12 December 2007
Nepal-Tibet visitors flow growing
(The Himalayan Times) Figures from the immigration office in the border town of Tatopani, Nepal's main gate to Tibet, show that 60,174 visitors arrived in Nepal through Tibet from January to October 2007, and 31,687 departed from there to Tibet, almost double the total figures for 2006.
13 December 2007
European resolution on China
(Guardian; CNW; RWB; Europarl) The European Parliament resolution on the EU-China Summit and the EU/China human rights dialogue has criticised Beijing for not addressing its human rights record, particularly in Tibet. It also said human rights concerns should receive much more focus in the buildup to the Beijing Olympic Games. The resolution expressed regret that the sixth Sino-Tibetan round of talks has brought about no results and called on the parties to make every effort in order to continue the dialogue. It reiterated its concern over continuing human rights violations and the intensification of the 'patriotic education' campaign in Tibetan areas and has called upon China to allow an independent body to have access to Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. In a separate development, European Parliament Vice-President Edward McMillan-Scott wrote to International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge on 10 December urging him to remind the Chinese authorities of the promises they made to improve human rights in 2001 in order to win the 2008 games. He added that the European Parliament would consider boycotting the games if the situation had not improved by Christmas.
13 December 2007
Dalai Lama in Italy
(AP) No meeting took place between the Dalai Lama and Pope Benedict XVI during the former's Italy trip. Italian media reports said that this facilitated the ordination of a new bishop in Guangdong, southern China, with the Vatican's approval. The Dalai Lama was in Rome for an annual summit of Nobel peace laureates and had come from northern Italy where he had lectured at a seminary. He also met Italian parliamentarians at the Palazzo Montecitorio during his 11-day visit. Beijing has complained to the Italian foreign ministry over the visit, even though the Dalai Lama did not meet with any members of the Italian government.
19 December 2007
Chinese authorities close discussion forum
(RWB) The popular Tibetan blog www.tibet123.com has been made inaccessible since 06 December 2007, according to Reporters Without Borders (RWB), because the Chinese authorities think its content harms China's image. The site has 6,200 registered members, and it had become one of the most dynamic forums in Tibetan cyberspace.
19 December 2007
China Tibetan Culture Forum held in Nepal
(Kathmandu Post; People's Review) The China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture (CAPDTC) and Nepal Arniko Society (NAS) launched a two-day event, the China Tibetan Culture Forum, at the Yak & Yeti Hotel in Kathmandu. The theme of the event was "Boosting the friendly exchanges between China and Nepal and promoting the preservation and development of Tibetan culture". The event, which included a photo exhibition entitled: "Multi-colored Tibet", a conference and a cultural show, was also attended by a twelve-member delegation led by a vice-minister of the United Front Work Department on a five-day visit to Nepal. Nepal Arniko Society's president, Harish Chandra Shah, commented on the event: "The profound and rich Tibetan culture has a long history, constituting a part and parcel of the Chinese culture and enriching the treasure house of diversified cultures of the world".
19 December 2007
Monks held and monastery deserted
(RFA) Chinese authorities in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) have detained two more monks who refused to take part in a political campaign, following clashes between local people and armed police, according to Radio Free Asia (RFA) sources in the region. The two monks were reportedly detained for refusing to criticise the Dalai Lama. Hundreds of armed police were drafted into the area following clashes between Tibetans demanding the release of six monks detained over a dispute with a shopkeeper in Baikar (Chin: Baiga Shang), Nagchu prefecture, in November. Two teenage monks were also detained in connection with the original dispute and the whereabouts of all the prisoners is unknown. The police presence and mass "patriotic re-education" campaign in the region has effectively shut the local Jesho Baikar monastery down. "Under the pressure of the campaign for re-education, and investigations into the clashes between Tibetans and Han authorities in Baikar, most of the monks have left the monastery and returned home, leaving it completely deserted", a Tibetan formerly employed at the monastery told RFA's Tibetan service.
20 December 2007
China and India hold their first military exercise
(Novosti) China and India, began their first-ever joint military exercise, 45 years after the Sino-Indian war. The manoeuvres in Yunnan, codenamed "Hand by Hand 2007" involved 100 troops from each country, who took part in training to counter the "Three Evils" of terrorism, extremism and separatism. The exercises will run until 27 December.
21 December 2007
Chinese Authorities to move controversial dam
(SMCP) According to reports in the South China Morning Post (SMCP), Chinese authorities in Yunnan province plan to move the controversial Tiger Leaping Gorge dam project 200km upstream to a Tibetan-populated area bordering Weixi and Dechen (Chin: Diqing). The move comes after the project faced strong controversies from the population at its originally planned location.
