Page1 religious harmony Page 2 Tibetan Opera Festival Page 3 Solidarity with Tibet Page 5 Nuclear Summit Page 7 Earthquake in Tibet Page 8 Arrested 20 Students

Social Service

Capital of Tibet

Bi-MonthlyB o d - K y i - Cha- Trin

I n t e r n a t i o n a l

Rs.5Vol. 01, Issue 15, 15 April 2010

Removed Chinese Flag

www.thetibetpost.com

.....See page 8

......See page 2

............ See detail on page 2

Ngawang Lhamo, director of Tibetan handicape home,

Nyingtopling with one of her Tibetan girl at

Nyingtopling, Dharamshala, India on 17 March 2010.

Photo: TPI/YC. Dhardhowa

Dharamshala: On the 27th of March, the

Tibetan Handicapped Children's Craft Home

(Nyingtob Ling) celebrated their tenth

anniversary. Tibetan media were invited to a

press conference which attempted to dispel.....Detail on page 2

...See page7

India Should lead World in Non-violence and Harmony

Among Different Faiths: His HolinessDharamshala: Tibet's spiritual and political

leader, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on

Sunday stressed that great India "must take the

lead" in promoting "secular ethics" with "Indian

tradition of non-violence and harmony among

various faiths", to present a model before the

rest of the world.

His Holiness the Dalai lama was speaking in

Rishikesh where spiritual leaders drawn from

various faiths said that voluntary efforts must

complement governmental initiatives in cleaning

the Ganga and addressing other pressing

environmental concerns.

"You should be proud of your nation, and

you should be proud of your spiritual heritage.

You (India) must continue to promote non-

violence and harmony among different faiths

(no matter where you are)," His Holiness the

Dalai Lama told The Indian Express, when

asked about the challenges facing the country.

"No matter where they are, the Chinese find a

way to promote their food. Similarly, Indians,

Tibetan journalists in exile held a panel discussion in

Dharamshala, India on 11 April 2010. Photo: TPI

Dharamshala: The Association of Tibetan

Journalists (ATJ) yesterday held a day of

discussion and collaboration between Tibetan

journalists in exile in Dharamsala, India.

Over 20 Tibetan journalists attended the

journalism discussions. Over the course of the

discussions, journalists and executive members

of the ATJ shared working experiences and

opinions freely.

Thupten Sampel, Spokesman of the Tibetan

Government-in-exile was invited to lecture on

the responsibility and ethics of journalism. "The

Japanese and Tibetan Intellectuals

Focus on Tibet History in TokyoThe main Tibetan temple called Jokhang in Lhasa, the

capital of Tibet. Photo: TPI/Thupten Yarphel

Dharamshala: An article published earlier

today in China Daily, the Chinese

government-mandated news source, stated

that Lhasa's "rebuilding project" would be

completed in May.

According to state controlled news agency

Xinhua, the project is being implemented in

Human Right

17thKarmapa

of TibetPage 2 ........

.........See page 3

Tokyo: Tempa Tsering, Tibetan minister and

Chief Representative of His Holiness the Dalai

Lama's Bureau office in Delhi, on the second

leg of his visit to Japan addressed Japanese

students and general public at Yotsuya Public

hall in Tokyo on Tibet issue. Prof Ishihama

of Waseda University shared the dais to give

highlight on Tibetan history from the Japanese

intellectual perspective to the audience of some

hundred people.

Prof. Ishihama in presentation on Tibetan

history, made it clear that Tibet once existed as

an independent nation. She dwelt on the

spiritual influence that Tibetan Buddhist

masters wielded over the Manchu, Chinese and

Mongol emperors. She referred to the notes

recorded by some Jesuit travelers to Tibet

around 17th century that Dalai Lamas were

not only revered in Tibet but equally in the

neighboring countries like, Mongol, China and

Nepal etc. "Tibet was a well established country

in every sense." She said. "The problem was

Chinese dissidents Hu Jia and his wife Gao Zhisheng.

Photo: AsiaNews/Agencies

University

Student inTibetpage 8.............

Dharamshala: Hu Jia, a Chinese political

activist, has been denied medical parole from

prison. Mr. Hu, who is serving three and a

half years in prison after being convicted in

2008 for inciting subversion, is well-known

Tibet never did anything seriously to contact

the outside world." She lamented.

Tempa Tsering spoke on the general history

of Tibet and how in 1950s China invaded

Tibet and how the Tibetan people, its religion

and culture suffered. He recounted the

difficulties and sufferings of the Tibetan when

they first arrived in Nepal and India as refugees,

and the current situation of Tibetans in exile.

The minister described the situation in Tibet

as critical, where Tibetans are reduced to

second-class citizen in their own country. "All

the developments [including the railways, roads

and airfields] that China boast of in Tibet are

geared to serve the interest of Chinese

government and to accommodate continued

Chinese migration into Tibet."

He clarified that the Tibetans are not against

development, but the development should

benefit the Tibetans in the region and should

be able to compliment their culture.

Prof Ishihama and Tempa Tsering la attended

to questions from the audience. Answering to

a question on Dalai Lama's reincarnation and

China's interference, Prof Ishihama said that

His Holiness on numerous occasions has said

that the institution of Dalai Lama will live with

the need of Tibetans, "purpose of the

reincarnation is to continue the work of the

former Dalai Lama, so to carry out the

unfinished task of the 14th Dalai Lama, the

15th would come from a place where it can

wherever they are present in a group, in any

part of the world, should promote the ideals

of ahimsa (non-violence) and harmony," said

His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He stressed that

"modern-day secular ethics (like compassion

and kindness)" must complement "traditional

India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lal Krishna Advani, sits at right as Yoga guru BabaRamdev, centre, reacts with Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama, second right, in Haridwar,

India, Saturday, April 3, 2010. Other three spiritual leaders seated left are unidentified. Photo: AP

Japanese and Tibetan Intellectuals Focus on Tibet

History in Tokyo. Photo: TPI

Discussion

Chinese paramilitary police march during a Chinese flag

raising ceremony near the Potala Palace to celebrate

what it calls: AP

Dharamshala: A Tibetan protester from

Driru County in eastern Tibet who stormed

the Chinese official building in last month

has been arrested, relayed Ngawang Tharpa

from a phone call he received from Tibet.

Mr Tharpa from The Tibet Express, which

is based in Dharamshala, told The Tibet Post

......See page 5

The Tibet Post2 TPI TIBET IN EXILE15 April , 2010 Dharamsala

recent rumors directed at the center

and gave an account of the center's

history.

Since the founding of the Children's

Craft Home in 1999, rumors had

circulated that the center had

contaminated the water of a

neighboring school and blocked the

passage of construction vehicles to

a nearby monastery. After complaints

from the directors of both

institutions to the Private Office of

His Holiness, officials were

dispatched to investigate the

allegations.

In a speech delivered at the Children's

Craft Home in May 1999, His

Holiness stated that the center should

henceforth make an effort to be

more transparent with their

transitions in an effort to clear the

air of rumors.

