Week Ending February 1, 2013

International Tibet Network News Digest & Analysis: 1 February 2013

Self-Immolations, Protests, and Restrictions in Tibet

The news of 8 Tibetans being sentenced related to the self-immolations has been widely reported around the globe. Below are several links to articles on this case.

Tibetans sentenced for murder at show trial to discredit self-immolation protests - TCHRD1 February | This decision is the first of its kind where a Tibetan has received a death sentence with two year reprieve related to self-immolation.
http://www.tchrd.org/2013/02/tibetans-sentenced-for-murder-at-show-trial-to-discredit-self-immolation-protests/

Distress at death sentence for Tibetan accused of ‘inciting self-immolation’ - ICT31 January | No evidence was presented to justify the sentencing of Lobsang Kunchok and Lobsang Tsering, who were not represented by the own lawyers.
http://www.savetibet.org/media-center/ict-news-reports/distress-death-sentence-tibetan-accused-inciting-self-immolation

Related

New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/01/world/asia/chinese-court-issues-severe-sentences-in-tibetan-self-immolations.html?_r=0

Huffington Post - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/31/tibet-self-immolation-convictions-china_n_2590147.html

The Hindu - http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/china-sentences-two-tibetans-over-selfimmolation-protests/article4365171.ece

Fears of New Crackdown on Monks - RFA30 January | Tibetan monks who are missing or ‘disappeared’ are widely believed to be taken by Chinese authorities for ‘political re-education’ campaigns.
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/crackdown-01302013151619.html

News

Sit-in mass prayers and daylong fast by Tibetans at Jantar Mantar - CTA1 February | A 4 day ‘Solidarity with Tibet’ campaign has included 6,000 Tibetans from all over India, leaders from monasteries, and members of the CTA including Sikyong Lobsang Sangay.
http://tibet.net/2013/02/01/sit-in-mass-prayers-and-daylong-fast-by-tibetans-at-jantar-mantar/

Hackers in China Attacked The Times for the Last 4 Months - NY Times30 January | Chinese government hackers stole employee passwords and entered the NY Times computer network just before the release of an expose on Wen Jiabao’s family wealth. The hackers appeared to be searching for informant data, however, the reporter’s article was researched using publicly available documents.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/31/technology/chinese-hackers-infiltrate-new-york-times-computers.html

China appoints new Tibet governor, hardline policies to remain - Reuters29 January | Former mayor of Lhasa and Marxist theory teacher, Losang Gyaltsen (55), replaces Padma Choling as governor in Tibet.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/29/us-china-tibet-idUSBRE90S0ED20130129

Opinion and Analysis

Let’s Celebrate Coming Losar in Grand Festivity - Rangzen Alliance31 January | A Tibetan, Invincible Courage, writes “Let us not mourn in despair, but fight for our rights” and celebrate the New Year holiday with gusto instead of limiting Losar to somber religious ceremony.
http://www.rangzen.net/2013/01/31/let%E2%80%99s-celebrate-coming-losar-in-grand-festivity/

Tibetan self-immolations expose Chinese oppression: Tenzin Tsundue - Meri News31 January | An interview with Tibetan activist and writer Tenzin Tsundue on the development of the Tibetan independence movement and the role of self-immolations.
http://www.merinews.com/article/tibetan-self-immolations-expose-chinese-repression-tenzin-tsundue/15881036.shtml

My nephew self-immolated for Tibet - Washington Post29 January | Tsering Kyi writes on receiving the news of her nephew Tsering Tashi’s self-immolation on January 12.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/my-nephew-self-immolated-for-tibet/2013/01/29/06541caa-6a59-11e2-af53-7b2b2a7510a8_blog.html

Week Ending January 25, 2013

International Tibet Network News Digest & Analysis: 25 Jan 2013

Self-Immolations, Protests, and Restrictions in Tibet

China arrests Tibetan in new tactic against self-immolation - TV NZ25 January | A Tibetan man who studied in exile in India, Phagpa (27), has been arrested on charges of inciting a Tibetan monk to commit self-immolation.
http://tvnz.co.nz/world-news/china-arrests-tibetan-in-new-tactic-against-self-immolation-5326159

