery and in 2010 joined Taktsang Lhamo Kirti Monastery to continue his Buddhist studies. In the same Dzoege region, Kunchok Kyab, a 29-year-old father of two, set himself on fire on November 30. He was forcibly taken away by Chinese security personnel, reportedly to a hospital in Barkham, where he passed away on December 1. The United States this week expressed its “deep concern and sadness” over the “increasing frequency” of self-immolations by Tibetans and blamed China for further exacerbating tensions in the region. The U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues Maria Otero in a statement issued December 5 accused Chinese authorities of responding to the wave of fiery protests with “measures that tighten already strict controls on freedoms of religion, expression, assembly and association of Tibetans.” “The United States is deeply concerned and saddened by the continuing violence in Tibetan areas of China and the increasing frequency of self-immolations by Tibetans,” Otero said. “Official rhetoric that denigrates the Tibetan language, the Dalai Lama, and those who have self-immolated has further exacerbated tensions.” Now, 93 Tibetans have set themselves on fire inside Tibet demanding freedom and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama since the fiery wave of protests began in 2009.