In the statement given to the press

on Saturday, the founder and

director of the Tibetan Handicapped

Children's Craft Home, Ngawang

Lhamo, also a member of the

Tibetan Parliament, presented the

media with a full audit of the center's

expenses since its opening, inviting

them to review the budget

themselves.

Of the development of the center,

she said "The Children's Craft Home

was started with the help of loans in

1999." She added that the center was

proud of their achievements, saying

"Since the establishment of our

center, we have taken on 200

handicapped adults and children. We

Director of Tibetan Handicapped Children Home

Addresses Rumors, celebrates 10th anniversary......continued from frontpage

two most important responsibilities

of the Tibetan journalist are to

accurately disseminate information

provided by Tibetans inside Tibet,

who do so at the risk of their lives,

and to cover news in exile

communities comprehensively,"

Discussions Aim to Improve Exiled Tibetan Media Coverage

Sampel, who was trained in print

journalism in the U.S., said.

Bhuchung Sonam, who has recently

completed his studies in Global

Journalism, staged a workshop on the

essentials of reporting to amateur

journalists. He criticised the

monotonous coverage of human

rights abuses in Tibet, and argued for

a more creative and uplifting sampling

of coverage, and argued against the

current trend of rigid objectivism in

Tibetan media.

......continued from frontpage

17th Gyalwa Karmapa Graces 15th

Anniversary of Tibetan Opera

Festival

Dharamshala: His Eminences the

17th Karmapa Urgyen Trinley

Dorjee Saturday graced the 15th

anniversary of Traditional Opera

Festival, which is one of the biggest

festivals of Tibet and continues for

six-day celebration of Tibetan opera

at seven Tibetan institutions including

the Tibetan Institute of Performing

Arts (TIPA).

In his welcome speech, Shosur,

Sonam Choephel, director of the

TIPA, expressed his gratitude to

Karmapa Rinpoche for gracing the

event and extended warm welcome

to all the guests and audience.

Mr Sonam Choephel also thanked

supporters from abroad, for their

support in the revival and

preservation of Shoton Festival - an

ancient tradition of Tibet. He also

detailed the historical origin of this

ancient opera festival and

emphasized the importance of

Tibetan traditional performing arts.

Around 350 performers, from nine

regional Tibetan opera groups in

17th Gyalwa Karmapa Graces 15th Anniversary of Tibetan Opera Festival in Dharamshala,

India on 27 March 2010. Photo: TPI/Sangay

India and Nepal, are participating.

They will present works including the

stories of brothers Donyoe and

Dhondup, Dharma King Drime

Kunden, Princess Nangsa Woebum,

Tibetan Maha Yogi, Jetsun Mila

Ralpa, and Prince Norsang.

In the subsequent days of the

festival,they will present various opera

stories, including the stories of

brothers Donyoe and Dhondup,

Dharma King Drime Kunden,

Princess Nangsa Woebum, Tibetan

Maha Yogi, Jetsun Mila Ralpa, and

Prince Norsang.

Shoton means "sour milk banquet"

and the event is also known as

"Buddha Exhibition Festival,"

because of the Buddha paintings that

are displayed when it begins. The

festival also traditionally included yak

racing, horsemanship displays and

gala parties.

Taking responsibility in reviving this

ancient tradition, in late seventies,

Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts

organized Shoton Festival for the first

time in India in 1993.

15th anniversary of Traditional Opera Festival in Dharamshala, India on 27 March 2010.

Photo: TPI/Sangay

www.shambalapost.com www.tibetexpress.com www.lhasapost.com www.outlooktibet.com

provide them with education and

training, which has allowed 2 girls to

enter the TCV as fully functioning

students. We also helped 10 children

gain enough responsibility and self-

reliance to return to their families. The

center has also received several

international art awards honoring the

work of the residents." Lhamo also

introduced the center's staff and

workers.

In terms of future projects and

developments on the Tibetan

Handicapped Children's Craft

Home, she said, "We hope to enroll

not only handicapped people from

the Tibetan exile community, but also

from the Himalaya region. We are

hoping to build exercise facilities, a

playground, and a library with books

from inside and outside of Tibet."

Former Tibetan Resistance Fighter Dies at 80Dharamshala: Noted Tibetan

resistance fighter and long-serving

member of the Central Tibetan

Administration Bhusang La passed

away at 80 in Dharamsala on March

25th.

Born in Nyemo Disctrict in Tibet's

central province of U-Tsang,

Bhusang studied Tibetan medicine at

the Men-Tsee Khang and in 1949

became a physician for the police

department.

He joined the Tibetan army in 1942

at the age of twelve, and fought for

Tibetan Independence in the 1959

Uprising against the Chinese. His

death closely follows the 50th

anniversary of the Uprising.

Bhusang was later selected by the

CIA to be trained at Camp Hale,

Colorado as part of the

organisation's clandestine program

to undermine communist and left-

wing governments. In 1960 he was

the sole survivor of a team

parachuted into Markham district in

Eastern Tibet. When he was

captured, he tried to bite down on

his cyanide capsule the CIA had

provided, but was arrested before

he could do so. The failure of the

mission is credited with causing the

CIA to reevaluate its tactics in Tibet.

In his 18 years of imprisonment, he

was continually interrogated and

tortured by Chinese authorities.

Bhusang escaped to India after his

release in 1978, and served in the

Department of Security of the

Central Tibetan Administration from

1982 until his retirement in 2003.

The Department of Security today

released a statement on Bhusang's

death: “Since his childhood Bhusang

la has never wavered for a single day

from his determination and

commitment to work for the cause

of Tibet and the people of Tibet.

We deeply commend his service and

pray for a good rebirth,” tibet.net

reported.

Pa Bhusang la, a Tibetan freedom fighter who spend 18 years in Chinese prison.

Photo: tibet.net/file

TPI DALAI LAMAThe Tibet Post 3

values (like non-violence in

society)".

The 74 year-old, Nobel Peace

laureate, His Holiness the Dalai

Lama on Saturday told

reporters that his life long

commitment is to promote

religious harmony. Addressing

the media at Kangra airport in

Dharamshala before leaving for

Uttarakhand. He said his life

long commitment is to promote

religious harmony. "One of my

life long commitment is

promotion of religious

harmony. I think almost 40 years

ago, I participated in the Maha

Kumbh Mela, for the first time.

So at that time I received some

sort of protests from some

Buddhist group. Now, I think

everybody now knows my

commitment," he added.

15 April , 2010 Dharamsala

India Should lead......continued from frontpage

Over 8,000 People Gathered to

Express Solidarity with Tibet

Dharamshala: Over 8,000 people

gathered at Münsterhof, in the heart

of Zurich city to express solidarity

with His Holiness the Dalai Lama

and the Tibetan people.

"Expressing solidarity with our cause

is very useful to remind China of the

Tibetan cause," said His Holiness the

Dalai Lama. "I very much appreciate

it." He further said that the Chinese

Government must address the reality

of the Tibetan problem. His

Holiness added that he was 100

percent certain that the Tibetan issue

will not disappear, despite China

using force and suppression on the

Tibetan people. He reiterated that he

was not seeking separation from

China.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama said he

welcomed people's support of

Tibet's non-violence struggle and

asked them to also practice non-

violence at home.