Teen Tibetan dies before self-immolations protest; Leaves note for the Dalai Lama’s return - Phayul24 January | Jigjey Kyab (17) intended to self-immolate but died of kerosene poisoning before being able to set himself alight near a busy intersection in Luchu region.
http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?article=Teen+Tibetan+dies+before+self-immolation+protest%2C+Leaves+note+for+the+Dalai+Lama%E2%80%99s+return&id=32914

Tibetan Man Dies After Self Immolation - VOA22 January | Kunchok Kyab (23) set himself ablaze in Bora township near Labrang monastery, and passed away from his injuries. Chinese officials seized his body.
http://www.voanews.com/content/tibetan-man-dies-after-self-immolation/1588778.html

Related

Tibetans challenge China’s dictat, To hold public prayer service for self-immolator - Phayul23 January | Tibetans in the Bora region will hold a public funeral prayer sit-in at the Chinese government offices as they seek information on the whereabouts of Kunchok Kyab’s body.

http://phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=32898&article=Tibetans+challenge+China%E2%80%99s+dictat%2c+To+hold+public+prayer+service+for+self-immolator

Tibetans fight back against declining “reverence for nature” - China Dialogue24 January | An NGO staff group goes in search of ordinary Tibetans taking action to protect the environment.
http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/5638-Tibetans-fight-back-against-declining-reverence-for-nature-

China’s latest restriction for Tibetans: No passports - Washington Post23 January | Tibetan rights groups say that Chinese authorities have not issued any new passports to Tibetans living in the Tibetan autonomous region for almost a year.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/01/23/chinas-latest-restriction-for-tibetans-no-passports/

Monks self-censoring about self-immolation - The Globe and Mail22 January | Foreign reporters travel to Kangding to speak with monastics about the recent wave of self-immolations.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/the-china-diaries/monks-self-censoring-about-self-immolation/article7651181/

Opinion and Analysis

Tsering Kyi speaks about her nephew’s self-immolation - Youtube24 January | Blogger Tsering Kyi speaks to Al-Jazeera’s The Stream about her brother’s son Tsering Tashi who self-immolated January 12.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLlY3ToeF34

Notes From A Trip Back to Lhasa -  High Peaks Pure Earth22 January | A translation of Woeser’s description of her trip from Beijing to Lhasa and the difficulties her group faced along the way as Tibetans.
http://highpeakspureearth.com/2013/notes-from-a-trip-back-to-lhasa-by-woeser/

China, Tibet, and Religious Oppression -  Council on Foreign Relations17 January | Ellen Bork, Director of Democracy and Human Rights at the Foreign Policy Initiative, leads a conference-call conversation on religious oppression inside Tibet.
http://www.cfr.org/china/china-tibet-religious-oppression/p29815#cid=soc-facebook-at-audio-china_tibet_and_religious_oppr-011713

On Fire I Will Burn -  Truthdig15 January | Bhuchung Sonam addresses the failures of Chinese policies in Tibet, with forced nomad resettlement, removing Tibetan language from schools, and restrictions on Buddhism as major factors leading Tibetans to self-immolate.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/on_fire_i_will_burn_20130115//

Week Ending January 18, 2013

Week Ending January 18, 2013

Self-Immolations, Protests, and Restrictions in Tibet

Self-immolation at Khyungchu, Ngaba in northeastern Tibet - CTA18 January | Tsering Phuntsok, a father of two children, set himself on fire around 3:15pm local time in Ngaba. He has passed away and monks are performing prayers.
http://tibet.net/2013/01/18/self-immolation-at-khyungchu-ngaba-in-north-eastern-tibet/

Related

Tibet continues to burn; Second self-immolation in the new year - Phayul 18 January | Reports suggest Tsering Phuntsok’s body was seized by Chinese police.

http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=32873&article=Breaking%3A+Tibet+continues+to+burn%2C+Second+self-immolation+in+the+new+year

As Tibet Burns, China Makes Arrests, Seizes TVs - Time18 January | Self-immolation has become criminalized, mourners and friends are detained, and Chinese authorities are forcibly taking televisions and satellite devices from Tibetans.
http://world.time.com/2013/01/18/as-tibet-burns-china-makes-arrests-seizes-tvs/

Chinese police arrest seven ‘abetters’ after Tibetan man’s self-immolation - The Guardian16 January | Chinese police blame TYC for Sangye Gyatso’s self-immolation in October.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/16/chinese-police-tibetan-self-immolation

