TIBET UPDATE

Support Tibet | Get Updates | Follow Us    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 ICT Report: Tibetan monk dies of self-immolation during Protest In a second reported self-immolation this year, Tsewang Norbu, a 29 year old Tibetan monk from Nyitso monastery in Kardze, Kham, eastern Tibet died on August 15 after setting himself on fire to protest Chinese rule in Tibet. Tsewang was heard raising slogans calling for freedom in Tibet and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet, before setting himself alight. ICT’s President Mary Beth Markey said, “[Today’s terrible news] underscores the critical nature of the situation in Tibet. The Chinese government has failed to impose its will on the Tibetans and it will continue to fail until it responds to their legitimate grievances.”  Read More >> ICT Report: Troops surround monastery as Tibetan monk dies after setting himself on fire & calling for the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet Following the August 15 incident of self immolation, authorities have deployed heavy troops to restrict entrance and exit from the monastery. The Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD) reported that thousands of local Tibetans went to the monastery and tried to gain access; those who could not go past armed police at the gates gathered around the monastery in prayer. There are over 200 monks at Nyitse monastery and residents from nearby areas fear possible severe crackdown on the monastery.  Read More >>  Thousands enthrone the Dalai Lama’s portrait in Tibet From July 15-25, 2011, thousands of Tibetans gathered at Kham Lithang Gonchen, for the 10 day religious congregation of Jang Gonchoe Chenmo where, defying Chinese authorities, the organizers of the event publicly enthroned a life size portrait of the Dalai Lama with full religious ceremonial gaiety. Around 100 monasteries participated in the congregation.  Read More >> ICT Report: Chinese government imposes visit of its Panchen Lama on Tibetans Troops surround Labrang Tashikyil monastery: Security has been stepped up in the Labrang area of eastern Tibet (Amdo) and foreigners have been told to leave due to an anticipated visit by the Chinese government’s hand-picked 11th Panchen Lama, Gyaltsen Norbu. Most Tibetans are loyal to Gendun Choekyi Nyima, the young man recognized by the Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama, who was taken into police custody in 1995 at the age of six and has not been seen since. Read More >> EXILE TIBETANS ICT Report: A new era in Tibetan politics as head of Tibetan exile democracy is inaugurated On August 8, 2011, in Dharamsala, India, Lobsang Sangay, took oath of office as the new head of the Tibetan exile government. Dr. Sangay pledged to carry on “the great legacy” of Tibetan elders and to strengthen the Tibet movement until freedom is restored. His Holiness the Dalai Lama made a powerful speech at the inaugural ceremony, reiterating that the power lies in the hands of the billions of people on this earth, not with kings and religious leaders. Read More >> The full text of the Lobsang Sangay’s speech is available here. A summary of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s speech is available here. FROM THE ICT BLOG We invite you to join the conversation and to stay updated by subscribing to the blog's RSS feed. America's "splittist" - August 17, 2011 Lobsang Sangay, a raised profile in Washington, D.C. - August 5, 2011 Tibet: Risks from the debt ceiling deal - August 4, 2011 2011 ROWELL FUND APPLICATION Since its founding in 2003 the Rowell Fund for Tibet has provided small grants for projects in the Tibetan community (in Tibet and in exile). Projects eligible for funding include those which are managed by Tibetans and fall within one of the following categories: Environment/Conservation, Photography, Humanitarian Projects, Journalism/Literature, or Women’s Projects. Applications for the 2011-2012 Rowell Fund are now available online and may be submitted electronically or by mail during the month of September. A Tibetan version of the application details is available here. BECOME A FRIEND OF TIBET ICT relies on the consistent support of a special group of supporters called 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!