Solidarity rally is important for the

Tibetan struggle, as it snow that it is

not the struggle of few Tibetans but

ordinary people worldwide are

showing support. His Holiness

spoke about two of his three

commitments in life 1) human value

and 2) religious harmony.

At the end of His Holiness' address

at the Solidarity Rally, he said, "So

my brothers and sisters, please think

of these two points. Please promote

these two points. If you do this, it

shows you are a good friend of the

Dalai Lama."

In the morning, His Holiness

addressed the First European Tibetan

Youth Parliament. The aim of the

Youth Parliament is to bring together

young Tibetans from across Europe

to discuss Tibetan issue and working

together across Europe especially.

Tendon Dahortsang, the President

of Tibetan Youth Association in

Europe in her welcome address said,

"Though we have grown up in

different parts of the world, we are

Tibetans and to serve the Tibetan

people's struggle."

She said that during her first visit to

Tibet in 2002, she met an elderly

Tibetan in Lhasa who asked where

she came from. During their talk, the

elderly Tibetan said that the Tibetan

people in Tibet have great

expectations from the Tibetan in

exile community especially the youth.

The First European Tibetan Youth

Parliament conference is organized

by the Tibetan Youth Association in

Europe, based in Switzerland. This

year Tibetan Youth Association in

Europe is marking the 40th

Anniversary since it was founded.

In his address to the First European

Tibetan Youth Parliament, His

Holiness said that that the older

Tibetan generation is dying. It is the

responsibility of the younger

generation to continue the struggle

of Tibet. In 2008, the world heard

the suffering of three generation of

Tibetan.

"We are the representatives of the

Tibetans in Tibet. Thinking about the

future of Tibet is important," said

His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

His Holiness addressing the Solidarity Rally for Tibet in Zurich, Switzerland.

Photo: The Tibet Bureau, Geneva

His Holiness the Dalai lama Begins Five

Day Visit to Switzerland

Dharamshala: Tibetan spiritual His

Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in

Switzerland on Wednesday for a five

day unofficial visit. While in the

country he plans to deliver several

speeches thanking the Swiss for their

hospitality and support in welcoming

Tibetan exiles to their country for 50

Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama (C) greets supporters upon his

arrival at the Tibetian Institut in the village of Rikon north of Zurich April 8, 2010.

Photo: Reuters

years. The first Tibetan refugees in

Switzerland were a group of 20

children who moved to the

Pestalozzi Children's Village in

Trogen in 1960.

There are currently around 4,000

Tibetans living in Switzerland, the

third largest Tibetan population in

the world outside of China. During

his visit, His Holiness the Dalai Lama

will visit Rikon, which is home to the

oldest Tibetan monastery in the West.

He will also attend the first European

Tibetan Youth Parliament, taking

place in Zurich, with 150 participants

from 11 countries.

For the final days of his visit, he will

participate in the Mind and Life

Institute's Altruism and Compassion

in Economic Systems conference,

along with other leaders from

scientific and social fields. His

Holiness co-founded the Institute in

1987 to promote a dialogue between

modern science and current

contemplative religions.

His Holiness will meet with Pascale

Bruderer, the speaker of the Swiss

National Council, and the highest

ranking Swiss official who consented

to officially meet with him during his

visit.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama Delivers

Slovenia Lecture

His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Maribor, Slovenia

Dharamshala: His Holiness the

Dalai Lama arrived yesterday in

Maribor, Slovenia's second largest

city, where he gave a sermon on

Ethics for the New Millennium

During the lecture, which was the

highlight of His Holiness' three-day

visit to Slovenia, the Tibetan spiritual

leader said that he crossed into India

in April 1959 "not because of civil

war or disaster, but a new guest

came to Tibet without invitation

and controlled everything".

Reaffirming his position on Tibet

and his Middle Way approach, His

Holiness said "We are not seeking

separation but are committed to

remain within PRC." In response to

a question that was asked, "What is

the purpose of life?" he replied "A

happy life. [The] future is uncertain

but we remain with hope. Once

hope is lost, our very life is

shortened. Hope means something

good. The very purpose of life is

happiness."

The following morning, Tibet's

spiritual leader met with Maribor

mayor Franc Kangler and was

presented with the keys to the city.

At Maribor City Park, His Holiness

planted the Tree of Peace and told

the crowd, "violence, bloodshed

and war is out of date. The 20th

Century was the century of

bloodshed and 21st century should

be a century of dialogue".

His Holiness also addressed over

1,000 eager students of the Maribor

1st High School on human values,

and met with opposition leader of

the Slovenian Democratic Party and

former Prime Minister, Mr. Janez

Janša.

His Holiness is set to participate in

the XX Mind and Life Conference

on Altruism and Compassion in

Economic Systems - A Dialogue

between Economics, Neuroscience

and Contemplative Sciences, which

will be held in Zurich, Switzerland

from April 9 to 11.

TPI INTERNATIONAL The Tibet Post4

for his work supporting human

rights, AIDS advocacy, and

environmental causes.

Mr. Hu has been suffering from liver

problems for some time and was

recently taken to the prison hospital

to be tested for liver cancer.

However, prison authorities said

that his test results were negative for

cancer and that he would not be

granted medical parole. While he

does have a blood tumor on his

liver, this condition does not meet

the requirements needed for medical

parole. Mr Hu has been taken back

to prison to fulfill the remainder of

his sentence.

His wife, Zeng Jinyan, had requested

the parole when she found out that

her husband had been experiencing

liver ailments. Mrs. Zeng asked for

a written report of her husband's

medical diagnosis, but was denied

by prison authorities. She is also an

activist and is under surveillance by

the Chinese government.

15 April , 2010 Dharamsala

Chinese Human Rights Activist

Denied Medical Parole

......continued from frontpage

His Holiness Visits Mind and Life

Conference in Zurich

Dharamshala: His Holiness the

Dalai Lama has participated in the

Mind and Life Institute's Altruism

and Compassion in Economic

Systems conference in Zurich, Swiss,

along with other leaders from

scientific and social fields.

Session 1

After introductory remarks by Adam

Engle, CEO and co-founder of the

Mind & Life Institute, Rector

Andreas Fischer - the President of

the University of Zurich - welcomed

everyone and introduced His

Holiness the Dalai Lama. His

Holiness then took the stage and said,

"I do not know how to make money.

But I know it can be useful." He

relayed a story where he asked one

of his business friends about the

roots of the current economic crisis,

and his friend told him it was greed,

possibly even the desire to cheat for

profit. "Even I know this is bad for

the economic system," His Holiness

said. He also spoke of a wish for all

of us to continue striving for

enhanced wisdom, and pondered

whether the results of this

conference may point toward a

better direction for economic

systems.

Roshi Joan Halifax outlined the

direction of the conference and

handed it over to the presenters. Dan

Batson, of the University of Kansas,

opened with a very direct question -

Does altruism exist? After speaking

about egoism and empathy, he

referenced empathy-based

experiments and what they might

infer. Tania Singer, of the University

of Zurich, explained two neural

routes to understanding others'

minds - via empathy and compassion

and via the "theory of mind," the

conscious thinking of someone else's

mental state. After explaining neural

networks and their relation to

compassionate thoughts and feelings,

she talked of how some people have

a deficit in comprehending their own

feelings. Studies of meditation have

been shown to help this deficiency.