Fifteen Held Over Burnings - Radio Free Asia16 January | Fifteen Tibetans have been detained and accused of ‘inciting’ and publicizing the recent wave of self-immolations.
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/held-01162013163844.html

Tibetan woman self-immolated in Beijing last year - Phayul14 January | Passang Lhamo (62) self-immolated in Beijing to protest illegal land-grabbing.
http://phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=32838&article=Tibetan+woman+self-immolated+in+Beijing+last+year%3A+Reports

Fiery Start to New Year - Radio Free Asia12 January | Tsebey, a teenager from Keynang village, set himself on fire and passed away in Achok township. His protest was the first reported self-immolation in 2013.
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/burn-01122013095415.html

Related

Police Block Funeral Rites - Radio Free Asia15 January | Chinese police refused to allow Tsebey’s family to perform traditional funeral rites, instead forcing his body to be cremated immediately.

http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/funeral-01152013163825.html

Reports, Opinion, and Analysis

Revisiting the ‘Tenzingang incident’ after the Delhi rape/murder case - Tibetan Political Review
18 January | Exploring the progress of gender equality in Tibetan society and re-examining the government and community reactions to the ‘Tenzingang incident’ of a woman’s public beating and forced donations after a case of adultery.
http://www.tibetanpoliticalreview.org/editorials/revisitingthetenzingangincidentafterthedelhirapemurdercase

TCHRD releases 2012 annual report on human rights situation in Tibet - TCHRD 17 January | Human rights conditions “hit a new low” in 2012 as the number of self-immolations drastically increased and Tibetans took great risks to pass information to outside organizations and media. This report analyses the impact of the ‘persistent, long-term oppression’ inside Tibet.
http://www.tchrd.org/2013/01/tchrd-releases-2012-annual-report-on-human-rights-situation-in-tibet/

Religious Repression in Tibet in 2012 - TCHRD17 January | A special report released by TCHRD investigates the political context for religious repression inside Tibet, with details and statistics of cases. Viewable as PDF.
http://www.tchrd.org/2013/01/religious-repression-in-tibet-2012/

Week Ending January 11, 2013

Week Ending January 11, 2013

Protests and Restrictions in Tibet

Tibetan Language Classes Closed - Radio Free Asia 10 January | Chinese authorities forcibly cancel classes on Tibetan language and culture provided by volunteers to students during winter break.
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/classes-01102013145912.html

China plans information blackout in eastern Tibet - Phayul 10 January | Hundreds of satellite dishes and equipment was seized and burned and Tibetans are subject to pay fines for listening to Radio Free Asia and Voice of America.
http://phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=32815&article=China+plan+information+blackout+in+eastern+Tibet%2c+Burn+satellite+dishes

Official stresses patriotism among monks - Global Times 8 January | A senior Chinese official calls on Buddhist monks and nuns to be ‘patriotic’ by following the rule of law for a ‘unified and strong motherland’.
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/754509.shtml

Legal Daily report on mass incidents in China in 2012 - Dan Wei
6 January | A quantitative study on mass riots, civil unrest, and protest incidents in China in the past year. Methods behind the study have yet to be detailed.
http://www.danwei.com/a-report-on-mass-incidents-in-china-in-2012/#more-7151

Enforced Disappearance of Three Tibetan Monks Following Arrests - Reporters Without Borders
4 January | Sungrab Gyatso, Yeshi Sangpo, and Draksang from Khyamru Monastery were arrested in early December in Chabcha and their condition and whereabouts are currently unknown.
http://en.rsf.org/chine-enforced-disappearance-of-three-04-01-2013,43860.html


Opinion and Analysis

WHY LHAKAR MATTERS: The Elements of Tibetan Freedom - Tibetan Political Review
10 January | Tendor writes about the imperative to keep the future of Lhakar, a grassroots Tibetan cultural resistance movement, open and adaptable.
http://www.tibetanpoliticalreview.org/articles/whylhakarmatterstheelementsoftibetanfreedom

Tang Danhong: Fire Between Dark and Cold - China Digital Times
9 January | Chinese poet Tang Danhong empathetically explores the relationship between the ongoing occupation of Tibet and the determination of the Tibetan protestors who self-immolate.
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2013/01/tang-danhong-fire-between-the-dark-and-the-cold/

