Friday, April 26, 2013

Week Ending April 26, 2013


International Tibet Network News Digest & Analysis: 26 April 2013



Self-Immolations, Protests, and Restrictions in Tibet
- 2 Tibetans Die in Protest - New York Times; Edward Wong
24 April | Two Tibetans died on Wednesday after setting fire to themselves in a Tibetan region of western China to protest Chinese rule, according to reports on Thursday by Tibet advocacy groups and Radio Free Asia, which is financed by the American government.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It had also been reported that a young Tibetan shepardess had immolated in Dzamthang. Radio Free Asia retracted this report stating it “was found to be inaccurate.” Further it reported that Tsering Woeser herself said "After investigation it was learned that it was not factually accurate," she said in her latest blog entry. "Therefore, I have deleted my previous blog entry." View the edited report at:http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/protests-04242013160540.html

Related:Two Monks Self-immolate in Tibet Free Tibethttp://www.freetibet.org/news-media/pr/two-monks-set-themselves-alight-tibet

World Leaders Visits to China
- High Representative Ashton travels to China and Mongolia - ICT
24 April | In China from 25-28 April, the High Representative will lead the EU’s first high-level meetings with the new Chinese leadership. The visit comes at an important moment in the development of EU-China relations: China has recently completed its leadership change and both sides are intent on taking the EU-China relationship forward.
    http://www.tibetpolicy.eu/high-representative-ashton-travels-to-china-and-mongolia/
   
Related:
International Tibet Network EU Member Groups Joint Letter to Catherine Ashton http://www.tibetnetwork.org/AsthonLetter_April2013

French President Hollande talks of human rights during China visit - euronews
French President Francois Hollande, who is in China to meet his counterpart Xi Xingping, has said his talks touched upon Beijing’s human rights record.http://www.euronews.com/2013/04/26/french-president-hollande-talks-of-human-rights-during-china-visit/

    Related:
- China welcomes French president with Airbus deal - AFP
Hollande later told a press conference that during his talks with Chinese leaders he also raised the issue of Tibet and human rights, with all topics discussed in a "frank and respectful manner".

International Tibet Network French Member Groups Joint Letter to
President Hollande  
http://www.tibetnetwork.org/hollandeletterapril2013

Further News
- Tibet’s Stolen Spiritual Leader Turns 24: - TCHRD
China must end enforced disappearance of Tibet’s Panchen Lama
25 April | Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, Tibet’s XIth Panchen Lama, one of the most important Tibetan spiritual leaders, turns 24 today under house arrest. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was born on 25 April 1989 in Lhari County in Nagchu, Tibet.

Related:
- Tibetans demand 11th Panchen Lama’s whereabouts and release - Phayul
24 April | Tibetans and supporters in the exile demanded to know his whereabouts and called for his release.

- Dalai Lama Will Speak After All, Australian University Says - Guardian
24 April | The University of Sydney, one of Australia’s top institutions of higher learning, has reversed a decision taken earlier this month to cancel a talk by Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, and will now allow the exiled religious figure to speak.

- German Parliament urges China to safeguard human rights in Tibet - Tibet.net
25 April | Expressing deep concern over the high number of self-immolations in Tibet, the German Parliament’s human rights committee on Wednesday urged the Chinese leadership to safeguard the human rights of Tibetans including their religious and cultural identity.

India asks China to withdraw border troops - Guardian
23 April | Foreign ministry asks China to pull back troops who allegedly advanced into disputed territory claimed by India.

DreamWorks Animation courts Tibet controversy with China film deal - Guardian
22 April | Project to film He Ma's popular series of Chinese novels Tibet Code will involve state-owned China Film Group

Reports
State Department annual report on human rights for 2012 - US Dept. of State
19 April | The State Department’s annual Country Reports for Human Rights Practices, released on April 19, highlights the continuing egregious human rights violations in Tibet.

Blogs:
A Tibetan Blogger Writes About “An Unanswerable Question From My Native Land” - High Peaks Pure Earth
26 April | High Peaks Pure Earth has translated a blogpost by a Tibetan blogger that was written on March 3, 2013 and posted on their Sangdhor.com hosted blog on March 24, 2013.

Opinion:
Dying for Tibet, but Will Cause Expire With Dalai Lama? - Huffington Post
by William J. Furney