Richard Davidson, of the University

of Wisconsin, followed up on these

ideas and posited two big points -

that there are different levels of

empathy and compassion in people,

which have biological roots, and

empathy and compassion can be

regarded as skills, which can be

trained and enhanced. He then

reviewed neuroscientific research in

these areas; results showed that

subjects who had more extensive

mental training had a greater

tendency to exhibit signs of altruism.

Matthieu Ricard, of Shechen

Monastery, presented last and helped

enlighten the audience to Buddhist

notions of compassion, empathy

and altruism. For example,

compassion is the desire to help

alleviate suffering in others, whatever

it may be.

Session 2

The afternoon session began with

Joan Silk of UCLA, who defined

altruism biologically, as seen in other

species. Research has shown that

altruism is common and beneficial

in many species. As humans develop

during childhood, they trend away

from this commonality in other

species.

One notable exchange during the

conversation with His Holiness went

as follows. "Does hostility come

from not being connected? For

instance, if bees from one colony are

mixed with bees from another

colony, do they see each other as alien

or other?" Joan replied, "There

doesn't seem to be much flexibility

in their behaviour, though I do not

know much of bees. So the

'outgroup' or 'other' perspective

seems to remain intact." His Holiness

mused, "Does biological altruism

require the ability to appreciate

others? Mosquitoes, I think, have

no appreciation! One may land on

me, and I let it feed. But then it

flies away and shows no

appreciation!"

Ernst Fehr of the University of

Zurich then talked about how true

altruism in humans is rare, as we

normally want or expect benefit for

our costs, especially within

economics. He defined altruism as

actions to benefit an 'other,' but at

cost to the actor and with no

envisioned gain for the actor at the

outcome, except possibly

psychological benefit like happiness.

Tania Singer then spoke about 3

motivational systems in the human

brain: incentive-focused, threat-

focused, and non-wanting-

affiliation-focused. She talked of

experiments to increase trust among

individuals. John Dunne, of Emory

University, explained compassion

and altruism from the Buddhist

perspective as they might relate to

economics. One of the ultimate

goals is happiness, so what are the

costs and resources needed to attain

that goal? The resources are internal,

and thus of the highest value. If

we can realign our priorities to focus

on maintaining and enhancing our

internal resources, we may see a shift

toward a better economic system.

He spoke of a Buddhist technique

of internalizing the idea that all

sentient beings were at some point

your mother in a previous life; you

can extend the feeling or connection

you have with your mother to all

beings. "Not that everyone has the

greatest connection with their

mother, but you understand what I

mean," John said. "I had a GOOD

mother, though, just to be clear."

"So did I," laughed His Holiness.

So, today was a ground-laying time

of concepts and large ideas, setting

us up for tomorrow, which will start

exploring possibilities of where we

go and of applied economics to

further some of these ideas.

During the lunch break, His Holiness

the Dalai Lama said at the Meet the

Press session, "Recent economic

crisis shows money fails to bring

inner peace." His Holiness spoke

about two of his three commitments

in life 1) human value and 2) religious

harmony.

His Holiness said that this year marks

the 50th Anniversary of Tibetans

arriving in Switzerland. He said the

Government of India had extended

maximum assistance on the Tibetans

arrival in India from Tibet. He

thanked Switzerland for welcoming

Tibetan refugees. "It is our duty to

thank the Swiss government, (its)

people and in particular the Swiss Red

Cross" for assistance to Tibetan

refugees since 1960.

Tibetan spirit is very alive in Tibet

and the community in exile carries

the same Tibetan spirit alive. Tibetans

in Switzerland are good Swiss citizens

but carry Tibetan spirit and

contributing to the Swiss economy.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama (4th left) speaks at the opening session of the Mind and Life

XX Conference in Zurich, Switzerland, on 9 April 2010

Dharamshala: China is clamping

down on Tibetan refugees by

strengthening its border control, a

senior official for the Tibetan

government-in-exile told reporters at

a Tokyo press conference on Friday.

"Until 2008, every year we had on

average between 2,500 and 3,000

people who had escaped from

Tibet. But since the demonstrations

in March 2008, that number has

fallen," said Tempa Tsering, Tibetan

minister and representative of His

Holiness the Dalai Lama.

"Last year about 600 have come

out," Tsering said, "firstly, the social

restrictions in Tibet [have increased],

secondly, security in all the mountain

paths is strengthened, and thirdly in

the Nepali

government, the Chinese are now

training the Nepali army to guard the

border, saying 'we'll train your

personnel, we'll equip your police'."

The comments come after Chinese

security forces last month stepped up

China Tightening Border

Control in Tibet: Top

Tibetan Official

the crackdown in Tibet's capital

Lhasa, two years after protests

marking a failed 1959 uprising

erupted in deadly violence.

More than 400 people have so far

been rounded up in the most recent

of the annual Chinese "strike hard

storm" campaigns, according to

reports.

The US State Department last month

said China's rights record "remained

poor and worsened in some areas,"

with repression in the restive Tibet

and East Chinese Turkestan regions,

and the detention and harassment of

activists. The annual State

Department report also said that

China imposed "tight government

controls" on Tibetans, who were

denied freedom of religion and

faced severe repercussions if they

tried to escape to Nepal.

Nepal has been under growing

pressure from China to clamp down

on Tibetans who try to cross the

Himalayan region en route to India.

Tibetan minister, Tempa Tsering briefing to media in Tokyo, the captial of Japan on 02 April

2010. Photo: TPI

The Tibet Post 515 April , 2010 DharamsalaTPI INTERNATIONAL

Tibetans Protest Hu’s Inclusion

in Nuclear Summit

Dharamshala: A group of Tibetans

and Falun Gong practitioners gathered

today in Washington DC, USA to

protest the inclusion of Chinese

president Hu Jintao in a nuclear

summit taking place between world

leaders today in the nation's capital.

The protesters, who wore traditional

garb and waved Tibet's flag, gathered

in a group of around 100 in Samuel

Gompers Square, a mere walk from

the Washington convention center

where US president Barack Obama

and 46 other world leaders were

participating in a 2-day summit on

nuclear security.

The Falun Gong practitioners added

their silent support by meditating

peacefully alongside the vocal Tibetan

protesters. Also present in Samuel

Gompers square was around a dozen

Asian men, who were carrying Chinese

and American flags in support of Hu's

visit.

The nuclear summit's primary aim is

to discuss how best to keep loose

nuclear material secure, in order to

prevent it from coming into the

possession of extremists. However,

the Tibetans did not feel that China's

participation in the summit would

have a positive result. Said protester

Migmar Wanggi, "World leaders

should be careful of what Hu Jintao

says. There are a lot of things about

him that we, and world leaders, don't

see."

