03. Mar 2010
Thailand refuses visa to Dalai Lama's sister
(AFP) The Thai government has refused to grant a tourist visa to the sister of the Dalai Lama for fear of angering China, the foreign ministry said. Jetsun Pema, who lives in exile in India, was due to take part in a three-day Buddhist cultural show in Bangkok until the Thai embassy in New Delhi refused her. "We support the cultural show but in the case of the Dalai Lama's sister we have reserved our right to reject her visa application along with her husband's because we don't want to get involved in international politics", said Chavanond Intarakomalyasut, secretary to Thailand's foreign minister.
03. Mar 2010
New posts for China's Panchen Lama
(Xinhua) After making him a Vice Chairman of the government-run China Buddhism Association at the conclusion of its 8th National People's Congress, China has now made Gyaltsen Norbu a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). The Chinese-promoted Panchen Lama was among 13 people approved as new members by the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the congress, Tibet's governor, Padma Choling said the Dalai Lama-selected Panchen Lama, Gendun Choekyi Nyima, now 20, is alive and he and his family lead ordinary lives. "As far as I know, his family and he are now living a very good life in Tibet. He and his family are reluctant to be disturbed", Padma Choling said, but did not specify where in Tibet they are living.
03. Mar 2010
Tibetan monks arrested over music video.
(TCHRD), The Chinese authorities have arrested ten Tibetan monks and one layperson in Matoe (Chin: Maduo), Golog (Chin: Guoluo) TAP, Qinghai province for "producing and distributing subversive songs". The monks, from Tsakho monastery were detained for recording songs and a video, "Chakdrum Marpo" ("Bloody Omen"). According to the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), six of the monks were released later on bail. The songs express, among other things, loyalty to the Dalai Lama and helplessness over the death of Tibetans following large-scale protests across Tibet in 2008. The video also incorporated many images and footage of the Chinese clampdown.
05. Mar 2010
China launches 'Strike Hard' campaign in Tibet
(TCHRD) The Chinese authorities' launched a 'Strike Hard' campaign in the run up to the March anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising of 1959. According to the official newspaper Lhasa Evening News, Lhasa Public Security Bureau (PSB) officials carried out the campaign across all seven prefectures of the TAR. There have been reports of at least 500 Tibetans being detained in Lhasa. According to TCHRD sources, the movement of monks from the three major monasteries, Drepung, Sera and Ganden, around Lhasa city have had their movements restricted. The planned length of this campaign was not mentioned. Additional security forces in full combat gear were deployed in and around Lhasa and at every entry point to the city. Paramilitary forces were seen patrolling the major gathering points, and guesthouses were also raided. There is no information on how this campaign has progressed in other prefectures in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).
05. Mar 2010
Tibetan singer gets 're-education' sentence
(RFA) Authorities in Malho (Chin: Huangnan) TAP, Qinghai province have sentenced a local singer after he recorded and distributed CDs of songs protesting against Chinese rule over Tibetans, according to legal documents made available to Radio Free Asia. Tashi Dhondup was handed over an administrative sentence by a local committee to 15 months' "re-education through labor".
07. Mar 2010
Hundreds demonstrate in Kathmandu despite warnings
(AP; IANS; ICT; TibetInfoNet) The unofficial Tibetan representative of the Dalai Lama, Thrinley Gyatso, was summoned to a meeting with Nepalese officials and informed that police would be deployed across the Kathmandu Valley in an attempt to prevent any large gatherings or vigils by Tibetans to mark the 51st anniversary of the Lhasa Uprising and the second anniversary of major protests in Tibet. He was notified that, should Tibetans carry out "anti-Chinese activities", especially around the Chinese embassy, police "may even resort to shoot[ing]". The Nepali government has repeatedly stated that it will not allow its territory to be used for protests against China. This did not prevent hundreds of Tibetans taking to the streets and protesting outside the Chinese embassy. At least sixteen exiles were arrested after they attempted to storm the embassy and will remain in jail without trial for 90 days, Nepalese officials have said.
10. Mar 2010
Tibet under clampdown
(RFA) Chinese authorities in Lhasa have sealed off key tourist areas and Buddhist temples ahead of sensitive political anniversaries. Police have "completely closed Potala Palace and the Jokhang" temple, one Lhasa resident said. In the run-up to the second anniversary of the deadly riots in Lhasa on 14 March, police have slowly built up a large security presence in the city and surrounding countryside, sources said. This year, the anniversary of the 1959 uprising falls on a Wednesday, a weekday considered particularly auspicious for the Dalai Lama.
12. Mar 2010
Dalai Lama Tibetan language website launched
(Tibet.net) Amidst growing demand for Tibetan version of the official website of the Dalai Lama, a new website www.gyalwarinpoche.com in the Tibetan language was launched on the occasion of 51st anniversary of Tibetans uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet. The new website will have features like live webcasts, schedules, book archives, a photo gallery and other features that can already be seen on the English and Chinese language website www.dalailama.com
12. Mar 2010
HRW urges China to release Tibetan detainees
(HRW) The New York-based human rights group Human Rights Watch has urged the Chinese government to release those Tibetans detained without charge during the crackdown on the peaceful protests in March 2008 in Tibet. "On the second anniversary of the March 2008 protests in Tibetan areas, the Chinese government should release those detained without charge", Human Rights Watch said. "The Chinese government should also respect rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in responding to protests in Lhasa and other Tibetan areas during the anniversary. Scores of people in Lhasa have reportedly already been arbitrarily arrested and detained" it said. "Further repression will breed precisely the kind of instability the Chinese government fears", said Sophie Richardson, Asia advocacy director at Human Rights Watch.
12. Mar 2010
China concerned over Tibetans illegally entering Nepal
(PTI; TibetInfoNet) Beijing has expressed serious concern over the allegedly rising number of Tibetans crossing the border into Nepal, days after a group of 17 Tibetans were arrested at a security check point. Defence Attache General Chen Chong and another official from the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu toured the eastern Dolakha district and met security personnel there. A comparison of available figures, however, reveals that, so far, the number of Tibetans known to have crossed the border clandestinely is still below the average of recent years.