International Campaign for Tibet 1825 Jefferson Place NW | Washington, DC 20036 info@savetibet.org | 202-785-1515 http://www.savetibet.org/

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Support Tibet | Get Updates | Follow Us
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/.
DALAI LAMA:
The Dalai Lama in Australia
On June 14, His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited the Parliament in Canberra for a series of meetings with members from all of Australia’s major political parties. His Holiness addressed a parliamentary reception attended by over 80 MPs, Senators, and Advisers. Read More >>

U.S. CONGRESS:
House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing on Tibet, Burma and North Korea
On June 2, 2011, the U.S. House of Representative’s Foreign Affairs Committee convened a hearing on “Religious Freedom, Democracy and Human Rights in Asia: Status of Implementation of the Tibetan Policy Act of 2002, Block Burmese JADE act, and North Korean Human Right Act.” ICT’s Chairman Richard Gere testified on Tibet – his full testimony is available here.


INSIDE TIBET:
ICT Report: Fears for future of Kirti monastery; UN seeks answers
According to new information received by ICT, paramilitary occupation of Kirti monastery continues and monks have been leaving Kirti monastery in recent months due to the climate of fear created by the presence of troops blockading the monastery, the risks of disappearance, torture and detention. Read More >>


ICT Report: Official celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the “Peaceful Liberation of Tibet”: Attendees and Absentees
Reports in China’s official media indicate that no one from the central government attended important celebrations held in Lhasa on May 23 to mark the 60th anniversary of the signing of the “17-point Agreement,” a key treaty between the Chinese and Tibetan governments routinely cited by the Chinese authorities as the main legal and moral cornerstone of Beijing’s authority in Tibet. Read More >>



New video of Tibet protests
A new video of a group of Tibetan monks carrying out a peaceful protest in eastern Tibet was released by the Central Tibetan Administration on June 8, 2011. The video shows protests that were carried out on May 8, 2010 in Nyagrong, Kham Province, an area that has a huge population of Chinese immigrants. Read More >>



Freedom House includes Tibet among countries suffering worst human rights abuses
Freedom House, an independent U.S.-based watchdog organization that supports the expansion of freedom around the world, released “Worst of the Worst 2011: The World’s Most Repressive Societies,” its annual report identifying the world’s most flagrant human rights abusers, at a June 1 press conference during the 17th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Read More >>



ICT Report: Crackdown in Ngaba: monks detained for giving wrong answers in ‘patriotic education’
A climate of fear continues in the Ngaba (Chinese: Aba) area in Sichuan province. Two monks from Kirti living in India said that special police forces are maintaining their blockade of Kirti monastery and holding ‘patriotic education’ meetings where, “they ask lots of questions, and when the monks cannot give the answers that the officials want to hear on many issues, it seems that they are arresting them.” Read More >>


TIBET IN EXILE:
ICT Report: Tibetan exiles set a democratic course as Dalai Lama devolves formal political responsibilities to elected leadership
On May 29, His Holiness the Dalai Lama ratified amendments to the governing Charter presented to him by the Tibetan Parliament in Exile that devolve his political powers to democratically elected leadership headed by a chief minister or Kalon Tripa. Read More >>


An Open Door for Tibet?
In an Op-ed, published in the Wall Street Journal, by ICT President, Mary Beth Markey writes, “Every day, Tibetans risk their lives to speak up for the Dalai Lama’s return and against Chinese policies that constrain their free access to their spiritual leader. But Beijing so far hasn’t budged … So, it’s interesting that a Communist Party official said last week that the door is open for the Dalai Lama to go home anytime he likes subject to certain conditions, of course.” The full article can be read on SaveTibet.org.


NEPAL:
ICT Report: Nepal’s human rights review; concern for Tibetan Refugee Community
On Tuesday June 7, 2011 the 17th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council met in Geneva for the adoption of Nepal’s final report on its Universal Periodic Review (UPR). International delegates raised concerns over Nepal’s treatment of its Tibetan refugee population and the growing influence China has in the matter. Read More >>


FROM THE ICT BLOG:
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Sense of Congress on Tibet - June 6, 2011


BECOME A FRIEND OF TIBET:
ICT relies on the consistent support of a special group of supporters called 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. Check here if you are interested in becoming a Friend of Tibet or would just like to receive more information. Tashi Delek!