Trying to put the matter in

perspective, Tenzin Dolkar of

Students for a Free Tibet said, "We

want to ask Obama to pressure Hu

to free Tibet because if the goal of

this nuclear summit is to find global

security, then having Tibet as an

independent nation acting as a buffer

zone between two nuclear nations

would be the solution."

Another activist, Wangchuk

Shakabpa of the US Tibet

Committee said, "China will never

admit to having nuclear weapons on

the Tibetan plateau, but we suspect

they do, and US intelligence reports

have said the Chinese have used Tibet

as a dumping ground for nuclear

waste."

U.S. President Barack Obama meets Chinese President Hu Jintao during the Nuclear Security

Summit in Washington on Monday. Photo: AP

Tibetan supporters display anti-Chinese

placards in Washington. Photo: AFP

HH the Dalai Lama Offers Condolences

to the People of PolandDharamsala: The Tibetan spiritual

leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama

offered his condolences to the

people of Polland for the tragic loss

of President Kacynski, and the 95

passengers who died in a plane

crash in Western Russia.

On the 10th of April, His Holiness,

who is currently in Switzerland for

a five-day visit, sent a letter of

condolence to the Polish Prime

Minister Donald Tust to express his

grief over the death of the Polish

President and other important

public figures.

His Holiness recalled on the privilege

of meeting with the President when

he visited Poland and expressed his

admiration for the Presidents

dedication to freedom, democracy

and human rights.

The body of Polish President Lech

Kacynski has been flown back to Warsaw a

day after his plane crashed in western

Russia, killing all 96 people on board.

Photo: AP

China Steals Emails of His Holiness the Dalai Lama: Report

Dharamshala: Naming the group the

"shadow network", researches of the

Munk School of Global Affairs at the

University of Toronto, have released

a new report, in which states that up

to 1500 personal emails dating from

January 2009 to November 2009 of

His Holiness the Dalai Lama's had been

stolen.

Not only His Holiness the Dalai Lama

was attacked, but also classified

documents about the security of several

Indian states, documents of India's

relations with West Africa, Russia and

the Middle East. Also the 21 Mountain

Artillery Brigade in Assam, three air

force bases and the Indian Military

Engineer Services in Bengdubi,

Kolkata, Bangalore and Jalandhar were

infiltrated.

As Indian government computers

were breached documents related to

the travel of NATO forces and

reconstruction missions in Afghanistan

are also in jeopardy. Due to the fact

that persons working for NATO

travel through India and are issued

visa's through government computers,

computers that were compromised in

both Kandahar and Kabul in

Afghanistan.

Even though the main focus of the

cyber attacks were directed towards

the Indian Government, other affected

areas included the Institute for Defense

Studies and Analysis also documents

from the United Nations Economic

and Social Commission for Asia and

the Pacific were also stolen.

The cyber-security researches not only

from Canada but also the United

States have traced the cyber criminal

gang back to the city of Chengdu in

the province of Sichuan, China.

This is not the first serious assault on

international security from a Chinese

based cyber-spies, previously one year

before a cyber group going by the

name of Ghostnet had caught the

attention of the researches. Using

computer servers, mostly based on the

island of Hainan, Ghostnet gleaned

documents from governments and

corporations of over 103 countries

including documents of the Dalai

Lamas, Tibet's spiritual leader.

Through the investigation of

Ghostnet, researchers were able to

learn of this second Internet spy

operation. And have been following

its movements now for the last eight

months.

Using social networks such as Yahoo!

Mail, blog.com, Google Groups,

Twitter, Blogspot and Baidu Blogs the

Chengdu based cyber-thefts were able

to seize control, once computers were

infected.

Given the sophistication of the

intruders, the researchers said, it is

possible that the Chinese government

may have approved of the spying.

"Some reports have, from time to time,

been heard of insinuating or criticizing

the Chinese government...I have no idea

what evidence they have or what

motives lie behind." said Jiang Yu, a

Chinese foreign ministry

spokeswoman. She then commented

"My personal view is that this is an

attempt by the foreign media to spin

the issue of hacking for political

purposes, especially since this report is

related to Tibet. The report appears

groundless and comes from an institute

that is not credible."

Although after the eight months of

watching the spy ring, researchers of

the University of Toronto could not

induce exactly who was using the

Chengdu computers to infiltrate the

Indian government.

"But an important question to be

entertained is whether the P.R.C

(People's Republic of China) will take

action to shut the Shadow Network

down," the report says. "Doing so will

help to address longstanding concerns

that malware ecosystems are actively

cultivated, or at the very least tolerated,

by governments like the P.R.C. who

stand to benefit from their exploits

through the black and gray markets for

information and data."

IN concern with His Holiness, a

spokesman for His Holiness the Dalai

Lama, Mr. Tenzin Takhlha stated

"These things are not new," As it was a

much larger attack last year on the

Tibetan-in-exile government by

Ghostnet. Mr. Tenzin Takhlha went on

to say that the office is working in

conjunction with the researchers to

secure its computer systems.

freely work for the Tibetan cause."

She explained.

On what Japanese and Japanese

business community could do for

Tibet, Kalon Tempa Tsering replied

that they should read and study

Tibetan history and to support justice

and freedom. He explained about

Tibetan Chamber of Commerce

where the business community in

Japan can study the possibility of

forming mutually beneficial

partnership and employment

opportunities.

Mr. Lhakpa Tshoko, Representative

of Liaison Office of His Holiness

the Dalai Lama for Japan and East

Asia, thanked the speakers and

audiences for their participation in

the talk. He requested the Japanese

public's continued support for the

Tibetan cause.

Many in the audience expressed their

desire to be of some help to the

Tibetan cause, its struggle for

freedom and justice. Young students

in the audience expressed

satisfaction for being able to hear

directly from a highly placed Tibetan

official in exile on Tibet issue.

--Report filed by Tsewang Gyalpo

Arya, Liaison Office of His Holiness

the Dalai Lama, Tokyo

.................. Tibet History in Tokyo......continued from frontpage

Members of the Information Warfare Monitor and the Shadowserver Foundation Greg

Walton (L), Ron Deibert and Nart Villeneuve (R) release their report 'Shadows In The

Clouds: An Investigation Into Cyber Espionage 2.0' during a news conference in Toronto

April 6, 2010. The report documents cyber espionage that compromised computer systems

in India, the Offices of the Dalai Lama, the United Nations and several other countries.

Photo: Reuters

The Tibet Post6 TPI15 April , 2010 Dharamsala

Tibetan Scholarship Alumni

Association Launches Website

Dharamsala:Tibetan Scholarship

Program Alumni Association launched

its official website today

(tsapalumni.com). Thupten Lungrig,

Minister for the Department of

Education inaugurated the new

website in the opening ceremony in

Dharamsala. The president of the

association Dolkar Wangmo, Tenzin

Chopal, Secretary of Education and

alumni and Tibetan media were in

attendance.

President Dolkar Wangmo introduced

the Alumni of US Tibetan Scholarship

Program. "The Tibetan Scholarship

Program was created in 1988, with a

grant from the US government to the

Tibetan Education Depertment,

making it possible to sponsor the

education of 364 Tibetan students over

the years".

