Dharamshala: Marking the first anniversary of the 15th Kashag led by President Dr Lobsang Sangay, the Central Tibetan Administration today organised a prayer service at Tsuglagkhang to express solidarity with the sufferings of the Tibetan self-immolaters including Jamyang Losal.
Jamyang Losal, a Tibetan monk in his 20s, died after carrying out a self-immolation protest on 19 May at Chentsa in Malho Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (incorporated into China’s Qinghai Province).
According to information received, his charred body was taken to a hospital in Siling, the provincial capital where he was cremated. His last remains were not handed over to his family but was scattered over Lake Kokonor by the police. Jamyang’s friend, Yeshi has recently been detained by the Chinese authorities on charges of sharing Jamyang Losal’s photo after his self immolation.
“The perpetual wave of self-immolations by Tibetans in Tibet, especially by third and fourth generation of Tibetans, are but a reflection of their ownership of the Tibetan cause and an indomitable will to be free from the iron clutches of Chinese repression,” President Sangay said, addressing the prayer service today.
He recalled, “His Holiness the Dalai Lama conferred the Chenresig empowerment on the auspicious occasion of the 2nd day of Sagadawa and today on the eighth day, CTA has organised prayer service to remember our brothers and sisters inside Tibet and stand in solidarity with their strength and resilience.” The number of self-immolations till date stands at a staggering 149 including four this year.
Commenting on the recent news of US President Trump’s proposed budget cut for Tibetan programs, President Dr Sangay said that the cut proposed by the Trump administrtion is a part of larger cut for State Department’s international aid funding. He further elucidated that though the Tibetan programs are likely to bear the brunt of the larger proposed cut of over 10-30% for international aid programs across the board but will not be reduced to zero as speculated and feared by few.
He added that the final approval for the budget is congressionally driven and reassured the staff that Tibet enjoys widespread support in the US Congress and expressed optimism that the welfare initiatives led by CTA and supported by our friends in the Senate will not be affected adversely and that the funding flow will remain intact.
“The USAID award grant of USD 23 Million to Central Tibetan Administration in October last year is an example pertaining to the fact that the grant was sanctioned solely because of the support expressed by US Congress and doesn’t feature in President’s proposed budget. Therefore, we are hopeful that the overall welfare initiatives led by CTA and supported by our friends will proceed smoothly.” said Dr. Sangay.
President Dr Sangay, members of the Kashag and monks of Namgyal Monastery offering prayers at the service held today at Tsuglagkhang, 2 June 2017.