Lhakar: proud to be Tibetan - Open Democracy
7 January | Fiona McConnell and Tenzin Tsering trace the emergence of Lhakar and the role of music, arts, and literature.
http://www.opendemocracy.net/fiona-mcconnell-tenzin-tsering/lhakar-proud-to-be-tibetan

A Chinese Voice in the Wilderness: Breaking the Silence on Tibetan Self-immolations - Democracy Digest
31 December | Tenzin Palkyi and Louisa Greve write on a touchpoint of solidarity reached between Han Chinese intellectuals and Tibetans with regard to the self-immolations.
http://www.demdigest.net/blog/2012/12/a-chinese-voice-in-the-wilderness-breaking-the-silence-on-tibetan-self-immolations/

Week Ending January 4, 2013

Tibet Network News Digest and Analysis: 4 January 2013

Self-immolations and Protests

Passang Lhamo burns herself against Chinese land grabbing: Kyigudo - Voice of Tibet3 January | Passang Lhamo has set herself on fire in Kyigudo, Tibet. Listen to the VOA broadcast (in Tibetan) at the link below; More information forthcoming.
http://www.vot.org/?p=20544

Remembering Martyr Kalsang Jinpa - Rangzen Alliance
3 January | A writer from inside Tibet recounts the life and choices of Kalsang Jinpa.
http://www.rangzen.net/2013/01/03/remembering-martyr-kalsang-jinpa/#more-5774

Tibetan Activists Seek Attention, Action with Self-Immolations - Voice of America
31 December | Tibetan activists lobby Congress members in Washington in light of the recent surge in self-immolation protests.
http://www.voanews.com/content/tibetan_activists_seek_attention_action_with_self_imolations/1575465.html

Tibetan school student in exile attempts self-immolation - Phayul28 December | 9th grade TCV Bylakuppe student Lungrig Dorjee attempted to set himself on fire to protest the Chinese government policies in Tibet.
http://phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=32731&article=Tibetan+school+student+in+exile+attempts+self-immolation

News

Exile Leaders Push For Dialogue - Radio Free Asia
2 January | Exile leaders affirm their commitment to nonviolence and resolve to continue seeking dialogue with China.
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/push-01022013171921.html

Times Reporter in China is Forced to Leave Over Visa Issue - New York Times
31 December | No action is taken on visas for a New York Times bureau chief and former Reuters reporter, following publication of articles exposing top goverment officials’ wealth.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/01/world/asia/times-reporter-in-china-is-forced-to-leave-over-visa-issue.html

Related

China Says Reporter Chris Buckley Was Not Expelled - New York Times

4 January | Chinese spokeswoman refutes allegations that journalist Chris Buckley was expelled from the country after a revealing set of articles on Premier Wen Jiabao’s family.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/05/world/asia/china-says-reporter-chris-buckley-was-not-expelled.html?src=twrhp&_r=0

ICT testifies in Spain’s National Court on Chinese leadership policies in Tibet - ICT
30 December | Spanish lawyers and Tibet activists work together to pursue international arrest warrants for Chinese leaders related to their policies of torture and abuse in Tibet.
http://savetibet.org/media-center/ict-news-reports/ict-testifies-spain%E2%80%99s-national-court-chinese-leadership-policies-tibet

Former Tibetan PM Sonam Topgyal Passes Away - Tibet Sun
30 December | Sonam Topgyal held his post as Prime Minister from 1997 to 2001, and has passed away in McLeod Ganj due to stomach cancer.
http://www.tibetsun.com/news/2012/12/30/former-tibetan-pm-sonam-topgyal-passes-away

Opinion and Analysis

Last Words Analysis: Why Do Tibetans Self-Immolate? - China Digital Times 3 January | Wang Lixiong analyzes the final words of several Tibetan self-immolators.
http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2013/01/last-words-analysis-why-do-tibetans-self-immolate/

My Take: Blood on Chinese Hands in Tibetan Self-Immolations - CNN Belief Blog
2 January | Stephen Prothero shifts his focus from placing responsibility for ending the self-immolations in the hands of the Dalai Lama to the Chinese government.
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/02/my-take-blood-on-chinese-hands-in-tibetan-self-immolations/

‘I’m Not Afraid To Live Openly’ - Radio Free Asia31 December | Woeser writes about her encounter with Chinese security on a train journey.
http://www.rfa.org/english/commentaries/lhasa-12312012121922.html