The website states its purpose to

"promote educational opportunities

and democratic ideals in the Tibetan

Community, thereby strengthening

Tibetan culture and human resource

capabilities."

According to their website, "students

have received a higher education at

Columbia, Yale, New York University.

State University of New York ,

Thupten Lungrig, Minister for the

Department of Education inaugurated the

new website in the opening ceremony in

Dharamsala

California, Massachusetts, Iowa [and

others]. The vast majority of students

return to their communities and

become leaders."

Dolkar wangmo said "alumnis are

taking high positions in their

communities; in parliament, as

directors of schools and NGOs, and

in the media. This is a credit to the

program." Out of the 363 students

sponsored, 125 are currently working

in the Tibetan government, in NGOs

or in independent organisations in

Tibetan exile communities. 40 alumni

have moved abroad after serving their

communities for more than two years.

70 alumni received a scholarship and

did not return back to exile

communities. 7 have passed away since

the program began.

Minister for Education Thupten

Longrig in his keynote address said,

"we now have the human resources,

but finding trained and qualified people

is difficult. For the alumni we have

offered the highest opportunities. If

they are preoccupied only with their

own wants and needs, I think it is not

only a loss for the general community,

it is not a productive way of life."

The Minister was keen to stress the

importance of alumni returning to

Tibetan communities, "Returning to

serve the community is a very

honourable and virtuous action and a

service to His Holiness."

The Tibetan Scholarship Alumni

Association was established in 1959.

The 6th term of the Executive Body

of the association is running the current

program. A new executive will be

elected in June.

Tibetan Journalists Attend Delhi Media Meetings

Dharamshala: 11 journalists,

editors and reporters with the

Association of Tibetan Journalists

(ATJ) embarked yesterday on a tour

of Indian and foreign media

organisations in Delhi. Meetings

were arranged by Ms Yudon,

Director of Delhi based Youth

Empowerment.

The eleven first met with Ms Tenzin

Nangsyal, sub-editor for The

Hindustan Times, to seek advice

about the future development of

Tibetan journalism.

The group then met Mr Gaupam

Siddharth, a journalist for the

Associated Press, and Ms Shivani

Rawat, a vocal supporter of Tibetan

issues working for Associated Press

Television, who shared their

working experience and gave advice

and recommendations to the Tibetan

journalists.

The group also visited New Delhi

Television Limited, a large

professional broadcast organisation,

who lectured the group on the basics

of broadcast journalism (there

currently exist no Tibetan-run

broadcast organisations), and

introduced the group to the logistics

and practices of a large professional

broadcaster.

This morning the group visited

international media group CNN,

IBN. Karma Chopal from Sikhim,

a national award-winning reporter,

explained the running of the

organisation, and addressed the areas

which Tibetan media could improve

its professionalism and quality.

The final day of the trip will include

a tour of the BBC and another visit

to The Hindustan Times.

Tibetan reporters and members of ATJ in front of NDTV. Photo: TPI

Tibetan Scholarship Alumni Association Launches Website

Mr Jacques Roussel, who living with Tibetan

nuns

Dharamshala: YC. Dhardhowa,

editor of The Tibet Post

International sat down earlier today

with Jacques Roussel, a Tibet

activist from Canada to learn more

about his background and the

social work he is performing in

Dharamshala and elsewhere.

Although he has been interesting in

Tibetan culture since the 1950s,

Roussel only recently made it to the

home of the Tibetan community

in exile. After his first trip to

Dharamshala in 1997, he became

much more involved in

humanitarian work within the

Tibetan community and for the

Tibetan cause.

One special connection that

Roussel made on his first trip to

India was with the children of the

TCV. Having been raised in an

orphanage himself, he said, "When

I met kids from TCV I was totally

comfortable with them and they

with me because I knew what they

were going through because of our

common background." Another

connection he made in

Dharamshala was with Tibetan

culture in general. Although he had

been reading about it for almost

four decades, he said that being in

the Tibetan community in exile

caused him

to, "face

T i b e t a n

culture and

this woke me

up to

s o m e t h i n g

a b o u t

myself."

Since then, he

has raised

awareness for

the Tibetan

cause and the

T i b e t a n

community in general through

various projects. One project in

particular will hopefully bolster

support for and knowledge of

Tibet in Canada, the "Tibetan

Bazaars" that Roussel has been

hosting since his tr ip to

Dharamshala in 1999. At every

"Tibetan Bazaar," Roussel puts on

a slide-show of Tibetan life and

culture, serves Tibetan food, and

shares Tibetan artifacts. Ideally, he

said, he would l ike to have a

Tibetan monk speak at each event

as well. He says that the events

started small but that over time he

hopes they will expand into larger

scale festivals that will allow people

to celebrate and appreciate Tibetan

culture.

Roussel said that even though

humanitarian work is not a

profitable profession, he wouldn't

be happy if he wasn't helping other

people. Living by the slogan of

"Money can't buy happiness," his

personal philosophy is that wealth

means nothing if you don't share

it with others.

Why did you give all this help?

Happiness for me. If I can help like

this it makes me happy. If I am

happy, then I am a better person

and I go true.

But that is not money?

No never money.

What was that slogan you told me

yesterday?

"No Money Buy Me Home", but

'Om Mani-Ped Med-Hun'. I always

get out of misery with happiness.

money is important if you can help

people by sharing what you have, it

means nothing if you don't share it.

If you share you are more

comfortable with yourself.

What kinds of things do you think

are missing in Tibetan society?

This is complicated . my personal view

is very little is missing. I think that

theres three internal societies: business,

society in exile, monastery. I think the

monastery is a bit of a big business as

well. When I see monks in cafes with

cell phones I don't think that that is

the proper life for a monk. They

should help and share.

You don't think monks lifes should

involve politics and technology?

No they should but they should

share it, they are very clever, but I

think they should share what they

have with those who have less. It's

the basics of compassion. This way

everyone will become equal.

Of course Tibetan monks should

go to school and teach. If

Buddhism is not taught in schools

by monks and nuns, how will it

continue? It almost a privilege now

to meet a monk. Maybe it's a closed

society. Spirituality should not be a

business. Christians made a business

out of their religion, theyre so rich!

You should not gain material and

money and keep it for yourself.

Relief Efforts Pour into Tibetan Plateau

Dharamshala: As the death toll

rises in the Yushu province of Tibet

after the region was struck by an

earthquake of magnitude 6.9 early

wednesday morning, aid and relief

efforts are pouring into the high

altitude area known as the "roof of

the world." Despite the influx of

relief workers to the Tibetan plateau,

rescue efforts were not proceeding

as fast as many would have liked due

to the harsh conditions of the region.

The altitude of the Yushu region

averages around 13,000 ft (4,000

meters), causing many aid workers

unused to the inhospitible conditions

of the plateau to suffer from oxygen

deprivation and altitude sickness.

Despite these setbacks, with more

than 10,000 Chinese solders, police,

firefighters, and medical workers

now on hand in Yushu county, China

has started turning away offers of

help from foreign aid organizations.

The Tibetan plateau is an isolated,

rural area, and with so many relief

workers pouring into the region its

scarce resources are feeling the strain.

