TIBET UPDATE

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The Tibet Update eNewsletter is a bimonthly summary of news and governmental actions related to Tibet. Past issues in PDF format are located at http://www.savetibet.org/media-center/tibet-weekly-updates/. INSIDE TIBET: Tibetan singer released from jail Radio Free Asia reported on February 8 that, according to a close relative, popular Tibetan singer Tashi Dhondup has been released from jail after serving most of a 15-month sentence for recording songs calling for Tibetan independence. Dhondup was detained and sentenced in December 2009 for producing CDs titled '58' and 'Torture without Trace.' Read more ... Two Tibetans including a juvenile sentenced to prison terms Voice of Tibet radio reported on February 9 that a Chinese court in Kanlho Tibet Autonomous Prefecture has sentenced two Tibetans including a juvenile to prison terms. The report said that 16-year-old Thupten Dhargye was sentenced to one and half years for carrying out anti-China protests on November 14, 2010 in Machu County. His 15-year-old friend Dorpel, who joined him in the protest, was not sentenced but in poor physical state after being tortured while in detention and has been released to his family. Read more ... ICT Report: Chinese Authorities rename and rebuild quake struck Tibetan area; Tibetans excluded from planning Following the devastating earthquake in April 2010, Chinese authorities have announced plans to rebuild the Tibetan town of Kyegu into a new city with a Chinese name.  Qinghai provincial governor Luo Huining said, "In light of the post-quake rebuilding work and Qinghai's urbanization drive, we will build Yushu County into a city with a new temporary name of Sanjiangyuan [Three River Sources]." This news intensifies concern about the exclusion of Tibetans from the reconstruction process in an area with strong Tibetan identity where Tibetans make up more than 90% of the population. Read more ... ICT Report: United Nations: Nepal urged not to return Tibetans to China The UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review mechanism scrutinized Nepal's human rights record on January 25 in Geneva. In a statement the U.S. delegation urged Nepal to continue "its long-standing commitment to ensure the safe passage through Nepal of Tibetan asylum seekers and refraining from forcibly returning Tibetan Asylum seekers to China." In response, the Nepalese Ambassador Dinesh Bhattarai said, "On the issue of Tibetan refugees, Nepal stated that it does not allow its territory to be used against neighbors or any country." Read more ... Three Tibetan Writers face hard labor Three Tibetan writers, who were jailed for "incitement to split the nation," have been moved to a prison complex in preparation for hard labor after they refused to appeal the conviction. Sources told RFA that all three writers had "agreed not to appeal," as they felt that an appeal would be useless after the unfair trial. The sources added that the judge who heard the case said orders to punish the writers, all in their early 30s, came from "higher authorities" and that their writings against the government in Shar Dhongri, a local newsletter, was the "primary reason" for the conviction. Read more ... U.S. GOVERNMENT:  ICT Report: U.S. Tibet Coordinator visits Tibetan settlement in south India Under Secretary of State Maria Otero, who serves as U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan issues, visited Bylakuppe, the largest Tibetan refugee settlement in the India on February 8 and 9, 2011. This is the first visit by a Tibet Coordinator, the top U.S. official who oversees Tibet policy, to Tibetan settlement areas in India. She was received by officials of the Central Tibetan Administration and Lodi Gyari, the Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. ICT Director of Government Relations, Todd Stein, who is travelling in tandem with the delegation said, "Under Secretary Otero expressed the continued strong support of President Obama, Secretary Clinton and the U.S. Government for the welfare of Tibetans and the viability of their communities as they endeavor to preserve their distinct identity during the time of exile in India." Read more ... TIBET IN THE MEDIA: ICT Statement on Super Bowl commercial featuring Tibet issue Super Bowl watchers were given an opportunity to briefly consider the dire human rights situation in Tibet by Groupon, a subscription network that negotiates discounts with popular businesses. Their advert "Save the Money - Tibet" has generated a lot of debate. ICT President Mary Beth Markey said, "ICT welcomes the ad and the debate it has generated among people who care. We hope it drives Super Bowl viewers to adovacy groups like ICT, so that critical issues for Tibet can be addressed." See FROM THE ICT BLOG, below, for more comment on Groupon's Super Bowl Tibet ad. TIBET IN EXILE:  The Karmapa addresses gathering in Dharamsala: "Please be at ease" The Karmapa addressed a huge gathering of supporters in Dharamsala, India on February 2 acknowledging the difficult situation surrounding the allegations of financial misconduct and stating that he trusts that the matter will be cleared in time. In a show of solidarity, the Deputy Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament in exile, Dolma Gyari, and seven other members shared the stage. The comments marked the first time that the Karmapa has spoken publicly since the investigation began. Read more . . . Challenges to Tibetan democracy in exile At a gathering organized by ICT, panelists discussed the upcoming Tibetan elections. Nima Binara, a U.S. trained lawyer who spoke at the event said, "His Holiness the Dalai Lama's vision of a robust democratic society" is now being accomplished. Also participating was Professor Xia Ming, a political science teacher at the College of Staten Island, New York, who said that one of the main challenges is that, as exiles from their homeland, scattered around the world, Tibetan voters have no defined, unified territory to which they belong. Read more ... FROM THE ICT BLOG: Coca Cola's "Siege" - the other Super Bowl Tibet commercial? - February 8, 2011 Why did Groupon choose Tibet? - February 7, 2011 Of Super Bowl, Tibetan Culture and a Fish Curry - February 7, 2011 Saving Tibet from the budget axe - January 28, 2011 Become a Friend of Tibet ICT relies on the consistent support of a special group of supporters called the Friends of Tibet.  These automatic monthly gifts provide a steady, reliable source of income and ensure we will have the funds when we need to respond to emergencies and unexpected opportunities as they arise.  Click here if you are interested in becoming a Friend of Tibet or would just like to receive more information.  Tashi Delek!