Tibet Information Office Australia

Dharamshala: The Tibet Policy Institute (TPI), a think-tank of the Central Tibetan Administration, yesterday released the revised version of its White Paper on Tibetan self-immolations on the occasion of International Tibet Solidarity Day.

The White Paper titled ‘Why Tibet is Burning..’ explains the fundamental reasons behind the ongoing wave of self-immolations inside Tibet and the alarming escalation in the protests witnessed in the past few months.

The revised version is available in English, Chinese and Tibetan, Russian, Czech, German, Hungarian, and Italian languages. All the translations are facilitated by the Department of Information & International Relations and concerned Offices of Tibet (OoT), especially OoTs in Geneva, Taiwan and Moscow.

“We issue this report to illuminate the deeper layers of the current crisis in Tibet. It is our hope it will motivate and assist members of the international community to urge the new leadership, led by Xi Jinping, to initiate wise new policies in regard to the Tibetan people. As we have repeatedly said, the blame for and the solution to the crisis in Tibet lies in the hands of the Chinese leadership” Sikyong Dr Lobsang Sangay stated in the foreword of the book.

Despite the Kashag’s repeated appeals to the Tibetan people not to resort to drastic actions such as self-immolation, over 117 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in Tibet to protest against the continued occupation and repression of the Chinese government. The self-immolators have called for the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans.

Thursday, 09 May, 2013

Blog by Amy Li in South China Morning Post

When Tibetan writer Tsering Woeser protested online this week against a commercial development in her hometown of Lhasa, thousands supported her by reposting her message and sharing their own thoughts on Tibet.

Most of the supporters said they had visited Tibet as tourists. Others said they had seen it only in pictures and movies. But few probably knew how difficult it has become for Woeser and other relocated Tibetans to go home to the autonomous region in western China.

When Woeser, who lives in Beijing, went back to visit her mother in October, she had to go to Jilin – where her hukou, or residential permit – is registered to get a travel document from local police. Only after police issued a letter stating Woeser had no crime history and a form was signed by an authority and stamped by the local precinct could she set off. (View full report)

May 11, 2013:  Sikyong Dr. Lobsang Sangay completed a successful visit to Washington DC. This was his third official visit to the American capital since assuming the Tibetan political leadership.  The Sikyong was in Washington from May 6 to 10 and was accompanied by Special Advisor Kaydor Aukatsang and Ngawang Yonten from the Office of Tibet in New York

The Sikyong was received at the airport by members of the Capital Area Tibetan Association. The visit got off to an auspicious start with the Sikyong paying his respects to His Holiness the Dalai Lama on May 6 who was in the neighboring state of Maryland on May 6 and 7.  During the weeklong visit, the Sikyong was able to reach out to new and important audiences for Tibet, and actively promote his agenda. Visit highlights included:

Senator Ben Cardin, a democrat from Maryland, and Chairman of the East Asian & Pacific Affairs Subcommittee, hosted a working coffee for the Sikyong on behalf of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on May 7.  Senator Tim Kain, a democrat from Virginia, was also present. The two Senators and the Sikyong met for over an hour and discussed a range of issues related to Tibet.  Another important meeting in the Senate was with Senator McCain who warmly received the Sikyong and reiterated his support. There were also important meetings with key aides of Senators Leahy and Feinstein and senior staff at the Senate Appropriations Committee. Read the rest

DHARAMSHALA: The Central Tibetan Administration today congratulated former Kalon Tripa Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche on being appointed as the Chancellor of Sanchi University of Buddhist-Indic Studies based in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on 25 April 2013.

“The Kashag would like to extend its hearty congratulations to Kalon Trisur Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche. It is a honour bestowed on you, and a highest recognition of Tibetan scholars in general and the remarkable and invaluable Tibetan Buddhist tradition in particular,” the Kashag wrote in its congratulatory message.

Venerable Prof. Samdhong Lobsang Tenzin, the 5th Samdhong Rinpoche, was the first directly elected Kalon Tripa of Central Tibetan Administration from 2001- 2011. He was born on 5th November, 1939 in Jol, Eastern Tibet. At the age of five, he was recognised as the reincarnation of 4th Samdhong Rinpoche and enthroned in Gaden Dechenling Monastery at Jol. At seven years he took the Getsul vows from Khenchen Dorjichang Kyabje Sangbhum Rinpoche. He received his primary teaching from scholar Ngawang Jinpa when he was nine. He started his religious training at Drepung Monastery in Lhasa and completed his (Uma Nyinpa)- middle school of the Madhyamika School of Buddhism at the age of 12. He came to exile in the year 1959 after the Chinese invasion of Tibet.

In the year 1960, he started his service in the Tibetan Community by beginning as a teacher to monks from the Sera, Drepung, and Gaden monasteries. From October 1961, he served as the religious teacher of Tibetan School in Shimla, and later becoming the acting principal of Shimla Tibetan School in 1963. Then again he worked as religious teacher of Darjeeling Tibetan school in 1964.

From 1965 to 1970 Samdhong Rinpoche was the Principal of Dalhousie Tibetan School. He received his Lharampa Degree in the year 1968 and Ngagrimpa Degree in 1969. From 1971 to 1988 he was the Principal of Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies (CIHTS, Varanasi). From 1988 to 2001 he worked as the Director CIHTS. In 1990, he was a member of the Drafting Committee Constitution of the Future Polity of Tibet and Law for the exiled Tibetans. From 1991 to 1995 he was specially appointed by His Holiness as one of the deputies of ATPD and later was unanimously elected as its Chairman. From 1996 to 2001 he was elected member of the Parliament from Kham province and also its Chairman.