Supplies of food, water, gas, and

other necessities are dwindling,

reported Pierre Deve, a program

director with the Snowland Service

Group. Zou Ming, the director of

disaster relief with the Ministry of

Civil Affairs, said that tents, thick

quilts, clothing and food were in

demand,

but that many relief workers were

finding it hard to deliver the needed

objects to survivors due to

transportation constraints.

Many rescue crews were focusing on

excavating schoolchildren, trapped in

the remnants of their fragile mud-

walled schools, from the rubble.

Medical aid, food, and shelter are the

top priority for the 100,000 people

living in the quake zone, said Ming.

Rescue crews working to save lives in

Kyigudo, Eastern Tibet.

TPI TIBETThe Tibet Post 715 April , 2010 Dharamsala

International that Mr Konchok

Namgyal was ar rested by the

Chinese local authorities two weeks

ago after removing the Chinese flag

from the Chinese community

meeting hall, setting the flag on fire

and spraying slogans on the front

of the building.

"No one knows where he has been

detained" said, Mr Tharpa. The

Chinese officials took the Tibetan

man into custody without declaring

any information to his family. Since

his detention, he has not been

charged and the location of his

imprisonment remains unknown.

He is reportedly a 22 year old

named Konchok from Totho

village, Tsachu Town, Driru county,

Tibetan Man Who Removed Chinese Flag Later Set on Fire Arrested

......continued from frontpage

Earthquake Shakes Tibet's

Yushu County

Dharamshala: An earthquake of

magnitude 6.9 shook Tibet's Yushu

region earlier today. The quake hit at a

depth of 10km at 7:49 AM, 380

kilometers south-south-east of

Golmud, reported the US Geological

survey.

According to the Chinese state

television, the initial death casualty 67

rose to about300, with an additional

8,000 injured, and its two aftershocks

which measured 5.3 and 5.2 on the

Richter scale. Xinhua also reported that

at least 90 percent of homes in the

affected area collapsed, and that Chinese

soldiers were dispatched to the area to

help excavate people trapped in the

rubble.

While many taller buildings survived

the quake, many local houses, built with

thick walls and ceilings, were not so

lucky. "Everybody is out in the streets

standing in front of their houses, trying

to find their family members," said

Karsum Nyima, the head of news for

the Yushu county television station.

The Yushu region has a population of

about 252,000 people, about 97% of

whom are Tibetan. and has been prone

to earthquakes in the past. Chinese

officials estimate that the homes of

around 5 million people were

destroyed, and that rebuilding efforts

will take at least 3 years.

6.9 earthquake hit Yushu county, eastern Tibet, on 14th April 2010, Photo:xinhua

6-13 Year Sentences for 3 Tibetans in Ngawa

Dharamshala: Kirti Monastery's

Emergency Coordination

Committee today reported 3

Tibetans in Ngawa County were

sentenced to between 6 and 13

years in prison due to their

involvement in the 2008 Tibet

protests.

Choedar, 35, and Jamyang

Phuntsok, monks in Kirti Monastery

from Jolep, Ngawa County were

sentenced to 13 and 6 years in

prison respectively. Jigme, 40, also

from Jolep, was sentenced to 7

years.

Choedar was arrested in August

2009. He was detained without trail

until 9 April 2010 when he received

his sentence, charged with leading

the 2008 protest and involvement

with political actions. Before his

capture, Chinese authorities issued

a warrant for his capture, and

offered between 200,000 and

Choedar, 35, monk in Kirti Monastery from

Jolep, Ngawa County.

Jigme from Ngawa County, east Tibet. Jamyang Phuntsok, monk in Kirti Monastery

from Jolep, Ngawa County.

300,000 Yuan as a reward for

information leading directly to his

arrest.

Solha and Dhunkho a couple with

whom Choedar had been staying

with while in hiding, were also

arrested for providing him shelter.

Solha has since been released but

Dhunkho remains in detention

without trail.

Choedar was previously arrested in

1998 for allegedly putting up pro-

independence posters as the Chinese

"Love Your Country, Love Your

Religion" campaign was

implemented by force in

monasteries in Ngawa County.

Jigme was arrested on 7 February

2009. He was also detained without

trial until 9 April 2010, when he was

charged with leaking national

security information since 2009. In

1992 he was detained for a year,

after alleged pro-independence

involvement.

Jamyang was abducted from his

room by Chinese authorities on 3

March 2009. He was detained

without trial until 9 April, when he

was also charged with leaking

national security information.

In 2009, Jamyang witnessed Chinese

authorities shoot dead a fellow

monk, Tabei, who was attempting

to immolate himself in protest to

Chinese oppression. Chinese state-

run media Xinghua falsely reported

that Jamyang Phuntsok, also known

as Jangko, had fabricated the story

in an attempt to discredit Chinese

rule in Tibet.

The 3 Tibetans are the latest in a long

chain of political arrests resulting

from the 2008 Tibetan uprising

against Chinese rule in many parts

of Tibet.

First Stage of “Lhasa Rebuilding” Nears completion, says Xinhua

Dharamshala: An art icle

published earlier today in China

eastern Tibet.

Since March 2008 over 222

Tibetans have been killed, 1,294

injured and 290 sentenced, more

than 5,600 were arrested or

detained and over 1,000

disappeared after the Chinese

armed military deadly cracked

down in all parts of Tibet.

Daily, the Chinese government-

mandated news source, stated that

Lhasa's "rebuilding project" would

be completed in May.

According to state controlled news

agency Xinhua, the project is being

implemented in three stages, the

first stage having started in October

2009. Over the course of all three

stages, the project allegedly aims to

rebuild 22 main streets around the

Potala Palace and the Jokhang

Temple. The rebuilding will be

done in traditional Tibetan style.

The first stage is expected to

rebuild 7 of the 22 streets, at a cost

of 8 million US dollars.

According to the article, so-called

"Tibetan costumes" wil l be

displayed around Lhasa's main

street as part of the first stage of

rebuilding.

The main Tibetan temple called Jokhang in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.

Photo: TPI/Thupten Yarphel

China’s New “Peace” Airport

The inauguration ceremony on construction work of the Peace Airport in Xigaze,

southwestern Tibet.(Xinhua/ Chogo)

Dharamshala: Construction has

started on a new Chinese airport called

"Peace Airport". The airport is

stationed on the Tibetan side of

Mount Everest.

The stated purpose of the so called

new airport is to create greater access

to the Tibetan Plateau, home to some

of the highest peaks in the world.

However, with the name "Peace

Airport", it could have a very different

connotation to Tibetans.

Construction will take place on

Shigatse, the Nepal-China highway. It

will make travel to the Himalayan

region very accessible for air

passengers. The airport has hopes to

inflate the tourist industry in the area.

One of the main attractions for

visitors is the Tashilhunpo

Monastary of the Chinese-selected

Panchen Lama. Because the new

airport will be located within the

so-cal led "Tibet Autonomous

Region", this airport will increase

traffic from the rest of China into

the "TAR". This is reflective of a

growing trend of a Chinese

presence in Tibet.

The airport will be completed in

October of this year and is

projected to cost around $71.7

mil l ion. It wil l be able to

accommodate up to 230,000

passengers, 1,150 tonnes of cargo

and 2,580 take-offs and landings

every year until 2020.

TPI TIBET The Tibet Post8 15 April , 2010 Dharamsala

three stages, the first stage having

started in October 2009. Over the

course of all three stages, the project

allegedly aims to rebuild 22 main

streets around the Potala Palace and

First Stage of “Lhasa Rebuilding” Nears completion, says Xinhua

......continued from frontpage

China Arrests Two Tibetan Writers

from University of Lanzhou

Dharamshala: Chinese authorities

have recently arrested two Tibetan

students from the Northwest

University for Nationalities in

Lanzhou, the so called capital of

Gansu province in northwestern

China ,according to a report

published by wokar Tibetan site.

The arrested Tibetans were

suspected of having involved with

political activism or writings on

Tibet issues.

The report said that at 11:30pm on

April 4th, around 16 ununiformed

Chinese security officials stormed

into the university hostel and

ransacked the students' rooms,

rummaging through the clothes and

underneath the beds. The security

men have impounded the students'

Tibetan books, cell phones, laptops,

even the study reference materials,

and immediately arrested two young

Tibetan writers: Tashi Rabten, pen-

name Therang and Druklo, pen

name Shokjang.

In January of last year, Tashi Rabten

published a book entitled Blood

Letter (Tibetan: Trakyig), which his

supporters defend as an honest and

accurate description of The March

10th 2008 peacefull protests in all

parts of Tibet. The Chinese

government, however, had cut off

Blood Letter's distribution and

confiscated copies that have already

been sold, banning this book due to

its "suspicious" political content. They

began to monitor the author's daily

activities and conduct clandestine

interrogations, and at one point

abducted him.

The report further detailed that some

students from the University are

declaring that they are going to stage

protest against government's harsh

policy towards Tibetans; to keep

arresting innocent students and

flouting one's personal privacy. They

have expressed outrageously that "If

the government continues to violate

our freedom of expression, freedom

of assembly, freedom of thought,

and privacy, we will certainly

protest."

First Microcredit Institution

Opens in Tibet

Dharamshala: The first

microcredit institution in the region

was established in Lhasa, the capital

of Tibet on April 11th, reported

Chinese government-mandated

news agency Xinhua. The Yurong

Microcredit Company has a

registered capital of 7.33 million US

dollars, the full funding of which

was supplied by private investors

Chinese microcredit opens in Lhasa, the

capital of Tibet. Photo: Xinnhua

and enterprises.

The function of microcredit

companies is to provide very small

loans to people living in or close to

poverty to help stimulate

entrepreneurship. Micro loans are

extended to those who cannot

establish credit allowing them to get

loans, because they do not have any

steady employment or collateral of

their own.

A spokesperson for the Yurong

Microcredit Company said that their

target group is small and medium

sized enterprises, along with

herdsmen and entrepreneurs. Said

the representative, "One of our

purposes is to improve the life

standard and social welfare of the

poor people in this region."

The book of Blood Letter written by Tashi Rabten. Photo: TPI

Up to 20 Students Aged 11 to 15 Arrested

in Driru County, Eastern TibetDharamshala: On 22nd of

March, dozens of primary school

students aged 11 to 15, staged a

demonstration against Chinese rule

in Eastern Tibet, resulting in the

arrest of up to 20 students.

Ngawang Tharpa, a Tibetan from

Sog County currently living in

exile, revealed the news today in a

let ter to The Tibet Post

International.

The students from Centre Primary

School in Tsala Township, Driru

County, protested Chinese

occupation of Tibet, shouting

slogans such as "Free Tibet!",

"Chinese out of Tibet!", and "Let

His Hol iness come back to

Tibet!".

Student protesters were quickly

surrounded by armed Chinese police

and security personnel, and up to

twenty of the young protesters were

arrested. Many of the children's

parents were also taken for

interrogation. Further details of the

protest and subsequent crackdown

remain unclear.

The names of those arrested include:

Thupten Jongney, Thupten

Wangchuk, Norbu Jongney, Norbu

Tenzin, Thegchok Gyatso, Rinchen

Phuntsok, Yeten Lhundup and Tseten

Dorjee. The names of the many

others are unknown.

The situation in Tsala township

remains extremely tense, with a

heavily armed police presence still on

display to deter any further revolt.

There are currently no details of the

whereabouts or conditions of the

students arrested, or of the parents

who were interrogated.

More than 220 Tibetans have been

killed, over 5,600 arrested or

detained, and over 1000 have

disappeared since March 2008.

Chinese paramilitary police march on the streets of Dhartsedho, Ganzi prefecture of

southwestern China's Sichuan province, Monday, March 9 , 2009. Photo: AP

the Jokhang Temple. The rebuilding

will be done in traditional Tibetan

style. The first stage is expected to

rebuild 7 of the 22 streets, at a cost

of 8 million US dollars.

According to the article, so-called

"Tibetan costumes" wil l be

displayed around Lhasa's main

street as part of the first stage of

rebuilding.

Peaceful Protests for fired school members

Dharamsala: Having staged one

previously, students of the Tibetan

Nationality Middle School in

Machu County, Gansu Province,

(traditionally in Tibet's Amdo

Province), last week orchestrated

another peaceful protest against the

local government. Reported a

Tibetan exile who has contacts in

the province.

Led by its seniors,the 1500 students

of the Middle School, began the

protest around 3pm, on Saturday

the 3rd of April. The source, a

researcher, living in Dharamsala,

though a native to the County of

Machu, said that students had

rallied, because of the dismissal by

Chinese authorit ies of their

headmaster and his two Tibetan

assistant's .

Headmaster Kyabchen Dedrol and

his two assistants-Do Re and

Choekyong Tseten, were sacked,

following a pro-independence

protest by the Tibetan Nationality

Middle School's students.

It is reported that Choekyong

Tsetan was taken away in secret, by

officials from the Public Security

Bureau and that his whereabouts is

not known and that Do Re was

arrested last month.

In response to this, students of the

school submitted petitions to the

local Chinese government and

demanded that the positions of the

recently dismissed be reinstated. The

petitions noted that further protests

would be held until the government

met with their conditions.

With no visible response from the

Chinese government to the

petitions, students staged last week's

second peaceful protest.

With March being the anniversary

of the massive anti-China unrest

across Tibet and the

Tibetan National Uprising against

Chinese rule in 1959. Tensions are

extremely high.

"At the moment the school is

completely surrounded by armed

police and the students are forced

to remain confined to school

compound. They are also barred

from meeting or making any

contact with the outsiders,"

commentated the source.

Adding to this, the local government

has placed extra security forces

around Machu town and set up

checkpoints, restricting the

movement of people, with extra

force on the monks in the area.

The Dharamsala based researcher

said he is unsure of whether Chinese

authorities had detained any staff or

student members of the Middle

school.

Although with increasing fear and

tension in the area, students have

promised to carry on with what was

written on the petitions, to keep

protesting until the school

headmaster and his two assistants

are reinstatement.

Tibetan Nationality Middle School in Machu

County, Gansu Province